AN: This story contains smut, but it's pretty light on. Use your imagination to fill out the details ;)
The dark brown barn owl dropped four identical thick cream envelopes onto the kitchen table at Grimmauld Place. Hermione was the first to break open the Zabini crest and retrieve the parchment inside.
Miss Hermione Granger
Is invited to join
Mrs Seraphina Zabini
To celebrate the Twenty-First birthday of her son Blaise Zabini
On
Saturday the Twenty-Eighth of April
At
Five O'Clock PM
Zabini Mannor
"Ooh a fancy party" Hermione heard Ginny squeal, she didn't respond though as her attention was caught by a second piece of cardstock inside the envelope. Expecting an R.S.V.P. card Hermione was surprised to find that it was actually a second invitation. This one was far less formal, a sticky invite designed to self-stick to a mirror or noticeboard like the magnetic muggle ones you stick to the fridge. The invitation had a photo section on the left and the details on the right hand side. The photo section was running a gallery of pictures tracking Blaise's life from babyhood to adult. The details section sported dark green wording on silver backing.
Granger
Lucky you has scored a VIP after party invite to celebrate Blaise being
All Grown Up
Hogwarts theme - bring your uniform and leave your inhibitions at the door.
Attend if you dare
"What's that 'Minoe?" Harry's voice cut in.
"Huh, oh, it's an after party invite." she replied distractedly
"An after party? I didn't get get one of those, did you Harry?" Ginny huffed.
"No, doesn't look like it" Harry replied shaking out his envelope.
Ginny came up to read it over Hermione's shoulder, her eyebrows raising. "Maybe you're the only one invited to this VIP afterparty 'Mione" she said with a smirk nudging Hermione's shoulder. Hermione paled, and squeaked out a high pitched laugh
"Nah I got one too" Ron called waving his in the girls faces.
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. That could have been awkward. Sure there'd been that time in the archives at work a few weeks ago, but no one was supposed to know about that, and if the invitation had been for a private 'celebration' her friends would have had a lot of questions.
Speaking of questions, "so why didn't you two get one?" Hermione mused. Just then the owl returned, dropping a scrap of paper onto Harry's head.
Sorry Potter and Weaslette, the after party is for heterosexual or bi singles only. But on the upside you'll have your house to yourselves for the night. Enjoy.
Blaise.
"Apparently only single's get an invite" Harry answered after scanning the note.
"What!" Ginny demanded "That's bollocks." she crossed her arms huffing. Harry walked over to her and whispered something into her ear, Ginny perked up immediately. "Well have fun you to, don't rush home." she said dropping her arms and looking suspiciously cheery.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other Hermione's face showing concern about what this singles only after-party might entail, Ron's disgust at the thought of what his sister and best mate might be spending their night doing.
"So Granger" Blaise began, sauntering up to Hermione's desk three days before his party. "I'm still waiting on an R.S.V.P from you."
"No you're not, I sent it back straight away" Hermione huffed without looking up from her work.
"For the main party, yes. The afterparty though.."
Hermione swore under her breath, she'd been hoping he wouldn't notice. She really didn't know which box to tick, she'd been tossing up her decision for two weeks now. "Oh, I must have forgotten" she bluffed.
Blaise leaned against the partition separating Hermione's desk from those surrounding her, "well just tell me your answer now then." he smirked.
Shit
"I'm actually rather busy right now Blaise. If you don't mind i'll just owl it back later." she replied in the voice she used for dealing with people who came to make irritating complaints about having to give their house-elves time off.
Blaise chuckled and leaned in close casting a silencing spell over her desk. "Look Granger if you're too chicken, just tell me" he winked. Hermione huffed incensed.
"I'm not chicken" she insisted, "i'm just busy."
"Riiight" blaise replied rolling his eyes "well if you find that Gryffindor courage of yours and decided to show, exit the main party via the door next to the statue of Morgana. The password is Higgly-Plunk." and with that he lifted the spell and sauntered off.