Hermione could feel the muggle rock music pulsing in her veins. She took another long sip from her whiskey before slamming the glass on the table. She was watching her friends dance with slight envy, wishing it were that easy for her to find someone. She had been at this club for an hour and not one man had approached her. Critically, she went over her appearance in her mind, dark muggle blue jeans paired with black boots and a black sequined halter top, her normally bushy brown hair had been tamed in soft ringlets, she thought she looked pretty good. But regardless not one had approached her that evening.
"Hermione" she heard someone squeal from behind, "Hermione Granger?"
The voice sounded familiar but Hermione couldn't quiet place it until she turned around. She came face to face with glossy black hair, flawless skin and almond shaped green eyes, the and only pansy Parkinson. Hermione allowed Pansy to embrace her in a bone-crushing hug and smiled weakly at her old classmate.
"Pansy, how have you been?" Hermione greeted politely, she was suspicious but curious why Pansy seemed so glad to see her.
"I am great" Pansy replied, taking Hermione by the arm and guiding to a table in the back. "I am working at St.Mungo's as a healer now and you, what exactly do you do with your brilliant self?"
Hermione sat in the chair opposite at the table and smiled a little uncomfortably. Last time Hermione had seen Pansy was during the war. Pansy had been among a large group of Slytherins who had turned to the Order after their families were murdered. Pansy had been polite for the three years they fought together but the two had never bonded so her interest in Hermione made her a little nervous.
"I am a curse-breaker for Gringotts" Hermione advised her. "I have been there pretty much since the war"
"That so fits" Pansy nodded her head approvingly, "You have always been one for adventure"
"Right" Hermione answered, still a little confused by Pansy's behavior. Ginny approached the table with an apprehensive look on her face.
"Hermione" Ginny started looking very confused, "Are you ready to get out of here?"
Pansy smiled brightly at Ginny, "Hello Ginny, care to join us?"
"No, we really should go" Hermione told Pansy. She stood and shook the girls hand. "It really was a pleasure to see you"
"Pleasure was all mine" Pansy said, "I hope to see you soon"
"Right" Hermione said over her shoulder, " Have a good evening"
"What was that about?" Luna asked as she linked her arm through Hermione's. Hermione shrugged and rolled her eyes.
"No telling with that girl," Hermione answered and the three friends headed out into the cool, night air.
Hermione was lounging on her couch reading a book when she got the letter. Upon opening it she was shocked to find Pansy had invited her to a dinner party at her home. "This is odd" hermione mumbled to herself. Hermione decided to write Pansy back to thank her for the thought and apologize for inability to attend.
"What?" Ginny screeched when Hermione told her a few days later. "You should go"
Hermione was shocked, "What do you mean?" Hermione asked, "Why in the world she I go to Parkinson's dinner party"
"Great food, amusing company, Draco Malfoy is gorgeous..."Ginny trailed off and blushed wildly as she did so.
"You have fancy Malfoy" hermione yelled. Ginny glared at Hermione and poked her in the stomach.
"I did not say I fancy" Ginny replied pouting slightly, "I said he is attractive"
"I think you should go without me," Hermione teased earning another sharp jab form the youngest Weasley.
"That wouldn't fly" Ginny sulked, then suddenly she brightened, "But you could ask Pansy if I could go along"
Hermione sighed, "How exactly am I going to convince Pansy?" Hermione asked.
Ginny kissed Hermione on the forehead, "You will think of something, your not the cleverest witch of our age for nothing"
"That always comes back and bites" hermione mumbled to herself as Ginny skipped off to her bedroom.
It didn't take much effort to convince Pansy to invite Ginny. Pansy's attitude seemed very the more the merrier. So on the Saturday, a week after Hermione ran into Pansy at the club, they went to Parkinson Manner to dine.
Hermione had chosen nice dress robes for the occasion but Ginny had insisted that muggle clothes were all the rage amongst the purebloods these days and convinced Hermione to go back through her wardrobe. For the occasion, Hermione wore a strapless burgundy calf-length dress with strapped sandals. Ginny had donned an ankle length silk emerald green dress with matching green pumps. Hermione anxiously rang the doorbell, dreading a night full of meaningless chatter and snarky spoiled pure blood brats.
The door was opened by a house elf; he quickly motioned for them to come inside. The tiny house elf took their coats, "May I have your names?" He squeaked consulting a long piece of parchment.
"Hermione Granger and Ginerva Weasley" Hermione answered. The elf took a quill and crossed their names off the list. He led the young women down the corridor into what hermione assumed was a parlor.
"Hermione" Pansy greeted, giving Hermione a kiss on each cheek. Hermione smiled at her hostess, taking in her strapless black dress, relieved Ginny made her change. Pansy gave both Hermione and Ginny a critical look and obviously pleased at their appearances. "It is great to see you"
"You too" Hermione replied, "Thank you for letting me bring Ginny along. We had plans for the evening and I really hated to bail on her"
Pansy waived the comment off as she linked arms with Hermione. "Not a problem" Pansy said as she steered them further into the room. "I am sure you remember most of these people."
"Of course" hermione said as she nodded at several people including Draco Malfoy. Hermione stifled a giggle as Ginny tripped walking past Malfoy. Draco smiled and helped her friend up, the two struck up a conversation, which left Malfoy smiling arrogantly and Ginny giggling madly.
"Dinner is served" Pansy said after consulting with another house elf and Hermione followed the crowd into the dinning room.
Hermione was seated at dinner beside Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson. Hermione was surprised that she was actually able to hold pleasant conversation with both. After the first course Hermione noticed a lull in the conversation and took a moment to survey the other guests. She recognized almost everyone there, except for the man directly across from her. Hermione could tell her was tall even though he was sitting down. He had dark brown hair, almost black, and silver grey eyes not quite a metallic as Malfoy's and an amazing smile. Daphnee Greegrass was trying to engage him in conversation and he seemed polite but oblivious to her charms.
He caught Hermione's eyes and smiled mischievously. A shiver went down Hermione's spine when their eyes locked. She had honestly never felt that before. He gave her a classic slytherin smirk but this wasn't a smirk with malice it held something else entirely, this was pure sex.
Hermione leaned over and tapped Millicent on the shoulder. "Who is that?" hermione whispered discreetly motioning across the table.
Millicent smiled when she saw whom Hermione was speaking of, "That's Marcus Flint" Millicent advised before turning back to her own conversation.
Hermione was horrified at the revelation. I just flirted with Marcus Flint, Hermione silently berated herself, this was the same Slytherin elitist who participated in tormenting me at Hogwarts. Hermione looked at him again. He has definitely changed physically, Hermione noted. His skin had cleared up and his teeth were in much shape now.
Hermione shook herself out of the trance. It doesn't matter how much he has changed physically, Hermione told herself, you cannot flirt with Marcus Flint it is wrong and so very not allowed. She wondered as she pulled her attention back to Pansy if Marcus knew he was flirting with a mudblood.