Chapter 5: A Slytherin Party

I caved.

I had no idea what to wear.

I had to ask Ginny for help.

I waited patiently on my bed after sending an enchanted piece of paper with the small letter of "I need your help dressing me". I quickly answered the door when I heard her rapid knocks, "Where is he taking you?" she asked, pushing past me, going over to her trunk.

I crossed my arms as I sat on the end of my bed "How do you know it involves Adrian?"

She looked up at me like I'm an idiot, "Because you only ask for my help in clothing when it comes to boys." She shut her trunk and went over to her closet "So, where is he taking you? Hogsmeade?"

I shook my head, "No, he's taking me with him to the slytherin party tonight"

She straightened a bit, "He invited you to a party? Specifically, a slytherin party?"

I furrowed my brows "Yes, is that really that big of a deal?"

She looked at me pitifully, "You have to admit you're not the party type, especially not for a slytherin party. From the what I've heard, those things can last all weekend, with no one leaving"

I sat and thought while she walked over and laid different options out on the bed. "What else do you know about these parties?" I asked innocently while looking at my options.

They were all dresses, all very sexy and sophisticated. One was a deep blue bodycon, with an off the shoulder, ruffle top, the other was a red, cowl neck, silk, slip dress, and the last was a long sleeved, mock turtleneck, black, bodycon dress, that flared a bit as it came to the bottom. I pointed to the black one, not wanting to draw attention to myself in gryffindor red, and having to deal with a strapless bra in the blue.

Ginny answered as she went back to the closet for shoes, "I've heard they do some crazy muggle drugs, and even bring in at least a dozen kegs." She brought over a pair of red heels and a pair of black lace heels. "And somehow they still drink them all even with how restrictive they are about who can come to parties. Honestly, I'm a bit jealous you get to go, I feel as if you won't like it as much as I would"

"I think I'll have a great time," I frowned at her, "Thank you for your clothes" I said moving over to the final product, which was the black dress and the black lace heels. Very simple, very practical. I don't think any other house party has such an elegant dress code.

"Be safe, tell me how it goes over breakfast on Monday," She said making her way through my door, then she turned around as if having a second thought "If you make it out alive"

I laughed as she closed the door.

When I finished dressing, I automatically regretted my decision to go to this party. Ginny left me with a very little idea of what to expect, and the clothes I have to wear are very different from what I'd wear to a normal party. I kept my hair in their natural state of curl, and only added light makeup, not wanting the boys to think I tried too hard.

I heard Ginny's knocks again around 8:50, I opened it to see her wearing a far too excited grin. "He's here, and, Godric, he looks fit." She looked me up and down, appraising me "And so do you, great"

"Lovely Ginny, small reminder you're with Harry" I said walking past her down the stairs, quickly trying to ignore the few people looking curiously at me as I made my way to the portrait door.

"I can still appreciate it!" Ginny hollered from the balcony. I laughed as I left the door, finding Adrian there.

He did look fit.

He kept his hair shaggy, but it looks like he might've brushed it, or at least attempted to. He wore a plain, loose, white shirt with a pair of navy blue dress trousers. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly as he said "You look nice, Hermione"

I smiled back at him, "Thank you, Adrian, you look nice as well"

He offered his arm, and I wrapped my hand around it as he started to lead me back to the snake pit.

We held small talk till we were in the dungeons when I could feel the ground and walls shaking lightly. "Is the music so loud that even the vibrations can't be concealed?"

Adrian nodded proudly "Yep, when Zabini and Nott get a certain type of high, they come up with even more brilliant ways to up our parties. It's kinda a rule that the slytherin quidditch team runs them. It's a small part of the criteria for who makes the team, if you're not going to be fun at parties, you're less likely to make it."

I looked over at him, my mouth gaping, "Are parties really that important that you'll chose a mediocre player over a great player just because the great player is boring"

He shrugged, "Basically, but a lot of things are different in the slytherin house"

I nodded, agreeing, "Like how there has never been a girl on the quidditch team?"

He looked over at me shyly. "You noticed?"

I laughed, "How could anyone not notice? Are slytherins sexist as well?"

He shook his head quickly, eyes widening, "No, no it's not that, it's just that no females tryout, most slytherin girls don't have an interest and if they do, they suck arse at it"

I looked over at him, contemplating what he said. I nodded after a second, as if understanding, there's no way I could see Pansy Parkinson going anywhere close to the quidditch pitch.

As we approached the door, Adrian dropped my arm, looking around to see if anyone was near us before whispering "pit anguis".

"Snake pit? Really? Could you slytherins not be any more creative?" I asked as he cracked open the door just slightly, music still not being heard.

