Chapter Eight: The Party I Didn't Attend

May 13

The Marauders have to be the most unorganized boys I've ever met.

Seriously; I can see why they're so close. Each and every one of them left planning this party until the very last minute. We're in the Gryffindor Common Room now, only a few hours before the party, moving chairs around and trying to set up. They're mainly just goofing off.

They have big mouths, though – everyone knows about the party.

BUT NOTHING'S READY!

"I still think we should decorate," Scorpius grumbled, looking distraught as he and Aiden lifted a table out from the middle of the room. I sighed, pushing my sweaty blonde hair out of my face.

"We can't," I said for the umpteenth time. "We don't have that kind of time."

"Plus, no one really cares after they've had a couple of shots of Firewhiskey," Luke added, grinning widely as he and Al pushed a couch away from the middle of the room.

"Drinking Firewhiskey is on the List, right?" Aiden asked, setting the table against the wall. "Maybe we should do that tonight."

"Nah, we were planning for that on Hogsmeade," Al said absent-mindedly, putting the couch down and flopping onto it. "Weren't we?"

"This is the first I'm hearing of this," I said loudly over the other boys' nods of approval.

"Really? We were talking about it last night," Scorpius commented, frowning a little. I lay back onto the floor, sighing loudly.

"Were you talking about it in your dormitory?" I asked dully, staring up at the ceiling in resignation.

"Yeah!" Luke glanced over to me from the other couch he was pushing against the wall, his face rippled with confusion. "Why weren't you there?"

I slapped a hand to my forehead. Really, I worry about these boys.

"Soph, you hang out in the dormitory all the time," Aiden pointed out, pulling out his wand and vanishing rubbish off the tables.

"Whatever," I dismissed, hoping the colour had left my face. "When are we going to Hogsmeade?"

"A few days before exams," Scorpius answered, jumping onto the couch next to Al. My jaw dropped in surprise.

"Shouldn't we be studying?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Luke shrugged.

"It's the only night we can go," he explained, collapsing into an armchair. "Are we done clearing up here?"

"I suppose so," I said quickly, "but I really have to do well in Defence –"

"Don't worry about it, you'll do fine," Al cut in, giving me an encouraging smile. I felt my brain go fuzzy as I literally melted, settling myself happily on the floor.

I think it's rather disturbing that Al controls my emotions – but as long as he keeps smiling at me, I think I'm okay with it.

His hugs are nice, too.

"Okay, I agreed dizzily. Wow – I just sounded so much like one of those boy-crazy ditzy girls who devote their entire lives completely to this one hot, dreamy and absolutely perfect boy. Look at me, I even have the stereotypical blonde hair!

But I'm not one of thosegirls, I swear.

Then again, I just swooned when Al smiled at me. I totally am. Easily pleased, in the most non-slaggish of ways. Honestly.

…bloody hell, I'm worse than Vanessa Brown!

Well, at least I don't prance around in booty shorts and a bra on the Quidditch pitch. I like wearing clothes, believe it or not. Merlin knows Luke is so easily distracted at the beginning of games when Vanessa feels the need to "cheer." I wonder if Al would like that…

NO! I'm not that desperate. Under no circumstances will I stoop that low.

Stupid bet.

"I guess this'll be crossed off as soon as the party starts?" I asked, stretching a little. The boys ignored me and continued chattering on about their plans in Hogsmeade, and who knows what else. "OI! PARTY! Happening in approximately ten short minutes!"

Nothing.

"People are going to be here soon!"

Seriously? Still nothing?

"Girl with big boobs coming through!"

So typical.

They swivelled around, looking across the Common room eagerly for the non-existent girl. I rolled my eyes and stomped over to them, snapping a finger in Luke's face.

"Get ready," I told him, crossing my arms defiantly.

"Go away, Soph," he said absent-mindedly and looking over my shoulder. I scoffed.

How dense is he, exactly?

"You smell, Luke," I whined.

"I had practice this morning –"

"Did I mention Vanessa's going to be at this party?"

Wow, that was fast.

