A/N: [edited 09.05: Thank you for all your reviews! And of course a big THANK YOU to my beta Cecelia Everhart]
Ready for the drama ahead?
Chapter 9: "We are not –"
"I'm not hiding," she snapped. "I'm just helpful."
"Sure," Draco said dryly, turned around, and used his wand to stack the plates.
Ginny shot her a warning glance, so she pulled herself together and murmured, "Did you enjoy the dinner?"
"Immensely," he answered briefly, a light smile on his lips. "But I don't want to talk about the dinner."
"Fine." She fell silent and levitated the plates to the cupboard. He apparently didn't want to talk and neither did she. She wished once again Ginny hadn't invited him.
His soft voice interrupted her sulking. "That doesn't mean I don't want to talk at all. Ginny, we can manage here. Go back to your guests."
Ginny nodded and swayed slightly trying to stand up. Hermione watched her with concern, but before she could follow her friend, Draco thrust a silver tray in her hand. "Where do I put this?"
She rolled her eyes and levitated the tray to its assigned place. It was obviously an attempt to keep her here.
"She's quite a matchmaker, isn't she?" he suddenly said.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"If you want to pretend – fair enough."
Hermione sighed. "She wants us to make a fresh start." She blinked self-consciously. "Would you want that?"
He interrupted his wand movement. "Do you?"
"That was not my question." He stared at her, unblinking. "Fine. We can try, but I can't promise you that it'll work," she agreed, rolling her eyes.
"Same here," he chuckled, but turned serious a second later. "Unless you meant what you said about me."
She instantly knew what he meant, and she regretted ever saying it. "That I hate you?"
He nodded. "And that I haven't changed." His voice was careful, strangely detached, pretending he didn't care about her answer.
"Of course, I didn't mean it. I was angry and scared, okay?" she whispered, avoiding his eyes.
"Good. Because I didn't mean what I said." She felt his warm hand on her arm and looked up.
"Friends?" he asked, offering her one of the last cupcakes.
"Friends," she agreed, chuckling. Somehow it was so easy to talk to him, but she shouldn't get lost in him, shouldn't allow her feelings to rule her decisions.
"Ey, Love-birds. We're leaving," Charlie suddenly interrupted them, grinning. Hermione jumped in surprise and glared at him.
"We are not –"
Charlie only laughed and left again. Draco rolled his eyes. "Shall we?"
She nodded.
"You look beautiful, by the way," he said casually, holding the door open for her.
"Thank you," she answered shyly. Of course he didn't mean it. He just said it, because they were friends now. Viktor had never said such things – rather the opposite.
"Was the Slytherin green dress deliberate?" He grinned cheekily at her.
She looked down and sighed again. "Ginny."
Draco burst out laughing. "She probably would've convinced me to wear Gryffindor dress robes if she'd had the chance."
"Probably," Hermione agreed. The conversation made her feel uncomfortable again. Quickly she followed Luna, who was wearing a bright silver and yellow dress that seemed to glow in the dark, out of the entrance door. "Hey Luna, do you know, where we're going?"
Luna shrugged. "No, sorry, Hermione. I never really went clubbing in London." Her gaze wandered between her and Draco. "I like your dress; it matches your boyfriend."
"We are not –" Before she could finish her sentence, Harry appeared in front of them.
"Luna, Hermione, Malfoy, you go together with Ginny and me. Here, we have timed portkeys. Every two hours it'll transport us to the next club. So stay together." He showed them the inconspicuous wristband he was wearing. "It won't get lost that way," he explained.
"Perfect," Hermione praised. Everyone put his hands on Harry's wrist, and a few seconds later she felt the familiar hook behind her navel, transporting them to the first location.
She landed hard on the pavement, twisting her ankle slightly because of the high heels. Instantly Draco's hand came out of nowhere and steadied her. Damn, normally she wasn't that clumsy.
"Is your ankle fine?" he asked. Was that real concern in his voice?
"Yes," she answered quickly, although it was stinging slightly.
"Take my arm," he offered. "The cobbles are dangerous with your shoes."
She hesitated for a second, but she could detect no ulterior motive behind his words. He was just a gentleman. "Okay." She took his arm and followed Luna and the others to the club. The beat instantly pulsated through her, making her feel giddy.
"Drinks?" he suggested.
"Good idea," she smiled and followed him to the bar. "But you do know that they don't have Firewhiskey?"
He laughed. "Then you order."
She grinned smugly. "Two whiskeys. No ice."
Their drinks were in front of them a moment later, and she held up her glass. "To Harry."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Just because I'm friends with Wonder Boy now, doesn't mean I want to drink to him."
"Okay, then to our friendship. Prost."[1]
He beamed. "Prost."
She had just emptied her glass, when Ginny pulled her to the dance floor. After two hours they left for the next club and then the next. Hermione felt a bit drunk by now because she normally didn't drink whiskey or anything potent. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, dancing and laughing. She watched Hannah and Neville kiss, Ron and Lavender nearly eating each other's faces as usual, George and Angelina holding hands, Bill and Fleur dancing together, Ginny and Harry embracing each other, and even Percy and Audrey were kissing heatedly, and Charlie, too, had picked up some muggle girl, dancing closely together.
