Chapter Ten: The Unexpected

Hardly anyone including Hermione, paid attention in lessons that day. Her mind was also on the upcoming party tomorrow night. She was a little shocked to find herself feeling nervous about going with Blaise. She knew she didn't really like him, but it was too late now.

"So do you have a date or what?" Blaise asked Draco in the common room later that night.

"Nope I'm going stag. I don't need a date, don't want to tie myself down to just one woman you know," he smirked. Blaise just shook his head and went up to bed. Draco soon followed and climbed into his own bed and fell into a fitful sleep.

Everyone was wild with excitement the following day. Most of them spent their day in the common room working on their costumes and talking about what the party would be like. Finally eight o'clock came and the entire school began spilling into the great hall. They were greeted with a misty darkness that showed hints of the dark ceiling that was home to a large yellow moon that provided the only light. The edges of the great hall were covered in spindly trees with live crows perched on the branches. There was a large stage that had a band blasting rock music and on the opposite side was a long table with food and drinks. The whole atmosphere was quite eerie so of course everyone loved it.

Harry and Ginny made their way to get some drinks and set a small table in the corner talking to each other until they noticed Luna enter dressed as a mermaid. She was accompanied by a red-haired pirate. Harry and Ginny smiled and waved them over to their table.

"Hey guys, your costumes look great."

"Thank you very much Ginny, I love your costume as well," Luna replied serenely.

"Have you seen Hermione anywhere?" Harry asked.

"Nope, I haven't seen Blaise either. Maybe they aren't in here yet, but it is hard to see with all this fog," Ron pointed out. "Can you believe Seamus actually used an aging potion and attempted to take Professor Lepor to the dance?" Ron sniggered seeing Seamus now sitting in a corner by himself looking very bummed.

Hermione finished fussing with her hair and looked in the mirror. She was pretty satisfied with her costume. Her hair was sleeked into long dark waves that fell to the middle of her back. Her dress was cream colored silk with a beautiful laced corset. The skirt of the dress was full and flowed like water over the ground as she moved. It made her look even paler while her dark eyes contrasted to give her face an eerie beauty. She used a charm to give herself fangs and with that she set off for the great hall.

Once she got there she found Blaise waiting for her. "Hello, you look…like a werewolf," she said, unsure what exactly to think of his costume, or lack there of.

"Thank you, you look nice tonight," he replied. He looked and sounded a little odd, but I guess speaking through a muzzle would do that. They both entered the great hall and looked around spotting Pansy and Neville.

Neville was dressed as a classic vampire with the black cape and all only he was so nervous that he forgot to give himself fangs. He may have been brave when it came to facing Voldemort, but when faced with Pansy in a mini dress he was doing his best not to faint. Hermione quickly helped him while Pansy turned to talk to Blaise.

"That's a really cool looking costume. Is it hard to talk with your face like that?"

"Not really," Blaise replied looking distracted. Pansy was a little confused as to what he was looking for since he obviously wasn't looking at Hermione even though she looked gorgeous.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No everything is fine. Hermione are you done I'd like a drink." Hermione followed Blaise over to the long table and he poured them both a drink and began walking towards the entrance hall.

"Um, where are you going?" Hermione asked.

"Let's take a walk I heard they set up a spooky trail out in front of the castle." Sure enough there was a winding trail bordered by more creepy trees. There were lanterns along the path every thirty feet and benches here and there. Professor Avarus was sitting on a bench probably patrolling to make sure nobody tried to sneak off into the forest.

Blaise took Hermione by the hand and led her down the path. Normally she would have found it nice to be alone with a guy, only she was becoming very uncomfortable with his quick pace and his silence. All of a sudden he led her off the path and towards the forest.

"What are you doing?" she hissed looking over her should to see if she could see anyone, but she couldn't.

"Just having a little fun," he replied monotonously.

"Look I don't know what you mean by fun, but I want to go back to the castle." She tried twisting out of his grip, but he was much stronger and her wand was on her bed because she didn't think she would be needing it.

Blaise dragged her past the edge of the forest and that's when she knew something bad was about to happen.

At eight thirty Draco made his way down to the great hall. He was impressed with the decorations and looked around. He quickly spotted Lavender in a ridiculously sparkly fairy costume and Parvarti who was dressed as a bunny, but the only rabbit quality of her skimpy costumes was a pair of ears and a fluffy little tail. There was no way he would sink that low tonight.

I wonder what Granger is dressed as since Blaise is going wolf. Ah there's Pansy, but Blaise isn't with her. Granger has probably dragged him off to hang out with her stupid friends.

"Hey Pansy where is Blaise?"

"Draco?!" she gasped. "Is that you?"

"Of course it's me who the bloody hell else would it be?"

"You look so…so, good." Draco rolled his eyes and smirked. If only she were hot then he would use this to his advantage.

"I know, now have you seen Blaise?"

"Yeah he was with Hermione, but he was acting very odd. I think I saw them going outside."

Outside? What were they doing out there? Only one way to find out. Draco pushed open the doors of the entrance hall and made his way to the trail. It seemed deserted. I can't believe they don't even have a teacher out here. Anyone could sneak off to the forest. Hmmm…not a bad idea. If only there was a decent looking female in this bloody school then I'd be-what was that?

He thought he heard a muffled scream. He set off down the trail towards the sound. Five minutes later he figured he must have imagined it until he saw a red light through the trees to his left. He drew his wand and ran into the trees.

He heard a voice ahead and hid behind a tree. He peeked around the edge and saw Hermione and Blaise. He was holding her by the wrist and attempting to drag her deeper into the trees.

Draco was shocked that his best friend, whom he known for so many years, was actually like this. Blaise was always so polite to girls. Draco quietly followed the pair deeper into the woods ready to fight, but somehow he lost them. He quickly glanced around in the darkness, memories of his first detention creeped into his mind and he began to lose his nerve.

It's only Blaise, what is the worst that could happen? Although Pansy did say he was not acting like himself tonight. On the other hand, do I really care what he does to Granger?

Draco started to turn back towards the castle, but something in his gut would not let him leave her there…Bloody hell, I'm coming mudblood he thought with a sigh and raced deeper into the thick trees.