Chapter 20
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter, blah blah you know how it goes.
Danielle was the first one awake. She stretched her arms over her head. She looked around and saw that everyone was still sleeping. It was then that she found a folded note addressed to her.
Danie
I'm out shopping for Nehal's Christmas party
Had to get an early start
Should be back before people start getting up
Yours truly, Diego
Danielle smiled to herself as she held the note close.
"Hey!" Danielle looked over to see Heather smiling her,
"Hey." Danielle smiled as she reread the note.
"From Diego?" Heather questioned.
"Yeah."
"Ooh scandalous." Jackie whispered and both girls turned to look at Jackie who had just awoken.
"Hey what's up?" asked Danielle
Jackie scratched her head. "Isn't it Nehal's Christmas party today?"
"Oh yeah…" remembered Heather
Danielle smirked. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's get ready!"
So the three girls got ready.
Nehal met up with them just outside the great hall. "You can do this." She thought. "You have to tell them." Nehal walked over to her friends. "Hey!"
"Hi, so is the party still on?" asked Danielle hoping it would be.
"The party…uh about that. I need to tell you guys something really important."
"What is it Neh Neh?" asked Jackie
Everybody's eyes turned to Nehal. She motioned her friends to come closer. They went up to Nehal's common room, and she showed them the letter. Of course Nehal had not gotten over the incident; she had no heart to tell them in words...
After a couple minutes of silence, the girls looked up from the letter.
Danielle was first to speak. "Oh Nehal! I'm so sorry!" She rushed over and hugged her.
"It's okay. It's not your fault or anything! I mean it happened in-" Her voice got muffled by more pairs of arms hugging her. Nehal shrugged her shoulders and stepped away from the girls. "I'm fine guys! Stop making a big deal out of this!"
"So the party will go on?" Jackie asked
"Of course! The show must go on! Right Nehal?" Danielle said brightly. A bit too brightly Nehal thought.
"Yeah! Great so…what's everyone bringing and stuff?" Heather was her excited self again. Nehal smiled widely, appreciating Heather's enthusiasm.
The four girls all linked arms and talked about the party as they made their way back to the great hall.
Heather said, "You don't want to peak too soon."
"It's a long holiday, you gotta pace yourself!" Jackie pointed.
"Hey!" Heather put her hands on her hips. "It's a marathon of presents not a race."
Just then Diego walked up to the girls. "Hey!"
"Hello." Danielle smiled before kissing him.
"Er…I wanted to know what the deal was for tonight-the party."
Draco then came over. "Hey ladies! So what time are you thinking for tonight?" Draco looked and saw Diego standing beside Danielle. "Oh…hey Luna."'
"Hello." said Luna Lovegood as she walked by.
Diego said, "Hey Malfoy." He still didn't trust the Slytherins and hadn't found about the pregnancy scare.
Nehal looked at everyone. "You guys. I was thinking we should all probably meet there. How about that? At whatever time you so choose to get there by whatever means."
"Sounds great." replied Diego.
Draco said, "Yeah, perfect."
They then both walked into the great hall going their divided ways.
So the four friends ate breakfast and discussed the plans about the party.
"So where are we going to be staying for the holidays?" asked Jackie. "Because I really don't want to stay here."
"Stay at my place! After all I am the current owner of it." answered Nehal.
"So…my boyfriend and friend both own their own manors. Kind of makes you think…"
"I didn't know you could think Jackie."
Jackie gave Nehal a HA very funny look while Danielle and Heather sniggered,
Nehal continued speaking. "Besides I can set all the decorations up. Who's got food covered?"
"I'll do it!" exclaimed Heather.
"Great! What else do we need for a party? Oh…and Heather…make sure you BRING the food, and NOT eat it on the way!"
"Alcohol!" answered Danielle
The three girls looked at her.
"What you do need it."
"Fine I'm sure Malfoy can arrange that. So I guess everything on the agenda is covered."
Jackie said, "What about the guest list?"
"Basically everyone from the Ministry of Magic is invited. Purebloods."
Jackie cleared her throat. "Ahem!"
"And you of course." added Nehal
"Yay!" cheered Jackie.
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So the four friends arrived at Nehal's house.
Nehal looked around at her surroundings. "Wow it feels so empty."
"Nehal…" Danielle started.
"Yeah?"
"Is there going to be a funeral?"
Nehal sighed. "I don't know. I haven't decided yet. Do you think it's too late for one?"
"Yes!" shouted Heather. "You should've had it when they died! It's a good way to say goodbye and you wouldn't have had to keep it a secret from us!"
