Prior to attending the Halloween party, Draco made his way to the Slytherin common room for a post-meal chat with his housemates.
The portrait guarding the Slytherin common room served as a sufficient noise barrier, masking the excited chatter from within as he entered.
Theodore, Blaise, Pansy, and Goyle were seated on the floor and gathered around the fireplace. They turned to Draco like deers in headlights; their eyes were widened and their previous enthusiastic banter had come to a prompt close.
The seventh-year students occupied one side of the room while the underclassmen kept to themselves in separated groups dispersed at a distance.
The overall alliance of the Slytherin house wasn't quite like before; there were many younger students who made an effort to remain out of the spotlight and others who showed outright disdain for being placed in the controversial house following the War.
And then there was Draco's friend group.
The existing house members of Slytherin were the epitome of archaic segregation that the founders of Hogwarts once established. They pridefully went against the grain of Professor McGonagall's newfound sense of interhouse relationships following the War.
As Draco approached the seventh years, they gradually relaxed their faces into neutral apathy. Draco mutually shared a transition to his expression; he had initially met them with an impulsive scowl and disapproving glare before resorting to a look of masked indifference.
"All right, Draco?" Theodore greeted, being the first to emerge from the rest and stand to his feet. "I hope that our encounter in Hogsmeade is behind us."
Based off Theodore's deflection of their confrontation in the library earlier, Draco decided to play along while cracking a disingenuous smile.
Theodore shoved his hands in his pockets while swaggering toward the blonde. "I, Theodore Nott, formally apologize for destroying Longbottom's unsightly shrub. I suppose it was a bit out of order."
Although Draco had justifiable reasoning for holding Theodore's apology at arm's length, he decided that it was best to put the building tension between himself and his housemates to rest.
Now more than ever, he was required to uphold the façade that he was dedicated to the Slytherins despite their differences.
With a quick scan of the ceiling and a contemplative frown, Draco shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose we're all guilty of acting out of order once or twice, aren't we?"
Theodore extended an arm toward him with a charismatic smirk. Draco's upper lip snarled at the phony smile on his opponent's face while begrudgingly gripping his hand into a shake.
"With a face like this, no one can stay mad at me for too long," Theodore arrogantly chided. He held purposeful eye contact with Draco, his eyes transmitting the satisfaction of control he was currently holding over him.
Considering the fact that Theodore had overheard his entire conversation with Hermione, Draco was now at his mercy. He had to maintain a strategic level of thinking so as to spin this to his advantage when the timing was right.
"So we're all sorted out, then?" Theodore concluded with a glance over his shoulder. "Come on you ruddy lot, get off your arses and give Draco a proper welcoming."
One by one, each of the Slytherins rose to their feet as instructed.
Based off the zombie-like adherence to Theodore's words, it was blaringly obvious that he had successfully managed to slip his way into the position that Draco once held. He was admittedly impressed by Theodore's particular set of skills that he had never put into consideration.
There was an undeniable parallel between the two Slytherins; they both came from privileged pure-blooded families that were over glorified in the wizarding world. They were the sons of two prominent Death Eater figures and were the sole carrier to their family names. They were also exceptionally skilled at tactful secretiveness while keeping their underlying emotions and motives guarded.
But despite their similarities, Draco and Theodore had come at a crossroads.
There was only room for one true leader of Slytherin, and based off the submissive response to Theodore's commands, Draco's competitor had rightfully earned his positioning.
Draco transferred his attention to those surrounding him while swallowing back his pride. He curiously tilted his chin in the direction of Blaise holding a liquid container. It was a short, cylinder flask-like jug that was being passed on rotation.
"Mate," Theodore called out Blaise while gesturing his fingers toward himself. "Don't be such a glutton, Blaise. Give Draco some of the share, why don't you?" Turning to Draco with another charismatic grin, Theodore offered, "Care to have a spot of Firewhisky in celebration of Halloween? This should serve as an olive branch of sorts."
Pansy let out a high-pitched giggle and hiccup, giving Draco the indication that she had already indulged in Theodore's stash. Theodore wrapped an arm around Pansy's shoulders while pulling her flush against his body. He wagged his eyebrows at Draco while shimmying Pansy beneath his grip. It was clear that he was wordlessly conveying the message that, like his house, Theodore had stolen Draco's girl.
Unbeknownst to Theodore, however, Draco could care less about Pansy's potential romantic endeavors with the new commander.
Their casual tryst over summer was exactly that; it didn't mean anything to Draco, and if warming up to Theodore meant that he was freed to explore his own romantic endeavors with a certain Gryffindor, he was happy to make the exchange and allow Pansy to find her rightful suitor.
Pansy was visually giddy over Theodore's possessive sense of acknowledgement as a silly grin spread across her lips. While exaggeratingly nuzzling her forehead against Theodore's neck, she kept firm eye contact with Draco.
