The Room of Requirement

11:40PM

Thursday, October 31st, 1998

Hermione wondered exactly how specific Draco and Theo had been when they had walked past the Room of Requirement three times, because the location of their after-party looked impeccable.

At first glance, it looked like an upmarket lounge, the kind Hermione had imagined seeing in New York City, with sleek furnishings and expensive accents. There were high tables for groups to stand around and small booths for more intimate conversations, each topped with a long list of drinks. A long bar covered one whole wall, and she quickly learned that you only had to speak the name of what you wanted and it would appear before you, flawlessly made by an invisible bartender. As the bar moved further into the room, she could make out a dance floor, much larger and smoother than the one in the Great Hall. Whilst quiet music played at the entrance of the room, she could feel the floor vibrating and she assumed it could only be because of the heavy bass around the dance floor.

"Want a drink?" Theo asked, leading Hermione to the bar as Ginny explored the room. "Don't wander off, Red," he called after her. "You'll get lost before the party has even started, and definitely not in the good way."

"Stop trying to get Hermione drunk, Teddy," Daphne had arrived, her hand linked with Blaise's. She still looked elegant, though her appearance was now much more suited to a club. She had changed into a short black dress and although the neckline was modest, Hermione could see Blaise's eyes traveling up his girlfriend's exposed leg. Her makeup was darker, too, much more suited to a nightclub with a dark red lip and more black around her eyes. "She wanted a quiet night, not a forgotten one."

"One drink won't hurt," Teddy argued, quickly ordering himself a large Firewhiskey and a Flaming Warbeck for Hermione, though she had no idea what sort of drink it was. He added the order for a second one with the reappearance of Ginny, who accepted the drink gratefully.

As it happened, a Flaming Warbeck was bright red and had magical flames dancing on the surface. It tasted sweet, similar to strawberry Sugar Quills, and Hermione was pleased with the choice. She, Daphne and Ginny gathered around one of the tall tables as Theo and Blaise greeted Draco at the door. It was almost time for other students to be let in and the last of the trio of Slytherins had arrived to put their finishing touches on the party venue.

"So how did he do it?" Daphne asked, sipping at her drink, a bright drink concoction she had called a Glittering Griffin. When Hermione looked clueless, the blonde tapped the Gryffindor's engagement ring.

"Oh, that," Hermione laughed, twisting at the piece of jewellery. "It wasn't anything fancy. We just went on a walk in his parents' garden one night after dinner and he handed me the box."

"My brother isn't exactly known for his romanticism," Ginny said, polishing off her drink. She ignored Hermione's quick glance when she ordered a second for herself.

"I keep wondering when Blaise is going to ask," Daphne said.

"Aren't you two already engaged?" Hermione asked.

"Technically and legally, yes. But I still want a romantic proposal," the blonde laughed. "His mother has the most stunning set of engagement rings, and I imagine he'll pick one out for me. They're just flawless. I guess I was lucky with my parents' choice. They told me when I was twelve, but I was already head over heels for him at that point. We'd been friends for ages but it was when I heard him humming my favourite Weird Sisters song that I knew he was the one I wanted to marry."

"I had a similar feeling about Harry, but that was after he had saved me from a Basilisk in my first year," Ginny joked.

Hermione laughed along with Daphne and Ginny, ignoring the feeling which niggled at the back of her mind. She knew she loved Ron with all her heart, but she hadn't experienced that feeling yet. Perhaps it was because they had known each other for so long, that they knew everything about one another that it was just a feeling she would have to go without in her life.

Draco sat in a sleek leather armchair, tumbler of Firewhiskey in one hand as he watched his party progress. There was a steady stream of awe from the majority of the guests, none of them ever having been to a party thrown by a Malfoy. If there was one thing about his family, it was that they never did anything half-heartedly, and throwing illicit parties at Hogwarts was no exception.

"Good turnout," Blaise joined Draco with his own drink in hand, propping his feet up on the glass table between them.

"Always is," Draco said, finishing his drink and promptly ordering another. As his tumbler refilled, he looked around the room at the guests. Most of the males had simply shed their suit jackets and rolled up their sleeves, whilst the females had undergone more drastic changes. As much as the Samhain Ball had been about elegance, Draco's party appeared to be about letting loose and lifting their hemlines. A few teetered around in impractical high heels, garnering attention from most of the males in the room.

