This will be a short dramione fic. If you read any of my other stories, I'm so sorry I have not given up on them, I've just been working on fixing some issues in both of them. Please enjoy this short Halloween story with Draco, Hermione, and the rest of the Harry Potter bunch.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

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Black Magic and Virgins

Chapter 1: The Woods At Night

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The autumn air was always cool and crisp around Halloween, luckily this year it was just warm enough that if students wanted to dress up in costumes and venture outdoors they wouldn't catch colds doing so. It definitely relieved Madame Pomfrey from worrying over a full wing the next day and professors wouldn't have to delay any lectures due to the vast amount of absences. No this Halloween weather was the best it had been in all the years the Golden Trio had been at Hogwarts, and with it being their last after the war they were excited. The whole school was bubbling over the possibilities of parties and mischief that could be had. Yet no one was more ecstatic than one smug Slytherin, he'd planned the perfect party for all the veterans of the war just to prove he was not huge ass he'd been before. Yes, Draco Malfoy is actually trying to do something good.

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The doors of the Great Hall slammed open as Ron Weasley grumpily trudged in for breakfast, how Hermione had talked him into returning to school for another year would forever be a mystery to him. It had little to do with that heat of the moment kiss they'd shared months before in the final battle. No much to his chagrin they'd (Hermione) had decided that their friendship was too important to chance on a relationship. Still, while he understood her reasoning and had even agreed, he'd never realized until that moment how beautiful and amazing the woman was. And she was. Hermione smiled from the breakfast table, waving over her two best friends, Ginny was there as well waiting for Harry who was just as begrudgingly shuffling in behind him.

Hogwarts had changed very much since the war, things had had to be rebuilt and the student body was more untied than ever, even the Slytherin's surprisingly. Actually in the spirit of unity there was no longer house tables except for formal occasions. Thus the reason Pansy, Blaise, Draco, Luna, and Hannah Abbott all sat with them now, at was deemed the veteran's table. Neville was playing with Hannah's hair as the last two boys flopped down onto the bench next to Ginny grumpily, "Aw, come on guys, you've been this way ever since we've been back. You can't tell me that after that horrendous war that you aren't happy to have an actual normal year at Hogwarts." Neville smiled at them and returned to flirting with Hannah as the two reluctantly agreed.

"It's no use Neville, it seems as though some gloomy hoppers have gotten to them." Luna sighed as she looked at them, "They'll be this way for at least another week, I'd say."

Draco eyed the other blonde warily, still not really sure about her, then again he was on shaky ground in general with the whole group. "Well, I know one way to cheer the whole school up including Pothead and Weasel." He ignored glares format the two and the swats from Hermione and Pansy, "I have managed to make a deal with Hagird, which may or may not have me helping with Magical Animals classes, but does have us getting a cover to have a great Halloween party in the Forbidden Forest." Hermione gasped and Draco jumped straight to the part he knew would shut her up. "He promised it is a completely safe area and has great protection from the school's magical creatures, besides Hagrid would never had agreed if we shouldn't be there. I, of course, will finance everything."

Draco sat back as the others began chattering excitedly, Hermione glared at him from his side and he shrugged, "You do realize how much trouble we all including Hagrid could get in if we're caught. There's even the threat of expulsion!"

"Granger, where is the fun if there's no danger in getting in trouble?" He smirked at her before standing up and heading off to his first duties of the day, his quidditch team was seriously in trouble for too close of a game last week with Ravenclaw.

Ginny reached across the table tugging on Hermione's hand, "'Mione, ignore his royal rudeness, we must go shopping there can't be a Halloween party without amazing costumes!" The redhead smiled at her friend, "Besides we couldn't go without you, who else will know any of the spells to keep us out of trouble and to fix anything that goes wrong." Ginny always knew how to make her feel better.

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Draco looked around as he, Blaise, and Harry were putting on the final touches to the clearing, it was really coming together as long as they could keep Ron out of the snacks the girls had gathered up while in town. "Really Ron, you just ate lunch an hour ago and that was after a large breakfast and two sizable snacks how can you possibly still want to consume food?" Harry was berating his best friend, who once gain was trying to open the cupcakes Hannah had dropped off. "Come on, we're pretty much done getting this place set up, we can head to the shops get you a second lunch and see what we can find as costumes, you two coming?"

Blaise shrugged but joined them over towards the path back to school, "Drake?"

"Nah, you guys head on back, I'm going to finish up the dripping fake blood from the spider webs. See you all later tonight, also if someone would tell Pansy to be sure that Snape has plans with McGonagall tonight during the party." He turned back to the red ooze dripping out of the end of his wand as the others made their way down the path. This was going to be a blast tonight, and he couldn't wait to slip into his costume later. There was no way this party was going to go wrong, and if he was lucky he would have at least one pretty lady accompanying him in his bed tonight.

