Chapter 7: The Whiskey

Draco came back from Malfoy Manor early on Saturday. He just wanted to grab some things from his room but his mother was persistent on him atleast staying for lunch. He abided just to make her slightly happy but left quickly after

He came back elated to see an empty common room. He really didn't feel like socializing right now. He pulled out the bottle of fire whiskey he snuck in and sat and enjoyed the fire.

He was about 4 good swigs in before he heard the door open. He was about the hide the bottle until he saw a red eyed, sniffling, Granger walk through the door.

"Umm sorry.. I didn't think anyone would be back.." She mumbled, turning to exit

"Granger stop! Sit?" He motioned to space next to him on the sofa

She gave a small hiccup but nodded and wandered over to where Draco motion.

He smirked when he realized why she hiccuped. "Are you drunk?"

"Bugger off Malfoy, I'm not in the mood."

He handed her his bottle of whiskey and was surprised when she took a big swig out of it. Just then he saw the remnants of tears in her eyes and his smile dropped to a look of concern.

"You okay Granger?"

"Ron and I are officially over..." she mumbled while Draco handed the whiskey back to her. He was trying so hard not to smile at this new development

"Oh...because of me?"

"No! I mean...yes, in a way" She looked up at him with glassy, slightly inebriated, eyes.

"Oh.." is all he could muster.

They sat in silence like that for a few minutes, passing the bottle back and forth. Draco watch her as he saw the sadness leave her eyes with each taste. He wanted so badly to reach out and brush the hair out of her face. He wanted to hold her and comfort her and tell her everything would be okay. And it came to his surprise when she finally looked back at him and whispered something inaudible.

"Excuse me?"

"I like you Draco" This time he heard it loud and and clear.

"You said my first name...again."

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah I guess, it just sounds odd."

She chuckled "You can call me Hermione of you want."

"We'll see, I think I'll stick with Granger for now." He rolled his eyes but let out a small laugh. "I don't know how Potter will feel about us being on a first name basis."

"Shhhhh" She put her fingers against his lips. "It can be our secret."

Before he could even think of a response she leaned into his side and nuzzle against his arm. Obviously she was drunk so he slid the bottle out of her hand and set it on the table in front of them.

"I think someone needs a rest, let's take you to your dorm."

Just then Potter and Ginny walked in. Draco could see the anger building up in Potter's eyes at the sight of Granger leaning on him and knew he was probably assuming the worse.

"What the fuck are you doing Malfoy! Get off of her!"

"Bloody hell Potter what do you think I'm trying to do! She's drunk and falling asleep on me."

"I'm fine guys... I'm just a little tired." She mumbled with eyes still closed.

"Are you two gits going to just stand there or are you going to help me get her to her room?"

A few minutes later they got her up to her room and tucked into bed. All three were about to leave when they heard "Don't leave yet."

Harry was the first to speak. "I'm right here Hermione"

"No no. Draco..."

Draco, Harry, and Ginny all exchanged looks with each other in confusion.

Harry then got in Draco's face and spit "Don't you dare do anything stupid." and walked out with Ginny.

Hermione knew she was drunk and was happy Draco helped her friends put her to bed. Blame it on the whiskey but she really didn't want Draco to leave. She knew the consequences of asking but didn't care in that moment.

"Draco, don't leave yet."

She looked at all their surprised faces. Again she knew this would be tough to explain to Harry later, but she didn't care. She saw Harry mumble something to Draco before him and Ginny gave one last worried look at her before walking out.

Drace sat down on the edge of her bed. "Whats up Granger?"

"Umm thank you for taking care of me. I don't drink often"

"I can see that. And its all good." He then looked over at her bracelet. "Nice charm, someone has good taste."

She looked at his sly smirk as realization set in. "You gifted this to me!?"

"You think Weasel or Potter would use as predatory of a bird as an Eagle Owl"

"Honestly creatures, magical or not, are my kryptonite."

He looked confused "Your what?"