"See anything you like?" Blaise asked, looking over Draco's shoulder to where he knew Daphne was, deep in conversation with Weasley and Granger.

"She isn't going anywhere, Blaise," Draco said, smirking at friend. "And no, nothing of interest. It just looks like a competition to see who can have the shortest skirt."

"I thought you liked that," the Italian wizard said, bringing his gaze back to his best friend. Back in their fourth or fifth year, perhaps, Draco would have liked the expanse of leg on display tonight. But now, at eighteen, he wasn't as distracted by such things. He felt old. "What about Granger?"

"What about Granger, Blaise?" Draco asked, irritated. He had finished his second drink and his eyes were drawn to the increasingly drunk state of some of his classmates. A few of the males were beginning to disrobe, leaving shirts strewn about, and the girls of his year had adopted shrill, loud giggles at anything their male partners would say. "She's engaged and I'm not interested."

"Sure, mate. Whatever you say. But my girlfriend has just freed up and the girl you're not interested in is about to leave," Blaise abandoned his glass on the table, standing up to clap Draco on the shoulder. "Have fun. I have a girl to woo."

Draco rolled his eyes at his lovestruck friend as Blaise wandered over to his witch. It certainly looked as though Granger was getting ready to leave, looking around for someone as she headed to the front of the room. Weasley had dissolved into the crowds heading for the dance floor and the Head Girl looked lost without her. Having nothing else to do, Draco reached her in a few short strides.

"Leaving so early, Granger?" he asked, leaning in front of her and giving the Gryffindor a quick sweep with his eyes before she had registered his presence. She was in a dress he recognised from one of her many public appearances that had been smeared all over The Daily Prophet, short and dark blue with a high neckline to maintain some modesty. Rather than having bare legs and trying to show off as much as most other girls in the room, she was in black stockings and a pair of low black heels. Her hair maintained the volume it had at the ball and Draco found himself cursing Blaise as he appreciated the view.

She jumped at his sudden appearance, pressing a hand against her chest. "You scared me," she said and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I have a lot of homework to do tomorrow."

"No you don't," he said, moving to block her exit as she made to leave again. "We both know you're fully caught up on your work and the only assignment left is our Potions one, which we already have plans to work on and are twice as far along as any other pair."

She scowled and Draco's nose ached for a brief moment, remembering the look on her face before he had punched her in their third year. "Fine," she folded her arms across her chest. "But everyone here is acting completely ridiculous."

He turned his head to look at her claim and saw she was right. Most of their fellow students were making fools of themselves. A large group had dominated the dance floor, falling over each other in an attempt to move to the music, a mixture of Muggle and Magical sounds. Even though the party had only been going for less than an hour, two Hufflepuffs were already passed out, and other students looked well on their way.

"I won't deny that they look ridiculous," he said, turning back to her and continuing to block the exit, "but you won't really make the most of the night if you go back now."

She paused and looked up at him, still a few inches below his six feet in her heels. "One drink, and if I get puked on then I'm going to break your nose again."

Draco smirked. "There's the same old Granger," he said and led her back to his table, helping her into a chair and picking up a menu. "How does a Strawberry Opaleye sound? Other than revoltingly feminine."

"Fine, just hurry up and give it to me so I can go back to my room," she said, taking the drink from the table and taking a small slip. Draco wished he could look away when her tongue darted out to catch a stray drop of the pink drink. "Your invisible bartender may be up to something with this drink," she admitted, taking another gulp.

"Glad you like it," he said and ordered himself another Firewhiskey, feeling pleasantly buzzed from what he had already consumed. "Maybe it'll convince you to let loose a little."

"Not likely," she rolled her eyes, but her cheeks had taken on a light blush which Draco found highly charming. He shook his head slightly, trying to rid it of any impure thoughts about the Gryffindor, but the Firewhiskey was working like a Sticking Charm in his mind. "Why aren't you enjoying yourself like the rest of our classmates?"

Draco lifted his shoulders in an elegant shrug, crinkling his dark green shirt. "I find my enjoyment in more subtle activities. A good drink, mainly."

"Healthy," she said, her drink already half finished. Again, his eyes were transfixed as she caught another drop on the tip of her tongue. He forced himself to think of her fiancé and, when the thought of the redheaded git didn't work, he replaced the image with Weasley in his knickers. The thought alone was enough to make him feel a bit ill and successfully distracted him from the witch in front of him.

