A/N- Thanks for sticking with this story for so long! I've been writing it for about a year now, but I'm nearly finished. So don't think it'll be another year before it's done, because it should be soon! But then there'll be a sequel, I think…we'll see. But for now, give this a read please. Oh, and this hasn't been corrected yet, so please over look any mistakes until I replace it with the corrected document.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR – The Party

On Thursday, Hermione noticed Draco staying closer to her than usual. He sat in the row behind her in all their classes, walked with Pansy only a few paces behind her and he threw her glances continuously at meals in the Great Hall.

Hermione suspected that it had something to do with the nightmare he had experienced the night before. Although he hadn't told her what it had been about, she guessed that it was something bad regarding her. Hermione continued about her day as normal and pretended that she didn't notice having a protective boyfriend that no one knew about, following her around.

Harry and Ron both cast her a few odd looks, but she smiled and stayed silent, and they took her lead and did the same. Hermione knew that Draco had been scared about her, or else he wouldn't risk getting caught to enter her dorm, but this behavior could be risky.

That night in the cabin, Credere managed to recite the entire alphabet without any help. Hermione sat with her on the couch and tried to start a conversation going, with Draco sitting on her other side having trouble at keeping quiet.

"So, Credere." Hermione began. "How are you feeling tonight?"

"Good." Credere replied. "You?"

"I'm very well, thank you." She smiled. "What did you do today?"

Credere took a few moments before responding. "Awoke. Ran around the drink-"

"The lake." Hermione supplied.

"Yes." Credere nodded. "Ran around the lake. Ate some things. Walked to here. Said the elphabit."

"Alphabet." Hermione reminded her. "You're speaking very well now, Credere. You must be pleased with your progress."

"Yes. I am, thank-you to you, Her-mee-ni." She said happily, then looked at Draco. "And you, Draco."

Draco shook his head. "You don't have to be polite with me, Credere. I know I haven't done anything to help. But you are doing very well."

"I know. How was your day, Draco?" Credere asked, hoping she was sounding fluent.

Raising an eyebrow, he replied. "Oh, yeah. Just the usual, you know."

Credere swallowed and looked at Hermione. "I'm afraid I don't know what he means."

"He means uneventful. The same as any other day." Hermione informed her.

"But every day is different." Credere protested, looking at Draco.

"Not today."

Hermione turned to Draco with an amused expression. "You don't think today was any different than yesterday? I noticed that yesterday you weren't following me around as if I was about to disappear to some unknown place where you could never find me. Today I had to make sure I didn't stop too suddenly or else you'd plow into me, you were standing so close."

Draco dropped his eyes momentarily. "I was not."

"Yes you were." She said back. "I assume it had something to do with that nightmare last night."

"What is a 'mare?'" Credere asked.

"A nightmare is a bad dream. A scary vision." Hermione informed her. "Do you ever have those?"

Credere nodded her head in understanding. "Ah, yes. One of them." She turned to Draco, who was looking at Hermione with an oddly haunted look on his face. "What was your nightmare about?"

"Nothing." He replied shortly, turning away slightly.

"That must have been scary." Credere said with a serious face.

Hermione looked at Credere with a half smile on her face. "What that sarcasm?"

Credere turned to Hermione with an excited smile. "Did it sound like sarcasm?"

"It sounded like something I would say." Hermione said. "So, yes."

Credere beamed at them. "I am mastering your style of speak."

"Speech." Draco corrected. "And that wasn't funny."

"Yes it was." Credere said to him. "But I do not think you can have a nightmare about nothing. That would be just sleep- not a nightmare. What was it about?"

"I think it was about me." Hermione said to Credere, although she was watching Draco closely. "But he won't talk about it, so I wouldn't bother if I were you."

"But you are not me. I am you." Credere said. "Was it about Her-mee-ni, Draco?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes." He replied after looking between Hermione and Credere.

"What happened?" Credere asked next.

"Nothing." Draco replied again, sterner this time.

"Yet again, a strange thing to occur in a nightmare."

Draco glared at her. "Since when did you get this quick at talking?"

Credere smiled. "Practice is everything. Now tell us what happened. It will have you feel better."

"Make you feel better." Hermione corrected quietly, before looking at Draco. As he looked back, she noticed the same scared look creep into his eyes that she had seen there the night before.

"Hermione got hurt, that's all. I overreacted." Draco said simply, breaking eye contact with Hermione.

"It was more than that." Credere observed. "You've seen Her-mee-ni get hurt before. In fact, from what I have listened-"

"Heard." Hermione said.

"Yes. From what I have heard, you even hurt her yourself not long away."

"Not long ago."

"Yes." Credere concluded, looking at Draco.

Draco burst out in frustration. "Alright! She was dying, okay? Now don't ask me again, because I'm not going to tell you any more."

Hermione and Credere remained silent for a few seconds, before Draco stood up and walked across the room so he was looking out through the window at the night sky.

Credere also stood up. "Well, dying is a nightmare. I know I am going to experience a nightmare in a few weeks, and I nightmare it every night."

Hermione didn't bother to correct Credere. After a few more seconds of silence, Credere said "goodnight Her-mee-ni and Draco," and she walked out of the cabin to leave them alone, deciding to change her form outside.

"What is wrong with people these days?" Hermione asked, hoping to change the subject. "No one can ever say my name right without breaking it into syllables. And even then they get it wrong."

"I don't think you should get upset about it, Her-min-nee." Draco said, immediately joining her in the change of topic. "It's just a name."

