After a while of standing alone on the balcony, unable to process what had just happened, Draco made his way back downstairs to the Great Hall.
He had every intention of saying a quick polite goodbye to the few that were civil to him. However, as he entered the Ballroom once again, he was grabbed by a tall figure in a deep red cloak.
"Draco! Just the man I wanted to see!" Said Blaise, grinning with his pointed canines on show. His old friend's face had been painted in a slightly greyer tone than his usual deep brown, and his eyes were rimmed in fake dark shadows.
"Blaise." Draco responded curtly, trying to conceal his irritation.
Blaise clapped Draco on the back, chuckling. "Well, well, look who's back from the dead. You've been avoiding your old comrades all night, my friend."
Draco looked at Blaise mockingly, "Comrades? That's a stretch."
Blaise smirked, "Okay, perhaps comrades is a bit too formal, since we have hardly seen you all year." He gestured to a nearby table. "Come, join your old school chums, you've been sorely missed."
Draco sighed but allowed himself to be ushered to sit at a table with his old Slytherin group. As they approached, they all exclaimed in various greetings. Although Draco baulked at the attention, it did feel nice to receive a warm welcome for once.
"Draco! I was wondering where on earth you had disappeared off to." Purred Pansy, sliding closer to him.
Draco replied with a half-hearted grunt, not wishing to explain where he had been. Blaise sat to his right, leaning back on his chair as he surveyed the ballroom before him.
"Old Slughorn has tried his best, but it's like polishing dragon droppings trying to spruce this place up. Why Hogwarts doesn't have a proper ballroom, I'll never understand. You should see the grand ballrooms they have at Beauxbatons, Draco - puts even the Malfoy Manor to shame, I'm afraid" He commented in his posh voice.
Draco looked around the Great Hall, with its floating petals and shimmering candles. He found that he didn't much care for the setting, but he wasn't exactly partial to any parties anymore.
Blaise then popped open a bottle to cheers and applause from the table and passed it around. He offered Draco a glass, and poured it to the brim with a fizzing liquid. "Brought it myself from my mother's stash, the finest aged Ember Elixir - just don't let it get to your head too quickly, it's strong stuff."
Draco scoffed at the idea of champagne going to his head, but joined the group in a toast anyway.
"To old companionships, to new beginnings. And to our old pal Draco finally showing his face, may he continue to grace us with his presence in the near future. Oh, and to McGonagall getting so drunk that she seems to have forgotten she's still a cat and is now asleep on that chair. Chin chin." Blaise toasted with a wink, to which Draco rolled his eyes, before clinking his glass with the rest.
Draco took a sip of the fizzing liquid, and was startled to feel it bubble in his throat before making its way up to his head. The room started to shimmer, and the effect was a certain fuzzy light headed feeling, like there was a buzzing in his brain. The effect was strangely calming, and the buzz drowned out the worst of his thoughts.
He certainly felt a little more relaxed, and began to fall into chat with the rest of his group. The conversations were eerily similar to those he had had plenty of times in school, which gave him an uncanny feeling of being the only person in the circle who had changed from their former school self. Whether this was a good thing or bad, Draco didn't know. And he didn't want to spare it much thought, not when his head was starting to buzz even louder with the more he drank.
The edges of his vision began to blur, and he drifted in and out of the trail of the conversation around him, instead choosing to look around the room. The party was still in full swing, some students on the dance floor and others congregated around in groups.
Again, Draco caught the eye of one or two students who either glared back at him, or simply looked away, startled.
Blaise must have caught this when it happened for the third time, with Cho Chang jumping in shock at the sight of him and scurrying away. "It's like they've seen a ghost - wait, wrong costume." He chuckled, eyes dancing with amusement.
Draco scowled at him. "I'm glad you find it amusing."
The Slytherin boy only smirked back, replying, "You would think, after battling the Dark Lord himself, they had seen scarier things than a posh blonde boy with daddy issues." His smirk widened into a grin as Draco's eyes narrowed in warning. "I'm just saying! It's hilarious watching them all. Though it seems like the golden trio are relatively less afraid of you. I saw you talking to Potter earlier - who would have thought?"
Draco ignored his friend, though at the mention of Potter, his eyes unwillingly flitted to the spot of the room he had been avoiding. There, Weasley was in an animated discussion with Seamus Finnigan, both boys gesturing wildly and apparently demonstrating quidditch poses. Draco tried to keep a neutral expression, but felt a tinge of worry as he noted a certain Gryffindor girl missing from the group.
