Disclaimer: Refer to chapter one.
A/N: Here is chapter three of my little fic that will be finished pretty soon! :] This is the whole section of Slughorn's Christmas party from the library scene to the end of Harry's little confrontation with Cormac. Told in his point-of-view. This one is much more light-hearted than the first two. :] Enjoy.
As Friends
"He has perfect levity to kiss whoever he likes," her voice tightened as she said every word. From aisle to aisle, she lifted the books up and I watched them levitate to their appropriate spots on the bookshelves. I wonder if the library used the Dewey Decimal System. I was quite curious about it ever since Hermione brought it up in first year. Never had the proper motivation to seek out the answer though.
"Was I under the impression he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together…Yes." I followed after her from aisle to aisle and gave the most awkward of smiles to those who were now looking at Hermione as she spoke quite loudly. "Now…given the circumstances; I've had to make other arrangements." I looked at her as she said this. She had already made another date?
"Ha-Have you?" I croaked, trying to sound like I was affected very much. I was planning to ask her. Now what the hell was I supposed to do while she went with someone else and I went stag? I thought dating was supposed to be easy for men.
"Yes. Why?" She placed the last book in its proper place before finding herself leaning against the table, facing me. She wasn't so close to where I stood, but I could see the sprinkle of freckles on her nose from how the light was hitting her.
Shaking my head vigorously, I gave a sigh. "I just thought…" I looked at her. "seeing as neither of us can go with the person we'd really like to….we should go together." I have no idea why I needed to address that last part. Seeing the look on her face, I hastily added, "as friends."
Her doe-like eyes widened and I couldn't help but inwardly cuss myself out as I kept noticing these ruddy things about her that I shouldn't have.
"Why didn't I think of that?" She asked, sounding annoyed. She was really cute when she was upset. But then again, she obviously didn't consider me as a date for the party.
My hand clamped down on the edge of the table behind me as I gave her a nonchalant glance. "Who are you going with?"
"Uhm, it's a surprise."
Why did women need to be so bloody vague like that? Couldn't she just tell me?
"Anyways, it's you we've got to be worried about," she cast a side glance. "You can't just take anyone." In a moment, she was standing beside me, nudging her head. "You see that girl over there?" I looked over her shoulder and saw a rather pretty girl with curly black hair and a cute smile. "That's Romilda Vane. Apparently she's trying to slip you a love potion."
I couldn't help but start grinning as Romilda looked over at me, a smile on her face. "Really?" My eyes widened, looking at Hermione. I looked back at Romilda.
And then Hermione snapped her fingers in my face.
"Hey, she's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One," she retorted, giving me a slight glare.
This was probably one of the only reasons my bloody title was good for. "But I am the Chosen One."
And then she hit me over the head with a newspaper.
As if I was a dog.
"O-Okay. Sorry." I shrunk back. "Ju-Just kidding." Rubbing the back of my neck, I looked at the floor. "I-Uhm-Uh-I'll ask someone I like." Facing Hermione with a forced smile, I nodded. "Someone cool."
***
Walking down the corridor of Hogwarts, I pulled my collar away from my neck, trying not to make myself overheated. The fact that I needed to dress up so nicely for this brought back grim memories of fourth year. Parvati's never forgiven me for breaking her toe.
I stopped short when I saw my date standing there. Dressed in what seemed like a shiny silicon dress, Luna Lovegood was probably the only one possible to pull it off. I had to admit though, she did look pretty the way she was standing there - all free from the constraints of reality.
Merlin, I've been around her for too long.
Coming up beside her, I gave my best of smile which she so gladly returned before making our way down to the stream of red lanterns that glowed above.
"I've never been to this part of the castle-" I looked at her. "at least not while awake. I sleep walk you see. It's why I wear shoes to bed." I found myself inwardly laughing at her predicament.
