Chapter 5

For the remainder of September, and throughout almost all of October, Draco managed to avoid another private conversation with Hermione. In fact, he had managed to avoid a private conversation with almost everyone. His days were spent attending classes, reading in the Slytherin common room and silently sitting beside Blaise, Pansy, and Nott during dinner while they chatted about various school gossip.

When Pansy emerged in front of him while reading Newts of Bogner by Walter Aragon, he was confused by her attire. She stood there for a moment, in a dark green silk gown. The neckline plunged, making it a slightly scandalous choice for any school-related event.

"Not a chance, Malfoy. You're not sitting here alone for another night. Get dressed now."

He was perplexed by her demand, as Draco had the slightest idea of what she was dressed up for.

"What on earth are you on about?"

"You're not serious, are you?" she was beginning to sound rather frustrated with him. "The ball Draco, its Halloween. Now stop moping around and put on a damn suit."

Just as he was about to open his mouth in protest, Nott joined the scene. "I hate to admit it, but she's right. It's about time you join in on something. Pansy is insisting we all dress up and go to this thing, and you're coming with us whether you like it or not."

"Don't make us use force," Blaise added while walking into the room. He was holding up his wand to make sure Draco knew he was serious.

Knowing he wouldn't win in a fight against all three of them, he gave in. He made his way up the curved staircase to the boy's dormitory to change into something appropriate. He picked out the Black dragon skin suit his mother had purchased him last Christmas and paired it with a black shirt and emerald green tie. Then, he slid a flask of firewhiskey into his suit jacket, knowing he would appreciate it later.

When he rejoined his Slytherin classmates, they looked pleased.

"And look how handsome you can be when you're not hiding behind a book," Pansy gushed.

The foyer was crowded when they arrived. Almost every upper-year student was in attendance. Just as they were about to enter the hall, all eyes shifted upwards. There she stood, in a soft blue dress at the top of the stairs. Hermione Granger captured everyone's attention without even trying. She wasn't like Pansy, who felt the need to show more skin to make the boys gravitate towards her. No. Hermione was like light, and everyone else was a moth in the dark. With every step she took, her flowing dress shifted to reveal a small sparkle. It was as if the skirt of her gown was enchanted to depict an entire galaxy of stars.

"Let's make tonight a little more fun," Pansy suggested, "whoever ruins the mudblood's night first, without getting caught, wins. What do you say boys? A galleon each."

Blaise and Nott both agreed to participate, but Draco refused to join in her petty games. Instead, he kept his eyes on Hermione, mesmerized by her beauty. Their eyes met momentarily, and Draco couldn't help but grin, before returning his attention to the pack of Slytherins.

In the ball, he spent majority of his time avoiding awkward conversations by staying against the wall. He didn't want to dance like all of the other students. To him, even the music was a bore. Sometimes, he would feel jealous that he couldn't be normal. Why wasn't this the kind of thing he wanted to be doing?

Blaise walked by him with a cunning grin. He flashed a vial of anxiety elixir and walked towards the drink table where Hermione stood. Draco laughed to himself, thinking Hermione was much too clever to fall for a scheme like that.

When he got bored of watching the crowd, Draco headed to the foyer to drink alone. He had barely had enough time to pull out the flask when Hermione came rushing into the entrance completely out of breath.

"Don't tell me you were stupid enough to fall for that Granger."

His voice had startled her. Hermione clearly thought she was alone in the foyer.

"Seriously Granger, do you need someone to babysit you at all times?"

"Fall… for… what," Hermione questioned between breaths.

"Zabini's drink. When has a Slytherin ever offered something to a Gryffindor?" Draco said in a condescending tone.

Given how intelligent she was, he figured it would be obvious to her. And yet, she sounded shocked when she said, "There was something in it?"

"An anxiety potion I assume. Now Nott and Pansy owe him a galleon each."

She shot Draco a puzzled glance.

"Pansy made a bet. I believe her exact words were whoever ruins the mudblood's night first, without getting caught, wins." He did his best to mimic Pansy's voice. "I reckon she did it out of jealousy. Couldn't have someone at the ball looking better than her."

Hermione tried to calm her breathing with no success, and so Draco decided it was time he lend a hand. He walked towards the stairs, leading to the potions classroom and called, "come on Granger, you'll need a remedy."

As he reached the classroom, he said "alohomora" to unlock the door, and began rummaging through cupboards to find the required ingredients. He had recalled reading about a calming potion a few weeks prior, and knew it required crocodile heart, lavender and peppermint. As he brewed the remedy, he added a few extra drops of peppermint oil for good measure, and then scooped the liquid into a glass. Shortly after drinking the potion, Hermione's panic seemed to lighten.

"Thank you."

"Like I said before, you deserve a little peace after everything." He paused for a minute before asking, "how did he manage to get you to drink it anyways?"

"He told me the other drinks were teacher made… nothing to take the edge away."

"Well, he's not wrong about that. He must have slipped the potion into your glass as he poured it. I'm surprised you weren't more suspicious."

"I guess I was just desperate to have something with a little more strength than normal."

Hearing the word desperate leave her lips made Draco's heart hurt. He walked closer and offered her his silver flask. "Here, I promise it's not dangerous."

To prove it, he took a sip and then passed it to her. Side-by-side, the two former enemies sat taking turns drinking the firewhiskey until the flask was empty.

"Shouldn't you be returning to the party? I'm sure the golden boy and his Weasley girlfriend are looking for you."

Draco wasn't the type of person she should be hanging out with. She was a hero in the wizarding community and did not need him dragging her down.

"They probably expected me to leave early," she admitted. "Anyways, I don't really feel like going back. What about you? Wont Slytherin be wondering where you are?"

"I'd assume they left the ball right after you. Not much to do after they had their fun. Honestly, most of them only went because Pansy wanted to dress up," or at least he knew that was why he was there.

"The true party will be happening in the Slytherin common room by now. I'll probably head there soon."

The thought of having to be social all night with his fellow Slytherins sounded tiresome. He would actually prefer to stay and talk with Hermione. For some odd reason, he found it comforting. Selfishly, he decided to ask, "would you want to come with me?"