The Christmas Party
So, me and Draco had been dating for a month and a couple weeks. I didn't remember the exact day, so what? It was December, and the party, and Christmas break, were coming up fast. I was so excited for the party. Blaise would be there, but Draco wouldn't. I wish he could see me in that dress. Oh, right, he already did. I forgot. Just the day before the party, me and Harry and Hermione were in the library so Hermione could return some books. Since the victory party, Hermione and Harry had both come clean about their feelings for Ron and Ginny. Finally. It was driving me crazy. Of course, Hermione was still choosing to be stubborn about it.
"Honestly, you guys. Ronald is at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he wants to. I really couldn't care less. I WAS under the impression we would be attending the Christmas party together, yes. But, given the circumstances, I've made other arrangements."
"You have?" I asked her. This was the first I had heard about it.
"Yes, I have. Why?" She asked, and I looked at Harry.
"Well, I thought, seeing as how neither of us can go with whom we'd like, that WE could go together. You know, as friends. Like Talia and Ginny." He said. She looked embarrassed.
"Oh. I wish I would've thought about that." She turned around quickly and started putting away more books.
"So, who are you taking?" I asked her.
"Um, well, it's a… surprise, yeah, it's a surprise. Besides, it's Harry we need to worry about."
"What? Why me?" He said.
"Well, you can't just take anyone, can you?" I said to him.
"Why not?" He asked.
"See that girl over there? The one with the wild, black hair?" He nodded. "That's Romilda Vane." He looked at me as if asking why he should care. Boys.
"I heard she's trying to smuggle you a love potion."
"Really?" And he looked over to her with curiosity. Hermione snapped in his face to get his attention.
"Hey! You DO realize she's only interested in you because everyone thinks you're the Chosen One?"
"But I AM the chosen one." This time she slapped his head with a rolled up Daily Prophet, which made me laugh. "Alright, sorry. Uh, just kidding." He rubbed his head. "I'll just ask someone I like. You know, someone cool."
…
"Hermione, you look amazing." I said, and Ginny nodded. She really did look wonderful. And Ginny did, too.
"We all look amazing. Especially you, Talia." Ginny said.
"What, this old thing?" I said, making them laugh. "Actually, to be honest, you both look way better. I may look hot, but you guys look beautiful and classy and amazing."
"You don't give yourself enough credit. You're beautiful, too, Talia." Said Hermione. I waved her compliment away.
"Eh, whatever. We should go, we might be late. Hermione, where are you meeting your date?"
"Um, in the common room. But you guys go ahead; I've still got a few things to do"
"Um, okay then." Ginny said, and we locked arms and made our way through the halls and down to the dungeons for the party. When we got there, it was amazing. The decorations were beautiful, and it smelled amazing. I spotted a guy holding some appetizers, and grabbed some. I tried one at first, but it was so amazing, I stuffed a few more in my mouth.
"Sometimes I think that's why guys like you so much. Because you eat just like one." Ginny said to me.
"Guys like you too, Ginny." I said to her, once I finished my mouth full.
"Not the one that matters…" She said under her breath. If only she knew. I quickly changed the subject.
"So, I guess I should've let you come with your boyfriend. I'd feel guilty, but I'm having too much fun." She chuckled.
"Well, you probably would've ended up coming either way. At least you got to buy your dress in advance, this way."
"What do you mean?"
"Dean and I broke up the other day."
"What! Why?" I shouted, totally surprised. I hugged her.
"It wasn't actually that bad. We just started talking, and realized that it wasn't… special anymore. Besides, I have feelings for Harry Potter now, so…" She trailed off.
"And you and Dean are still ok?"
"Yeah, I mean I think he's a little upset about it, which is understandable, but he's taking it pretty well, I think. And, aren't you gonna say anything about Harry?"
"Honey, we're best friends. We share a bedroom, at home AND Hogwarts, which practically makes us sisters. This means I know you well enough to know that you've ALWAYS loved Harry."
