The Party
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Note: I just like to say, I appreciate all the two of you for taking the time to review. This chapter took quite a bit of time to write. It features the song, Lucky in Love that kind of gets the insight of what the characters are thinking. I assure you that this is a H/HR story. Cheers!
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Hermione made her way upstairs to Cho's bedroom. She stopped at the doorway to find Cho, in her bathrobe, sitting at her vanity table staring admiringly at her reflection.
"You wonderful creature!" Cho coaxed into the mirror, "Why does everyone love you?" She clasped her hands together and sighed, "Why are you so divine…so clever….so popular?"
"Ahem," coughed Hermione.
Cho, alerted, briskly turned around to find Hermione standing by the doorway with a smirk.
"I sure wish someone loved me the way you love you," she remarked casually.
Cho let out a light-hearted laugh as she got up. "Why, Hermione Granger. I was only fooling, n'est-ce pas?"
Hermione entered. "It sounded like true love to me," she replied, handing her the flashy dress robe that had caused such a stir just moments before, "Here's that burlap bag you wanted fixed."
Cho grabbed the piece of clothing and eagerly inspected it. "How sweet of you to bring it up. Merci, merci."
"Look, Cho," Hermione said in a stern voice as she closed the door behind her, "As long as you're going to be living in the house with us, there are a few things I ---"
"Why of course. Naturally," Cho interjected as she moved over by the bed.
Hermione followed, leaning her arm on the post of the bed, "That robe, for instance. For a little house party, it's rather extreme."
"Extreme? Really?" she replied innocently.
"And obvious." Hermione added.
"Obvious?" Cho was taken aback by her comment.
Before the conversation could continue, there was loud knock at the door. "It's Ginny. Can we come in?"
"Entrez, entrez," Cho answered, a little relieved.
"Sure," Hermione replied, giving up. She sat herself on the chair next to the bed.
Ginny entered, followed by Parvati. "I hate to interrupt this little tête-à-tête, but the boys will be here any minute!" Ginny told them.
Parvati took a seat on the bed, "You'll slay them in that outfit, Hermione," she said, complimenting the cute, but modest yellow dress she had on.
"Yes, and they're all pretty impressionable," Hermione said, looking at Cho.
Taking an interest, Cho sat herself beside Parvati.
"Have you met any of them yet?" asked Hermione.
"Not yet," Cho responded smugly, "But I hope to meet all the worthwhile ones."
Ginny wrapped her hands around the post of the bed and started swaying back and forth. "Well, let's see now, which ones are really, really worthwhile," she thought aloud, using that aristocratic tone of hers, "Well, there's Colin Creevey. He's a catch. His father's a muggle milkman."
"He's a little short though," Hermione added, "But the boy can dance."
"You know what Cho?" Parvati chimed in animatedly, "The boy for you is Harry Potter. We're all just crazy about him."
"Harry Potter?" Cho inquired, "Who's he?"
Hermione answered for her, "He's only the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
"He's terribly attractive," Parvati blushed.
"You know, girls," Cho began sharing her thoughts, "I think school contacts very important. It's tres necessaire to find someone of the right background…and sufficient wealth…"
The three girls looked at her amusingly.
"…of culture," she added with a smile.
Hermione and Ginny nodded, grinning to each other knowingly.
"Is 50 million galleons enough culture for you?" Ginny asked in a sing-song voice, "Draco Malfoy's got it."
The look on Cho's face never expressed as much interest until hearing the sound of those words from Ginny's mouth.
"Richest man at Hogwarts," she finished, peering over at Cho's greedy face.
"Malfoy?" Cho repeated as if committing it to memory.
"Oh, but he's such a drip," Hermione commented, trying so hard not to roll her eyes.
"For 50 million galleons, let him drip," Ginny responded, giving Hermione a playful shove on the shoulder. The two friends had just silently acknowledged the truth of Cho's character. Hermione kept her face down to contain herself from laughing.
But Cho failed to notice, "You mean to say he's not an attractive boy?"
"Attractive?" Ginny scoffed, "He's the twerpiest wet smack of all time."
