I'm Beautiful, Damn It!

A/N: Oh? What\'s this? Are they actually updating? Damn right! Our significant others have suddenly become obsessed with Worlds of Warcraft and its been a bitch to try and get into the computer room to do some writing. So accept this 8-page chapter as our apology.

We do not Harry Potter or his friends, but wouldn’t that be nice.

Chapter 14
The Halloween Ball


To plan their costumes, the upper years were given a special Hogsmead trip. Unfortunately, there was only one costume shop in Hogsmead, Madame Zola’s Masquerade Shop.

Draco and Hermione entered the shop. It was covered in a thick layer of dust. It looked as though nothing had been touched in ages. Behind the counter sat a thin, black haired woman with large, bug eyes. She looked like she was near death, which could probably be contributed to the fact that the shop was filled with a thick heavy cloud of smoke emanating from her cigarette.

“Velcome, may I help you wis something?” She asked, barely looking up from the book she was thumbing through.

“We have a ball coming up and-” Hermione began, but was immediately cut off as the small woman sprang to her feet and ran around the counter. She looked to be no more than 4 1/2 feet tall.

“Yes yes, and you vant me to dress yous? Am I correct?” She finished.

“Well, um, yes I suppose s-” Hermione, but stopped to stare at the woman curiously. The woman had begun circling she and Draco.

“You,” she said, poking Hermione with her wand. “You are vedy vedy hippy.”

She turned to Draco, who was sniggering at the comment she has just made to Hermione.

“You, you are much too pale. Drink some juice.”

“I beg your pardon!” Draco cried.

“And you have it. Now, it will be vedy difficult to dress you, but I think I have something here that vill fit your mammoth hips and match your sheet complexion. Follow me.” She trotted to the back of the store.

“Vell, come on! Madame Zola has not all day to vait on Fat Girl and Ghost Boy. Quickly! Quickly!” She smacked her hands together for emphasis.

Draco shot Hermione a dirty look.

“This is all your fault!” He hissed under his breath. “You just had to have a Costume Ball, now we’re standing here being made fun of by a midget! I mean, I could pack her in my trunk for Merlin’s sake!”

“Draco!” She hissed back. “The ball was your idea!”

“But you supported it so that makes it your fault!”

Madame Zola began throwing clothes in their direction.

“Try on now!” She commanded, pointing toward the one dressing room.

“I’m not changing in there with you!” Hermione cried to Draco.

Madame Zola laughed.

“Vhat? Little girl afraid boyfriend is going to see her thunder thighs?”

“First! He\'s not my boyfriend and second, I don’t have thunder thighs!”

“Fine.” Draco said, rolling his eyes. “You go first.” He gave her a little push toward the room.

Hermione stepped inside. It had shabby, red carpeting and it looked as though the walls were made of cardboard. Only a dingy orange curtain separated her from the rest of the store.

“Try on!” Madame Zola called, slipping her a dress underneath the curtain.

It was white, with slightly puffy sleeves and a shawl that tied around her waist. The front of the dress was V-neck with a sting that laced up.

Hermione stepped out.

“Well, um, this isn’t so bad, but what am I supposed to be?” She asked.

“You are Bar Wench.” Madame Zola stated.

Draco tried to choke down a laugh.

“I don’t think I’ll be wearing this one, thank you.” Hermione sneered before disappearing behind the curtain again.

She remerged wearing a pair of black cat ears and a tight black leotard with an attached tail.

“Ok, no!” Hermione said.

“Vhat?” asked Madame Zola. “You are sex kitten!”

Draco sat up and applauded.

Hermione shot him a disgusted look.

“Would it help if I told you we were thinking of going matching?” Draco asked.

“Vhaaat?!?” cried Madame Zola. “It vill be hard enough to dress you appropriately but you vant to be matching? Impossible!”

Draco opened his mouth to speak.

“BUT! I am Madame Zola. I can do anything.” She disappeared back into the racks of clothes.

She returned bearing a black formal gown with satin trim of deep red down the front. She handed it to Hermione.

The sleeves puffed out renaissance style. The neck was low cut and Hermione suspected it would show off her cleavage beautifully.

“And for you.” Madame Zola handed Draco a pair of black pants, shiny black boots and a white button up shirt with a beautiful velvet vest along with a black cape. The vest and the inside lining of the cape was the same deep-set red as Hermione’s dress.

“Oh! Its beautiful!” cried Hermione. “But what are we supposed to be?”

Madame Zola held open a small box. Inside were two sets of porcelain fangs.

“Vampires?” Hermione cried happily. “We’re going to be Vampires?”

Draco poked his head up and peered into the box. Even though he hated to admit it, this was very cool. Hermione looked at the price tag,

“Oh.... I can’t afford this.” She said disappointed.

