I had been manipulated all my life. My mother, my father, my own Slytherins... It seemed everyone was out to get me.
It didn't help that Potter was out there winning the Triwizard tournament and kissing girls and just being Potter. And his friends... They were so different to mine.
And now I'm going to Potter's birthday party.
Kill me now.
Luna
Ginny was helping me out with the presents. She and Harry had gone out for a while before he started dating me, and as we had only been dating two weeks, I didn't know all his tastes yet.
Their relationship ended well. They decided to stay friends because there just wasn't, as Harry put it, "any spark anymore".
Anyway, I'm rubbish at wrapping, and Ginny's ace at it.
"Who's going?" Ginny asked, folding down a corner of the paper.
"Me, you, Ron, Hermione, Cho, Neville, Blaise and Draco."
"Malfoy? And Zabini?"
I nodded. Ginny looked disgusted, and I clapped above her head quickly, in case of any Water-crested Spagmilions, which are invisible sprites that cause disgust. If you don't clap around your head they could stay with you for life!
"Aren't Harry and Malfoy enemies?"
"Penpals." I say. Ginny's face turns even more sour, so I resume my clapping around her face.
"And Zabini?"
I smile. "Malfoy's guest, to encourage him to come. It was Harry's idea."
Ginny grins at me. "You're obviously besotted with Harry." She remarks, and then she hugs me.
RonHarry's house was amazing. The walls were decorated with streamers and the table was set for nine. I wasn't the first, but I was surprised to see Ginny there. I thought she'd told me she wasn't coming. She must have changed her mind.
To be honest I was a bit mad at Harry after they broke up. Ginny had lusted over him for so long... And now they were nothing. And it didn't take him long to find someone new. He's hand in hand with Luna, who's welcoming everyone in. "Into the living room, Ron." She tells me. Then she tells me maybe I should hop there. "There seems to be a Pugilat in your aura. It causes people to look gormless."
I shake my head at her and walk into the living room. There's a long sofa where Harry is sitting, with Cho on his left and Neville on his right. Ginny's sticking mistletoe on the ceiling in random places, and Luna has drifted from her welcoming job and is telling her where to put it. Harry stands when he sees me, and wraps me into a huge hug.
"Good to see you, mate." I say, and he nods. I place my present with everyone else's and sit in one of the armchairs.
Then Hermione walks in.
HermioneOh, this is just brilliant. Ron's here. I know I should be strong, but our breakup was horrendous.
He doesn't look too pleased to see me, either, and avoids my gaze. I decide to be the better person. Luna had just called Harry over and he's placing people's names over different seats. A seating plan. I pray that I'm nowhere near Ron, but Harry's tactful enough to ensure that happens.
"Hello, everyone." I say, hugging Harry and then sitting in an armchair opposite an empty one, far away from Ron.
He glares at me, and I smile back. I'm not going to ruin Harry's party, even if he does.
There seems to be nine places at the table, so I count who could be here. Harry, Luna, Ginny, Ron, Cho, Neville and me. That's seven. So who are the other two?
Harry always got on well with Ernie and Justin, so perhaps them. But I had the impression he hadn't talked to them since Hogwarts, so who knows?
Cho seems to be wondering the same thing. "Who's missing?" She asks, in her dainty voice.
There's a knock on the door.
Harry and Luna stride out the room to get it, and we hear greetings. I can't tell who it is. It appears it's two people, because Luna reappears holding two presents.
The three of them walk in. And my jaw drops.
It's Blaise and...
Malfoy.