The crack of a twig behind him made him turn quickly to search the area, but there was nothing around him. He felt a chill go up his spine, the forest sure could be creepy when you were all alone. Maybe, he should have gone with the other guys. He shrugged it off and put the last bit of blood up before ending the spell and stepping back to see all their work. The place sure did look spooky, it would be even better at night when their starlight and fog spells kicked in for the final additions to the scene.

Gathering up his stuff, he got another chill, shaking it off he looked around again, this time he caught a glimpse of a black robe out of the corner of his eye. The nightmares that haunted in his sleep flashed through his mind quickly. Still he pushed those thoughts away, it was just because he was in the forest alone and his mind was playing tricks on him. He'd been out here plenty with his father and other Death Eaters so it was harder to ignore the memories without anyone else around. He scratched his faded mark absently as he took one more look out in to the woods before heading back towards school. He kept pretty good pace up as he followed the path, ready to be away from the snaps and shuffles of leaves that seemed to be following behind him. Steeping out of the edge of the forest, he took a deep breath and chuckled a bit at how silly he was being. There was nothing out there stalking him and trying to do him any harm, just his imagination.

Walking in to the Slytherin lair he felt much more comfortable as Pansy ran up squealing about make-up choices and costumes, shoving past her he made a bolt for his room. Slamming the door behind him he heard Blaise chuckling, "Pansy attack you too?" he nodded as he sighed and set his stuff down, "You ok, Drake?"

"Yeah, it's just the forest can be creepy when you're there by yourself you know. I should have left with you guys, but you can't believe how great it looks out there." Blaise agreed and they began getting ready for the night.

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Hermione looked over at the other girls getting ready, they were all in a tizzy about getting everything perfect. Pansy had barged in behind Ginny only minutes ago with her voice so squeaky it took them a good while to get her calmed. She looked down at the outfit in her lap, she couldn't believe Ginny had talked her into it. The redhead herself was ready to set Harry into cardiac arrest, she was wearing a fox get up calling herself a foxy redhead. If anything all their outfits were far too sexy, but as the female Weasley had indicated they weren't children anymore. They'd all become of age not long after the war, well except Ginny but she wasn't far behind. Luna was wiggling into a short little angel costume and Hannah was blushing as Pansy showed her how to put on the thigh highs that came with her Marie Antoinette costume. Pansy had special ordered her own greek goddess outfit that was more fit for the bedroom.

Yet she was still in shock over what she was expected to wear. It was a burlesque costume, even though she'd wanted to be something like Florence Nightingale. Though Ginny said she would look ridiculous being the only girl there appropriately dressed.

The corset would make it seem like her chest was about to burst out and there was nothing covering any bit of her legs besides the fishnets Ginny insisted on. Then Pansy had brought in her vast shoe collection and had shoved her into 3-inch heels. Sighing she puled on the tiny outfit and fluffed up the piece that hung from the back and slipped on the heels. Immediately Pansy started on her make-up going on about smoky eyes and glitter. Ginny began pulling at her hair, piling it up on top of her head in cute ringlets that she'd never seen her curls make.

"Oh, 'Mione! The boys sure are going to be after you tonight! I don't know how Ron will be able to resi-" Ginny cringed, "Sorry, I know you don't want to talk about Ron." Pansy looked up confused from applying the bright red lip gloss.

"You and Ron, you two aren't a thing?" she gasped, "Well, well, well isn't this a juicy little piece of gossip! And don't I have something for you! You'd never believe what guy would love to know that our little 'Mione is no way besotted with the resident Weasel." Ginny made a face at the name but looked eagerly at Pansy, Hermione pushed out of the chair while she had the chance. "'Mione wait!"

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she fell back against the portrait door as she shut it behind her, and then the Fat Lady cleared her throat, "Oh sorry ma'am."

Standing she looked down at her feet, these were the most impossible shoes to walk in. She'd just barely avoided the crazy duo that were Pansy and Ginny, how had they managed to become so close. Sighing, she heard a chuckle behind her, turning she caught Blaise covering his mouth, "Why Hermione are you a little out of breath? Those heels giving you problems?" Straightening like any Gryffindor would in the face of Slytherin mocking she brushed off her nonexistent skirt and began strutting down the hall.

"Not at all, what ever would make you think so?" and of course that was when she stumbled a bit, but she kept wobbling along. He was not going to win.

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By the time the sun had set the party in the forest was really on its way. The majority of the veterans were imbibing in some school disapproved activities but for the most part they were just enjoying being alive and without danger looming around the next corner. Ginny was wrapped a around Harry who ironically was in a huntsman costume. Pansy was unabashedly flirting with Ron who was grumbling next to the punch bowl, how had the girl known Ron would be coming as Hercules. Blaise was enjoying the attention he was getting from the ladies in his vampire attire, though his eyes lingered on the angel that was giggling across the way. Hannah was talking to Luna as Neville who had come as a the French King to her Marie Antoinette. Draco was glad to see his new group having such a great time, he kept fiddling with the bow tie on his own James Bond look.

