The Dating Game

The Dating Game

Chapter 6: You've ruined her!


Draco hated these sorts of situations. Ministry's Halloween Ball was a real "whose who" of the wizarding world. All witches, no matter their age or wealth were dressed in their best dresses or robes (often also the tackiest and the skimpiest, a statement some older witches really should have reconsidered) and the best jewellery. None of them dared to eat for days before the ball so that they would be able to fit into their dresses and not risk getting a pimple the very last minute, or because, Merlin forbid, "I'm too fat!". Draco knew the type well. He dated it a lot.

Granger was an exception to the rule..then again he didn't date her. He just hung out with her a lot, like friends did. She was a sensible, no frills kind of woman. Maybe that tended to leave her without a date for these things, but for Draco she was a breath of fresh air. Last year he had himself entertained for well over thirty minutes with Hermione and some young man from Charms Development when his actual companion for the evening had spilled something on herself that she wasn't able to charm off (she was bad at charms but much better at fellatio). The chap's theories on hinkypunks were rather interesting, if a bit out there. Maybe he would've been more suited to Care of Magical Creatures rather than Charms Development.

This year would be a bit different though, Hermione had a date. No breath of fresh air for Draco tonight!

= = =

Hermione had decided to enjoy every minute, but that was harder to do in a ballroom full of fancily dressed people than in her own bedroom while getting ready.

She was really self-conscious about her gown, even though Charlie kept saying it was breath-taking. Many passing wizards had turned back to ogle at her fully, leaving their own dates gritting their teeth. That was sort of a compliment, wasn't it? They never did a double take for her, usually. And she did trust Charlie's taste; she just couldn't help but fear if maybe the dress was a bit too...revealing. She didn't want to look cheap, or like a little girl playing dress up in her mommy's clothes.

"Who is that witch? No, that one. Who is she?"

"Mmmm. She doesn't look familiar. But I sure wouldn't mind getting to know her better and --"

Hermione blushed at the two wizards' words, but thankfully no one was able to see it because of the make up charm. Charlie squeezed her hand.

"Relax, sweetie." he whispered.

= = =

"Draco! Where's your date?"

Ginny Potter, with her husband, Harry alongside her. Straight to the point as always.

"She's here. She ran into her sister and they're still talking and talking- - " Draco pointed at a pair of dark haired witches that were gossiping with each other in the near corner.

"Your taste hasn't improved much!" Ginny retorted, sounding oddly biting. Potter seemed to sense an edge to her tone, and he hurried to interrupt his wife.

"You seen Hermione yet? I've been looking for her all evening but haven't been able to spot her!"

What a lame excuse for a change of subject. You ought to be able to do better than THAT, Potter!

"No, I haven't seen her either. Too busy mingling, you know."

Draco too, had tried very hard to spot Hermione, but he still hadn't succeeded. He knew she must be there, but he couldn't see her bushy head anywhere. Usually a dead easy give away.

"I hear her look is a bit...different tonight. Maybe we just haven't looked hard enough." Ginny suggested.

Draco muttered something and Harry yanked Ginny away to the dance floor. The band was playing a waltz. Potter had gotten considerably better at dancing since the Yule Ball at their 4th year. He had to, of course, having had to dance at his own wedding. That had been a sight!

Kind of like that witch over there. Quite his usual type, actually, except for being a trifle short maybe. If it didn't work out with Michelle, he might ask this one to go home with him instead.

The woman was dressed in an ivory white silken gown that had a very low back (almost showing her assumed panty line, if the minx was wearing any! A dress like that begged for no underwear and she obviously wasn't wearing a bra) and long slits at the side. Some white beads were sown into the cloth here and there, which sparkled when she moved. The dress was very elegant and definitely very sexy. A witch dressed like that was a challenge to any and every breathing wizard. Her brown, highlighted hair fell freely to her back, not a single hair out of place.

So unlike Hermione.

Hermione. Why was Granger coming into his mind now! And where exactly was she still, anyway?!

The woman in the ivory gown turned around, giving Draco -and a whole lot of other staring wizards- a fair glance of her creamy thighs and her generous cleavage. The gown was almost as low in the front as it was in the back. Oh my!

Her face was beautiful. Her dark brown eyes were full of playfulness and flirt and her wonderfully pouty lips were innocently pink, making a very kinky, probably well planned contradiction to her tasteful yet screaming dress. She didn't wear much makeup, just some kohl and a bit of dark grey and white eye shadow. She didn't need any.

