The rest of the week just flew by and before I knew it, it was Friday afternoon and I was standing in a line with the other girls in my year and opposite us were our respective dance partners.
The music started playing and I knew exactly what to do.
My feet moved almost automatically and my hands found those of my counterpart.
With the greatest possible precision, he guided me.
I could close my eyes and know that nothing would happen to me.
I had a trust in him that I had never expected to find in anyone, let alone him.
Min praised us for our outstanding technique and explained that we would be learning a new dance in the next lesson.
The dance lesson with Draco would surely become the highlight of my week, I thought as I left the room with the other students.
A highlight that I now had to wait another week for and in order to experience it, I first had to get through the celebration tomorrow evening.
Hannah talked about nothing else all Friday evening and all Saturday until the Quiddich match.
I didn't know how many times I had heard the word fairylights in the last few days and actually I didn't want to know.
I was quite relieved when the game finally started because that was the moment she stopped talking about the party.
The game was predictable.
Gryffindor had the better team, so I wasn't at all surprised that they won by 200 points.
If it had been up to me, the game could have gone on longer because as soon as Hannah had reviewed each move, she went back to talking only about what was coming up tonight.
"We still have to do your hair", she nudged me and I almost forgot that I had promised her that.
I just nodded in agreement and found myself in the Hufflepuff common room after dinner while Hannah did something with my hair.
By the time she was done I had a complicated looking topknot on the back of my head.
It looked good, no question but I was already dreading combing my hair afterwards.
Hannah on the other hand was more than delighted with herself and clapped her hands in glee.
"I have to go and help with the preparations now, I'll see you there."
She jumped up, gave me a quick hug and was out of the room faster than I could look.
"Whirlwind", I said quietly to myself, laughing slightly.
I was quite afraid of messing up my hair when I got dressed for the party but with a little effort and patience I managed it.
As much as I didn't want to go to this event, it was still important to me that Hannah at least thought I was making an effort.
I opted for a burgundy knitted jumper, a black skirt and matching black tights.
Min smiled at me when she saw me and wished me a good time.
The celebration would take place in the Room of Requirement and that was exactly what I was standing in front of now, nervously kneading my fingers.
One hour, I reminded myself, you only have to hold out for one hour, then you can go again.
I pushed the door open.
Music was blaring behind it and I was tempted to cover my ears.
I certainly wouldn't last longer than an hour here and even then I would leave with a headache.
I met Neville and Hannah at the bar where they were both standing with a drink in their hands.
Neville coaxed me into a firewiskey which I downed reluctantly.
I hate the taste of alcohol.
Anything to show well Will.
My two friends eventually disappeared onto the dance floor, leaving me sitting at the bar.
To kill time I wandered around a bit, hoping to find a quieter spot.
In vain, everywhere was noisy.
My head was pounding and I hated every second I was here.
The music at the dance classes was nice and pleasant, this one was just loud.
A rather drunk Ravenclaw stumbled against me and spilled his drink all over me.
Okay enough, I thought to myself. This has been almost an hour, I'm leaving now.
I couldn't spot Neville and Hannah in the crowd so I left without saying goodbye.
As soon as I closed the door behind me it was quiet.
And I loved everything about it.
I had never been so happy for silence.
I would take advantage of the quiet and the fresh air to go for another walk because I wasn't tired yet.
Something behind me was making noises, wind or students seeking togetherness, I thought to myself and walked on undeterred.
A little background noise wasn't bad, then I didn't feel quite so lonely.
I don't feel lonely at all, I thought as I turned the next corner, rather I felt watched.
The sounds behind me were also getting louder and I was now sure they were footsteps.
I turned around but there was nothing.
Nevertheless, I quickened my steps.
I should have transformed but at the moment the risk of being seen was just too high.
I sped up but the footsteps kept up, even got louder.
I was starting to get scared.
I reached for my necklace and held the pendant tightly and suddenly something hit me in the back.
My wand, which I had been holding for a long time, was thrown out of my hand and landed a few metres away.
I also fell and I was now quite sure that it was a stupor that had hit me.
I didn't even have time to pick myself up or look at who had disarmed me when a kick hit me in the side.
I doubled over and the next kick followed.
I heard voices but it was as if they were coming from far away.
Everything was muffled and I couldn't see who was standing over me.
One kick followed the next and where I had flinched at first, I now lay motionless.
All my life I had wanted to feel nothing, to have no stupid emotions but now it was exactly what I wanted.
Fear, hatred, something, I wanted to transform, to run away but I couldn't.
All I perceived was pain.
The next kick hit me in the left side and this time it hurt so much that I cried out before everything went black before my eyes.
