PREFECT PARTIES

Practice began shortly after Neville stumbled upon the Room of Requirement. Hermione couldn't wait to find her inner power. Weeks went by and everyone was having a blast learning new spells and using them on a dummy and each other. Hermione couldn't believe she was actually performing those defensive spells. Everything was going great.

She skipped down the hall merrily one morning to meet Ron and Harry for the next week's lesson. Her happy thoughts were disrupted when a hand came out of nowhere and clasped her mouth and dragged her into a broom closet. She was scared to death until she realized who it was.

"LET GO OF ME MALFOY!" She yelled as she struggled to get free of his grip.

"I know what you and your little freak friends are up to." The broom closet was small so he was pressed up against her and their faces were just inches away.

"What are we up to?" She crossed her arms and pretended to not know what he was talking about.

"I- I don't know." Draco stammered. "But I'm going to find out. That's why I brought you here."

"How are you going to find out something that isn't happening?" Hermione smirked. It amused her to see him fumble his words.

"I know something is up." He got out his wand and held it up to her neck, pressing on her jugular. "And you're going to tell me."

"What are you going to do? Turn me into a toad?" Hermione chuckled and Draco pressed his wand harder making her flinch. She looked around trying to figure a way out of the closet. She noticed his back was pressed against the door and came up with a brilliant idea.

"Okay, I'll tell you." He lowered his wand. "But I have to whisper it." She cupped her mouth and stood on her tiptoes to get close to Draco's ear making sure to push him back a little. He bent down to listen.

With a swift motion, Hermione turned the door handle and pushed it open, making Draco fall flat on his back. He groaned as Hermione quickly stepped over his body, making a break for the hallway before he could reach for his wand again. She giggled, running down the halls until she knew she was safe. She panted as she rested on the wall and peered around the corner. When she calmed down, all she could think about was the way his body was pushing her into the shelf in that cramped little closet.

***

Weeks had gone by and Hermione hadn't seen Draco since their encounter. It was the night of Halloween. This meant it was the first prefect party of the year. Hermione had been so busy with her school work, she forgot to plan a costume. She had to think of something quick. She pulled on a regular old jumper and a pair of jeans. She frowned at herself in the mirror and her pathetic excuse for a costume.

She left for the common room where music was blaring and people were chatting loudly. The first person she ran into was Ron. His face was painted green and he had self-drawn scars on his forehead. He also had screws sticking out of either side of his neck. Even though he looked ridiculous as a red-headed Frankenstein, his costume was ten times better than hers.

"What are you supposed to be?" He talked through a mouth full of crackers and cheese.

"I am a Muggle." Hermione forced a smile although she was very disappointed in herself. A voice from across the room perked up right after she said it.

"I wish you were one, Granger. What a shame two Muggles made a witch like you." Draco, who had dressed up as a vampire, was still upset about the closet incident. Hermione clenched her jaw, wishing she did worse to him.

"Lay off, Malfoy. Can't we all just get along for one night?" Ron turned to Hermione gesturing to the snack and drink table. "Cheer up, we got all the food you can eat and all the booze you can drink. Fred and George really came through with the liquor." He gave her a wink and walked her to the table.

Hermione picked up a cup and filled it with a neon red-colored liquid. She assumed it was punch spiked with god knows what. She held her breath as she took a drink. It was strong and burned the back of her throat as she swallowed.

"Hey, Ron?" She choked out. "Are we allowed to have-" She turned towards Ron who had already left her for a new conversation. She looked around the room and found him flirting with Pansy Parkinson who was dressed up as a witch. It wasn't really a costume considering she already was one. Hermione felt relieved she wasn't the only one who looked stupid.

Hermione sipped her drink and walked over to Padma and Hannah and tried to engage in small talk. She kept looking over at Ron who was completely ignoring her. He was too busy looking into the eyes of Pansy. It seemed like he had no idea what she was talking about but he still gawked at her. Hermione found it hard to make friends with other girls after the whole Victor Krum situation. She brushed it off knowing it was just a jealousy thing, but it really put a damper on her social life.