“I can.” Draco said

“Draco you are not going to pay for my costume.” She said trying not to sound upset.

“ Yous can rent it.” Madame Zola said to Hermione.

“I am going to buy it, Granger.” Draco said. He took the dress from her hand and laid it on the counter.

“We’ll take them.” He said to Madame Zola. She ran around the counter, rang and boxed up the costumes.

“Draco why are you doing this?” Hermione asked.

“Because I have to be seen with you. Do you honest think I’m going to go the Ball with you looking like Pansy?” He stated.

“I will pay you back.” She said smiling at him.

“Whatever.” He said, rolling his eyes.


*********************************************************************

It had been nearly a month and the Halloween Ball was tonight. Hermione had spent every spare moment on it. Both Draco and Hermione had been wrestling with their true feelings for each other over the last few weeks. Draco had come to realize his feelings for Hermione. He continued to have dreams about her every night. He decided that tonight would be the night, he was going to tell her how he felt. Unknown to Hermione, he had planned something after the ball back in the common room.

It was only an hour before the ball and all the students were rushing around to get ready.

“Are you ready yet?” Hermione yelled across the common room, “We need to make sure everything is taken care of in the hall.”

“Just one moment woman!” He yelled back. He was putting his fangs in.

Finally Draco emerged from his room. Hermione stepped out of her room and gave a twirl. He stood there in silence. She had lined her eyes a deep black and smeared a blood red lipstick on her lips. Her hair was pulled up in a messy twist on the back of her head with soft, curly tendrils falling about her back and shoulders.

“She is amazing.” He thought.

“So what do you think?” She asked him.

“Sweet mother of Merlin,” he thought unable to speak.

“Draco...” Hermione said as she walked toward him. He was still in awe of her beauty. She was standing right in front of him; she could feel his breath on her skin.

“Dra....” She started in a soft voice but was cut off. Draco had leaned in and kissed her. Time seem to stand still. Hermione didn’t know what to do. She kissed him back. When they stopped, they stood there in silence taking in what had just happened.

“Well..” Hermione started.

“Yea...umm.” Draco mutter.

“Well, we should get going then.” Hermione said walking toward the portrait.

“You go ahead, I’ll be down in a moment.” Draco said “I promise.”

“Well, okay.” She replied and left the common room. There was no more denying her feelings, she was falling for him.

Draco had to get the common room ready for this evening. He was ready for this more then ever. He pulled out his wand and in no time it was ready. He gave himself a mental high five. He stepped out of the common room only to find Hermione standing there.

“I thought you were going down to the ball?” He asked.

“I was,” She said, “but I thought to myself, ‘Hermione you are going to look like a big dork walking into the ball by yourself.’ So, I decided to wait on you.”

“It doesn’t start for another half-hour, do you really think people are already down there?” He asked.

“I don’t know, but I wasn’t going to take a chance.” She stated. Draco laughed and extended his arm to her.

“So, why did you tell me to go on?” She asked as they walked toward the great hall.

“There was something I needed to do.” He replied smiling at her.

“What?” She asked.

“You will find out later, after the ball.” He said.

“I want to know now!” She said very excited.

“Later.” He said laughing.

Hermione and Draco strolled arm in arm to the Ball. They were shocked to see a large group of 1st years waiting excitedly outside.

“How long do you think they’ve been there?” Hermione asked curiously.

“They probably arrived an hour early.” Draco laughed. “Stupid First years. Afraid they’ll miss something.”

Draco pulled a serious face.

“Oh NO! You guys! You’re late! The whole thing is over! I guess you’ll just have to go back to your common rooms. Come on, chop chop!” Draco said smacking his hands together for emphasis, imitating Madame Zola.

Several of the first years gasped in horror and a particularly small one at the front of the line, wrapped in aluminum foil and boasting the name tag “Leftovers”, burst into tears.

“Draco, that\'s horrible!” Hermione said giving Draco a playful slap on the arm.

“He is joking!!” She yelled over the upset crowd, “You have not missed it, but you are a little early, so if you will excuse us we are going inside and make sure everything is right and then we will let you in. Okay?” She yelled over the crowd has they made their way to the door. They reached the kid that was dressed as ‘leftovers’.

“Leftovers?” Draco asked trying not to laugh. “What kind of leftovers?”

“Come on!” Hermione said pushing Draco through the door.

“What? I wanted to know?” He said laughing really loud.


The Great Hall wonderfully spooky. It was decorated to resemble a deserted graveyard at midnight. It was lit only by dim candlelight and there was a low fog that swirled around their feet. Live bats swooped down around their heads occasionally. There were jagged, crumbling tombstones placed here and there.