From over Pansy's shoulder, Draco noticed Blaise storming toward him. He shoved the container of Firewhisky into Theodore's grip in passing while coming toe to toe with the blonde.
"As much as I enjoy sitting around the fireplace singing Kumbaya - or whatever those bloody incompetent Muggles call it," Blaise began with angered enthusiasm. "I still have a bone to pick with you, Draco."
Draco stifled an amused smirk while composedly folding his arms behind his back. He bent his neck into a light bow, giving Blaise the green light to speak.
"I couldn't help but notice that you've been particularly chummy with Potter lately," Blaise noted while folding his arms in irritation. "Aren't you nervous he might catch you participating in a harmless drink with your mates under that ridiculous Invisibility Cloak of his?"
"With the amount of Gryffindors you've been running around with lately, I was worried you had forgotten about us," Pansy added with a frown.
Theodore notably turned to the female Slytherin with an impatient glare.
"Never, Pansy," Draco replied through narrowed eyes. "You lot make it perfectly impossible to forget."
"Noble Potter," Blaise continued to complain. The liquid courage coursing through his veins served as a catalyst of unfiltered, enthusiastic emotion in spite of his otherwise reserved demeanor. His glossy eyes turned a harsher shade of red as he added, "He frolics around like he runs the place with that pretty blood traitor of a girlfriend of his."
"So you do think Ginny's pretty?" Pansy teased. "That's the second time I've heard you call her attractive, Blaise."
"Curb yourself, Pansy," Blaise reprimanded as his composure visibly sobered. Despite the harsh administration of his words, his body language conveyed an opposing story of unease.
"You'd be correct Pansy," Draco noted, capitalizing on his comrade's uncharacteristic meek demeanor. "Blaise was practically buzzing to get Weaslette alone earlier this afternoon. Saw it with my own two eyes."
In unison, the group sent an accusatory look to Blaise. Apparently, Blaise's rendezvous with Ginny came as much of a shock to the rest of the Slytherins as it had Draco.
"Don't be shy, Blaise," Draco prodded above a whisper. "It's no secret that you fancy Weasley; a rightful blood traitor, as you like to call her."
"Even if I fancied her.." Blaise slowly spoke through clenched teeth, "That doesn't take away from the fact that Potter is an arrogant twat who deserves a slice of humble pie the size of the London Eye." A malevolent smirk teased his lips as he added, "And I'd like to be the one who serves it."
Draco closed his eyes in impatience while drawing a calming breath. He was obligated to handle the Slytherins with the conscious reminder that, at one time, he held an equivalent level of disdain for Harry.
However, one pivotal piece of information had been left out from the conversation that Theodore invasively eavesdropped on from earlier; Draco was working closely beside Harry in a continued investigation of the attack and thoroughly intended to execute his end of the deal as planned.
This brought upon the requirement of remaining tight lipped while keeping this sentiment under wraps from his peers. It would only gain disapproval and create more of a controversy than he was already facing.
"It's a bloody shame it was you who got hit with the Cruciatus curse," Theodore added while tilting his chin in Draco's direction. "Merlin knows it should have been Potter."
"Right," Draco responded offhandedly, keeping it to a simplistic remark that left little opportunity to be responded.
Theodore took a swig of his flask before offering it to Draco. Draco waved the opened container beneath his nose, his face naturally retracting at its alcoholic scent. The flask, albeit compact and pocket sized, had been enchanted to contain approximately two bottles of Firewhisky.
Draco had found himself in another moment of inner conflict; he was Head Boy, and it was his responsibility to reprimand inappropriate behavior wherever he found fit.
Hermione would be extremely disappointed to find that he was allowing the consumption of alcohol right beneath his nose, but was also required to upkeep the act of an unphased member of his housemates led by none other than Theodore who was making the offer.
Hermione would have to understand that it was all a part of the plan, he resolved.
Draco kept firm eye contact with his competitor while accepting the offer.
"Good lad," Theodore encouraged while patting him on the shoulder.
Draco took a nonchalant gulp of Theodore's flask, feeling the comforting burn of Firewhisky sliding down his throat. It couldn't hurt to take another sip and ease his nerves for the upcoming masquerade party, he reasoned.
After a third swig, he wiped the back of his sleeve across his mouth. He then passed the enchanted container to Blaise who continued to glare at him, visibly vengeful for being exposed in front of their housemates.
"I'm glad we could come to an arrangement," Draco deflected, coming full circle to Theodore's half assed apology regarding Hogsmeade. "However, I advise that you lot be on your best behavior during the masquerade party this evening."
"Oh, that thing?" Pansy scoffed with the dismissive flick of her wrist. "We have better things to do than attend your silly little mask party meant for children."