"Oh God. I'm so pathetic. I can't even make a move."
"Of course you can! Why couldn't you?"
"I don't even know how he feels." Oh brother. Everyone else does.
"Ginny. It's not that hard. Just kiss him. You never know how he'll feel about it until then." I do, though.
"Really?"
"Really. Just maybe give it some time, though. For Dean."
"Right. For Dean." She glanced away, but then did a double take, and her eyes widened like she had just seen Lord Voldemort himself show up to the party.
"What! Did someone spill? Show up in an ugly dress? Throw up on someone!?" I said as I searched for what she was looking at. When I looked at her, she shook her head and pointed to the door. And what I saw shocked me. I… think… I don't think the image will ever fade.
Hermione. McLaggen. Together, arm in arm. I shuddered.
"You've got to be kidding me." I said, once I was able to talk again.
"No wonder she wanted to keep it a secret." Ginny said. Hermione glanced our way, and we must have looked exactly like what we were feeling, because she immediately dropped eye contact and looked red in the face. "Oh, she will DEFINITELY hear some choice words about this later. Oh God, is he pulling her toward the mistletoe?"
"Poor Hermione. She may be scarred for life." So we decided to watch it like a movie. Ew, McLaggen looked like he was trying to suck off her face. When he finally came up for air, he turned to refresh his drink, and Hermione took her chance to ditch him. Boy, I'd never seen her move so fast.
"Go, Hermione, go!" I said quietly, so only Ginny could hear me. She laughed. Hermione hid behind these kind of sheer, mildly see through drapes. I looked back at McLaggen, who was now searching for his lost Hermione. Poor dude. He looked at me, so I pointed the opposite direction, towards where Slughorn was standing. That ought to keep him occupied for a while.
"Oh, look, now Harry's found her." Ginny said, so I turned back to that part of the movie. Harry was talking to Hermione, when a guy holding a food tray spotted them and offered them some food. Hermione stuffed a bunch in her mouth.
"That's the Dragon Tartar." Ginny said. "Charlie says they taste like dragon balls, though I really don't want to know how he knows that."
"Way to go, Hermione!" And then Cormac spotted them, so she ducked out the other side just as he came in. He and Harry started talking, and I noticed that Snape was walking towards them as well.
"Dude, this just keeps getting better and better. Now Snape's coming over."
"This is awesome." Just as Snape entered the little hiding place, McLaggen threw up all over his shoes, which made us burst out laughing. Snape sent him away, and then turned around to talk to Harry, who had tried to make a sneaky getaway.
"I wish they would just let Harry get back to poor Luna. She's probably wondering if he ditched her." Ginny said.
"Actually, I don't think she's noticed." I said, gesturing to where Luna was, observing a plant. We were about to turn back to Harry and Snape, when we heard a voice shout from the front of the room.
"Take your hands off me, squib!" Shit. I'd know that voice anywhere. We turned to see Draco in the hands of Filch. Snape and Slughorn walked over to them, to check out the commotion.
"Professors! I just found this one lurking in an upstairs corridor. He says he was invited to your party."
"Okay, alright, I was gate crashing! Happy?" Malfoy said, clearly angry that he got caught. But when his eyes found me, and he took in my outfit, all the anger faded away. It was as if we were the only to people on the planet, and I knew he was wishing it could stay that way. I was too.
"I'll escort him out, immediately." Said Snape. I could tell Draco was about to protest, but I shook my head very slightly, so only he saw it. He nodded, and looked to Snape.
"Certainly, Professor." He said with his signature snarky attitude. They left, and I saw Harry follow them. Crap. I had to get out of here.
"You guys, I have to pee. I'll catch up with you later." And I quickly followed Harry. "Harry, wait up!"
"What?"
"Well, if you're gonna spy on Malfoy, I am too!"
"Fine, just stay quiet." And we heard them talking down the hall.
"Maybe I did curse the Bell girl, maybe I didn't. What's it to you?" Malfoy said.