"Well, if that's what you think, Dumbo..." Hermione said, moving over to stand next to him by the window.

"Dumbo?" Draco snorted. "That's not even close to my name."

"I know, but it fits your character."

"Shut up." he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her head softly. Hermione looked up at him and noted that the haunted look in his eyes had not changed.

"Dumbo-Draco, this is getting ridiculous. I'm not going to die." She said firmly. "So stop stressing about it, you're losing weight."

He looked back out the window. "But it was so real."

"But it wasn't, that's what you have to remember." Hermione said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him soundly on the lips. "See? I'm right here in front of you. That's never going to change."

Draco looked at her for a few more moments, and then he hugged her close, said goodnight and disappeared from the cabin. Hermione sighed and wondered how much more they could take. They only had two weeks before they would face Voldemort in a final confrontation, but at that moment, Hermione wondered if they could last until then.

***

The seventh year Potions class filed out of the dungeon after class on Friday and headed for the Great Hall for lunch. Ron, Harry and Hermione took the lead, because Ron had been complaining of a hunger induced stomachache almost all lesson.

"Ron, I don't see why you don't eat more at breakfast." Hermione told him as they rounded a corner.

"I eat as much as I can. I just get hungry quickly." Ron defended himself. His expression then changed to one of extreme happiness. "I can't believe that that was our last Potions lesson ever. Just cant believe it."

Harry nodded with an equally happy smile. "No more Snape."

"It's a bit sad I think." Hermione put in with a frown. "After next week - our 'study' week - then the week of exams, we won't be coming back here anymore. That's only two weeks left at Hogwarts. A place we've spent the last seven years."

Harry and Ron looked thoughtful. "I suppose you're right Hermione." Harry said, his face slowly changing to depressed. "This is my home. I don't really want to leave it."

Ron put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "You're coming home to live with us though, mate. You can stay at the Burrow as long as you need to."

Harry smiled. "You're right. But I will miss Hogwarts."

Hermione suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked down at her books. "Oh bugger. I forgot to collect my notes from Snape after he corrected them."

"Do you really need them?" Ron asked her, pausing to look back at her.

"Yes." She answered, beginning to turn around already. "I need them to study for the exam. Listen, I'll go get them now, and meet you two in the Great hall in a few minutes."

"Ok, Hermione." Harry said, and she turned and made her way back quickly through the dungeons to the Potions classroom.

***

After telling Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle to go on without him, Draco walked to the front of the room where Professor Snape sat, correcting a students set of notes. Snape looked up as Draco reached the desk.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said, putting his quill down on the desk. "Your final Potions class has come to an end. You must be at a loss."

"Yes sir." Draco replied respectfully. "I wanted to thank you for the past seven years. I have learnt potions so strong and powerful that sometimes I hope I never have to use them."

"But Mr. Malfoy," Snape said with an odd expression. "You already have had to use them for this…thing you and Miss Granger are involved in."

"True." Draco nodded slightly. "This won't be the last you see of me, sir. I just thought you ought to know."

Snape smiled a very small smile that only a few people had ever seen. "I hadn't thought it was going to be. Make sure you post me what you're doing next year. I like to know what my better students get up to once they leave Hogwarts."

Draco cleared his throat and frowned slightly. "Actually professor, I already know what I'll be doing next year. But I haven't told anyone yet."

Snape raised his eyebrows, knowing that Draco would tell him. Draco sighed and said, "I received a letter on Sunday night, offering me a position on the Speeding Snitches Quidditch team. I've already written back accepting the place."

"That's great news, Mr. Malfoy." Snape said with a smile. "I always thought you would make a professional Seeker one day, and it seems I am rarely wrong."

Draco cleared his throat again, and looked at his feet. "Well, actually professor…I wasn't offered the position of Seeker. I could only assume that it went to someone else." He paused, making it obvious that Harry must have received the position. "I was offered the position of Keeper. The coach must have seen me stop all those bludgers hitting me in the head with my bare hands, and thought that I could cope with being Keeper."

Snape looked pensive, which was an expression that Draco found funny on Snape's face, then he said, "I think that will be a great thing for you. Although Potter may be a problem to be sorted out, but that's next year."

"I think I'll manage." Draco said, and he turned towards the door. "I'll write to you, sir. And I expect replies."

Snape smiled at him and nodded. He then picked up his quill and returned to his correcting. Draco walked from the room and down the hall towards the Great Hall where everyone was having lunch. He didn't get very far however, before he heard his name being called from behind him. Not knowing whose voice it was, but believing it to be Hermione's because it was a female's, he stopped and turned around.

"What the hell?" he muttered, as he saw Lavender stalking towards him with a smile. "Why do you insist on following me?"

"I know you want me to." She replied huskily, stopping inches from where he stood. "Why do you insist on rejecting me, when you know I'm exactly what you want?"

"Ah, that would be because you're not exactly what I want." Draco pointed out bluntly.

Lavender just smiled at him. "Denial won't work Draco. Not with me." She moved herself closer to him, and he immediately stepped backwards. Into the dungeon wall. Lavender giggled and moved so she was blocking his way of escape, and barring him against the wall.

Draco, at this point, wanted nothing more than to run away screaming and to then recommend her to a psychiatrist. But he thought that this might appear as a weakness on his behalf, so he lifted his chin and stared at her challengingly.

"Do you think I'm attractive?" she asked him, battering her eyelashes.