"Here, let me fix it. You keep messing it up by fussing over it every few minutes." the voice of the know-it-all Gryffindor princess piped up, she began tugging at it and he was in for a shock when he looked down at her. "What?"

He cleared his throat as she backed away, "Um…. Nothing, just never thought I'd see Granger dressing like all the other girls. I thought you were going as that muggle lady nurse." He was honestly wracking his brain for her name, but couldn't remember, he never did pay attention in muggle studies. Oh well, Hermione was sure to fill him in all about it.

"Her name was Florence Nightingale, only the mother of modern nursing." See he knew her all too well. "Really Draco, you need to learn more about the muggle world."

Taking a chance, he pulled her in close as the music started up and she finished with his tie, "Why don't you teach me a little something then?" he winked and she swatted his chest, but her cheeks were painted a light pink as she blushed. "Come on, princess, loosen up after all it's Halloween and you're at a party, don't be so prudish." Then he set them into a rhythm dancing, but she was acting all rigid and nervous. He sighed pulling apart, "Let's get you a drink, that should help." Of course, she trailed behind her hand firmly in his grasp sputtering school rules, sobriety, and the dangers of the forest. "Your excuses don't work with me! Besides, we're fine, Hagrid said he would have protections laid out for us and look everyone is having a such a great time. Have you seen them all this happy together since the end of the summer?"

Hermione stopped then, looking around at everyone, drinking, dancing, laughing, and all sorts of happy times. "No, I… I guess you're right."

"Oh, I know Hermione Granger did not just say Draco Malfoy was right about something." Blaise materialized at their sides with Luna hugging his waist, their friends not far behind. "Come on Herms, relax, have fun! It's a party!" He handed her a mysterious blue drink with sugar around the rim and winked at Draco. Pansy was absolutely beaming from a begrudgingly accepting Ron's side as she clung to his arm. "Look even Ron is getting into the spirit, and you know how grumpy that ginger has been." With that Hermione had run out of excuses, so down the hatch the drink went, the warmth that spread through her was pleasing, a light blush coating her cheeks. Draco found it hard not admire her beauty, "Now little princess, let's dance." He winked at her as they both grabbed another drink and moved out on the dance floor.

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After jovially dancing with her friends, Hermione moved back over to the refreshments, she was losing count of the number of these delightful tasting blue drinks that she had ingested. A slim pale hand nabbed the current drink form her and she had to pout, "Dracooooooo," she whined, and then was over come with a fit of giggles, "give it back, they are so yummy." Never in the history of Hogwarts would anyone have ever guessed that one Golden Princess Hermione Granger would be most definitely sloshed at a school event. The Slytherin prince looked down at her with amusement in his eyes, deciding to drink the last her of the drink, he wrapped his arms about her middle. She began giggling again, laying her head against his chest, drawing absently on his coat with her finger, "You know, I think you're kinda cute…" she whispered and Draco just about strangled on the drink.

"Princess, I think its about time to take you home." running his hand across her cheek, brushing hair off her face. She smiled up at him, her cheeks pink from the alcohol and cool air.

Then squealing, not much unlike Pansy, "I can't go home with YOU!" Harry and Ron looked over at that, but began laughing at the suspicious look Hermione was giving Draco as she pointed her finger against his chest. Then in a stage whisper, "I know what happens when Draco Malfoy takes a girl home."

He chuckled at this, moving her towards the path back to Hogwarts, "Now what exactly happens when I take a girl home?" The rest began coming up to say good-bye to her, but she seemed to be considering what to say as she drew her eyebrows together. Ginny trotted over behind Harry, swooping in like a mother hen to keep Hermione from embarrassing herself too much.

"'Mione, maybe it would be best if you let Malfoy walk you back to Griffyndor Tower?" Petting her hair gently, Harry and Ron nodded in agreement, "I think maybe you've had too many of those little drinks you like," Hermione nodded and looked back at the refreshment table, "Malfoy, can you make sure our little brainiac gets back alright?" Bending a bit, Draco swept Hermione up into his arms and she quickly latched onto him in surprise. "Thanks man," Harry and Ron both said as they clapped his shoulder and headed back to their dates and the dance floor.

"Alright princess, looks like there's a few firsts happening tonight, Draco Malfoy leaving a party early and without a girl to warm his bed. Hermione Granger smashed off her arse and completely irresponsible." He chuckled as she cuddled into him, she adored the satiny feel of his shirt, she kept chattering on to him, mostly about nothing, his long list of ladies, and his many schemes. She never heard the crack of the twigs like he did, or notice when his body stiffened, then she felt as he tried to settle her quickly behind him to use his wand hand. In her muddled mind it was all a blur, she would remember later the feel of the wood her own wand in her hand, of dark spells flying around them, of the spray of warm from his blood that spattered on her face. Yet she would never remember the words he whispered to her as he held her tightly even as they were taken captives of the dark figures. "I'm so sorry.." he coughed, "I-I couldn't protect you… I have loved you so long." Nor would she reclaim the brush of his lips against her own for the very first time.

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Amata Mercy

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