“This is wonderful!” Hermione whispered excitedly. “Do you think we should let them in now?”

“Probably should before they piss all over the hallway in excitement.” Draco stated.

Hermione looked at him disgustedly, but he took no notice.

“And I’m not going to be the one to clean that up, let me tell you!” He leaned in close and said in a loud whisper.

She rolled her eyes and walked back toward the entrance. She poked her head out and stated “Ok, if we could all just enter in an orderly fashion...”

She was immediately trampled by the first years. She jumped to safety as the filed into the ball.

She watched them, they were completely enthralled.

“Ooooh”’s and “Aaaah”’s could be heard all around them.

Hermione hurried back over to Draco.

“They like it!” She cried in a slight whisper. “They really like it!”

Draco smiled at her excitement.

They scanned the door looking for any sign of people they knew.

“Hey look!” said Hermione. “There\'s Pansy!”

“And sweet Merlin! She\'s dragging Weasley by a rope! Hey Weasley!” Draco called. “Nice tits!”

Ron was dressed in a black and white cow suit, complete with utters. He looked thoroughly miserable.

Pansy strutted over to them, dragging Ron along with her.

“Hello, Draco.” she said, pulling immediately closer to her.

“What exactly are you supposed to be?” he asked curiously.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Pansy shrieked, turning to the side. “I’m a Gothic French Maid!”

“You’re wearing it backwards.” Hermione stated, trying to repress her giggles.

Pansy’s face lit bright red.

“Umm....Ron?” Hermione asked. “Why are you dressed as a cow?”

“This is all they had left.” he said, making a sad face and then immediately looking at the ground.

“Oh, well, um, its......nice...” Hermione said and gave him a smile, trying to make him feel better.

“Vampires?!?” shrieked Pansy once more. “You’re the ones who got the vampire costumes?!?”

Pansy looked utterly (no pun intended) furious.

“Yes” said Draco, wrapping his arm around Hermione’s waist. “Well, you two...um...enjoy your evening.”

“Oh, trust me, we will!” Pansy hissed, grabbing Ron’s arm and jerking it around her.

She still had the rope securely in the other hand and used it to drag Ron off with her.

“I can not believe he actually came with her!” Draco whispered. “I was totally joking! I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy!”

“It doesn’t look like he had much of a choice.” Hermione replied.

Scanning the crowd once more, Hermione spotted Harry and Ginny. She waved them over.

“Hi!” she said happily. “What are you all supposed to be?”

Ginny grinned broadly.

“I’m a witch!” she cried proudly.

Hermione was confused. “But Ginny, you actually are a witch...”

“Yea well, it was either this or a cow so I just went with it.” she replied.

“And I’m a dead Quidditch player.” stated Harry.

Hermione raised her eyebrow and Draco tried desperately not to laugh.

“I didn’t want the cow either.” Harry frowned.

“And you two?” Ginny asked.

Both Draco and Hermione grinned, bearing their fangs.

“Oh!” Ginny gasped. “That is SO cool! Those fangs look real.”

Up strolled Pansy and Ron (again), still being dragged by a rope. Pansy had apparently went to the bathroom and changed because her costume was now turned the right way.

“May I help you, Pansy?” Draco asked. He was becoming increasingly irritated by being stalked by a woman dressed as hired help and her pet cow.

She started to speak, but along with everyone else, turned to curiously stare a gaggle of 1st years walking by.

There was a mini Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco, and even a tiny little Pansy. The mini Pansy was clinging to the mini Draco for dear life. She grinned broadly at the actual Pansy as they passed.

“What the hell was THAT?!?” Draco cried. “I did not look like that when I was little! I was a lot cuter!”

“Shall we bring up the slicked hair?” Harry asked.

“That was a good look for me at the time.” Draco said, trying to reclaim his dignity.

Their conversation was interrupted once again by the approach of Neville.....who was also dressed as a cow.

“Oh Merlin!” cried Draco. “Its a herd!!”

“Did you get stuck with a cow costume too?” Ron frowned.

“Umm...no,” Neville replied. “I like cows.....My Gran likes cows......she collects cows you know......Old people like cows..” He was joined by his date, Luna, who was curiously enough, also dressed as a cow.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief as they excused themselves.

“Well, on my list of weird things I’ve seen that\'s definitely top 5!” she said.

The music started up.

“Oh!” cried Ginny. “Lets dance!”

She grabbed Harry by the arm and drug him toward the dance floor.

Pansy simply jerked Ron’s rope and followed after Ginny and Harry.

Draco and Hermione looked at them curiously as Pansy started to do what she must have thought was a sexy dance, but ended up looking like a Grand Mal Seizure. Ron simply stood there, looking as though someone had just shot his dog in front of him.

Hermione felt terribly bad.

