Maybe I'm overthinking too much. My head's gotten the best of me yet again. But I can't stop it. So I just stare at my reflection in the mirror and hope to God that my dress transforms into something more attractive. I wish I had magic.

The sweetheart neckline bothers me. The ribbon surrounding my waist bothers me. The skirt bothers me. Everything about this stupid red dress bothers me.

My fat arms aren't helping either. I should change.

There's a rap on my door. "Hermione, have you died?" It's Pansy. She's glaring at me, hands on her hips, when I open the door for her. "Still alive I see."

"Hello."

"They're arriving in five minutes and you're not even done with your hair—"

"Do I look too fat?" I blurt out.

Pansy's confused. I tug at the hem of my skirt. "The dress."

She rolls her eyes and pushes me in front of the full-length mirror. Quite harshly, I might add. "You look fine. But is this the only one you have?"

I shuffle through my mental library. "Hmmm. No."

"Then change."

"If you want me to look like I'm going to a funeral, sure."

"You're kidding?"

"No."

She sighs and moves to my closet and starts rummaging. Searching for something. She won't find any. Pretty sure.

"Get started with your hair," she tells me. And I do.

I'm about to clip the barrette on my bangs when Pansy makes a surprised noise. I look at her and she's holding a white dress I don't remember buying.

"What — that wasn't there before!"

She throws it to me. "Maybe it's from your mum. I don't know — when she visited a month ago?"

Mum did visit our flat a month ago. When she and dad decided to go to London for my birthday. Oh, well. "Maybe."

We hear a knock from outside. Pansy looks at me wide-eyed. "Okay. Fuck. Hurry up!"

She closes the door behind her and I quickly change from my monstrosity of a dress into the new one.

It's off the shoulder and has long sleeves. There's a gold ribbon below my breasts and the skirt is loose, ending just above my knees. And I don't look half bad.

The fabric's soft on my skin. I like it.

I put on lip gloss and slip my feet into gold (thank God I have one) heels, grab my purse and rush out the door.

I see Pansy fiddling with Harry's tie, who looks quite uncomfortable. "Potter, stop fidgeting!"

"Pans, you're choking him," I say. Harry gives me a strained smile. It makes me laugh.

"Well, he doesn't complain under different circumstances..."

I pretend not to hear her and give my best friend a peck on the cheek. Pansy swats my arm. "Off of my property."

"Pansy..." Harry sighs. His girlfriend's finally done. She kisses him and I look away, smiling. They're too in love.

I go to the kitchen for a drink. But I almost change my mind as soon as I see Blaise and Ginny snogging. "Oh, great. Absolutely delightful."

They tear off each other. Blaise smirks at me, wiping at his lips. "Hey, Granger."

"Hello, Blaise. Water?"

"No thanks."

I nod and grab a water bottle from the fridge. As I uncap it, Ginny grins at me. "Well someone's looking pretty."

"Nice try."

"You are! Blaise, isn't she?"

Her boyfriend hums in agreement. I give them both a glare and stomp back to the living room. Compliments overwhelm me too much. It makes me question the sincerity of their words. Even if they are my friends.

"So, are we leaving already?" I ask Pansy and Harry.

"Oh, yeah," Harry replies and gestures to the door. "Ginny! Zabini! Stop snogging and get the bloody hell out of there! We're leaving!"

Theo greets us enthusiastically when he sees us step out of the elevator. Posh-looking people are in the penthouse and I feel conscious immediately. I never was the type of person to blend in naturally. Harry and the others fit that category more.

"Hermione!" The host gives me a hug, not before giving me a once over and commenting about my exterior. "Is it just me or you got skinnier?"

I roll my eyes. "I missed you too, Theo."

"No, seriously. What's your secret?"

I clench my fist and try to even my breathing. "I didn't even notice I lost weight..."

Pansy frowns beside me, I notice.

It's a relief Theo doesn't push the topic even further. He turns to Harry and Pansy next.

"Potter, you're getting hotter and hotter each year that passes. Would Pansy mind if I stole you for the night?"

"Sod off, Theo. Or I'll cut your balls off." I hear Pansy and Theo bicker before I walk off to the bar. Idiots.

And I need a drink.

I request a chardonnay to the bartender. My palms are sweaty when I rub them together. I take the glass immediately when my drink's handed to me.

I roam my eyes around, searching for space. I see double doors leading onto a balcony.

I trudge through the sea of people. Out the door. And I breathe a sigh of relief.

There are a few couples out here too. But not enough to suffocate me. I walk to the emptiest area and lean back on the balustrade.

A sip. Then I close my eyes, feeling the burn of the alcohol down my throat. My phone's buzzing and I take it out of my purse.

There's a message.

'Where are you?'

My heart thumps heavily. 'Outside. You're here?' I reply.

I wait for his message. But a minute passes and there's none. Another minute and still nothing.

I shut my mind off. The anticipation is killing me so I take another long sip.

I choke on my drink. And there's a laugh.

