Dying Stars - A Drarry AU by Lucius Gerard

Chapter Three - Confrontation

A/N: I am fully aware that the Dursley residence is not located in London, but for the sake of the story just go with it. <3

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Saturday, October 26, 1996, 5:15PM
4 Privet Drive
London, England

It was quarter after five and Harry was getting ready to go to Seamus's party. He didn't plan to wear a costume—he'd already confirmed that guests were not expected to, but could if they wanted to. So he just put on a pair of jeans and sneakers, and a dark green hooded jumper that apparently brought out his eyes. His striking green eyes were a trait he inherited from his mother, his messy black hair from his father. Waiting until his aunt, uncle, and cousin were distracted, he slipped out the front door and was down the street before they noticed he was gone.

At Hermione's house, Harry knocked on the door and smiled politely at the woman who answered it.

"Hi," he said awkwardly. "Is Herm—is this the Granger residence?"

"Oh, you're Hermione's friend?" the woman said. "Don't worry, love, I know her name is Hermione." She turned, shouting, "Mione, babes, your friend is here!" up the stairs. Harry heard Hermione call something back to acknowledge that she heard.

"So, I've met all her friends but you," the woman said, turning back to Harry. "I take it you are...Harry Potter, right? Hermione's told me about you. I'm Jean."

"Yeah, I'm Harry," he said. "Nice to meet you."

"And you."

"Jeez, mum, you love him more than me now, too?" Hermione joked, adjusting her top as she clumsily walked down the stairs. Jean laughed out loud.

"Hermione," she said, lightly smacking her daughter on the arm. Hermione looked at Harry.

"It's true, Harry," she said. "The woman loves all my friends more than she loves me. I bet she'll swap me out with Dean one of these days, she's just waiting for the right moment."

"That is enough of that," Jean said with a smile, kissing both Hermione and Harry on the cheeks. "Go on, then. Don't want to be late for your party."

"Okay, love you, mum!" Hermione called over her shoulder.

"Love you too, bye!" Jean waved after them, watching them walk down the street from the doorway until they were out of her sight.

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"Pansy, I told you, I'm not going." Draco didn't plan to budge on this one, as much as Pansy begged him. The two of them and Blaise were on a three-way call, and Pansy was trying to convince the boys to go to Seamus Finnigan's Halloween party with her.

"Oh, come on, Draco," Pansy said. "It's going to be fun, you know that."

"Honestly, Pansy," Blaise spoke up, "if you want to go so much, just go by yourself."

"I will, but it'll be a lot more fun for all of us if we all go. Draco, your dad doesn't get home until around ten on Saturdays, right?"

"About that, yeah," Draco said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Your mum won't be against you attending a party."