Chapter 8 Slughorn's Party

Authors note: I said I was updating this week! Also tomorrow is my birthday and I'm so ready. Anyways enjoy cause this chapter gets on the emotionally side.

Oooo

The first week of December came swirling in as the word of Slughorn's party spread. It was only by invitation and sadly like all the other meetings she got one. It would be the first Friday of December and she had no one to bring. Clearly she couldn't go alone.

Meanwhile Thanksgiving came and went which meant a new patrol partner. She dreaded having to spend another month with a random person even though she would be getting rid of that horrible Vane girl. Her hair was horrible. Always better then Hermione's and she envied her for that one reason.

Every time she saw Draco he opened his mouth to say something to her but always closed it. The longer he took to prove it the more she hurt. He only needed to roll up his left sleeve and if he couldn't do that she already knew the answer. She still occasionally let her eyes drift to the soft grey ones when he wasn't looking

Oooo

It was currently Wednesday and Draco was slaving away with the cabinet. He sent object after object and finally things started to return. Today he would try a bird. The first living thing to enter and exit the cabinet.

He slowly opened the door and placed the baby white dove inside. After closing the door, he decided to wait some time before checking again. He sat down on the same couch him and Hermione did weeks before. He could swear her scent was still lingering on the couch as it only grew stronger and stronger.

Suddenly he wiped around at the sound of metal hitting the floor. He scanned the supposed empty room before using his Veela senses. He stood from the ugly couch and let his feet guide him until the sweet scent of honey was the only thing that filled his nose. He dropped his head from the air.

"Granger! How did … did you really hex Crabbe and Goyle again?"

She removed the delusion spell and dropped her hand, still holding her wand. "Yes." A devilish smirk spread on her lips.

"Well do you need something or is your new specialty spying on people?"

"Ferret." She shoved past him and ignored the tingles her body felt from the touch. She plopped down on the couch and took out a rather large book on House Elves.

"What do you think you're doing?" He quickly looked at the cabinet knowing the bird should return any minute.

"Well Slughorn's party is stressing me out so I came to a place I knew was quiet." She noticed him look at a great piece of furniture.

He ran his hand through his hair as he sat on the seat right next to her. She quickly jumped up as fast as he sat and starting walking over to the Cabinet looking thing.

"Hey where are you going?"

"To that cabinet." She pointed.

At the word cabinet he sprang from the couch so fast it could have been on fire. She continued to walk unaware of the chaos going on behind her. He swiftly ran towards her and wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her in the opposite direction pressed up against him.

"Hey!" She grabbed at his hands and tried to pry them open. Her feet left the ground as she started to run in midair. Stretching her arms out even though the cabinet was getting further and further away.

"Put me down!"

He flung her over his shoulders as her eyes could only see the black from his cloak. He left the Room of Requirements and started walking around the 7th floor corridors. She was screaming while kicking his chest and ponding her fist against his back.

"Granger will you please shut up!"

She finally gave in only because her voice was starting to crack and no one was on the 7th floor at this time. By the time her feet touched the floor she was standing in a dark, small broom closet.

Malfoy removed his hands and looked right at her.

She stuck her finger out about to poke him. "What do you … MALFOY!" The door slammed in her face before she could even finish her sentence.

She first tried the door but it was locked. Next she reached for her wand. It wasn't there so she checked her whole body and the limited floor space.

"Malfoy I swear to god, where is my wand!"

"No idea what you're talking about." He smirked while twisting her wand carelessly in his hands. Leaning on the wall next to the door.

"Malfoy let me out right now!"

"No."

She started to bang on the door as he just sighed deeper into the wall.

"Malfoy!

"Yes?"

"Let me out!"

"No."

"Well why not!" She was starting to wine like a little puppy.

"You're in time out."

"For?"

"Being irresponsible."

"Me! Me! I'm irresponsible!" The shrillness of her voice made his wince against the wall.

"Yes Granger you are."

"Malfoy! Let me out!"

"No."

"Draco …. Please?" The tenderness to her voice made him melt. He slowly reached out and opened the door. "Wow that worked?"

She had another smirk on her face as she grabbed her wand, kicked him in the shin and ran from the closet laughing. "BLOODY HELL GRANGER!"

Oooo

Friday came as Hermione was in the library with Harry.

"Honestly Harry will you just drop it! I don't care who Ron is dating and what are you looking at?" She turned around after putting her books away to see Vane waving at Harry.

"Harry don't even think about it. She only likes you because she thinks you're the Chosen One."

"But I am the Chosen One." She smacked him on the head with her paper.

"Kidding."

"So who are you taking to the party tonight?"

"Well I was thinking that because we were both invited we could go together? As friends."

