The Party
October 31, 1998
Hermione was sitting on her bed surrounded by textbooks and notes. She was trying to study for an upcoming transfiguration exam that she had. Ginny was currently rummaging through their shared loo trying to get ready for the Slytherin's party that she kept trying to convince Hermione to go to.
Ginny walked out of the loo, putting in an earring. "Come on, 'Mione. You need a break from your studies, hell, you need a break from life."
"I'm not going, Gin'" Hermione said, not bothering to look up from her notes.
"Can't you just take one night off? You survived the war, 'Mione. We both deserve this." Ginny stood in front of Hermione's bed looking down at her.
She looked up at Ginny, she didn't want to stop studying. If she stopped studying, then the thoughts and memories would overload her mind and she would have an episode. If she kept studying, then she wouldn't have to worry about that. "I can't, Gin'. I have a big exam-" There was a knock at the door. "Who's that."
Ginny smiled and walked over to their door. The moment she opened it Theo appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a torn-up t-shirt with some type of makeup that made him look like he was deteriorating. "Hello, Nott. Nice costume."
Theo smiled at her and then at Hermione. "Hello, Girls. Thank you, Red. I see someone doesn't want to have some fun." He walked over to Hermione's bed. "Now why would someone rather be doing homework than getting wasted."
Hermione rolled her eyes, throwing her journal onto her bed. "Nott, I'm not going to some stupid party with your friends when I have an exam coming up."
Theo gasped, putting his hands over his heart. "Now I just feel offended." He pulled out his wand and tapped her journal. All of her notes and textbooks floated into the air and landed neatly on her bedside table. "Well look at that, all of your notes are put up and it seems as though you're free tonight."
Hermione let out a short breath looking at Ginny and Theo with daggers. She's tried turning to whiskey in the past but all it did was give her temporary relief. Everything always came back to her in the morning but maybe for one night she could let go. "Alright, fine."
Theo and Ginny cheered. "Alright, Golden Girl." Theo started. "Get dressed and meet us outside in five."
"I'm not changing," Hermione said, standing up from her bed.
Theo looked at her up and down. "You're in muggle jeans and a black t-shirt."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "So what?"
Theo let out a small laugh. "Yeah okay, whatever. Let's go get wasted!"
Ginny and Theo walked out of the room and Hermione followed behind them. It was Halloween and all she could think about was how Harry was doing. It was odd not having the boys by her side, but they all had their ways of dealing with their trauma from the war.
Ginny looked gorgeous in her satin green dress. She had said something about "dressing for the occasion" because they were partying with the Slytherins, but the color really did look good on her. She had a black mascarade mask on as well.
Hermione made her plan clear. She would have three drinks, sit in the corner of the room, and when Ginny wasn't looking, she would leave and go back to her room. It was as simple as that and easy to execute.
They made it to the common room portrait. Hermione watched as a large green snake unwrapped itself out of its cozy ball. Hermione somewhat envied the snake. He was stuck in a portrait and only had to ask people for a password. What a simple life.
The snake spoke. "Password?"
Theo smiled at the green snake. "Ghoul."
The snake slithered back into its ball as the door slowly creaked open. Fog started rolling out into the corridor and the music from inside bounced off the walls. Green and white lights flashed across their faces.
Theo turned to Ginny and Hermione. "Golden girl," He pulled out his wand and transfigured Hermione's clothes into a black dress that puffed out below her waist. She had on black heels, and gloves that went up to her elbows. The final touch, a pointy hat. "You really didn't think I would let you go to a Halloween party without a costume, did you?"
Hermione's mouth fell completely open as she took in her appearance. "Theo! I did not consent to wearing this! You can see everything!"
Theo reached forward and took the hat off her head. "Fine, you can go without the witch hat but you're wearing everything else."
Hermione scoffed and looked at Ginny but all she did was shrug. "I can't complain. You look hot, 'Mione." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's settled then." Theo smiled and gestured his hand toward the open portrait. "Let the fun commence!"
Hermione and Ginny walked into the common room, Theo following close behind. She could barely see anything with all of the fog. There were people for what seemed like miles all clustered together and dancing. The number of people started to send Hermione into a panic.
She started counting in her head as Theo walked the two of them to the drink table. 1..2..3..4..5..6.. She grabbed a cup and filled it with a shot of Fire Whiskey. 7..8..9..10..11.. She downed the cup and filled it up once more. 12..13..14..15..16.. She took another shot and decided to go ahead and grab the bottle, leaving the cup on the table.
Ginny leaned close to her. "Are you okay?" She whispered.
Hermione took another swig of the Fire Whiskey and wiped her mouth with her arm. She nodded her head. "Yeah!" She yelled over the loud music. "I'm gonna go sit down for a minute! I'll find you later!" She didn't wait for Ginny to respond as she made her way through the crowd to find a seat.
Hermione found one perfect and lonely sofa chair in the corner of the room. There was a couple, maybe sixth years, making out on a couch about ten feet from her. She took another swig from the bottle.
She looked around the room and saw people in different costumes; clowns, skeletons, cats, angels, and devils. There were too many costumes to count. She took another swig. Hermione looked down at her own outfit. It wasn't super bad if she had to be honest with herself. She didn't like wearing heels, but they were cute.