Sure, she was hot when she put a bit of effort in. A warm-blooded wizard would either have to be blind or as gay as Terry Boot not to realise that. But there was something else, something he had noticed during their study sessions when her face was wiped clear of any makeup. It was a quiet attractiveness, a quality he had overlooked in his younger years when his mind had been clouded by blood prejudice and a superiority complex. It was in the natural curl of her hair and her wide eyes. It seemed that, even after the war, after all that she had seen and done, Hermione Granger still had a look of innocence about her, and the thought enchanted him.

"Knut for your thoughts?" she repeated his phrase from earlier in the evening and for a moment he wondered how she would react if he told her what he was really thinking.

"Just wondering if you'd like another drink seeing as you've practically inhaled that one," he smoothed over his awkward silence quickly, gulping back the last of his own beverage. It left a sweet burn down the back of his throat and he felt his face warm slightly.

"One more," she said, nibbling on her lip. Her eyes were bright and the pink which had begun to creep across her cheekbones earlier was more prominent now, even in the dark lighting of the room. "But I have to be at least mildly coherent tomorrow so we can work on our assignment."

He waved away her concerns and ordered their drinks, neglecting to mention the level of alcohol in a Strawberry Opaleye. "You'll thank me when you wake up tomorrow and realise that you had a good time tonight rather than turning in at midnight."

"Show me a good time and I might give you some credit," she said. He swallowed, trying to ignore the other implications behind her words.

For the second time that evening, Draco Malfoy cursed Blaise Zabini.

Hermione's Quarters

10:00AM

Friday, November 1st, 1998

The only time Hermione Granger had ever felt this ill was when she had been struck by a particularly nasty virus at the age of eleven. Her head had hammered, her stomach had done flips, and any movement sent her brain spinning around the room. She had seen Ron and Harry with similar ailments since the war had ended, after they had become a bit too enthusiastic at the bar at a public appearance. There had been a particular morning when she had nursed Ron through one of his worst hangovers, trying to keep him from vomiting on the duvet whilst she brewed a Hangover Cure.

Her Muggle alarm clock screamed at her from the bedside table. The wind outside was a personal assault against her senses. She forced herself to move and flip the off button on her clock, effectively silencing the shrill pitch. But she had opened her eyes and was on the receiving end of a horrifically bright light. Her mind swirled through hazy memories of the night before as she forced herself from her warm bed. The first positive she found was that there was no one else in her room, so she was free to wallow in the privacy of her hangover and not try to recall memories of what she may have done to jeopardise her engagement.

She forced the tap to the highest temperature possible, standing under the stream, unmoving, for ten minutes before her head felt clear enough for her to begin scrubbing at her skin. She had slept with her makeup on and thick streams of black lined her face as she turned it to the torrent. Her hair returned to its normal curls as she carefully shampooed it and brushed the knots out. The hot water calmed the raging headache she had been fighting but she felt her stomach would not be entirely settled until she had consumed a cup of tea and a large pitcher of ice cold water.

Wrapped in a fluffy towel with her hair left dripping down her back, the cooling water tickling her spine, Hermione set about preparing herself a cup of tea in her kitchenette. She had organised to meet her Potions partner at half eleven and that they would take lunch in her quarters, enabling them to work straight through until dinner and she wanted to at least be somewhat coherent and presentable.

Whilst her tea brewed in the kitchen, she dressed against the cold autumn weather that had invaded the castle. An old jumper that was two sizes too large and a pair of jeans blocked out most of the cool and she put her still wet hair up in a bun, trying to ignore how messy it would be when she released it from the confining hair tie. With herself clothed in some of her most comfortable garments and a cup of tea by her side, she almost felt well enough to face the day.

The sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs to her dormitory made Hermione sit a little straighter, trying to smooth over her face and hope she didn't look too exhausted.

"I brought you something, Granger," Draco said when he arrived, holding out a small vial with a bright green liquid inside. "Thought you might need it after how you were tipping back those Opaleyes last night."

Her head gave another kick as she remembered the strawberry flavoured drinks and took in the tell-tale shade of a Hangover Cure. After he had assured it wasn't laced with any malicious poison, claiming he would have no feasible way of finishing their Potions assignment if she was taken ill or dropped dead, she accepted it gratefully. It wasn't something she knew how to make off the top of her head, having only prepared it for Ron once in her life.