He looked over his shoulder, down at me "It's only used for this weekend, we usually have better names, but Crabbe came up with this one. Malfoy always tries to make sure they are difficult to guess so no outsiders crash, guess he was already too crossed to care and let this one pass."

I laughed as he pulled me through the portrait door.

I had an expectation of what it was going to be like inside…

But it was nothing like I imagined.

Knowing that invitations are limited and rare, it still seemed packed to the rim with people. Most looking around my age or only a year or so younger. Gryffindor house party rules are only 4th years and up can attend, but from the looks of it here, only 6th and 7th years can attend, unless formally invited.

I let Adrian lead me through the tight, bustling crowd. Some people raised their eyebrows at me curiously, wondering why there's a lion amongst them, especially me, but upon seeing Adrian holding my hand, they said nothing.

As I peered around the large area of the common room, I noticed the quidditch boys lounging in the seating next to the giant, Black lake windows. No one noticed us till Adrian spoke up.

"Hey mates, look who I've got!" He shouted over the loud music, which my ears were still adjusting to.

As we approached I got to get a good look at all their attires. Zabini was in a sleek, plum looking suit. Nott wore black dress trousers and a black button up, with a cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth. Crabbe and Goyle each wore their normal dress robes, and the same anxious expression as if they didn't want to be here. Finally, Malfoy was wearing black dress trousers, and a simple white, loose, button up shirt. He had rolled the sleeved up to his elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. Flint was the only one missing from the group.

Zabini grinned when he caught sight of me, "Glad to see you've made it, Granger," I smiled as he raked his eyes up and down my form, judging my choice of clothes "Not bad at dressing for it either."

"Thank you" I said proudly, "I honestly had no idea what to expect"

Nott looked intrigued by my confession, "And? What do you think of it?"

As I opened my mouth to answer, Malfoy interrupted me "I don't think we should ask her such an important when she's only just arrived-"

"-Agreed for once, Malfoy" Flint said, announcing his arrival. He moved over to the empty couch, where Adrian and I had been standing behind. He also raked his eyes up and down my body, not once, not twice, but multiple times. He turned to Nott, who had formed a frown. "You can't ask a newcomer what they think of a party till they have at least something running through their system." He looked back over to me with a toothy grin "I'll get you a drink"

As he went to move, Malfoy stood, not quickly, but leisurely. "She can get her own drink, Flint, we all know she's more than capable" The others nodded at his words.

The black haired boy and the blonde seemed to be challenging each other with their eyes, and Malfoy had won, for now. "Yes...she can," Flint agreed, and stumbled away.

The group was left in a bit of an awkward silence, despite the blasting music. I tried to break it with a smile as I said "Well, speaking of drinking, I'm going to get myself one, be back"

I saw Malfoy open his mouth, probably to tell me to not to or whatever, but I quickly turned away and started shoving my way through massive groups of inebriated people.

It wasn't hard to find the corner of alcohol as I expected it would be. The slytherin common room is way larger than the gryffindor, but it's far less confusing to navigate. I scanned the collection of what they had. As I looked, it appeared they had everything, from basic Butterbeer, to rare elf-made wines. I went to grab one of the elf-made wines named "Vie Nocturne". I poured myself a healthy cup full, not wanting to make constant trips. Lifting myself slightly to place it back, a pale, familiar hand wrapped around the bottle.

I turned around to the smirking face of Malfoy. He looked down at me then to the bottle of my choice of wine. He quirked an eyebrow approvingly, "'Night Life', not a bad choice. Watch out though, high alcohol percentage" he said pointing to the label.

I gave him a false smile of gratitude. "Thank goodness I know how to handle my alcohol" I said, taking a sip from my cup, his eyes following the movement.

Lowering my cup, he moved his eyes back to me, a fire burning behind them. "Maybe, it was a good idea having you at the party then"

I titled my head curiously, "Why is that? I thought you so eagerly wanted me to go back to my dorm"

Despite the heat behind his eyes, his face did not reveal anything to me. "We can't have lightweights around here...it's not safe"

My breathing hitched a bit, he seemed to notice. He could be implying 2 things. 1. I was a lightweight and 2. He cared about my safety. The latter being unrealistic, but with how he's been acting recently, I can't totally cross off the list. "Why might it not be safe?"

He looked around, no one was near us. He moved closer to me, that type of close that makes me start questioning my own morals with him. "Many reasons, Flint being the main one," I went to open my mouth, questioning what he was implying about Flint, but he quickly cut me off, "But, those are stories for another time"

I felt too overwhelmed now, I brought my drink back up to my mouth, taking a much larger gulp than before. I refused to see if he followed the movement to my lips again, I did so by looking across the dark room, barely catching sight of Adrian.