Suddenly she felt miserable. Everyone was so happy, so in love and she … was alone. Bitter, she went to the bar and ordered another whiskey. She emptied it in one gulp and ordered the next one.
"Hermione, what do you think you're doing?" asked a soft voice next to her. "If you want to get drunk, you could've at least invited me to join you."
She bit her lip and tried to hide her sadness. "Okay, next one is on me."
"Nonsense, I'm the rich guy. I pay." He chuckled and handed her the glass. "What's wrong? You look … crestfallen."
Damn, she couldn't fool him for even a second. "Nothing." Abruptly she put her glass down. She really didn't want to talk about her feelings now. "I'm going to go dancing."
Without a moment's hesitation, she decided to pick up a hot guy, like all the others had done, and snog him. Maybe it would ease her loneliness, her pain. Soon the perfect candidate approached her, handsome and a bit drunk. He wouldn't care if she looked ugly. At four in the morning nobody cared.
She smiled at him and batted her lashes. He reacted at once and started dancing with her, his hands all over her body. However, it didn't make her feel better at all, but maybe she just wasn't used to this anymore.
"You're boyfriend wants to kill me," he screamed in her ear.
She turned and spotted Draco at the bar, glaring at them. "We are not –"
"Good," he grinned and, without warning, started to kiss her.
She felt … nothing. It was wet and disgusting, no sparks whatsoever. So she tried to push him away, but he just pulled her closer. She contemplated to hex him, just a small hex, but before she could act, he was pushed aside.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ginny snapped angrily. "You and me, bathroom, now!"
Astonished she followed Ginny to the girl's bathroom. "What? Why can't I have fun as well?"
Ginny seemed to be glowing with anger … or was it disappointment? "Oh, you had fun? Sorry, for me it looked like you were about to hex him," she deadpanned.
Hermione pressed her lips together and looked away.
Ginny sighed and softened her voice. "So, I'm right. Why did you do it?"
Of course she wouldn't understand. "Doesn't matter."
"It does. Haven't you seen the look on Malfoy's face? If I hadn't separated you, he would've." Suddenly, Ginny didn't seem angry at all anymore; instead a sad expression had crept on her face.
Hermione didn't care if she'd hurt Draco or Ginny or if she'd just destroyed her friend's matchmaking plan. "I don't care," she snarled and then abruptly turned around. "I just wanted to feel … wanted for one minute, and not ugly, and lonely, and desperate." She put her hands under the cool water and instantly felt sorry. It really wasn't Ginny's fault that she was unhappy. "But thank you for saving me. It didn't really work," Hermione added sheepishly.
Ginny smiled sadly. "Only because it wasn't the right person. Could you conjure a glass for me, I think I need some water."
"Of course." Hermione had been so focused on her own problems she hadn't noticed Ginny's condition. The redhead had put a hand against the wall for support, but was still swaying slightly. "Here." Hermione handed her the glass and watched her with concern. "You should go home. You look dead tired."
"No. I'm… I'm fine." Her face turned ashen and she clenched her fists. Then she turned and ran to a toilet.
"Ginny!"Quickly Hermione was by her side and hold her hair. "Ginny, please. Go home."
"No." Ginny staggered to her feet and went to the basin to rinse out her mouth. "Don't tell Harry."
"Ginny…" She pleaded softly, concern evident in her voice.
Her friend gave her a hard look, but suddenly she turned even paler. "Hermione…" Her grip on the basin loosened and Hermione watched her fall in slow motion.
Her fingertips only touched her wand, but her non-verbal Immobulus worked anyway. Just in time, before Ginny hit the floor hard. "Ginny." She kneeled down, checked her pulse, and splashed water on the witch's face, but Ginny stayed unconscious. "Shit. Harry!" she cried out, but nobody heard her; they were all on the dance floor and she couldn't just leave Ginny on the floor or conjure a Patronus with all the muggles. She needed to see a healer immediately.
Desperately, she dashed out of the bathroom and nearly collided with a tall, blond figure.
"Draco, thank god. Ginny, she collapsed!" she screamed nearly in tears.
"Where?" he asked immediately. "I'll bring her to St. Mungos, you get Harry."
She pointed at the door with the ladies sign. "Please hurry. Tell them about her pregnancy and that she was throwing up."
He simply nodded and disappeared though the door. Meanwhile Hermione spun around and sprinted to the dance floor. "Harry, Harry!" Damn, where was he? "Point me!" she whispered and let her wand guide her way. Nobody noticed anyway. She found him near the exit.
"Hermione, there you are –" he stopped in mid-sentence. She wondered how her face looked to have evoked this reaction. "What's wrong?"
"Ginny, she collapsed. Draco apparated her to St. Mungos," she explained hastily, wringing her hands.
Harry's whole posture changed. The relaxed, happy boy disappeared and was replaced by the deathly pale man who seemed to be carrying the world on his shoulders.
"Go. I tell the others," she offered automatically. Harry nodded thankfully and dashed out.
It wasn't easy to find everyone, but luckily the two hours were almost up, so the party guests were strolling to the meeting point. Hastily she explained what had happened, and then they collectively apparated to St. Mungos, leaving the portkeys in a trash bin.
[1] Prost. German for cheers.
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