"No." Draco stated. "Or do you mean when compared with a gnome cross bred with a giant squid? Because even then, no."

Lavender wilted slightly, and Draco thought that perhaps he had gotten through her thick head and into her brain. He raised his eyebrows at her, as if signaling that it was time for her to get out of his way.

It seemed to have the opposite effect. Without any warning Lavender took a step closer to him, causing Draco to start in surprise, because he hadn't thought this was possible. Now they were almost touching, and Draco decided that it was the perfect time to push her on her backside and make a run for it.

Just as he was about to do so, Lavender quickly stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him forcefully. Draco had never been more shocked and disgusted in all his life. Her lips were sticky with lip-gloss, her odor was strong with perfume and she wasn't Hermione. That was the main problem. Someone else was kissing him aside from his Hermione. It had been so many months since Draco had kissed anyone other than Hermione, that it took him only a few seconds to realize that he never wanted to kiss anyone else but Hermione for the rest of his life.

Draco raised his hands to push Lavender away from him, but found that she was suddenly pulled backwards by another source. Not caring who had freed him, Draco continued to raise his arm and wiped his lips vigorously with his sleeve, to try remove all the lip-gloss and Lavender germs.

When Draco thought he had gotten rid of the worst of it, he heard Lavender make a sound of disgust and say, "What is wrong with you, you cranky bitch?"

This caused Draco to look up and notice who had pulled Lavender off him. The sight of Hermione and the expression on her face as she held Lavender's ponytail tightly in her fist nearly made Draco retch. Hermione had seen him and Lavender kissing. Although there was nothing in the world Draco would want to do less, that was what she had seen.

"Hermione." He said in a strangled voice.

"Shut the hell up." Hermione said, in a voice so deathly quiet it made Draco cringe. "I don't want to hear a word from you. But you…" she turned on Lavender, who appeared slightly worried. "I have told you that Draco's not interested in you. I have told you that you should stop pursuing him. And now I am going to tell you to never do that again."

"Hermione." Lavender said angrily, twisting her hair out of Hermione's grip. "What is your problem? You have no business here-"

"Oh no, see that's where you're wrong." Hermione said, her eyes flashing in anger. "This is my business, and you are my problem."

"I knew you still wanted Draco." Lavender said, a smile now sliding onto her face. "I knew it. But you lost your chance. He's mine now." Lavender moved to link her arm in Draco's, but found that he moved away from her as if she were a flame. "Draco…?"

"I hate you, Lavender." Draco said coldly. He stepped around her to stand by Hermione. He slipped an arm around her waist protectively and felt her immediately melt in to him. "But I love Hermione."

Lavender's face paled and her eyes widened. She looked between Draco and Hermione and they remained silent, gazing back at her coldly. "You two are still together?" she asked in a horrified whisper.

"And if you tell anyone, we'll find you and hex you until you look like a tree frog in a blender." Hermione told her calmly, though her voice shook slightly. "No one can know."

Lavender's face began changing from deathly pale to a bright red of humiliation. "I didn't know." She said helplessly, dropping her head to look at the floor. "If you had just told me, Hermione."

"I told you, no one can know." Hermione repeated, and Draco noticed at that moment that Hermione was shaking. "Now get out of here, and don't you ever touch Draco again."

Lavender nodded at the ground and ran down the hall without saying a word. Draco knew that she would keep her promise, not only out of fear of being hexed, but out of embarrassment. He then felt Hermione step away from him, causing his arm to fall limp by his side. He looked at her and found that he was staring in to her deep brown eyes.

"Hermione." He said in a level tone. "I hope I can trust you not to take this the wrong way. You know I would never do this to you. Lavender latched herself on to me before I knew what was happening, then you came along and saved me."

Hermione continued to look at him, and eventually said, "I know you Draco. I know this was all Lavender. But you don't understand what it was like for me to come around the corner and see you kissing another girl."

"But I wasn't kissing her, she was kissing me." he said defensively. "I love you."

Hermione smiled at him slightly. "You always seem to work that into the conversation somehow. As if I would forget." She moved forwards and he embraced her in a passionate kiss. He held her tightly against him and she wrapped her arms about his neck as if she was never going to let go. In the emptiness of the corridor, they forgot about lunch and remained absorbed in each other until someone cleared their throat behind them.

"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger." An all too familiar voice said in an amused tone.

Jumping away from each other, Draco and Hermione turned to see Snape staring at them with a raised eyebrow. Hermione blushed and looked at the floor, though Draco noticed that she couldn't keep the smile off her face. Draco held his head high and smirked at the Professor, hoping they wouldn't get in trouble. Not that they had broken any school rules by kissing.

"Professor." Draco returned the name stating, causing Snape to smirk very slightly. "We were just on our way to lunch."

Snape nodded in a way that made it clear he didn't believe a word. "Miss Granger, I've corrected these notes." He handed her a few pieces of parchment. "Considering you know all that information, I don't see you having any problems with the written exam."

"Thank you Professor Snape." She took the parchment from him and glanced at his corrections. She then shot a glance at Draco. "We'd better get to lunch."

"Sure." Draco looked at Snape once before turning away with Hermione and walking away down the corridor. They split up before they reached the Great Hall, deciding that Draco would enter the hall first and Hermione would follow him after a few minutes to avoid suspicion.