The brunet must've felt me looking, he turned his head and smiled at me. I assume he couldn't see Malfoy standing with me, because he hurriedly ended his conversation with Goyle, and started making his way over.

Malfoy's voice drew me back to his perfectly lined face, "But you should have nothing to worry about with Adrian being near you all night" He must've noticed my accidental exchange with Adrian. In all honesty, I wasn't minding my time Malfoy, but I would never let him know that.

Or so I thought, until my mouth was speaking words I didn't want to say "So I wouldn't be safe with you all night?"

The smirk on Malfoy's face made me want to vomit. I quickly drank from my cup, not wanting to show how embarrassed I was, even though I knew he already knew I was. "Want to spend all night with me Granger?" He laughed. I knew the question was to make fun of me, but for some reason my mind screamed 'yes!'.

I rolled my eyes, "Just looking out for my safety, Malfoy"

He raised his eyebrows, almost surprised by my answer. I watch his eyes look quickly over to the right, then he took a quick step back and as he nodded to me he whispered "Have fun with Adrian, but let me know if you get bored"

I didn't like the toss he threw about Adrian, so I squinted my eyes at him as he left, leaving me with the now arriving Adrian with a wide smile on his face.

I never was comfortable with my body until this year.

I always felt basic. I didn't have wowing eyes, perfect hair, or a body of wonder, but I didn't have ugly ones either. I was nothing special in my eyes, till this year.

I don't know what changed but it felt as if when I looked in the mirror on the first day of school I finally saw the changes I saw everyone else had. The perkier breasts, my wider hips. My face had cleared and I had teeth I actually felt comfortable smiling broadly in.

So when Adrian asked me to dance, I said 'yes' with genuine eagerness. If it had been any other year, I would've definitely said 'no' and made a lame excuse to leave the situation. A lot of people were dancing, something I would never have expected from stuck up slytherins. I didn't know any of the music pumping through the enchanted speakers, so I assumed it was wizarding music.

The music wasn't fast like at gryffindor or hufflepuff parties. It was more slow, sensual almost, yet still danceable. Adrian was also a better dancer than I expected. My hands were on his shoulders, while his were, respectfully, on my waist. I never really danced with anyone at parties, but this wasn't so bad. It was fun watching Adrian mouth, somewhat correctly, the lyrics to the songs.

We were dancing near a darker corner of the common room, near a few couches which had a large table in the middle of them. The group at these couches was not large but a certain blonde did draw my attention to them more than once.

His head was bent over the table, doing a quick bump. When returned to his relaxed seated position on the couch, he shook his head and smiled up to nothing. I had looked longer than planned, his eyes opened directly on me, then moved over to Adrian. His smile faltered slightly, but he just tilted his head on the back of the couch before I could see if it disappeared from his face.

"I think they're out of Firewhiskey, mind if I go replenish it for everyone. I just have to go to Zabini's room, he would usually do it, but I bet he's with Daphne right now"

I forgot Adrian was literally holding me, I moved my eyes quickly over to him. I lifted on my toes slightly to his ear so he could hear me clearly over the music "Of course, I'll be around here"

He nodded and with a somewhat awkward wave he left. The crowd was filling around me, but I decided to keep dancing, finally feeling comfortable in my environment. In the corner of my eye I saw Malfoy watching me every now and then, but I decided to not look back, enjoying the time to myself.

I was now cornered in the room, out of view of the rest of the room. I noticed and was about to move back to where Adrian left me, but a hand wrapped tightly around my waist. I was on the verge of laughing, assuming it was Adrian or maybe even Malfoy, but when I spun around, I met the deep brown eyes of Flint. The smile wiped off my face, I moved to step back, but he pulled me closer to him. The smell of alcohol and weed radiating strongly off his body, I even felt my nose scrunch from the smell.

"Hermione, I've been looking for you" He said, surprisingly clear.

I looked around hesitantly for anyone, but had no luck "Have you?" I asked.

He nodded, then I saw him bring his free hand, the one not holding me to him, up between us. It happened so fast, I don't even think I saw it right.

I didn't just see him lightly blow a powder from his hand into my face. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my blurring head.

When did Flint get here?

I looked at him, "Flint? I thought I was dancing with Adrian" I asked.

He laughed, "No silly, you just started dancing with me, but you just said you weren't feeling well, right?"