There was an awkward silence after Heather spoke her thoughts.
Danielle and Jackie looked nervously at each other.
Nehal said, "You guys can go unpack your stuff in the basement while I go to my room."
Nehal walked around the upstairs floor. The house felt so much smaller now that it was just her. It felt different too.
You
say you wander your own land
But when I think about it
I don't
see how you can
You're aching, you're breaking
And I can see
the pain in your eyes
Says everybody's changing
And I don't
know why
So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying
to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and
remember my name
But everybody's changing
And I don't feel the
same
You're gone from here
And soon you will
disappear
Fading into beautiful light
Cause everybody's
changing
And I don't feel right
So little time
Try to
understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the
game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's
changing
And I don't feel the same
So little time
Try
to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the
game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's
changing
And I don't feel the same
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Later in the afternoon Jackie went over to Draco's manor. She sat down cross-legged on his bed.
Draco said, "Okay here we go. Which tie? What are you thinking? This one? All right! Or…" He held each tie up to him.
Jackie said, "Uh, the second one, definitely."
"All right."
"So how's your mom?"
"She's doing alright. Still going to suckfest therapy."
Jackie laughed lightly. "Hey is um…Ian coming to the party tonight?"
"Yeah and Cameron too. Why is that going to be a problem?"
"Um…no it really shouldn't be a problem." Jackie said thinking about the pregnancy situation.
Draco cocked an eyebrow. "But-"
"But nothing! Hey do you want go shopping?"
Draco burst out laughing. "Is that all you think about?"
Jackie blushed. "No…I think about you."
Draco smirked. "Good answer."
Jackie smiled back at him.
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Jackie came back from the Malfoy manor. "Hey gurlio is lunch ready yet?"
"No it's not ready yet." answered Danielle who was flipping through the latest edition of The Daily Prophet.
Jackie groaned. "I'm so hungry." She rubbed her stomach. "All this planning for the big day."
"What your getting married?"
Jackie just looked at Danielle.
"Joke."
Jackie shrugged her shoulders in response. "Listen to me. This party is going to be awesome okay? And I think especially now that Ian and Sean are coming-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ian's coming over? I thought he was staying at Hogwarts?"
"Yeah he was but he was all bummed out and since Draco's coming he sort of just wants to tag along. I figured it was okay since you know you're not inviting Diego."
"Except I did invite Diego!"
Jackie raised her eyebrows. "That's awkward."
Danielle closed her eyes and sighed. "What am I gonna do? After my pregnancy scare, it will be so weird."
"I agree."
"You're not helping."
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Heather knocked on Nehal's bedroom door.
"Come in." instructed Nehal as she folded some of her clothes.
"Hi…" said Heather
Nehal looked up. "Hey Heather. What's up?"
"Yeah…about what I said before I-"
"It's cool, don't worry about it."
"Okay well…does everyone have a date for this party?"
"Well Jamie's my date, there's Diego and Danielle and Draco and Jackie so yeah pretty much everybody has a date except for you."
"Thanks Nehal."
"I'm joking! You know adding some humor to the holidays."
"Look, you don't have to pretend that everything's okay because it's obviously not!"
Nehal looked startled. "Excuse me?"
"I…I'm sorry-I shouldn't have."
"Again it's totally cool."
Heather quickly smiled at Nehal and exited the room making a mental note to be more careful what she said around Nehal from now on. She then ran to her suitcase and pulled out a black book. She picked up the nearest phone and dialed the first number in her book which happened to be Thomas Age. "Hi is Thomas there? Oh it is you. Hey this is Heather Reid remember me? I ate your muffin when we had charms together at Etobicoke Collegiate – Yeah I don't go there anymore but I was hoping maybe you and I could get together at let's say Nehal Pradhan's Christmas party?" Heather crossed her fingers. "You can't? Why not?" Heather listened as Thomas talked to her. "You're already going to another party…and Stacy Melrose is your date? Oh my cognit! What do you see in her? I heard she sleeps around…oh you didn't know that? Oops…I gotta go now. Line is breaking up; you know long distance phone calls, bye!" Heather immediately hung up the phone.
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Jamie knocked on the door of Nehal's house. Nehal opened the door and Jamie waved at her.
Nehal smiled. "Hey Merry Christmas boyfriend!" She hugged him.
"Oh, yes it is."
"I think tonight is going to be so much fun."
"Yeah it'll be great, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure, but first can you help me pick put a Christmas tree? I'm feeling all festive today." Nehal walked out the door and passed Jamie.
"Festive huh?" muttered Jamie.