As Hermione waited alone outside the Hall, she thought about Lavender knowing about their secret. Hermione concluded that she wouldn't be a problem. Draco and Hermione were going to let the school know about their relationship in a week and a half anyway, hoping Voldemort will hear about it, and call it a betrayal on Draco's behalf. Hopefully, Voldemort will then have his Death Eaters capture Draco and take him to his 'secret hall' which Draco had heard about.

Hermione sighed, hoping that everything went the way they planned, then straightened her robe and entered the Great Hall.

***

After the final classes of the day, the seventh year Gryffindor students began planning a party to celebrate the fact that they will never have to attend another class again. When Hermione pointed out that they still had their NEWT's to complete, Ron just sighed.

"Hermione, Hermione." He tutted. "What will we do with you? You have to understand that if we celebrate the end of classes now, we can have another party to celebrate the end of our NEWT's in two weeks. It's more fun this way."

"Oh." She said, and smiled at him. "So where is this party going to be?"

"We were thinking the common room." Ron said, frowning at her. "Where else?"

"Well, if it's in the common room, then students from younger years will be…disrupted by it. They still have work to complete." Hermione replied.

"I see." Ron said with a sly smile. "You think it would be better if we didn't have to maintain our position of 'setting an example.' You're very sneaky Hermione. But I suppose you're right. It would be fun to have a party for us older students."

"Yes, I think we should keep it strictly to those who have reason to celebrate. Perhaps we should find somewhere else, maybe somewhere with a bit of a risk too, to make it more fun."

Ron thought for a few moments. "Hey, how about outside the castle? No professors would find us there."

Hermione nodded. "Good idea. We can have it by the lake; the noise shouldn't carry to the castle from down there."

"Yeah!" Ron said, turning around to Harry who was with Ginny on the other side of the common room. "Oi Harry! Cancel tonight in here! It's not happening. Our Hermione had a better idea!"

There were a number of outraged yells from students all around the room. The seventh years were upset because they wanted to celebrate never being in Snape's class again, and the younger students because they wanted an excuse for a party. Harry stood up looking a bit irritated. "What do you mean?" he shouted back.

"If we have it in here, we'll disrupt these hard working, studious pupils." Ron pointed at the younger students, who didn't appreciate the consideration at all. They all wanted to eat stolen junk food from the kitchen and drink butterbeer. "So we'll cancel tonight, and have it somewhere else."

"Where?" Dean shouted out, and everyone turned to look at Ron and Hermione.

But Ron raised a finger to his lips indicating it was secret. "That information is for seventh years only."

"That's not fair!" A fourth year guy called out, looking annoyed. "You can't do that."

"And why not?" Ron asked him curiously. "You haven't finished school yet, so there's no reason for you to celebrate. Sorry."

The fourth year glared at Ron, then turned his shoulder on him coldly. Ron didn't seem to notice however, as Harry and Ginny were making their way over, along with the majority of Gryffindor seventh years. "So Ron, can you tell us where and when this party is going to happen now?" Harry demanded, though he was smiling.

"Certainly." Ron replied. "Hermione came up with the bright idea that we hold it outside the castle, so we have less chance of getting caught by a professor, or Filch."

A few of them murmured to each other, obviously stating that the fact that getting out of the castle holds just as much risk of getting caught as hosting a party inside. But no one spoke up.

Ron continued. "We think it would be fun to have it down by the lake. It would be great seclusion, and we wouldn't have to worry about keeping the noise down. But I don't think we could manage to do it tonight. We should probably organize it, so we have everything we want. What do you think?"

Harry smiled at Hermione. "Yeah, sounds good. You said seventh years only?"

"Yep." Ron said firmly, then he looked at Ginny. "Except for Gin, of course."

"Why Ginny?" Lavender asked, glancing at Ginny in hostility.

"Because she has connections." Harry answered, looking at Lavender. "A brother and a boyfriend give her special advantages." He turned back to Ron. "So if not tonight, when?"

"Dunno." He admitted. "We'll think about it. Tomorrow night is also too soon, so perhaps Sunday?"

"Why is tomorrow too soon?" Parvarti asked curiously.

"Surely we might want some things from Hogsmeade." Hermione put in. "We mightn't be able to get there tomorrow, so to be safe, we'll say Sunday."

"What about seventh years from other Houses?" Seamus asked. Hermione smiled at him, fully aware that he had recently been taking interest in a seventh year Ravenclaw girl. "Can they come too?"

Ron exchanged a look with Harry, and they both shrugged. "I don't see why not. I doubt any one that'd cause us trouble would want to come anyway, so we may as well invite the other houses."

Seamus smiled. "Cool, thanks."

Hermione looked at Lavender, who blushed slightly when she met Hermione's gaze, and shifted uncomfortably. She had obviously thought about the possibility of Draco being there, then recalled how protective Hermione had been over him.

Harry smiled and looked around at the small group of Gryffindor's. "Alright then. Tell anyone from other houses, seventh years only, who you might want to be there, that the invitation is open. Sunday night, after nine, down by the lake, and bring some food and drinks. Maybe some music…?" he looked at the girls, who would be the ones wanting to dance.

"Yes." Ginny told him sternly. "It would be crap without music. It would also give you and Ron the opportunity to supply us with music and embarrass yourselves in front of everyone. So yes, bring music."

Ron and Harry grinned at each other. "You might be unable to stop us, even if you do have music. We don't get embarrassed, but you…who have a relationship of some sort with both of us, might feel the humiliation."

