Chapter 12 - Birthday Parties
“Hermione, which dress are you wearing tonight?” called Daphne from inside of her closet. Dinner had finished a few minutes earlier, with those in attendance taking a short break to freshen up and change before the party kicked off at 8.
“I’m torn between the pink sundress or this silver one,” she responded, holding up a short silver number shimmering in the soft light filtering in from the grounds.
“Ooooo,” Daphne cooed, “silver definitely!” Hermione smiled. While the pink dress was among her favorites, it was a bit plain, and Daphne had assured her that any party thrown by Narcissa would be an event to dress to impress. “What are you wearing with it?” Daphne’s voice pulled her out of her daydreams.
“I’m not sure, my usual goes well.” She fingered the gold chain she wore, the memento she carried from her family with her in the magical world. Hanging from it was a small sapphire set in a gold pendant.
“Well in any case you can pair it with stunning shoes!” Daphne cried as she held up a pair of silver stilettos so perfectly matched to the dress they had to be a set.
“Daph, I can’t wear those, I won’t last 15 minutes,” she whined.
“Hermione, you’re forgetting about magic again,” she scolded and Hermione winced. “Cushioning charms, and if you’re desperate, a stability charm.”
Hermione giggled, casting the spells on the shoes and fasting the straps around her ankle.
“Wow, that makes such a difference!” she gasped, feeling as if she was walking on sand rather than a 4-inch heel.
“Now you know why we can stand to be so dressed up all the time,” Daphne giggled, slipping into her own black dress. She allowed Daphne to style her hair, taming some of the curls so they fell in coils down her back, applying her mascara and a pink lip gloss, while Daphne looked on in wonder.
“Here try,” she passed the tube of gloss to her friend.
“This is so much cooler than a glamour!” Daphne exclaimed, swiping on the pink color.
“On second thought, that really isn’t your color,” Hermione gently explained, “try this one,” she fished a second tube out of her bag, a cool mauve, much better suited to Daphne’s fair complexion and red hair. She swiped it on, Hermione nodding approvingly.
Hermione’s wand vibrated on the table, “It’s time!” and the two girls nearly ran from the room, giggling.
-
Several hours later, the party was winding down and Hermione was sitting at a small table with Millie and Pansy, exhausted from dancing. Daphne had been right and her feet didn’t hurt one bit from the heels.
“I was hoping he’d at least ask me to dance,” Pansy sighed.
“Who?” Hermione asked curiously.
“Draco,” cooed Millie. Pansy shot her a dirty look.
“I didn’t know you fancied Draco.” Hermione frowned. Pansy had never made her intentions to any one wizard clear, seeming to enjoy flirting shamelessly with them all.
“I had hoped he would have shown more interest after we kissed last term,” Pansy said, resigned. Hermione seemed to fade back from her body, vision tunneling. “But I haven’t heard from him all summer. I even tried owling but he didn’t respond.”
“Hermione, are you alright?” Millie asked, touching her shoulder.
“What? Of course,” she said, giving her head a shake, “I just can’t believe Draco would do that to you.”
“The party isn’t over yet though, it’s typical for the hosting wizard to dance with every eligible witch,” Pansy explained. “So maybe he was just saving me for last?” she asked hopefully.
Hermione nodded numbly. “Please excuse me.” And she left the table walking quickly back towards the dance floor. Having no real purpose other than leaving the table and Pansy behind, she was caught by Harry, who pulled her into a rather terrible waltz. When Harry had released her, she was pulled in by Theo for a faster paced Tango which caused her to laugh as he morphed his face into a mock serious expression, leading her around the dance floor with such force, several of their classmates leapt out of their path to avoid being trampled. As Theo bowed low to her, she grabbed Daphne’s hand leading her to the far end of the dance floor, to relay her conversation with Pansy.
“Hermione, do you fancy Draco?” she asked seriously.
“I- I don’t know,” she stammered.
“Well I would figure it out, because you’re staying in his home, which is more than Pansy is, for now. But if he thinks you’re not interested then things can move pretty quickly after third year,” Daphne explained seriously. At a sudden shrill giggle, the pair turned to see Pansy locked in Draco’s arms waltzing to a beautiful tune. Hermione turned away, even as Daphne giggled.
“What could possibly be funny right now?” she huffed. Daphne only pointed at the dance floor. Hermione followed her gaze and let out a peal of laughter. Harry and Theo were dancing, clearing a wide path through the party goers, causing Greg to trip over Millie’s dress, sprawling in front of the pair. Theo made a running leap over him, reaching for Harry and lifting him, before spinning him away. The crowd roared with laughter, Hermione smirked when Draco stopped dancing to watch, pulling away from Pansy who pouted. Soon Harry and Theo were dancing alone, and upon finishing the song, bowed to the party goers, blowing air kisses at the cheers.
