The Kids Aren't Alright

The Perfect Illusion

It felt surreal to Draco, being surrounded by so many people. After the full year of being stuck, he could go anywhere he wanted as long as he stayed in the country. Beside him, Theo gaped at the scene unfolding as Ginny, Luna, and Hermione took the stage. Their charmed hair and makeup perfectly in place. Pansy had suited them up in what muggles considered 'witchy grunge' apparel. She had spent the last hour telling them all about each piece and why she chose it.

Luna was wearing a short, pink slip and black ripped stockings. The mic in her hand was covered in tiny pink jewels that matched all her small pink jewellery.

Ginny was in baggy ripped jeans that fell right at her hip bone, her burgundy tank top matched her lipstick and hair. Her red bass almost sparkled in the blinding white lights shining down on the three of them.

Then there was Hermione. His heart nearly stopped.

"I did good," Pansy smiled, "Right?"

"They look great, love," Blaise gave her a side hug.

"What do you think, Draco?"

"They all look great, Pans," he gave a weak smile.

"I'm not stupid," Pansy tutted, "I saw the way you looked at her when she came to the trial. Maybe stop pretending like you don't care. You obviously fancy her."

"Do not!"

"Does anyone care what I think about them?" Theo interrupted.

"Of course," Pansy turned away from Draco after giving him a final grin, "What do you think, Theo?"

"I love them!"

Draco turned back to the show. The lights were streaming and pulsing throughout the whole club. Greens and whites with black light accents filled the room. With each word that Luna sang, Hermione's guitar got faster and faster. The black Fender looked like it was made for her, he watched her fingers run up and down the frets, black painted nails delicately creating each note.

Then, she inched closer to the mic with Luna, drawing his eyes to her perfectly painted lips. They were the colour of midnight, a deep blue that nearly looked black. From there he noticed the same choppy haircut she had when she stumbled through the floo. Her hair was jet black, it absorbed every ounce of light that hit it. She was in a black cuffed jeans with white converse. Her top was an old Mötley Crüe tshirt that used to be her dads. Pansy had gotten her permission to pin it to her body. It fit her like a baggy tank top that showed off the bottom of a lacy bra when she raised her arms to amp up the crowd.

Each time his eyes scaled her body, he found a new detail he had missed before.

"I think I'm going to go for a drink," Draco borderline yelled at the others before weaving through the crowd.

Pansy had turned them all into muggles for the night. He still wasn't sure how to feel about each of their looks. The plain black jeans with a striped long sleeve made him look gangly. She made his grown out hair part down the middle like he had done in third year. The only rule he had was drawing the line at makeup. The only one who'd agreed to the eyeline was Blaise since he had to sleep beside her every night.

"Hiya," the bartender smiled, yelling through the music, "Whatcha drinking?"

"Some whiskey?"

"Sure," she eyed him, "Any preference?"

"Something that burns."

"Deal," she slid the glass across the counter, "That'll be six euros."

"Here," sliding a twenty euro note across, "Keep it."