I was wandering around the house; I had managed to pass through the ball room once again, swipe a glass of fire whiskey without anyone noticing and was struggling to find a good place to hide. As I walked along the empty corridors, the paintings would growl at me for underage drinking and at how unlady like I was. I probably had about 3 minutes left to hide and still had no clue where I would. I finally sat down on a lonely chair in the hall to make up a strategy; there was no way I was going to give up easily... I put my drink on the floor, realising I had more chances to not be found if I was not drinking.

''Well, well, well... a beautiful lonely girl and a glass of fire whiskey. I can't say I've ever seen this before, you must be lost.'' I heard a voice whisper in my ear.

''Shit!'' I got up, startled. There was a young man and a young woman laughing at me in the painting directly behind the chair I was sitting on. They were in the forest, the boy had the loveliest face I had ever seen and the woman, and boy did she have a fire in her eye. She was wearing a short skirt made out of a piece of fabric and was holding an arc. ''Oh, very funny... If you're going to lecture me-

''Lecture you? Honey, we're just trying to help you find your way.''

''Well I don't have time for this.''

''A place to hide, is that what you're looking for? Don't think we know not of the tradition,'' The woman stepped forward. ''We watch the whole thing every year. But you have made this year much more interesting, girl. I've seen you around here a couple of times and I know you couldn't even find a troll if there was one in this house.''

''Don't be rude Artemis,'' the beautiful boy added, ''you see, we can know where everyone is in this house at any instant. You're human mind isn't thinking straight now, but our divine intellectual selves think we can help you in exchange for making our night more interesting.''

''Artemis... The Greek goddess of the hunt.'' I thought out loud. That's right, has a great interest for Greek mythology, and Blaise had told me she had paid an inimaginable price for a couple of their paintings, ''and Eros.''

''Well done, witch.'' Artemis smiled at me.

''But you two are opposing forces... Why would Eros a god of love who's working for Aphrodite and Artemis a god of chastety want to help me?''

All of a sudden a stag rushed in the picture, Artemis touched its head and looked into his eyes.

''Someone is coming, hurry, witch, go straight down this corridor turn right, then turn right again and enter the third door on your left if Eros says its safe. Now both of you, GO!''

''What?'' I asked looking down the hallway. I couldn't hear anyone...

The painted Artemis gave me a scary look and she vanished from her picture. Eros spoke up:

''You heard the hunter, turn right and right again then the third door on you left! Let's go!''

Something about Eros' gentle voice made me comply, so I ran as softly as I could to my destination. Right, right, third door on left. When I was about to open the door I heard a voice behind me:

''No! Not that one!'' I heard Eros' voice. ''I checked it, another girl is already hiding inside!''

I heard faint steps coming from where I had been. Crap. My heart started pounding for the second time tonight. All this adrenaline can't be good for me... I didn't wait for Eros' directions I just started running again, thank god I had left my shoes... oh wait, where had I left my shoes? I turned in random hallways wishing I'd loose whoever was following me, trying to remember where I had put my shoes. I wonder if it was Malfoy or Perun... or maybe it was just another boy. I finally stopped at a crossroads... or crosshalls... Ha crosshalls I wish Blaise would be here I could-

''I've got you now!'' I turned around and saw Perun smiling at the end of the hall I was in. He was about 30 meters away from me. I smiled as I started to head in the hall to my right. My smile faded when I saw a blonde headed boy running my way in this hall.

''Psst...'' I looked over at the wall that made the sound and saw Eros in a painting pointing behind me, ''Should've went left, dear.''

I nodded and dashed as quickly as I could for the hall Eros pointed out and ended up... In the ball room? I swear this house was so confusing...

I scanned the room for an escape. I could only think of the women's bathroom and that was a sure bust.

''May I have this dance?'' I turned around, expecting Malfoy or Perun but luckily, it was Prince.

''Albert!'' I took his hand and dragged him to the dancefloor. We twirled without a word, both looking for our hunters and pray. Perun had only spotted us dancing after he had waited outside of the women's bathroom for a good while. He smiled and crossed his arms, probably thinking the same thing as I was... ''We can't dance forever.'' I whispered my eyes on Perun.

''I wouldn't be worried about Perun, Ellie...'' Prince said as he smiled a devilish smile. I looked up at him with my brows furrowed.

''May I steal my date from you, Prince?''

''of course. Sorry Ellie!'' Prince faded in the crowd.

''Blaise...'' I spoke in a warning tone. Why does this feel like a set up? Where is Malfoy anyway...

A smile crept up one side of Blaise's lips as he twirled me in complicated steps. I could hardly concentrate on anything else but dancing.