***
It wasn't as bad as I suppose it could have been. There were plenty of people I knew so I could talk to them without looking like a complete git. When Luna left my side, I caught a glimpse of Ginny when she came. She, like always, looked beautiful. I tried to work up the nerve to talk to her, but Professor Slughorn seemed to have other ideas as he forced me into taking photographs.
After a few moments of flashing, he gave him a hearty laugh and whisked himself away as if we never even spoke. Glancing around, I was trying to find Hermione but she was nowhere to be found. What if she was off snogging her date?
No.
Hermione would never do that.
Would she?
"Drink?"
"Neville!" I tried not to laugh once more that night as I looked at his rather waiter-looking uniform. It was completely white and had gold buttons. What made it worse was that he was wearing white gloves as well, holding a tray of flutes filled with cold apple cider.
"I didn't get into the Slug Club. It's okay, though. He's got Melvin hanging up towels in the loo room."
"I-I'm fine, thanks." Patting him on the arm, I turned my attention elsewhere and stopped when I saw a flurry near one of the sheer curtains of the window.
Growing overly curious, I walked over and pulled one of the curtains, letting myself in to see Hermione standing there looking distressed and disheveled.
WHAT THE BLOODY HELL.
"Hermione? What are you doing? And what happened to you?" I failed at trying to sound cool. Looking down at her, I couldn't help but notice how low the front of dress dipped and my face grew exceptionally warm while I tried to turn away. It wasn't a dress she was usually sporting to these kinds of things. It was sleeve-less and showed off her long….long…legs.
"No…I-I just escaped," she stroked her fallen strands of her behind her ear, looking out cautiously past the sheer material of the curtain. "I left Cormac under the mistletoe."
CORMAC?
"Cormac?" I repeated out loud. Had she really chosen to go with him while I was here full and ready to take her to the party? "That's who you invited?" I felt rather low on the chain of honorable bachelors.
"I thought he would annoy Ron the most," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
So that was her reasoning? She was doing it for Ron. Lately, it seemed she was doing a lot for him and I couldn't help but feel the familiar ache in my heart. It wasn't the kind that I experienced when I saw Dean snogging Ginny at the Three Broomsticks. It wasn't jealousy….Okay, maybe it was. But I was starting to get jealous of Ron. I mean, he had a family, he had friends, and now he had Hermione.
He was lucky, that cheeky bastard.
"He's got more tentacles than a Snarf Lulump plant," she whispered.
Did she have to lean so close to me? I could practically smell her perfume.
Hang on a moment.
Hermione wore perfume?
No, it wasn't perfume.
Sniffing her hair instinctively, I closed my eyes and noticed she smelled like…apricots and…jasmine. Was that it?
Nevertheless, it smelled good.
"Dragon tails?" Turning to the waiter that obviously knew we were there, I looked down at the plate.
It looked rather unpleasant.
"We're fine. Thank you," Hermione whispered, her voice worried.
"Just as well. They give one horribly bad breath." He shrugged.
"On second thought," Hermione grabbed the plate and began scooping some of the food with her fingers and lodging them in her oral cavities. "It might keep Cormac at bay."
Was it wrong that I found that totally and utterly hot?
At least she didn't remotely like Cormac. Slimy git, he was.
"Oh God," she gagged, suddenly losing her grip on the platter that I grabbed. "Here he comes," she gasped, ducking down and slowly creeping her way out of the curtain as Cormac suddenly appeared on the other side of me.
"I think she just went to powder her nose," I explained, looking up at the git.
I wanted to get rid of that smirk on his face.
"Slippery little minx, your friend."
Merlin, I wanted to bash his face in right then and there.
"Nice piece of work, she is, isn't she?" He grinned, taking the platter from me and starting to gulf down the contents.
"Yeah…" Hermione was a hell of a lot more than that. I glowered at him as he kept eating.
What joy it brought me that he looked like he wasn't enjoying the food. "Wh-What's this I'm eating by the way?" He asked with his mouth full.
I smirked.
"Dragon balls."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. :] Review, please.
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