Chapter 4

Disclaimer: The main characters belong to JK Rowling (at least, their names do), but the setting, plot and some other characters are mine.

A/N: Hi everyone! It's Sunday, and it's that time again when I sit down to 'bond' with my computer. I know it's not so long since the last update, and some of you may not have had time to review chapter 3 before I post this, but that last one didn't quite feel like a proper chapter, so I had to carry on. And I'm on holiday next weekend so there probably won't be any chapter 5 till at least Monday October25th. But then it's half term so I have a whole school-free week to write more for you lovely people!

sparkling silver angel wings: You are insane. Well, here is the update, as requested. (::)

Immortal Tears of: Glad to hear you like it! (::)

madam-malicia: Nah, sorry, no one in their right mind would date normal Snape, and OoC Snape just doesn't work for me. (::)

CloverRock: Never Snape. Lupin all the way! And AU really does rock, doesn't it? (::)

Cherry0214: And I LOVE you! Thank you so much for saying that, it made me really happy. (::)

lampshadesrgreat: Thanks, glad to hear my humble fic is spreading the love. (::)

The Earth Mystic: Here is the party chapter! And (whispers) he might just find out Draco's secret next chapter! (::)

So here it is, chapter 4, the crazy party bit. The PG-13 rating now comes into play due to slash, swearing (maybe) and scenes of an extremely alcoholic nature. Enjoy!

Recap: Harry deliberately averted his eyes as Lupin kissed Sirius goodbye. He was cool with this, but not that cool.

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The party rolled round quickly. Before Harry knew it, it was the morning of Saturday October 2nd, and his parents were driving off, leaving him and Debbie to their own devices for the weekend. Deb hadn't been too happy about Harry getting rid of her to make way for the party, but she'd got over it on the proviso that he lent her five CDs and two DVDs to take to her friend's house for their sleepover that night.

As soon as Lily and James drove off, the party plan came into action. It didn't start till seven, but in the time between now and then Harry had to get rid of his sister, party-proof the house and generally get ready. Ron, Mione and Draco were coming round at twelve to help. Deb's friend Nadine and her mom were coming to pick her up at one. And Ron's two eldest brothers were bringing the drinks over at five (as they were the only people they knew who were old enough to buy alcohol and who were also prepared to hand it over to a group of fifteen year olds). They were staying for the party, along with Ron's twin brothers and their friend Lee, who were Seniors. Harry had been reluctant to have them all there, but had come round to the idea; they were prepared to not drink, make calls if anyone needing picking up early, and generally lend a hand and mature authority if things got rough. Besides that, it was Bill and Charlie's only condition in return for bringing drinks (even if it was Harry and co. paying).

The day passed rapidly. Twelve o' clock came and went, bringing with it Mione, Ron and Draco. The five of them had lunch, then Deb's lift arrived and preparations began in earnest. Rooms and cupboards were locked. Those that couldn't be locked were masking-taped shut. This included the dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, drier and anywhere that could be seen as a handy place to be sick. Harry had constructed a Rolodex of everyone's home phone numbers in case they had to leave early, which was placed in the spare room they were using for coats. Ron and Mione started the fun task of clearing the bathroom cupboards while Draco and Harry did a run-through of everything that needed doing.

"Cupboards?" Draco asked first, leaning on a kitchen counter.

"Locked, taped or cleared," Harry replied, sinking onto a kitchen chair.

"Upstairs rooms?"

"Locked, except the spare we're using for coats and the two bathrooms we're using."

"Plug sockets?"

"What?" Harry gave him a very funny look. "What about them?"

Draco sighed. "Are they all switched off?"

Harry shrugged. "Should they be?"

Draco rolled his eyes expressively. "Houseful of tipsy teenagers, and electricity? Good combination? I think not. They should all be switched off."

"But people can just switch them back on," Harry pointed out, stating what he thought was kind of obvious.

Draco smiled. "Au contraire, my friend. When you're drunk, you usually don't feel like crawling around looking for a switch that's a few inches off the floor. Capisce?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Olé. How many foreignisms did you use in that little speech?"

The blond glared back at him. "Ha ha. Now go switch off some sockets."

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By six o' clock, the house was ready. Ron's brothers were setting out drinks downstairs, and the four party planners were getting ready. Mione had commandeered a bathroom straight away, and no one knew how long she was planning on spending in there. The three guys disbanded to separate rooms, and an unspecified amount of time passed as they all got themselves ready.

Then it was seven. People started arriving in dribs and drabs, steadily filling the downstairs rooms. Harry started off the stereo, playing a rock compilation, and directed people to the drinks (non-alcoholic options included, though barely anyone went for those). People started talking, dancing, admiring each other's outfits and, in some cases, each other.

At ten past, Harry's least favourite guest turned up.