''Zabini stop showing off I can't keep up!'' I looked up at Blaise and saw Malfoy and Faun waiting on the lines of the dance floor for the next song to start... to dance together... and me and Blaise were dancing together... and they would switch. They would switch and win. They would win not even 30 minutes in the game.

''No way...'' I whispered to myself.

''What's that?'' Blaise asked, slowing his pace down.

''Umm... Just that... Perun's waiting for me to finish dancing to get his ring back I think.'' Finally, my first good idea of the game popped in my head. ''Blaise you have to dance with me just one more song so I can set up a plan...'' Pure genius, I am.

''Of course,'' Blaise said, smugly.

As soon as the song ended I noticed in the corner of my eye that Draco took Faun on the dancefloor and they set up to started dancing. As soon as I heard the first note of the song I curtsied and left Blaise with a whispered: ''Suckers!''.

I took off and headed for the door that I came in from, expecting Eros or Artemis to come to my help. I knew I couldn't stay in place, I had to keep moving even though my allies wouldn't appear yet I had faith they wouldn't let me down... I started walking as fast as I could without breaking out into a run. Left, right, left, straight, right... I was lost. I let a swear word slip out of my mouth as I looked around for a clue as to where I was.

''Artemis would not be impressed at your lack of sense of direction, dear.'' I hear Eros' mocking laugh. I squinted my eyes at him when I saw him sitting on a tree in the jungle, swinging his legs, back and forth. ''Well, I'm just here to give you an update: Artemis found one of the boys as lost as you are now.''

''Perun... and what about Draco Malfoy?'' I asked.

''Well... Artemis thinks it's impossible... but he seemed to have noticed her following him. She said he looked straight at her, smirked, and vanished behind a wall. Hasn't seen him since...'' Eros was looking up and down the hall as he spoke.

''Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'' A low growl came from one end of the hall. His shimmering blonde hair gave me goosebumps. Eros burst out laughing a wicked laugh.

''I like this one better for you, dear!'' and just as soon as he said this Eros disappeared from the painting.

Draco laughed as he slowly approached me, like I was actually his prey. I whipped out my wand, mincingly pointing it at him, backing up hastily I tripped in my own feet and landed on my ass. How graceful.

''We're under the trace, Daragon, don't be stupid.''

''How did you know? Was Eros helping you? That little...'' I mumbled staying down, trying to figure everything out.

''Pretty and clever, if you weren't so hard headed I'd say quite the catch!'' Draco was getting closer. Too close. I wouldn't loose without a fight. I quickly got up, stumbling around a little before adjusting and firmly pointing my wand at his head. The trace would detect any magic conjured, but there were so many witches and wizards at this party, they surely wouldn't pay any attention to magic around this house tonight... unless it was offensive or defensive magic...

''Do not come any closer, I warn you!'' I was browsing through my memory for an exception, anything that could help me out right now. Running is obviously not an option. He'd catch me within seconds... ''Maybe I can't use defensive magic, but if I cast a spell that the ministry judges normal for a party...'' I still had no idea what to do, but it was something...

''Oh, please, what are you going to do? Conjure a wall of flowers?''

''Brilliant!'' Draco's smirk fell as mine grew. ''Orchideous!'' flowers of all kinds fell at my feet. I heard Draco laugh. ''Herbivicus!'' The flowers grew and grew, bushes appeared and grew up to the ceiling. I stood there a while to appreciate my work, something didn't feel right though. Outsmarting Malfoy wasn't as tasteful as I'd imaged it.

''DARAGON!'' I heard Draco yell at me. I started running away on instinct, but not without laughing just loud enough for him to hear me. Draco's wand in my pocket started burning. I stopped at the end of the hall, looked back at the wall of flowers, confused.

All at once, the flowers burst into flames.

''The fireplace needed more flare.''

I didn't run. I didn't even budge from where I was. How could he do that without his wand? I was too scared to move, yet I felt like I wanted him to get me. This is weird because I hate Draco Malfoy and his stupid, but gorgeous smirk. I hate him. Right?

''Not thinking about running away are we?'' He asked, observing me as I backed up in a corner.

''Draco, you can do magic without your wand?'' I spoke as I held my hands close to my chest, fidgeting with my fingers.

He didn't answer, he just kept approaching me until he was so close I could feel his cinnamon breath on my face. His teeth were clenched, he looked me dead in the eyes. He brushed my arm with his hand, my waist, my hips...

All of a sudden a loud dinging noise tore us apart. The party was over. My heart was beating once again, way too fast. No luck in trying to calm down, Draco took a step near me and kissed me. I pushed him away as hard as I could. But it was too late, I had already been shot.

''What the hell Malfoy!'' He smirked, brandished his wand in the air and walked away from me.