In sixth year, one beautiful day in early October we'd gone too far with a prank. Actually, it was my prank that had gone wrong, but what had ensued was both our faults. Or maybe we could blame fate again for things like that.

It was a lovely Monday morning. The sun was shining brightly through the window, but I had a headache. A headache attributed to a bloody hangover which in turn could be attributed to the damned night before which in turn could be attributed to the damned people I called friends. Waking up to a glorious morning with a sun-filled, clear blue sky, and little birds singing cheerfully made me want to curse the living daylights out of the damned girls who slept like baby rhinos in the beds next to mine. I glared blearily at their forms. If only the boys that seemed to adore them so could see how their darling girls looked at this very moment.

Bloody Parvati.

Bloody Lavender.

Oh-ho bloody ho. Look who wandered into our dorm room.

Ginerva Bloody Weasley. Sleeping on the bloody floor there looking quite the spectacle.

I grimaced. I felt nauseous and very vindictive. Walking to the bathroom over the mess that we called our dorm was absolutely impossible with the state I was in. Therefore, I did not walk, but rather crawled with all the dignity I could muster. Not looking where I was particularly crawling but using all my energy and concentration on the act, I crawled right through what I'm positive was someone's puked up liquor and then right through somebody's piss. I was definitely positive it wasn't Crookshanks' piss. Bloody trashed bitches. I thought. I'll murder you all.

We had decided to celebrate, rather belatedly, the completion of the Quidditch team as well as to just have a break from the horribly stressful and work laden start of term. Saturday night, however due to some unforeseen problems (damned Peeves and also damned Ron, not to mention bloody Mrs. Norris) we moved the party over to Sunday night. Merlin, it was bloody miracle that Filch hadn't discovered our little party in the abandoned classroom on the 5th floor. It was a damned miracle that no one had been caught on the way back from the bloody party either, what with the state they had all been in. The state WE had all been in. THE STATE I HAD BEEN IN.

I wasn't too happy at that moment.

"I'll never drink this much. Ever. Bloody. Again. Holy sh-" I heaved into the toilet before I could finish my sentence. I couldn't even catch my breath before the next wave of last night's liquor gushed out. It took one last cleansing of my stomach before it all stopped. I cursed every single person at that party last night. Repeating curses for the main people responsible for the state I was in. I had specifically said that I didn't want anything alcoholic. But no. None of them would listen. Spiking my bloody drinks, the lot of them. By the time I had realized that something was wrong with me, I was too busy readily accepting straight up shots of Merlin only knows what. Bloody, damned, bastards.

I walked towards the shower, slightly stumbling with the effort to walk in a straight line. Talk about cranky, I was in one hell of dreadful mood, but with the warm water that lightly beat against my back, I relaxed. It was then that I remembered our plan for that morning. Malfoy. My face lit up with a malicious smirk. Or rather what I had hoped was a malicious smirk rather than a drunken madwoman's crazed smile. We, or rather I, had come across a rather brilliant little hex in one of my bedtime reading books.

After my shower I found Lavender's box filled with vials of potions varying from hangover cures, pepper-ups, to glamour and something I couldn't identify but which gave off a strange odor of roses. Taking another whiff, I smelled a bit of chocolate and cinnamon. "It's a love potion." I realized, a bit disturbed by the fact that Lavender possessed a couple vials of this weaker yet still effective love potion.

"Lavender?" I turned towards the sleeping girl. She was slightly drooling and she was snoring so loudly it was unbelievable that her small delicate nose was capable of such a sound. Imagine the look on Ron's face, I thought.

"Lavender. Wake up."

"Oh mummy, just a little longer." She mumbled before turning over in her sleep.

"Lavender, if you don't wake up now you'll miss your chance to shower before Parvati." Lavender moaned in response. I glanced across the room to see that Ginny was still here and sleeping soundly as ever. "Apparently, you'll have to compete against Ginny as well."

