Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me. Poo.

Author's Note: I sort of have an idea about where I am taking this, but I'm not 100 percent sure. I still want ideas, but I may not use all of them. Hopefully, this will be the chapter with the party. Heehee.

Chapter Ten

Hermione entered her common room with a smile on her face. This was quite a different expression from what had been only twenty minutes earlier.

Hermione had stopped off at the Quidditch game, and saw that Gryffindor had won. Back in the common room, she waved her wand, transforming the room. The lights were dimmed, balloons and streamers appeared, food and drinks were situated in one corner, a music station in another, and all the couches and tables were shoved against the walls and out of the way. It had been decided earlier that one of the sixth years, a friend of Ginny's, would control the music, so Hermione slipped in a popular CD, just until Ginny's friend arrived. Before she turned up the volume, though, she cast a soundproofing spell on the room, so anyone walking outside the room would not hear them.

After the room was situated, Hermione headed to one of the couches, with the thought of Draco on her mind. She was interrupted, though, by the sound of doorbell. It was the sound that Allegra was to make that alerted Hermione of the first guests.

Hermione walked over to the portrait door, forgetting about Draco.

The first bout of guests included some younger students, but, about ten minutes later, the entire Quidditch team arrived, cheering loudly. Somehow, a bottle of fire whiskey appeared on the drinks table, and Hermione noticed that the noise level rose an octave. She was too preoccupied congratulating her friends, though.

"I'm so happy for you guys!" Hermione cried, pulling Ginny into a hug. She moved onto Ron. "And I am so sorry I didn't stay for the entire game."

Harry looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean, you didn't stay?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck. "I'm very sorry, but you know Quidditch bores me to death. I totally respect your enthusiasm towards the game, but I just don't get it. Don't be mad at me."

Harry pulled Hermione into a kiss, and Ginny and Ron discreetly left the two alone. "How could I ever be mad at you?" Harry asked, smiling. "What did you do, though? During the game?"

"Um," Hermione looked down, avoiding his gaze. "I just went to the library, did a little reading."

Harry snaked his hands around her waist. He gave her another kiss, longer this time, but much sweeter. "I love how smart you are. Want something to drink?"

Hermione nodded. She headed towards Ginny while Harry moved over to the drinks. He randomly grabbed two cups of punch, and walked back over to Hermione.

"Sorry I didn't get you something to drink, Ginny," Harry said sheepishly, as he handed his girlfriend a cup.

"It's okay," Ginny said, smirking. Looking over her shoulder, she said, "Seamus, sweetie, can you come here for a second?"

As Seamus walked over to the trio, Harry and Hermione turned to each other and mouthed, "Seamus? Sweetie?!"

Seamus Finnegan slipped his arm around Ginny's shoulder, and pecked her cheek. Ginny turned to Harry and Hermione. "Seamus and I are dating." Ginny smiled at Seamus, but Hermione was shocked. This was Ginny's third boyfriend since school started.

"Seamus, can you go get me a drink?" Ginny asked. Seamus nodded, and walked to the drinks.

Hermione turned to Harry and lowered her voice. "I need to talk to Ginny about something, I'll meet you on a couch?" Harry nodded, and quickly left the two alone.

"Gin, can I talk to you about something?" Hermione stepped closer to the girl.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I'm not really sure how to phrase this. Um, I've noticed that you seem to be going through boyfriends rather…quickly."

Ginny squinted her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Just that, I think you should wait at least a week before pouncing on another guy."

"Maybe I like having many boyfriends," Ginny said defiantly. "Maybe I'm just playing the field. Maybe it's none of your business."

"Ginny, don't be like that. I'm just thinking about what's right for you."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Hermione." Ginny spun on her heel and stalked away from her friend.

Hermione stood there, stunned, for a few moments. She couldn't tell when the conversation had turned sour. Suddenly, though, Hermione could tell that she was going to piss off Ginny. Hermione had tried to calm things down, but everything just spiraled out of control.

Hermione didn't notice that Harry had joined her until he placed his hand on her shoulder, jostling her out of her thoughts. She looked up at him, confused for a moment, wondering what had happened.

"Hermione? Hermione?" Harry asked, concerned. "Is everything okay?"

She looked up at him. "Ginny hates me," she said breathlessly. "She absolutely hates me."

"How is that possible?" Harry asked, with a half smile. "How could anyone be mad at someone as sweet and…sexy as you." As Harry said this, he ran his hands through Hermione's hair.

"Harry, I'm being serious." She pulled his hands away. "I…implied that I thought she was rather…slutty, what with all her boyfriends. I mean, I never came out with that word, or anything, but, she's, like, had three boyfriends in the past month. Three boyfriends! That's more than I have had in my entire life! And she's younger than me!" Hermione looked Harry straight in the eye. "Tell me, please, truthfully: Was I in the wrong?"

