Awakening of the Blood Moon

Chapter 13

Party Off

Instead of the pink and silver dress she had laid out for herself, Reenie found a red dress made out of velvet. Next to the dress was a pair of fancy shoes—also not the ones she had laid out to wear. There was a note on top of the dress that read: I heard you say to yourself that you wondered what to wear for the party. Now you don't have to wonder anymore. –Draco

Reenie raised an eyebrow. Did Draco actually go through the trouble of getting her something to wear, or was this a trick? She waved her hand over the objects and she did not sense any dark magic coming from them. Though she had already known what to wear, she decided to humor Draco and wear the velvet dress. She dried her wet pink hair and tied her hair back in an elegant French braid. While observing herself in the mirror, she could not deny that Draco had impeccable taste in clothing. The dress looked much better than she had thought, and it was warmer than the pink and silver chiffon dress she had planned to wear. Hair and makeup all in place, she went to the common room to meet Draco. He was also in velvet, but it was black.

"I see you got my Christmas Present," he said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you," Reenie told him. "You really shouldn't have."

He offered her his arm and she took it. They made their way to Slughorn's office. It was only seven-thirty. Though they were a little early, there were already a few students there. Some of the other members of the Slug Club looked at the pair, not surprised to see them together. Some however, looked slightly angry to see that either of them was invited.

Snape noticed them walk in and he walked to Draco. "Draco, I must speak to with you."

"I came with Serena," said Draco, thinking that Snape believed that Draco was gatecrashing the party. "I was invited."

"I can see that, Draco," muttered Snape.

"Professor, Draco is with me, "Reenie said coolly. "You can have my date after the party, but right now, we are going to enjoy ourselves."

Snape narrowed her eyes at her and he was about to tell her off when Slughorn interrupted him.

"Serena my dear," said Slughorn, walking up to Reenie. "Come with me. Let me introduce you to some of my guests!"

"I'd be delighted," Reenie said, smiling smugly at Snape and he followed Slughorn to a short stout man named Eldred Worple.

"I would like to you to meet Eldred Worple, the novelist of author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires—and, of course, his friend Sanguini. Eldred, this is Serena Shields. She is a new student; just arrived this Halloween."

"It is nice to meet you, Serena," said Worple, shaking her hand. "What brought you to Hogwarts?"

"Oh, a family conflict," Reenie answered. It was the best story she could come up on spur of the moment. She pulled left hand from Draco's arm and looked at him. "This is my date, Draco Malfoy."

"A pleasure, Mr. Worple," said Draco, stretching out his hand to shake Worple's. "I've read your book--enthralling."

"Oh, why thank you, Draco," said Worple.

"I enjoyed Sanguini's story," Draco continued, glancing at the vampire and catching his attention for a moment. "How you became a vampire what was it—a hundred years ago?"

"Yes," said Sanguini. "It was 1895, I was fishing in my home country, Transylvania. I got lost…and I met the vampire who changed me. She was killed—by an anti-vampire party. It was very saddening for me. I thought we would be together forever." Sanguni looked at Reenie and Reenie looked at Worple. With the way the vampire was looking at her, Reenie was eager to move away.

"Well, good luck with your writing career, Mr. Worple," she shook his hand and looked at Slughorn. "Professor, I am very fond of unicorns and magical horses, do you happen to have a unicorn expert here?"

"As a matter of fact, I do!" said Slughorn and he led the couple off to a witch in her early thirties. She had light brown hair that hung around her shoulders and she was wearing midnight blue dress robes. "Sally, I have a unicorn lover that would like to meet you! Serena, this is Sally Cole, unicorn expert and flying-horse breeder—you get both what you were looking in one person!"

Sally looked up from her glass of mead, smiled and shook Reenie's hand. "It's always nice to meet another unicorn lover. What would you like to know?"

"Have you ever been able to ride a unicorn?" Reenie asked.

Sally laughed. "Unicorns are very timid creatures, Serena. It's very hard to even get close enough to touch it, let alone ride them."

"How about flying horses then?"

"Depending on the breed of horse," said Sally. "Abraxans can be tamed, but they are very large. They can be dangerous and a bit too lively. Threstrals eat meat—but they don't necessarily eat humans. They would bite you if they are angered, just like any animal would. If you wanted to ride a flying horse, I'd start with the Atheon before the Granian—too fast."

"Have you ever tried breeding a flying horse with a unicorn before?" Reenie asked.

