my best friends brother - fred weasley

lii. the party

'Fred,
You need to get your tall, goofy butt back to Hogwarts. It's not funny anymore. I can't be the only one humbling Ron. He called his girlfriend 'Lav' the other day, and they have not stopped snogging. 
I wish we were nonstop snogging. I actually just wish that I could reach out and touch you. 
That reminds me- your arms are freakishly long, my hands don't even come close to the sleeve holes. Yes that's what they're called, don't question me. 
I was invited by Harry to Slughorn's Christmas party, which will be exciting to say the least, he calls me Maybelle, despite me being above average in his class. Whatever, I'm totally not upset. 
I can't wait for Christmas so I can come and see you.
Love, Clover.'

Using Hedwig, I send the letter off, deciding that it will be the last one I'll write before Christmas. 

"Hey!" Harry shouts from behind me, chasing me down the hall.

"What?" I jump around, my heart pounding in my chest, I look to see him dressed up in a suit a few sizes too big, making him seem a bit shorter than he actually is. 

"Are you coming to the Slugclub party?" He asks, pouting slightly. 

"Oh is that tonight?" I watch his smile falter for a second before he nods eagerly, getting annoyed. "Well, let me get my dress on and I'll meet you in the common room." I try my hardest to soften the blow of me forgetting, but he just rolls his eyes in response. I struggle to find the dressed that Hermione loaned me for tonight, a sage green dress that falls just below my knees. I have to throw my pile of blankets and jumpers off of my bed in order to find it, a little bit crinkled, but not enough that people would mind. Hermione would probably be the only one to notice. Harry hustles me out into the hall once I'm ready, rushing so that our tardiness wouldn't be as severe. 

"So was I your first choice for tonight or..." I try to start a conversation as we turn corners on our way. 

"You could say that." He brushes me off. 

"You didn't ask Ginny?" I ask making him stop in his tracks, face turning red. 

"W-Why would I ask Ginny?"

"Just a thought." I shrug, bumping into someone. "Oh, Luna!" 

"Hi guys." She grins, "Are you going to the party too?"

"Uh... yes. Who are you going with Luna?" Harry scratches his head, diving into a conversation with her while I stand back. 

"Oh I just invited myself." I hear her say with a soft smile, I look behind us and see Draco Malfoy wander off down the hall. He looks behind him to make sure no one is following him, but our eyes connect, staying on each other for a second before he turns the corner. 

"You coming, Clover?" Harry asks, heading into the classroom where the party is being held. 

"Hm? Yeah." I snap my head back to follow them both in. Luna drifts into the crowd, finding someone to talk to. From the corner of my eye I see one of the curtains move, Harry moves his head at the same time, so I know I wasn't imagining it. 

"Do you think she realises that people can see her?" I murmur as we head over to where Hermione is trying to hide. 

"What are you doing?" Harry asks dryly as we join her behind the curtain. 

"Shh!" She covers both our mouths with her hands. "I've only just escaped."

"Escaped?"

"I left Cormac under the mistletoe."

"Cormac?" I yell, making her jump and heads turn towards us through the curtain. 

"Shh, Clover." She hushes.

"That's who you invited?" Harry holds back a laugh, turning his nose up in disgust. 

"Yeah..." Hermione shrugs, folding her arms and whispering. "I thought that would annoy Ron the most." Harry and I just turn to each other and nod in agreement. She's halfway through a platter of Dragon Tartare when she suddenly drops to the ground, crawling out from under the curtain. 

"Um, I think she just went to powder her nose." Harry gulps, looking up at Cormac McLaggen. 

"Powder her nose? Is it the 1950's?" I whisper under my breath, earning a sharp jab in my stomach from Harry.

"She's a slippery little minx, isn't she?" McLaggen shoves a handful of the Tartare in his mouth. "What's this that I'm eating?"

"Um... Dragon balls." I blurt out. And all within a second, Snape whips away the curtain and stares the three of us down, and McLaggen doubles over to vomit right on the Professors shoe. Harry and I watch in disbelief, before trying to slip away unnoticed. 

"Not... so... quick. Potter and May." Snape turns to us, totally unimpressed with the situation. "I have a message from Professor Dumbledore for the two of you. He gives you two his best and hope you both enjoy your holiday. You see, he's gone travelling."

"Travelling where?" I ask, not receiving a reply, only a angry look from Snape before he turns away. "Oh, cool." I mutter, turning back to the party. It is about as mundane as a Christmas party for wizards could get with al of the smart overachievers talking in one corner, and all of the guests on the other side of the room. The only thing that catches my attention is a bunch of commotion in the corner. 

"Take your hands off me you filthy squib!" Draco Malfoy shouts, Mr. Filch is ragging him in by his shoulder. He's dress in a black turtleneck sweater and his under eyes have turned to a dark purple-grey colour, showing the lack of sleep he's been getting. We all slowly turn our attention to him, wondering what on earth is going on. 

"I just discovered this boy lurking in the upstairs corridor, he claims to have been invited to your party." Filch tells Slughorn, who is just staring at the pair with no thoughts. 

"Okay! I was gatecra-" Draco begins, ready to take whatever punishment would come his way. 

"Yes, I invited him." I speak up for him, "I was wondering when you'd get here." I smile, slowly pulling him out of Filches firm grasp. Everyone- including Draco- stares at me in shock and disbelief. The party slowly resumes as I pull him into a corner, everyone turning back to whatever conversation they were having. 

"What are you doing?" He snatches his arm away from me. 

"I haven't asked any questions about you lurking the halls at midnight, or at any hour for that matter. But people are starting to get suspicious of you, seriously suspicious. Like, accusing you of things. So you might want to start being a little bit more careful with whatever you're doing. Okay?" I smile sweetly, making sure he hears the threat in my tone. 

"Miss May." Snape clears his throat from behind me. "May I escort Mr. Malfoy?"

"Of course, Professor." I avoid all eye contact with the both of them as I slowly head back to my friends. I wait a few minutes before slipping away, into the hallway behind Snape and Draco. I have to hide in a windowsill to avoid being seen by them. 

"I swore to protect you." I hear Snape hiss at Draco. "I made the Unbreakable Vow."

"I don't need protection!" Draco argues back. "I was chosen for this, out of all others. Me. And I won't fail him." Him? What?

"Who's him?" Harry whispers in my ear behind me, making me jump. 

"What makes you think I know?" I shush him, turning back to the conversation. 

"Let me help you, let me assist you." Snape pleads.

"No! I was chosen, this is my moment." Draco's voice falters for a second, out of fear or uncertainty.