Eyes sweeping the room, he finally found her on the dance floor again, this time with Potter. Draco didn't know how he could have missed her, really, with her glowing halo casting them both in their own personal spotlight amongst the darkened lights.
He bit back a smile as he noted the pair's clumsy and awkward movements, a far cry from the dance himself and Hermione had shared upstairs. Still, Hermione looked happy to be dancing with Potter despite his lacklustre dancing skills, grinning as they clumsily stumbled through the steps.
Blaise interrupted his thoughts as he leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. 'Draco, you're staring at Granger like you've just discovered the Room of Requirement. Anything you want to share?"
Draco's eyes flickered, a momentary lapse in his guarded expression. He retorted with a wry smile, "Just admiring her choice of dance partners, Blaise. It's not every day you get to see Potter stumbling over his own feet."
Blaise chuckled, raising an eyebrow, "Ah, so it's the Chosen One you're jealous of, not the Mudblood herself?"
Draco's façade remained intact, but a subtle tension lingered in his shoulders at his friend's choice of words. "Jealousy is a base emotion, Blaise. And keep your voice down, I of all people should know what using that word can cost you."
Blaise leaned back, studying Draco's expression. "Touchy, aren't we?"
Draco ignored his friend, turning back to watch as Potter led Hermione back to their table. Her cheeks were pink and flustered from the dancing, though she had a pleased expression on her face. Draco watched, amused, as she fanned herself to cool down.
As Draco watched, Hermione glanced around the room, locking eyes with Draco. A hint of a smile played on her lips as she eyed him, but it vanished as she turned her attention back to listen to something Weasley had said into her ear.
Draco's expression turned to stone as he noted the pair, cast in their golden glow. He tried to shake off the odd pang of jealousy. What did it matter if she laughed with Weasley? He and Granger were just friends, after all - and barely even that. One conversation at a party and suddenly Draco had forgotten he was an outsider, a reminder of the dark presence the world had just rid itself of. Not like the trio, who had never done anything short of heroic in their lives.
He turned back to Blaise, who was eyeing his expression with a glint in his eye. "You know, we were looking for you earlier on," He said in a low voice, "But you had disappeared. Curiously, Granger was also missing from the festivities, and arrived back shortly before you did. And now you're staring after her like a lost puppy. Peculiar."
Draco said nothing, though he balled his fists. "Just observing, Blaise. Nothing more."
Blaise arched an eyebrow. "Observing, huh? Well, from where I stand, it looks like you're stuck in the past. Why not go and talk to her? Catch up on old times, or, who knows, create some new memories."
Draco turned, an eyebrow raised at his friend's suggestion.
"What? Times have changed, and even I can admit that for a muggleborn, Granger has a certain allure. Especially tonight, old Slughorn's certainly had the right idea with that costume." Blaise made a show of eyeing Hermione appreciatively, much to Draco's annoyance.
He laughed without humour, "Talking to her won't change anything."
Blaise clapped him on the back. "Mate, life is too short for regrets. Besides, who wouldn't want a chance to talk with the brightest witch of our age? You've got a unique opportunity here. Seize it." He said in a dramatic voice.
Draco felt a tightness in his chest, a mix of longing and apprehension. Was it worth approaching her again? Did she even want to talk to him?
He hesitated, glancing back at Hermione engaged in conversation with others. Blaise added with a sly grin, "Unless, of course, you'd rather stay here and brood all night. And if you do plan to, do let me know first so that I can have another drink."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Draco's face. "Fine. I'll talk to her, just to get away from you though."
Blaise gave him an encouraging pat on the back. "That's the spirit, Draco."
Draco took a deep breath and made his way toward Hermione, who was engaged in a lively conversation with Harry and Ron. As he approached, heart hammering, he couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in Potter and Weasley's expressions - raised eyebrows and exchanged glances.
"Potter, Weasley." He greeted, his tone more composed than he felt. "Mind if I borrow Hermione for a moment?"
He noted Potter's eyebrows raise in surprise at the sound of him referring to Hermione by her first name, but the boy made no comment. Weasley, however, crossed his arms, scepticism etched on his face. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
Draco glanced at Hermione, who gave him a small nod. "Hardly your business, Weasley." He replied, "No schemes or tricks though, you have my word. Hermione, join me for a moment?"