So the couple went to a Christmas tree lot.
"Hm, fresh minty aroma, symmetrical conical shape." Nehal breathed in deeply and smiled.
Jamie clapped his hands together. "Great let's go!" He seriously didn't give a damn about a stupid tree. That was what house elves were for!
"A bit too bushy, moving on." Nehal walked past Jamie and Jamie put his hands on his head, frustrated. Nehal kept walking and Jamie reluctantly followed. (Aww) "Hm…huh, good needle retention, nice scent." Nehal touched the branch. "Hm feels a bit dry. I don't think its going to last much longer."
"Nehal! Neither am I okay? All these trees look the same!"
"Look Jamie when it comes to Transfiguration you da man. When it comes to Christmas trees hmm…a bit out of your wheel house."
"We've been here for hours!" exclaimed Jamie
"You are right, and if I don't pull the trigger soon we are going to be late!" She walked off.
"Hey about that er-"
"You know…Jamie; I just want to thank you for being there for me. It means a lot. To know that I have someone to lean on."
Jamie smiled. "Your welcome."
"Uh-hm." Nehal pointed above her head. "Mistletoe."
Jamie looked up and saw the mistletoe hanging over them. He laughed.
Nehal laughed too and sweetly kissed him on the lips. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"I just…I'm worried about you." Jamie took hold of Nehal's hands. "You doing okay?"
"Don't be sorry for me…please! The last thing I need is a pity-party!"
Jamie nodded his head.
"Great! And could you just…" Nehal put out her head on the side for emphasis. "Carry this tree."
Jamie looked at the huge tree, his mouth open from shock.
"Thanks!" Nehal said cheerfully.
Jamie closed his eyes and breathed out his frustration. Then he took out his wand and levitated the tree.
Finally the party was starting. Everything was good. The Christmas tree was perfect-except that Jamie was collapsed under it. The alcohol was all there, and Heather had only eaten half the food!
Jamie finally got the tree settled and its position. He walked over to Nehal who had just finished having a conversation with Mr. Fudge. "You okay?"
Nehal said, "Yeah, why?"
"Well…today's been kind of intense and I know you don't really want to be doing this."
"I wanna be where you are." Nehal smiled. "And you're here so…" She kissed her boyfriend on the lips.
Just then Jackie walked over. "Hey guys! Oh steeped outfit Nehal!" (LOL, if anyone is Canadian or has seen the Tim Horton's commercials they will know what steeped is)
"Steeped?" asked Jamie confused.
Jackie laughed. "It's Canadian lingo." She looked at Nehal. "You haven't said hello to Draco yet."
Nehal replied, "Yeah, that's because he was talking to other people Jackie and I didn't want to interrupt him. Plus I really didn't want to talk!" She muttered.
"Well he's ready now so-"
Nehal looked at Jamie. "Could you excuse us for a minute?"
"Sure." Jamie walked away.
Nehal put one hand on her hip. "What are you doing?"
"N-nothing…"
"Jackie do you want me to strangle you?"
"NO! No…okay well…you and Draco were really close last year, in fact you guys were so close that I thought you were dating so…I just thought that maybe well if you wanted to of course…I give you my permission to talk to my boyfriend tonight."
"Wow, what an honor." Nehal said sarcastically. (LOL)
"I know eh?"
Nehal rolled her eyes in annoyance when Jackie wasn't looking. Nehal then looked at Draco who was laughing at something Ian said, "I'll talk to him when I'm ready."
Jackie seemed pleased with this answer. "Okay, that's cool."
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Diego was in the kitchen eating food when Danielle walked in. He said, "Hey Danielle!"
Danielle smiled. "I have missed you all day." She cupped Diego's face and kissed him.
"Still chewing."
Danielle didn't seem to mind. (LOL)
"I know I feel the same way."
Danielle pulled back and looked Diego in the eye. "I can't stop thinking about you."
"I know, I know, I know. But maybe we should take things down a notch…for tonight anyways."
Nehal then came in the kitchen thinking only Danielle was in there. "Danielle, is there any room in the refri-"
Danielle pushed Diego away. "Keep your fingers out of the food till we eat Diego! Gosh! No manners!"
Diego licked his fingers. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I'm…gonna go…wash up."
Nehal looked at Danielle curiously.
Danielle opened the fridge. "Yeah there's room."
"Okay but Danie you didn't have to stop making out with Diego."
"Well I just want you to be comfortable at your own party."
"And I am. I just wish everybody would stop worrying about me." Nehal left the kitchen in a huff.
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Heather scanned the party for any cute guys. So far she hadn't seen any.
Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder.
Heather spun around. It was Ron. "Oh hi Ron."
Ron smiled. "Hi Heather. Have you seen Hermione anywhere?"
"Nope."
"Oh okay, thanks anyway."
"Bye." Heather stood there for awhile but suddenly turned and ran after Ron. "Hey wait up!"
Ron stopped in his tracks.
"Thanks. So Ron, I was wondering if your brothers are here by any chance. You know…the twins."
Ron had an amused expression written on his face. "Don't you mean George?"
"Yeah…"
"He's here. Probably spiking the punch bowl or something bizarre like that."
"Eeeeeee! Okay thanks Ron. Hope you find Hermione, your future wife."
"My future wife?" muttered a confused Ron.
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Sean saw Jackie sitting by herself on the stairs. He went and sat down beside her. "Yo!"
Jackie smiled. "Hey."
"Man this party blows. I hate these formal events!"
"Then why did you come?"
"Malfoy made me."
Jackie laughed. "I've actually never been to one of these things."
"You haven't?"
"No, well there was the Ministry BBQ last summer but that didn't go to well…"
There was an awkward silence as they both observed the party from where they were sitting.
"See any girls you're interested in here?" asked Jackie
Sean laughed. "Actually I've probably been with the half of the teenage girl population here."
"Oh…"
"You know how it is. Girls love Slytherin boys." Sean paused. "What about you?" He looked at Jackie. "Any boys here you like?"
"Please! The only boy I like is Draco Malfoy."
"You're loyal. That's good." Sean smiled at Jackie and walked off.
Jackie thought, "Was he just testing me?"
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"Hey Heather!" greeted Nehal.
Heather smiled. "Hi. Oh my gosh there are so many people here. You must be thrilled!"
"Oh try crazy. Seems like everyone showed up."
"Yeah including the Weasly's. Why didn't you tell me they were coming?"
"It kind of slipped my mind. Why is there a problem with that?"
"Not yet. Just…well you know Ginny and her drugs and you know…"
Nehal raised her eyebrows and then laughed. "The parents can take care of her. Besides it's a formal party. Not a Hogwarts party. Big difference."
"Yeah…big difference. Uh huh."
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Ian saw Danielle standing by herself and apparently looking around. "Looking for someone?"
Danielle looked at Ian. "Go screw yourself!"
Ian chuckled. "Happy holidays to you too."
"What do you want Ian?"
"I just want to talk to you." Ian answered innocently.
Danielle rolled her eyes not buying it.
Suddenly Diego rushed over and glared at Ian. "Stay away from my senorita!"
"Trust me I'm trying. She just can't keep her hands off me."
"Ha! You wish!" scoffed Danielle. "Come on Diego let's go somewhere else."
"Unbelievable." muttered Ian.
"Son of a bitch!" said Heather.
"What do you want?" snarled Ian.
"Are you friends with Sean?" demanded Heather
"What's it to you?"
"He's weird!"
"You're weird!" shot back Ian.
"I think he's in love with Malfoy. He keeps going up to Jackie and asking her random questions about him. Sean is so jealous!"
Ian gave her a disgusted look.
"Volissimo!" commanded Heather and Ian went away.
Heather watched him walk away. "I need a man." She looked over at George pouring a bottle of vodka into the punch. Was it George or Fred that she made out with? She couldn't remember.
Heather looked out the window and sighed. Then the person beside the window came into focus. It was Mr. Von Gooshy. "Mr. Von Gooshy!" exclaimed Heather.
Mr. Von Gooshy looked around and saw her. "Shh!" He hissed.
"Wha-wha-what are you doing here? Oh my cognit! Were you invited to the party too?"
"Yes…invited." Mr. Von Gooshy did the shifty eye thing.
Heather opened her mouth to reply but Mr. Von Gooshy spoke first.
"Thank you for helping me these past couple of weeks. Here." He handed Heather a present. "It's for you."
Heather was not expecting this to happen. "Wow, er…thank you very much."
"Your welcome." Mr. Von Gooshy smiled sincerely.
"How can I thank-"
"Just open it before anybody realizes I'm here." He said this part quietly.
Heather ripped off the wrapping paper. It was a vile of blood. "Oh thanks!" She looked at the present with confusing written on her face. She then looked up at the ceiling. "Hey look mistletoe."
Mr. Von Gooshy looked up as well. "Oh…" But before he could say anything else he placed his lips on Heather's lips.
Heather pulled away after ten seconds of kissing.
Mr. Von Gooshy said, "Oh I'm terribly sorry. I better go now." He then jumped out the window when no one was looking.
