Halloween Pt. 1

(Hermione's POV)

Tonight is about respecting the dead. All sorts of mysterious things roam free, not only the dementors outside our school grounds. I'm just going to focus on traditions to keep all this evil at bay, including the BOYS in my life.

I take the knife and jam it in my jack-o-lantern.

"Hermione, have you ever heard of the phrase, 'you need to be medicated?'" Ron says, staring at me.

"Har, har…har, sod off Weasley," I say looking back at him while stabbing the pumpkin again.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Harry asked genuinely, throwing pumpkin guts in front of him.

"Just tired," I lie, putting down my knife.

"You're tired? Snape favoring Malfoy is really starting to tire me," Ron says, changing the subject. "I still can't believe he made me give him my perfectly chopped daisy roots because of his poor arm," he mocked, cutting a nose into his pumpkin.

"Try skinning shrivel fig to perfection," Harry responded.

"He is milking this whole arm injury," Ron said, putting down his carving knife, grabbing a tart.

"Wood talked to me earlier, Draco is milking his arm with Quidditch too. Turns out we're no longer going against Slytherin for the upcoming game. We're going against Hufflepuff," Harry said, annoyed.

"Easy win then," George appears, picking up some guts and tossing them at Ron. He sits down next to Harry. Fred and Angelina appear across from me and sit down next to Ron.

"That Diggory boy though, he's a sight. I heard he's a quite good seeker," Angelina said smiling.

"Diggory is a thick head, Harry has him, no problem," Fred interjected, taking a quick glance at me before looking at Harry.

"Cedric will look so handsome losing though," George mocked, in a girly tone

"Shut up, Weasley," Angelina laughed, throwing a piece of pumpkin bread at him. George catches it, eats the bread and then starts talking to Harry and Ron about Quidditch.

"So, Fred, about the Halloween feast later, want to go together?" She asked softly, twinkles in her eye.

"Yeah, we all are meeting in the common room around 7, just find us then," he says, oblivious to her twinkle.

"Oh," she says disappointed, " see ya then," She gets up and walks towards another Gryffindor group.

"And I'm idiotic," I mutter under my breath.

"What was that, something about Draco?" Fred quickly said, staring me down evilly.

"Oh, did she tell you about Potions class?" Ron asked, overhearing. "Draco is a ridiculous."

"I'm dying, I'm dying," George mocked, pretending to be Draco, holding his arm. I see Fred look at me, and I roll my eyes. I get up and grab my books. "You're ridiculous Ron, grow up," I snapped.

"What did I say?" He mumbled with pumpkin bread in his mouth. I start to walk out the hall. I exit the door.

"Hermione," Fred yells, grabbing my shoulder.

"What Fred? Come to pile on from last night?" I snap.

"Hermione, I'm sorry about last night," he said, seeming genuine. "I want you to feel like you can open up to me, I'm sorry I damaged that trust."

"Open up so what, you can hold it against me?" I snap, feeling my eyes water.

"Hermione look, I like you, a lot. I'm glad you're around and I don't want you, not to be, you know? You should be with someone who's crazy about you. You definitely talk too much and it can be so frustrating sometimes but, you're the kind of girl that guys won't get over and would be lucky to have even a minute of attention from you. So, if you want to try with Draco, go for it but, if he hurts you, I'll kill him. I can't analyze everything that comes out my mouth but, that, I swear by," he smiles, pulling me in for a hug.

"Thanks, Fred," I smile, as a tear falls down my cheek. I embrace the hug. He pulls away from me.

"So, we're good?" He smiles, wiping the tear from my cheek.

"We're good," I laugh.

"I'll see you at Hogsmeade later?" He asks.

"Yes, see you then. Oh, Fred, Angelina was asking you on a date, in case you didn't realize," I said.

"Oh, thanks," he said, not sounding excited for the news. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful all right?" He said sincerely before walking back into the great Hall.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"It's a shame Harry couldn't get his slip signed," I say to Ron as we're walking to Hogsmeade

"I mean, could you imagine asking his uncle for a signature? I'd rather face a boggart," Ron says, fixing his winter hat.

"You rather face a spider on skates?" I laugh.

"Ok, maybe I'd face his uncle, I'm done with spiders," he laughed. We walk into the sweet shop and it was like a wonderland of color. Taffy, lollis, and chocolate for days. The satisfying smell of all the sweets was magic alone. I lose Ron instantly, and walk to the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans section. I grab a green one.

"Really want to risk that being grass flavored?" Draco whispers, walking next to me.

"I like the smell of grass," I smiled.

"Eating it though?" He laughs. I put the bean in my mouth.

"Watermelon," I smile.

"Lucky," he laughs. He grabs my hand and pulls me into a dark hallway. "Finally alone," he says, pressing his lips to mine.

"Malfoy, stop," I whisper, pushing him away.

"What?" He says, grabbing my waist.

"I just don't know about this," I say honestly.

"Granger, we talked about this in the hospital wing. We would keep it a secret until we see if it goes anywhere."

"I know," I say.

"So, what's the issue?" He says, pulling me close.

"You're still picking on Ron and Harry," I say. "You lied to me.

"I kept information from you," he responded.

"Info that would have came out eventually like Rita skeeter sleeping with Fudge," I snap.

"That was pretty juicy," he laughed, pulling me closer.

"Draco," I said seriously.

"I'm just messing with them Hermione, I have cut back on tormenting them, honest," he said, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Do better," I said, poking his chest.

"Yes, ma'm," he said seductivly, he kisses me again, arm falling out of it's sling.

"Thought your arm was bad," I question.

"You're worth the pain," he whispers.

