Dance In Paradise
A short fic in reply to Lisa Oceans Potter's Dance Challenge!
Hope you enjoy it, look out for special comedy appearances from Fred & George, Crabbe & Goyle and many more...
Chapter 1.
A hush fell over The Great Hall as the
elderly, tall wizard stood to speak.
"Welcome to another term at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore said, "A special welcome to our new students." His eyes
swept the eager, fresh faced 1st years scattered among the tables.
"I have one important announcement before we begin
the feast. This year we have decided to have an additional ball at the
beginning of the year." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as a buzz of interest
rose in the hall.
"The ball is named, 'Dance in Paradise'"
Dumbledore continued ignoring the derisive snort from Professor Snape, to his
left, whose lip was curving into an amused sneer. "… As I suppose the name
suggests there will be much emphasis on dancing."
A spattering of groans emitted, and Dumbledore smiled benignly.
"There will be a prize for the best composed dance.
Any styles will be accepted. To any music you wish. I think the ball will be a
great success!" He beamed looking utterly delighted at the prospect and
apparently oblivious to his fellow staffs' nauseated expressions.
"All persons wishing to take place should place a
scrap of parchment containing, their name and the names of others accompanying
them in the dance, and the song title they wish to perform to. These should be
placed in the box in the entrance hall. That is all. Enjoy your dinner!" Dumbledore
finished and with a flourish the empty plates bloomed in food.
On the rowdy Gryffindor table, Ron Weasley, a tall 6th
year with deep auburn hair, began choking on a brussel
sprout.
"What!" He spluttered hysterically in a
mixture of laughter and coughing. Across the table, his girlfriend Lavender
Brown tossed her long silky blonde hair and frowned at him.
"What do you mean what?" She asked raising an
eyebrow at his beetroot face. Ron snorted with laughter,
having dislodged the constricting vegetable.
"Well, you must be joking right? You're not
honestly thinking of taking part?" He said eyeing her in disbelief,
Lavender didn't answer so he turned his attention to the girl next to her,
mounds of glossy chestnut curls surrounded her face and her deep chocolate
brown eyes sparkling in amusement. "Hermione?"
Ron pleaded, "Tell me you kidding."
"Nope." Hermione
Granger, his best friend of six years answered grinning, "I think it will
be fun, right Gin?" She said glancing across the table at Ron's younger
sister. Ginny nodded eagerly then directed her stare at her brother.
"Yeah I'll do it, why, are you not up for it
Ron?" She said challengingly, twirling a tendril of fiery red hair around
her finger. Ron chuckled again.
"Hell no. You with me Harry?" He asked.
Harry Potter grinned running a hand through his messy black hair, pushing it
off his forehead.
"Yes, definitely. But watching should be fun." He said laughing. Ginny
shrugged.
"Shame Ron. I expect you would have won with those fantastic moves you
pulled at Percy's wedding." She sniggered. Ron scowled as the group
erupted in laughter.
"Oh shut up." He growled turning his eyes back
to his plate of food. Lavender pouted prettily.
"So does this mean you're not going to accompany me
in the dance?" She asked in an innocent voice. Ron grimaced at the sugary
tone and stubbornly shook his head.
"No I am not. Especially not
after you just mocked my moves." He said reproachfully. Lavender
bit her lip then burst in laughter again.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She giggled clutching
his hand and trying to stop the fits of hysteria that kept hitting her as she
pictured Ron's night fever style dance moves. Ron tried hard to look hurt but a
grin spread across his face after a while and he pointed an accusing finger at
Harry.
"Harry's not much better." He complained
playfully. Harry shrugged and pulled a face at Hermione's poorly concealed
sniggers.
"What are you planning on dancing to then?" He
asked looking mildly indignant. Hermione glanced at Ginny and Lavender and
shrugged.
"I'm not sure yet. I'm sure we'll come up with
something though." She said with a flippant grin.
