Title: What You Don't Know, Can't Hurt
Summary: Blaise asks an owed favor and Draco complies. What Draco doesn't know is that Blaise's intentions for a certain girl will end up being the girl Draco wants for himself. Will conflicts arise? You betcha!
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Harry Potter and Co.
A/N: Sorry for a late update. Hope you guys like. What am I saying! My hand hurts you know, so you better like it!
Chapter 6: Second, Mingle Pt 1
The old oak-polished grandfather clock in the small corridor struck ten and the strike echoed its way over to the overly furnished drawing room. It made its way to the ears of a red-headed young man slouching over a couch. His hands rested on each cheek while his elbows were supported by the coffee table. His piercing blue eyes searched a way to out-smart his best-friend's Queen that had a direct access to his King. He bit his lower lip and looked up at his partner. It seemed that he had no way in winning this time but for the hell of it, he moved his pond right in front of his friends King.
"You're going to lose big time," His raven-haired friend replied to his move with a grin, "queen move two spaces down!" Obediently, his queen came right at the pond, dragged out her sword and sliced the pond in two. "Check-mate," he said with a huge grin.
"Harry, I seriously don't want to play chess anymore," The red-headed complained grumpily.
"And why is that, Ron?" His best-friend, Harry Potter, since boarding school days replied.
"I want to go out. Have fun or something, anything. As long as it's away from this manor," Ron Weasley stated as he placed his arms in front of his chest. Naturally, Ron did not mean what he was saying and Harry knew as well. The manor they apparently lived in was previously owned by the Black family. Number 12 Grimmauld Place was where Harry had settled in ever since he graduated from Hogwarts. It was also where he roomed with his two best-friends, Ron and Hermione. It was a grand manor and Harry took the duty as a friend to invite Fred and George, Ron's twin brothers, to also live with them. Even with all five, it seemed empty the majority of the time. They all had work and apprenticeships and had no time to really enjoy the beauty of the manor. But as much as Ron loved being here, enjoying the life of luxury, he wanted to go out.
"You just can't face it that you're losing," Harry said as he tried to ignore what Ron said last. To Ron, it was apparent Harry was avoiding going out. He forced Ron to stay indoors all day after work and won't stop playing this lousy game of Wizard Chess.
"I've beat you ten times in a row," Ron muttered.
Harry looked up at him and tilted his head to the side. "What is wrong with you? I thought you loved chess," Harry asked.
"Loved, past tense, with the rate you're going I'll hate chess by sunrise which brings to my attention that today is my birthday and I want to go out!" Ron said angrily.
"I thought I told you we are celebrating your birthday this weekend," Harry muttered.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean I don't want to go out for a few drinks at the pub," Ron retorted. Than something came to his attention as he widened his eyes. "Where's Hermione?" He asked.
Harry slightly stiffened and gave a low cough. "She's doing late shift at the Inn," he answered.
"Right," Ron said skeptically then lightened up like he came up with something brilliant, "which gives us more of a reason to go out and drink! Hermione won't be there to tell us off."
"Ron! If I didn't know you, I would consider you an alcoholic," Harry said in disbelief. "Can we continue this game that I'm going to win hands down?" As Harry looked down at the moving pieces, Ron mimicked Harry's statement and stuck out his tongue.
"I saw that," Harry warned.
Ron rolled his eyes and stood up angrily, "I'm out."
Harry jumped out of his armchair and followed Ron outside the drawing room, "come on! You can't leave just yet."
"Why is that?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Because…umm…we need to finish this game?" Harry said unsure. His green eyes darted at the grandfather clock and back at Ron who was giving him a annoyed look, "she better be finished," he muttered to himself and gave a large grin, "sure let's go out!" Harry exclaimed in a fake excited tone. Ron was about to question him when suddenly he was pulled into a swirl. Harry had just apparated and grabbed him along for the ride. They both had only on their evening attires so when they appeared in front of the Leaky Cauldron, the cold of the night was bringing shivers up and down their bodies.