Ginny's eyes narrowed at Ron and said, "Don't you dare." Hermione smiled when noticed that Ginny didn't glare at Harry, although he was just as likely to embarrass her as her older brother. Hermione was glad that she wasn't in that situation, although she thought it would have been nice to have a boyfriend that could embarrass you, not have to ignore you.

***

While Ron and Harry made trips into Hogsmeade with Harry's cloak to get 'supplies,' the other students made sure everyone they wanted to have come, was invited.

Hermione was in two minds about Draco. She couldn't really invite him, because that would give people the wrong impression. She couldn't pretend that Lavender had invited him, because Lavender had suddenly made it known to everyone that she was not interested in him at all. She hadn't specified why; she just said she didn't like him anymore.

As Hermione walked out of the Great Hall after lunch on Sunday, she was struck by an idea. Turning to glance at the Slytherin table, she saw Pansy sitting next to Crabbe, finishing off her lunch. Draco was no where in sight.

Hermione walked over to Pansy and smiled at her when she looked at Hermione in confusion. "Hi Pansy."

"Uh, hello." Pansy smiled back. Hermione noticed Crabbe looking at her strangely, but went back to his food as he obviously found it more interesting. "Sit down?" Pansy offered.

Hermione sat down next to Pansy and glanced at her hands. "Have you heard about the party we're having tonight?"

Pansy nodded. "Yep. But I didn't expect to be invited. Not many Slytherin's have been."

"Well you're welcome to come, if you want." Hermione offered.

Pansy glanced at Hermione with a strange smile. "I see."

Hermione frowned at this response, not sure if it was a yes or not. "It's down by the lake, seventh years only, bring your own food and drink, but I'm sure by this stage there are enough people coming that there'll be plenty to share already."

Pansy took the last bite of her sandwich, and turned to Hermione. "Do you want to go for a walk?" she then glanced at Crabbe sitting next to her, then back at Hermione, obviously indicating the need of privacy for what she was going to say next.

"Sure." They stood up and left the hall, then made their way out of the castle and onto the schools grounds.

Pansy sighed and looked at Hermione. "I can only assume that you're inviting me, so I will bring Draco with me, because asking him directly will seem suspicious?"

Hermione looked at Pansy in mild shock. "You know…?"

"I guessed and Draco confirmed. I haven't told anyone, and I don't intend to." Pansy told Hermione reassuringly. "So you're secret is safe with me."

"Thank you." Hermione stated gratefully. "And yes. I hate it to seem like I'm using you, but I had hoped you would bring Draco with you. But if you don't want to come of course…"

"What?" Pansy said in mock shock. "Not want to come to a Gryffindor party?" She smiled. "Of course I'll come. I wouldn't do that to you and Draco. And I want to celebrate the end of classes too. Why not do it with everyone I've taken classes with over the years?"

Hermione smiled, and realized that she was beginning to consider Pansy as a friend. "Oh, and you can bring Crabbe and Goyle too if you want."

Pansy laughed. "I'll bet it pained you to say that. But thanks; I'll ask them. They might not feel comfortable. Not that I'm going to feel comfortable or anything, but you know what I mean."

"Thanks for doing this Pansy. I know it's just a stupid party and everything, but it'll be nice to have Draco there." Hermione said, as they neared the end of their brief walk around the grounds.

"Not a problem." Pansy relied. "I'll see you there around…wait, what time does it start?"

"After nine." Hermione said. "Since we don't have classes this week, but 'study time,' we thought if it goes late it doesn't really matter, because we can all sleep in tomorrow."

"Good thinking." Pansy said, then she smiled at Hermione as they entered the castle again and went their separate ways.

***

"Hermione, carry this for me, will you?" Ron struggled to lift up a crate of butterbeer, with his arms already full of food of various sorts. Hermione laughed at him, and reached forward to take a pile of cakes and chips from him before he dropped them. "Thanks. Would you mind taking them down with you?"

"Not at all." She said, frowning at Ron when he turned his back. He had already asked her to carry down the crate of firewhisky, three platters of various dips, five bags of mixed lollies and chicken sandwiches. Each time she was handed something new, she would take it up to her dorm and use her amulet to get to the lake front and put it down, where a few Gryffindor's were starting to set up.

Ron was obviously so excited about the party that he didn't realize how impossible it was for Hermione to walk so many trips down to the lake, in the time that she did. Hermione shook her head as she carried up the cakes and ships to her empty dorm and, once arranging everything so she was able to touch her amulet at the same time as holding the load, transported herself to the lake front.

It was quite dark, and she made sure she appeared a few hundred meters away from where the party was being set up. Hermione walked over to a table and placed it down on it, smiling at Dean and Seamus as they arrived with a massive load of Filibusters Fireworks.

"Think you've got enough?" She asked jokingly, as they began setting them up. They smiled at her, the kind of smile that made it obvious that they could never have enough.

Not long after, they had tables full of food and drinks, a few bonfires crackling and Ginny was organizing some music. Students from other houses began to arrive, and Hermione found herself continuously looking around for any sign of Draco or Pansy. Okay, just Draco. But Pansy would link her to Draco.

Music started playing and Hermione found herself swept up by Ron to dance with a large group of people ready to have a good time. She laughed at Ron's ridiculous attempts to do the robot dance; a dance he had always loved since seeing a man doing it for money on the sidewalk in London. Hermione had to tell him to do it with his head moving at odd angles, and to make sure he kept his fingers together, because it didn't have the same effect if they were splayed out.