"It's from a muggle story. Superman is invincible except for one thing...umm nevermind its stupid."

"Like Achilles heel?"

"Yeah pretty much...sorry."

She started fussing with the charm and jumped a little when Draco grabbed her hand.

He then furrowed his eyebrows at her. "Do i scare you?"

"Ummm no... I just still don't understand what is happening between us. I mean you're a deatheater and I'm muggleborn afterall."

She wanted to talk back those words as soon as she spoke him. The alcohol left her with little filter and she could see his eyes turn from hurt to cold and distant.

"Is that all you think of me as still? Just because I've been permanently branded doesn't mean I can't change."

"Wait Draco! I didn't mean it that way."

"I'm sure you didn't."

"I'm serious Draco! You just make me a little nervous."

"I make the Gryffindor Princess nervous?" He joked as he relaxed a little.

"Yeah well i like you..."

In that moment she didn't care anymore. She closed the gap between them and kissed him. A little too hard thanks to her inebriated state but he didnt seem to care as he kissed her back. He climbed over to her until he was on top of her. His kiss deepened and she could feel his tongue parting her lips. She followed his motion as she ran her fingers through his hair. She could feel an unknown warmth growing below her bellybutton. She wanted to go deeper with this kiss but Draco broke it off.

Her cheeks reddened as she asked "Was that bad?"

"No no, it was good. Really good but i dont want to go any further with you when you're this drunk. I would rather you be fully aware."

"Makes sense.." She muttered more to herself than him. "So where does this leave us?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know. But I don't think we should be seen together outside of potions class. There's too many people who would be unhappy with this."

"That's true. Although i think Harry might think something is up after i asked you to stay."

He chuckled. "Yeah he definitely wasn't happy about that."

"Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"I like when you smile. You should do that more often"

"I never really had much to smile about" He then sighed and started to look uncomfortable as he said that revelation. "But hey i think you should get some rest. Ill check on you later."

"Goodbye Draco, I'll miss you."

All she saw was him nod and then the back of his head as she drifted to sleep.

Draco quietly walked out of the room and jumped a little when he saw Harry standing in the hallway.

"Bloody hell Potter!"

"What did you do to Hermione?!"

"What the fuck are you going on about?"

"You heard me! Did you spike her with love potion or cast a spell?"

"Yeah i definitely put a big ole curse on her" Draco said with sarcasm.

At that Harry took a step closer, getting in Draco's face despite Draco being a few inches taller.

"I don't know what's going on but if you do, or did, anything to hurt her, I will destroy you."

"Well maybe you should trust your friend."

"Oh I trust her, but I don't trust a slithery git like you." And on that Harry walk back to his dorm room.

The next couple weeks went by quickly. Winter approached fast and with that came the end of semester exams. Hemione was busy either holed up in the library studying or doing study sessions with Harry and Neville.

"Hermione, Ginny told me to ask you if you wanted to go shopping tomorrow after exams for the Winter dance?"

Hermion rolled her eyes at this question. "Harry I have more important things to think about like our last exam tomorrow than a stupid dance. Plus I have no one to go with."

"You could come with all of us." Neville offered. "Luna is going shopping too and you know she would love to have you come with them."

Harry added his two cents. "Also you could ask someone. Cormac had a thing for you sixth year and I'm sure he's single."

Hermione laughed at that. "Cormac McLaggen?! His personality was more bleak and boring than Viktor Krum's! I'll go but I would rather go solo than with a date."

Harry green eyes twinkled as he smiled wide at this. "You'll have fun Hermione! I'll let Ginny know you're going with her tomorrow!"

Hermione felt guilty that she had yet to tell Harry about everything going on with Draco. If there was anything to tell...

"Oh my Godric! This dress is beautful!" Ginny squealed as she spun around in a beautiful light blue A-line knee length dress. " And Luna that dress is perfect on you!"

Luna strolled out of the next dressing room with a bright pink dress with ruffles on the sleeves and hemline with orange accents.

