"Hermione!" A voice called. I jumped before turning around.
"Yes," I said, sounding worried as I spoke to Pavarti.
"Why, you look lovely! Where did you get those robes?" She questioned excitedly, walking around me and looking at my robes with obvious admiration. They were the new silver ones that Fleur had gotten me. They were beautiful, and extremely elegant. I had decided to wear them to the party tonight. Pavarti was wearing a beautiful blue colored robe done in a traditional Indian style. It went with her dark hair very well, she looked beautiful. I had just been putting the finishing touches on my hair when Pavarti walked into our shared bathroom.
"Are you ready to head down? George just arrived." She said, fluffing her hair calmly. My heart double in speed and I nearly started hyperventilating. I hadn't seen George for nearly a month, I couldn't wait to see him again. I had to stop myself from grabbing her hand and dragging her down the stairs.
"Sure, if you are." I replied, managing to sound calm and cool. She smiled knowingly and turned, leading the way out of the bathroom. I clutched the locket around my neck as we left the dorm, thinking about seeing George again excitedly. We had been writing each other constantly, but it still wasn't the same. I missed his toothy grin, his shaggy locks, his deep blue eyes.
We walked down the steps to the common room, and I somehow managed to stay calm. I didn't see George at first, just Harry standing at the foot of the stairs. Disappointment gripped me momentarily and I wondered if Pavarti had been mistaken somehow, until I saw a familiar head of flaming hair standing in front of the fire.
He turned around the minute I set foot on the bottom step. He was wearing black dress robes, and they made him look incredibly handsome, more so than anyone else I had ever seen. His eyes lit up and his face split in a huge grin as he strode up to my side. I giggled happily as I grabbed his proffered arm and kissed him on the cheek. Thank Merlin we only had a few days left of school before Christmas break. I'd be visiting my parents for the first week of break, but I'd spend the actual day of Christmas with the Weasley's. I couldn't wait to see him again for each of those days. I hated having to go so long between visits.
"So, who all exactly will be at this party?" George asked as we walked down the hall towards Slughorn's office.
"Blaise Zabini," I said, scrunching up my nose, he snorted in disgust and I nodded my head knowingly. "Yeah, it's awful, the Carrow twins, Melinda Bobbin, Ernie MacMillion, Cormac McLaggen, Ginny, Harry, and Terry." I winced at the stony expression he took on at the last name. He had no idea that Cormac was also flirting with me. I wasn't looking forward to that part of tonight's party.
We had reached Slughorn's office by now, and the door burst open as we neared it. Slughorn appeared at it's entrance, his eye found Harry incredibly quickly and he grinned.
"Harry m'boy!" He bellowed, grabbing Harry by the arm and leading him into the din of students and adults. "Come, come, I've some people I'd…." his voice trailed off as he disappeared into the group of students and adults. Pavarti glanced at George and me before walking off to talk to somebody she knew.
"Shall we?" George asked, giving me a gentle nudge forward. I started and nodded my head, I hadn't realized I was just standing in the doorway.
I took a step forward, holding onto George's arm tightly. I hated this type of socializing, why had I come? I could have just gone out on a date with George…
"Why, hello Hermione." A deep voice said to my right. I froze beside George, my eyes instantly searching for a way out. I did not want to talk to McLaggen tonight.
"Hello, McLaggen." George said sociably. I gritted my teeth and turned towards the overzealous man.
"Hello." I said flatly. Cormac just smiled and offered me a cup of punch.
"No thank you, I'm not thirsty." I said, trying not to glare. George had stiffened beside me when Cormac had offered me the drink, and was now looking slightly hostile. "George, my boyfriend," I said, putting extra emphasis on the word boy friend. "had just asked me to dance." I grabbed George by the hand and pulled him towards the dance floor and away from McLaggen.
"Just how many boys do you have after you?" He asked as we began to move to a tune by the weird sisters. I frowned nervously before responding quickly.
"Just him and Terry." I moved closer to him, locking my arms around his neck as we danced. "But you have nothing to worry about, I can't stand either of them. My heart belongs completely to you." He grinned at that and leaned down to give me a swift kiss on the lips.
"Good," he said, as he straightened back up and continued dancing. "Then you won't be mad if I prank them tonight."
"What are you planning?" I asked, instantly on the red alert. He just grinned mischievously and shook his head.
"Nope, I'm not telling a thing."
"Oh, you are such a child." I said, rolling my eyes, but my grin probably diminished the annoyed expression.
We danced for three more songs, enjoying the dance and each others company, before George asked if I would like something from the snack bar. I told him that I would and he led me towards the table of refreshments.
