Pureblood Academy Host Club

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Pureblood Academy Host Club

Chapter 2 An Academy Host's Work

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Spring seemed to approach at a slow rate as there was still winter's leftover cool, crisp scent, but the blossoms in the trees were budding pink, feathery-like petals.

The afternoon bell at Pureblood academy rang in a form of bell change. The chime rang in different intonations. Hermione Jane Potter sat up from bending over her books. With a sigh at the clock, she closed her notebook and stuffed her books quickly into her bag. She was dressed quite neatly in the male Pureblood uniform of powder blue with a necktie. Hermione showed no embarrassment at this, and, slinging her bag over her shoulder, set off at a run out of the library.

"They won't be sympathetic if I'm late," she muttered, running up some steps and into another hallway. From there, she approached a door with a sign saying, "Third music room." This door should come with a warning, she thought a bit bitterly as she turned the handle.

She peeked her head inside and was surprised to find herself in a jungle. There was a humid heat surrounding her as exotic butterflies flew by and lizards climbed up the...er...walls.

"Where...am I?" she breathed.

"Welcome!" rang out the greeting that first met her ears on that fateful day. She stepped in the door and closed it, looking around and her eyes met the sight of six naked men.

"Good Lord...." Hermione mumbled.

"Oh," said the pair of twins. "It's just Hermione."

The pause and silence gave Hermione the time to observe that they were, in fact, wearing something. They all had on what appeared to be colourful cloths around their waist and their chests were bare but for the extravagant jewellery gracing their arms and necks. In a chair, in the middle, was the most extravagant of them all. Draco Malfoy, wearing a white toga under impressive jewels, shaded under two colourful umbrellas, seemed even more smug than usual.

"Hermione, you're late," Tom Riddle announced.

Hermione ignored Tom. "According to my calendar, it should be the middle of March right now. Why are we sunbathing in the music room?"

Draco Malfoy stood up, the gold on his body clinking along with his movements. "Fearing the chill and curling ourselves up in jumpers and coats is nonsense!" he explained, waving his arms. "What would be the otherwise point of our flawless air conditioning system?" he asked, his features sparkling in reflection of the jewellery.

Hermione muttered something that sounded a little like, "Mitch fasters". Whatever that may have been.

"Is there something about the club's policies that you would like to criticise?" Tom inquired politely, opening up his laptop. "Dear Hermione, who owes us a sixty-five thousand pound debt..."

Hermione stared in awe at the supreme darkness that was Tom Riddle.

Draco did not seem to be listening to any of this. "A good man should not bundle himself up. Even if it's early spring when the world is still freezing...at this club, we want to receive those freezing kittens...with a warm tropical paradise aura! Yes!" Here he put an arm around Harry. "Today this place is the ultimate paradise! A hot, hot island of everlasting summer!"

Hermione was frowning as she stood limply in Draco's grasp. "Actually, I feel cold in various ways..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"This is such cruelty," cried Draco with passion. "This skin of mine as sleek as ivory; this ceremonial dress akin to the King of Bali." He touched the smooth fabric of his ensemble. "Before my goddesses, however, I can only succumb..." He took a girl's face in his hands tenderly. "...and I am nothing, but a loyal servant."

The girl seemed like she was either going to drop dead right there or squeal until she turned blue. Nonetheless, she looked at Draco with lovelorn eyes.

Hermione frowned with disapproval as she observed this.

Draco leaned away and straightened up, addressing the table full of girls. "Ah, yes, yes. Next week is when our Pureblood Host Club's dance party takes place."

"Dance party?" Hermione murmured.

"What kind of things do you do at a dance party?" asked a girl, and Hermione turned in her direction. She was addressing the twins who sat across from her.

"We book the entire central hall of the Central Building," replied the first softly.

"...and it will just be the most fantastic thing ever," continued the other lightly.

The first one turned to the other, his hand gripping the other's upper arm. "But I really wanted to spend it alone...with you...Fred," he murmured softly, looking deep into his twin's eyes.

Fred returned the look earnestly. "Don't say that, George...honestly...I, too...."

"That's so beautiful!!" burst out one of the girls across for them with cries of delight.

"Slash in a tropical paradise!" cried the other.

Hermione went to stand beside Tom, who was looking through his clipboard. "It seems our customers are more highly strung than usual."

"Exposing a certain amount of skin is always well-received," he returned laconically, still flipping through his papers.

