AN: YAY! First chapter up after the break! It's not Beta'd by Maddiechu, as I've been too excited to get this up first. Will make sure all the following chapters are. Please enjoy!
The week leading up to Hallowe'en had been terse, with each house sticking strictly to itself save for a few unique friendship groups that were stronger than the house politics. The idea of the Hallowe'en event being cancelled had hit the collective students in a way they hadn't quite expected, and for the first time since the Hermione's sixth year, the point keepers had actually begun to fill with the gems of their respective houses. It wasn't how she'd hoped would be achieved, but the week had been free of breaking up fights, detentions given for inter-house arguments, and docking points for abuse. Hufflepuff was receiving even more deadly looks than Slytherin, their shocking actions at the Quidditch match had left a black and bloody stain on their reputation, with Ravenclaw apparently in shock that their gentle, kind and caring allies were even capable of such brutality. Some had put down the unexpected actions to Hufflepuff being happy to recruit any student, and therefore there must be some in that house that could have been in Slytherin, the home of stupid, cruel and evil people.
The rumours about Hermione and Draco had intensified, her actions at the Quidditch match had sparked yet more rumours, her wearing green being the least of it, her screaming his name to warn him of the Quaffle being thrown at his head had sparked yet more speculation. Ironically it was a far more preferable set of rumours, and for the first time, Hermione was actually happy there were rumours about her. Especially because it concerned house-unity, and with the links between the houses as thin as they had ever been, a rumour about a Gryffindor – Slytherin alliance was creating the right kind of atmosphere each time it was mentioned.
Draco had even gone so far as to drape his arm over her shoulders while they walked back from a meeting with McGonagall, Hermione with parchment in her arms as she discussed their plans for the prefects timetable for the coming month, sparking even more frantic chatter as they passed students. It had become so much that the pair of them had even been visited by Professor McGonagall in their living quarters, with the Headmistress asking for the truth behind them. Her slight smile as they confirmed a relationship had Hermione blushing for the rest of the evening, but having the Headmistress seemingly believe her when she admitted it was her own choice, and had started in the summer right at the end of the war had made her feel much better about everything.
As the tentative peace between the houses was kept, and the talk of Draco and Hermione intensified it was with a smile on her face that McGonagall announced the Hallowe'en event would continue on as planned, and that she hoped it would serve as a fresh start for the school to move on. Peeves had been so pleased at the announcement that he'd started shrieking and screaming with delight, all but foaming at the mouth, and simply hadn't stopped for the past three days. The ghosts were regarding him with disapproving looks, and shamed shakes of their heads.
The school had been filled with last minute preparations for the event, with the entire first floor being declared off limits until after the feast on Hallowe'en, so that everything could be set up. The Hufflepuffs seemed to be taking it seriously, and threats of varying levels of concern were being whispered to the members of the house that didn't seem to realise they were working to regain their previous status within the school.
The Hallowe'en feast had arrived in lightning speed, with students happy to comply with the fancy dress rule of the day, and various elaborate costumes were appearing as preparations finished. The Great Hall was slowly beginning to fill up as Hermione and Draco walked in as a pair of vampire hunters. Hermione had convinced Draco that he would most definitely want to turn up with a load of wooden stakes, some fake injuries, and that it would do him some good not wearing a suit for once.
Instead, he was now clad in an alarming amount of leather, a long coat made of the fabric was swishing about his ankles, covering up a belt of stakes, and a few vials of garlic. At least he was used to the black shirt she had given to him to wear, not understanding the silver cross pendant he'd been given, feeling rather confused as to where that particular thing came into play with Vampires, until Hermione had told him it was a muggle thing. He'd nodded with comprehension as he draped it over his neck, impressed with the level of detail Hermione had gone to too make sure it appeared he was intent on trying to heal the rifts his family had carved out. He was at loathe to admit it still, but he found the legends muggles had created about vampires and werewolves fascinating, and wondered what they had come up with for witches and wizards. Hermione was wearing a corset that had managed to take his breath away, he'd found himself unable to look at her properly for the first hour she'd walked about their living space with it on, wanting to bury his face in the curves it gave her. She had slipped on a pair of leather trousers, and had given herself the same accessories as Draco, a silver cross pendant, with a belt filled with stakes. Then she pulled on a leather coat much like Draco's and held her hand out for him to take, declaring they were ready.
The silence that occurred as they walked in together, not hand in hand, but in matching costume set the rumour mill on fire once more. They nodded to one another, hiding smirks behind their smiles as they went to sit at their respective tables, a knowing smile from Professor McGonagall making Hermione blush as Draco smirked outright, Daphne waving him over to an open space on the bench. Daphne appeared to be a murder victim, with some expertly done make up causing her neck to look as though it had a rather realistic slit, with blood dribbling from it once in a while, cascading down her chest. The rest of her normally healthy pallor was varying shades of grey, her clothing torn; with her golden halo of hair messy and stained with blood.