The exact same moment we reached the table, Terry walked up, and Cormac was right on his tale. Really? Why did this keep happening to me? What would it take for these men to realize I was with George? Would I have to tattoo his name across my forehead?
"Terry, Cormac," George said as they approached. He was smiling and had his arm lightly resting on my hip. I don't know what he was planning, but it couldn't have been good for Terry or Cormac. I grabbed a plate from the table and handed George one, letting him lead the way around the table. Terry and Cormac were just ahead of us, so that put George between us and them.
The table was filled with all sorts of food, both snack items and actual food. I took several cheese Hors D'Oeuvres, a few pieces of fruit, and a sugar quill for desert. I had just finished filling my plate when I heard some one walking up behind me. I turned, expecting to see George, and came face to face with Terry and Cormac. I stiffened and tried to stand straight, making myself taller. It didn't help at all, they both still stood above me. Why did I have to be so short?
"Can I help you?" I asked, making my voice short and annoyed. Where had George gone?
Terry and Cormac just smirked. "We'd like a dance, then a snog." Cormac said, winking.
Something very strange, and funny happened right at that moment. They both had a cup of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans on their plates, and the minute Cormac stopped talking, both cups of Beans floated into the air. They turned a strange blue color before the beans flew up, and out of the cup. They froze there momentarily as the cup floated back down to the plate, before the beans moved. Every single one of the beans moved at once, and they flew towards Terry and Cormac, pelting them in the face, before flying away, and then pelting them again.
Terry and Cormac both shrieked (rather girlishly) and ran away, trying to escape the attacking candy, to absolutely no avail. It followed them anywhere they went in the room, bouncing off their heads and pelting them in the face.
A huge grin erupted across my face, and I couldn't stop myself from laughing, they looked positively hilarious running around the room trying to escape a bunch of attacking beans.
"I'm glad you're enjoying the show." George whispered in my ear, appearing out of nowhere and making me shiver at the husky note in his voice. I whirled around, placing my plate down on the table, and grabbed him in a hug. I leaned up and planted a firm kiss on his lips, letting him know just how much I enjoyed his show. Maybe now those two would finally leave me alone.
George returned the kiss with fervor, setting his plate down and wrapping his long arms around me. I squeezed him closer before breaking the kiss and dropping my arms from around his waist, grabbing his hand and pulling him to a much more secluded corner of the party. We could eat later. George laughed at how eagerly I pulled him along, but he stopped laughing when I pushed him down on a couch and stood in front of him, gazing at him hungrily. His eyes darkened noticeably and he licked his beautiful lips. A wicked grin lit my lips and I waved my wand, casting a notice-me-not charm, and a silencing charm. I then put my wand back in my pocket and walked up to him, leaning down to plant another kiss firmly on his lips. He gripped my waist, pulling me down so that I was sitting on his lap. I wiggled around, still kissing him, and moved so that I was straddling him, so I could deepen the kiss even more.
He ran his hands up my back, burying his long fingers into my hair, pulling me ever closer to his body. I wound my fingers into his own hair, losing myself to the feel of his kiss.
"Hermione?" A timid voice questioned to my right. I jumped before breaking the kiss to shoot whoever had just dared to interrupt us a glare. Harry stared back at me, his green eyes wide with surprise and fear. I calmed my face, trying to not look quite so fierce as I spoke.
"Hi, Harry, what do you want? How did you find us?" My cheeks flushed as he looked at me before lowering his gaze to the fact that I was straddling a very snogged looking George. I moved off his lap, settling beside him before flattening my hair.
"Harry?" George questioned, straightening his shirt.
Harry gulped and blinked several times before talking . "I cast a locating charm, and then you just sort of appeared. It's Draco." He then sat next to George on the couch and proceeded to tell us all he had heard.
"Harry," I said once he had finished, "I'm sure Snape hasn't actually turned on us. He just…" Harry was glaring at me again as though he thought I didn't believe him. I did, I think Draco did give Katie the cursed necklace, I just think Snape is on our side. I trust Dumbledore's judgment explicably, why can't he?
"So you think he was lying about the vow?" He said, still glaring.
"I doubt it." George said, looking thoughtful. "You can't break an unbreakable vow, not something you'd kid about." He glanced at me before continuing. "I don't like Snape either, but I reckon Hermione's right, he's still on our side."
"Fine." Harry snapped, standing up. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you later." And he stormed off before I could get another word in. George watched him storm off with an upraised eyebrow before turning back to me.
"Cheerful as ever I see." He said after a moment, flashing a smile at me. I laughed at that, unable to stop myself from doing it.
"What's say we skip the rest of the party?" He asked, leaning towards me with a devilish smile. "I can think of several secluded spots we could visit." A grin lit my face as I stood up, pulling him with me.
"Sounds like a wonderful plan to me."