Its effects were almost instantaneous. Her headache lifted and her nausea was reduced to a small flip in her gut every now and then, something her companion assured her would wear off within the next hour or so. She envied how together he looked, hair neatly in place as usual, in a sleek black suit which probably cost a small fortune. Beside him, with tangled hair and a second-hand sweater, she felt a mess.

"First hangover?" he asked, sitting with his legs beneath him on the floor as he spread out his books. They had taken to camping out on her living room floor for their study sessions rather than trying to share the small table.

"That obvious?" she said as she joined him on the floor, quashing the taste of her Hangover Cure with the last of her tea. She flicked her wand to get a pot of tea brewing for the pair of them to share until lunch.

Draco smirked at her again as he took out an elaborate quill and pot of ink. "You looked like you were struggling," he moved to lean against an armchair, propping a textbook open on his knees. "Surprised you and Potter haven't celebrated with a few glasses of Firewhiskey since the end of The War."

"Getting drunk is more Harry and Ron's idea of a good time," she said, getting to her feet to pour their tea.

"Figures," he said with thin lips and there was something about his tone which prompted her not to continue the conversation.

They worked until close to one o'clock when her stomach started to protest loudly at its lack of food. She ignored Draco's snigger and got to fixing them some sandwiches and a pitcher of pumpkin juice. Thankful for the chance to rest her eyes, she insisted they left their books on the floor and ate at the small dining table. Her stomach and head had settled but her eyes refused to focus, and going by Draco's glazed over grey eyes, she assumed their night of partying was having a similar effect on him.

"Tell me the truth," she began once they had both been revived by her food. "How bad was I last night?"

She saw his grin over the top of his goblet, the same smile which seemed to distil the age in his eyes. "You weren't as bad as you probably think you were. Most people were too drunk to notice or doing their own stupid things. Ted and I were the only ones around you."

A few hazy memories began to resurface. Of her laughing in a way akin to a fourteen year old girl at something Draco had said. Slumping in her chair and leaning against Theo. Him tugging on her hair to keep her awake. "Did I say anything?"

"You said a lot of things," he paused to finish a sandwich but the look on her face prompted him to continue. "It was mainly just a lot of idiotic jokes, Granger, don't worry. There was some incoherent babble about how pretty Greengrass is and apparently you like my eyes," he said, the smoky grey eyes in question sparkling, bright.

Hermione felt her cheeks turn bright red. "Do I even want to know how I managed to get back here without Filch seeing me?"

"Lucky for you, Granger, some of us know how to hold our liquor and when to stop ordering their drinks," Draco said and finished his pumpkin juice. "Don't worry, Daphne made certain I didn't do anything unsavoury when I helped you back here. Slytherin's honour."

"Because that means a lot," she rolled her eyes and stacked their plates, sending them to the sink with a wave of her wand. "Did any of our classmates make fools of themselves if I didn't?"

"Ted is very pleased with the memory he collected of Boot and Corner snogging. I think he's looking forward to showing you." Draco was smirking again "Other than that, just the usual drunken behaviour."

"Theo's going to be bragging about Terry for ages," Hermione said, leaning against a counter.

"We should get back to work." Draco stood.

"I can't focus," Hermione tossed her hands into the air as she spoke. "Can't we just do something else? Hang out or something?"

"Hang out?" Hermione watched one blonde eyebrow arch up, Draco's nose scrunching daintily with the movement. "Granger, we've never hung out before, and until now, our partnership has worked out perfectly without it."

"We hung out last night," she said, propping herself up on the kitchen counter and crossing her legs beneath her. "Besides, we have all weekend to do homework. Come on, Malfoy. Let your hair down."

Draco stared at Hermione, the elegant square of her jaw, a single curl which had come loose and grazed her neck. "Fine," he said, forcing his eyes away from her so he could flick his wand, tidying their books instantly. "Let's 'hang out', as you put it."

Hermione unfolded herself, leaping from the counter and landing gracefully on her toes. She tucked the curl he had been watching behind her ear.

"What do you propose we do?" he asked, stacking the last of his things. "You don't have much to do in here unless it involves books."

"We could get Theo and Daphne and go for a walk."

Having worked at concealing his emotions since he was eleven, Draco was certain didn't show any frustration at the thought of having others join into their session. But he agreed, convincing Hermione to put on a coat before they left.