At one point, Ron lifted her up on to his shoulders when he saw her looking the other way, (searching for Draco in the crowd) which caused her to squeal in surprise. Ron danced for a few minutes with Hermione sitting precariously on his shoulders, and he was fully aware that she was using this opportunity to search for Draco among the students. When he felt her straighten slightly, he bent over so she could get off, knowing that she had spotted him.

"I'm just going to get a drink." He told her, and left her standing alone.

Hermione looked after him with a smile on her face, before turning and walking to where she had seen Pansy and Draco from her lookout on Ron's shoulders. She reached them and received a smile from both of them, however Draco's appeared guarded.

"Hello Hermione." Pansy greeted her, then she looked around at everyone. "Looks like most seventh years have come tonight."

"Yeah, seems like it." Hermione replied. "Have Crabbe and Goyle come?"

"No." Draco answered. "They're still not very social with people from other Houses, although the idea of all this food had them in two minds for quite a while."

Hermione smiled at him and Pansy rolled her eyes. "They're so stupid, those two."

"That's why you get on with them so well." Draco told her with a smirk. Pansy whacked him on the arm, and looked around.

"I don't really know many people here." She stated. "Most of the Slytherin's stayed back at the castle. I think we're still the House on the outside."

"Hopefully things will change soon." Hermione said softly.

Pansy raised her eyebrows, looked between Hermione and Draco and replied, "I see they've already started to."

Hermione and Draco exchanged a glance and smiled, but remained silent. Suddenly Hermione felt someone place their hands on her shoulders and whisper in her ear. "I will steal you now, my pretty little witch."

Hermione laughed and waited as Ron appeared next to her with a crooked smile on his face. He nodded at Draco and glanced at Pansy curiously. He knew why Draco was at the party, but why Pansy came, he couldn't figure out. Glancing at Hermione, Ron extended his hand towards Pansy with a small grin. "Thanks for coming."

Pansy frowned slightly, but shook his hand. "Uh, you're welcome. You've got a good turn out."

"That's because every one knows we Gryffindor's know how to have fun." He told her, tapping his nose with his index finger knowingly.

She smiled at him, and unconsciously ran a hand through her dark hair. "I see. Well, I expect to have fun then. I hope I won't be let down, or else I'll have to report you for false advertising."

"Oh, there won't be any of that." Ron told her, as a new song started up. He glanced over his shoulder at where people were dancing on the shore. He turned back to Pansy hesitantly, not exactly sure what type of person she really was. "Do you dance?"

She looked taken aback, but after being shoved slightly in the ribs by Draco she smiled. "By asking 'do I dance?' do you mean 'can I dance?' or 'do I like to dance?'"

Ron grinned. "I think, do you like to dance might be the appropriate question here."

"You'd be right." Pansy agreed. "I like dancing, but I don't look at all attractive when I do. Similar to someone with the jelly legs curse, I've been told. Not that I'm concerned about what I look like in the present company."

Ron frowned slightly at her jest at Gryffindor's, then nodded towards the dancing students. "Do you want to then? Even though you mightn't look as attractive as you would wish."

She shrugged. "Sure."

They walked off, each giving their friend a smile. Draco and Hermione looked at each other with raised eyebrows. "That's a bit interesting." Hermione commented.

"Tell me about it." Draco replied. "Pansy hasn't spoken that civilly to a Gryffindor – excluding you, of course – since…never."

"They're giving us a bit of time together, I think." Hermione said quietly, now watching Ron as he danced a bit self-consciously with Pansy. It didn't take too long before Harry and Ginny went over, and a few other Slytherin's, so they were all dancing in a group, instead of pairs.

"I have a surprise for you." Draco said, leading her back into the shadows as inconspicuously as he could. "But not really."

Hermione frowned at him. "What does that mean? Should I be nervous?"

He laughed slightly. "Probably."

"Great." Hermione said dryly, looking over her shoulder into the darkness. At this part of the lake, the forbidden forest grew close to the shore. Draco began leading Hermione away from the party and towards the forest. "Can't we avoid the cabin, just for one night?" she asked him in a pained voice.

"Most certainly." He said. "But we can't avoid -"

"Credere?" Hermione interrupted, staring into the shadows as another Hermione walked out to greet them. "What are you doing here? You might be seen."

"I know." She said. "That's what Draco said he wanted."

Hermione turned to Draco with pursed lips and crossed arms. "Explain. Now."

Draco raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "This afternoon, once I heard about the party tonight, I went and visited Credere and told her to meet us here. I think this is a good opportunity for her to mix with other humans. She does need to pass as you, Hermione. So why not try tonight?"

"Because it's dangerous!" Hermione responded quickly.

"But don't you think it'd more dangerous to take Credere to see Voldemort, posed as you, without having any practice dealing with other humans?" Draco asked.

Hermione sighed. "Fine." Though he could tell she wasn't too happy with the idea. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Just wait here." Draco told her. "It won't be for too long. Only for half an hour or so."

"Half an hour?" Hermione said in annoyance. "How boring to sit for half an hour when everyone's just over there."

"I am you." Credere stated. "Become me. Run for a while."

Hermione nodded, shot Draco a look he didn't want to know the meaning of, and walked off into the forest. Draco looked at Credere and began heading off towards the party again. Credere followed after him. Draco talked to her over his shoulder.

"We're not supposed to be seen together too much, so I'll point out who your friends are, and you try just act like you think Hermione does. I'll keep an eye on you, and if you seem like you're in a bit of trouble, I'll get you out. Do you think you'll cope?"