"You planned this tropical project, Tom?"

"I do not have power to make the decision...." came the reply still more coldly. "The operations of this club are entirely decided upon by the King, Draco." He suddenly smiled and Harry was amazed at the change in him. "But I suppose it paid off nonchalantly leaving a photo collection of Bali on Draco's desk."

Once more Hermione stared in awe at the darkness that was Tom. "This guy is the shadow king..." she breathed, moving away quickly as Tom resumed writing in his clipboard.

"Ta-da!" cried Colin Creevey, spreading his arms before a few other girls. He was dressed in a bright banana yellow toga with a bright red flower garland about his neck.

"Colin, you're so cute!"

Colin's laugh resembled that of a baby's gurgling giggle; this, however, did not prevent him from making that little sound. "These are all flowers directly from Bali. We got them delivered by air." It was just then that Theodore passed by, holding a pineapple. "Ah, Teddy." And here, Colin, being very tiny, grabbed a garland and practically scooted his way up Theodore, who was extremely tall. He slipped it over the bigger boy's neck and grinned. "See? Now we're a set!"

One of the girls happened to faint at the excess amount of cute within the vicinity.

"Lady Mandy!"

Hermione shook her head. "I still find those two incomprehensible."

"Harry!" said one of the girls across from her.

"You're not going to wear tropical clothing?"

"Ooh, I'd like to see that!" said the other.

Hermione thought of the thin revealing cloth, and quickly blushed. "Nah, I think it's more preferable to wear early spring clothing when it's early spring."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco grinned a very blank indulgent grin as he looked down at Hermione. "I got a costume for you too, Harry! And...it's a paired set with mine!"

Hermione blinked at the white "Queen of Bali" dress with the fruit hat and returned coldly, "No, thank you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Harry, you really treasure the sense of seasons, don't you?"

Hermione looked up. "What do you mean?"

The girl smiled warmly. "I mean you appreciate each season as it comes. That's why you're not dressed up like the rest."

Hermione paused, and then gave a grin. "Yeah, that's probably it."

The girls laughed at this as one of them sighed. "Speaking of seasons, wouldn't it be wonderful to see blooming cherry blossoms at the dance party?"

"Wow, imagine that," continued another girl dreamily, "...a couple dancing amidst cherry blossoms..."

Hermione gave a laugh. "That's interesting...I admire you for having such an eye for the romantic," she remarked.

The girls paused with their drinks half-raised and blushed furiously as they looked at Hermione in gazes of rapt adoration.

Obliviously, Hermione smiled back.

"Pardon me," said a voice nearby, and they all looked up.

A girl with long, fiery-red hair looked down at Hermione, her ardent brown eyes taking in the scene before her. "I believe it is almost time for the next shift now," she said politely, folding her hands in front of her and smiling.

"Oh!" cried Hermione. "I'm so sorry. You must be my next customer."

"Ginevra from fourth year," she supplied softly, lifting her hand to Hermione's chin in a ginger manner. "You are much cuter than the rumours gave credit." She tipped Hermione's head back and looked down into the gleaming green eyes staring up at her in puzzlement. "I have decided," she continued, still softly, "I will make you my next favourite."

There was a harsh choking noise from behind, and Hermione was vaguely aware of Draco going into a spastic fit of coughs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The pale pink of the academy shone steadily as the sun set. The clock struck five-thirty and the sky gleamed orange as cotton candy-like clouds drifted by in the cooling air.

Draco sat in a corner, his posture sulking as he ate steadily from a can of spaghetti. There was a deep aura of sorrow around him as he gazed sightlessly into the abyss. "I cannot accept this," he growled to himself through mouthfuls.

"My Lord," called George from the table where the rest of them were gathered. "Stop eating canned food, and help out planning for the dance party!"

Fred looked at Draco. "Is he still so upset with the fact that Princess Ginevra prefers Harry now?"

The click of fingers on computer keys did not pause as Tom added, "The girl's illness isn't something new."

"Illness?" Hermione echoed.

"The 'host-wandering' illness," George broke in.

"In other words," Fred continued, "the 'switch guys every now and then' illness."

Tom gave them a slight scathing glance before he went on, still typing ardently on his laptop. Hermione was surprised to see that Tom wore reading glasses, but they were stylish and narrow. "Usually, regular customers decide on a host and designate him forever, but she has a habit of periodically changing her favourite."

