Chapter 7

The shot glass slammed against the wooden counter with a resounding thud. "Whoooohooo! Nobody can touch the Potter tolerance for alcohol, nobody." Harry roared to a cheering crowd of underage Hogwarts students. "Three in a row, do you want me to do more?" The burst of cheering gave Harry his answer. "Line them up again, Draco, my buddy, my pal." His silver haired friend began to pour more Fire whiskey into a trio of shot glasses lined up on the bar. When he was finished he grinned at Harry and gave him the thumbs up. Then Harry lifted up the first glass and gestured toward the crowd. In a second the burning liquid was sliding down his throat.

"I could drink this shit all day!!! Give me another." The crowd turned frenzied as he picked up another shot glass of amber fluid. Gesturing once more he downed this one just as he had the previous. The world began to shift before him. Maybe he was biting off more than he could chew? The mob began to sense his weakness. They then began a chant of "Do it, do it, do it!!!"Finally he succumbed to the pressure that was mounted against him.

"Goddamn it I'm going to finish what I started!" Harry grasped the last glass and brought it up to eye level as if to stare down his enemy. Then with a final gesticulation to the mass of people before him he downed the liquor. This last gulp felt like lava ripping down through his throat. The world began to swim and he had to grab the bar with one hand to steady himself. Draco picked up his other hand to throw it into the air as a sign of victory. Harry smiled to the crowd as the world began to slightly right itself. It however was not as still as he would have liked.

Draco made his way around the bar and put his arm around his friend's shoulders. He had enough experience to know that Harry was severely intoxicated even if he didn't necessarily look it. "I think you're good for the night bud. Let's just go enjoy the party." The platinum headed Slytherin said to Harry as he guided him into the crowd. Harry nodded in defeat but kept a smile on his face as he looked around the landscape surrounding him. He began to wink at the various girls present. Some nervously began to twirl their hair with nervous grins after gaining the attention of the great Harry Potter, King of Slytherin and King of the party.

"Well Draco I think that we will not be having any troubles finding women tonight." Draco grinned and nodded emphatically. "Not any trouble at all. Now if things could just settle themselves maybe I could go get one of them women…" Harry muttered as he tried to walk on his own. "Sometimes an ego can be such a bad thing for your health." Draco chuckled as his friend stumbled across the room. Finally he began to walk straight again.

"Well mate looks like you're all good. I'm going to go see Pansy if I don't I won't ever hear the end of it tomorrow. Good luck to you." Draco said then gave his friend a salute and dove back into the crowd to find his way to his obsessive girlfriend. Harry shook his head at Draco pandering to a girlfriend, how ridiculous? Life should be spent in the moment there was no need for lasting romantic bonds. It was not long before he was distracted from his train of thought by a tall brunette walking by. He began to walk to catch up to her. As she came upon a circle of her friends he stopped and composed himself.

"Hello there fine lady, I do believe we haven't met. The name's Harry, Harry Potter." He introduced himself with a sleazy smirk. The girl smiled and mumbled her name which Harry in his still inebriated state did not choose to commit to his memory. He very soon was leading her away to get better acquainted with her. It was most likely after such activities that he passed out…

()()()

Harry's world suddenly began to come back into focus as he sat up from the bench that he was sprawled across. He rubbed his forehead to try to ease the beating pain that resided in his head. When he looked up the sun angrily glared down at him. All he could remember was shots? How many had he taken? Why was he lying on a bench? The answers to these questions remained elusive. He had to get up and make his way to back to the Slytherin common from what he could see he was in the courtyard on one of the outdoor benches. After examining the area he noticed that there didn't seem to be much amiss. However as he stood up he realized he wore no boxers.

He then got down on his hands and knees searching frantically around the bench for them. Soon enough he found them directly underneath the bench out of sight. He picked them up and then after taking a cautious look around slipped them on after taking his pants off. Once he was all settled he started to make his way back to the castle. By how bright it was outside it was most likely breakfast time. It might be possible that he would be able to slip into the Great Hall directly.

()()()

Thankfully the Great Hall did not fall completely silent when he walked in as he had dreaded. The Slytherin table felt like heaven when he sat himself down beside Draco and Pansy. He put his arm conspiratorially around Draco's shoulders. "Listen we need to talk, now preferably." He said angrily while smiling. Draco nodded and led him back out into the lobby outside of the Great Hall.

"What in Merlin's name happened last night, Draco?" Harry asked his friend viciously. Draco simply smirked back.

"We partied, had some fun, I left you to go find Pansy and you disappeared. I don't have the slightest clue what you did. I did hear that someone saw you leave the party with some stunning chick. How was she, Potter?" Draco remarked while jostling Harry with his elbow.

"Well that would certainly explain the missing boxers…" Harry muttered which sent Draco into uproarious laughter. "It's not funny I have no idea what I did last night or with whom I did things last night. I feel like I've made an absolute and utter fool of myself." Draco kept on laughing and Harry started to glare at him.

"Don't you get it Harry this is what life is all about! This is exactly what you need now!" Harry looked bemused then as if an epiphany struck him.

"Maybe you're right my friend, maybe you're right." Draco then clapped him on the back and they returned to breakfast.