Chapter 12 ~ Slughorn's Christmas Party
It began to snow on the 20th of December, and with this it promised a white Christmas. While I can't stand rain, I don't mind snow and I spent many afternoons walking through the school and through to Hogsmeade. The little village looked like a picture from a Christmas Story book, and it was quite enjoyable to sit in The Three Broomsticks with a butterbeer and watch the snowflakes fall.
On Christmas morning I woke to a present at the end of my bed, and a card from my mother. I threw the card away without a second glance and cautiously tore the wrapping paper. Black socks. Hm, not bad. I quickly stored them in my bedside table. I must say I was relieved. Last year she sent condoms. A joke, I suspect. A terrible, awful joke.
Slughorn's Party was set to begin at 7:00pm and Greengrass and I planned to meet in the Common Room at this time. Dressed in my best, I arrived in the common room 10 minutes early and simply leant against the wall, waiting for her. Most of the students that had decided to stay for the Christmas holidays were there, the fire was going strong and there was much talk and laughter. I didn't mind waiting. I was in no hurry to get to the party.
She stepped into the common room then, wearing a lovely tight-fitting black dress. I couldn't help but notice the eyes of the other students all turn to her, though she didn't seem to notice. She scanned the room and spotted me easily, walking over with a sway in her hips. As she made her way over I stood upright, and she smirked, and smiled, gently at me. "Evening~" she said.
She seemed to take a moment to scan over my attire and though she seemed to approve her tone was teasing "You could almost pass for a gentlemen." I snickered gently. "Are you ready?" I asked her and she gave a slight nod, brushing a strand of hair from her face. With that, we turned and made our way out towards the party, her heels clicking quietly with each step she took.
"For the record, I could pass as a gentlemen if I wanted" I told her. "Really now?" she asked. "Let's just see how you carry yourself, tonight." I glanced to her and noticed the smirk on her red lips. "You don't believe I can, do you?" I asked. She turned her head slightly and peered at me, arching an eyebrow. "You'll have to prove it to me, Zabini" she said.
And that I did. As we reached Slughorn's office I swiftly opened the door for her, speaking in a polite and respectful tone. "After you" I told her. She smirked and gave me a tiny curtsy in a mocking manner before she walked inside, casting "Thank you, sir" quietly over her shoulder. I shut the door behind us and glanced around. There were even more people there than I expected.
It seemed everyone had taken the "date" requirement quite to heart, as there was easily double the amount of students that usually came to these "get-together's." Not to mention some older guests that Slughorn must have invited. I noticed Belby and Longbottom holding a few dishes, each with a few snacks on them and laughed. Kicked out of the Slug-Club and demoted to "bus boy." How embarrassing for them. Still, it didn't surprise me in the slightest.
I glanced to Greengrass, then. She seemed quite wary of the crowd, so I murmured "follow me" softly to her and I walked to a dark corner of the area. There weren't many people and it was probably the quietest area of the room. "Much better" I told her. She nodded lightly, glancing up to the emerald, crimson and gold hangings before she smirked and glanced back to me. "Indeed" she said. I suppose she had caught on to the fact that "Indeed" was my favourite word.
I smirked gently also and glanced around, noticing a refreshment table with a few drinks on it. Remembering my 'gentlemen' challenge for the evening, I once again put on a polite, respectful voice. Sounding quite genuine, if I do say so myself, I asked "Can I get you anything?" Her eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, though she responded with grace. "A drink would be nice, thank you."
"Anything in particular?" I asked her. She paused for a moment before drawling out in a quiet voice "Surprise me." I cocked an eyebrow at her, muttering "but, of course" as I made my way over the refreshments table. I returned merely with two glasses of water. I passed her one smugly. "Surprise" I told her. She looked as though she was about to snicker, however she refrained herself, lifting her glass slightly in appreciation. "Thank you" she said.
"Any time" I replied, before taking a sip. "I'll call you on that" she said, arching an eyebrow and taking a sip, herself. Though we stood in a darker, more private area, we did have a great view of the party. It was rather stuffy, however we had space to breathe as most stood well away from us for the majority of the evening. I noticed Slughorn in a corner, speaking with a Ravenclaw student, and the students Hufflepuff date. There was quiet music playing, and the atmosphere seemed quite relaxed, and almost… awkward.
A small house elf happened to pass by us at one point, holding out a few simple snacks such as bread sticks. I shook my head dismissively as Greengrass shook her head in a silent "no thank you" before it hurried off. I was incredibly grateful no one had attempted to converse with us as of yet. "A vampire" Greengrass said at one point, her eyebrows raised very slightly.
My eyes shifted to her line of vision and, sure enough, there it was. Slughorn was speaking to him, now, though he seemed slightly… Distracted. I couldn't help but notice him watching the Carrow twins by the refreshment table. "Indeed…" I said. "They'd best mind their necks" Greengrass said, also seeming to notice his distraction. I turned to see a photographer only a moment before the flash went off. I couldn't help but glare.
I shook my head in annoyance as he quickly scrambled off, sighing irritably. Greengrass, too, seemed irritated, though as she caught the frustration on my face she laughed slightly and softly. I watched as Slughorn then made his way over to Potter, whisking him away to go speak to his friends, who all goggled over "the boy who lived." I couldn't help but roll my eyes, though it was to be expected, I suppose.
