♕ twenty

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 The moment the words had left Neville's lips, Harry and Draco sprang out of their seats.

"Where did you see her?" Draco asked anxiously.

"O-outside the Leaky C-cauldron, she was l-looking for something-" Neville stammered.

"Yeah, that something was us," Harry muttered under his breath.

"Well, move your fat arses, we can't be seen!" said Draco as he sprinted out of the shop, snatching his tuxedo just as the assistant finished making the payment.

Harry, Blaise, Neville and Draco sprinted down the alleyway, apologizing hurriedly to anyone they barreled over in their haste. But they didn't have time for formalities; the boys had to get as far as possible from the Leaky Cauldron.

"Where are the girls?" Harry exclaimed worriedly. Draco had been thinking the same thing; Hermione, Ginny, and Luna had no idea that McGonagall was here.

"They've got to be somewhere close," Neville exclaimed anxiously. 

Draco scanned the shops. They'd be somewhere that they could relax, nowhere like the apothecary. Not the owlery. Not in Flourish and Blotts. But that left about twenty stores that they would have to look through.

"McGonagall's gotten closer! She's in front of Madame Malkin's!" Neville shrieked, as he whipped his head back around and sprinted even faster.

Draco whirled his head around as he ran.

"She doesn't look happy," he noted.

The four boys sprinted past shop after shop, dashing past the cauldron emporium and the Quidditch store. But there were too many people stumbling around the rather narrow street; It was impossible to see anyone through the crowd.

"Quick!" Blaise exclaimed, pointing to a narrow alleyway in between Ollivander's and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlor. The boys darted into the alleyway and crouched down into the shadows, hoping that they wouldn't be seen. McGonagall must've seen them leave the castle. Why else would she be in Diagon Alley?

"We can't Apparate back without the girls," Draco hissed.

"But they don't know about McGonagall," Harry reminded them.

"What if she catches us?" Neville whispered nervously. "We'll be goners."

"We'll be banned from Christmas," said Harry glumly.

"Detention for the rest of the year," muttered Blaise.

"She could keep us from going to the dance if she wanted to!" Draco realized in anguish. 

"Or," said a tight voice from the front of the alleyway, "she could confront you, question you, and THEN punish you,  wondering why in the world you hooligans thought that it would be sensible to Apparate outside of school grounds for a bit of DRESS SHOPPING."

Draco's blood froze as he turned around slowly to face Professor McGonagall, lips in a thin line and eyes blazing furiously. Behind her she dragged Ginny, Hermione, and Luna, all looking terrified and very, very guilty.

"Come," said McGonagall fiercely. "You'll get what's coming to you."

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"I don't know WHAT you all were thinking..." McGonagall exclaimed angrily as she lectured Harry, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Blaise, Draco, and Hermione in the Headmistress's office.

"Wandering around in Diagon Alley, Apparating out of school grounds, without permission, I don't care if you all are Seventh years. Can't believe you had the audacity..."

Draco looked down at his shoes the whole time. McGonagall had stowed his tuxedo and Hermione's dress in the staffroom; would that mean that they would be banned from the dance?

"You have broken about a dozen school rules in doing this! Mister Potter, I expect better from you!" she exclaimed. Harry suddenly became very interested in staring at his knees.

"I'm sorry Headmistre-"

"No excuses, boy! Miss Granger, I can't believe you were a part of this!"

Hermione looked close to tears. "Yes, I know Profe-"

"You deliberately disobeyed all regard for safety! For protocol, for... for boundaries! I ought to ban you all from the Inter-House Ball!"

Draco felt his heart sink. This was it. He had taken a risk, and it hadn't paid off. He looked sadly over at Hermione, who gazed glumly back.

"But, that would be unnecessary."

Draco looked up in surprise.

"I will not ban you all from the dance- but fifty points will be taken from each house, and you will ALL serve detention tomorrow night. Understood?"

Draco nodded eagerly. Negative 50 points and detention was a pain, but it was worth it. Spending time with Hermione was worth far more than any punishment in the world.

"And, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said sternly. Draco looked up.

"You are taking Miss Granger to the dance, correct?" 

He nodded. 

"Your tuxedo and Miss Granger's dress are in the closet in the staffroom. You all are excused."

Draco and his friends hurriedly exited the office and sped down the spiral griffin staircase, letting out breaths they didn't even realize they were holding and leaning on each other for support.

"I thought we were in for it," Neville said, sounding extremely relieved. "I mean, did you get a look at her eyes when she found us? Could've burned down the Forbidden Forest."

Draco turned to Hermione, who was walking beside him.

"Any chance I can get an early peek at your dress?" He asked slyly. Hermione shook her head.

"Good try, Draco. As hard as it is to say no to you..." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "You'll see my dress at the dance."

"Hermione no!" Draco groaned. "How can I wait two whole days!"

Hermione laughed. "You'll have to be patient."

"Well, whatever it is, I know you'll look stunning in it."

He and Hermione followed their friends down the corridor, spirits high and hearts light, anticipating the arrival of the dance.

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