Scorpius and Al laughed and followed him up to their dormitory, still talking about who-knows-what. I made my way towards the girl's dormitory, only to be pulled back.

By my hair.

It's really strange why this hurts so much. It's not exactly hurting my hair (after all, there's no feeling there), but my head feels like it's been put under the Crutiatus Curse. All the girls out there should understand the excruciating pain I was feeling, correct?

Mind explaining it to Aiden?

I glared at him, rubbing my head and blinking away the tears prickling at my eyes. "Aiden, one of these days –"

"I need your help." He looked worried and vulnerable – but my head really hurt.

So I laughed.

I'm a terrible person.

"You should've thought about that before you pulled my hair," I told him, still massaging my scalp. His eyes were pleading.

"Please?" he asked in a small voice. I sighed.

"If this is about Lily –"

"I'm desperate, Soph," he begged, hazel eyes widening. "This could be my last chance to win Lily over once and for all –"

"That's where I've got a problem," I interrupted, feeling some of my earlier anger reappear. "I don't want you to 'win her over' to say you've shagged every girl at Hogwarts –"

"It's different, Soph!" He began to pace, face screwed in concentration and pain. "I don't want to shag her."

I crossed my arms, looking sceptically at him. "You don't, do you?"

"Well… okay, of course I do," he admitted, "but it's not only that. I like spending time with her. I'm not just in for…"

"Your hormones?" I supplied.

"Exactly." He nodded frantically. "There's so much more than that." His eyes her hopeful, remembering.

And unfortunately, he probably wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed.

I let down my arms and let them fall to my sides, looking to the ground in resignation. "What do you want me to do?"

"This is stupid," I hissed to Aiden, barely hearing myself over the loud, blaring music. "Who hosts a party without food, but plenty of alcohol?"

"Just go get Al to help you," he replied, peering over heads distractedly. "You'll get food, and it should give me enough time with Lily."

"I can't distract Al," I insisted for the umpteenth time. "I don't know how!"

"Of course you can," he answered matter-of-factly. "If you wore the dress, it would've helped, but you wanted to wear… that."

"I'm not a slag, Aiden," I said through gritted teeth. He made a non-committal jerk with his head and pointed towards Al, who was speaking to a couple of guys on the Quidditch team.

"Go ahead – and don't forget to look frantic!" he added, cheerfully striding away from me and into the crowds. I sighed and shook my head, heading towards Al.

Showtime.

"Al!" I grabbed his arm and forcibly twisted him around, and quickly. I wanted to seem as if my problem was of utmost urgency – as if I needed his help, or I wouldn't survive. Unfortunately, he was unsuspecting my aggressive actions and stumbled forward, basically pushing me to the ground accidentally. Then, to top it all off, he fell.

On me.

Well, this isn't part of the plan.

(No, it really isn't!)

He quickly scrambled off of me as the two guys let out a round of wolf-whistles. I blushed and stood, avoiding his eyes.

"Sorry," I muttered, pushing hair forward to hide my burning face. He ducked around, searching my face and eyebrows scrunched together with worry.

"Are you okay?" he asked, ignoring the sniggering guys behind him.

"Actually, I need –"

"Did I hurt you when I…" he trailed off, clearly hoping he wouldn't have to finish his sentence. I quickly shook my head, relieving him of his misery.

"No, no! I'm fine!" I squeaked. "But I really need your help. We have a problem."

"With what?"

"We need food," I said in a quiet voice so as students around us wouldn't hear. My heart sped up as he leaned closer to listen to me over the music.

"What?"

"We need food!" I said a little louder, trying to think straight within his close proximity. "We have alcohol, but didn't get any food." Thankfully, he leaned back as he searched the room for the food that wasn't there. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Don't look at me like that.

"I guess we should go get some, then?" he asked, looking back to me.

I nodded. "Yeah. Will you help me?"

"Sure, of course..." He waved again to his smirking team members and followed me out the Common Room and down the steps. It only occurred to me after this was over how suspicious this seemed.

Whoops.

"Are you enjoying the party?" he asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets as we made our way down. I shrugged, feeling only a little guilty for leading him away from Aiden and Lily.