“Maybe I should go rescue him. You know, tell Pansy to go on somewhere...”

“Well, I fully understand that because I’ve been accosted by Pansy as well and have wished that someone had been there to save me, but you have to at least dance a few dances with me. I’m your date, damn it!” Draco said.

He grabbed her by the hand and led her to the dance floor.

“I feel like Ron!” she joked.

Before they knew it, it was close to midnight. Draco and Hermione were having such a good time, they barely noticed. But Harry and Ginny did notice.

“Wow” Harry said. “They’re cozy aren’t they?” gesturing toward Hermione and Draco who were dancing closer than anyone would have ever expected them too.

“Well,” Ginny said “They look extremely happy. I mean, look, Malfoy is actually smiling. Not smirking, but smiling.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Harry said. “but poor Ron is going to be destroyed.”

Hermione caught Ron’s name in their conversation.

“Ron!” she cried. “We left him alone with Pansy!” She had just realized that no one had seen them for hours.

They looked around the crowd. They spotted them, Pansy still tugging on the rope.

“Poor thing,” Hermione said. “He looks miserable.”

“Well,” Draco stated. “Go save him.”

“Are you sure?” Hermione asked. They were having a good time and truth be told, Hermione really didn’t want to leave.

“Yea, it’s fine.” he said, giving her a smile.

Hermione watched the pair and when Pansy miraculously let go of the rope for a moment and disappeared into the crowd, she made her move.

“Hi..” she said as she approached him.

He jumped; probably thinking it was Pansy returning. When he seen it was Hermione, he smiled for the first time all night.

“I was wondering if you’d like to dance with me?” she said, smiling.

He nodded appreciatively and they took their place on the dance floor as a slow song started up.

They danced silently for a few moments.

“What\'s so great about Malfoy?” Ron asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, I don’t know.” Hermione stated truthfully. “But I know I really like him and I think he really likes me.”

“but......” Ron began.

“Listen Ron; the last thing I want to is hurt you. You’re one of my best friends and that won’t change just because I’m dating Draco, ok?” she said gently, as though she were talking to a small child.

Ron nodded and started to speak, but was interrupted by a shrill screech.

“Get away from him you whore!” Pansy bellowed. “You are not taking my cow!!”

She reached out and seized Ron\'s rope once again.

“Shut up, Pansy!” Hermione yelled. “You are such a moron.”

“What did you say you filthy little mudblood?” Pansy shrieked as she pulled her wand out and pointed at Hermione, still holding Ron on a rope. The music stopped everyone was staring at them. Hermione stood there in shock.

“Not so big and bad now are we?” Pansy laughed.

“Put the wand down, Pansy.” Draco screamed pointing his wand at the back of her head. Pansy didn’t move.

“NOW PANSY!!” Draco screamed even louder. Pansy lowered her wand. Everyone was still watching in silence.

“He must..” Harry started.

“Really..” Ginny added.

“Care for her.” Ron finished.

Pansy looked at Hermione and then at Draco, before pulling Ron’s rope and storming away.

“What?” Draco yelled just noticing the on lookers. “What are you looking at?”

The music started and everyone went back to doing what he or she was doing. Draco walked over to Hermione.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yea.” She said still a shock at what had just happened. Professor McGonagall walked into the Ball.

“Alright students, the ball is over. Please make your way back to your houses.” She said. The students moaned, everyone was having such a good time no one wanted to leave.

“Come on.” She said. All the students began filing out of the hall. Draco, Hermione, Harry and Ginny made their way out of the hall and back toward their common rooms.

“Has anyone seen Ron?” Ginny asked. Harry opened his mouth to say no, but turned with the rest of the group to look curiously as Ron came stumbling out of a nearby broom closet with his cow costume rumpled and twisted and the cow head on backwards.

“Ron?” Hermione asked. He pulled the cow head off and looked at them with a smile on his face.

“Hey I know that look, Weasley got him some!” Draco screamed. Everyone looked at Ron wide eyed.

“Yea.” Ron said.

“From Pansy?” Harry asked.

“Yea.” He replied.

“So, how was it?” Hermione asked curiously.

“I’m still not sure. A bit scary. She just kinda threw me down and did everything herself.” he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Wow! Weasley! Do you know what this means? We have something in common! We’ve both screwed Pansy in a broom closet!!”

Pansy came strolling out as well, adjusting the front of her costume and trying to smooth down her hair.

“Oh, Draco!” she said. “Are we jealous that Ron had a piece of me?”

“Nope, I was just apologizing. Now that there are more of us, I’m thinking of starting a support group.”

Pansy just scowled at him, before marching away.

They said their good nights and made their way back to the common room.

After a whole night of surprises, Draco still had one left.