"No, it's impossible," said Sally. "Unicorns--,"

"No it isn't," Reenie interrupted. "I used to have a flying unicorn. His name was Pegasus. He was pure white, like a unicorn, but his horn was gold. He was…beautiful." Reenie swallowed hard and attempted to compose herself. "Anyway, you really should try to crossbreed them. It might protect the unicorns more. There are bad people out there, hunting the unicorns for their blood. If unicorns could fly, it would keep them safe."

"Yeah, and maybe they might get cool powers," said Draco, "I wonder what a unicorn crossbred with a Threstral would like. Then again, I'd never seen anyone die so I probably wouldn't be able to see it."

"It was nice meeting you, Miss Cole," said Reenie. "Draco, how about we get something to drink?"

Draco and Reenie got glasses of mead. Reenie saw Professor Trelawney and introduced herself. While Trelawney had Reenie's free hand, she looked her palm over. "Oh, your future looks very dark in deed, my dear. It is a shame you are not in my class. I can find out what else is in store for you."

Reenie smiled and pulled her hand back. "No thanks, Professor," said Reenie. "I've got a pretty good idea what my future holds."

"Ah, you a seer too?" said Professor Trelawney.

"Yes, something like that," Reenie took a sip of her mead.

"I foresaw you coming," said Professor Trelawney, "and when my students told me of your arrival, I hoped that I would meet you. I'm glad I got to meet you before anything bad happened."

"Me too," said Reenie and Draco pulled on her hand.

"Serena, look it's Potter! He managed to get a date…He brought Loony Lovegood?" He laughed. "There's a girl for him."

Harry entered wearing green robes with Luna beside him, wearing spangled silver robes. Reenie smiled, said goodbye to Professor Trelawney and left. Professor Slughorn bounced to Harry and drug him along ot meet guests. Reenie and Draco ended up by the mistletoe, where they found McLaggen kissing, or trying to kiss Hermione Granger. Hermione pulled back quickly.

"I'm going to go and get something to drink," Hermione and she backed away.

"Get me a mead, will you?" Cormac barked after her.

"Not that I would want to kiss Granger," said Draco, "but you really need to learn how to kiss a girl before Granger hexes your lips together."

"Shut up, Malfoy," hissed McLaggen, straightening up. "What do you know about kissing girls?"

"I know not to snog her in front of people," said Draco especially when she is trying to get away from me."

He looked up at the mistletoe that was hanging over McLaggen's head. "If Serena agrees, I can show you how to properly kiss a girl."
"Sure," said Reenie. She wasn't sure what made her say it. McLaggen was sometimes just as annoying as Draco. However, she knew that Draco was smart enough not to make him look like a fool and he wouldn't dare kiss her in the same manner McLaggen was kissing Hermione. Reenie wanted, on some level, to see the look on McLaggen's face when Draco would finish kissing her.

Draco looked at her, surprised that she said yes so quickly. He led her under the mistletoe, nudging McLaggen out of the way. He placed one hand on her shoulder and another under her chin. Draco leaned forward, closing his eyes. Reenie found herself stepping on tiptoe, her hand on Draco's chest. Her eyes closed and her lips puckered, ready to receive Draco's kiss. To her surprise, and delight, it was enjoyable. His lips were soft and gentle. It wasn't the kiss a boy would give his mother or the kind of a kiss he would give a girl he thought would be easy. It was the type a kiss a boy would give a girl he respected and cared about. In someway, it reminded her of the way Helios would kiss her. As brief the kiss was, there was a tad of passion in there that neither of them expected. Reenie was somewhat disappointed when Draco pulled back, left her longing for more. She was reminded of the emptiness in her heart.

"Yeah, very interesting," muttered McLaggen. "Thanks for kissing lesson, Malfoy. I'm going to find Hermione."

McLaggen walked off. Draco and Reenie looked at each other and laughed. They continued to enjoy themselves, speaking to more guests and eating lavish food. Draco and Reenie were speaking to Myron Wagtail and Orsino Thruston, lead singer and drummer of The Weird Sisters. Orsino, the drummer, was wearing a green outfit with a hood that almost made him look like a king's jester. Myron was wearing blue and gold and his black hair came to his shoulders. Myron was telling the couple about their next song when Cormac saw Hermione walk right past them.

"Hermione!" he said. "I've been looking for you!"

