Chapter 14: Through her eyes

First of all, I don't even know why I'm going to this party. Second of all, I don't even know why Malfoy asked me. Come on, we're talking about Draco Malfoy. I can't still solve the Draco Malfoy changing mystery and to admit it, he's actually pretty good to be around. I know, remind me to eat soap after, but

I've got things to worry about.

I'm still trying to decide whether or not I should go to the dance. I don't even know who's throwing a party with whom, and I'll be a complete loner. I tried to sound nice on my letter and I didn't wanna seem so interested, or did I want to decline him. I can't ask Harry and Ginny for advice, and defenitley not Ron.

He'll give me a humungous sermon on how I've made the biggest mistake of my life. He's probably right, though...

And second of all, what am I going to wear!?

...

Anyways, Malfoy had replied my letter the following morning saying that he reckons his friends wouldn't mind. I surely hope it's true...I asked him the time and everything and he told me to meet him at the old Flourish and Blotts and take the Floo from there. 

Can you believe this? I have to dress formally.

So I've decided. I'm going. Come on, how bad can it get? This is exactly another reason why I was in Gryffindor. Stupid taking risk thing....

....

I looked through my closet for something nice to wear to "The Party". I'm down to two dresses, but I decided to use the Random charm because I have no time to argue over two dresses.

After trying it on, I'm having the funny feelings on my stomach. The hesitation was making me nervous, now I'm sort've changing my mind... The other side of me keeps telling me to go and have fun. To think

about it, I haven't gone to a party after Harry's...I've been so busy concentrating on work that I haven't actually thought about partying. Everything was going fine until that prat had to leave his stupid hat. I

shouldn't have followed my instincts...I should've left the hat there like I've never seen it. I should've left his stupid broom and never have been part of it all! And to begin with, I should've left that damned necklace!! Ron was right...shockingly. I should have left Malfoy to his misery, but I dunno why he even cares about that necklace, back when he never cared about anything.

No, I am not in my time of month, thank you!

...

So yeah, I Floo'd to Diagon Alley and met Malfoy.

"That's formal?" I gawked at his outfit. It was a little casual than "formal". His collard shirt wasn't even tucked in properly and his dresspants didn't suit much with his casual shoes. I wasn't suprise to see his now-dirty-blonde hair was slick back. But he – erm- looked kind've nice.

We Floo'd again to a fireplace of a very large house. For a moment, I thought I was going to set foot on the Malfoy Manor's for the first time.

"Is this your house?" I asked him.

"Are you mad?" Malfoy gazed around, "I can't afford a house like this-"

"I mean- your parents?"

"Oh, no-" Malfoy grinned, "It's the Flint's"

For a moment I thought I was going to just scream and run away home. I had all these mixes of emotion, so I just replaced them by forcing out a smile. Or—at least trying to get a straight face.

"M-Marcus Flint Flint?"

He nodded. "How many other Marcus Flints do you know?" he gave out a soft laugh.

And then I realised, how could I've been so stupid and not thought about it? I've agreed to attend a gargoyle's party.

Soon I noticed a lot more of his gitted friends as we stepped out to the darkness of the backyard. There were a lot of silver lights around though and at the corner it read "Farewell Flint Family".

I didn't dare ask. Marcus Flint got married? I suddenly had a burning sensation inside my stomach and felt the urge to just rub it to get rid of the pain. I heard a few whispers from a corner where I guessed was little giggling Pansy Parkinson. She still looked a bitchy, but a lot sluttier. I tried dodging a few glances from Malfoy's other Slytherin friends. Now I've got a small idea on how Harry must've felt- but it's probably nothing compared to him.

"Just ignore them." Malfoy seemed to have read my mind. The butterflies in my stomach died away as we found a seat at a far-away corner from Pansy as possible. I had a feeling Malfoy didn't like her much. I also thought, that even though Malfoy changed- his little friends didn't. The butterflies came back as I saw an ugly smirk from a table that was far away but I looked away as I saw him. Yes I mean Blaise Zabini.

"I'll go get some drinks-" Draco started. I stood up to come with him. There was no way in hell am I staying there by myself with all those Slytherins glaring at little a Gryffindor like me. Yes, let alone I was the only Gryffindor there, though nobody seemed to care or commented. It was better following Malfoy around than being gawked at by Slytherins alone. For a second Draco hinted that he wanted to get me a drink himself, but I managed to convince him that I wanted to come along.

We just talked as we got back to our tables. I was a little flattered and a bit suprised for I expected Malfoy to ditch me and talk to his friends instead. But it was the other way around ...

After a while, a stage appeared in the middle accompanied a man standing with his wand. He Sonorus'd himself and started to welcome everybody and announced the live band that would be playing through the night of the party.

Everybody hit around the circle stage, as a band that wore silver and green like the Slytherin Quidditch robes except it was plain. They played a few fast songs and everybody danced around, which reminded me back in the Yule Ball.

I had to go to the bathroom, and this time it was to pee for real. At first, I didn't really know which way the bathroom was but luckily I met a cute little house-elf who directed me straight to the girl's bathroom. The house has separate bathrooms!

As I finished, I got out of the house and noticed that the silver lights had changed to different colours and everybody was holding their partners as they finished a slow song.

I walked over to our table, only to find Malfoy gone. Where could he have gone? As I walked, thinking- I shouldn't have gone because Malfoy has ditched me with probably another girl he's probably finishing a dance with right now. I was about to sit down when I felt a cold tap on my shoulder. I wheeled around only to find the grey-eyed boy who was smiling straightly asked me and opened his mouth to speak.

"Hermione-" he shuffled his words a little, "Would you like to dance, with me?"