Although Draco was relieved to find that he wouldn't have the burden of watching over the pesky Slytherins, he was admittedly suspicious of their plans. "And just where will you be, exactly?"
"Relax, Head Boy," Theodore sighed with an eye roll. "We'll be partaking in a bit of fun on our own."
"I predict my invitation was lost in the post?" Draco questioned with sarcasm oozing from his tone.
"It was never sent," Blaise was happy to reply. "You have the tendency to suck the fun out of everything lately."
"No need to be rude, Blaise," Theodore scolded. "It isn't Draco's fault that he's been paired up with that Granger who's in desperate need of a good shag." He made a point to recite Hermione's name with underlying emphasis in order to get under his skin and incite a reaction.
But in contradiction to Blaise, Draco had learned discipline in concealing his inward emotions toward a female in the oppositional house.
After all, he had literal years of practice in regards to Hermione.
Seeing as he hadn't instigated a proper response from the blonde, Theodore decided to get their conversation back on track.
"We'll be getting pissed in the Forbidden Forrest; perhaps scare off a few first years who have yet to earn their positioning in Slytherin," he informed. "Toughen up their skin a bit."
Draco consciously suppressed his disapproval while casually dismissing, "Suit yourselves, then."
After doing a simplistic gesture of his arm, Theodore wordlessly consolidated his group. "If you get bored of your duties of being a stuck-up baby sitter, you know where to find us."
With one final look between the Slytherins, Draco concluded, "Enjoy your evening."
"I'll go with you, Draco," Goyle feebly interjected while emerging from the group. It was the first time Goyle had spoken all evening and Draco frankly forgot he was even there.
Goyle reminded him that he had been instructed to tend the concession stand at the Halloween party as ongoing punishment from his public outburst with Draco during quidditch practice.
Draco was happy to depart from the group alongside the one Slytherin that he had surprisingly come to find to be the most tolerable of the bunch.
After making a quick stop at his dormitory, Draco stored his costume mask in his suit jacket for safe keeping. He donned an all-black suit and tie in exchange for his usual robes as he regularly did when given the chance. The devil mask that he planned on wearing served as an appropriate accessory for the event while requiring little effort to dress up.
A tense silence filled the air as the Slytherins made their way down the corridor to the party. The click of Draco's dress shoes echoed off the walls, becoming more rapid as they approached the Great Hall.
Despite their existing awkward tension, Draco reasoned that there was no point in continuing to waste energy hating his colleague who had proven himself to be innocent; Goyle's wand had been thoroughly stripped following the attack by use of Priori Incantato, and the accusations toward himself had been wiped clean.
"I'm all for being enemies if that's what you want," Goyle suddenly prompted, slowing Draco's pace. "But I'd rather it not be this way."
Draco peered at Goyle from out of the sides of his eyes while making a conscious effort to not come across as too keen on the idea as he truly was deep down. Truth is, he missed having his friend. And it surprisingly wasn't based off the selfish satisfaction of simply ruling the roost.
At the end of the day, Goyle and their late friend Crabbe had always been the closest thing to friends that Draco had ever possessed. Daft and dim as they were, they gave him a good laugh based off their innate idiotic tendencies and their blind support was generally reciprocated.
The death of Crabbe had created a natural drift between them; it was the first time the cracks in the trios alliance made an appearance.
On two sides of the same coin, Goyle and Draco greatly grieved their friend's death.
The tragic outcome of the Room of Requirement was one of the most pivotal moments in Draco's life; being a Death Eater wasn't all that it had been chalked up to be, and his loved ones were dropping around him like flies.
He made a pledge to change his morals and improve his motives while Goyle appeared to remain stagnant in his old ways of thinking. It was sure to be the nail in the coffin of their friendship and, up to this point, had proven to convey this sentiment.
"I've been doing my best to withhold resentments," Draco replied while coming to a standstill. He turned to Goyle with a reserved expression that guarded his inner inclination to welcome the idea of mending their friendship with open arms. "I'm willing to wipe our slate clean."
"You mean it?" Goyle replied with widened eyes. But like Draco, Goyle was pridefully intent on keeping his guard up. Consequentially, the eager demeanor in which he had initially responded to the offer dissolved to furrowed eye brows and the curl of his upper lip. "I mean.. right, that would be nice, yeah."
A sudden wave of fatigue crashed over Draco as he quickly rattled his head to shake it off. He let out a yawn, making his eyes water, as he turned back to Goyle.
"Is the Firewhisky hitting you?" Goyle taunted with a smirk. "I didn't have any of Theodore's stash. The last thing I need is to be caught by McGonagall smelling of alcohol."
"That is extraordinarily responsible for someone as daft as yourself," Draco replied, happy to maintain the harmless banter between one another.