Draco was a bit disgusted with himself. That witch showed herself off to everyone, just like most witches here. What was so special being only one of many wizards enjoying her charms when she showed them so freely? Hermione's style of not making a fuss had surprisingly lot of merit. It was a dirty rotten shame that she never found a date for these balls. Men really were too stupid to see what was right in front of them! When all of this nonsense was finally over he would help her find someone nice. He really would. Someone she could have frizzy haired, talented kids with, and who would be really...nice to her. As nice and sensible as Hermione herself was. Someone a whole lot different than Charles Whitmore with his "best sex ever".

Charles Whitmore who had his hand on the arse of the woman in the ivory white dress! Where had he left Hermione? Did he stand her up? This would not be tolerated! Draco strode along to Charles as fast as he could from all of the other guests blocking his way.

"Whitmore! What the hell is this and who is that woman? Where have you left Hermione?!" he yelled without being able to keep his voice down.

Charles looked at him as if he had grown horns on his head.

"Draco, what on earth do you mean?"

Charles traded a glance with The Other Woman, who seemed quite surprised and puzzled herself. And also, quite...familiar.

Oh. My. Sweet. Merlin.

Bugger.

This close up she looked stunning. Angelic. A man could go blind looking at her, and that was just looking at her face. That still left the valley between her breasts, the curve of her neck, her perfect shoulder blades, her shapely legs... And every single wizard in this ballroom was staring at her, hungrily. Wanting nothing more than to take her home instead of their girlfriends or wives and just fuck her into oblivion and beyond. Just like he had a lifetime ago when he hadn't realized who she was.

"Cover up!! Are you trying to make a total fool of yourself?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione's voice wavered.

Draco hurriedly took off his cloak and rushed it over her. It didn't cover much but it was a start!

"What are you trying to do, Granger? Become the designated Ministry slut?"

Hermione gasped. Charles paled. The crowd nearest to the scene went quiet.

"What is it to you? This is just a fancy dress for a Halloween Ball that I'm attending with the guy I'm dating. What's wrong with that?!"

"What's wrong? Oh you know perfectly well what's wrong! A slutty dress and new hair doesn't make you any more beautiful, Hermione. You're just your old self in a costume!"

Hermione just stared at him, before speaking out venomously,

"This is a costume ball. This is a costume, you asshole. And I like it!" She threw off his cloak and apparated herself away.

"You went too far, Malfoy," Charles snarled.

"What did you do to her? You've ruined her!!"

"What, ruined your perfect virgin-like ideal of her? The one you take to bed with you whenever you have fun with your faceless slags?"

Draco couldn't reply. For once he was left speechless.

"That's it, isn't it? She was your fall back. The one who was supposed to wait with her legs crossed just in case you finally decided to settle down. Well, she isn't anymore. You missed it, Malfoy!"

"Missed what?"

"The wonder that is Hermione Granger, you stupid git."

Charles apparated himself away in pursuit of said Hermione Granger.

= = =

"That was...quaint." A familiar female voice said behind Draco. Ginny Potter. Why not, by all means. Fuck!

"Bugger off, Mrs Potter!"

Harry glared at Draco, making it crystal clear that were he planning on saying something else to Ginny, he wouldn't stay quiet.

"Now, Draco, no need to shoot the messenger just because you messed up." Ginny continued, "You sure made your...feelings known."

Draco was growing even more irritated and angry of the situation and all the people watching shamelessly.

"What's that supposed to mean??"

"I thought you were supposed to compliment the object of your affections. Say nice things, maybe like ‘I like your hair like that', or ‘that is a really beautiful dress'. Seems you Malfoys operate differently. I'm sure telling her she was being foolish and slutty will have the desired effect."

"Object of my affections? Granger?" Draco looked like he was going to explode.

"It doesn't really matter now anyway. Whitmore's got her, and you definitely blew your shot whether she's the object of your affections or not. Shall we go back to dancing, Harry? I'm dying to do another tango with you."

"My pleasure, Ginevra." Harry said as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor before she could say anything else. Was she right? Was this what she had hinted at before? Was Malfoy interested in Hermione himself? And if he was, what the hell was he playing at tonight!!

All these thoughts soon sunk to the back of his mind as he started to really enjoy the tango with his redheaded wife.

= = =

This hadn't gone exactly as Charlie had planned. Yes, he had expected a reaction from Draco, even a volatile one, but not verbally attacking Hermione like this! He was supposed to realize he fancied her. He was supposed to see that Hermione was perfect the way she was, or rather, the way she had been before Charlie had "ruined" her.

Charlie knew Draco had noticed her tonight. He just wondered if it was enough to make him finally get it.