|| Star-Crossed ||

11

Party Time

TIME JUMP: 1 WEEK

CAROLINE POTTER

"So what do you say?" Ginny asked. Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Max, Mary, Naomi and I were all sitting out in the courtyard on the grass doing our homework and talking. Ginny, Mary and Naomi were trying to convince us to have a party on Saturday. Ever since everything went down with Draco, I haven't spoken to him. He's made quite the effort but I don't care. We haven't even worked on our project. The past week has been so stressful trying to avoid him and deal with Umbridge and everything else, I suppose a party could be fun.

"I'm down." I said. Harry looked at me with confusion. "Really?" he said. I'm not usually the party type so I guess it makes sense why he's surprised. "I need a break from Umbridge's hell." I said. He nodded. "Well, we could supply the goods." Fred said. "We have some connections in Hogsmeade." George added. "I can talk to Neville and see if he can hook us up with some party favors." I added. Mary and Naomi clapped excitedly. "Sweet!" Mary said. "I heard he's growing some very special plants in the old herbology shed. I think it ought to be ready by now." Naomi added. We all nodded. "I can get some alcohol too." Max said. "How? You barely look 16." Ron teased. "Piss off. I have my ways." he said. "So it's set. Spread the word." Ginny said. "What about Slytherins?" Hermione asked. "What about them?" Ginny replied. "Are we inviting them?" she asked. Ron laughed. "No way!" he exclaimed. "Why? There are some nice Slytherins." I said. "Really, name 1." Ron said. "Theodore Nott." I said. Ron rolled his eyes. "There are more parts in Slytherin than there are good ones. Don't act all high and mighty and pretend you care about house unity or that bullshit." Ron snapped. "Hey, watch your tone. That's my sister." Harry said in a warning voice. Ron put his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying. They like us about as much as we like them." he said. I rolled my eyes. "Regardless, we should invite them." I said. "They'll crash anyways. This might help diffuse the tension." Hermione said. We all nodded. "Good." I said. I don't want Draco to come by any means but I do want Theo there. He's my friend so I suppose I can't have one without the other. I just hope Draco takes a hint and leaves me alone. I just want to get a little drunk, maybe sample Neville's new plants and have fun without worrying about everything going on.

The next day, Max and I went to Hogsmeade to get supplies for the party. We walked down the streets, talking and laughing. Eventually, we found ourselves in front of the best place in Hogsmeade. The Three Broomsticks. The only place close enough to Hogwarts to get alcohol. One small problem, Madam Rosemerta, the owner, knows us all. She knows we aren't of age. Yet somehow Max has this rock solid idea in his head that we are going to pull this off. Yikes.

"This isn't going to work. If you aren't forgetting, we are underage. Madam Rosemerta is going to-" I started. He chuckled. "You underestimate my skills," he said. I rolled my eyes. "Fine, you know what, if you pull this off, I'll be your date to the party." I said with a smirk. He gave me a smug grin and held out his hand. "You're in for it now." he said smugly. I shook his hand and we walked in. I followed his lead as we walked up to Madam Rosmerta. "Hello Ma'am," Max said. "Oh Max, Caroline. How are you two? Can I get you anything?" she asked. "Actually yes. We need to speak with your supplier." he said. She smiled and cocked an eyebrow. "You must be drunk already if you think I'm going to give underage wizards like yourselves alcohol. I know what troublemakers you are, I can't imagine what would happen if you got drunk." she said with a laugh. "We understand and normally I wouldn't ask for this. It's just-" he said and his voice cracked. I looked at him and his eyes began to water. "It's just- we're doing a memorial. For my brother-" he began. My jaw hit the floor. No freakin way. "It's my first year at Hogwarts without Cedric and I wanted to pour one out for him. You know," he said. Then the tears came. He wiped them away and faked a "brave face". I stifled a grin. "Oh, you poor thing. You're a good kid." she said as she hugged him. When her back was turned to me as she hugged him, Max winked at me and I almost started laughing. "Through that door, take what you want." she said. We smiled and nodded. "Thank you. It means a lot." he said. She smiled. "Of course. Again, my condolences. Cedric meant a great deal to us all." she said. Then she walked off.

Max and I went into the room and started to fill the crates with all sorts of drinks and mixers. "That was quite the performance" I said as I laughed. "I was worried she wouldn't fall for it." he said. "It was brilliant. Sick and twisted, but brilliant." I said. He laughed. "You loved it." he said. "Touche" I said. Then we charmed the crates to be smaller and look like candy and headed back to Hogwarts. As we walked down the halls, I heard someone call my name. "Line!" Then I froze.

I turned around and Draco stood there. Max put his crate down and stepped in front of me. "No fucking way. Get the hell away from her." he spat. "Get out of my way, Diggory" Draco snapped. "No. I know what you did. I know what you said. You are seriously fucked up." Max said. "Let me talk to her." Draco pleaded. Max turned around and looked at me. I just shook my head and Max understood. "No. She doesn't want to talk to you." Max said. I turned around and started to leave. I couldn't stay and look at him. I wanted to. I wanted to make up and go back to the way things were. But I don't know how. I'm just a whore to him. That's why he never never wanted anyone to know about us. Not because of the scandal of it all but because he was just using me.

I was stupid to think any different.

DRACO MALFOY

I watched her walk away again, with tears in her eyes. Max stood there in front of me with fury in his. "How could you do that to her?" he exclaimed. "I didn't mean it." I said. "I don't care. She may act like she's ok. Like she's got everything under control but she doesn't. Do you have any idea what kind of life she's had? What kind of hell did she grow up in?" he asked. "Theo told me." I replied. "He doesn't know everything. Only 6 people in the whole world know exactly what's happened to that girl. The people who did it, Harry, me and her. You might think you know, but you don't." he snapped. "Then tell me," I said. He shook his head. "It's not my story to tell," he replied. "How do I fix this with her? She won't talk to me." I said. "Because you used her and said horrible things," he exclaimed. "I'm sorry." I said. "You should be. She let her guard down. She hasn't done that in a long time. But she did, for you. And look where that got her." he said. "What do I do? Please, Max. I really do care about her. Please help me." I said. "You don't deserve her." he said. Then he grabbed his crate and walked off.