Hermione walked on, pretending not to hear him. Cormac rushed to them and in his haste, he pushed into Reenie and she landed not into Draco, The Weird Sisters but right into Sanguini the vampire. Sanguini's hands went to Reenie's shoulders.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his Romanin accent rather alluring. His mouth was close to her ear, her hair, her neck. He was going to bite her neck and suck her blood in front of everyone.

Reenie stiffened, realizing a vampire was touching her. Her experience fighting as a sailor scout most of her life made her react by spinning around and slapping his arm. "No, get away!"

The pent up energy in her body exploded like a bomb, forcing Sanguini, Worple and others flying back. A houseelf fell down and food went everywhere. Reenie jumped back, her heart thumping.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry," she sputtered, "I didn't mean…I didn't know you were...I'm sorry!" Reenie turned around and ran out of the room. Draco glanced from the door to the people on the ground. He helped up Worple; Sanguini was already on his feet.

"I apologize for Serena," he said, "she gets nervous sometimes. I'll go and bring her back."

Draco turned before but before he got to the door, Snape called for him. "Not yet, Draco, I would like a word with you."

"Professor---," Draco began.

"You are free now," said Snape, "this a good time. Now come."

Snape pulled out of the office and to the last classroom on the floor. Little did they know, Harry was outside the door, listening in on their conversation while wearing his invisibility cloak. They were arguing about Katie's attack and a plan the Dark Lord gave Draco.

"Already you are suspected in having a hand in it," said Snape, "and Serena Shields as well. By arriving to the party together, you make things worse for both of you."

"I had nothing to do with it!" said Draco. "I was in detention and Serena had nothing to do with it either. If she wanted to kill someone, she wouldn't use that necklace. We've seen what she could do; she could use whatever that magic she has."

"Yes, exactly," said Snape. "Something like she just expressed in the party. She is dangerous and I would advise you keep your distance from her."

"I don't have to listen to you!" Draco shouted. "I have to go find Serena--,"

"I know the Dark Lord has given you a task," said Snape, "I made a promise to your mother. I made the Unbreakable Vow. If you tell me your plan, I can help you."

"I don'' need your help," said Draco. "You want to steal my glory!"

Snape paused and said, "You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but—"

Draco heard enough. He turned on his heal, flung open the door and stormed out. He went to the common room and found a sobbing Reenie on the couch with a vial with what Draco believed to be poison.

"Depulso!" the vial flew out of Serena's hand and smashed against a wall.

"Hey!" Reenie looked at the smashed potion and at Draco. She jumped to her feet and strode to him, furious. "What did you do that for?"

"I was trying to save your life," Draco answered. "I know you're embarrassed, Serena, but that's no reason to try to poison yourself."

"You thought I was—ha!" Reenie laughed. "That wasn't poison, stupid! It was a Forgetfulness Potion."

"A Forgetfulness Potion?" Draco murmured.

"Yes," said Reenie, turning back around to plop back down on the couch. She wiped the tears out of her eyes with the heel of her palm. "There are many things in my past that I do not wish to remember. Yet things happen that remind me of them…like tonight."

"I see," said Draco, "you wanted to put what happened at the party out of your mind."

"Yeah," said Reenie, "among other things."

Draco sat down next to her. "I know how you feel. There are some things I also want to forget."

"I have more vials," said Reenie, "I could go get one and we can have a nightcap. We can forget our troubles together."

Draco thought for a second. He would really like to forget the task he had to go for the dark lord. He'd like to forget his father was in prison. When he left the party, he wondered if he could coax her to come back, but now after the conversation he had with Snape, he didn't feel like returning to the party either. He's never had a forgetfulness potion. It was probably just what he needed right now.

"Sure," said Draco with a shrug.

Reenie snapped her fingers and her extra vial of forgetfulness potion appeared in front of her. Draco smiled.

"How'd you do that?" he asked. "A summoning charm without saying the words or without using a wand?"

"Where I come from," she said, "we've learned how to use wandless magic. Would you like this in anything? It doesn't have a taste."

It was Draco's turn to perform a summoning charm, only he had to use the words and his wand. "Accio Elf-made wine!"

A bottle of wine soared into the room, followed by two wine glasses. Draco levitated the wine their glasses and lowered the bottle. Reenie poured halved the potion between them. Draco and Reenie took their glasses and paused before drinking.

"I think we should make a toast," said Draco.

"To forgetting the worst," said Reenie, "and pretending that everything is okay."

Draco smirked. It was a silly toast, but he decided to agree. "Cheers."