Colin jumped in, clutching his pink bunny. "Just before now, that favourite was Draco, right?" he inquired, his eyes swimming with clueless innocence.

Draco sighed, his head swimming with dashing images of him holding the beautiful Ginevra as they turned gracefully among a field of roses.

"Ah." Hermione nodded, cottoning on. "So it's just because his customer got snatched away...."

Draco jumped up, casting his can of spaghetti to the side. It appeared he was not aware of the stains of tomato about his mouth. "NO!" he cried. "THAT'S NOT IT!"

When the girl known as Harry didn't respond to his harsh tones, Draco folded his arms with dignity and called out, "All right, I can't stand it anymore! Harry, start acting like a woman already!"

"Huh?" Hermione murmured, surprised at this outburst.

Tom was smirking to himself as he tended to his laptop and Colin was in tears. Draco ignored all this as he covered his ears with his hands and shook his head, still ranting. "Under what jurisdiction must you become popular amongst girls if you're already a girl?!" He stood straight and clenched his fist before him with enthusiasm. "It is an obvious fact that the only people that know you're a girl are the club members here!"

"How is that anyway? Don't people notice?" Colin broke in, now having recovered from the shock of Draco's screaming.

"P.E is an optional class and she opted not to take it," George explained.

"Also, male and female seating numbers are intermixed, so no one would know," Fred supplied happily.

During this, Draco turned on his heel and walked to the other side of the room where a trunk stood. He stomped fiercely toward it and pushed it out to the middle of the room, his cheeks flushed. With a cry of...whatever, he flung it open. "You see, daddy wants...." He pulled from it a large frame and stood it up in front of Harry. It was a picture of a girl with a simple kind of prettiness with big green eyes and long black hair. She was in a junior high uniform. "DADDY WANTS TO SEE YOU WHEN YOU LOOKED LIKE THIS!" Draco shouted, tears in his voice.

"DON'T BLOW UP PEOPLE'S PICTURES WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION!" Hermione shrieked back.

Draco whisked it away and set it up on the Host Club's right wall. The rest of the group gathered around it, observing the features that used to be Hermione's. Draco appeared to have tears in his eyes again.

"The more I look at it, the more I find myself in awe," murmured George. "How did this become that baggy-clothed, messy-haired bespectacled, genderless creature?"

They all turned and observed Hermione, who stood nearby watching this with disbelief. She shrugged. "The day before the first day of school, a kid in the neighbourhood put gum in my hair. I just cut it all off because it was bothersome," she explained, sifting her fingers through the shorn locks around her head. Draco frowned and Hermione grinned at him. "Look, mate; I'm not really concerned if people take me for a guy."

Draco let out a sound that was between a gasp, a choke, and a violent spasm. "Real girls don't say MATE!!" he shouted. In anguish, he turned back to the rest of them. "Mom!" he wheezed. "Harry's using foul language!"

"Mom, being?" Fred asked.

Tom sighed. "Position-wise, probably me."

"Besides," continued Hermione, trying to ignore the presence of Draco near her feet, alternating between weeping into a handkerchief and banging his fist on the ground. "...to pay off my debt before graduation, it's much easier being a host and getting designations than being someone who does trivial chores."

"By the way," George breezed. "You have any ballroom dancing experience? It's a definite must for the party, eh?"

"What?" exclaimed Hermione. "But...the party has nothing to do with my debt, right?" She seemed suddenly flustered. "I'm not really into events and...."

It was as if Draco was completely in tune with Hermione's panic for he had suddenly jumped up; a strangely fitting glint of malice in his expression. "No," he countered smoothly, resting his chin on his hand as he folded one arm. "Ballroom dancing is common knowledge for a gentleman. Seeing as how you're so eager to take the path of a host, you must show me exactly how serious you are, Hermione Jane Potter-Harry for short."

Hermione stared at him.

"If you cannot master the waltz in one week," Draco continued, raising one finger, "...and show it off at the party, you will have to expose yourself as a girl and revert back to menial tasks!"

Hermione was surprised to find that she was actually worried.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Quick...quick...slow...quick...quick...slow," Ginevra muttered, holding Hermione's hands as they glided about the room. Hermione watched her feet nervously as she tried to follow the movements. Draco sat on the window seat; the shade of both his sorrow and the trees outside cast a darkened shape over his finely sculpted brow as he watched Ginevra and Hermione.

