Broken Bits

17. Trimmed With Lace

-some scenes in this chapter may be a bit mature for younger readers-

-mentions of homophobic actions, but no real slurs are used-

Pansy had called on Daisy to inform all of their partners that they would be waiting at the lodge for them, as their dresses were to remain a surprise. Hermione learned very quickly that afternoon she spent with the girls, that Pansy did everything for the sheer promise it would provide shock value.

After trying on their dresses, and each one of them falling in love with them. They hung them in the parlor, and Luna led them further into the lodge where apparently there was a tea room. Hermione hadn't the faintest idea, but found herself falling in love with it.

They shared tea, and had a small round of late lunch while they waited til it was an appropriate time to get ready. They spent the few hours gossiping, talking about their jobs and what they were looking forward to in the next few years of marriage.

Luna, surprisingly, was the most excited of them all. As she adored Neville, and couldn't fathom ever being with anyone else. That they had simply been to busy the last few years between work, helping with restorations at Hogwart's and their own lives to ever have time to fall in love. Now that they had been granted this opportunity, they had fallen for one another.

It was nearing five when the Patil twins mentioned they were both rather talented with hair and make up. So with another call on Daisy, Hermione found herself in the women's bathroom getting pampered like she never had before.

Her hair was braided from her forehead down her back but the rest fell in loose waves around her face and over her shoulders. The dress hugged her hips nicely, and cascaded the floor gently. Padma gave her a light powdering of a makeup, complimenting her natural beauty.

Hermione told the other girls to go on without her, as she needed to use the loo. The four went so excitedly to show their partners their new dresses. The door shut behind them, cancelling out their giggling and excited whispers.

Hermione flushed, washed her hands then stared at herself in the mirror. She had never been so dolled up before. Well, aside from the Yule ball, but that had been to her own accord and she hadn't been surrounded by other girls.

A tentative knock sounded on the door, jolting Hermione from her staring. "Can I come in?" Draco's voice sounded from behind the large wood door.

"Yes." Hermione called, busying herself with washing her hands again, to make it seem like she wasn't hiding in the bathroom though she truly was.

"You look lovely Hermione." Draco said, shutting the door behind him he approached Hermione as she reached to grasp a paper towel, and dry her hands for the second time.

"Thank you, you look rather handsome yourself." Hermione chuckled quietly, tossing the paper towel in the bin beside her other one.

"Why, might I ask, are you hiding in the bathroom leaving Fred to talk at the bar to my boyfriend?" Draco asked, leaning his hip against the counter and folding his arms over his chest.

"Has Fred apologized to Theo?" Hermione asked, avoiding Draco's question by asking her own.

"Why should Fred apologize?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrows in concern.

"He thought Theo offered the job to me to get closer to me, after you told him those rumors." Hermione nudged Draco before glancing back at the mirror, and fluffing the curls hanging around her face nervously.

"Well, does he know now that Theo and I are very much gay for one another?" Draco laughed, reaching forward to untangle a curl that had gotten caught with another.