"Why didn't I think of that!"

"What do you mean?"

"I already asked someone." A blush worked its way up her cheeks as Harry's eyes grew big.

"Who?"

"McLaggen."

Harry's eyes only grew bigger at the Gryffindor's name. "What?"

"Well I thought you already asked someone.:

"Nope."

"Well this is awkward."

"For you."

"Oh shut up."

Oooo

Hermione put on her semi tight pink dress and pinned back the rest of her bangs. McLaggen was in Gryffindor so he would be in the common room. She took a deep breath and slipped out of the bathroom.

They walked down to the dungeons together with small talk. He kept trying to work his hand around her waist but she wasn't having it.

The party was going very well. Harry had brought Luna and she hasn't seen McLaggen in a while. Apparently she spoke to soon as two bulky unfamiliar hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a corner.

"Well Hermione, looks like we are under the mistletoe, I assume you know what that meas." She looked up in horror before his lips meet hers. The kiss was overpowering and gross. Strangely she felt her eyes turn black and closed them in fear of anyone seeing. Once McLaggen stooped she quickly ran and hid behind a set of curtains. Harry came through the curtains just like her only moments later.

"Hermione what are you doing?"

"Escaping."

"What?"

"I was trapped under the mistletoe with McLaggen."

Harry stiffed out a laugh before his face went serious. "Are your … your eyes black?"

"No! Don't be silly Harry. It's probably the lighting." She ducked under the curtain when she saw McLaggen coming.

Oooo

In the Slytherin common room Draco's knees hit the floor. His heart began to pulse out anger. His eyes turned black and his hands became fists. He felt the anger engulf him like a warm blanket. The only thought going through his head was McLaggen.

He was storming down the corridors when he swiftly entered the party. He scanned the room before finding his victim; McLaggen. He took five heated steps and tapped the man's shoulder. When the unknowing Gryffindor turned around his vision was meet with a pale fist. He collided with the floor as a girl let out a scream.

Hermione looked over and found Draco, fist clenched, eyes black, standing over a fearful Gryffindor. She took a few steps forward. "Draco…?"

He immediately turned and meet her black gaze. "You!" He shouted before storming towards her, fist still clenched. He was only steps away when Snape grabbed his clothes and yanked him back.

"Sorry Horace I will just escort Mr. Malfoy out."

He dragged Malfoy through the door as Hermione cast a quick delusion and followed.

Draco instantly pushed Snape off when they left the party. He started to walk away still clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Draco." Snape was running to keep up. He quickly threw Draco against a wall.

"Get off me."

"You need to learn to control yourself."

"I don't want you help. Now get off me!"

"Draco the Dark Lord ..."

"You don't think I already know! I said I don't need or want your help!"

He pushed Snape back before storming off and up many sets of stairs to the 7th floor. He was about to enter the steel door when he whipped around in lightning speed. "Granger will you stop following me."

She uncast the spell. "No."

He stated to grind his teeth as his wings sprouted. He took three steps forward and pinned Hermione hard against a wall.

She was looking up into his black eyes trying not to show fear. "Why did you punch McLaggen?" His hold on her waist was getting tighter and tighter every second.

His face was like a monster as he let out a murderous laugh. "Well if you can't figure that out them maybe you aren't the brightest witch of her age. You are still the wanna be mudblood from first year that has no friends!"

His nails started to dig into her hips. "You don't mean that." Tears stated to roll down her face as she met his gaze.

"You don't know what I mean."

"I could if you let me try!"

He pushed away and took a few steps back. "No! You don't understand. I'm not good. You shouldn't even be here right now!" He let his head drop in shame.

She picked herself off the wall and took a single step forward. "I want to be here." He finally looked up from the floor but only noticed how he made her cry.

"You will never understand. You will never accept me."

"I could if you only gaze me the chance Draco."

"Hermione! I'm the darkness in the light. I'm the bad in the good. I've done many things that are unspeakable. Things done to me I never thought possible. How could you ever come to accept that?"

"She took one more step forward and placed her hand on his chest. Watching his wings flutter. "Please let me."

He looked into her eyes before quickly turning around. His back to her front.

"Draco please."

He whipped around with such force she was startled. "IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT!"

Tears were pouring from his sorrow filled eyes as his hand removed the sleeve covering his left arm. Revealing the Dark Mark imprinted on his pale white skin.

She stared down at the famous Dark Mark. No words able to escape her lips.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He stormed into the Room of Requirements, tears streaming down his face as he left Hermione petrified in the corridor. Tears fell from her eyes and onto the empty corridor floor as she stared at the spot Draco last stood. How could he ever let something so reckless and irresponsible happen to him! And he called her irresponsible.