"You're so full of it," I laugh, embracing his kiss. His cologne becomes overwhelming.

"What cologne are you wearing?" I ask curiously.

"Limited Edition, Black Opera. Don't tell anyone but it's a muggle made product in London. Involves an ancient process involving heating crystals to get the black hue. The glass is hand-blown in Normandy. Why, you like it?" He smiles.

"It's different," I laugh.

"It's 3000 pounds, I would hope for a better description." Before I could respond, he pushes me off of him and I see Crabbe ad Goyle appear.

"Malfoy, is there a reason you're with dirty Granger?" Goyle snarks.

"No, let's go before we catch something," Malfoy laughs, walking away from me. I take a deep breath because that remark stung a bit. I walk out of the hallway, right into Fred.

"Oh, hey," I said, looking up at him, innocently.

"Did he really just say that?" Fred snapped.

"It's not what you think," I huffed.

"So, how about you tell me?" He whispered. I grabbed him and pulled him into the hallway.

"Are you following me or something? We're keeping this whole thing under wraps for a bit, to see if it's really something, testing the waters," I said, defending myself.

"Is that right? He said, undermining me.

"Yes, Fred," I snip.

"You make my brain tired Hermione," he says sighing, rubbing his head.

"Your brain never tires, even for a moment Fred," I smile, punching his shoulder.

"I walk away from my thoughts sometimes Hermione, only turn it back on to flirt with promiscuous Ravenclaws," he winks.

"Ravenclaws huh? What about Angelina?" I question, walking out of the hallway. I look up and see Draco staring at us. I smile at him and he turns his head.

"I don't know, I'm not really feeling anyone right now, women are the worst yet magical unicorns at the same time," he says grabbing a cherry flavored lolli and sticking it in his mouth. "You just want to touch one."

"Unicorns?" I laugh, grabbing some treats for Harry. I walk up to the counter and pay for them.

"Foxy mermaids?"

"You realize they will literally rip your throat out? Also, they're way out of your league," I laugh, opening the door to outside. The snow blankets everything and it looks so clean, like a fresh canvas.

"If I want a mermaid I could get a mermaid, plus they have killer voices, literally," he smiles. He looks down at me.

"What?" I laugh.

"Your scarf is falling off," he say, re wrapping it around my neck. I feel his cold hand graize my warm neck and it sends a shiver down my spine.

"Thanks," I say, blowing on my hands. He reaches in his coat and gives me his gloves.

"I'm gutted you don't think I stand a chance with a mermaid," he says, fake pouting.

"You could get anyone or anything for that matter, if you wanted, you know that," I smile, kicking the snow.

"Not anyone," he says, looking ahead of us.

"Hermione!" Ron yells.

"Well, your brother calls," I say turning around.

"See you at the feast Hermione," Fred says before turning and walking away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm in my room looking into the mirror. I have on a black dress with a black hat. My bushy, brown hair is flowing nicely tonight. The dress is a bit shorter than I would like but it was my mom's and I am taller than her. I have on fishnets and some high boots that go little above my knee. I tie on my black velvet cloak and give one last look in the mirror and fix my black hat. I walk down the stairwell and see our group by the fireplace. Ron is a mummy, Harry a vampire, a few random wizards, and witches like myself. I see George and he is wearing a pearly bra and has a long purple wig. Glitter everywhere and purple pants that flow down into a fin.

"Brilliant mermaid costume, very beautiful. Goes well with your purple skin," I laugh touching the pearl studs on his face.

"Does my butt look too big?" George asks, turning around and putting his hand on his hips.

"Looks great," I laugh. "When is the purple going to fade?" I poke his purple stomach.

"It's starting to fade a bit, finger crossed another day or two," he says, checking himself out in the mirror above the fireplace.

"You look brilliant Granger," Fred says, appearing behind me. He was covered in hair, had a black nose and had bright greenish yellow eyes. He was wearing tattered robes and has on no shoes.

"Thanks, just a basic witch. Werewolf? Love that you used a eye color spell," I say, touching his face.

"You're not a basic witch, trust me. Can you keep a secret?" He whispers.

"Always," I whisper back.

"Professor Lupin," he says. "George and I have this theory," he starts to say.

"Yes, I have the same hunch," I whisper.

"Well, if you have a hunch, must be true," he whispers back. We smile. Angelina walks in dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh. Her white eye liner and shiny, gold jewelry made her eyes pop.

George whistles, "Bloody hell!"

"Great costume," I say.

"Thanks Hermione,"Angelina says beaming. "What do you think Fred?"

"You look great," he says, touching her headpiece.

We all walk down to the Halloween feast together. Everyone is ahead of me and I get suddenly pulled into this small area before the entrance.

"What are you doing?" I snap. Draco covers my mouth.

"Shhh," he whispers.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

"What are you doing?" He says sounding annoyed.

"What do you mean? I ask confused.

"Look at you," he snuffed.

"What?" I say, looking down at my costume.

"You look ridiculous Hermione," he snaps.

"Well, thanks," I say sarcastically.

"And what's up with you and Weasley?" He said angrily.

"What about him? I question.

"I saw you guys a Honeydukes," he yelled.

"Um, yeah? Everyone was there," I snapped. He grabs my arm hard, and pushes me against the wall. He gets real close to my face.

"Listen Granger, I will not have you looking like a trollop. You need to go change now," he demanded. His breath felt hot on my face.

"You need to let go of my arm," I whisper harshly. He lets go and huffs.

"Go change," he demands, and leaves. I just stand there, frozen. I rub my arm and step out in front of the Great Hall entrance.

Catch your breath Hermione.