Violet Summer: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 8: The Night

 The night of the Slytherin party had finally arrived, and Toni found herself sitting on her bed, filled with anxiety.

She regretted agreeing to attend the party with Draco, and her initial disappointment had now transformed into a wave of anxiety. Not only did she have to keep it a secret from her closest friends, but the guilt of avoiding their plans with Harry, Ron, and Hermione weighed heavily on her. Ron and Hermione had suggested playing wizard's chess and testing some of Fred and George's inventions, and she immediately regretted accepting the party invitation. Their suggestions sounded much more appealing than anything involving the Slytherins. Yet, there she was, rummaging through her trunks in search of something suitable to wear for the occasion.

Toni was known for her impeccable sense of style and was considered a well-dressed and fashionable girl at Hogwarts. It had helped her navigate the endless glares and receive countless compliments since the start of the year. But even that couldn't alleviate her unease. She had never been to a party hosted by another house. Gryffindor's gatherings had never felt like the stereotypical idea of a party; they were more like family gatherings or hangouts with friends. She had no idea what to expect at a Slytherin party.

Furthermore, Theodore's warnings lingered in the back of her mind. She wasn't truly afraid of any of the Slytherins, but what bothered her more was the sense of being alone. Her years spent with Harry, Ron, and Hermione had given her a deep sense of camaraderie that she had never experienced before. The three of them would never be invited to, or even consider attending, a Slytherin party. But the thought of having them by her side would have eased her mind. Instead, she was left in the hands of Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott, and the odds didn't seem so promising when facing the entirety of Slytherin House.

"Toni?" a voice called out.

Toni startled and quickly closed her trunk, looking up to see Hermione with Crookshanks purring in her arms. Hermione's brow furrowed as she regarded Toni, clearly not oblivious to her active avoidance of any plans for their Friday night.

Toni watched as Hermione's eyes shifted towards the trunk on her bed, her hands gracefully twirling in Crookshanks' fur as she approached the bedpost and leaned against it.

"Do you have plans?" Hermione asked. Toni swallowed nervously, her gaze falling to the trunk.

"I... ah." Toni struggled to come up with an excuse. She nervously nibbled on her bottom lip, meeting Hermione's gaze before finally letting out a deep sigh. "I've been invited to a Slytherin party."

Hermione's face twitched slightly, displaying her displeasure but trying to compose herself as she gathered herself for a faint nod. "A Slytherin party?"

"Yes... Draco invited me, and..."

"Malfoy?" Hermione interrupted, her tone laced with disbelief. "I thought you were planning to stay away from Malfoy. Now you're going to a party with him?"

"Hermione, it's not like..." Toni started, but Hermione cut her off.

"Not like that?" Hermione snapped. Toni could see that it wasn't anger on Hermione's face, but genuine sadness. She would have preferred anger. "Malfoy is cruel. He's absolutely terrible. I understand the history between you two, I really do. But just because your families were once friends doesn't mean he's the same person. It doesn't mean he's a good person. Harry, Ron, and I... we're your friends. We've been through so much together. Aren't we good enough for you?"

"What?" Toni gaped. "Hermione, this is ridiculous. It's just a party."

"It's not just a party, though," Hermione replied. The two fell into a momentary silence as Hermione tried to gather herself. "It's not just a party. Not to Malfoy."