"I swore to protect you, Malfoy. I made the Unbreakable Vow with your mother-" Started Snape, but Malfoy quickly interrupted.
"I don't need your help! I was chosen for this! Me, above all others! And I WON'T fail him!"
"You're afraid, and you know it. You try to conceal it, but it's obvious. Just let me assist you."
"No! This is my moment." And by the footsteps, I figured he was leaving. Harry turned to me.
"I told you. I was right." And he left me. Great.
What was going on? This was too much for me. Was Malfoy a Death Eater? I had had such faith in him, but now I was starting to wonder. How could he keep this from me? Well, I suppose the same reason I didn't tell him MY secret. But this was huge, way huger than mine. Well, maybe. Was it? This was giving me a headache. I couldn't think straight. I needed to find Draco. I needed to talk to him, to clear this all up. Maybe it was something else entirely.
…
I finally found him, maybe an hour later, in the Room of Requirement. He was standing in front of a huge cabinet, just like the one we had seen during the summer at Borgin and Burkes.
"Finally. I've been looking for you for ages. My feet are killing me. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't check here first." I slipped off my shoes, waiting for him to try and act casual. But he didn't. "Draco, please. You need to say something."
"You shouldn't be here." Was all he said.
"Are you kidding me? You're sending me away? I'm not going anywhere." I said, crossing my arms.
"Seriously, Tal. You shouldn't be around me right now. I'm not good-"
"Oh, save the whole 'I'm no good for you so I'm going to dump you to keep you safe' speech. I don't give a shit." He turned to face me. His eyes looked puffy. "Look, I'm not going anywhere. And you need to know that I'll love you no matter what. But this is something I NEED to know. And you can't lie to me, or say nothing's wrong, or change the subject, because it won't work anymore. What's going on with you?"
"Listen, Talia, its complicated-"
"No, it's not, really. Just answer the question."
"Talia, I can't just answer a question like that."
"Well, do you need me to make it simpler?"
"How can you do that?"
"By making it a yes or no question."
"Don't do this, Talia."
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Talia-"
"Just answer. Yes or no."
"Talia, please-"
"JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION, DRACO!" I shouted. I calmed myself, and then asked again. "Are you a Death Eater?" He took a few seconds, but he did eventually answer me.
"Yes." It was a whisper.
"Oh God." I whispered, and sat down on the floor against… well, something. I didn't feel like seeing what it was. I felt like my insides were vibrating, kind of. I think the muggles called it… shock? Draco waited a few minutes for me to stop shaking, and then he sat next to me and held me. He felt so warm. How could a Death Eater be so… good? After a few minutes, he spoke.
"Are you doing okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm just peachy. I just found out my boyfriend is evil, and working for the most evil man on the planet, who wants me and all my friends dead."
"Okay, then. Are WE okay?" I looked up at him, and saw that he was genuinely worried. I sighed and snuggled closer.
"Of course. Like I said before, I'm not going anywhere. I still love you. This is just a lot to process, that's all."
"I understand. And listen, I'm not evil. I didn't want this. I pretend I do, for my mum. And really, I don't think SHE even wants this. It's for my father, really. She's too loyal to him."
"I can understand where she's coming from. I mean, look at the situation I'M in now." I said, and we both giggled a little bit. But I didn't get too carried away, because there was still more I needed to know. "Listen. Me and Harry overheard your conversation with Snape, just after you left the party."
"Shit. How much did he hear?"
"Just about some plan, and what you were chosen for, and how you won't fail him. I followed him so I could make up some cover story for you, but after I heard it, I couldn't really think clearly. But I think this may have made Harry's suspicions even worse."
"Well, thanks for trying." Silence.
"Draco, WHAT were you chosen for?" He was quiet for a minute, and then let out a sigh.
"Listen, I know the last thing you need is for me to lie to you about this. So I won't. But I can't tell you everything, Tal, this is too important. It really could threaten your safety. And I can't have that. You're the only thing that's good in my life, anymore."
I waited a second, and then decided not to pursue this. "Alright, I trust you."