"I guess so. It feels a little stressful, being a host," I replied honestly. He nodded in understanding, keeping silent as we listened to our steps clanging on the stairs. I felt more awkward by the minute.

Which is really sad, because after these few weeks, I thought we would've at least considered ourselves as friends.

Do friends normally have awkward moments?

"Have you decided which Healing School you want to attend?" he asked, trying the break the ice. I let out a hollow, ironic laugh.

"At this point, I need to pass Defence," I confessed, feeling fear clench my insides as we turned a corner. "It's the only subject that's holding me back."

Al looked uncomfortable. "I promise you'll do fine."

"I have a problem with nerves." Like right now; I was sweating bullets, as gross as that sounds. I suppose if I wore the dress Aiden told me to wear, I wouldn't have sweat as much – but it would've also meant that I wouldn't have been able to lean over without flashing someone. Nah, I decided to wear normal clothing – and that covered me enough to catch all my sweat.

Why am I so nervous?

Maybe it was the fact that I was alone with Al in a dark corridor, not to mention the castle was pretty warm at this time of year. I had a sneaking suspicion it had less to do with the temperature, though.

Just imagine my nerves at the Defence Practical Exam.

"You know everything well enough to pass," he assured me, "even with nerves."

"I suppose," I said, wanting to change the subject. "Have you figured out what you want to do?"

"Yeah, actually," he answered, smiling. "I think I want to be a teacher. My jaw dropped in surprise as he went on. "I mean, it makes sense; I was named after two teachers. My dad taught a bunch of people in his fifth year. Tutoring you as been great –" my heart swelled at the thought "– and I love it, so why not?"

I laughed. "You'll be an amazing teacher, Al," I told him, mulling over it. Me, a Healer (hopefully) and Al, a teacher – yep. I'd totally be happy with that when we get married.

I mean…

"You think so?" he asked, sounding amused.

"Of course!" I pushed open a door and descended down more steps. "If your teaching is anything like your tutoring, I'm sure you'll be great."

"Has it really helped?" he asked hesitantly. "The tutoring?"

"Definitely." I opened another door and spotted the giant fruit bowl. "I'm so glad you're my tutor." I reached out to tickle the green pear (it's so cute! I love its little laugh) but Al grabbed my hand and turned me towards him.

Holy crap.

His green eyes shone in the little light along the walls of the dungeons, looking uncomfortable and worried. I couldn't speak; my hand was clamped in his, and my breath was coming a little short. His gaze was too intense.

"Soph, I need to tell you something," he whispered, locking his eyes with mine. I nodded and pressed my lips together. I didn't trust my voice.

He leaned a little closer, glancing around the empty corridor to make sure he wouldn't be overheard. "I did something really awful," he confessed, looking inexplicably guilty. "I hope you'll forgive me for it." My mouth went dry.

"What is it?" I whispered back. I swallowed a little and tried to steady the haze that was my mind. He squeezed my hand tightly, taking a deep breath.

"You're –"

"Busted."

We sprang apart as a voice appeared from the shadows. It was apparent we hadn't heard Filch's footsteps in our trance.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Detention!" he wheezed, limping towards us with a leering grin.

"It's not curfew!" Al protested, looking extremely annoyed. I checked my watch.

10:16.

Whoops.

Filch looked rather gleeful from my look of horror. "Detention next week, lovers. Back to the Common Room, where you can continue your shameful activities."

"We're not –"

"Mr. Potter, would you like two detentions?" Al shut his mouth, looking extremely sulky. Filch grinned happily at us the entire way back, making sure we went back to the Common Room.

A little paranoid, if you ask me.

"Well, now we don't have any food," Al said bitterly as we climbed through the Portrait Hole. "They'll just have to survive off dinner, I suppose. I'll see you tomorrow, I'm bloody exhausted."

"But –"

"Night, Soph." He left me in the middle of the party, hungry and drunk Gryffindors stumbling and trying to dance along to the music that was too loud to bear. I looked around, but couldn't see Aiden anywhere. Luke was sulking in a corner with Scorpius, both evidently having been shot down again.

So much for planning a party.