"Subtle." Ginny smirked as Hermione sat next to her Ginny's own costume an elaborate muggle stereotypical witch outfit she'd asked Harry to acquire for her.
"Oh, well, you know. Nothing like rumours to keep the peace." Hermione replied, the hints of a Malfoy like smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.
:: :: ::
The feast out of the way, the school was left to the mercy of the House of Hufflepuff, the first floor the territory they ruled over. Peeves had taken to shooting out of the walls, screaming in order to terrify the students; and to the dismay of the Bloody Baron, Nearly-Headless Nick had joined in.
The corridor was dim, a few candles hovered to supply the light, but the walls seemed to be coated in a sticky, gooey like substance. It left a green tinge to the skin of those who had touched it, and with a delighted shriek a muggleborn had declared it to be ectoplasm. Whatever that was. Figures hung from the ceiling, in ragged clothes, some were moaning, whilst others dripped a blood like liquid that had soon been determined to be a strawberry puree.
Each of the classrooms had been transformed into a typical Hallowe'en like setting. A haunted house. A labyrinth. A mad scientists laboratory. The aim of the event had simply been to terrify the school, and instead of being terrified, they were elated.
Running between the rooms, swigging the potions they got in the mad scientists lab, and then getting lost in the labyrinth or the old abandoned slaughter house laughter could be heard as students suddenly turned into toads. Then transformed back again, looking mildly alarmed.
"Muggle hallowe'en seems like an odd thing." Draco mused to Hermione as a pair of Ravenclaw second years pushed past them, small cauldrons in hand and thrust them at the door way of a classroom, screeching "Trick or Treat!" The pair were promptly turned into a pair of rather large rabbits.
"You know, I suppose it is now I think of it, what with knowing the wizarding world actually exists." Hermione laughed as Pansy, dressed as an escaped prisoner, shackles and all approached; an expression of repulsion on her face.
"Draco, a moment." She demanded, refusing to look at Hermione. Draco nodded to Hermione, who smiled in reply, turning to give the pair as much privacy as she could in the bustling corridor. Swiftly, noting Draco's agreement, Pansy grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the second floor.
:: :: ::
"Pansy!" He gasped, struggling against her embrace as she pinned him to the wall, the shackles of her costume apparently not decorative.
"I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt Draco," she sighed, closing the lock on the handcuff about a lamp bracket on the wall, one so low he doubted it had been used in years. He began to search for his wand, slipping his free hand into his pocket; his stomach falling as he realised it wasn't there anymore.
"Oh, no, I've got that Draco, don't worry." She continued, hopping onto one of the desks and wiggling his wand between her fingers. "So, lets… chat shall we. You have just got to explain this whole Granger thing to me." Pansy finished sarcastically, her tone implying she'd vomit if he actually did.
"Can you at least pretend to be sane?" He snarled at her, "I'm the one with the Black bloodline, but you're the one that hasn't seemed to have learnt anything from the war."
"Draco!" She hissed, her eyes flashing with anger as she gripped his wand tightly, sparks shooting from the end of it, "I am not insane! I am not the one kissing a bloody mudblood in public! Or, or, holding hands with it! I mean really! What would your father say! Think of your mother! Think of your bloodline, think-"
"You have to be the most stupid person I've ever met. And that's saying something Pans because I had Crabbe and Goyle with me for the entirety of my time here, and we both know it's incredible they managed to function on a daily basis!" He spat realising Pansy was just going to have a long rant at him, and not actually harm him, the way she used to when they were sort of… together. He watched her seethe, incredulous that he'd actually enjoyed her company back then. He'd considered her attractive once, she'd said it enough, and his easily persuaded mind had just assumed it was true. It was strange considering he'd been in a house with the Greengrass girls and their other worldly beauty. Pansy really was how the other houses had often referred to her – pug faced, with the personality of a badly raised dog, disobedient, spoilt and childish. She was pacing up and down in front of him, hissing and spitting with discontent.
"I'm not stupid!" She retorted eventually, clearly frustrated.
"Really? Because you're not making a good show of not being brain dead."
"Just think about what you're doing!" She pleaded with him, her hands on his chest all of a sudden, those deep blue eyes imploring. He sneered, recognising the ploy she was playing.
"It's not going to work Pans." He deadpanned, staring back at her wholly unimpressed.