"What the bloody hell are we here for?" Ron asked irritated.
"Don't you want to pick up Hermione so we can all get drunk wisely?" Harry asked in a mock like tone. Ron began to mutter awful things under his breath and began to walk through the door. He was disappointed that Harry was going to bring Hermione when they both knew she wouldn't allow them to get drunk and he didn't like the way Harry was acting; he was all cautious and suspicious.
His gaze on Harry wavered as pitch black consumed him. Ron knew he stepped into the Inn but wasn't sure he was exactly in the Inn anymore. "Umm, Harry?" Ron called out as he swirled around. But where Harry was supposed to be standing, behind him, was no longer there. Not only that, it seemed he was the only one in the dark.
"Harry!" Ron exclaimed in worry.
He began moving in circles, until something hard came into contact with the lower portion of his leg. Pain surged through his leg and through out his entire body. "OW! Fuck!" Ron cursed loudly.
He didn't know what he hit but the thought of being alone in pitch darkness suddenly frightened him. He grabbed his wand and just at the same moment he decided to ignite some light source, the entire main entrance to the Leaky Cauldron lit up. Before he knew what hit him, music blared and all sorts of light began to flash. He stared blankly at the many faces in the room, all in which he knew, smiling at him and screaming, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
One minute Ron stood awkwardly in the crowded room and the next he was pulled into embraces and kisses. By the time the last person which happened to be Lavender Brown made her way to give him a big hug, Hermione and Harry emerged from the crowd. They had huge grins on their faces and were laughing like idiots. Ron automatically knew who decided to throw this surprise party and he made his way over to them.
"I knew," Ron yelled over the loud music, "I knew all along."
"Sure you did birthday boy," Hermione replied as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
At the Zabini Mansion…
"So where are you going?" Draco asked as he watched Blaise searching for something to wear in the walk-in closet. He had been trying to get Blaise to fess up on what happened earlier that day when he went to visit 'that girl' and all Blaise did was smile and daze off into space. Draco was getting fed up and he wanted to know if things went as he coached. More so, Draco wanted to be told that he was a genius since he had a feeling the little meeting with Blaise and 'that girl' went according to plan.
Finally Blaise walked out of the closet with a forest green dress shirt and a pair of black casual slacks. He also combed out his nest-of-a-hair. In Draco's opinion he looked too proper which only made him far more curious, "do you have some sort of date with her?" Draco asked.
"No." Blaise simply replied as he went into the bathroom to spray on some cologne. Draco leaned against the frame of the bathroom door and rolled his eyes.
"So where are you going?" Draco persisted.
"Out," Blaise stated.
"And you're not going to invite me?" Draco said in a sad like tone.
"If you really must know, I'm going to a party," Blaise said in an irritated voice. He brushed past Draco and picked up his cloak that was nesting on his personal coat hanger.
"So can't I come crash the party?" Draco asked jokingly.
"No."
"Damn, you're one ungrateful asshole, you know that? Where's 'thank you Draco'?"
"Thank you Draco," Blaise replied and walked out of his large room with Draco at his tail.
"That's all?"
Blaise stopped in the small hallway and stared at Draco rudely, "I know you want to come but you can't. You aren't invited and it will just make you look stupid if you show up." Draco's eyes widened in a slight shock of disappointment and decided to remain silent. If Blaise wanted to prance around the outskirts of London with some 'girl' then he could do so.
"Besides," Blaise continued, "you aren't supposed to be seen in public."
Draco rolled his eyes and gave a fake smile, "go on and have the time of your life while I sit around in an empty mansion." He waved his hands in the direction of the spiral stairway and Blaise gave him a sympathetic look. If Blaise was feeling bad now, that was exactly how Draco wanted him to feel. But at the same time he didn't need Blaise's pity.
"See you later," Blaise mumbled and pulled his cloak on.
Draco watched silently as he disappeared down the stairway and then leaned against the wall. He thought about what he was going to do for the entire night because luckily, he had no practices. He wanted to have fun but at the same time he had no clue where to go.