The castle was still weary from the night before, only the younger students strolling through the chilled corridors. With Halloween over, winter had stolen autumn away overnight. Draco crossed his arms against his chest, reminding himself to pick up a coat and a scarf when they collected his friends.

Hermione seemed to be enjoying the quiet, hands tucked deep into the pockets of her coat. He took quiet glances at her, noticed the freckles across her cheeks, tried not to notice the tip of her nose turn pink from cold. She shivered slightly as they descended farther into the dungeons and towards the Slytherin Common Room. She waited outside as he dragged an unenthusiastic Theo from his bed and convinced a lively Daphne to join them. He pretended not to be infuriated as Theo tossed an arm leisurely around Hermione's shoulders as they walked out of the castle, Draco busy adjusting his scarf.

"Do you like her?" Daphne asked as Theo and Hermione walked out of earshot. Draco watched the Head Girl toss her head back and laugh at something his friend had said.

"She's engaged," he said.

"You didn't answer my question," his blonde companion said. "Do you like her?"

"You've been spending too much time around your boyfriend," Draco's voice dripped with disdain.

"I can see how you look at her. It's how Blaise used to look at me, back when we were young. Like he was afraid that if he looked away, he would lose me," she said and he looked down to see a soft pink glow on her cheeks. "And you hate going on long walks, especially in the cold, so there has to be a good reason why you're out here."

"She's engaged," he repeated, shoving his hands into his coat pockets, but he looked again at Hermione who was stepping on a pile of crunchy leaves, grinning like a child. Cold filled his veins when Theo followed suit, causing the Gryffindor's smile to widen. He was sure that if he was closer, Draco would see how her eyes would be bright, dancing. "It doesn't matter how I feel."

"Of course it matters how you feel, Drake," Daphne said. "Why would you ever think it doesn't? Hermione obviously cares for you on some level."

"She cares for Ted more."

"So? Make her care for you more. Just let her know that she's important to you," Daphne began to quicken her pace. "You never know how it'll turn out."

The blonde girl reached her other two friends, linking arms with Theo as they walked. She turned back to look at Draco quickly, but all he noticed was Hermione mimicking her movements, pivoting slightly to face him. The Gryffindor smiled and hung back, waiting.

"Having fun?" she asked when he had caught up. She turned her face towards him as they walked, squinting against the afternoon sun and peering at him through a lock of hair which was in her line of sight. He paused for a brief moment before pulling his hand from his pocket and pushing it aside, the movement startling them both.

"Bit cold for my liking," he said quickly, trying to gloss over the situation. To her credit, Hermione said nothing, just kept walking. "I prefer warmer months."

"I'd have thought you would look like a lobster in summer. Wouldn't your skin just crisp up?" she said, grinning up at him.

"Funny." He rolled his eyes. "Really, Granger, you should become a comedian. But as it happens, I enjoy holidaying in the south of France during my summers. Plenty of sun."

"Is that where you'll be over Christmas, too?" she asked.

"No, I'll be at the Manor," he said. "Mother just finished refurbishing it and she's throwing a celebratory charity dinner over New Year's Eve. I'm expected to attend." He thought of all the effort his mother would be going to, the stress levels which would consume her over the break. She had already ordered his suit and attended three dress fittings for herself, her anxiety seeping into her weekly letters to him.

"You don't sound excited," Hermione commented, pausing to pick up a vibrant orange leaf.

"It's just a large amount of unnecessary drama," he said and plucked the leaf from her grasp. "She can throw as many charity desires as she wants but the Malfoy name will still be in tatters thanks to my father."

His companion said nothing, but he recognised the look on her face as they walked, cheeks tinged with pink. She was concentrating, figuring the right thing to say, working the words out on her tongue before she spoke. But they were interrupted when Theo and Daphne walked towards them, saying it would be getting dark soon and that they couldn't feel their toes.

Theo draped his arm over Hermione's shoulders as they returned to the castle and Draco could feel Daphne's eyes upon him when his body stiffened at the action. Daphne placed a cautious hand on his forearm, squeezing for reassurance when Hermione rolled her eyes and shrugged away from Theo's grasp.

The Head Girl left them at the main staircase to return to her dormitory, her soft footfalls echoing in the front hall of the castle. Draco turned around once before he and his fellow Slytherins began their descent into the dungeons, catching sight of Hermione watching them go.