"Do you… do you actually love her?" She asked him her expression a sneer all of a sudden, a disgusted scowl breaking out over her face. He flinched, not expecting the question, not expecting the overwhelming urge to say he did. He stared off at the floor, his mouth opening and closing like he were a goldfish, dumbfounded.
"Oh Merlin, don't say you do." Pansy pleaded incredulous, her disbelief a rotten cloud of sewage water to the pure lake that was the idea of being in love with Hermione.
"I do." He whispered, blinking to make sure he wasn't dreaming.
"No." Pansy breathed shock rife on her expression.
"I love her, I love Hermione Granger." He repeated, feeling the conviction of his words strengthen his resolve, a smile splitting across his features.
"Oh Merlin, you must. You never smiled like that at me." Pansy sobbed, her hand clutching her heart. Her face was scrunched up, as tears spilt down her cheeks, washing away layers of white make up. The door suddenly shifted, as if someone was attempting to open it.
"What the?" Someone said, clearly confused. "Alohomora," they continued, and the door burst open with the recognisable click of a successful spell. Dean stood in the door way, a look of astonishment ripe as he glanced down at Draco's handcuffed wrist, and Pansy's hysterics that she was struggling to contain. He flicked his eyes between all three things, with a smile developing on his face that gave Draco the impression he'd jumped to entirely the wrong conclusion.
"You two are into some kinky shit." He shrugged, closing the door on their stunned faces, locking them back into the disused classroom without another thought, his surprised laughter echoing in the corridor as Peeves' delighted screaming drowned it out, the idea of singing beyond his comprehension in his excitement.
"How can you love her?" Pansy asked breathlessly, her tear stained face filled with agony and confusion, "she's not right for you!"
"And you are?" Draco retorted, feeling nothing towards Pansy's frantic state, and was instead watching her with a wary hint.
"Of course! I listen to you, I fulfilled your every need, I-"
"Back when I was a bloody stupid teenager, who did everything I was told because I thought that was what I should have done. You fulfilled the whims of a teenage boy Pansy. You're not… enough for who I am now, and who I should be." He sighed, desperately wishing he was anywhere else other than here.
"And she's what you need." She replied blankly, anger now the winning emotion.
"Yeah, yeah, she's…she's what I need."
"How the fuck is that even right?" Pansy hissed at him aiming her wand at his crotch. He crossed his legs anxiously, eyeing her aim and her livid face. Unspilt tears fresh in her dark blue eyes.
:: :: ::
"You will never guess what I just walked in on," Dean said to Seamus, his eyes sparkling with a joyful hint of mischief.
"What?"
"Parkinson and Malfoy. She's got him handcuffed and everything." He laughed as Seamus's eyes widened with disbelief, he threw his head back and roared with laughter, making several first years in the vicinity jump back in alarm.
"Who'd have thought it? Malfoy likes to be dominated!" Seamus cried, his shoulders shaking with his hysterical laughter.
"What?" Ginny asked, walking up to them with a look of confusion.
"Oh Gin, you'll love this; I just found Parkinson and Malfoy, she's got him all locked up!" Dean grinned at her, expecting her to find it as funny as Seamus did. Ginny looked at him with shock, her expression changing to one of disbelief.
"You're kidding," She breathed, her mind on fire with the possibilities of what was happening and why.
"I'm absolutely not, want me to show you?"
"Oh absolutely, but let me get Hermione, she'll want to see this." She said, looking over to the brown haired girl and waving to her frantically.
Hermione sauntered over, quickening her step when she noted the look of urgency on Ginny's face.
"Gin, wha-"
"Take us Dean." Ginny said immediately, cutting through Hermione's inquiry as her fingers slipped in between Hermione's own.
Dean's expression of confusion deepened, as he turned on his heel at once, scurrying between the students as Ginny and Hermione, tailed by a curious Seamus followed. He took them to the second floor, pushing open the classroom in which he'd found the two Slytherins.
"There," he said, looking confused as he peered in, the three other Gryffindors looking in after him.
Draco was crouching down, whimpering in obvious agony, as thin wisps of smoke seeped up from between his legs. His hair hung limp in front of his face, and he looked up with sheer mortification as the door opened once more, his eyes settled onto Hermione's immediately and he groaned.
"Oh, fuck. Just kill me." He moaned, as Pansy gave a scream once more. A stinging hex blew towards Draco, and he dodged it as best he could, as Ginny retaliated, a Bat Bogey hex unleashed.
Pansy's face was swollen and red, puffy with the trails of her hysterical tears. She dropped her wand, covered in slime and the beating wings of bats. She sobbed harder, as Dean looked at the scene properly, swallowing loudly.
"So… er… not kinky shit then." He laughed nervously.