"Draco, what are you doing?" Hermione asked looking up at him as he waved his wand frantically around the room. "Setting up for the party..." He said as he ran to the portrait, waving his wand and muttering spells under his breath. The portrait became transparent, and nothing could be heard or seen from outside the room. "What party are you referring to?" Hermione asked following him around and neatening the scruffy decorations he had put up. "Oh yeh, I forgot to tell you, We're throwing a small party to cover the fact that you're in a summer dress in the middle of winter... You're welcome." She huffed good naturedly, "Your wearing a suit... and I'm the one dressed inappropriately." He paused for a moment to smile at her before hurrying off, "Mine will keep me warm" He said cockily, "Mine si enchanted to keep me warm." She replied cockily, "So you needn't have bothered covering it up. Now I have to go do my hair. You could have told me about this earlier you know." He enchanted some mistletoe in the middle of the room. "I couldn't find you." He bluffed, "You're in most of my lessons, What time does the party start?" She looked at the clock. "6:00. I don't sit near you in class." He lied again. "That's no time to get ready. I look a mess! And you sit next to me in most!" He stopped and looked her over. "You look almost as good as me. Well, I say almost - I'm the best looking guy in this place. Heck, I'm the best looking guy in the whole wizarding world! Heck I'm the best looking gu-" Hermione cut him off, "Any more and your head will explode." She gestured to make a point. "How long left?" He asked, to busy to look at the clock "Twenty minutes." He huffed, "No doubt Ginny and Harry will be unfashionably early. Hermione nodded in agreement, "Who's coming exactly?"
"I left that part to Ginny." Hermione frowned, "Why?!" Draco stopped, confused, "What's wrong with that?" Hermione crossed her arms. "She's going to play matchmaker. She usually invites a bunch of guys from each house - and a couple girls - and tries to set each one up with me. Only now she's going to pressure them into taking me to the ball!" She complained. Draco's face fell. "I think we should try that game. Set Blaise up with a nice guy... And don't worry I have a plan." Now it was Hermione's turn to look confused, "What do you mean?" He smiled evilly, "He's gay. He told me so in 4th year. Didn't you know?" He lied looking at the portrait, "And it is officially unfashionably early." He smiled as he let Ginny and Harry in. Draco motioned to the table at the back. "There's butter beer, and firewhiskey. grab a glass." The two started walking to it but were stuck on the spot half way. "It works!" Draco cheered in delight before explaining. "You're under enchanted mistletoe - you'll be stuck until you kiss. The happily obliged before getting a drink each. "What happens if one person gets stuck under it?" Hermione asked, inspecting it closely. "Try it." He smiled. She took another step and found herself stuck. "What happens now?" She asked worriedly. "Someone has to kiss you." He smiled before walking closer. Ginny ran across the room and clamped her mouth over hermione's before Draco had a chance. "I was going to kiss her hand... Though im not complaining" He laughed and flashed a cheeky grin at the girls. "What in merlins name was that Gin?" Hermione asked shocked. "Well I didn't know obviously." Ginny huffed before walking back over to Harry. "Don't tell anyone about the hand thing though guys... It will be a lot more fun this way" Harry said flashing a terrible attempt at an evil smile.
Neville stood at the portrait, "Our first guest" Harry smiled in delight. "Does it work?" Neville asked them, looking up at the mistletoe, as he entered the common room. "Dammit! how did you know?" Harry asked frowning. Neville laughed, "They're all over the school." Hermione looked accusingly at Draco. "I had to check that it worked. And then I played little match-making amongst some random first years. It was so funny. You should have seen their faces!" Hermione punched his arm lightly, "That's so cruel!" but laughed along with them anyway. "So who did you invite Ginny?" Draco asked, smirking at Hermione. "Neville - obviously, Seamus, Dean, Luna, Lavender, Parvati, oh yeh, and Cormac Mclaggen - who's here for yet another redo year. Padma, Terry Boot, Michael Corner. Hannah Abbot and Ernie MacMillan." Draco sneered at Mclaggen's name. "There should be a maximum number of times you can re-do your education. It's about time that guy left the school for good." Ginny smiled, knowing he was jealous of the older guy - who had managed to get Hermione on a date. "I agree." Hermione nodded, "However, if I did that bad on my exams i would be saying the opposite," Draco smiled, "You do that bad on your exams? Please. You're the brightest witch of your age believe it or not." She smiled gratefully, blushing. "More guests." Harry said in delight.
Ron was stood at the portrait, with the rest of the Gryffindors, looking nervous. "Can I talk to you, please, Hermione?" He asked, she looked to Draco who smiled and started talking to the new arrivals. "Now before you say anything, just here me out please?" she nodded. "I love you Hermione. But we didn't work out together - that much is obvious. I'm not sure if I love you as a sister, because that would be REALLY weird. But I definitely love you as a friend, if not more. I'm not going to let that 'more' get in the way of our friendship. You deserve to move on and be happy. And I have to do the same." Hermione listened to him, paying close attention to every syllable. This memory was going to be stored and she wanted it to be accurate. After he finished talking she pulled him into a hug. "That is really mature of you. I'm so glad we're officially friends again. Lets celebrate with a drink!" She pulled him to the table - narrowly avoiding the mistletoe. Draco felt his jaw clench as she hugged him. He turned to Seamus, "And remember, stay away from Hermione, She's taken." He walked to the next male guest and greeted them politely, whilst clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Hi Hermione, so I was wondering if you had reconsidered my offer from the other da-" Draco Malfoy cut him off. Oh Crap He thought. "Ahh Seamus. Just the guy I was looking for. Can I borrow him for a second please Hermione?" He smiled as he said her name and took the Gryffindor away without waiting for a reply. "What did I tell you like ten minutes ago? STAY. AWAY. FROM. HERMIONE. SHE'S. TAKEN!" He emphasized, taking a deep breath before continuing, "On a much lighter note, I've heard that Lavender has yet to find a date for the ball. I think that the two of you make an excellent couple. She'll definitely say yes. Trust me. Now run a long." Ginny walked up to him fuming, "What do you think you're doing?" Draco started walking but replied anyway, picking up his drink from the table. "Helping my good friend Seamus find a date to the ball. I know that Lavender likes him." Ginny seethed. "I am well aware that she likes him. But she is not the main priority right now. Hermione is." Draco stopped and turned round to face her. "Oh yes and I forgot, until Hermione has a date to the ball, nobody else is allowed one? How about leave them be. They both like each other - they both want to go to the ball together. LET THEM. And but out of Hermione's business. Let her ask someone." Ginny laughed aloud, "More like let YOU ask her out. I've seen the way you look at her. Don't try to deny it. You just don't get it Draco, you are NOT what she needs." Draco towered over the girl, "But I'm what she wants. And how would you know what she needs? Last i checked, a Weasley was not it!" He sneered and attempted to walk away. "You've been her friend for 7 months. I've been her friend for 7 years. For those 7 years you were her tormentor. You were the enemy. And you expect her to forget all you did to her. All your family did to her. If you're anything like your fathe-" Draco raised his hand - the room going silent as all eyes were on him. "I am nothing like my father. You know nothing about my family. What they've done." He looked at his raised hand. Tears filling his eyes as he stormed off to his room, stopping for one last minute to say, "You're lucky I'm nothing like him." Staring at his hand he walked off again, a tear sliding down his seemingly perfect face.
AN: I don't like this chapter personally, and it will probably be taken down and edited. Review if you want, don't if you don't. I hope you didn't find this chapter too boring. I know it's not a funny one. Next one will be though.