"Thank you." More silence. "Hey, Talia?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you… do you really think Harry could do it? Defeat Voldemort?"
"Yes. I do. I have complete confidence in him, we all do. Even if he doesn't."
"Huh."
"Why?"
"Because… I sort of… want him to." For this, I sat up in front of him and faced him.
"Really?"
"Well, yeah. If there wasn't a Dark Lord, my family could be free. Normal."
"Huh." We sat like that for a while. Then, when I looked at him, he was smiling suggestively at me.
"What? Like something you see?" I said, gesturing to my body.
"I like everything I see." He said, reaching out to stroke my arms.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, especially that dress. You make it look amazing."
"Wow, that's different." I started crawling towards him, and soon my knees were on either side of him.
"And I gotta say, I'm totally digging that bow tie hair clip."
"Of course you are. Bow ties are cool." His hands were making their way up my thighs.
"Hey, now. What happened to the slow route?"
"Don't you think we've been slow enough?" Now his hands were on my waist. "Hey, you know what would make that outfit even better?"
"What's that?"
"The floor."
"Well, I believe that can be arranged."
…
"Holy shit."
"Yeah, you mentioned that a few times." I repeated his words from before, laughing. I turned over to look at him, while he was still trying to catch his breath. God, he was so beautiful. I mean, he was obviously drop dead gorgeous, but there was just something in his hair, and greyish-blue eyes, and the contour of his face, that made him so much more than that. Once he was finally able to talk, he rolled over to face me, as well.
"How can you be so good at that? I mean, that first time was amazing, but I thought it was just the fact that it was the first time. But even Blaise says your first time was epic, and every time since then. It's like you're some sort of… sex prodigy." I laughed again.
"Well, that's close, but not exactly the reason."
"You mean there's an actual reason? Do tell."
"I don't know… I've never told anyone, outside my family…"
"Oh, come on. You know you can tell me." He was right. He just told me this huge, horrible secret. The least I could do was tell him mine.
"Alright. The thing is, I'm… a Siren." There was a few seconds where it looked like he didn't quite hear me, and then his eyes slowly started getting wider.
"No way."
"Way."
"But Sirens are… REALLY rare."
"True. But it runs in my family. Well, actually, it skips generations. So my grandma was a Siren, it skipped my mom, and went to me."
"How… What… No way."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"So, explain to me what that actually means." He said.
"What do you mean?"
"What does a Siren do? What kind of abilities so you have?"
"Oh. Well, you see, Sirens are… well, we… Hmm. Okay, I got it. Sirens absorb energy from others. So, when I sing, it lures people to me so I can do my thing and take their energy. If I wanted, I could take their life. Sirens are always very beautiful, very alluring, just like veela. Actually, in some ways, us and the veela are sort of… related. Not like family, but more like different branches of the same species. Like tigers and lions are both cats."
"That's amazing."
"And this also makes me really good at sex. It's sort of like instinct, or something. And, since you and I have already had sex, my abilities wouldn't work on you. You'd still feel the pull if I sang, but you'd be able to resist it quite easily."
"So, Blaise would be able to resist also."
"Correct. There are three types of people who could resist. People I've already had sex with, my family, or people I consider my family, and other Sirens. Also, I'm kind of psychic. Just a little. I only get senses, or feelings. It's usually in the form of a splitting headache."
"Wicked."
I laughed. "I'm glad you think so. Personally, I'd rather just be a normal witch."
"Are you kidding? This is brilliant! I've had sex with a Siren!"
"Draco, do you know what this means?"
"Um, no?"
"Draco, you know the Dark Lord is collecting people he could use to his advantage. That means that if he finds me, if he knows how to control me..."
"He could use you to kill everyone. Crap."
"That's why he can never know about me. Draco, you can't tell ANYONE."
"I promise, I won't. Trust me."
"I do. Always."
"Good." He kissed my head. "Now, let's get some sleep. The train leaves tomorrow."
"Alright."