He's here.

I slowly turn to the direction where I think he is. Grey eyes stare at me. My knees almost buckle down.

I don't remember exactly what happened next. Maybe I set my glass down somewhere, then I ran to him.

All I know is that my arms are now wrapped around his waist, my face on his chest. And I'm crying.

He chuckles and returns my embrace. "Hey there."

I don't speak. I don't want this moment to end. I hug him tighter.

"Hermione."

I look up and he's smiling down at me. He's still bloody gorgeous.

I feel conscious of how I look like and pull away from him immediately, wiping at my face. Shit. My make-up's ruined.

"Hey, you all right?"

I nod. "Yes."

We're looking at each other. And he's an arm away from me.

I can feel myself blushing. "Well, hi."

He smirks. "Hi."

"So..."

"You look..."

"What?"

"Never mind..."

"Okay."

And we're awkward. I guess that's normal. I mean, I haven't seen him for two years. But we are best friends. And I shouldn't feel this way. But my heart's betraying me, reminding me of feelings I kept hidden away for so long.

I try to lighten the mood. "What took you so long, you git?"

His eyes are twinkling. "University and a movie?"

"Oh, I forgot. You're actually famous now, aren't you?"

He shakes his head, amused. "What about you? Still an insufferable know-it-all?"

I shrug. "Same old, same old."

"Nice dress," he comments.

"Mum gave it to me."

His eyebrows raise a fraction. "Ah. Really?"

Someone's calling him. A tall blonde in a red dress is walking to us. She's terribly familiar.

She kisses him. And I almost gasp in surprise. Draco pulls away and grins at me sheepishly.

"Umm. Hermione, this is Astoria. Astoria, Hermione."

Oh. I remember now. Astoria Greengrass. The model. "Hi."

Astoria smiles and extends a manicured hand. I reach for it. "So you're the best friend. Nice to finally meet you."

"And, you're the girlfriend I suppose?"

"The one and only."

I feel heavy. Dizzy. I want to leave.

"Pleasure."

Draco excuses himself. Astoria and I start chatting. About America. About runway fashion. About Draco's acting career. Then about me.

"You're studying in Oxford right?"

I nod.

"Political Science?"

"No. Biochemistry."

"Really?"

I'm about to say yes. But Astoria interrupts me. "I swear. You're more like the lawyer type."

Oh. "Oh."

"I meant that as a compliment, of course."

Sure. "Thank you."

"Where did Draco go off to again?"

Probably a wank. "The loo."

Then silence.

I've never felt more hideous, standing beside her. I want to grab my compact mirror and check if I still look human. My hair's probably all bushy again.

I text Pansy: 'I want to go home.'

'It's not even an hour. You okay?'

'Tired.'

'Draco's here. I told him to get you food.'

'What?'

She doesn't reply anymore. I huff in annoyance.

She keeps babysitting me.

I've always had her back when I first met her in person two years ago through Harry. She was the girlfriend studying in a fancy boarding school. And that she was also going to Oxford and is looking for a flatmate. Harry suggested me.

And here we are. I'm glad I met her. She's a really great friend, even if she can be a big snob.

But she's been more mother-like to me these past few months.

I put my phone back in my purse. Draco arrives with a plate full of small slices of decadent cakes.

"Pansy told me to get you something to eat."

"I can't eat all of that," I point out.

"Who said you will?" Then he plops what seems to be a blueberry cheesecake into his mouth with his eyebrow raised.

I roll my eyes.

Astoria asks about Theo's whereabouts. Apparently, they're cousins. Draco tells her he's inside, canoodling with Oliver Wood. She leaves, but not before kissing him.

I look down.

"Are you all right?"

I say yes. Because that's what he wants to hear.

"Oh right," he says, remembering something, "Mother's visiting from Wiltshire tomorrow. Said she wants to have tea with you." Then he adds, "Bloody woman. Misses her son's best friend more than her child."

I laugh, shaking my head. "Same old Narcissa."

He offers the plate to me. I take a strawberry swirl. Fuck, it's so good.

"So, are you coming?"

I think of my schedule for tomorrow. "I have a class on eight 'til twelve. Then after that, I'm free."

"Good. I'll tell her that."

"Okay."

He gazes up the sky. Probably looking for the constellation that inspired his name.

I study his features. He still looks like the Draco Malfoy I knew since I was twelve. Platinum blond hair. Grey eyes with speckles of blue. Handsome as ever, but, more mature.

He gives up his search and fixes his attention to me. He opens his mouth, but closes it again.

"I miss you," I say.

He smiles wistfully. "I miss you too."

And I want to kiss him. But I can't. He's not mine.

Never will be.

Notes from Author Stupid:

First multi-chapter fic!

Is my writing coherent enough? I'm not great at writing in first-person but I thought this story suits the perspective.

And oh. I'm still looking for a Beta. I don't trust my own editing skills. I'm horrid at it. So an extra set of eyes, hands, proofreading and Brit-picking skills are a massive help!