At this, Weasley's chest puffed out indignantly. "Fat chance we'll believe that! Anything you have to say to her you can say it here, in front of us!"
Draco watched Hermione's face flush with embarrassment as she chastised Weasley, "Oh for goodness sake Ron! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you." She got to her feet, and Ron huffed but reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Draco and Hermione to leave the table.
As they approached the drinks table, Hermione took a moment to glance back at Harry and Ron, who were still seated, eyeing them with scepticism. She let out a small sigh, then turned to Draco with a half-apologetic smile.
"Sorry about Ron," she began, a hint of frustration in her voice. "He's... well, he can be overly protective, especially when it comes to me. It drives me mad sometimes."
Draco raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "No need to apologise. Weasley's jealousy of me is nothing new."
Hermione rolled her eyes, then turned more serious. "So, what did you want to talk about, Draco?"
Draco took a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I'm not really sure, to be honest. I just wanted to say thank you, I suppose."
His words hung in the air for a moment, the sincerity behind them evident in his eyes. Hermione gave him a curious look.
"Thank you?" she echoed, eyebrows slightly furrowed. "For what, exactly?"
Draco paused, choosing his words carefully. "For not treating me like the enemy. For having a conversation with me that wasn't filled with animosity or judgement. It made me realise how much I missed having normal conversations with people, and... well, you're good company, for a Gryffindor."
Hermione's expression turned soft, though she quickly hid her smile and rolled her eyes. "Well, for a Slytherin, you are surprisingly decent company too. And as I said, there's no point in treating each other like the war is still going on. I wish Ron would be quicker to pick up on that, too." She frowned.
Draco just smiled back, then poured her a drink with slightly shaking hands. He was wary of many curious eyes on them both.
"Speaking of Weasley, his eyes are burning a hole into the back of your head." He grinned, as Weasley continued to glare in his direction.
Hermione winced, "I wish he would stop. I mean really, I made the mistake of telling him that I was upstairs on the balcony with you and he hasn't stopped questioning me since. As if we were… up to something!" She shook her head in indignance, before catching his eye.
The unspoken memory of Hermione in Draco's arms, him gently touching her face, passed between them. Awkwardly, she took a sip of her drink, while Draco cleared his throat.
He searched around the room for a quick change of topic, "I see our dance lesson was wasted on you. Potter is to blame for that, I suppose, he was about as graceful as Hagrid at the ballet up there." He teased, smirking down at her.
"Hey!" She slapped his arm lightly. "Harry's never learned the dances before, apart from the Yule Ball. Maybe McGonagall just wasn't as brilliant a teacher as you." She said sarcastically.
He smirked at her, "If you're suggesting I give Potter a dance lesson I'm afraid I'll have to politely decline."
He was pleased when she laughed at this, and he smiled back. As they continued to chat and drink, he found himself fully relaxing, even enjoying himself. Whenever he brought up a subject Hermione found particularly interesting, an excitable look would cross her face, and she would become extra animated. In school, he had found her extreme enthusiasm annoying, but now he couldn't help but smile at her fondly. She looked even more radiant when she was excited.
As Draco and Hermione continued their conversation, they found themselves inadvertently drawn into a debate about the merits of magical education reform.
Draco, leaning back against the drinks table, stated, "You know, Granger, I've always found the education system at Hogwarts to be severely lacking. It's outdated, to say the least."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, and you have a better solution, I suppose?"
Draco smirked, revelling in the opportunity to challenge her intellect. "Maybe not a complete solution, but certainly some improvements. For instance, why aren't there more practical applications of magic in our curriculum? We spend too much time memorising incantations and not enough time learning how to actually use magic in real-life situations."
Hermione crossed her arms, ready to counter. "Well, Draco, the fundamentals are essential. You can't just skip over them. Besides, there's the matter of safety. Not everyone is as adept at magic as you are, and rushing into practical applications without a strong foundation could be dangerous."
Draco smirked at her annoyed tone, enjoying seeing her so passionate. As their debates continued, the effects of Blaise's champagne lingered, giving Draco a sense of ease that he hadn't expected. He never knew arguing with someone could be so oddly enjoyable. In fact, as they delved deeper into their conversation, Draco and Hermione found themselves momentarily forgetting the world around them. The Great Hall's enchanted ambiance, the floating petals, and the lively chatter all seemed to fade into the background.