She raised the bottle back to her mouth and noticed half of it was gone. She shrugged her shoulders at herself and took another swig. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks and her head started to feel heavy.
Hermione could see Ginny dancing with a random guy. She and Harry were on the fence at the moment because of something. She couldn't quite remember what it was, but it always happened. They would fight, break up, Ginny would get with some guy, and then they would get back together. Maybe Ginny's way of healing should be something she tried out. Hermione was used to the whole thing by now.
A flash of blonde hair caught her eye and she looked across the room to see Draco Malfoy sitting down in his own sofa chair. She studied him. He wasn't in a costume, just a black suit and tie. He sipped on his glass of whiskey and looked around the room at all of the people dancing. He was like her, two people trapped inside the memories of the things they did and had done to them.
Hermione looked away and took another swig from her bottle. She leaned her head backward and looked up at the ceiling. The entire room looked like it was spinning so she closed her eyes. It was hard to be afraid of the darkness when the real nightmares came when she slept.
The music pounded into her ears as she hummed to the beat of the song. Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was currently playing. She brought the bottle to her lips once again and washed all of the bad memories away. The moment the song reached the chorus she started to whisper the lyrics.
She felt as though she was floating on a boat in the middle of an endless sea. She almost wished that she was. The voices in the room started to fill her ears with the music. She furrowed her eyebrows at the unwanted noise.
"Didn't figure you to be a Fire Whiskey type of person, Granger."
Hermione jumped at the voice as her eyes flew open and she lifted her head. She was immediately met with the room spinning. The moment her vision came back to her she saw Malfoy sitting in the chair next to her, looking at her oddly. "What do you want, M-Malfoy."
"You sound drunk." He said, taking a sip from his glass.
Hermione let out a small laugh and lifted her bottle so that he could see. "That's because I am." She took another swig.
Malfoy reached over and grabbed the bottle from her. "You've had enough."
Hermione's mouth fell open as she pointed at him. "You don't get to decide when I've had enough and when I've not." She tried reaching for the bottle, but he put it out of her reach. She ended up giving up and leaning back into her chair. "Whatever."
"So why are you here?" Malfoy asked, looking around the room.
"Because your friend thought I should be here instead of studying for my exam!" Hermione shifted in her seat to get more comfortable.
"What one?" He looked at her with his eyebrows furrowed.
"Nott."
Malfoy let out a laugh. "Don't worry, you're not the only one he forced here."
Hermione looked over at him. "At least he didn't transfigure your clothes."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her. "He forced you to wear that outfit?"
Hermione nodded and then groaned because of the way her head swam with whiskey. "I just wanted to be comfortable but no, he wouldn't let me. I'm not a child!"
Malfoy reached into his suit pocket and pulled out his wand. In the next moment, Hermione was back in her muggle jeans and black t-shirt. "There."
She looked down at herself and smiled. "That's more like it." She turned to him. "Can I have my bottle back now?"
He shook his head. "No."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're no fun."
"No," Malfoy started. "I just know when someone has had enough."
She let out a frustrated sigh. "What's stopping me from going and getting another bottle?"
Malfoy laughed. "I'd like to see you try."
A spark ignited inside of Hermione at the sound of a challenge. She went to stand up from her chair, but she couldn't. It was like she was- "You did not use a sticking charm on me!"
He cracked a smile. "I did."
She shook her head at him. "How are you going to challenge me if you're not going to play fair?"
Malfoy shrugged his shoulder. "What's playing fair if there are no rules?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. Why did she decide to leave her wand in her room? She saw a flash of green and looked to see red hair. "GINNY!"
Ginny stopped in her steps and turned around. She looked at Malfoy and then at Hermione before walking over. "Yes?"
She nodded her head to Malfoy. "He decided to take my bottle away and put a sticking charm on my seat. I left my wand in our dorm. Can you please un-stick me?"
Ginny surveyed the two of them for a moment. "How drunk are you?"
"I'm-"
"She's too drunk to walk." Malfoy cut her off.
Ginny nodded. "Okay, then." She looked at Hermione. "I think you're safe where you are." She then looked at Malfoy. "One, you mess with her, and I hurt you. Two, can you make sure she gets back to our dorm room safely? I have plans."
Hermione's mouth hung wide open at her friend's betrayal. "You can't be serious?!"
Malfoy smiled. "I got her. Go have fun."
"I will murder you for this, Ginerva!" Hermione yelled.
Ginny looked at Hermione with a smile. "Not while you're stuck to that seat." With that, she walked away.
Malfoy was laughing so Hermione decided to hit him on the arm. "Keep laughing and you'll be next on my list."
He immediately stopped. "I thought Weaselette and Potter were a thing?"
"They-" Hermione cut herself off as she felt something rising into her throat. The whiskey was starting to get to her and the room started to spin. "Malfoy, I'm going to be sick."
"What?!" He shifted in his chair to face her.
"I'm going to be sick! Like right now!" Hermione tried to stand up, but she was still stuck.