As he said it, I did realise I wasn't feeling, no, not at all. I went to grab my head, "Yeah, I'm not"

"Come with me to my room so you can rest"

I instantly nodded, letting him lead me away. In the back of my mind I felt like stopping and just asking to find Adrian, not to leave with Flint, but those thoughts were pushed away as I followed right behind the dark haired boy.

My head was more foggy as I sat on Flint's bed. I wanted to lay down and sleep. "Want anything to drink?" I heard him ask, but it sounded cloudy. I don't know what was happening, but I know something wasn't right.

I felt him walk in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I peeked my eyes open to see a cup of water in front of me, but something told me to not drink it. I shook my head, but that only made him insist "You'll feel better, drink it"

I grabbed it and drank every last drop. It didn't help.

"Can I lay down?" I asked, wanting to stop the room from spinning.

"Please, do"

My body crashed back on the bed. I had an inkling inside telling me to get up and leave, run and get out of here, but the bed felt so comfortable and Flint was rubbing such nice circles on my thigh from next to me.

I don't remember how I got here, or how I was with Malfoy.

"Granger, what are you doing back here?"

I looked around from my spot on the ground. I was in the hallway, which looked like it held the slytherin dorms, and with Malfoy here, I assumed the boy dorms. "I think I was looking for the bathroom?" I said, pushing myself up but stumbling slightly. I was surprised when Malfoy caught my elbow, looking deeply into my eyes.

"How much have you had?" He asked, examining me.

I shrugged him off, "Only a cup of that wine, I think"

He tilted his head, "This whole time?"

I nodded, "Of course, I'm not a crazy drunk"

He stared at me curiously, then looked away for a moment lost in thought, "Want me to point you in the direction of the restrooms?"

I shook my head, laughing "Why? I don't need to go to the bathroom"

He paused. His face was blank, looking at me over again and again. "Are you feeling well?"

I thought for a moment "Yes, just having a hard time remembering" I admitted, "And a slight ache in my joints"

"Would you like some water?" He asked a bit more seriously than I ever thought he'd ask a simple question.

I was skeptical, I never usually get drinks from strangers, but I have a small bit of trust with Malfoy now, and I don't even know where I'd find water in this place. I hesitantly nodded.

He pointed to the door just behind me, the one I was slumped next to on the floor, "That's my room," I waited for him to open it. Apparently it wasn't shared since there was only one bed. After knowing Malfoy all these years, I would've expected the room to be neat and proper, but not this. It wasn't a mess, but it was very much a lived in room. I was brought back to him offering me an empty cup, I looked at him curiously. He pointed to a door in his room "You can go fill it up from the sink"

I offered a simple smile and went to go do so. When I entered back into his room, he was sitting in his leather chair near his window, once again lost in thought. I stood awkwardly, not knowing where to sit, or if I even wanted to sit, but he looked up and saw my hesitation. "You can sit on my bed if you'd like" I moved to sit on the end, between the 2 wooden end posts. "Were you with Flint at all this weekend?"

I was confused by his wording. "No, just when I was with everyone after Adrian and I arrived"

He nodded his head slowly "You might want to get going soon, we have school tomorrow and you'll probably want to rest"

My brows shot up "School is tomorrow!?"

He looked over at me, scanning me to see if I was messing with him. "Yes, do you remember anything at all from this weekend?"

I went to say 'yes' but it died on my lips when I could really only remember what happened about a few hours after I arrived. I looked down, feeling ashamed with my blurry, nonexistent, memory "No, not really"

He looked to be deciding something. He looked mad, furious even, but not at me. I could see it in his eyes, he wasn't upset with me.

The silence became too much for me, and I started growing tired, very quickly. "I think I'll head back now that I know we have school in the morning"

He looked as if he was about to ask me to stay but simply nodded.

I put my glass on the desk that was on my way out. I turned over my shoulder with a shy smile on my face "Thanks for the water, and the wake up call, I'll try not to drink so much next time" I laughed awkwardly. He gave a small tip of the head, but didn't say anything, just watched me as I left.

The party was still going, but with not as many people. I was hoping to run into one of the other quidditch boys on the way out, especially Adrian, but saw no one I recognized.

Waking up the next morning was brutal, it felt as if I had the worst hangover of my life.

I twisted over in bed and spotted through the bright morning light a small vial of Pepperup Potion. I quickly grabbed and chugged it. I spotted a note next to where I found the potion, written in Ginny's handwriting.

Seemed like you had a fun weekend. I thought you would need this in the morning.

Can't wait to hear details at lunch (I doubt you'll show up to breakfast with that hangover of yours)

-Ginny 3

I smiled at her letter and fell back into bed, deciding to not get ready until 10 minutes before class.