Aurora

The Slytherin common room was full of people. House elves scurried about here and there, carrying glasses of butterbeer, saucers of canapés, and goblets of firewhiskey. From everywhere came loud laughter, the clinking of glasses, the voices of students interrupting each other to say a toast. Amid all this cacophony of sounds, it was impossible to make out who said what, and the more butterbeer we drank and toasts to my health were made, the less anyone cared. The noise was unimaginable, because students of all courses gathered here: someone was kissing right on cozy sofas in front of the fireplace, someone was dancing to the sounds of music, the volume of which I increased with a special spell, someone was stuffing food. Crabbe and Goyle competed to see who could gobble down the birthday cake the fastest, their faces smeared with buttercream. Zabini and Bulstrode were entwined on the couch, and I wondered if I should be happy if they made a baby right on my birthday.

I stood a little further away in my festive dress, with a silver crown on my head and a glass of butterbeer in my hand, and watched all this wild bacchanalia. With pleasure, I took a sip from my glass — the beer was tasty and sweet, and the mood was excellent. I've spent all of this morning getting myself into a shape — loosening my hair and curling it with a spell, putting on my favorite silver earrings that accentuate my pale skin. From the abundance of alcohol and dancing, a gentle blush bloomed on my cheeks, and my bright scarlet lips stretched into a happy drunken smile. In response to another toast in my honor, I laughed loudly and smiled at Draco Malfoy, who was standing by the fireplace with a glass of vermouth in his hands and chewing an olive intently.

He seemed to be the only one who did not take an active part in the general fun. And that needed to be fixed. Pushing Krebb, who had suddenly fallen under my arm, I snatched the last glass of red wine from the tray and headed straight for Draco. He was leaning on the railing of the fireplace and adjusting the tie on his shirt.

"It's getting hot, isn't it? Take off your tie, what do you need it for?" I giggled and tugged on the tip of his tie.

He looked at me in surprise and smiled with only the corners of his lips.

"What, are you drunk already, dear?"

"Who cares? Most importantly, everyone has fun!" I said, and staggered a little.

Draco caught me in time and laughed.

"You've had enough already. Happy birthday to you again, may all your dreams and plans come true. I hope you liked my gift?"

I wonder what about his plans? Maybe I should ask him about it right now?

I could hardly restrain myself from doing this and blurted out:

"Oh what a wonderful gift! I liked it. Hic!"

"Come on, it's time for you to sleep..."

"No! It's not time for me to sleep! And it's time for you to drink! You don't drink anything at all, except for this rubbish."

I nimbly snatched the half-empty glass of vermouth from his hand. Pretty nimble, given the indisputable fact that I was actually drunk. I found the strength to concentrate, despite the onset of nausea.

"Here, the wine tastes better. What, you don't want to drink to my health?" I asked innocently, putting the glass of wine into his free hand.

At that moment, Anna climbed out onto a huge table in the center of the room and said loudly:

"To Aurora!"

On the couch, Blaise pulled away from Millicent, Goyle choked on his cake, and everyone in the common room, Draco included, turned their gazes on Anna.

"To Aurora!" Everyone joined in after a moment's pause.

Draco kept his eyes on Anna.

"To your health, Ora," he said, and took a long sip.

Seeing how he without a second thought empties the glass of wine, which he so trustingly accepted from my hands, I felt light, like mosquito bites, pricks of conscience. He suspected nothing. He trusted me. I acted mean. My mind clouded with alcohol refused to digest further information, and my soul was in turmoil. Grabbing a few pieces of cheese from the table and hurriedly stuffing them into my mouth, I sank into a nearby chair, tormented by the pangs of conscience at what I had just done. I needed another glass of something stronger than wine.

Malfoy walked slowly across the living room to Anna and tried to speak to her. She stared at him resentfully and immediately turned away, not wanting to continue the conversation.

To get her attention, he grabbed her arm just above the elbow. Jaws played on his cheekbones.

"Why did you climb out onto the table, Anna? You can barely stand on your feet! Get down from there!"

Anna looked down at him and laughed out loud.

"Look at him! The only teetotaler at the birthday party!"

Draco didn't answer. He silently put his glass on the table, grabbed Anna by the legs, and to the loud protests of the party members and the indignant cries of Anna, who was pounding his back with her hands, trying to escape, lowered her down.

He leaned close to her ear and said softly:

"The fun is over for today. Come along with me, come on."

"It's not up to you to decide when and where I go," Anna answered, burning him with her eyes.

Draco winced and pulled away.

"Let's have a drink on brotherhood?" Anna said as she emptied the contents of her glass in one gulp and looked defiantly at Draco.

"Only after I take you to the bedroom and you go to bed."

"You won't dare! I am not your property!"

"I will! You are my bride, and I decide what and when we do. Come on," he said rudely, and pulled her along with him.

"Since when did "you" become "we"?" Anna clarified.