"Melfin!" He said in a fake cheery voice as he took in what she was – or rather, wasn't – wearing. A tiny halter neck top and the shortest skirt ever made.

"Hi, Harry," she smiled, batting her eyelashes as she spoke. Harry felt a strong urge to retch. She still liked him! God, was he going to have to act totally repulsive before she'd give up on him?

"Melfin!" Harry nearly fainted with relief as he heard another voice behind him in the hallway, and turned to see Draco with a drink in his hand. "Hi! You look great tonight! Come in, have a drink..." As Melfin followed Draco towards the kitchen, Harry breathed again. Oh thank God, she was gone.

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Sadly, later on in the evening, Harry found himself alone with her again. It was getting on for ten o' clock, he hadn't drunk much yet, but he'd danced a damn lot, which more or less made up for the debilitating effects of the drinks he hadn't had. He was in the living room, having just put another CD on, and Melfin sashayed up to him, clearly having had a few, or rather several, too many. "Harry!" She said delightedly. "Glad I found you, we didn't really get a chance to talk earlier, did we?"

Harry opened his mouth to say something in reply, but didn't get a chance as she immediately scrapped the idea of talking and kissed him. For a few seconds he was totally paralysed in the major 'aargh'ness of the moment. Then he was mercifully freed as Melfin fell backwards, detaching herself from him. He recognised the greenish colour of her face and caught her before she hit the floor. Then he picked her up (thank God she was so darn small) and carried her to the downstairs cloakroom. Not a moment too soon either.

"Nice, real nice," he muttered, holding her dark hair back while she was sick. "Melfin, sweetie, it's been great having you here tonight, but I'm going to get someone to call your parents to take you home, OK?" She was half-conscious and made no reply, so he helped her to a chair and asked the older ones to call her parents.

Fifteen minutes later, Melfin was on her way home, and Harry made his way back to the living room. He decided it was about time he had something stronger than a coke, and acted on this (several times, in fact) before going into the kitchen. He found it full of people. Ron, Mione and Draco were sitting along one side of the table, which was covered in disposable plastic shot glasses, most of which were full.

"Harry! At last!" Said a boy standing at one end of the table, whose name Harry couldn't actually remember. "Sit."

He did, pulling out the chair to Draco's left, and settling himself on it.

"Now," the boy at the end of the table began, "we are all here to see the ancient game of Drinking A Lot Of Shots. I am the master of drinking, and I'll be your host tonight." There was cheering and applause. Harry began to wonder how much they'd all had, and, for that matter, how much he'd had himself. "Ladies and gentlemen, the first shot if you please!"

Following his friends' lead, Harry picked up one of the cups. "One!" The 'master of drinking' began. "Two! Three!"

"SHOT!" The assembled spectators cried as one. The four seated did as they were ordered, and drank.

"Again! One! Two! Three! SHOT!"

And on it went. Harry quickly lost count of the number of shots, and Mione soon ran off to the bathroom to get a drink of water. Ron followed, leaving Harry and Draco at the table, surrounded but uncaring of that or anything else.

"I am so drunk I could do anything!" Draco declared gleefully.

"Me too!" Harry agreed happily.

"Anything, huh?" The master grinned.

Draco shrugged. "I dunno. I think that's what I said."

"Either that or 'I would like a ping pong ball'," Harry said helpfully.

"Hm. Anything..." The master said, grinning wickedly.

"Kiss!" Someone shouted from the back of the room.

"OK," Harry said simply. "Kiss who?"

"Yeah, who?" Draco added.

The master sighed. "Each other, dumb ass! Doy!"

Harry and Draco looked at each other and shrugged. They leant towards each other and kissed. It lasted only a second, and most of the room groaned. "Properly!" Someone yelled.

Minds still totally fuzzed from the shots and the party atmosphere, they obliged, leaning close again, but not pulling apart like before.

The music, cheering and catcalls all faded out of focus as Harry's mind drifted off into the brainless space of oblivion. This was weird. But oddly cool. It was like eating chocolate, he reflected, as warm sweetness spread over his tongue and he breathed deeply through his nose, drinking in the musky scent that surrounded him. He knew that they were both blind drunk, but this was different. This was touching something inside his head that was still clear as day; he knew exactly what he was doing. And he didn't pull away, tangling his fingers into Draco's hair as they both forgot that there was anyone else in the room.

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A/N: What do you think? Too slashy? Not slashy enough? Review and tell me what you think! Next chappie will probably be up on the 25th or 26th. Aftermath of the party will be by turns funny, tragic and heart-rending. I think. When I hit the keyboard, things are bound to change.

Sneak preview: "So Harry, you sure got lucky last night. I hear you managed to pull twice," Mione said flippantly as she got milk out of the fridge.

"Yeah," Harry replied sheepishly, "but neither of them meant anything..." His face went red from lying, and he pretended to rummage in a cupboard for sugar.