At the Inn…
Not long after Ron was showered with presents, most of the people who came to the party went off to dance on the floor. The music DJ happened to be one of Ron's old friends, Dean Thomas. Dean, of course, seemed to know what he was doing as he switched between Magical records. They changed songs by the flick of the wand and into anything Dean felt was perfect for the mood. On the dance floor, it was a little insane with everyone bumping and grinding. Even though it was Ron's party he stayed off the dance floor. He remained on one of the stools at the small bar at the far corner of the room. Hermione seemed to be the bartender behind the counter. Ron knew why. She was obsessing over everyone over doing it so she took the responsibility to make sure they didn't.
And sadly, the one person they least suspected to be tipsy was way out of it. Harry slapped Ron on the shoulder and laughed uncontrollably. Ron slightly flinched at the pressure and rolled his eyes. Harry, after three bottles of Light Whiskey, was gone; so gone that he was laughing for no reason.
"Wait," Harry said after he calmed down slightly, "wait 'til the twins get here. Oh man, what they have planned." And then not a second later, Harry began to die of laughter.
Ron pitifully stared at his drunken friend and looked over at Hermione who was busy passing a few drinks to Seamus and two of his cousins from New Zealand. When she looked back at Ron, she got the hint that Harry was drunk.
"How many did he have?" Hermione said worriedly as she watched Harry almost falling off the stool. But Ron's quick reflex held him back in position.
"Three," Ron replied, "and one of them was mines." He added bitterly.
"Ron! Now what are we going to do?" Hermione fretted then leaned in to whisper, "he might make a fool of himself."
"Hey! I'm not the bartender, you know. Why didn't you look after him?"
"I have my hands full! I got like a hundred people up my arse." Hermione screeched angrily. Just then, Neville Longbottom stepped over to the gang.
"Guys, you won't believe what Lee is doing!" Neville said excitedly then looked over at Hermione. "Pass me a drink, please?"
Hermione went to the mini fridge and pulled out forty-percent liquor and passed it off to Neville as she asked, "What is Lee doing?"
"Created a pool on the roof," Neville said as he took a sip of his drink. Now Neville wasn't one to party crazy but when given the right alcohol and music, he could sometimes be out of it. He had long gone passed his shy clumsiness but still had that nervous look and fidgeting, if one took the time to notice.
"Are you bloody serious?" Ron asked as his eyes lit up. Evidently, a few ideas cropped up in his mind and he didn't mind sharing a pool with a few girls. And as though Hermione understood what was running through his mind like some physic, she slapped him on the arm.
"Ron!" Hermione yelled in a mother-like tone. She looked right at Neville and asked, "What is Lee trying to do? Get everyone sick? It's like negative ten degrees outside."
Neville shook his head at her silliness and walked off without so much as a response. She noticed he was limping from side to side as he made his way up the narrow staircase that leads to the rooms upstairs. Hermione's eyes widened as she took a glance back at Ron. "He's drunk too! How did this happen?"
"Hermione," Ron called out.
Her hand came to her forehead with worry, "Tom allowed me to handle this party as long as everyone remained within the main floor and not get drunk!"
"Hermione?" Ron said loudly.
"I should have made the invitations to a bare minimal. I should have told Fred no drinking was allowed. I should have told Charlie to stay. I should have-"
"HERMIONE!" This time Ron took the liberty to grab her shoulders over the counter with a hard shake. That quickly got her attention and he gave a half grin.
"I truly appreciate what you and that retard over there," his head pointed to the direction at Harry who was now dancing with Susan Bones on the floor, "did for me but you got to relax. This is my birthday party and I want you to chill and have some fun. Stop acting like my bloody mom, okay?"
"But-"
"No buts. I want you to get out of that dirty apron and enjoy yourself. Get drunk, go do something foolish. Who cares? This is a one time thing, right?"