Daphne elbowed her sharply as a slower tune started up. “This is the last song, it’s traditional,” she hissed in her ear.
“Ouch!” She rubbed her side. “Why did you-,” she broke off, understanding. Draco was walking confidently towards them. Stopping in front of her and offering his hand.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked, smirk plastered on his face, though his eyes looked pleading and nervous. She nodded, taking his hand. He led her to back to the middle of the dance floor, spinning her once before taking her in his arms. She was struck once again, by how tall he had grown. Even in her heels, he still had quite a few inches on her. She stared at him, his eyes like pools of silver, losing her way through them. And after what felt like three seconds, he had let her go, bowing deeply and grinning at her, as Narcissa entered the room thanking everyone for attending and wishing Draco and Harry a very happy birthday.
Hermione stepped away breathless, finding Daphne who was smirking at her.
“Well you got the last dance,” she whispered, giggling. Hermione simply nodded.
“I think I’ll turn in,” she said, turning to disappear to her room.
“No you can’t! You’ll miss the real party!” Daphne tugged her back.
Hermione looked at her, “The real party?”
Daphne was right.
-
Hermione found herself sometime later, on a handsome leather sofa, squished between Harry and Daphne. The group had been playing truth or dare for the last half an hour, dares becoming more and more outrageous as the butterbeers Theo had passed out were emptied.
“Draco! Truth or Dare mate?” Theo asked, gesturing wildly with his second empty bottle.
“Truth,” he replied, reaching for a biscuit from the plate on the table.
Pansy let out a giggle, “Who was your first kiss?” she asked. Hermione held her breath, knowing the answer already.
Draco glared at Pansy, “Dare, Theo, I want a dare.”
“Ah ah ah, you chose, now you answer.” Theo grinned with mirth.
“Fine, you were Pansy,” and he drained his butterbeer, setting the bottle next to Theo’s. Hermione refused to look at him, focusing on Harry’s left hand which was tapping out some odd rhythm on the sofa arm.
“Hermione!” Daphne shrieked, turning to her, “You haven’t gone in a while, truth or dare?” Hermione stared at her, she had just gone three turns ago, having been dared to turn Vince’s ears purple.
“Yeah Hermione, truth or dare?” Harry repeated, nudging her in the ribs.
“Uhm dare I guess,” she shrugged. She found it easier to show off in front of her rather unimaginative friends than spill her secrets.
“I dare you to snog Blaise,” Daphne said slyly. Hermione gaped at her, and she winked. She took a breath to compose herself, eyes finding Draco’s. His gaze was heated, and his jaw clenched, and it clicked. She almost laughed out loud at Daphne’s lack of subtlety. Turning back to her friend she smirked, before she stood to face Blaise who simply raised an eyebrow at her. She strode across the group, bypassing Draco without looking at him, though making sure to swing her hips a bit more than she normally would once she passed him.
“You sure?” Blaise whispered as she stood before him. Hermione nodded, Blaise was nice enough, maybe not her first choice, but she couldn’t deny he was fit. Blase cupped her cheek, before sliding his hand to the back of her neck, threading her hair through his fingers as he brought his lips to hers. His other hand found her waist as he gripped it firmly. What was she supposed to do with her hands? She settled on placing them on his shoulders.
His lips were soft and warm, kissing wasn’t unpleasant she realized, as she granted his tongue access to her mouth. Her hands slid to the back of his neck as she leaned into his lean body.
“Alright that’s enough for the dare I think,” came Draco’s voice from quite far away. Hermione and Blaise broke apart, and Hermione blushed forgetting that all of their friends were surrounding them. She practically ran towards her seat where Daphne was grinning at her.
“Well that might be the perfect way to end the night!” Theo clapped his hands together. “Time for bed I think!”
Pansy and Tracey descended upon Hermione, “Merlin Hermione, that was some kiss, how was it?” Tracey asked unabashedly.
She glanced at Draco who was glowering at her, his gaze so intense she almost flinched. Instead she smirked, eyes never leaving his, “I owe Daphne one, I’ll leave it at that.”
As Hermione made her way to her room, with Daphne who was staying across the hall from her, the other end of the wing was far from calm. She smirked at her friend when she heard glass shatter.
“Well it sounds as if someone’s throwing a tantrum.” She sniggered, “I just hope he doesn’t hurt himself, or Blaise.”
“Blaise can take care of himself,” laughed Daphne, pushing the door to her guest room open. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight!” Hermione called, entering her own suite.
And it had been, until the nightmare came again.