----
Later that evening, Ginny, Lavender and Hermione were
sprawled across the giant bed in Hermione's new room. Upon being appointed Prefect
she had gained a spacious, private bedroom with en-suite bathroom which led
through to the male prefect's room, newly occupied by Harry.
"So, ideas we have so far are…" Lavender said
reading from a scrap of parchment across which was scribbled a long list of
suggested song titles.
"Candy, Mandy Moore?" She supplied. Hermione
shook her head.
"No way, I can imagine that being one for Pansy to
take up." She said laughing and rolling her eyes. Ginny nodded,
"Nope, next?"
"Uh... Stellar, Incubus."
Lavender read.
"No." Ginny said shaking her head making the
springy curls swing from side to side. "Great song but how the hell do we
dance to that?"
"We need something, risqué." Hermione said her
forehead furrowing in thought. Lavender scanned the list.
"Prodigy, Smack My Bitch Up?" She chirped.
"Uh, maybe a little too
risqué." Hermione grinned. Lavender
shrugged and her eyes continued searching the scribbles.
"Got it!" She shrieked excitedly, "Dirrty,
Christina Aguilera. Easy to dance to, risqué enough
to be fun…"
"And the costumes can be wicked!" Ginny chimed
in an evil grin spreading across her face. "I'm thinking seriously
seduction attire." She said her hair falling about her face as she laughed
heartily.
"All agreed?" Hermione asked,
Lavender and Ginny nodded enthusiastically. "Good." Hermione said
with a smile.
----
After a long and relaxing bath, Hermione wrapped herself
in a huge fluffy dressing gown and quietly padded across the bathroom floor, a
folded tee shirt in her hands. She knocked lightly on the door adjoining the
bathroom to Harry's and listened for an answer.
"Come in!" She heard him say and she pulled
open the door.
"Hey 'Mione," He greeted her with a warm smile
patting the bed beside him and putting down the quill he had been using.
Hermione scurried across the room and jumped onto the bed.
"Here I came to return this." She said
sheepishly holding out the shirt. Harry took it and shook it out, it was a
large tee shirt, which had originally been the blood red of Gryffindor but had
faded to a pale maroon. The corner was emblazed with the house crest, and the
fabric was worn very thin and was soft to touch. Harry laughed.
"I had given up hope on getting this back." He
said with a laugh. Hermione punched him lightly on the arm,
"It's my favourite shirt." She complained.
"It's my
shirt." Harry pointed out with a grin and Hermione wrinkled her nose.
"Okay, okay." She sighed, "Well I gave it
back didn't I?" Harry chuckled quietly and pushed the smooth top back into
her hands.
"You can keep it 'Mione," He said Hermione
beamed.
"Really! You sure you don't want it back?" She
asked, Harry shook his head.
"No, you suit it better than me anyway," He
said grinning as she slipped off the dressing gown and yanked it over her head.
"Well that's true." She joked. "Thanks
Harry." She said leaning over to kiss his cheek lightly, he laughed,
"No problem."
Hermione flopped back against his
pillows and propped herself on one elbow.
"So, have you reconsidered your immediate decision
about partnering me at the dance?" She asked raising an eyebrow. Harry lay
back onto the mattress and laughed.
"Well, I reconsidered and came out with the same
answer… Thanks but no thanks." He said grinning. Hermione scowled
playfully.
"Fine. You're loss." She said prodding a finger in his chest.
Harry sighed.
"So what song have you decided on?" He asked.
Hermione's lips curved into a sly smile.
"That would
be telling… but I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised." She said
with a wink. "I'm going to bed now. Night."
She added leaning across and kissing his cheek. Harry wrapped his arms around
her and breathed in the light lemony fragrance of her hair. He smiled and
kissed her cheek, his lips grazing the corner of her mouth.
"Night." He replied, watching her slip off his bed and scurry through
the bathroom to her own room. A huge contented smile spread across his face as
he pulled the sheets over his body and drifted off to sleep.