"Very nice, Harry; you're picking it up quite quickly. Just put your feet together at slow...." she cooed indulgently, grasping Hermione's shoulder. "Remember that the gentleman must lead."

Hermione nodded as she moved her foot to the third beat in the concerto. It seemed even the sun could not touch the shadow of Draco's unfortunate sorrow.

"Look carefully at your female partner," she murmured then.

"Er...OK." She made the effort to look up at Ginevra, but the whole idea of making one's feet move in rhythm at the same time as gazing into a pair of lovely brown eyes was a confusing prospect and very soon Hermione had tripped over Ginevra's ankle and landed on top of her.

Hermione gasped. "I'm so sorry," and moved to get up, but Ginevra linked her arms around Hermione's neck and smiled shyly.

"It's OK, Harry," she whispered, and Hermione blushed.

The twins, however, were watching Draco. "Our Lord is looking gloomy," they both said at once.

"I heard he wanted to be her practice partner," George added slyly.

"It's impossible for him to be Hermione's female partner because of his height."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm so sorry, Princess Ginevra," Hermione muttered, "about making you be my practice partner...."

"Oh, I don't mind," she replied warmly. "I heard you will not be able to receive guests because of this intensive practice." Here she leaned forward on the table, her elbows resting on the edge and her chin on the back of her loosely folded fingers. "I am actually rather happy that I have the opportunity to monopolize your time now."

Hermione stared at her. Gosh, this is awkward.

Tom walked by their table and set a tray with tea and cakes down. "Oh my!" cried Ginevra. "Are these new cups? These are Ginori[1], right?"

Tom inclined his head politely. "You have the eyes of an expert," he remarked. "This set came in just yesterday. Our club is putting effort into upgrading its tea set collection."

Ginevra gazed at the deep green cup with a half smile. "I see. It has such a gorgeous colour." Her voice had gone soft again. "It's so beautiful...."

Draco's shadow seemed to lift as he sat up, looking suddenly shrewd. Hermione smiled brightly. "You like tableware, huh?"

There was a sharp clang as the tea cup hit the saucer again and Ginevra blushed to the tips of her hair. "N-no! I really don't!! Wh-what are you saying?!"

She laughed forcefully with her face still flaming, and Hermione could only smile weakly. She does like them. But...why would she be embarrassed about it.

It was just then that the music doors opened. "Good afternoon, Host Club members," a soft, low voice said. "I've brought the tea cups you ordered."

Ginevra, who appeared to be absently stroking her cup paused and sat upright, looking straight ahead.

"Ah," said Tom, turning to face their new guest. "Thank you. The wares you have chosen for us are all very well-received by the ladies. You are very good."

"I'm glad to hear it," came the polite reply.

Hermione turned to look at the youthful face of a black boy with short hair and honest, quiet eyes. "Is that someone from the company?" she asked, leaving Ginevra staring down quietly at her tea cups.

The bloke laughed a little. "I'm just a student. I am wearing a uniform, right?"

Tom motioned for Hermione to take the box of tea cups. Hermione nodded and was about to take them to the back when Ginevra suddenly laughed silkily. "You are such a funny person, Harry," she remarked, turning a little in her seat, but still not all the way.

Hermione, Tom, and the young man looked at her.

"I understand, though." She laughed again, now turning completely. She kept her eyes fully trained on Hermione and did not look at the newcomer. "He does not look like the heir to a first-class corporation, does he?"

"Heir?" echoed Hermione, her wide green eyes thoughtful.

"His family," Tom explained, "the Thomas Trading Company, mainly deals with the import and export of tableware and right now, their share of the market is number one in the country."

Ginevra finally looked slowly at the heir to the Thomas Trading Company. He looked at her with a raw expression of almost wistfulness before she quickly dropped her eyes.

"....so I asked him to bring us some whenever a shipment came in," continued Tom, marking a few things on his clipboard.

Hermione nodded and glanced at their guest. She caught his gaze of sad longing in Ginevra's direction and quickly turned to follow that gaze. Ginevra was turning away to face her tea cup again.

"I really trust your eyes, Dean Thomas," Tom finished.

Dean seemed to start as he looked at Tom. "Oh, my eyes aren't that...good yet," and he looked in Ginevra's direction again absently.

"I heard your study abroad in Russia starts next month?" Tom inquired politely.

Hermione watched Ginevra bow her head even further as Dean replied, "Yes...well, then; I'd better be off."