Harry thought about his for a moment. "I do agree that Ginny has had a lot of boyfriends, but I think you could've approached the situation better. During a party, after she just won a Quidditch match, probably wasn't the best time."

"You're right," Hermione said, sighing. "I just don't know how to make it up to her. You know how stubborn Ginny is. She probably won't even listen to me."

"Hermione, sweetie, just let her calm down. Talk to her tomorrow, after she's slept a little. I know it's totally cliché, but she will be more reasonably tomorrow. Trust me. Just have fun tonight. Let loose. You deserve it."

Hermione sighed and smiled up at Harry. "How come you always know the right thing to say?"

"It's a gift." Harry slipped his hand around Hermione's shoulder, and led her over to the center of the room. "Dance with me, please."

Hermione sighed, but wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, and began moving her hips in beat with the music. Soon, they were really into it, gyrating together, barely noticing the rest of the room. Harry had his head buried in Hermione's hair, and Hermione had pressed her head against his chest, breathing in his scent.

Surprisingly, the party flew by, students getting more drunk by the hour. Soon, it was time for everyone to leave, because Draco was heading back from Slytherin.

Hermione and Ron were leading people out the door, thanking them for coming, and promising to have a repeat party. Hermione hadn't seen Ginny leave, but she didn't see her in the room. Hermione also didn't see Harry. She didn't think he would leave without saying goodbye, but Hermione wasn't totally sure. It was pretty late, and Harry did just help win a Quidditch game. It would be totally understandable if he didn't stick around, and she wouldn't be upset.

Little did Hermione know, Harry was in the bathroom, thinking hard. During the Quidditch game, Harry had gotten an urge to tell Hermione that he loved her. He wasn't sure what compelled him to want to do so, but he knew that he had to. He figured if he waited until everyone left the party, he could tell her. He knew he would have to tell her before Draco got back to the room, or else it would be totally uncomfortable.

Hermione plopped down on one of the couches, and pulled out her wand. Muttering an enchantment, the room was transformed back into its original look. Hermione leaned back against the seat, and stared at the ceiling.

So many things had happened to her over the past weeks. Hermione had never thought that she could change in so little time. Most of the events were happy, but a few, like fighting with Ginny and kissing Draco, hadn't been too good. Hermione hoped these weeks wouldn't affect the rest of the year.

The opening of the portrait door startled Hermione out of her thoughts. She sat up, and stared into the face of Draco. He looked apologetic.

"Sorry," he said. "Did I wake you?"

Hermione sat up fully. "No," she said. "I was just…thinking."

"Oh. Well, I'm going to head to bed, I guess."

"Wait," Hermione said. Draco stopped. "Come sit with me. I want to talk." Hermione patted the couch next to her. Draco hesitated, but sat next to her anyway, subtly keeping some space between the two. He had promised himself he was not going to have a repeat of their kiss, no matter how much he wanted to.

In the bathroom, Harry had prepared upon entering the common room seconds before Draco entered. Of course, he knew he would have to wait. That didn't stop him from keeping the door open partially, if only to see how Hermione acted around Draco. Harry knew that Hermione felt he was a prick, but he wasn't sure how she acted around her dorm mate behind close doors.

"I just want to apologize about the…incident," Draco said. "I feel bad about it, and I know that it probably affected you negatively."

"It's okay," Hermione said, smiling reassuringly. "I've calmed down a bit. And I spent some time thinking about my relationship with Harry. I…feel strongly about him, and don't want to do anything to hurt that."

What incident? Harry thought, confused. What are they talking about?

"Well, you know," Draco said, smirking, "You are a great kisser. Apparently, Potter's taught you some good."

Kissing? Did they…KISS! Harry was very upset at this revelation, but waited. He wanted to see how Hermione reacted to Draco.

Hermione smacked his arm. "Shut up. I thought we weren't going to talk about that anymore."

"Maybe I lied."

"Maybe."

This entire time, the two of them had been getting closer, their smiles widening. Suddenly, Draco dropped his gaze to Hermione's lips. Hermione saw this, and involuntary looked at his lips.

"Hermione," Draco whispered, leaning in close.

"You said my--" Hermione didn't get the word name out, because Draco's lips crashed down on hers. Harry gasped, but kept silent. He felt so betrayed, yet, oddly, needed to see how far this went, how much she would betray them.

Mixed emotions were running through Hermione. She felt like she wanted this, because he was so good at kissing, yet she knew that it was wrong. Hermione knew that this could only end badly.

Okay, so I know this didn't end that well. I like the last little paragraph, but the stuff leading up to it, not so much. It's just late, and I really needed to get this out, so there you go. Other chapter will be coming your way soon. Please give me ideas!!