"Yes." Credere said firmly. As they got closer, Draco pointed out Harry, Ron, Ginny and even Pansy. "Harry knows the most about us, so if you bugger up around him, he'll cover up for you, or pretend not to notice. Avoid the girl with long brown hair who is looking our way now. She's Lavender, and not a very good one to try talking to. At least not for you."

"I see." Credere said. "I will go talk to Harry and Jimmy now."

"That's Ginny, not Jimmy." Draco pointed out, before walking off to join Pansy at the drink table.

"Yes." Credere said absently, making her way over to Harry. "Hello Harry."

"Oh, hi Hermione." Harry said. "Having a good time?"

"Yes, a very good time." She replied politely. "Are you?"

"Sure am." He grinned, draping an arm across Ginny's shoulders. "Lots of people tonight. It was a great idea of yours to have this party down here, and to invite people from other Houses."

Credere had no idea what houses Harry was talking about. She thought everyone came from the same big building on the top of the hill, but she just smiled and said, "I know."

"Have you danced at all, Hermione?" Ginny asked. "I have, although Harry doesn't seem to be joining me much." She poked Harry in the ribs.

"Not too much, no. But I will soon." Credere answered, thinking it sounded convincing considering she had no idea if Hermione had danced at all. "I was just talking with Draco."

Harry and Ginny shared a look, then Harry looked at Credere oddly. "I assume it was hard to remain civil with him." he offered.

Credere then remembered about Draco and Hermione 'not being friends.' "Yes, very difficult. But we managed. I would like a drink of water."

"Water?" Ginny asked, looking a bit confused. "We have plenty of butterbeer. Why don't you have some of that?"

"I feel like water right now. Maybe I'll have some betterbur later." Credere said. Harry nodded with a raised eyebrow, but went and got her a drink of water. He handed it to her, and she thanked him.

"Ooh! I love this song!" Ginny said in delight as new noise started. Credere smiled and nodded without comprehending. "Come and dance Hermione." Ginny took hold of Credere's sleeve and pulled her to where everyone was dancing. Watching the people around her for a few moments, Credere tried to copy their movements, but felt like she was going to fall over. Hoping that her lack of balance wasn't obvious, Credere continued to move her limbs around in hope to regain her balance by chance.

No such luck. Credere lost her footing, and stumbled over and started to fall backwards. She was suddenly caught and set back on her feet before she hit the ground. "Merlin, Hermione. Have you had too much to drink already?" Ron asked her, coming around to stand next to her. Ginny looked amused and Credere said, "I tripped over my feet."

"I don't hear people admitting that very often." A dry voice said from Credere's other side. She turned to see a dark haired girl looking at Hermione strangely. This was Pansy who Draco had talked about before.

"You don't?" Credere asked, hoping she hadn't said anything wrong.

"Not really." Pansy said in a dismissive tone.

After that, Credere got better at dancing and started to enjoy herself, when she heard Pansy ask, "Where's Draco gotten to?"

"Behind you." This soft comment caused Pansy to jump and twirl around to see Draco standing only a few feet away. He chuckled, "You scare too easily."

"Only when your ugly face is around." She shot back. Ron smiled at this, but turned his face away when Draco looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Hermione, I'm getting a drink." Draco said, aware of the strange looks he received from the others, but knew they were all aware of his and Hermione's relationship anyway. "Do you want to come?"

"Not really." Credere said. She wanted to keep dancing, but when Draco's eyes narrowed, she added, "Just joking. Yes, I am thirsty too."

Draco shook his head slightly as he walked off with Credere trailing after him. They stopped to get a drink for a few minutes, then continued walking out of the party area and towards the forest. When they reached the trees, Hermione stepped out to face them.

"How did you go?" she asked Credere.

"She went ok," Draco said before Credere could talk. "But she fell over a few times while dancing. You may have to act like you're a little drunk to fit back in."

"I'll do nothing of the sort." Hermione responded. "I'll just tell them I tripped over my feet."

"That's what I said." Credere told her helpfully.

"Oh." Hermione frowned. "I see."

"I had fun." Credere said, causing Hermione to smile at her.

"I'm glad. It was good practice for you." Hermione said. "We'll meet you in the cabin in two nights. We might be tired tomorrow night, I think."

"Okay. See you both then." Credere agreed, then walked into forest.

Hermione looked at Draco. "Was it bad?" she asked as they walked back slowly.

"Not as bad as I had expected." He replied. "She fit in reasonably well. Though Harry probably has some suspicions that something was up. But you'll be back to normal now, so they'll probably forget about it anyway."

"Right." Hermione said as they neared the party area again. The bonfires were large and crackling on a spell of some sort, students remained dancing and there was a bit too much drinking going on for the noise level to stay low. Just outside the main light of the fires, Draco and Hermione passed a couple engrossed in each other on the sand. Draco raised an eyebrow at Hermione, who tried to cover a smile. Whoever these two were, they had thought they had found a relatively private spot for their snogging session.

Obviously unable to resist knowing who they were, Draco 'accidentally' stumbled over them as he passed. Hermione covered her mouth to hide her smile when she recognized Seamus's head rise up from the Ravenclaw girl he had been kissing.

"Oh, sorry mate." Draco said as sincerely as he could manage. "Back to it, then."