Draco didn't answer, just pulled her closer to him, not letting her escape. Annabelle stopped resisting and allowed him to lead her out of the common room.

In the hallway leading to the girls' dormitory, Draco allowed himself to speak at the top of his voice without fear of being heard.

"What are you doing? Why did you get so drunk?"

"What's your business? I just made a toast!"

"You are disgracing me! We have to get married soon, in case you forgot. You will become my wife."

"I'd rather die than be the wife of someone like you! I need freedom!"

Draco looked at her with wide eyes, not believing what she had just said. His pupils dilated, and his eyes narrowed angrily.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Do you think I don't understand that you're putting on this show just to get my attention?"

"I don't need your attention!"

"You can shut up already at last! Night, by the way!" yelled one of the portraits on the wall.

"Another ones love doves roam the corridors at night. How many of you are hanging around here?" echoed the other.

"Why don't you quarrel somewhere else? We are trying to sleep!"

"It seems to me that the ones the day before yesterday were calmer."

Draco and Anna both fell silent. Anna frowned and began to look at her feet, moving away from her companion as far as possible.

"We haven't finished our conversation, Anna," Draco's low voice finally broke the silence. He continued after a short pause:

"I'm just asking for a little... humility and respect towards me. Do you understand what I'm talking about?"

"I will never be your property, your next toy. Today is our friend's birthday, and you're doing a showdown."

"Listen, Anna," Draco lowered his voice even more and moved closer to the girl, so that she could hear his ragged breathing. "I'm asking in a good way. You don't want it to be bad, do you?"

There was no threat in his eyes. The shirt was unbuttoned, the tie shifted to one side. He seemed more confused than angry.

Anna just looked at him, leaving the question unanswered.

"Good night, fiancé," she said softly, and disappeared through the portrait opening before he could say another word.

*

Annabelle

At breakfast the following day, everyone sat rather drooping. Someone had a headache after yesterday's party and an uncontrollable amount of alcohol they drank, someone was embarrassed to be around and even talk to each other, such as Zabini and Bulstrode, who were now sitting as far apart as possible, pretending that yesterday nothing happened. I smiled as I looked at this picture

It's a pity I had to leave the party so early... Draco thinks too much of himself! Am I not allowed to have fun with my friends? In addition, I didn't drink so much, and, moreover, I didn't sit in front of everyone, hugging someone.

And, Merlin's beard, I had to somehow divert his attention so that Ora slipped him a glass of potion!

And Draco is completely insolent, he thinks that he has the right to tell me where my place is. Used to having everyone dance to his tune. Ha! Not me! I am not his property! How dare he make any claims after what he has done to me?

Oh well, today is a special day for him.

I squinted maliciously at Malfoy, who was sitting next to me with a silly air, looking off into the distance. By the way, he looked not only stupid, but also terrible: he obviously did not sleep all night; his eyes shone insanely, the pupils were dilated; his platinum, always perfectly styled, hair was disheveled; he constantly pulled back the collar of his shirt, as if he was thrown into a fever and drank a lot of water. Well, apparently, the love spell has begun to work.

My guess was confirmed when Draco suddenly jumped up from his desk and stared at the entrance to the Great Hall. I carefully followed his gaze as an unsuspecting Ginny Weasley had just entered, waved cheerfully at her friends, and sat down at the Gryffindor table. It looks like she has already forgotten about our recent incident and she has successfully healed all the scratches inflicted by me.

"Draco, are you all right?" Pansy squeaked out of nowhere, jumping up to Malfoy. He did not even answer, recoiled from her and flew out of the hall like a bullet, which made Parkinson's face instantly turn crimson with annoyance and disappointment.

"He was before you showed up, Pansy!" I grinned at her, noticing how her lower lip trembled, as if she was trying to blurt something out at me in response, but did not dare. Then she tossed her hair, grunted, and turned abruptly and walked away.

"Well, you're especially on a roll today," Aurora remarked.

"Still would! I'm so excited! I'm definitely going to have some fun today!"

At the same moment, we heard some noise coming from the Gryffindor table. The Slytherins turned around in unison, and some even got up to get a better look at what was going on, in the hope of snatching a new reason for further jokes on the hated Gryffindors. We noticed the instigator of this action — a house elf showering the younger Weasley girl with heart confetti and loudly singing some ridiculous song to the whole hall:

Seeing you, I fell in love quick

Bat-Bogey Hex is your crown trick.

Worse luck, we are in enemy houses.

I can't at all resist my senses.

Without you my heart will not go on,

My red hair nymph, I'm your dragon.

To the thunderous applause of the Gryffindors, and other Houses, for Ginny's secret admirer, I laughed so hard that I almost fell off the bench. Someone glanced at our table, while the Slytherins were at a loss.

Well, that's how our show began and my mood instantly improved. Hold on Malfoy, today is your day.