Defend

Chapter Thirty-Two Throw A Table For The New Year

A/N: buckle up guys, this chapters a wild ride

 After a brilliant Christmas, half a week later we finally have to go back to Hogwarts.

I'm unpacking my trunk when Daphne comes and sits on my bed.

"You know what's Tuesday night?"

I set down my folded cloaks and look up at her in confusion. "New Year's Eve?"

"Yes, but we've been planning a New Year's party!"

"Who's 'we'?"

"Pretty much everyone. A lot of people didn't go home."

"Oh. Well, am I invited?" I raise an eyebrow, tossing one of the folded cloaks on my bed.

"Of course." She smirks in return.

~~~~

I open up my wardrobe the evening of the party of New Year's Eve and glance at the sparse choices.

Ginny was right. I really do need to go shopping.

I pick an outfit out by process of elimination. I pull my hair down and brush it out, pushing it in front of my shoulders. I feel like being extra so I do my eyeliner and lashes, applying a bold lip gloss.

I turn towards Daphne. "Did I—"

"You look beautiful! Hold on, let me do your blush!"

"I don't want to do a full face—"

"You're so pretty you don't need one, it's just blush, c'mon let me do it!" she pleads, holding the makeup brush in her hand eagerly.

I sit down in front of the mirror and smile at her. "Alright, but then I'm going downstairs."

~~~~

I glance in the mirror on my way downstairs, catching my reflection. I look regal and feel more confident than I have since Yule Ball night. I have black lacquer high heels that I borrowed from another Slytherin girl I'm friends with, Daphne's sheer black tights, and a black skirt that falls just above my knees. On top I have an emerald Slytherin coloured top and a gold necklace with an onyx on the end that Cedric gave me for my tenth birthday. I fluff my long hair and smile at my reflection, the slight touch of makeup making me confident.

I walk down the stairs to the party, where music has started and people are putting out snacks. There's an entire table laid out with drinks, including a few I know for certain to be banned from Hogwarts. I grab a glass of one of the forbidden drinks and start sipping in the corner.

Once I finished that, I headed back to the table and poured something labelled Chocolate Liquor into my glass, though it's obvious someone tried to disguise it as an ink bottle. It really tastes delicious, and after a few glasses I begin to feel dizzy so I start eating snacks and talking to Daphne. She helped plan much of the party, and I compliment her on the set up.

At some point I begin drinking firewhisky and realise I'm talking to Pansy. The firewhisky gives me a feeling of courage, and although it sort of burns like an acid pop, I continue drinking though because it's comforting and takes my mind off things.

"I think I miss Draco." Slips out, and Pansy's face contorts. As soon as I say it I regret it and take a sip of firewhisky to drown out the pause.

A small dizzy spell shocks me into realisation of who I'm talking to and I walk away without saying anything, bumping into Theo.

That causes an awkward moment when he catches me right before I hit the ground. I spill what's left in my glass on him and he removes it with magic before smiling at me. I know I should stop and I'm so full of liquid I feel I can hear my stomach sloshing.