Heather sighed. "He kissed me! He really kissed me! Wait isn't that considered assault? Oh well…he kissed me!"
"What are you so happy about?" said Ian
But Heather stopped smiling. She was remembering how Mr. Von Gooshy bit her arm. Heather didn't want to get involved with a freaky bitey person.
"Why are you so sad?" asked Ian
Heather glared at him and walked away.
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"Hey Pradhan!" Draco sauntered over when he saw Nehal by herself.
Nehal gave him a strained smile. Her necklace was burning red and eating the flesh of her skin. (Not literally) "Um…hi." Shadow Fire flew to her shoulder and absorbed her pain. She straightened up and faced him again.
"So what's up?" Draco took a sip of the punch.
"That drink has been spiked. So if you like that then, have a great time. I have to go socialize. Go on! Have fun!" Nehal walked away determined, holding up her gown.
On her way, she bumped into Jackie, and her anger suddenly burst out. "Next time you feel like doing me a favor, don't bother okay?" She rushed past her friend and out into the garden, which she had enlarged.
Whipping out her wand she turned to face all her friends. "No! The Slytherins are NOT my friends!" Her mind screamed at her.
Danielle opened her mouth to say something when Nehal cut in.
"Sorry guys, but I'm leaving!" Nehal accio-ed her broom and left. (Yes she left her own party but don't worry she will be back!)
"Now what do we do!" Danielle cried out.
"What's left to do…PARTY!" said Draco
All the Ministry guests had left. It was just Hogwarts people left into what was rapidly becoming a crazy house party! Except for Jamie who was looking for his girlfriend Nehal. Danielle had gone upstairs with Diego. Ian was sulking. Sean was trying to start awkward conversations with everyone like he was being the modern day Socrates. (LOL yeah philosophy!) Ron and Hermione were making out. Fred and George were still hanging out by the punch. And Heather, Jackie and Draco were hanging out. Draco wanted Heather to go away, though.
"Omg Heather! Just talk to him!" exclaimed Jackie
"But he keeps staring at me!" objected Heather
"That's the point. You made out with him once, remember?"
"Oh fine!" Heather marched over to the punch to talk to George. "Hi George!" She yelled.
"Why Heather Reid!" said George and Fred and him started dancing to the beat of their own drums.
It was really awkward so Heather filled a glass with punch. "Hey! This is really good." She filled her glass again. "Mmm…"
Fred and George sniggered.
"Hey Heather." said George. "Want some more?"
"Yeah!" exclaimed Heather and then started giggling. "You know George I never thanked you for this punch!" She grabbed his tie, to yank his face down close to hers and kissed him.
"Hey-I'm Fred!"
"Oops…"
"Omg!" screamed Jackie, who was standing near the staircase.
"Jackie, calm down!" said Draco
"Calm down! They're cupcakes! Flying! Flying cupcakes! It's like a dream come true!" (This is like in the 2nd Harry Potter movie, with Crabble and Goyle…)
Nehal, Danielle, Jackie, Draco, Jamie and Diego were all looking at the two cupcakes floating in the air.
"I didn't realize Nehal got back." said Fred.
"CUPCAKES!" yelled Heather. "Omg! I'm getting one!"
"No Heather!" said Danielle. "And you stop too, Jackie!"
"Yeah." agreed Nehal. "You don't know where they've been."
"Who cares?" argued Jackie. "They're flying cupcakes!"
"Am I seriously friends with these goofs?" Nehal shook her head. "This party is out of control!" With a sweep of her wand the fruit punch (If you can still call it that) disappeared.
"Hey!" said Fred, George and Heather.
"Heather then said. "I'm my own muffin. I can take a cupcake if I want!"
"Yeah Heather." said Jackie. "Let's do it!"
"No!" yelled Danielle.
Jackie grabbed one of the cupcakes and Heather took the other one.
"Ready?" asked Jackie
Heather nodded her head. "Let's do it."
The next day Heather woke up and found herself in a fridge while Jackie ended up lying on the stairs upside down. It turns out Fred and George also spiked the cupcakes but decided not to warn Heather and Jackie about it.
A/N: Hey peeps here is the next chappie like promised. Even though it's not Christmas I would just like to say Merry Christmas everyone!
Poisonous Tosspot – Wow your review was long and funny! Good work!
Beckyb007- Oh I will update soon
Rosepetal05 – Yay we surprised you! (Not just me but the other authors included in this funky story of ours that was created to merely entertain ourselves but now it has become such a hit! LOL sorry, I'll just stop talking now…)