Malfoy pulled out his wand and reversed the sticking charm. Hermione started to stand but her legs gave out. Malfoy caught her before she hit the floor. "Try to hold it in. I don't want any throw-up on my new shoes."
Hermione rolled her eyes which made it worse. She tried as much as possible to keep anything from coming up her throat but if they didn't hurry then she was going to puke in front of everyone. She leaned onto Malfoy as he led her down a hall full of doors.
Her head started to spin and the urge to throw up became worse. She heard a quiet Alohomora and was suddenly being led into a room.
"Alright, just a couple more steps, okay?" Malfoy's voice almost sounded soothing.
There was a bright light coming from a candle on her face but all she could see was the loo. She pulled herself from Malfoy's arms and hit the cold marble floor. Suddenly she was getting sick in the toilet as someone held her hair back.
"Let it all out." He rubbed her back.
Hermione threw up until the point of exhaustion. She found herself on the verge of sleep resting up against the wall of the loo. "I'm tired." She whispered.
Malfoy sighed. "Can you stand without getting sick again?"
She tried to shrug her shoulders.
Malfoy stood and walked over to her. He leaned down and grabbed underneath her shoulders and legs. Hermione wrapped her hands around his neck. She felt as he walked her back into the room and laid her on his bed.
"Do you want to change?" He asked.
Hermione nodded with her eyes closed and heard the drawer to a wardrobe opening and closing.
"Here."
Hermione opened her eyes to see a t-shirt and pajama pants in front of her. She grabbed them and went to sit up.
"You can change while I go clean up the loo," Malfoy said as he walked away.
Hermione remained sitting on the bed as she slid off her jeans and threw them on the floor. She took her bralette and shirt off as well and put them on the ground. She slid the t-shirt on which felt amazingly comfortable. She started to feel dizzy again, so she left the pajama pants on the bed and slid under the covers to lay down.
Malfoy walked out of the loo and over to the bed. He raised a wet washcloth up to her face and gently wiped the area around her mouth.
"That feels nice." She whispered with her eyes closed.
"Did you decide you didn't like the pants?" Malfoy said with a quiet laugh.
Hermione tried to laugh but couldn't. "I felt sick again."
Malfoy sighed. "Okay then." He rested a second cloth on her forehead. "Get some sleep."
Hermione got comfortable in the bed. "Goodnight, Malfoy."
There was a short silence before he spoke. "Goodnight, Granger."
~
Cold marble floors, searing pain in her left arm, and screams from somewhere distant. She could feel the stinging of the blade piercing her arm, but it was almost bearable. Her vision started to blacken around the edges of her eyes.
She looked to her left and saw the blonde hair. It all seemed impossible. How could two kids be stuck in such a terrible position? She looked back up at the glistening chandelier. It had cobwebs on it, and it almost made her laugh. How could such rich people not clean their chandeliers?
"Granger!"
Her entire body was struck with electricity and the pain returned. She realized that the screams were her own. There was a cackling sound coming from above her and all she could see was black hair.
"Granger!!"
Her eyes started to well with tears and she wished it would all stop. She just wished that someone would make it stop!
"GRANGER!"
~
Hermione was pulled from her nightmare to a bright light and someone sitting next to her. She jumped back from the unknown figure and brought her knees to her chest.
"Granger, it's me. You're okay. You're safe."
Hermione quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and looked around the room. She wasn't in her dorm. Where the bloody hell was she?
"Granger, breathe and look at me."
She hadn't realized that she was hyperventilating. She looked at the boy across from her and the moment she saw the blonde hair she calmed down.
"Are you okay?" Malfoy was keeping his distance.
"I-" She hiccupped, trying to catch her breath. "I'm fine."
Malfoy reached for something on his bedside table and handed it out to her. "Take these. It's a calming draught and a pepper-up potion."
Hermione hesitantly grabbed the vials from his hand and downed both of them. Her mind started to feel slightly clearer and the pounding in her head vanished. Her breathing became even and the panic dissipated from her body.
Malfoy looked her over with what seemed like concern. "Do you think you can go back to sleep?"
Hermione looked at him not sure what to say. "I can try."
He backed off of the bed and held up the covers for her to climb under. Hermione moved hesitantly as she got comfortable in the bed. She looked off the side of the bed and realized there was a pillow and throw on the ground.
"If you need anything then let me know." Malfoy sat down on the floor and started to pull the throw over his body.
Hermione felt bad for taking his bed away. The moment the candle was blown out everything came back to her. The nightmare, the marble, the knife, the cackling. Her fear was overthrowing the calming draught. She took a deep breath. "Malfoy,"
His voice was deep with sleep. "Yes?"
"Can," She paused, trying to figure out if she should even ask. "I would feel better if you were in the bed."
There was a shuffle on the floor. "Are you sure?"
Hermione nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Yes."
"Scoot over."
Hermione scooted over to the other side of the bed and felt as the mattress dipped. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, but she could feel the heat radiating off of his body.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Malfoy whispered.
Hermione lay on her side facing him. She couldn't tell him because he was there when it happened. She didn't want him to feel guilty for something that wasn't his fault. "Maybe someday."
She heard him sigh. "Someday."
That was the last thing Hermione heard before she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.