Day of the party
Christmas day
Hermione stared at her plate nervously as the seats around Professor Slughorn's table began to fill up over a short time.
The day had been rather cold when she woke up. The sky hadn't been such a grateful colour either. Wait a minute. Black and white aren't even colours right? The sky looked literally black and white- and on Christmas day too! Fortunately, the inside of the Hogwarts Castle made up for the awful colour, putting on a vibrant kaleidoscope of christmas colours that took everybody's breath away. Hermione's favourite part of the castle had been the, Great Hall, not the library, because it was the only part of the castle where things were decorated differently every year.
She had spent the past two days thinking about the party. Like whether she had the right dress or not. She had almost planned on wearing what she had back during The Yule Ball, but considered it a bad choice after realising how people would think that she had no clothes. Thinking about today made her remember how she had agreed with Cormac that they were only going to go out until this point. After that, they weren't to be anything else. Now that had been ages ago...
"We still have to wait for Mr. McLaggen." Professor Slughorn muttered when he noticed Melinda Bobbin and one of the Carrow twins attempting to eat without being noticed. "We must wait for the boy before we eat."
There was an empty space next to the Professor. It obviously meant that the seat was reserved for Cormac.
Thirty minutes later
Cormac had taken his time to arrive, muttering a quick apology when he sat down. He had mentioned something about one of his friends playing a prank on him which caused his lateness. Professor Slughorn seemed absolutely fine with it. It was pretty awkward. The entire party. It was pretty awkward considering how most of the people that had been invited never hung out together before. The only person who was 'forcing' everybody to communicate was the Professor.
Hermione looked over to Cormac as the deserts course arrived. This was the second time she looked over to him, and she could feel her heart fluttering- weakly. It was only fluttering because she wanted to talk to him- not because she actually liked him? She grimaced as he stuck his entire hand into the creamy cake before licking at it with his fingers. He looked over to her, making eye contact, and gave her a flirtatious smile as he sucked on his index finger.
"Merlin, he's disgusting." Blaise whispered to her.
She wanted to laugh but didn't as Professor Slughorn began speaking again.
"Mr. McLaggen?" He questioned the way Cormac was eating.
"My uncle taught me how to eat this," Cormac told the Professor. He gave Hermione a quick wink. "He said it tastes the best this way."
Hermione could tell that she was not the only one trying to suppress the laughter building up. Ginny had fallen off her seat, blaming how at fault her chair was, whilst everybody else began coughing and muttered how sweet the desert was.
"Then let's all try eating the way he likes it best!" Professor Slughorn said.
"My mother has always taught me my manners." Blaise muttered.
"Same here." everybody agreed.
This left the Professor to eat on his own. Cormac began coughing as he watched the Professor, unable to control his laughter.
Hermione shook her head, wondering how Cormac could get away with such an obvious lie. He gave her a smirk before looking over to Harry, who Hermione noticed was giving him a glare. Hermione then remembered that Harry didn't like Cormac either, not that she cared. Honestly, everything she had ever done for both Ron and Harry seemed to have been all for nothing. Not once had they said a proper thank you, rather saying it when she mentioned or hinted at it. They had never thanked her on their own accord.
Later after the meal, Professor Slughorn brought them to a different room and told everybody that they could bring over their dates. As everybody left to bring their date over, Hermione and Cormac found themselves awkwardly standing in the middle of the room with Professor Slughorn who was looking at the two with a curious yet amused look on his face.
"Let me guess," He said, pointing at the two of them continuously with a smile. "Neither of you got dates?"
Cormac laughed. "No, sir, I'm too hot for anybody to resist. The girls would sneak in more likely, you watch."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yes, you are a fine looking boy."
"Actually, Professor," Cormac said. "I've asked Ms. Granger to be my date."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, causing her to emit a short and quiet gasp.
Professor Slughorn raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Well that's marvelous! Better having two brilliants than a brilliant and an average person together right?" He suddenly made his way out of the room, muttering something about picking up the guests that he had invited from outside of school.