She only looked back as his footsteps died away. Draco leaned around her with a calm smile on his face. "Enjoying your time at the host club?"

She jumped a little and opened her mouth to speak when Hermione stepped up behind her. "Do you know that person, Princess Ginevra?"

This time the jump was not subtle. She whirled in her chair and stammered. "What? No! I mean to say-that is- we're not close or anything! What are you talking about, Harry?" She stood up suddenly, taking her purse. "I think I had better go. I'll just excuse myself for today."

And she swept from the room blushing fiercely again as Hermione stared blankly after her.

"Hawwy!" called Colin as he jumped on her back, little as he was.

Hermione took a moment to gasp for air as Colin went on. "Did you know that Dean is Ginevra's fiancé?"

Hermione paused. "What? Really?"

Tom nodded.

Draco sighed. "Tom, since when did you know about this?"

Tom turned. "About this fiancé business?" He flipped open his clipboard and held it open in one hand, observing the papers in front of him. "Of course, I have researched our customers. These two are childhood friends, and the engagement was decided by their parents. The information did not pose any use to me so I just ignored it."

Draco looked at him with fire in his gaze. "You..." he trailed off.

"Dean Thomas," Tom continued, "grades are impressive, family prestige is...so-so, looks are average, his strong point is his serious, artistic personality. If you had to pick a bad aspect..."

The twins were at the ready. "He doesn't leave a strong impression," said George.

"He's weak."

Tom looked up from his clipboard and shut it with a snap. "In other words, he's boring. End of report."

Hermione stared at him. "He has no mercy..."

"Dean is a nice person, though...right?" Colin broke in, now sitting atop Theodore's shoulders.

"Yeah," Theodore muttered.

Draco stepped forth. "Well then...let's write out a plan."

They all stared at him. "A plan for what?" they all chorused.

There was still that fire burning in Draco grey eyes. "Our Pureblood Host Club exists to bring fortune to ladies!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One Week Later

"To all you little lambs who have gathered here tonight...at the Pureblood Academy Host Party. Welcome!" Draco called out. He swept into an elegant bow as the chandeliers blinked on, and the orchestra began to play. There was applause as the throng of beautifully dressed young women pressed close to the upper floor where the members of the host club stood in their tuxedos.

Tom raised his arms in a welcoming gesture. "We wish you to enjoy this dance with all of our host club members. Also, to the lady who displays the best dance....to the guest who is chosen as the queen tonight, you shall receive a warm kiss from our king on your cheek."

Harry noticed Draco sudden smug smile as the girls broke into shouts of joy. He leaned forward against the banister as if he was addressing each one of them individually. "Do your best, love," was all he said into the echoing microphone.

Squeal and screams filled the room and Hermione rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"Harry, you don't look too enthusiastic," the twins broke out, standing on either side of her.

She shrugged. "I'm not used to these events. I've only been to a Yule ball at my old school."

Tom, as usual, opened his clipboard and began to write. "I probably wouldn't call that a dance party. Well, at least have a taste of the food here. It'll be a treat for you, won't it?"

Hermione blinked and looked up at him. "A treat?" she said blankly. Then she looked off in the distance and murmured very faintly, "Like lobster...?"

There was a snap as Tom's pencil broke, and there was a ringing silence as each of them stared at her in shock. Draco's cry broke the silence as he exclaimed in disbelief. "Lobster?!" He jumped up and pointed at Tom, over the twins and Colin doting on Hermione, whose face was now as red as a beet.

"Get us some lobster immediately," Draco cried at Tom as Tom dialled on his cell.

"Poor, poor child," wept the twins and Hermione clenched her fists. Damn you rich bastards!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The room was glowing with warmth and laughter as young women were whirled about to the light rhythmic violins and flutes. The twins danced nearby each other as they each held a different girl. And Colin whirled around the room laughing with his partner as she grasped his hands. Other girls stood nearby waiting their turn.

Hermione watched all this impassively, leaning against one of the pillars with a small smile. Two girls stood nearby looking at her nervously.

"Erm..." began one, but then a slow, soft voice spoke out.

"Harry." Hermione turned and saw Ginevra in a beautiful sky blue gown with a white shawl draped loosely around her arms. "I have been looking for you. You would dance with me, right?"

Hermione smiled, offering her hand. "Yes, of course I would."

The two girls watched jealously as Ginevra put her hand in Hermione's and as they walked to the dance floor.