They touched their glasses, focused on what they wanted to forget, and drained their glasses. For one second, Draco thought about his father going crazy in Azkaban and then thought of him sitting at home, as if nothing had happened. Reenie thought about the incident at the party and after she swallowed her drink, it was gone. McLaggen had not pushed her into the vampire and Reenie did not make a spectacle of herself.

Draco looked at his empty glass. He felt free and content. He stood up and smiled. "Well, thanks for inviting me to the party."

"You're welcome," Reenie said.

"I think I should go to bed," said Draco. "I can't wait to go home and see my Dad. I bet he'd be happy to see me."

Reenie knew that Mr. Malfoy was not at the mansion. She knew he was in prison, but she knew that Draco decide to forget that when he took the potion. She smiled.

"I'm sure he is," said Reenie and she watched Draco go downstairs to bed. Reenie looked down at her empty glass and refilled with wine and another dose of forgetfulness potion. This time, she forgot about meeting Sally Cole, the unicorn expert. Sally had reminded her of Pegasus, something that was painful. After drinking herself to a near drunken and forgetful stupor, Reenie staggered to the girl's dormitory to sleep.

Reenie slept in while most of the students left early to take the train back for the Christmas Holidays. Reenie's growling stomach woke her at noon and Reenie got out of bed. Reenie was still in the dress she wore at the party and her hair was still braided. Reenie laughed at herself when she saw herself in the mirror. She dressed out of the elegant dress and placed it in her trunk with her shoes. She dressed into a pair of jeans and a dark pink sweatshirt. She pulled on her socks, wiggling her feet. She took her hair out of its tight braid, brushed it, shook it, and laughed at the funny sensation in her scalp. Her hair crimped from the recent braid, Reenie put on her shoes and left the dormitory.

While Reenie was eating her "breakfast," Professor Slughorn came to her.

"Serena, dear, I hope you're not still upset about what happened at the party," said Slughorn. "Eldred truly understands and anyone would have acted the same as you had."

"Sorry, what?" said Reenie, her mouth full with toast.

"Oh, when Cormac pushed you into Sanguini and how you got scared," Slughorn said.

Reenie grinned. "What are you talking about? Cormac didn't push me…I don't even remember seeing him at the party, except when Draco kissed me in front of him. He wasn't happy about that." Reenie laughed.

Slughorn stood there, looking slightly confused. "You don't remember…well, that's just as well. So you enjoyed yourself?"

"Yeah!" Reenie said. "It was lots of fun, I don't remember too much, but what I do remember was pretty good! Thanks for the invitation, Professor. I cant' wait for the next party!"

When Draco arrived at the Malfoy mansion, he searched each room for his father. He looked at his mother, confused. "Mum, where's Dad? Shouldn't he be here?"

Mrs. Malfoy looked at Draco, frowning. "Draco, don't you remember what happened? At the Ministry?"

"What about the ministry?" Draco asked.

"Your father had to get something for the Dark Lord and he was got. He's in Azkaban."

"No he isn't," said Draco. "He's not in prison."

"Yes, Draco, he is," Narcissa told him.

"But that's impossible! I'd remember if Dad was in the Azkaban, that isn't something I just forget!"

Then Draco realized the toast he had with Reenie the night before. Draco wanted to forget something. They had a drink of wine with Forgetfulness Potion in it. Draco rubbed his head. It started pounding.

"Let's go to Azkaban," Draco said quickly. "I want to see for myself."

"Oh, sweetheart, are you sure you want to?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes!" Draco shouted. "I want to go. I have to see Dad. You never let me see Dad in Azkaban since he was taken, did you?"
Narcissa shook her head. "I thought that would be too hard for you."

"I have to see him," said Draco. "I can't think straight."

Narcissa sighed. "Very well."

They left immediately for Azkaban. The dementors have since left Azkaban and Aurors became the new guards. The Ministry of Magic could no longer control the dementors.

Narcissa went with Draco to Lucius' cell. Lucius was surprised to see both his wife and son at the door. When Draco saw his father, the wasted expression on his face, he suddenly remembered what he forgot. He had to relearn the truth, the pain his father's poor choices caused the Malfoy household.

"Draco, why are you here?" Lucius inquired.

"Because I didn't believe you were really here," Draco answered. "I guess I just forgot what happened, but forgetting does not change anything. You are still here and you'll never get out." Draco stepped away and made a personal promise with himself. He would never have a forgetfulness potion again. Learning sad truths more than once hurt twice as much than the first time.

TO BE CONTINUED