18

Olivia

When the day of the party arrived, the school was in a buzz. Even the first years could feel the giddy excitement that was running through the entire castle. Classes didn't seem so boring, homework didn't seem so worrisome, and the day seemed to speed by in a blink of an eye. By the time the afternoon rolled around and classes were dismissed, it seemed that the whole school would burst into a cloud of confetti and glitter.

The corridors were quiet by 4 o'clock but the common rooms were exploding with sounds and smells. Students skipped up and down stairs and into other dormitories, asking opinions and fixing little details. The younger kids locked themselves in their rooms for their own safety and chatted about the parties they would have when they were older. Girls sprayed hairspray and perfume while guys bathed in Cologne. Makeup stained rugs, wands were tucked fashionably into skin tight dresses, and hands were shaken out to get rid of pre party jitters. 9 o'clock couldn't roll around fast enough.

I stood in front of the long mirror in my dormitory, changing angles and twirling my hair. The other girls I shared the room with had gone already and I was glad to be alone. I pulled down on my dress, wiped lipstick from my teeth, and sprayed just a bit of perfume. Perfect.

The Slytherin common room was quiet, a few partygoers milling around until the time was right. Most people couldn't contain their excitement and showed up as soon as the lights went down but people who wanted to maintain any image of cool they had waited until they could be considered fashionably late. I on the other hand just needed to get a few things done before heading down.

I knocked on Draco's dormitory door and peeked my head in cautiously. Our last conversation had ended with both of us wondering what we were doing and I wasn't sure if he even wanted to see me but when he looked up his usual ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

"Hey, come in."

His face changed when I walked in, slow enough that I wouldn't trip in my heels. It took me a second to realize why his face had dropped and he was staring like I had eight heads. I looked down at my tight dark green dress and my dark hair spiraling in curls. When I glanced back at Draco he gulped and blinked a few times.

"Party tonight." I offered with a shrug, crossing my arms over my chest. "I just came by to see if you were planning on going." It was pretty obvious that he wasn't by his unbuttoned shirt and the homework circling him on the bed but I asked anyway mostly because I hoped he would change his mind.

"I...don't know" He answered hesitantly, ripping his eyes away from me to look out of the frosted window. "I don't think it's really my scene."

"It would be good for you. For the rules." I replied, regretting it as soon as I said it. I was quickly realizing that the only reason I was even there was because deep down I wanted to hang out with him like normal teenagers would. I couldn't explain where the feelings had come from but they were there and I wanted to push them into a dark corner where I couldn't feel them. I wasn't in the business for having feelings.

"I've never even been to a party before. What happens there?" I didn't mean to laugh but it bubbled up inside me. I never thought Draco Malfoy would ask me about what goes on at parties.

"Of all people I thought you would know what happens at parties." I said to his confused look. I sat on the edge of the bed across from his and folded my hands.

"My father told me that pure bloods were too superior for lowly school parties." Draco said with a sneer. "Not to mention the past few years have been kind of..." He didn't have to finish that sentence because I already knew.

"Well I think you would have fun. It's nearly impossible not to, there's people everywhere and it's all dark with strobe lights flicking everywhere and music is blaring." I said this dreamily which made Draco laugh.

"That sounds terrifying."

"Come on," I grinned, standing up and putting my hands on my hips. "You're experiencing your first Hogwarts party tonight. Rule number two; be happy."

"It's really not that easy." Draco replied, running a hand through his hair.

"I know that." I sighed "But you have to start somewhere, right?"

Draco's gray eyes met mine and for a second I was brought back to the Hogwarts Express on the first day of school. I wished that I could see a change in the sadness in those eyes but there was nothing. For the first time I started to doubt that he could ever be helped. That maybe he was too far in.

"Fine." He conceded, smiling just a little. "I feel like I'm going to regret this."

"We all do."

Ian

When I told my friends that I had found a date to the party they seemed a lot more shocked than I would have expected. I was used to their blank stares and constant questions but for once they seemed to understand that something was different.

"Really? Like a real girl?" Robert asked.

"As opposed to a fake one?"

"What?"

"Yes a real girl."

"That's a first." Tommy noted with a snort and an elbow to Robert's ribs.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I knew exactly what it meant.

"Well Ian, we've all noticed that you never really find dates and we all know that you have plenty of options." That awkward silence that always showed up when the subject came up.

To be honest I didn't really know what to say. I never did. It was beyond true but I didn't have any excuse for it. I mumbled some crap about finding food before leaving the dormitory. I had been ready hours ago anyway.

The Hufflepuff common room was a jumble of people talking and laughing and getting ready. The party was starting in less than a half an hour but I wasn't surprised. It was usual for Hufflepuffs to show up late but only because they lost track of time. Most Hufflepuffs weren't exactly reliable.

I ignored the random greetings shouted to me from an assortment of people I had never even spoken to and got out that room as quick as I could. It was too hot and I was too irritated and I was starting to wish I hadn't even agreed to go in the first place. I never really liked parties, even if I was good at them. Keeping a good face, socializing, and looking like I was having a good time. Those were my best skills.

I didn't bother walking like I usually did, with an easy bounce in my step and a cool smile on my face. I strode down the corridor, moving like I had some place to be and not enough time. The halls were totally empty as if the entire castle knew that something was up and they shouldn't even bother coming out. For the first time in a long while I was alone and it felt good to be able to be angry or nervous or a bunch of other emotions that weren't carefree.

The Ravenclaw tower was all the way across the school and I was glad for it. To have five minutes to myself was a gift so for only a short time I slipped into what I really was. A messy haired, sarcastic, Spanish speaking 17 year old.

"That's a first." I mimicked Tommy from earlier.

"Cállate" I replied as if we were having the conversation all over again.

"Ian, do you want to take me to party?"

"Oh Dios mio, for the last time no."

I continued acting like an insane person until I was outside of Ravenclaw tower. The place was deserted and I checked the time to make sure I wasn't horribly late. Four minutes early. Evie said she would meet me out here and the thought of it made my stomach turn. I wasn't sure why, it was only Evie. My best friend Evie. Just Evie.

A few minutes later she poked her blonde head into the hallway and gasped when she saw me. I gave her a warm smile that felt fake then bowed my head. I seemed to be screwing everything up around her lately.

"Hi." She said, her voice unnaturally high. She didn't move from her position behind the door so that all I could see was her hair which was down for once and hung in waves.

"Are you going to come out?" I asked, my voice slipping from polite to teasing. There was something about Evie and being alone that made me want to stay like myself forever. She knew it too.

"Yeah I just-" She glanced behind her and then down then looked back at me. She chewed on her slightly glossed lip for a moment before slipping out from behind the door. "I look really stupid, please don't laugh."

Wow. Unlike the other girls I had seen with dresses that were like a second skin and necklines that swooped much too low, Evie was wearing a simple red dress that was tight at the top but flowed down to the top of her knees. The only accessory she wore was a little golden pendant that was shaped like a star. The best part of the outfit were the dirty converse she had bought when she was 13.

"Evie, you look beautiful" I said, running a hand through my hair without even meaning too. It was a bad habit that seemed to come back whenever I was around Evie.

"Thanks." She replied, tugging at her hair and hiding her face. "You look like...yourself."

"I should probably fix that." I sighed.

"I like it." She shrugged. It was probably the best thing I had heard all week.