The girls burst into a fit of giggles.
"Quel fromage," Cho exclaimed, throwing up her hands.
Hermione stopped laughing and rested her elbow on the bed, "What did you say?"
"I said, 'Quel fromage'," she repeated slowly, "It means 'what a pity' in French."
"Oh, you must mean dommage," Hermione corrected, "fromage means cheese. Quel fromage. 'What cheese.'" She grinned victoriously.
Cho flinched for half a second before looking straight into Hermione's eyes, "Oh of course, dommage," she spoke with the tiniest movement on her lips, "how silly of me."
Just then, Lavender appeared by the door. "Hey come on," she announced, "everyone's here!"
Ginny and Parvati quickly rushed out of the room to finish putting on their makeup. Hermione stood up and started to follow them when Cho called out after her, "You were saying about the dress robe?"
Hermione grabbed the doorknob before turning around. "Forget it Cho," she replied, eying her from top to bottom, "the robe suits you perfectly."
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Already a few hours had gone by after the first guests arrived. All the sixth and seventh years from every house were invited and now the party was in full swing. The living room was packed with students having a great time drinking butterbeer, dancing and catching up, while couples were cuddling and snogging out on the terrace.
Oliver Wood stayed by the corner, eating away and making sure all his team members leave at 10:00. Ginny however, was having a tough time getting close to Dean due to Ron's watchful eye. Dean had been sitting nervously across the room, working his way through his third sandwich while keeping a close eye on both Ron and Ginny.
So when Ron's back was turned for a minute to refill his drink, Ginny hastily gestured Dean to meet her out on the terrace. Just as the signal finally went through, Ron turned back to Ginny, who was still looking across the room.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Ron asked suspiciously. He turned to see what Ginny had been staring at, but Dean had already ducked out.
"Oh look at poor Hermione," she pointed over to her roommate who had been serving drinks and sandwiches for most of the evening. Ginny dragged her brother over to her.
"Hey Hermione," Ginny called out, "Ron's dying to help. Give him something to do."
"Oh fine," Hermione smiled as she handed him the tray of sandwiches she had been carrying. "Would you help me pass these?"
Before Ron could even answer, Hermione had already walked away, leaving him stuck with the platter of delicatessen.
Ginny darted out onto the terrace and spotted Dean leaning against the house. She went straight up to him, "Well, Dean, here I am," mustering up her most seductive voice. She grabbed his hands, "Now its time for that dance I promised you."
Dean backed away, quickly scanning around the area for any sign of her hot-tempered brother. "Ron will kill whoever comes near you!"
"Well, wouldn't it be worth it?" said Ginny unfazed.
"No!" he shrieked. Dean tried running away, but with the number of students on the patio, it was impossible. Ginny easily caught up to him.
"Dean," she held onto his shirt, "you and I are soul mates!"
"What?" Dean squealed.
"I won't take no for an answer. Tell me you love me!" Ginny held out her elbow to show Dean, "Look at that. Goose pimples. Think it's cold?" she looked deeply into his eyes, "it's you."
"Yeah well," Dean pointed to the backside of his hand, "look at that. Goose pimples. Think it's you? Nope. It's Ron!" he tried struggling out of Ginny's grasp, "Let me go!"
Ginny wrapped her arms around Dean's torso. Surprisingly, her touch eased him and he found himself holding on to her, tighter and tighter.
"There's nothing like a good education," Harry remarked teasingly as he passed the newly formed couple.
Upon entering the house, Harry was ambushed by a bunch of love struck 6th year girls.
"Girls, girls, don't rush me" he said, slowly backing away, "Now, where is this gorgeous creature I've been hearing about?"
The girls responded with a series of groans. "Oh, Chang isn't down yet," one of the girls replied glumly.
"Don't worry," he assured the girls, "I'll be back." Harry made his way over to the base of the staircase where most of the single male population at the party had ready gathered.
"What is this, the waiting room?" said Harry, making his presence known.
The boys moaned disappointedly at the sight of the Quidditch captain. "Great, we can all go back into our dorms," Ernie Macmillan declared.