Hermione giggled and they walked quickly over to the largest bonfire, after stopping to get a drink for Hermione. As Hermione turned away to sit with Ron, she felt Draco grab her hand and give it a squeeze. She glanced at him and he winked back with his mouth quirking at the corners. He let go of her hand and he walked off to join a group of Slytherin's, and Hermione sat next to Ron, who had been talking with Pansy.

"Hey Hermione." Ron said, looking at her with a strange smile. Pansy looked as if she had just been laughing when she peered around Ron to look at Hermione.

"Hi, you two." She greeted them, suddenly feeling as if she had interrupted something. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"Intrude?" Pansy asked, frowning at her. "Don't be stupid."

A conversation started up between the three of them, but as time passed, Hermione contributed less and less. Soon, Ron began unconsciously shifting so he was facing Pansy, until his back was to Hermione. She knew he hadn't done this on purpose, and since she didn't feel like talking, she didn't say anything about his lack of manners.

Hermione found herself sipping at her third bottle of butterbeer, while gazing across the bonfire at Draco. He was lounging back on the sand chatting with a few guys from Slytherin and a girl Hermione could have sworn was in Hufflepuff.

She watched as Draco got up and danced with the blonde Hufflepuff girl, though the girl seemed to be making sure she kept her distance. As Draco danced, Hermione couldn't help smiling. She hadn't really seen him dance before, and he was obviously only doing so now due to one too many firewhiskey's.

He only danced for one song, but the girl wanted to keep dancing, so she stayed with one of her friends. Draco walked around the bonfire passed Hermione on his way back to the guys. She had continued watching him, so when he glanced at her he met her dark eyes glinting in the dim light.

Draco smirked at her and gave her a slight nod of his head. She smiled back and wished that she could go sit with him. He sat back down and continued talking with the guys, but now he sent her glances every so often.

Hermione sighed and turned her attention to Harry and Ginny, who were still dancing. It seemed that Ginny wouldn't allow Harry to sit down while she was still dancing. They didn't hold Hermione's attention for very long though, and she soon stood up and stumped over to the lollie table for something to do. She had reached such a state of boredom, that she didn't pay attention to the pair of grey eyes that followed her across the sand.

She fiddled inside a bag of mixed lollies hoping to find something that was plain chocolate. At last she felt something square and semi-squishy, and pulled it out. A large piece of chocolate sat in her hand and she held it up in the dim lighting to examine it, making sure there wasn't any thing gross on it from when other people had stuck their hands in the bag. Deciding it appeared safe, she raised it to her mouth, but stopped when someone wrapped an arm about her waist.

"Whatcha eatin?" Draco breathed in her ear.

"Chocolate." She replied, looking over her shoulder at him. "And I think it's the last piece."

"Well in that case…" Draco snatched the chocolate out of her hand and stuffed it into his mouth before she could stop him.

"Draco!" she whined, picking up the bag and tipping it upside down on the table. "That's not fair." She began sifting through all the sweets, but never came across any more chocolate. "It was a big chunk too."

"Well," Draco said with his mouth full of chocolate. "You can try getting some back." He opened his mouth, stuck out his tongue, which was covered in chocolate, and wiggled it at her. Hermione cringed and turned her head away.

"Don't do that. You're gross." She complained, and he closed his mouth again. Draco rested his head on her shoulder and sighed. His fingers drummed on her stomach in time with the music, and she leaned back against him.

"You're not bored are you, Granger?" he asked her, as she sighed dramatically.

"You could say that." She replied.

Draco leaned his head down and kissed Hermione on the neck, causing her to look around them worriedly. "Hermione," Draco scolded. "No one's looking at us. Besides, every one has had too much to drink to notice anyway. We could get away with anything tonight."

Hermione twisted around so she was facing him. "Which is exactly what you are hoping for, isn't it?"

Draco didn't reply to Hermione's question, just smiled slyly at her. He looked her up and down meaningfully, noting for the first time that night what she was wearing. It was strange how Hermione's modest manner, made it unnoticeable that she was wearing semi-revealing clothes. Only now that he looked, did Draco see how her knee length black dress clung to her figure, and how low her square neckline dipped. Hermione's hair fell down her back, but also fell across her right shoulder, where the strap of her dress was starting to slip off.

Draco reached across and pulled the strap back on properly, then traced his fingers up her neck softly. He leaned in, and whispered quietly in her ear, "Come with me."

Hermione looked into his gray eyes as he pulled away, and recognized the desire in them. She had seen it many times before. Draco knew that once he looked at her like that, he would get what he wanted. A shiver ran up her spine as Draco took her hands in his, and began to lead her away from the party.

Hermione knew that if she wanted to stop him, she would have to do it fairly soon. Hermione glanced over her shoulder, but no one from the party was watching them. She turned back and realized that Draco was leading her towards the forbidden forest, a reliable spot for seclusion.

"Draco…" she tried, knowing it wouldn't sway him in the slightest. Instead of pausing to see what she wanted, Draco just glanced over his shoulder at her and winked. They reached the forest and Draco entered without a moment's hesitation. He continued leading Hermione until they couldn't see the edge of the forest.

Hermione stopped when Draco turned around to face her. "Hermione," he spoke to her softly. "If you say no now, I'll take you back. But if you leave it any later, I won't be able to stop."

"I understand." Hermione replied with a smile.

"Meaning…?" he asked her, taking a step forward and kissing her seductively on the neck, hoping to influence her answer.

"Meaning, I would like you to take me back." Hermione felt Draco's lips freeze on her neck, and he seemed to slump. She smiled at this, and added, "Afterwards."

***