Chapter 14: The Party

It rained all day, hard showers. Hermione and Ginny had spent the day trying to decide what they were going to wear. The boys on the other hand choose in about twenty minutes.

The party was in an hour when Ginny came into Hermione's room carrying her dress and make up.

"Are you nervous," Hermione asked?

"Not really. I just hope Harry likes my dress," Ginny said as she walked to hang up her dress. "Did she invite Malfoy?"

"Yes," Hermione said hoping Ginny would change the subject. "Let's start getting ready."

"You have to admit he is cute, Hermione."

"I don't have to admit to anything." She sat down at her lighted mirror and began to put on her makeup.

"Okay," Ginny said flopping down on Hermione's bed. "We don't have to talk about it."

"Good," Hermione pulled her hair half way back and began to curl it. Not that it needed any help, but she wanted soft curls not waves. "Um, you can use any of my makeup. I'm going to get dressed." Hermione got up and walked to her closet. A few moments later she came out in a strapless black dress. It was gathered at the top at with a black rose penned to the top right. It came mid calf, her shoes were black heels that fastened at her ankle.

"Wow!" Ginny stood now in her dress, which was a forest green halter. "You look stunning."

"Thanks," her cheeks blushed a bright red "you do too." Hermione fumbled with her hair for a few more minutes. 'You go ahead I still have a few more things to do."

"Okay," Ginny nodded her head and left.

Hermione went to her balcony and watched the sun turn the sky a deep crimson color. She stood watching the stars appear in the sky. She turned at the sound of the door opening.

"Um, I hate to fill you in but the party was to start a half hour ago. So, I think we're more then fashionably late." Scarlet walked in the room and flipped on the light. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and pieces fell around her face. She had on a black swoop neck shirt that fastened with a thin chain around her neck, like a halter. It came into a 'V' at the bottom. The end of the 'V' hit the top of her blue jean mini skirt.

Hermione came inside and shut the doors behind her. "How long exactly do I have to stay at this thing."

"Well, you can make an appearance, but if I looked like that," Scarlet smiled as she spoke. "I would make sure everyone saw me."

Hermione laughed. "Can you really walk in those things?" She watched Scarlet put on her other shoe. They were black six inch spikes that laced up to about the middle of her calf.

"Lots and lots of practice," Scarlet stood and walked to the door. Her shirt was backless except for two thin chains. She turned to look at Hermione "what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Let's go," but Hermione continued to stare at the tattoo's on Scarlet's back. She had a half moon, half sun on the small of her back. On her right shoulder was something written in a circle in Latin. On the inside of the circle was a fairy. All the way downstairs Hermione tried to figure out what the Latin words meant.

"Okay, listen if you decide to drink wine or anything, you can, just don't let Molly see."

Hermione stopped to look at her and see if she was serious. "What!?"

"Well, there's two wine fountains on is white and one is red, so if you want a glass or something go ahead just don't let Molly see. She bitches at me for drinking I'd hate to hear her is you would drink." Scarlet opened the door to go out back to the party. "Oh, there's a chocolate fountain also."

Hermione noticed all of the heads turn to look at Scarlet, but she didn't notice the ones who were looking at her. "It's like a dream," Hermione said as she walked under the white tent filled with at least a hundred people or more. She looked up to see star-shaped lights floating. "Wow!" Was all she could say. "Scarlet I'm going to go sit with Ginny and Harry."

"Okay, I'll be over there if you need anything." Scarlet turned to walk away but added "remember don't let Molly see."

Hermione just laughed.

Scarlet mad her way to her table where Narcissa sat by herself. "I see Lucius isn't here," she said hoping she was right.

"No, he's around here somewhere," Narcissa said trying to find him. "There he is."

'Of course,' Scarlet thought 'chasing skirts.' She rolled her eyes. "So, did Draco come with you?" She was changing the subject, mainly because she hated Lucius and there was nothing nice to say about him.

"Yes, but I've been thinking," Narcissa leaned close so no one could hear. "We should get him and Hermione - that's her name right?- together."

Scarlet nearly choked on her wine. "What!? Are you insane? They hate each other!"

"Well, Lucius and I hated each other at first."

"Narcissa, everyone but you hates Lucius."

They continued to chat. Draco however sat alone with his drink watching Hermione. 'God she's gorgeous. Why did I never see this before?' He watched as she slowly took her seat beside Weasley. Suddenly she jumped from her chair and stormed off toward the stables. 'Well, maybe I'll just go see what happened,' Draco thought as he got up and started after her.