A Place for Us
Prologue: The Dance
Huge oakwood doors, blinding lights seeping through the gaps, inaudible conversations and distinguishable laughs, a few more steps and she'd finally see them. Pushing stray curls behind her ear, Hermione took a deep breath. It's been years since she last exchanged correspondence with everyone and frankly, it is making her feel things in the pit of her stomach.
With one last attempt to smooth her already neatly pressed dress, she plastered a smile on her face. She wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. Besides, the people inside will be more than happy to meet her the way she is of seeing them.
"Hermione!" Says the man in glasses, his green eyes twinkling as he smiled.
Harry Potter. A living legend. The boy who lived. Except, he isn't a boy now. He's grown older and wiser.
Hermione gave him a hug as soon as she reached him. "How are you?" He asks. "I've seen better days." She responded breaking from the hug.
The twinkle in the man's eyes faded for a fraction of a second but was back just as quickly. "You are not troubled are you?" He asked. Hermione can see the concern on his face.
Shaking her head, she gave him a small smile. "I am anxious for sure." She started. "But not because I'm troubled." She added. "Or maybe I am." And then she gave a nervous laugh.
•DmHg•DmHg•
"Where has that Gryffindor courage gone to?"
Startled, Hermione let out a squeak and looked over her shoulder. Behind her stood the blonde, pale faced heir of the Wiltshire Mansion. He was wearing a smug expression on his face. He never changed.
"Malfoy." She said in a low tone.
"Pft. Right." The Malfoy heir responded. He rolled his eyes as he said this. "The old man wouldn't mind if I take you with me," he added offering his arm to her. "Would you?" He finished, addressing Harry.
"No. Go ahead." Harry said with a grin. He watched as the pair made their way to where the other couples were. Dancing. He was later joined by his wife who had a chat with the Weasleys.
"What are you smiling at?" Harry Potter's wife, Pansy Potter nee Parkinson, asked as soon as she sat next to him. "Those two." Harry responded pointing at the pair who he was talking with earlier.
"Those two never changed." Pansy commented with a smile. "You'd think a couple of years would've done something to their maturity."
"It's like Hogwarts all over again when I see them." Harry agreed with a nod.
"Yes, yes. The Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry. Never gets old." Pansy said as she leaned towards Harry and lay her head on his shoulder.
•DmHg•DmHg•
Seeing Draco Malfoy for the first time in three years is something Hermione looked forward to. That is the truth. She just didn't want to admit it. The git would not let her live it down if he knew.
"Is that - ?" She started, her eyes fixed on the other side of the room where a lady with long blonde tresses stood. Draco followed her gaze before he nodded. "Yes." He said taking a sip from his wine glass. "Luna."
"With Phoenix." He added gesturing with his hand that held the glass.
"Oh, wow." Hermione responded. "He is very handsome, isn't he?" She commented. And the man named Phoenix is indeed.
Amused, Draco looked at her as if she said something ridiculous. "He is." He agreed. "But not as much as I am." He supplied.
Hermione had to roll her eyes at his statement. Surely he inherited it from the ancient Malfoys. While his parents are proud, they aren't childish like Draco who feels the need to remind everyone he is better than them. But then again, it is the reason why she is drawn to him. It is hard to be childish at twenty when the world expects a lot from you.
"I have an inquiry." She heard him say.
Inquiry? How is that possible? That he can switch from being childish to using terms such as inquiry when he could have just said he has a question is beyond her.
"Pray tell." She answered in the language that matches his.
"Well it is more of a request." He said. Hermione had to raise an eyebrow at that. No request from Draco Malfoy is simple. And so she waited. Dreadfully. For the next words.
"Would you please stop calling me Malfoy? I mean I am but really I have a name." He said. She can see the annoyance apparent on his face. She knew it ticks him off to be called that but she does it anyway.
"You're lucky I don't call you Granger." He added. And Hermione had to laugh at that.
"That's because it's ridicu - " she said wiping the sides of her eyes with the back of her hand and then she turned to the oak doors.
•DmHg•DmHg•
When the huge doors of the ball room opened, it admitted the rest of the attendees of the event. A couple in their seventies are followed by a younger crowd. The twins, Ara and Aries, were dressed to match. How adorable they looked.
There was also the woman in her thirties, carrying her new born child. Hermione always is fascinated at the woman whose features are exotic to say the least. She had olive skin with shocking white blonde hair. You'd have thought she put charm in it but she was born that way.
Behind the woman is her brother who had the same features. You'd have mistaken them as twins except Orion is five years younger than Celeste. He wore a huge grin on his face. Having the time of his life Hermione thought.
"She is beautiful isn't she?"
Smiling, Hermione reached for the speaker's hand. Like everybody else, she hasn't seen Selene for three years. "As he is handsome." She responded. Both her companions nodded having shared the same thoughts.
The three of them had their eyes on two of the eldest couple in the room who just entered. They followed as the white haired couple made their way at the center of the room. Although aged, they stood proud. And although proud, their smiling faces said otherwise.
"Well? What're you waiting for? Join us." Says the old woman casually. Her face wrinkled when she smiled. You wouldn't think she was a former Minister of Magic.
"My apologies Selene, but I'd like to offer the first dance to Hermione." Draco said in a grin. Selene chuckled, and her brown eyes sparkled. She waved her hands as if shooing them away.
"Who said I wanted to dance with you?" Hermione asked but she followed him, her hand placed on his arm. "Don't be stubborn. I know you wanted to dance with me. I'm the only one you'd like to dance with, don't deny it." He responded confidently. He is very much the Malfoy heir that he is.