"Thanks," Harry chuckled, "This is quite a turnout. If this show isn't any good, I want my money back." He slipped his way through his fellow schoolmates and climbed up three steps.
"Alright, before the show starts, I have a little announcement to make," Harry called out using his best carney impersonation, "You are about to witness one of nature's greatest marvels, Cho Chang, the female form divine." He slapped his knee, "Jungle potentates have fought for one smile from her cruel lips. All right, for only two knuts, you will see this little lady descend these stairs, placing one dainty foot before the other. All right watch--"
Harry turned to point the stairs, unaware that Cho had already made her way down and is now just two steps away from him. The boys, including Harry, couldn't help but gawk at her.
Harry feeling slightly embarrassed, fell silent and backed away to let her pass.
Parvati met her downstairs and started introducing her to everyone. "Some of the boys you already know, like Seamus and Neville, but here are a few more," she pointed to a few unfamiliar faces, "Ernie Macmillan, Colin Creevey, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott ---."
"And I'm Harry Potter," Harry interrupted the roll call as he pushed his way beside her.
Unimpressed, Cho looked at him in contempt, "That was a charming speech, Mr. Potter," she sneered, "You've obviously spent most of your life in a freak show."
All the boys snickered in response to that comment. Never have they seen the great Harry Potter be rejected by women. This is new, even to Harry himself.
He kept his cool. "I was only kidding, Miss Chang, you're really terrific," he told her using all his charm. He grabbed her arm to lead her away, "and I'll tell you more about you while we're dancing."
Cho moved her arm away as if Harry hadn't said a word. "Shall we go on, Parvati?"
"Oh yes," Parvati said as if oblivious to the whole incident, "And this," she pointed to a tall, pale blonde young man with a pointed face now standing beside her, "is Draco Malfoy."
Cho perked at the sound of his name, "Mr. Draco Malfoy," she smiled, offering her hand, "I've heard so much about you. I believe your mother may have met your mother in Wiltshire."
"That's very possible," Draco replied, with a snobbish air that rivals Cho's. "Would you care to dance?"
"Oh, I'd love to," Cho answered sweetly, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.
Meanwhile, Harry stood there baffled.
"Kind of cold in here, isn't it?" Seamus laughed, wrapping his cloak around him and pretended to shiver.
The rest of the boys joined in, "How does it feel to get the brush?" asked Roger.
"How do you like her Harry?" Ernie sniggered.
"Oh, she's not so hot," Harry said defensively, "Just trying to play hard to get."
Not giving up so easily, he walked off. A plan was forming in his head and he knew he needed help. Spotting Neville across the room, he sought off after him.
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It was now Cho's turn to start dishing out compliments. Hand in hand, she and Draco had made their way out on the terrace.
"You're the first touch of refinement I've found here," she continued as they strolled over by the steps, "the first person I can really talk to. That makes me very happy," she fluttered her eyes.
Draco's gray eyes looked deep into hers, "I'd like to make you 100 million times happier."
Cho blushed, for a different reason, "100 million?" she gasped, "Oh, Draco! You don't know what this means –"
"My lord," Harry interrupted them, carrying one of Hermione's serving platters, "would you and the duchess like a moldy canapé?"
"Not very funny Potter," Draco said spitefully.
Harry moved around behind them, "I'll try one first, in case you suspect poison." He leaned in behind Cho's ear and whispered, "which isn't a bad idea."
Cho looked at him in resentment, "You're more at home than a freak show," she snapped back and turned to Draco, "Now, you were saying—"
This time, it was Neville that interrupted them, "Malfoy!"
Draco turned around looking annoyed, "What is it?"
"Your father is waiting for you," Neville told him urgently.
He stood up, alerted, "Where? Inside?"
"No, in Dumbledore's office," he replied, "Inside the castle."
"I better go," Draco said dolefully, "Cho, I'll only be a few minutes."
"It'll seem like eons, my dear," she called out lovingly.
This was Harry's chance. He slipped into the seat next to Cho, plastering a fake worried expression on his face, "Oh, poor Malfoy. I hope it isn't bad news."