"You can let go of me now." Hermione told Cormac as the door shut behind the Professor.
Cormac hesitantly let go.
"My brother's coming over with a lady friend," Hermione said. "And a vampire at that."
Cormac grinned, eyes dilated. "You serious?" he said. "I didn't know you had a brother!"
"Viktor Krum actually," Hermione said. "We did this blood bond earlier during the year. During the summer holidays actually."
"Your ex boyfriend?"
"Yeah. We were better off as friends, close friends. He felt like an older brother to me if you know what I mean, being three years older."
"I'm older than you. So do you see me as a brother?"
Before Hermione could answer him, the door opened and a crowd of people came in. She was surprised to see that Luna had come to the party with Harry instead of Blaise, later finding out that Harry had already asked her before she had even began going out with Blaise, who had invited Pansy Parkinson. Ginny came with Draco. She didn't know who the other people were, as in the ones that the Carrow twins and Melinda Bobbin had invited, but recognised their faces.
Cormac was talking to her but she didn't realise that she wasn't listening to him as she saw two beautiful women, Alice Cullen and Fleur Delacour make their way in. Fleur had surprisingly brought Bill over as her date. Ginny had told Hermione earlier that they had broken up, but the way they were behaving told her otherwise. Seeing Alice alone, she wondered where her brother was.
"Hermione! Are you even listening to me?" Cormac asked in an irked tone, before also spotting Fleur and Alice. "Merlin, look who's setting this place on fire! Is that Fleur Delacour?"
"Hermione!" Alice screamed before they both ran over to each other.
Hermione returned the big hug Alice gave her and found herself soon flying, or rather, turning around as Alice spun her around.
"I've missed you!" Hermione said.
"I've missed you too!" Alice replied.
Cormac looked like he was about to drool. "May I introduce myself?" he asked Alice as she slowed down the twirl.
"Hello Mr. McLaggen." Alice said with an energetic smile as she literally dropped Hermione. "I'm Alice, Alice Cullen."
"How did you know my name?" Cormac asked, completely ignoring Hermione as she attempted to get up. "Cormac McLaggen? Is it because of my Uncle?"
Alice laughed as she lent Hermione a hand. "Let's just say I'm psychic!"
Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile but later found herself rather jealous of all of the attention that Cormac was putting onto Alice. "Hey, Alice? Do you know where Viktor is?" she asked.
"He's signing some autographs." She said. "That Slughorn Professor of yours is making him sign his autograph for literally every student."
Hermione frowned.
"Mrs. Cullen?" Professor Slughorn suddenly yelled from where he was standing.
Hermione noted that a very irked looking Fleur and some other man were already standing with the Professor. She also noted how every male figure in the room were horrified to now know that Alice's married. Alice didn't look to happy as she skipped off to the Professor probably already knowing the result of what would be somewhat of a conversation, leaving Hermione alone with Cormac.
Cormac began a conversation with Hermione, although she didn't really pay attention again and just nodded every now and then just to keep him happy.
"I've got tryouts in the new year with this Quidditch team." Cormac said.
"Oh do you?" she mumbled, half listening.
"Yeah. They said if I do well, they'll sign a contract with me early so that I can join the team right after I graduate. But that will leave me unable to sign for a better team if they do end up wanting me."
"That's great."
"I'm not allowed to tell anybody which team. Actually I'm not even supposed to be talking about-"
"Viktor!" Hermione squealed, as she saw her brother as the doors opened.
She ran up to him and gave him a hug, happy to see that he was all right.
"Sorry I'm late, autographs." Viktor muttered.
"It's all right. At least you're here."
"Hermione!"
Hermione slowly let Viktor go but kept a hold of his hand as Cormac walked up to them. He looked rather pissed off.
"That was very rude of you, just leaving me there!" Cormac said.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry, I just forgot that you were talking to me when I saw Viktor come in."
Cormac gave Viktor a look. "You can let go of my girlfriend's hand now."
