Fair and Tender Maidens

It was a Friday night. Hermione was pulling on a pair of blue jeans and a lavender jumper. She zipped up her black boots and combed her hair. She quickly put in her large silver hoop earrings before exiting the girls’ dormitory.

Harry and Ron were downstairs waiting for her. Ron was in a maroon sweater and a pair of black jeans, while Harry had on a green sweater and a pair of khakis. They each put on their cloaks and climbed out of the portrait hole.

As 7th years, they had a privilege of visiting Hogsmeade on Friday and Saturday nights, provided they kept their grades up. It was a new privilege. Something one of the teachers from their previous year had suggested as a way for couples to actually get to go on dates. Yes, this was thought up by Fleur Delacour. But you knew that.

The three Gryffindors walked out of Hogwarts and onto the path that led them to Hogsmeade. Torches lit up the pathway. They were actually allowed to walk their by themselves. Gasp.

It was a chilly night and the stars were bright. And rhymes were becoming common. We hope that’s only because that the students were adjusting to the cold air and that it would not be a permanent thing.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron had left later than everyone else had and they preferred it that way. They were allowed to walk by themselves without the chatter of others.

But tonight, they were not alone. Three other figures walked behind them. Three guesses who.

Draco Malfoy picked up the pace and his entourage sped up. Hermione smiled at him slightly so as not to draw the attention of Harry and Ron. Draco nodded.

***

It happened to be Karaoke Night at Three Broomsticks. This happened to stun Hermione. She didn’t think they knew about karaoke.

She, Harry, and Ron settled into a booth and ordered their drinks. Ron and Harry began a heated conversation about......ta da, Britney Spears! Bet you didn’t see THAT one coming. Hermione, after hearing this debate more than a hundred times, tuned out and glanced in the direction of the Slytherins. They seemed to be up to something....

Over at the Slytherin table of Three Broomsticks, they were having a heated battle. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, Millicent, and Blaise were trying to persuade Draco to go up and sing karaoke.

“No. Absolutely NOT,” Draco said, shaking his head for emphasis.

“Come on, Draco. You sing beautifully,” Blaise said, using some of the Zabini charm, which was noted for never having the desired effect. In fact, it usually worked opposite of the way it was supposed to. Except, this time, it worked.

“Really?” he said. He glanced at Granger. He’d show her.... “I’ll do it.” He stood up.

“Hang on, Draco. We’re not done yet,” said Millicent.

“What?”

“Well,” said Pansy, “you have to sing a duet.”

“A duet? Come off it,” retorted Draco.

“Go on, prove to us that you can. Prove to us you’re a Slytherin,” said Crabbe.

“Fine,” he said, look extremely pissed off. He was going to have to ask Granger. As much as he didn’t want to, he didn’t know who had a good voice and who didn’t. Besides, it’s not like any other girl would do it any way. And guys were not an option.

He sighed and stalked up to the table with the D. Malfoy Stance to where the Dream Team sat, chatting. (Hermione had joined in when the conversation switched to giant spiders.) He stopped in front of the table.

They stopped talking.

“What do you want, Malfoy,” said Weasley, maliciously. Somewhat.

“Well, I wanted to talk to Granger here, if you two don’t mind,” he said, looking between Potter and Weasley.

“Fine,” she said. She followed Draco over to a secluded spot and crossed her arms over her chest. "What." It wasn't even a question. Rude..

“Well, you see the Slytherins want me to sing a duet with someone....” he trailed off.

“And how does this concern me?” she asked, her snappy tone not reaching her deep eyes. He looked into those eyes. They were deep and brown. He felt as though he could learn all the secrets of the universe just by staring into her eyes.

“Well?” she snapped.

“Uh, right..So, will you?”

She sighed heavily. She really didn’t seem to want to do this. “All right, but just this once.”

“Naturally.”

“Let’s just get this over with.”

They begin to walk up to the stage. “Uh, Hermione, I just want to say, thanks,” he said quietly.

She looked up to him. “Your welcome,” she said, smiling.

For once, he smiled back.

***

“Are you two ready?” said Madam Rosmerta, who had set them up on stage.

They had already picked out a song (all right, HERMIONE had already picked out a song because, to be quite frank, she could be scary....) and were getting situated before the curtain rose.

Hermione gave a nervous smile to Draco. Realization hit him. Maybe Hermione had never sung in front of people? What if this was exactly what she never wanted to do? That’s silly, hethought, she had signed up to for the vocal contest. Of course she wanted to.

The curtains rose.

The music began.

It was too late to go back.

Draco: Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

He reached out his hand and stroked her cheek lovingly. Afterall, it was only acting. She smiled under his touch and slid into his arms all the while singing.

Hermione: Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you

They turned to face each other, singing.

Both: And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And storms may collide
But I love you until the end of time Come what may Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

The music stopped. They looked at each other. Draco was caught up in eyes once more. The people around them didn’t exist for him. He wanted to kiss her, only he didn’t know why. The idea of kissing her and holding her would not go away. It was beginning to become hard to fight. He couldn’t kiss her in front of Potter and Weasley. He couldn’t. It would ruin her. They would be furious. Who cares though? Hermione would. Very much so. You can’t kiss her, Malfoy, you can’t. You want her to hate you forever? Do you? DO YOU??

“Malfoy, will you please let me go?” she asked innocently. It was then Draco realized that he had his arms around her waist. He dropped them. “Of course.”

She turned and walked to edge of the stage. Potter was there. He held his arms up and caught her as she slid down off the stage.