Lavender gave another moan. She rolled over. I looked back at Parvati and when I had turned back to Lavender she was rolling once more, this time right over the bed. She awoke at the sudden impact and her screech had the lovely effect of waking everyone else while shattering my currently oversensitive eardrums as well.

"Merlin hex you to hell and bloody make you stay there. My headache is back." I glared at her form sprawled on the floor.

"Shut it, you." She replied fiercely, not even bothering to get up off the floor.

"Both of you, shut your ugly faces." Yelled Ginny grinning cheekily at us before getting off the floor and crawling into my bed.

I threw one of Parvati's stuffed animals at her. It screamed in protest, screamed louder at impact and caused Ginny to look ready for bloody murder. She ripped the head off the thing before turning her furious eyes to me. I shrugged her off nonchalantly, took a glance at Parvati before turning my attention to Lavender again. Parvati had already fallen back asleep. 5:45 in the morning was much too early for her.

"Well since you're bloody awake now, can I have this hangover pot?" I asked, holding the vial of potion in front of her and lightly shook it side to side.

She looked at it carefully, her eyes watched the liquid swirl and mix before she looked ready to hurl. She glared at me irritably. "Smell it. I have a Merlin damned load of shit in that box. I'm sure a smart girl like you can identify it though and not take the wrong one." Whether the latter comment was sarcastic or not, I didn't much care. I had been in a worse mood when I got up that morning so I can't really judge her for her damned crankiness. Oops, was that my bitter voice?

"Yea, I wouldn't want to take one of your darling, little love pots and be a lesbian for a day." I muttered as she walked towards the shower. She threw her loofa at me. I stuck my tongue out at her and threw it back, knowing she'd want it in the shower. I opened the vial and grimaced at the smell. It was a nasty hangover pot alright.

I walked down to breakfast, feeling much less nauseous and much more alert, not to mention excited. "Malfoy, malfoy. That last stunt you pulled is nothing compared to this." I thought.

"Oh, Malfoy." Apparantly, I had said his name out loud.

"Why in heaven's name are you calling out, so lovingly mind you, our dear ferret's name?" Asked Ron, popping up beside me.

"I don't know Ron, she kind of had this mad glint in her eyes." Harry laughed, appearing on the other side of me.

I looked at them both, smiling, as thoughts of last night and my dreadful morning fluttered into my mind.

"My lovely best friends." I hugged them closer to me.

"Had a good morning? " Harry asked putting his arm around me lightly.

"My darling best friends." I pinched their cheeks lightly and smiled cutely.

"That we sure are." Beamed Ron.

The bloody, thick-skulled, idiot. I thought as my eyes narrowed slightly.

"Uh oh." Harry noticed the look in my eyes first. His arm dropped off my shoulder as he took step away from me.

"My bloody traitorous horrible best friends." My tone grew darker and darker. I stopped walking.

Ron and Harry shared a look of sudden terror before I hit them both on the backs of their heads.

"YOU HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE EXCUSE FOR BEST FRIENDS." I had begun to punch each boy in turn on their chests and arms.

"I SHOULD JUST SKIN YOU TWO ALIVE. I ACTUALLY KNOW THE BLOODY INCANTATION FOR THE VERY ACT. THE ONLY THING THAT'S STOPPING ME IS-"

"Is what exactly?" Draco interrupted then. He looked so calm and collected. His green and silver tie hung loosely about his neck, his sleeves were rolled up by the elbows, his slightly wrinkled shirt was left untucked, his black school robe was draped on his arm and surprisingly his hair not gelled back but rather hanging softly about his face. I was faintly aware of my lips parting in disbelief. He was so utterly perfect and yet at that very moment I wanted nothing more than to turn my anger on him instead of my two cowering best friends. Of course, the two boys were no longer cowering as Draco had barged into our lovely picture.

"Go the fuck away." I said sharply before turning back to Harry and Ron. I would have started on my rant once more, however I was distinctly aware that the git had not moved an inch. With my back to him, I waited for him to either leave or say something. I wasn't looking at Harry or Ron but behind them at the oncoming students. My eyes slipped out of focus and I waited patiently. I knew he was just biding his time. Just waiting for me to turn in all my fury and lose control of myself as I had so often done. I wouldn't do that this time. I smirked as I waited for him to lose interest, to be the one to lose control, yet I had begun to lose my patience.