----
The slender figure crept silently down the curving
staircase that led from the Gryffindor girl's dormitory to the common room. It
tiptoed around the plush armchairs thankful for the deep carpet which absorbed
any footsteps. Slipping soundlessly through the portrait, the silhouette
entered the cold, stone corridor. Shivering, it wrapped the slightly tattered
dressing gown around its elfin frame and began to make its way gingerly down
the dimly lit passage. After making several twists and turns, the figure way
beginning to climb a steep winding set of narrow stairs and upon passing a
particularly dark nook in the stone wall a hand reached out and clamped itself
around its mouth.
"Ginny. It's me." A voice whispered and the
captured figure relaxed its frantic struggling. Instead, Ginny twisted round in
the grip and crushed her lips to the person in front of her. Drawing back
several minutes later Ginny stifled a laugh at the sight before her. Draco
Malfoy was staring at her, his pale skin, moonlit and two glowing red flushes
graced each highly chiselled cheekbone. His deep grey eyes, usually so cold and
calculating were reverberating intense emotion, most recognisable were passion
and lust. His naturally full lips were slightly swollen from the bruising kiss,
and his ice blond hair was tousled and the angelic curls, tamed for an age in
gel were free to hang around and across his face like a halo. He smiled and
Ginny brushed a stray golden curl away from his eyes.
"You scared me." She said lightly, staring at
him. Draco smirked, an unshiftable habit. He raised his eyebrows.
"Sorry." He whispered, not sounding it, and manoeuvring
himself so Ginny was caught between the wall and his body. He pressed against
her, and his mouth dropped to her ear. "Let me make it up to you." He
said huskily, his hot breath grazing her neck as he moved down to act on his
statement. One of Ginny's hands grabbed the collar of Draco's shirt pulling him
even closer to her the other curled round his neck and toyed with the loose,
silky curls. Draco had pushed Ginny's dressing gown to the floor and was kissing
light trails along her neck, working his way to her mouth. When they met, the
fire that continually simmered between them ignited, and they both poured
themselves into the kiss. Each finding it astounded how every kiss they shared
got better, was more mind-blowing, more knee trembling. Every time they broke
apart, they reeled from the feelings, the aftershock, the heat, and the sudden
incompleteness. Breathing hard Draco stared at Ginny her red curls hung messily
across her face. Her brown eyes stared back at him, deep and uninhibited. He
took her hand.
"C'mon lets go." He said quietly, leading her
out onto the staircase. They continued upwards, pausing, some forty steps up
Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and tapped it against a tiny carving in
the stone. The carving, a small bird, began to beat its wings and flew a
curving arc, leaving a shining trail. Ginny smiled in anticipation and watched
the stone within the arch melt away, and the entrance appear. The couple darted
through and felt the stone reappear behind them. Ginny pulled off her dressing
gown and directed her wand at the small fire grate, at once a warming orange
fire crackled into life. Smiling contentedly, Ginny sat down on the small, soft
sofa and gazed around the room. It was diminutive and cosy; the stone walls
were hung with drapes in a deep, burgundy. A sofa and two armchairs almost
filled the room, leaving room for a table, small bookcase and window. She
remembered idly, how they had discovered the room, a year ago. After a bitter
argument with Ron she had stormed away blindly and ended halfway up the
staircase where she met Draco. One of his sly remarks had broken a barrier and
Ginny had snapped and hit him. Draco's own temper had sparked into life and he
had grabbed her roughly, Ginny, absolutely irate and perhaps strengthened by
her initial fear of him, had slammed him against the wall. Drawing her wand to
hex him, she had prodded the wall behind him, causing them to both tumble into the hidden room. Ginny smiled at the memory, and
feeling Draco slip into the seat beside her she thought again at how her
feelings for him had changed in such a huge, irreversible way since they had
both first entered the room.