Viktor, with his usual scowl on his face, have Cormac a look. "Excuse me?" He turned to face Hermione with a smile on his face. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Just a date." She turned to face Cormac and gave him her most innocent smile.
Cormac frowned just as music began to play. Hermione wondered if he was going to ask her to dance with him but felt her heart sink when Cormac muttered something about getting drinks instead. When her brother asked for one dance with her, she accepted it, and walked to the middle of the room where a small crowd already formed, filled with couples dancing.
She could feel envious and jealous eyes on her as she danced with her brother. They didn't know that Viktor was her brother, which probably explained the looks on their faces.
"I think he really likes you." Viktor suddenly said.
"Who?"
"That guy vho talked to us earlier." Viktor said. "He's making faces our vay. I'll show you."
Viktor twirled her around twice, and she indeed saw Cormac glaring their way, pretending not to look when their eyes made contact. She giggled as Viktor stopped twirling her.
"He's so adorable when he makes those faces." Hermione unknowingly said.
"Do you like him too?" Viktor whispered.
She shrugged. "Maybe. Not quite. Just maybe."
"I'll hand you offer to him now then," Viktor said, as he stopped dancing.
He then began to lead her to where Cormac was, whispering something about a mistletoe, but she couldn't quite catch what he had said.
"You may haff a dance vith her," Viktor said.
Cormac grabbed her hand roughly. "Thanks."
He then dragged her off to the dance floor and began to dance. They were at the furthest corner of the dance floor. Looking around, she noted that they were furthest away from Viktor. She laughed.
"What's so funny?" Cormac asked.
"You're being so childish about this." Hermione laughed. "I am your date, Cormac, not anybody else's."
"Then why did you dance with your bloody brother?" he mumbled.
"Because he's my brother."
They danced for a bit more in silence before suddenly finding themselves under a mistletoe. Hermione only noticed after Cormac began to lean in towards her, his eyes looking slightly glazed. Caught off guard, she slapped his face and took a step back.
"What?" Cormac asked, looking really surprised.
"Don't expect me to just kiss you like that!" Hermione shrieked, not knowing why she was exactly angry. She thought about her action and decided that she was right to have slapped him as his attempt to kiss her hadn't been exactly 'right'. He couldn't just kiss her whenever he wanted, mistletoe or not. He had probably led her over to the mistletoe on purpose.
She hurried away from him and searched for Viktor, finding him stuck in a conversation with Fleur Delacour, who looked more than just interested in him. She grabbed his hand and dragged him outside with her, only stopping when they got to the Black Lake.
"Hermione? Vhat's the matter?" He asked her when she let go of his hand.
She collapsed and sat on the rock nearest to them.
"Cormac just tried to kiss me." she said. "under the mistletoe.
"And did you?"
She shook her head. "I slapped him."
"Do you vant to talk about it?"
She shook her head and later watched as her brother fumbled with his necklace.
"You are confused, that's vhat necklace says. Confused, angry, upset and in loff."
"With a guy like him?" Hermione asked. "He doesn't even seem right for me!"
"I think you just rejected him because of all of the emotions you are feeling." Viktor said. "His action just came as a shock to you."
"You think so?" Hermione asked.
Her brother nodded, before taking his wand out. "You look cold."
He took the coat that he had been wearing and placed it around her shoulders, and she immediately began to feel warmer as snow began to fall. She leaned against her brother's shoulder and sighed as she saw the sun setting. It wasn't such a nice colour, a rather angry red. Just like how she was feeling. She felt happier though when her brother kissed her head, telling her that life would unravel things for her in the end and that she just had to wait.
"He's not your brother!" a voice hissed.
Hermione turned around as her brother did and saw Cormac standing just a couple of meters behind them.
"You're using me!"
What Cormac said hurt Hermione's heart, it really ached. She realised then that what he said was partly true as she had only wanted to go to the party with him to get Ron jealous. "Cormac, let me explain-"
"There is nothing to explain!"
Hermione's eyes dilated as Viktor took his wand out.