"Bloody hell." I silently mouthed. I couldn't take it anymore, but right as I was about to turn and face him, he spoke.

"Granger."

I continued to look behind Harry and Ron. "Yes, Malfoy?" I asked sweetly while spitting his name out like venom.

"Well why have you stopped?" He asked smoothly.

"Because I don't feel that you really need to hear what I've got to say to these two. You bloody bastard." I said the first half but thought the latter.

"Oh." He exclaimed innocently. I had imagined him examining his perfectly manicured nails which suddenly would explode and he'd cry in bitter agony. My lovely image was disrupted when he continued speaking.

"You didn't seem to mind who had been listening prior to my interruption. Why, if I hadn't made my presence known I highly doubt you would have stopped from making a fool of yourself. I'll be on my way so as not to further disrupt your rather barbaric, uncouth display. Continue. As you were." He finished off with a little twirl of his hand and a mock bow of the head.

I turned around in my utter fury. I felt Ron and Harry back away from me. They were angry at Draco's holier-than-thou attitude but they certainly wouldn't interrupt me in my blind rage.

"You … bloody … little …" My voice was hard to control. The words had been forced through my clenched teeth but before I had said the last word I forced my entire body to shut out emotion. And replaced all expression with a mere smirk, as he turned around to face me I saw surprise flicker across his eyes before he tensed with an acute sense of wariness.

"Malfoy. I just wanted to say thank you for your pardon and for … helping … me to come to the realization that what I had been doing was very ill-mannered. Silly mudbloods just don't know any better."

He had been about to reply, but it was as though I'd robbed the words right out of his mouth. He narrowed his eyes. I almost thought I had triumphed.

"At least you're learning." He smirked.

I wanted to punch his face in as he turned and continued walking towards the Great Hall.

"Oh you'll get what's coming to you, ferrety incompetent jerk." I muttered.

"Gees, I wish that bastard would just sod off." Ron muttered.

I walked after him with Harry and Ron at my heels. I was slightly aware that they were talking about me in low voices, commenting on my insane rivalry with Malfoy. They had begun to notice my increasing rage and fury towards the boy, and yet also the way I had begun to act like the bloody bastard. The way I had swallowed my emotion and put that cool mask on so suddenly had seriously worried my two best friends. They were careful and kept a small distance between themselves and me, but I still heard it all. I was just too busy imagining today's lovely little prank to give much thought to their stupid accusations and worries. Imagining the look of horror on Malfoy's face was the only thing keeping me from jumping on the bastard and clawing his eyes out.

His eyes. I felt my body soften just a bit.

I had refused to look into his eyes since our encounter that very first day of school. I didn't think I could quite meet them again. I would glance in his eyes to look for emotion. When at meal times I stared him down, I never actually looked into his eyes but rather around them, somewhere close to them but never into them. I refused to let myself drown in them like I had.

Mercury.

It was a dangerous substance to play games with.

I continued to stay in my thoughts, only vaguely aware of the many upper class Gryffindors struggling with their food. I looked up when I heard the fluttering of owls. No, it was just my imagination. When were the bloody birds coming?

I surveyed the scene around me.

Parvati still had not come down. Ginny and Lavender looked alright though, a bit cranky, but aside from that they were fine. Thank Merlin for Lavender's miraculous box of pots. Although those love pots were a bit creepy. Was that how she got her many admirers? Not to mention, recently she seemed to make some sort of googly eyes at Ron. I don't know whether it was just the crankiness but my anger seemed to just flare up at the thought of her making eyes at Ron.

After all, aside from her useless giggling at him what had she done for him? I at least Confunded that jerk Mclagger in order to secure Ron's position as Gryffindor Keeper. And that ungrateful bastard Ron had no idea what I did. I'm such a good friend. I gritted my teeth.