Colin, who had now drifted close to Draco, whispered excitedly, "Princess Ginevra is here!"

Theodore turned and looked.

"Well then," replied Draco, not looking up from his partner, "begin our mission."

"Roger!" both Colin and Theodore called, breaking away from their partners and turning with a run.

Hermione had only just turned to begin the dance when she felt a pair of hands grasp her about the waist and a rush of air as something small ran past her. She cried out and found herself whisked away.

"What was that?" Ginevra cried, looking around for Harry. "Was he just kidnapped?"

Draco turned toward her and offered his hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Colin bounded into the room, Theodore followed with Hermione slung over his shoulder. Tom and the twins were already waiting in the back room beside Hermione's usual dressing room.

"Here she comes," George said smugly.

Theodore slowly set Hermione down and she whirled on the others. "You didn't have to be that forceful...."

George pushed a package into her hands. "Who cares? Just change into these already."

Colin abruptly gave her a push and she stumbled behind the curtain as the others waited nearby. Tom turned to them, adjusting his reading glasses as he pulled out his clipboard. "This plan needs a bit of a twist, don't you suppose?" he inquired with a small smirk. As the others listened closely, he seemed to change his mind and turned to the curtain. "Listen, Hermione; your time limit is the twenty minutes before the climax of the party. We've already called out Mr. Thomas to the designated classroom."

Hermione sighed as she slipped into the pink fabric. "Yeah, ok."

"Be sure to get his true feelings out right?" Colin broke in.

As she stepped out, the twins opened a box on a table filled with cosmetics. They gestured for her to be seated as they attended to her face. "Well, we're still feeling insecure because this is Draco's plan," Fred sighed. "Still..."

Suddenly, Draco burst in the room. "How can you all be back here?" he exclaimed, throwing open the doors. "Who'll take care of our guests..." He trailed off as he looked at Hermione.

Hermione, at hearing his voice, got up and turned from her seat. She was wearing a wig to match her jet-black locks and cast over her thin figure was a pink, narrow, strapless dress. She looked uncomfortably up at him for a moment as she clasped her hands together.

The entire dignified exterior of Draco's crumbled as his mouth went slack, and as he merely gaped.

"What do you think, my lord?" Fred asked, coming over to stand next to him.

It was only as Hermione began to walk that the image was broken. The shoes made her stumble and teeter slightly off balance as she made her way to the door.

"Hermione, you're so cute!" cried Colin as Theodore and Tom smiled quietly.

"My face feels heavy," she muttered back. "I can't walk well with these shoes."

They all followed her out into the hall. "Go give it your best shot!" cried the twins in unison to her back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dean Thomas looked out at the dark blossoms outside in the twilight. The classroom was dark, but he didn't dare switch on the lights. She was keeping, and he didn't care to stay there long. That was when he heard the door to the classroom open. A younger girl with bright green eyes and jet-black hair walked in.

He looked down at the letter clutched in his hand before holding it up. "You are the one who wrote this letter?"

The girl hesitated and then stepped forward. She took the letter from him and read through.

"You're very different from what I had imagined," he remarked as she frowned at the letter.

Hermione felt she had every reason to frown as she read it.

Dear Deany!

Love! Love! EVER SINCE I FIRST SAW YOU MY HEART HAS BEEN BEATING SUPER, SUPER FAST

IT WAS LIKE THERE WERE THESE ETERNAL CYCLONES AND NEVERCHANGING TYPHOONS. MY HEART IS STILL

SWIRLING WITH THE WINDS OF LOVE!! I WANT TO MEET UP WITH YOU IN THE FOURTH MATH CLASSROOM SO I CAN TELL YOU

MORE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU MAKE MY HEAD SWIM!

At the bottom there was not even a signature, but instead, little sketches of hearts, typhoons, and cyclones. Hermione felt herself blanching. Who on earth wrote this junk? she thought. An image of three conspiring host members by the names of Fred, George and Tom swam before her mind's eye.

It appeared as if Dean has been watching her closely. "Hmm...where have I see you before?" he asked softly.

Hermione jumped. "You haven't!" she cried. "This is my first time talking to you!"

Dean turned away and looked out the window. "I'm sorry," he muttered, and Hermione blinked at him. "Even though you took the trouble to give me this letter, I won't be able to answer your feelings."

He looked back at her and then dropped his eyes, staring forlornly at the floor. "There's already a girl whom I cherish," he whispered.

