Ch. 35

Seven o'clock slowly drew near, and the two bottles of wine were long gone. Ginny was able to complete their makeup after the first bottle had finished, knowing that she wouldn't be able to do it afterwards. She had given Hermione a simple black cat-eye with a lightly darkened crease that was matched with red lipstick. For herself, she did a nude look but still lined her upper eyelid with black eyeliner for a dramatic effect, giving herself light gold eyelids and a nude lipstick with blush. Both girls were filled with giggles while they tried to help each other into their dresses, Ginny being the first one.

"Gin," Hermione started slyly, "Are you wearing this lingerie for a particular reason?"

"You mean, a reason other than the sheer fact that I want to?" Her friend replied over her shoulder. "Not particularly. I mean, if Blaise marks me, he marks me. At this point, I'm not nervous about it."

With a final pull of the low zipper in the back of Ginny's dress, Hermione patted her friend's back and said, "I think that's the alcohol talking, dear. Here, let me cast a Disillusionment charm so that no one can see the corset."

"Well what about you?" Ginny asked with a grin while Hermione worked. "Miss 'Oh I was willing to let him mark me earlier'; don't tell me you aren't expecting anything from your Veela tonight!"

Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the grin. Ginny smacked her arm and then motioned for her to turn around. "I think with this dress, you won't really be able to wear anything as far as a bra goes since the top of the dress is very structured. However, the right lacy underwear could drive him mad."

"My goodness, is my dear sister dressing me to get laid for the first time?" Hermione asked with a giggle.

"Only if my dear sister allows me to!" Ginny replied, stumbling towards Hermione's dresser to pick out something. She paused, looking back at Hermione. "I like that; you being my sister."

"Oh Gin, you'll always be a sister to me!" Hermione said while laughing. "I think your mother has practically adopted me anyway!"

"She's always wanted another girl," Ginny said happily after turning back to search through the drawer. "Ah ha! These should do the trick!"

Ginny pulled out a pair of lacy boyshorts, grinning madly. "I always thought boyshorts accentuated the butt better than a thong anyway."

"Is there something you need to tell me, Ginny?" Hermione asked while smirking. "Or rather, something you need to announce to Blaise?"

"I just appreciate design and beauty," Ginny said with a shrug. "Boyshorts are my favorite type of underwear too, so I may be biased."

Hermione rolled her eyes and changed into the lacy boyshorts that barely covered her butt. She smiled though at the thought of being more comfortable in those than a thong as she grabbed her dress from the bag.

"I can't believe how beautiful it is," She breathed.

"Well, put it on!" Ginny said while nudging her.

A minute later the dress had been zipped up and Hermione was twirling around in it, giggling. "Oh Gin, it's so light!"

"Same with mine!" Ginny said happily as she sat on the bed and pulled on her boots. "It was nice of the boys to get us both flats instead of heels."

"I think they knew we would have alcohol tonight," Hermione said as she pulled on the simple black flats that were in her bag with the dress. "Maybe we should have something to eat before we drink anything else."

Ginny simply waved her off. "We'll be fine!"

There was a knock at the door and the girls looked at each other giggling. Hermione quietly said, "Five galleons says they don't say anything for a minute."

"Five more says Draco is the first to say anything!" Ginny countered quietly, trying to make sure their Veelas didn't hear them.

Hermione grinned in response and waved her wand at the door, causing it to open slowly to reveal Blaise and Draco.

She had to admit, they both cleaned up wonderfully. She couldn't help but eye Blaise up and down in his outfit, but afterwards she locked eyes on Draco and couldn't look away. He was wearing a white button up with a black vest over it, and a matching black cape was draped over his shoulders. The vest was buttoned, but the top three buttons of the white shirt were undone to reveal his smooth chest. The white half-face mask completed the outfit, and made him look rather mysterious. Hermione couldn't help but stare, knowing that she would most likely have to be fighting off other women tonight.

She finally looked up at his face and grinned as she saw the white mask. Draco returned her grin as he looked her up and down with delight. She shivered slightly under his gaze, but it was a shiver of glee.

Blaise finally broke the silence as he said, "Ginny, I'm not sure about the hair color."

She scoffed while Hermione laughed and said, "You owe me ten galleons!"

Ginny glared at her and tossed her a small sack while the boys looked at them curiously. Draco pulled Hermione to him and said, "You look simply ravishing. I'll be beating off the other men with a stick."

Hermione giggled. "It's your fault. You're the one who got me the dress."

"I didn't realize how...form fitting it would be!" He argued. "Not that I'm complaining, but goodness."

She could smell the firewhiskey on his breath as she leaned in for a kiss. Blaise had pulled Ginny off the bed and was twirling her around. "Diantha did a wonderful job on both of your outfits!"

Ginny gave him a quick peck on the lips before going to Hermione and pulling her away from Draco, linking their arms. "If you two boys don't mind, we have a ball to go to!"

The four of them laughed while Hermione and Ginny walked out of the dorm arm in arm, and the group walked out of the portrait hole.

The corridor was buzzing with excitement as different couples and groups made their way down the stairs to the Great Hall where the ball was going to be held. Everyone would stop and whisper at the four of them, and Draco and Blaise were now walking on either side with their mate. Draco took Hermione's hand in his and Ginny had taken Blaise's hand while her other arm was still linked with her friend's. They were quite a spectacle, and since they had become caught on a moving staircase, they were able to stand in one spot which allowed the other students to admire them.

Draco growled slightly as he noticed some of the other male students gazing longingly at Hermione, dropped her hand and instead draping his arm around Hermione's waist and pulling her close. Blaise pulled a similar action with Ginny, though his was more to cover her lower back after hearing a passing sixth year make a comment at how toned Ginny's back was.

Ginny and Hermione resorted to holding hands as they led their Veelas down the staircase once it had stopped in its place and rolled their eyes at each other. It was going to be a long night if the two Veelas kept this up.

They made it to the Great Hall and the four of them gasped excitedly. The four house tables were all gone and replaced with one long table along the far wall that held drinks and snacks. The floating candles were still there, and they replaced the floating pumpkins that were normally there on Halloween. Hermione didn't mind though; she much preferred the candles.

There were students already dancing on the floor in front of a stage that had been set up where the professors normally sat, and while Ginny was itching to dance, Hermione pulled her away to the snacks.