Draco's eyes devoured her; he loved the way she looked
when she thought. Her dark coffee eyes became distant and warm. He could watch
her forever, taking in each tiny freckle, each shining auburn tendril. He saw
her turn to him and his mind stopped working entirely. The only thought he
could muster was that he needed her lips on his, every fibre of him was
screaming to make the contact. Then it happened, and for the countless time,
his mind exploded with the rush. He could never tire of kissing her, the
experience was timeless, endless, and never the same. Every time, the perfections
repeated, joined by new sensations, that made both mind's whirl. Neither Ginny
nor Draco could seem to keep time when they were together; it appeared to take
on a life of its own. Hours could pass in seconds within a kiss, but then other
times seconds could hold, statuesque, frozen and appear to last for ages. It
was exciting and scary, much like their relationship Ginny though wryly. Her
head was on Draco's chest, his fingers lacing carelessly through the red curls,
when the question they always avoided tackling became so insistent she had to
speak. Sitting up, Ginny swallowed nervously, recalling that the subject she
was about to grace usually resulted in blazing rows followed by tears. However,
it needed to be confronted.
"Draco." She said watching him with a steady
gaze.
"Hmm?" He replied as his fingers danced along the smooth skin of her
thigh. Ginny wriggled away and pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Draco. You've been getting on well with Ron
recently you know, friends almost." She said, careful to keep it a
statement with no opportunity for retort.
"We're on civilised terms Ginny, there is a
difference." Draco said, anticipating the turn in conversation. Ginny
shrugged.
"You don't fight anymore."
"We grew out of it. It doesn't mean anything."
Draco said stonily, knowing the climax of the growing tension was coming.
"When are we going to tell him?" She asked.
The question hung in the air. Draco gritted his teeth.
"Ginny, do we have to talk about this now?" He
asked the bite of irritation clearly audible in his voice. Ginny felt her
temper rising.
"Yes." She retorted curtly. "Otherwise we
will keep avoiding it. Like we always do." Draco
rolled his eyes.
"Why can't we just…" He began. Ginny stood up
fuming.
"You might be happy with a pathetic relationship
based on deceit and hiding Draco. But I'm not. I value my family and friends
and I am not going to keeping lying to them." She snapped. Draco rose and
faced her hostilely, his eyes taking on a steely glint.
"You know we can't tell people Ginny. What would
they think? Your family? You think they'd accept
us?" He said his voice was cold and had taken on the cruel, malicious tone
that was rarely heard recently and most rarely directed at her. Ginny didn't
answer her jaw was set in a furious expression.
"Just because me and Ron are not
tearing each other apart. You honestly
think it would stay that way if he found out about you and me? How naïve are
you?" He snarled icily. Ginny stared at him furiously her eyes blazing.
She grabbed her discarded dressing gown and swept from the room. Taking the
stairs at a run she made her way back to the common room. She was angry, mostly
because he didn't care enough about her to let their relationship be public.
She scowled, an old concern resurfacing, that he was ashamed of her and their
bond. The thought made her angrier. Draco had been one of the most influencing
features that formed her new, fiery tempestuous character. After years of being
walked over, used and ignored and those years climaxing in a huge row with Ron
she had met him and her real personality had been unleashed.
----
The next morning Ginny woke late and rushed clumsily
around the dormitory washing, dressing and charming the telltale red rims from
her eyes. She set off towards the hall at a run and eventually flopped into a
seat beside Hermione breathless.
"Morning Gin. Oversleep?" Hermione said with a smile. Ginny nodded
trying to catch her breath and pouring a bowl of cereal. As she began eating,
Dumbledore rose at the top table.
"I would like to thanks everyone for the
enthusiastic response to the ball." He said a knowing smile spread across
his face, "I think everyone, participants and spectators alike will enjoy
the entertainment immensely. One more thing… I think I may have forgotten to
mention a slightly important part of the ball. If dancers are performing to
songs with lyrics then they should be obliged to sing them." Dumbledore
finished looking rather sheepish.