"Ten o'clock! Quidditch team out of here, pronto!" Olivier Wood, true to his word, yelled out from inside the house, "Everybody out!"
"Isn't that your cue?" said Cho condescendingly without even looking at him, "you've got something to do with Quidditch, right?"
"Are you kidding? Why I'm the captain of the team." Harry looked at her in disbelief, "I don't get this. What's the matter? I'm a pretty popular guy."
"Really?" she responded callously.
"Come on Cho," Harry said, "Don't be an iceberg. You got to melt someday."
Exasperated, Cho got up from her seat, and coldly stared into his eyes, "Mr. Potter, haven't I made it clear to you that I don't like you?"
She tried to walk away, but Harry pulled her back gently, "Look, Cho," he pleaded once more, "I'll spin you into Hogsmeade tomorrow night. Have dinner, go dancing somewhere, just the two of us. I'll pick you up at six, okay?"
"Quelle effronterie!" she snarled at him.
Just then, Draco returned to Cho's side, "I bumped in Dumbledore just now on my way to the castle. It's some kind of a trick. My father isn't waiting for me at all.
Harry took that as his cue to leave. "Well, I think I better be going," he announced, giving Draco a big pat on the back. He pointed to Cho, "Don't forget about tomorrow night." And with that, he left.
Relieved of Harry's presence, Cho returned her concentration to Draco. She slipped her arm around his and they strolled off leisurely around the house. "I know when I came down those stairs, this was going to be my lucky night."
It was accidental, we just met my chance.
Yet I'm very certain, you will be my big romance.
Quidditch players bore me,
All they have is health.
But you my sweet,
A joy complete,
Because you've got such wealth…of culture.
Lucky in love,
Lucky in love
What else matters if you're lucky in love.
Good days are few,
Few skies are blue,
But bad luck scatters when I first looked at you.
I don't care what the future will bring
If we're there together, I won't need a thing.
I'll say I'm lucky in love.
If you take me that'll make me oh so lucky in love.
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Meanwhile, Dean and Ginny had been spending most if their time out on the porch, kissing, cuddling and keeping out of Ron's view. After a close call, they reemerged from behind one of the benches. Ginny looked at him adorningly.
Lucky in love,
Lucky in love
Don't you know when you are lucky in love.
You're just my speed,
Why must I plead?
Oh come to Ginny in her hour of need.
I don't care if you're puny and weak,
And you only got baby fuzz on your cheek.
I love you!
Lucky in love,
If you trust me, then we must be oh so lucky in love.
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As Head Girl, Hermione's responsibilities forced her to stay in the kitchen most of the night. She sighed as she looked out the window onto the terrace. Solemnly, she wished she could be one of the girls on the terrace, cuddling up with their dates instead of inside, cleaning up dirty dishes.
Lucky in love,
Lucky in love,
Guess I never will be lucky in love
Some girls are gay
Know what to say
But when I talk I scare the fellows away.
If my dream man should ever arrive,
I can bet he won't even know I'm alive.
Lucky in love,
Lucky in love,
Must be fun to be someone who's oh so lucky in love.
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A sulking Harry was pacing about on the terrace, observing all the happy couples while consuming in his own thoughts of what went wrong.
Lucky in love,
Lucky in love,
Up to now, I've been so lucky in love
Never was spurned
Never got burned
The cat's pajamas when the girls are concerned.
But now I'm acting just like a dope
That's the first time some baby said, "it's no soap."
And meant it!
Lucky in love,
If you take me then that'll make—
"So it was you!" said Cho as she marched up to him with Draco by her side, "Of all the uncouth , contemptible tricks!"
Harry lowered his eyes, "I just wanted us to have a chance to get together."
"Get together?" she scoffed with fury, "I never want to see you again. You…you're absolutely incorrigible!
Harry frowned, "What's that?"
"That's French!" Cho retorted. Dragging Draco by the arm, they stormed away.
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Thank you for reading. I know that there is absolutely no H/HR interaction, but I assure you that the next chapter will! So please don't forget to review.