Disclaimer: We obviously do not own the Harry Potter World, as much as we wish we did. That genius comes from the one and only J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 5: The Chaos of Dinner Parties

"Hurry up, Malfoy! They'll be here any minute!" Hermione screamed at me as I was headed towards the kitchen to pull out the lasagne from the oven.

Julianne and Derek were coming over tonight for dinner so Hermione and I could finish our project and I wouldn't have to deal with the muggles again.

The table was already set for four. Hermione had found her only table cloth and best china for the occasion. She was very excited to have the couple over. She and Julianne had been keeping in contact ever since the dreadful day at the mall and she was looking forward to showing off her nice, albeit small flat to her newest friend.

All of a sudden there was a knock at the door. Hermione practically tripped in her haste to let them in. I laughed at her clumsiness and she glared at me before composing herself and opening the door.

"Hermione, how wonderful it is to see you again! Thanks for the invitation." Julianne squealed as she entered and pulled Hermione into a short embrace. "Oh and Draco! I almost forgot you were going to be here as well!" She exclaimed when I came into view. I, too, then received a brief hug from Julianne, whilst Derek shot me daggers with his eyes. However upon Julianne turning back towards him he plastered a convincing smile on his face.

I walked towards Derek and extended my hand, showing that I meant no harm, and he almost surprisingly took my hand in a very rough short handshake.

"Lovely evening," I said to no one in particular hoping somebody would pick up and lead the conversation.

It was quite effective since Julianne immediately began talking. "Oh, yes indeed. We walked nearly the whole way here so we could enjoy it, didn't we, love?" Derek nodded his head to confirm her statement.

"The area is quite beautiful," I smiled warmly. "Hermione is lucky to have found a flat here." I paused. "What have you and Derek been up to, Julianne?"

"Oh, this and that. Nothing interesting has happened lately."

Derek coughed, "Nothing interesting?"

"Oh yeah, oops I forgot. I'm pregnant! This little one's going to be our first kid!"

Hermione paled a little before composing herself and launching into giddy girl-talk about babies.

I just couldn't believe how forgetful that woman was. How could she forget that she had another creature growing inside of her? Women.

I brought dinner to the table and we all congregated to eat. After several laughs, I found that I actually liked Julianne and her no-good husband. They were nice, interesting, admirable people. Who knew, right?

When Derek finally put his last bite of apple pie in his mouth, the pig ate too much to be human; Hermione jumped up declaring she would clear the table and take care of everything. Julianne followed her to the kitchen, dishes in hand.

"Thanks," Hermione smiled as Julianne placed he dishes in the sink.

"Happy to help," Julianne replied.

Hermione began scrubbing the dishes and Julianne dried them and set them on the counter to be put away later.

"So what's up with you and Draco?" Julianne inquired. "You two seem more… civil."

Hermione dropped the dish she was lathering with soap. "What?"

"Well I just noticed that you seem two seem to hate each other a little less… or maybe you don't hate each other at all anymore…" Julianne said slyly with a wink towards Hermione.

"Well I can certainly inform you that nothing has, nor ever will, happen between me and that pigheaded git. As soon as we are done working on a school project he will probably go back to being an outright arse to me. It's his nature."

My head snapped up from where I was sitting, turning in the direction of the kitchen. My nature?

"I mean, he's just like his family. All that matters to him is one's status in society, and trust me; we are on opposite ends of the spectrum. He would never waiver from his ways, and I could never like a status obsessed prat."

The glass vases on Hermione's pretty little shelves began to rattle and shake, causing a loud obnoxious din. Derek look rightly confused and Julianne turned to see what the racket was. Hermione turned and looked me in the eye, but I couldn't control myself. One by one the vases burst, sending shards of glass shooting at high velocities throughout the room. Julianne squealed and ducked below the table with Derek close behind her, shielding her from the debris. Hermione walked closer to me, whispering just loud enough for me to hear.

"Malfoy cut it out. Have you forgotten the Statute of Secrecy? Pull yourself together."

"I can't stop it." I said through gritted teeth, fists clenched.

The windows caved in next. Honestly, what was wrong with me? I knew that when she looked at me all she saw was a smirking self-righteous Deatheater, so why was I reacting this way?

Hermione stepped closer once again. "You're going to ruin everything we worked so hard to do. Control yourself."

Hermione's books began to fall off the shelves and pages were torn from them in midair only to fly about the room and encircle the inhabitants.

"You are ruining my flat. Wasn't ruining my childhood enough?" Hermione pulled her wand out and pointed it at me. "Stop it or I'll stop it for you!"

There was nothing I could do so I continued to stand there seething.

"Stupefy." She cried waving her wand, sending a blaring red jet of light towards the flying wreckage, which promptly dropped to the floor. She looked at me again. "Petrificus totalus."

My Limbs locked and I collapsed onto the ground.

Hermione walked to the windows and performed a quick spell to set them right again. She then walked over to the quivering couple and ushered them into chairs. "I'm really sorry about this... Obliviate." She then walked to me and removed the curse that had trapped me. "Get up."

When Julianne and Derek came back around Hermione spoke first to them. "I'm so sorry that you had to witness that. Draco and I should not have gone ballistic on each other in front of you. We tend to throw things..."

Julianne laughed. "You two fight like a middle-aged married couple!"

My face reddened and Hermione shot me a warning glance.

"Well," Derek began, "It's been fun and you two are rather entertaining when you fight, but I fear you may be a bad influence on Juli. I don't want her to get any ideas; I have antiques around the house! Have a nice night."

After they left, Hermione spun towards me. "What the bloody hell was that Malfoy!"

My eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry Granger, I lost control. What you said to Julianne was uncalled for!"

"She didn't understand half of it! She probably just thought you were some rich snob."

"I understood it! How did you think I felt, having euphemized insults hurled at me!"

"Obviously angry, considering you destroyed half of my flat!"

"You destroyed half my heart!"

"You have a heart?"

"You need to think before you speak, Granger!"

"Well you need to think before you act!"

We both glared heatedly at each other.

Hermione stomped off into her bedroom and slammed the door, leaving me flabbergasted. How the hell was that my fault? Okay, maybe I did destroy some of her stuff, but books are easier to mend than egos. Besides, it was an accident, for crying out loud! I stooped down and picked up one of her books that had been torn apart. It still had the tear stains that I had found before. I sighed; clearly she had been through a lot already and I just kept making it harder. I proceeded to clean up the remainder of the disaster I had created in her flat, and left silently leaving a short note behind for her.

I am truly sorry.

000000

"Mariah, wait!" Thomas Chaplin called after the blonde. "Can't we just talk about this?"

"We have Thomas! I know you're afraid for me, but I don't care. He's not like the company his parents liked to keep. He's better than that!"

"So what? He may be better, but his family certainly isn't! What do you think is going to happen when he takes you home to 'meet the parents'?"

"Nothing! He doesn't even speak to them anymore!"

"How can you be sure? What if he's setting you up?"

"He would have nothing to gain! Think, Thomas!"

"But what do you have to gain? He's a slime ball. You're much better off with someone like—"

"Someone like whom? You?"

"Yes."

"All you've done is degrade him without actually knowing him."

"Oh and you know him?"

"A lot better than I know you, apparently."

A/N:

katcamree says: I hope you liked this chapter! more to come shortly! also, I am now a beta reader so if you're looking for someone to beta your story I'm available, just shoot me a message.

madibumblebee says: Draco sure can't control himself! Be stoked for the next chapter, FYI. MAJOR feels!