"That's all, thank you." He sat back down.
During the short speech, Ginny's gaze had wandered to the Slytherin table.
Draco was sat beside his best friend Blaise Zambini, a dark featured and
handsome boy. Draco's eyes had met hers for an instant before both stubborn
parties snapped their stares away. Hermione stared open mouthed at the top
table.
"What?!" Shrieked Lavender in astonishment.
"No way." Hermione shook her head flabbergasted. "Can either of
you sing?" She asked anxiously. Lavender shrugged,
"Ginny?" Hermione asked urgently.
"Huh?" Ginny said tearing her gaze from the
back of the blond head she was staring at.
"Can you sing?" Hermione repeated.
"Nope. Well, not well anyway." Ginny said with a grimace.
"What are we gonna do?" She asked. Ron had been listening to the
frantic exchange and he leant in with a smile his eyes on Lavender.
"You don't have a problem." He said calmly.
Hermione frowned.
"Uh, yes we do." She said impatiently. Ron
shook his head, his gaze still on Lavender who was shifting uncomfortably.
"No. You don't." He said again. Ginny and
Hermione exchanged confused looks. Ron grinned broadly.
"Lavender has an amazing voice." He said
confidently. Hermione stared at Lavender who was blushing and squirming in
embarrassment.
"Shuddup Ron!" She
muttered, Hermione bounced in her seat.
"Really? I never knew Lav!" She
exclaimed happily. Lavender looked mortified.
"Well, I used to sing, at my old school…" She
shrugged Ron frowned.
"And the rest." He urged.
"I've been having lessons for a while." She
said quietly, now shooting murderous looks at Ron who was positively beaming.
"There you go." He said cheerfully.
"Lavender can sing. I mean I've heard Ginny's attempts in the
shower." He shuddered dramatically, "And 'Mione's
humming isn't even up to much." He added sniggering. Hermione punched him
playfully on the arm.
"Hey! So Lavender you up for
it?" She asked. Lavender fidgeted agitatedly,
"Umm…" She faltered searching for an excuse.
She glanced up to be faced by two sets of huge, liquid brown puppy dog eyes.
"Please Lav, Hermione
pleaded.
"Go on." Urged Ginny.
Harry and Ron snorted with laughter, and Lavender sighed in exasperation.
"Okay, okay." She gave in with a hopeless
shrug. Hermione and Ginny let out piercing squeals of excitement clapping their
hands and beaming. The conversation flowed through breakfast and half an hour
later the three girls were walking side by side down the corridor towards their
first lessons. Hermione gripped her armful of books and flipped her curls over
her shoulder.
"So, I think we should have our first rehearsal tonight."
She announced with a grin. "The empty charms classroom, at nine shall we
say?" Lavender and Ginny nodded in agreement and with a wave Ginny ducked
into her transfiguration class. Lavender clambered up a step ladder and through
a trapdoor to divination. Hermione carried on down the corridor and pushed open
the door to her arithmancy lesson. She glanced around
and with a twinge of irritation saw that Pansy Parkinson had taken her usual seat. Hermione glanced at the smug, satisfied
expression spread on the Slytherin's face, she was
willing Hermione to make a fuss, a scene. Deciding not to give Pansy the
gratification Hermione rolled her eyes in amusement at her and shot her a bored
look. Her gaze swept the room for a spare place, she only knew a few people in
the class and they were already absorbed in their texts. Hermione caught the
eye of boy sat at the back of the room. He had sparkling dark eyes, and his
hair fell in loose chocolate coloured curls around his face. He flashed a
smile, his teeth were very white and even, he looked friendly, so Hermione
returned the smile and made her way to the seat beside him.
"Hey." He whispered as she fell into the seat
next to him. Hermione grinned gratefully at him, noticing that his eyes were in
fact a deep navy blue.