Hermione was listening intently. "That girl is your..."

Dean shook his head to interrupt her. "Unfortunately, she's not my girlfriend. Actually, she must be tired of me. I think a brighter, more confident person would fit her better."

Hermione didn't answer; she only looked up at him, her bright eyes almost vacant with thought.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginevra rested her hand on Draco's arm and smiled at him warmly. "Where exactly are you taking me?"

Draco stopped walking and turned to face her. The hallway was bathed in a milky blue from the moon and their shadows were cast against the narrow wooden doors along the hall. "I..." he began, searching for the right words. "I do not think you're suitable for a position of employing schemes."

She tilted her head to the side in puzzlement. "What do you mean?"

Draco smiled subtly, and he looked out at the night. "No matter how much you try to get his attention by wandering about the various hosts in our club, you will always look far happier when you look at tea cups."

Ginevra's eyes widened as tears began to fill them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A tall china cabinet stood in the middle of the room. Little cups and plates were set side by side behind the glass. A dark head poked up from the other side of the glass. A little boy with honest, dark eyes looked back at her.

"Look at them, Ginny," he said, smiling at her across the glass.

Little Ginny's fingers pressed against the glass as she observed the tiny cups with their floral prints and white pearly colours. "Wow," was what she murmured then.

Dean began to point at each cup, his youthful eyes swarming with knowledge. "This one's Wedgwood; that's a Foley; Worcester; and over here, of course is a Ginori. This last one on the side is Meissen."

Ginny smiled with interest at each cup with the patterns and pretty handles.

"You're my bride, Ginny," he continued, "so I'll teach you everything, OK?"

She had nodded then, her eyes shining with affection.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Stop it," Ginevra said quietly, turning her back on Draco. "No matter what I do, he just doesn't care at all. Even his intention to go to Russia, he decided it before I even knew." She shrugged and began to walk away, heading for the nearest classroom maybe with the intention to sit alone and think; perhaps just to cry.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I want to change, too," Dean sighed, folding his arms. "I want to see the world...become a better man. I know this sound selfish, but I wish she could wait for me."

Hermione looked at her hands reflectively. "Oh," she sighed. "That really is selfish."

Dean looked like she had shot an arrow straight through his chest.

"Asking her to understand without even telling her is unreasonable," Hermione continued, not noticing Dean's expression. "If you have such strong feelings for her, why is it necessary to delay it?"

Dean looked at Hermione, a new expression on his face.

"From the moment you wanted to change, you did change...that's just my opinion."

He laughed a little at this and an expression of relief crossed his face as he smiled. "Thank you," he whispered, resting his hand on her shoulder.

Ginevra crossed the hall, reaching for the door handle. She opened the door and realised that the classroom was occupied. She looked up and spotted Dean. He stood there, his dark honest eyes blinking back at her. He was with a girl....

"Ginny," he said in bewilderment.

Ginevra averted her eyes with a quick smile. "Oh my...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to interrupt anything." It was hard to hold the tears back, but they came and it was humiliating as they trailed down her cheeks. As the first sob fought its way up her throat, she gasped and turned on her heel with the intention of running as far and as fast as she could.

"Ginny!" cried Dean, side-stepping Hermione and chasing after her. "Ginny!!"

Hermione, feeling horrible, stepped out of the room after them. She watched in surprise as they both ran down the hall. She heard Draco's footsteps nearby and turned just to see him step up beside her. "Aren't you making things worse?" she cried.

Draco's expression revealed nothing as he gazed down the hall. "He went out and chased her," was all he said.

Hermione started in surprise at this revelation. She gave a smile and blinked up at Draco, who still remained impassive. Our Pureblood Host Club exists to bring fortune to girls...huh? was her only thought as she stared up at the Host club king.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Their footsteps rang in the courtyard outside the central hall. She gasped and almost choked as she clutched at her skirts, running and running. She could almost hear him pounding after her, but she knew there would be no point in talk. There had never really been the point in talking.

He was still faster than her anyway and it was just as she was about to reach the end of the courtyard that his hand closed on her wrist and she jerked back involuntarily. They panted, staring at one another.

He opened his mouth to speak after so many years of not saying anything when a bright light shone from above them. Several more lit up and soon the spotlight blazed on them from three directions. The French windows of the central hall burst open as the music inside faded and the young female guests of the host club filed out curiously.