The more she looked at Ron, the more she wanted him to come to talk to her but he wouldn't look in her direction. Even after her subtle hand waves and gestures. She heard him slur his words a couple of times and knew it was a lost cause. The only thing she could think to do was drink. When her cup was empty, she made her way back to the punch bowl for another, and another, and another until she had to hoist herself out of her chair to get on her feet. She stumbled back and forth between the table and her chair. She reached for the ladle and a vacant voice stopped her thought process.

"Woah, Granger. Slow down. Do you know what happens to the first one who passes out?" Draco stood in front of her flashing his pearly white fangs. Hermione was drunker than she thought because she didn't hear a word he said.

"Huh?" her voice didn't sound like her own. Draco took the ladle from her hand and filled up her cup.

"Actually, I'd love for you to find out on your own." He looked her up and down.

Hermione was befuddled by the whole encounter. Was he actually talking to her right now or was she just imagining things? She lifted her cup and tried to be polite as she took a drink.

"Thanks."

Draco raised an eyebrow at her and laughed. Hermione couldn't take her eyes away from his sharp canines. She stared for a while before realizing he hadn't walked away yet. The longer she stood there, the more awkward it became. Without saying another word, she went back to her corner and nursed her drink. As she sipped, she couldn't help but feel like someone was watching her. She looked around, and to her realization, nobody was paying any mind to her. She spooked herself and immediately decided to dump what was left in her cup in the plant that was next to her. She needed to sober up before things got too out of her control.

Hours passed and Hermione sat alone trying to collect her thoughts. She found it hard to think straight while the room was spinning. She watched everyone enjoy themselves. Feeling out of place, she got up to go to bed. Suddenly everyone touched their noses at the same time. She heard the chorus of 'not it's but didn't know what it was about. Everyone pointed at her and laughed.

"Mione's on cleanup duty!" Ron shouted with his finger still on his nose. Luckily the second to last one had to clean up too so she wasn't left with the mess to herself. The other person who didn't touch his nose in time was Malfoy. He made an excuse that the music was too loud and he couldn't hear. They didn't care and went off to bed. Ron and Ernie carried a passed-out Anthony (whose clothes had been removed) to his room before going to theirs. Hermione looked over at Draco and made a mental note to risk it and just pass out next time. She began to clean up the common room, stumbling to the trash to throw empty cups away.

"If you get sick, I'm not cleaning it up." Draco's eyes were bloodshot and his hair was a mess.

"You'll have to if I get sick all over you." Hermione taunted him and left him to clean up more cups. They worked in silence before Draco spoke more annoying words.

"Bet you were feeling pretty jealous with Ron canoodling up to another bird and all." Hermione tried to understand him as he slurred his words.

"I thought you'd be the one feeling that way considering you and Pansy-"

"That was just a fling." Draco cut her off. "Besides, she wasn't even that good of a snog."

"Hm." Hermione went back to cleaning hoping he wouldn't talk to her again.

"Not that you would know anything about snogging, Granger. You and the weasel have probably never gone as far as holding hands."

"Ron and I aren't together."

"Could've fooled me. You two are practically inseparable."

"We're just friends." More silence. They picked up trash on opposite sides of the room. Every once in a while they would catch each other sneaking glances and then look away. Hermione and Draco were dumping out half-empty cups at a sink together when Draco sparked yet another stupid conversation.

"So, have you ever?"

"Have I ever what?"

"You know, snog anyone?" Hermione thought back to when Krum pecked her before he left. She would hardly count that as a kiss. She shook her head at him as he approached her. He towered over. "Wanna give it a try?" Hermione thought he was out of his mind. Before her, stood a very wasted Draco Malfoy asking her to snog him. She raised her eyebrows at him and took a tiny step back. "I don't bite."

Draco waved his wand over his mouth and his vampire teeth sunk back to normal. Before she knew it, their lips were pressed together. He cradled her head in his hand and pushed her up against the sink. He tasted like the booze they both had been drinking. He opened his mouth slightly and kissed her harder. Hermione didn't know what came over her when she kissed back. The room was spinning and Hermione felt weak. Victor didn't kiss her like Draco did. She pulled away before anyone could walk in on them. She looked at him in horror.

"Not bad, Granger. I'll give you a six out of ten." He winked and left Hermione stunned and confused at the sink with the rest of the mess to clean up.