"Not jealous are we, Zabini?" Greengrass teased, seeming to notice my gaze. "What exactly is there to be jealous of, Greengrass?" I asked with a teasing tone, also. "The complete adoration of old Sluggy, of course" she said, batting her eyelashes mockingly. I snickered gently. "What, that old crackpot? I still don't see what there is to be jealous of" I repeated. "I don't suppose you'd ever be jealous of anyone, now would you?" she said, taking a small sip of her water.
I shook my head. She went quiet for a few moments, and I could feel her watching me. "You've never been social, Zabini" she said quietly. "Why is it you continue to come to old Sluggie's parties, anyway?" I thought about this for a moment, though to be honest I didn't really know, myself. "Not much else to do, is there?" I finally said. She smirked, mock offense in her quiet voice. "Oh, and all those lovely evenings we spent studying in silence together meant nothing to you?" she asked.
I watched as Granger dashed past, and couldn't help but laugh lightly as I noticed Mclaggen, looking confused under the mistletoe. "If they meant nothing, why would I have invited you, out of everyone, to this… fine party?" I said. "Perhaps to prove that you, in fact, can be a gentlemen?" she said, incliding her head slightly towards me. I snickered gently. "Now, why would I do that?" I asked her.
She rose her glass slightly. "Mm, well… You invited me tonight, you tell me~" she said. "I suppose we'll never know then, will we?" I smirked. She gave a small shrug. "You've been speaking quite a bit, as of late. I'm sure I'll get it out of you" she said, and I shook my head slightly, muttering "don't hold your breath" just loud enough for her to hear. "Mm, well, tell me something else then" she said. "About yourself" she added. "Like what?" I asked.
She snickered softly, turning to face me. "Are you always so sure of yourself?" she asked. "No reason not to be" I replied. She nodded gently, seeming to approve of this. "Good answer. It's an attractive trait" she said. I cocked an eyebrow at her. "Oh, really?" I asked. She peered at me, slight teasing in her tone. "Oh yes, I find it quite…" she looked me up and down "…Attractive" she said.
"Of course you do" I said playfully. She rolled her eyes, turning back to the crowd silently for a few moments. "Mm… You know, if I wasn't so proud, I'd tell you that you look quite handsome tonight" she said before playfully adding "almost like a gentlemen." I snicked gently. "If I wasn't so arrogant, I would thank you for that comment… Of course, I already know that."
She snickered and shook her head. "Ah but of course. The self-assurance" she said. As I looked out over the crowd Slughorn caught my eye and began to stumble his way over. I groaned gently, watching the intoxicated man flail about, red in the face. As he reached us he spoke, his words slurred, loud and much too enthusiastic. "BLAISE MAH BOY-" he cut off short as he noticed Greengrass. "Ohoho, who is this fine young lady you have with you this evening?" he said. I grimaced, introducing her. "This is Daphne Greengrass" I told him. Greengrass seemed to grimace as well, however she quickly pulled on a faux smile and nodded slightly. "Evening, Professor" she said.
"Hello, Miss Greengrass!" he said with a grin. "I hope you're both enjoying that party!" he chuckled, and I grimaced at his noise level. "We were…" Greengrass muttered under her breath, and I tried to hold in a snicker. Slughorn paused momentarily, rocking back and forth on his heels before chuckling once again. "Well, I'll leave you two to it! Oh! Feel free to come and say "hi!" to my old friends, don't be shy!" he said, chuckling again before stumbling off.
"Mm, yes, I would love all of his attention" I joked as he left. Greengrass snicked and glanced to me. "Seemed a little shy, there" she said. "Oh, yes, shy is the right word" I drawled. She smirked. "Mm, careful. Might catch someone else's eye…" she said. I swore she jinxed us, because at that moment who happened to approach but Loony Lovegood? "Good evening" she spoke in her usual dreamy voice.
I didn't bother to respond, narrowing my eyes gently at her. Greengrass completely glanced away. The mad girl continued on, regardless. "I didn't want to interrupt, but I thought I should warn you" she said, a seriousness in her sing-song tone. "You'd best watch out for nargles…" she warned. I said nothing still, merely glaring at her, waiting for her to take the hint and leave.
Still completely unfazed by my glares, her eyes drifted pointedly up above our heads. "They infest mistletoe, you know" she said. I paused for a moment, slowly glancing up to the mistletoe above our heads. Lovegood nodded, smiling serenely before she wandered off again. I sighed gently, though my eyes lingered on the mistletoe. I couldn't help but glance to Greengrass, smirking.
Her own eyes drifted to mine and she arched an eyebrow, though a smirk had formed on her red lips. Still smirking, I leant down and placed my lips against hers, softly and gently. She seemed surprised as I leant down, however as my lips pressed against hers she returned the kiss delicately. The kiss was only a few moments long, though such a feeling of happiness filled me, and so suddenly, I wished it had been longer.
As Greengrass's eyes fluttered open, she watched me for a moment, before murmuring with a teasing tone "You have a bit of lipstick…" she said, bringing a finger to trace gently by her lower lip as an indication. I cocked an eyebrow at this, ever so slowly licking my lip as I watched her. She slowly drifted her hand from her lips and trailed it lightly down her jawline, neck, clavicle and to her cleavage, just before letting it rest at her side again. "Mm, I think you got it~" she said.