"Well then, ladies and gentlemen," said an amplified voice from nowhere. "...our lovely night together...has finally come down to the last song. The last waltz from our host club is dedicated to this couple."

Ginevra and Dean looked up at the central hall and saw Draco at the balustrade of the portico. He was gesturing towards them in an elegant manner with a secretive smile on his face. The other host club members, including Hermione, who was now back in her suit.

Dean, who had been clutching Ginevra's wrist all this time, let go and turned to face her. Ginevra slowly turned back to him, her ardent brown eyes still shimmering with tears. Dean closed his eyes as if to execute the greatest of efforts, but he bowed nonetheless. "Princess Ginevra," he offered quietly. "Would you be willing to dance with me?"

Ginevra couldn't hold back the gasp. "I-I thought," she stammered. There was a tense silence as they looked at each other, but her face softened as he offered a smile. She took his hand and he grasped it tightly.

Hermione grinned from her spot next to Draco as the two danced. They looked so sweet.

"Isn't that beautiful?" George murmured slyly, handing his brother a banana.

"Yeah," replied Fred, biting quickly into the end of his.

"Why are you two eating bananas at this time?" Hermione exclaimed incredulously.

The two of them both raised an identical eyebrow in her direction, and said nothing. Shrugging, Hermione turned back to look at Ginevra and Dean.

Dean stared down fondly at her. "You know I've never stopped...you know...liking you. I always did. I-I should propose to you again," he said slowly.

Ginny stared back at him with shining eyes. A watery smile made her lips tighten as she closed her eyes as if to wake from a dream. "Tonight, the host-wandering girl is no more," she replied.

Draco spread his arms, narrowly missing Hermione's head. "Let us bless this clumsy couple!" he cried.

"Tonight's dance queen is-" called George into a microphone, clutching a banana peel in the other hand.

"Princess Ginevra!" cried Fred, also doing the same.

Applause rumbled over the orchestral music and Ginevra smiled in surprise.

"Well then, the blessing kiss from the king..." continued the twins, whose banana peels were now missing.

Draco smirked, lowering his tired arms. "My time has come now, eh?"

"...has now been changed to being from Harry Potter!" they cried.

Both Hermione and Draco had identical looks of shock on their faces as Draco pointed aghast at Hermione and Hermione stared in surprise at the twins. "What?!" Draco shouted.

The twins lowered their microphones. "Tom later told us he wanted to give the plan a new twist."

Ginevra looked worriedly at Dean for any signs of jealousy, but he smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "It's just the cheek, right? Go get your kiss," he said smilingly. "As a memory for your graduating from host-wandering."

"This is going too far!" Hermione fumed at Tom.

Tom didn't look up from his clipboard. "I'll cut your debt by a third."

Hermione frowned. "Oh well, it's just on the cheek."

Draco watched in horror as Hermione slowly descended the steps from the central hall. She was inches away from Ginevra now. Ginevra with a smile stepped forward to meet Hermione and Draco had to be held up by the twins.

"Hey, hey," mused Colin innocently. "Could it be that this is Hermione's first kiss?"

"What?!!" shrieked Draco as he stood up.

Hermione held Ginevra's chin as she turned her face to place a light peck on the cheek.

Draco stumbled forward, running down the steps. "Hey! Wait! Hold up on that kiss!" he called. In his determination, he missed the presence of a mysterious set of banana peels on the bottom step. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as he lunged forward and slipped on the second peel. His already outstretched hand practically rammed into Hermione's back who, quite unsuspecting, fell forward as Ginevra was turning to look in Draco's direction.

Their lips met for a miniature of a second.

Draco fell to the ground like a limp rag and Hermione sprang away from the other girl as Ginevra fell back into Dean's waiting (and quite puzzled) arms. There were only squeals of approval from the crowd and Tom could be seen looking at the floor, his arms crossed and a barely visible smirk on his lips.

Hermione glared down at Draco, who was now weeping on the ground, to looking up in surprise at the cheering crowd. She touched her lips in a form of shock and glanced shyly back at Ginevra who was looking at her in just the same type of shock. Dean was looking at her and she seemed to feel it as she blushingly met his eyes. He gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged as she smiled back at him.

Only a weird series of events could possibly make it so that my first kiss was with a girl. Still, the night had a good feel to it. I guess that means...everything's all right then.

Hermione shook her head and permitted herself a little smile.

---