"I know but Ron-"
Before she had the chance to even remotely finish her sentence he placed a kiss on her forehead and sighed. "I said no buts." Then he released her and walked off to go see what Neville was talking about earlier. Ron knew that his little speech wouldn't change Hermione's attitude towards the whole party. Seeing her drunk and wild wouldn't be probable. But at the same time Ron was thankful because at the end of the night, she would be the one to fix everything up. To have at least one sensible person here tonight was going to come in hand.
Hermione, on the other hand, watched as Ron disappeared in the crowd. She took off her apron aggressively and threw it on the counter. Then she placed her hands on her cheeks and stared off at the people enjoying themselves. Mostly at Harry who was dancing with one girl after the next. It was so odd to see her best-friend doing the things he was doing. It must be all the drinks he consumed, she assumed. Harry would never do that if he was levelheaded.
While watching him, the music was starting to get to her. She bobbed her head side to side as she slowly tried to hum to the song.
Sadly, that didn't last long as someone tapped on her shoulder. She quickly snapped her head at the direction to find Blaise standing there. Hermione suddenly remembered that she had invited him that same day. Looking at him now, with his handsome features she was glad she did.
"Hello Hermione," Blaise said sweetly.
"Hey, did you just get here?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, did I miss anything?" He said as he stared off at the people dancing like idiots on the dance floor.
"No, nothing," She sighed. Blaise gave her a look over which in her opinion slightly embarrassed her. She still had her work clothes on and sort of looked like a mess. Of course it didn't bother her that her other friends see her like this but to have some one like Blaise watch her made her feel dirty. She should have gone home to get cleaned up.
"Why the long face?" Blaise asked. Hermione really didn't know this guy well enough unless she counted the times she seen him around school but even that couldn't reside the shock of finding out a Slytherin could be this nice. And she, being the friendly person she was, always gave the benefit of the doubt.
"I'm not sad. Just a little stressed out," Hermione replied.
"I see," Blaise nodded and thought for a second, "This is a party."
Hermione arched her eyebrow at him at what he said, "Excuse me?"
"This is a party. You should release your stress and have a good time," he said.
"I am having a good time. This is me, having a good time," Hermione said sarcastically as she addressed to herself. She knew she wasn't having a good time at all.
Blaise looked at her skeptically and shook his head, "do you drink?"
"NO! Are you saying I'm off or something?"
"Not at all, I'm suggesting you drink because girl, you sure need it."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Hermione asked slightly offended.
"Drinking equals stress relief in my books." Blaise said with a smirk
"I've read almost every book there is. What book states that?" Hermione asked jokingly. Blaise's smirk turned into a smile which instantly changed to chuckle.
He remained quiet for a minute as he tapped to the beat of the music on the counter. He then slowly looked up at Hermione, who was studying him. "You know what?" Blaise said and didn't wait for Hermione's response, "pass us some drinks."
Hermione, the smart, collective, calm and in control person that she was, thought about it for a second. She gazed around the large room, at the people dancing, at the people in certain couches and tables making out and having a grand old time, at Harry who was now dancing with a Ravenclaw girl Hermione forgot the name of and at Blaise who had that certain mischievous twinkle in his eyes. If she wild out, it was only going to be for one night and one night only. She was sick of being the one who had to handle every situation. Why not make Harry and Ron handle it this time?
"Who cares? This is a one time thing, right?"
She remembered what Ron said to her earlier and she smiled at herself. With that crazy thought in mind, Hermione went to the cooler and took out two 2-litre whiskeys. Blaise arched his eyebrow at her, probably in surprise, and opened the cap. Hermione did the same and raised her whiskey up, "to my new crazy antic."
"Cheers," Blaise lightly tapped her drink with his and took down a few gulps in a matter of seconds. Hermione, in contrast, couldn't stand the nasty taste going down her throat but for the hell of it drank it like it was the sweetest thing she ever tasted.
A/N: Oh boy, oh boy…Hermione's drinking. Harry's drunk and Ron disappeared. Ahaha, what the hell? (I ask myself that sometimes) But anywho this is the first part to a crazy night. Let's just say what's happening now is just the tip of the ice-burg.