"You girls both look amazing." Hermione beamed from the chair she was sitting on.

"Have you found a dress yet Hermione?" Luna asked in her calm voice

"I don't know guys, I think i might just wear a dress i have in my trunk."

"Stop it right now Hermione Granger! There has to be a dress that caught your eye!" Ginny said in a playful but stern voice.

Hermione got up and walked around the boutique. She scanned the room until her eyes caught a hint of grey. She moved some dresses aside to find a beautiful silver gray dress. The same type of silver as his eyes. She instantly grabbed it and walked straight to the dressing room to try it on.

The dress was an A-line dress similar to Ginny's. This dress though had long lace sleeves with little jewels sewn into lace. It fit her perfectly and came just below her knee's. She opened the dressing room door and stepped out. "So...what do you think?"

Ginny gasped. "Hermione you look beautiful! Any guy you go with will be lucky."

"Yes! That shade of gray compliments your skin tone nicely." Luna chimed in.

"Thank you. I think I'm going to get it. And there is no lucky guy. I'm going solo."

"Well either way were all going to have fun." Ginny said with a smile.

The morning of the dance Draco was wandering around the corridors lost in thought. Pansy had been bugging him for weeks to take her. She quickly forgot about his little slip of the tongue and was trying to slip into his pants instead. Normally he would quickly oblige to a quick fuck, but with Granger always on his mind, he had no interest in her games anymore.

He was walking down the corridor near The Great Hall when he heard female voices. He quickly recognized the voices as Hermione and Ginny's and decided to turn back around and hide in the dark of the corner.

"Hermione, Luna and I am so glad you're going with us to the dance! And you're definitely going to turn heads in that silver dress."

Silver huh? Draco thought. But who was she going with?

"I'm going to go drop my books off in my room and I'll meet you two for lunch in The Great Hall." He heard Granger say.

Draco waited till she turned down a different hallway toward the stairs to their shared common room. He then chased after her until she was in his eyesight.

"Hey Granger! Wait!" He shouted behind her.

She stopped and turned around. "Yes Draco? I thought we weren't allowed to be seen together in public?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. Slight embarassment on his face at the idea that he, a pureblood Malfoy, just physically chased after a muggleborn. "So, I heard you're going to the dance?"

She looked at him with skepticism. "Were you spying on me?"

"No no. I was walking by and heard you and the She Weasel talking."

"Her name is Ginny. And yes I am."

"Are you going with anyone?"

She found his prodding entertaining and decided now was a perfect time to mess with him a little. "Maybe I am. Either way it is none of your business."

"Come on Granger, don't be like that"

"I already know you're not going to the dance so it doesn't matter"

He raised his eyebrows in slight shock. "Wait, how did you know i wasn't going? Were you spy on me?"

"You can wipe tht smirk off your face Malfoy. Zambini and Nott were talking about it rather loudly in the common room."

"Oh were back to Malfoy now, huh?"

Hermione was starting to lose patience. "I have to go meet the girls soon. I dont have time for this."

He watched her walk away. He despised the idea of going to a dance but suddenly he found himself jealous and wanting to go. This new feeling bothered him and made him want to curse whoever was taking her to the dance.

There was a small *pop* noise behind him. He turned to see his small house elf eager to do any bidding.

"Master Draco summoned Ipsy?"

He nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes Ipsy. Could you go to the Manor and fetch my good dress robes. Not the funeral ones but the expensive tailored ones. Leave them on my bed in my dorm."

"As you wish Master." And Ipsy was gone with another *pop*.

Draco would be lying if he said he wan't trying to outdo whatever bloke is taking Granger. After all he would only go for a little bit just to see who he was and if she was happy. Then he would go to his dorm to get drunk alone.

Hermione looked in the mirror as she smoothed down her baby hairs. Ginny had put a potion in her hair that straighted it and made it shiny. She made one final look in the mirror. She added a little blue glittery eyeshadow and some mascara. Not being a big fan of make up, she wanted to keep it simple but knew Ginny wouldn't let her leave without something on her face.