As I reached over for the toast, I felt his eyes on me. I felt them staring me down, waiting for me to look up. I had half a mind to continue eating and observing my classmates, while ignoring him but I couldn't help it. His bloody eyes kept tugging at me. I finally looked up. Right then the sound of flapping and hoots echoed above the room. We couldn't start our unspoken battle, the owls had finally come. I turned away from him to look at the owl approaching me with the Daily Prophet.

"Thank you" I said, taking the paper and placing the knuts into its little bag. I opened the paper covering my entire face by holding it in front of me. I wasn't reading, just hiding my look of anticipation.

"MILLICENT?!" And there it was. A scream of longing and love. His scream. My victory. A stone cast to kill two birds. Revenge against that bitch for (unwittingly) turning me into a Cat lady in second year, and of course the main event: to embarrass that insufferable prat Malfoy.

"YES, MILLICENT! MILLIE MY LOVE!" Hang on that second voice wasn't his. It wasn't even a male's voice.

I put the paper down only to realize it had been the wrong person to be charmed.

Parkinson. Bloody hell you pug.

"Merlin, that bitch and her ridiculous jealousy." I muttered angrily. She had stolen the cursed love note and read it herself. Now she was the one to be in love with Millicent Bullstrode for the day. Damn it all to hell. I was seething with anger.

He looked up at me. He knew it was me by the murderous look on my face. He knew my plan had gone wrong, but now it was his girlfriend who had been affected. His face was a mask of cool and calm but his eyes were dangerous. Cold, flashing and freezing was his icy glare. Every damned Slytherin backed away from him. Pulling their chairs away for they sensed his anger. They were scared. I sure as hell wasn't.

We were both vaguely aware of the laughter. Pansy was making a spectacle of herself chasing after the poor Millicent who, bleating like a lamb ready for slaughter, ran for dear life. Even thick, ugly Millie didn't want Pansy as a lover. Merlin only knows why Draco loved Pansy, but he did.

Draco and I stared at each other, both standing with our wands ready. My fierce rage came off me in strong waves and his cold fury chilled the air around him, ice clashing against fire. Strangely at that moment I was more concerned about my hair than anything else. I swept my dark unruly curls away from my face. I didn't put it up that day. I remember thinking that I really should have. His furious eyes enchanted me. Swirl, swirl went the poisonous Mercury. I don't know who moved first, but soon we were shooting hex after hex at each other. We nearly caused a damn riot.

What a spectacle.

His hair clung to his forehead with sweat, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration and anger, his mouth a thin line, and his nostrils flared. He had lost all composure. I never had mine. We must have hit at least thirty other innocent students during our duel before we were stupefied by perhaps seven or eight teachers.

If Dumbledore hadn't been our headmaster, there was no doubt we would have both been expelled without a second thought.

I don't think I ever felt as ashamed in my life as I did the moment Dumbledore expressed his disappointment in us. In me. I cried after he left me there in the stiff hospital bed next to a silent Draco.

Our parents were to be notified, our prefect titles and duties under suspension, and we had one hundred points taken off of our houses each. Plus an extra fifty had been taken off from Gryffindor for the prank that humiliated Parkinson. I had cost us nearly all the points that Gryffindor had managed to scrape up including those point that I'd so scrupulously worked at to gain so far, putting us in a dead last place.

Not to mention we had a full three months of detention every day to be served bloody together. Weekends included. The three months of detention would serve as our probation period, should we prove ourselves mature and worthy students, we'd receive our titles and duties of prefect once more. Maybe, Dumbledore had hinted, we'd earn the points we had lost back at the end of our probation depending on our performance.

Should we fail, and go out of line the way we had once more, there would be no hesitation in expelling either of us. Dumbledore's eyes had gone cold. I'd never been at the receiving end of such a chilling look. Not even Draco's glares were as fierce as Dumbledore's had been. In the next moment he smiled warmly, expressed faith in us both, and wished us a quick recovery.

I wished for nothing of the sort.