Then, almost predictably, for the third time that evening their discussion was abruptly interrupted by Weasley. The red-haired Gryffindor had been eyeing Draco and Hermione from a distance, and his patience had evidently finally ran out. He stormed over, a displeased expression etched across his face.
"You two look awfully cosy. What's going on?" He spat at them.
Draco and Hermione exchanged exasperated glances, both annoyed by Weasley's interruption. Draco sighed, rolling his eyes, while Hermione tried to diffuse the tension.
"Ron, for the last time, we're just having a conversation. It's not a crime," Hermione said, her tone a mixture of frustration and patience.
Weasley crossed his arms, eyeing Draco suspiciously. "I don't trust him, Hermione. He's probably up to something."
Draco couldn't help but scoff. "Honestly, Weasley, if I were up to something, you'd be the last person I'd involve in my plans."
Weasley scowled, clearly not pleased with Draco's response. "Just watch yourself, Malfoy."
Hermione shot Weasley an annoyed look. "Ron, please. This is a party, and we're all trying to enjoy ourselves. Can we not have a civil conversation without your suspicions ruining the mood?"
Weasley ignored her as he continued to glare at Malfoy before turning to face Hermione, "Well, are you coming? Or would you rather spend the whole night with him?" He jerked his head towards Draco.
Hermione rolled her eyes, exasperated, but got to her feet. Weasley grabbed her arm to haul her away, though his frustration seemed to reach boiling point as Hermione gave Draco an apologetic smile and wave as they left.
As they walked away, Weasley threw back a loud jab over his shoulder, "You know, Hermione, I don't think you should be fraternising with the likes of him. He's probably just trying to put on an act to save himself from ending up rotting away in Azkaban like his father."
As Weasley's words echoed in the Great Hall, the surrounding conversations hushed, and eyes turned toward Draco. The weight of Weasley's accusation hung in the air, casting a shadow over the festive atmosphere.
Draco felt his skin begin to prick with anger and shame. The mention of his father and the insinuation that he was just putting on an act cut deeper than he cared to admit. He clenched his fists, his jaw tight, as he tried to control his temper.
Hermione, on the other hand, bristled at Weasley's words. She stopped in her tracks, pulling her arm out of his grip. "Ron, that's enough! Draco is not his father, and he's trying to change. You can't judge him solely based on his family history."
Weasely folded his arms, his expression defiant. "I'm just saying, Hermione, be careful. Malfoys are good at pretending, but deep down, he's a Slytherin snake - they're all the same." He warned, his words laced with bitterness.
Draco couldn't hold back a bitter laugh. "And what about you, Weasley? Following the 'pure-blood' narrative, are you? I thought this whole thing was about inter-house unity, all that?"
Weasely scowled at his retort, while the tension in the Great Hall thickened, and the onlookers seemed torn between curiosity and discomfort, their eyes darting between the pair.
Hermione stepped between the two, her frustration evident. "Enough, both of you! Ron, this is not the time or the place."
At this, Weasley turned to face her, his face contorted in an ugly grimace. "Quit defending him, Hermione. He shouldn't even be here. Or have you forgotten about Fred already? Do you remember how happy he was to watch his aunt torture you while he did nothing? And now he's busy cosying up to you as if nothing happened."
Draco felt like he had been slapped in the face, while a collective gasp murmured around the room. At his words, Potter had appeared, looking uncharacteristically solemn.
Potter's voice cut through the tension, "Ron, mate, let's just go calm down." He shot Draco a worried glance, guiding his friend out of the room.
Weasley glared at him once more before following Potter, while Hermione looked on the verge of tears. Looking back and forth between her friends and Draco, she whispered something unintelligible before making her way out of the room, following her friends.
The silence that remained in the room was too much for Draco to handle. Weasley's reminder was like a bucket of ice over his head, shocking him out of the cosy bubble he had been in with Hermione and back to reality.
Draco rose abruptly, his jaw clenched, the weight of Weasley's accusation still lingering. Without a word, he swiftly walked out of the Great Hall, avoiding eye contact with curious onlookers. He practically ran to the Hogwarts grounds, and then with a crack, Draco apparated away, leaving behind the once-magical ambiance of Hogwarts, now replaced by the haunting solitude of the Malfoy Manor.