Ginny's smile widened at the sight of Hermione. "You look amazing! I told you that potion would work wonders on your hair! I use it on my bad hair days"

Hermione blushed at the compliment "Thank you but we should probably head down and meet the boys soon."

"Oh Godric, you're right! Let me just do one last touch up and we can go. Are you ready Luna?"

"Yes, I'm just sitting here admiring my best friends." Luna said on her calm voice.

Draco just got back to his dorm room when he saw an owl perched on his windowsill. He grabbed the letter from her beak and shooed her away. He knew a letter from his mother was never a good thing and he felt a pit in his stomach as he opened it. The letter read:

Dearest Draco,

I just received a letter from the Ministry that your father has an upcoming hearing. If he wins this, he will be home and in my care. It is of utmost importance that you attend this hearing to show we are a united family. I will owl you when I know of the exact date and time.

Kindest regards,

Narcissa

He cringed at the formality of the letter. He often wished he had a normal mother who showed real, true affection. He would never tell anyone this, but often he found himself slightly jealous of the Weasleys and how they had two parents that loved them unconditionally.

He also felt a pit in his stomach as he read the letter over again. His father...possibly coming home... The man who tortured him his whole adolescents. Who only showed he cared if he did his fathers bidding. The one who forced him to get the permanent mark that now covers his forearm.

He spent years trying to please him and he swore on Salzar's grave he would never fall into that again. Draco hoped his father would stay in Azkaban forever and he could live his life uninterrupted.

He sat there for hours with the letter in his hand until he looked at the time and realized it was almost 8pm.

"Shit!" He muttered.

The dance will start in a few and he hadn't even gotten dress yet. He quickly threw on his dress robes and cast a quick charm to make his hair look good. He rushed out of the dorm and through the common room unt he ran smack into someone.

"Draco?" Pansy asked, obviously annoyed "I thought you weren't going to the dance."

Draco didn't have time for this "I changed my mind, now can you please move?"

"Not until you tell me why you changed your mind."

Draco was getting annoyed. "Because I did."

Suddenly she looked hurt. "Did you not want to go with me?"

He knew this was all a facade. Pansy was not the type of girl to show emotions unless it was for manipulation.

"Bugger off Pansy! I really don't have time for this." he tried to side step around her but she blocked him again.

"Draco darling, we can still have fun like old times" She purred, running her finger from the top of his buttoned shirt all the way down to the button on his trousers.

Draco slapped her hand away. "Get it through your dense little head! We are done! Now go find someone else to toy with and leave me the fuck alone!"

She looked at him with eyes like daggers as her smile turned into a sneer. "I know whats going on! That mudblood will never understand you like I do!"

She then stomped away leaving Draco seething with anger. He looked at his wristwatch and saw it was already 8:30. Quickly he ran down to The Great Hall, took a breath and adjusted himself, and then walked in.

He scanned the ballroom of people dancing, not seeing Granger anywhere. He started second guessing this whole thing when someone slapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey mate! You showed up!" said a slightly intoxicated Zabini.

"Yeah I couldn't miss out on watching your drunk arse attempt to dance" Draco laughed as he continued to look around.

"You looking for Granger?"

Draco looked at him try to hide his shock at the question.

"Come on Draco, I'm not stupid. If you're into her, I'm not going to judge. By they way she's sitting over there. Poor mudblood couldn't get a date either. "

"Thanks mate! Mind if I take a swig?" Draco asked as he drank from Blaise's flask.

He started to feel nervous as he walked over to her. She looked almost unrecognizable with her hair straight and absolutely breathtaking in that dress. He didn't even know what he would say once he got over to her but right now he was letting his want for her take over.

He finally made it over to her and tapped her on her shoulder asking "May I have this dance?"

I'm so sorry it took so long to publish this chapter! Sickness plus mental illness can be motivation killer.

Let me know what you think in the comments!