"You know, Draco.." Goyle's eyes scanned the corridors to ensure their privacy while professing, "I'd watch after Theo if I were you."
Draco spitefully rolled his eyes at the mention of the Slytherin's name. "Theo can have Slytherin," he stubbornly deflected. "I could give a damn."
"Not just about Slytherin," Goyle suggested with detectable concern in his tone. "There must be a reason why Theo is so eager to take your position."
Draco closely observed his comrade's eyes with pause, withholding the notion to outwardly express his mutual unease. "As much as I appreciate your concern, Goyle, I have it handled."
"Alright," Goyle replied with the shrug of his shoulders. "It's just.. I would never truly wish ill upon you despite what I said during quidditch practice. But I can't say the same for the others."
"S'alright," Draco replied, receptive to the genuine apology. "I've known you since I was a child, Goyle; I'm well aware of that big fat mouth of yours. I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't missed from time to time."
Goyle smirked, extending an arm toward him as an official truce. Draco was pleased to accept the offer, gripping Goyle's hand into a firm shake as verification of the revival of their friendship.
"Besides," Goyle concluded. "You'll always be the leader of Slytherin in my eyes; Theo can piss right off."
They shared a chuckle as Draco clasped a hand around Goyle's shoulder. "I am forever grateful of your loyalty, Goyle."
Following their heartfelt conversation, or the closest thing to a heartfelt conversation that could be held between the Slytherins, they made an expedited dash toward the Great Hall. Since they were both instructed to be one of the firsts to arrive at the party, they were already running late.
Across the corridor, Neville rounded about the corner while adjusting his robes with a clumsy stride. He stopped clean in his tracks as he met the eyes of Draco and Goyle. His eyes initially narrowed at the sight of them before raising his eyebrows and softening his expression.
Neville cleared his throat while greeting, "Hullo." His eyes skimmed in the direction of the bulky Slytherin while prompting, "What're you doing here, Goyle?"
"Working the concession stand with you.." Goyle slowly replied.
"I have to sit next to you all night?" Neville complained.
"I always knew you were an embarrassingly forgetful bloke," Goyle criticized Neville. "But I must admit, I'm impressed that even you somehow managed to forget the conversation we had with Jade just this morning."
"Right," Neville noted, an innocent smile making an appearance as his eyes continued to ricochet between the Slytherins. "Best get inside then."
The Gryffindor and Slytherins trickled into the Great Hall while occupying their notified positionings.
As Head Boy and Head Girl, Draco and Hermione were given the responsibility of administrating and patrolling the event.
Draco was instructed to utilize the assistance of Mr. Filch who would be using his Secrecy Sensor to inspect all attendees. Following the attack, McGonagall found it prudent to maximize security and localize the event in the safety of the Great Hall where the professors would be moderating.
Draco waited for the arrival of Filch while sneaking a peak around the festive Great Hall which had been coordinated by Hermione.
The ceiling was enchanted to reflect the ominous weather outside; scattered lightning and rain showers drizzled from the high ceilings while magically evaporating before touching the ground. Festive decorations lined the walls and levitated across the room, and a pleasant fragrance of pumpkin and cinnamon wafted through the air.
More visibly pleasing than the Hall itself, Draco sook to find the most striking visual indulgence above all; none other than Hermione Granger.
Although their kiss felt like it had occurred days ago based off the number of tasks he had been juggling with the Slytherins all day, there was nothing that could ever mask the exhilarating encounter with the Gryffindor.
Innate with ambition, Draco was determined to explore what he and Hermione had in store as a potential romantic couple. Their kiss only escalated his growing feelings for the Gryffindor, and he was pleased to find that based off her initial physical reaction, she was as equally eager to kiss him.
But thanks to Theodore, it was nearly impossible to properly gauge Hermione's reaction to fulfillment, and he hoped to get to the bottom of it tonight.
Draco's eyes latched on Hermione across the Hall who was currently standing beside her friends Ginny and Luna. Ginny fluffed Hermione's hair with a grin while inspecting her friend's appearance.
Hermione chose to wear a simplistic angelic getup; a shimmery white gown skimmed the floor and tied around the back of her neck, and her hair was blown into long wavy curls. She wore a sleek white mask around her eyes embellished in opalescent gemstones with a pair of angel wings at the corners.
Draco's felt his mouth strip of saliva while taking a dry swallow.
As eager as he was to run over to Hermione, pull her into a possessive and loving embrace while spending the entirety of the evening simply expressing just how stunning she looked, he respected her previous requests of keeping their personal and professional relationships at a distance.
So, he resorted to taking a seat at the inspection table with his back turned to them while awaiting Filch's appearance.
Once Draco and the groundskeeper finished administering their examinations, however, he would be free to do everything in his power to naturally ease himself into the presence of Hermione and see where the night took them.