"You give my sister respect!" Viktor yelled. "I vill not haff stupid guy like you yelling at her in my presence! Apologise!"
Cormac probably knew of Viktor's dark arts training when he had gone to Durmstrang and hesitantly acquiesced to his command.
"Sorry." he mumbled.
"I think that I am not to be here," Viktor then said, in a much calmer voice. "I vill give you two time to talk. I shall be back at the castle."
Viktor gave Cormac a warning look before waddling off in his duck footed gait. Hermione normally would have smiled whenever seeing her brother walk like that but the tension in the atmosphere and the situation involving Cormac stopped her from doing so.
"So were you using me?" Cormac asked quietly.
"Well... originally I was." Hermione hesitantly began. "Because of Ronald."
Cormac laughed but immediately returned to his angered look. "That idiot?"
"I don't like him anymore though. He was no more than an infatuation."
"Then what was that kissing with 'your brother'?" he asked.
"He was only worried for me. Honestly, Cormac, we treat one another no more than brother and sister."
"And what about me?" Cormac asked. "You left me under the mistletoe with a slap on my face."
"Oh that..." Hermione mumbled. "I was just so confused."
"I still don't understand why you would do that to me." He muttered. "I thought we had some sort of connexion, I thought we had a thing going on."
"You never said 'I love you' to me, or anything, so don't expect me to do the same." Hermione said. "And we only planned to go out until this day, nothing more."
"So are you going to end things with me after today?" Cormac asked.
Hermione thought about his question for a while, and wondered if she did want to end things. She was about to answer him when he continued talking.
"Do you want to end things with me so that you can run off and be with Zacharias without any worries?" he asked.
"Yes, I do want to be with him," Hermione said. "As good friends. He's like my friend for life, he's there to make me angry and there to make me happy, he's always been there to make me feel all sorts of emotions. He's always managed to make me smile unlike you. He's like my soul mate."
"Then run off to him," Cormac said loudly, he was beginning to yell. "Run off to him if you love him so fucking much!"
"I never said anything about loving him!" Hermione yelled back. "I don't love him okay? I love you!"
There were a few people with them at the lake, and they could obviously now hear everything between the two since it was so quiet and that they were yelling.
Hermione couldn't believe what she had said, and neither did Cormac since his jaw had now dropped. A strange silence passed by them and Hermione felt like she needed to pee. She noticed a smile slowly forming on Cormac's lips, a delirious smile.
"Could you say those three words again please?" Cormac asked her. "Please?"
"I didn't say anything!" Hermione hissed, beginning to make her way out of the black lake.
"Oh come one!"
He grabbed her arm, immediately prompting her to hesitantly shake his hands off of her.
"Please?"
"Leave me alone, Cormac."
"Those three words?"
"Leave me alone!"
"Not those three words."
She whipped her wand out but found herself weak when he suddenly kissed her lips. She hadn't been expecting that to happen, definitely not out in this cold. A wave of millions of tiny electric-like things began to travel all around her body and she felt like she was going to explode. She had never felt a kiss like that before. She found herself going furiously red as she wondered if her brother knew what was going on, regardless of watching them or not, since he had the stone to look at.
When she parted from Cormac, she saw him looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Are you still not going to say it?" he asked. "Maybe I just misheard you?"
"Oh all right. I love you!"
Cormac smiled as he brought her into his arms to engulf her in a hug. Hermione found herself warming to his smile and sinking into him, as she began to realise what she had said and how she actually felt.
Zacharias was her soul mate and Cormac wasn't, but Cormac was the one that she loved. She suddenly realised that soul mate wasn't all about love and everything.
"So is today the last time we'll be together?" Cormac suddenly asked her as the sky turned into a dark colour with bits of glitter here and there. "Is today the end of us?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. It's only the beginning."
A/N Hey guys! Now this is the end of the entire story! Thank you for reading this and I'm sorry for all of the sudden stoppages here and there! I hope you enjoyed this story! And thanks for all of the reviews!