"Thanks." She muttered, "I can't be
bothered to start anything with her." She added cocking her head in the
direction of Pansy. The boy rolled his eyes and nodded understandably.
"I'm Blaise. Blaise Zambini." He said offering
his hand in a polite handshake. Hermione gripped it lightly.
"Hermione Granger." She answered, their heads
snapped to the front of the class as Professor Vector swept into the classroom.
----
After an exhausting hour of compiling dance moves to the
beginning of the song. Lavender, Ginny and Hermione collapsed onto the floor of
the deserted classroom.
"I am so unfit." Giggled
Ginny, her cheeks flaming red. Lavender laughed trying to catch her
breath. Hermione was laid flat on her back, when suddenly she sat straight up.
"Hey." She said. Lavender raised an enquiring
eyebrow and pushed her damp streaky blonde hair out of her face. Hermione
jumped up and pulled off her sweatshirt. Dressed in her scruffy, baggy trousers
and strappy top, she began to move her hips in one of the moves they had
composed, muttering to herself.
"Hey!" She repeated a moment later her face
bright. "How good would our dance be if we got three guys to dance with us!" She exclaimed. Lavender nodded.
"Yeah, it would be great." She agreed.
"But Ron has refused point blank. And I don't think he'd be too happy with
me bumping and grinding with someone else." She said biting her lip.
Hermione frowned then shrugged.
"It's his fault for not taking the
opportunity." She replied. "Aww c'mon it
would be so great! Don't you think Gin?" Hermione said glancing at Ginny
who was tucking stray curls into her bun.
"It would be good." Ginny granted, groaning
inwardly at the prospect of finding someone to dance with. Then a thought
sparked in her, it would be a perfect chance to show Draco that she could cope
without him and what he would be missing out on if they didn't make their
relationship public. A grin spread across her face,
"Let's do it!" She exclaimed. They laughed and
Lavender raised her wand and flicked it at the CD which was suspended in the
air, it began to rotate and the opening lyrics sounded throughout the
classroom.
"Ah, Dirrty…Filthy…Nasty…Too
dirty to clean my act up…" A deep male voice boomed out, Lavender sat up
and swished her wand to stop the CD.
"Uh, we have a problem." She said her forehead
creased slightly. Ginny frowned in confusion.
"What now?" She asked. Lavender sighed.
"Well Redman is featured in the song isn't he? I'm
gonna sound even more bloody stupid if I have to rap as well as sing." She
explained. Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully then snapped her fingers.
"Got it!" She cried. "Lee!"
"Lee?" Lavender repeated looking bewildered by
Hermione's ecstatic expression. Hermione nodded vigorously.
"Lee Jordan. Oh my god, yes! He can rap. He can be
your partner for the dancing, and he is amazing at street dancing too! He can freestyle at some point! He'll be wicked. I'm a
genius." She added grinning broadly.
"Well okay. I'll ask him I guess. We'll need to
practise the singing together." Lavender said glancing at her watch.
"I better go now, I said I'd see Ron before it
got too late." She explained apologetically.
"Okay. Well me and Gin
will find a partner each and you and Lee try and practise tomorrow night maybe.
We can all meet up partners and all on Thursday night, here." Hermione
suggested. Ginny nodded.
"We should all go down to Hogsmeade Friday to get
our costumes." Ginny added then with an afterthought she yelped. "We
have hardly any time! I mean we're forgetting the dance is on Saturday!"
She gasped. Hermione shrugged confidently.
"It'll be fine. I mean, we can bluff." She
said boldly. "Right I better be going I said I'd help Harry with some
homework, and I need to find a partner. You coming
Gin?" She asked. Ginny shook her head, knowing she wouldn't be able to
sleep for hours yet, due to her messed up body clock thanks to too many late
night meetings.
"No, I'll run through a few more moves. I'll be up
soon." She said watching Hermione and Lavender scurry from the room