Chapter 16: Slughorn's party

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In the grand hall, the air buzzed with excitement as students and guests mingled, their attire ranging from elegant robes to daring ensembles. Hailey, her black dress hugging her figure, stood out amidst the sea of colors. The dress, shorter than the norm, exuded confidence, and her gold jewelry added a touch of glamour. Her hair, swept up in an elegant bun, completed the ensemble.

As she entered, a boy approached, offering her a drink. "Oh, thank you," Hailey replied graciously. But wait—she recognized him. "You're the boy from the Gryffindor party," she said, her memory jogging.

Neville, looking slightly flustered, stammered, "Yeah, I didn't think you'd really remember me."

Hailey's smile widened. "I'm not one to forget," she assured him. As Neville went to turn away, Hailey gave him a quick smile and said "nice... outfit Neville."  Trying to lighten his mood, because he did seem a bit miserable at the moment. Neville just gave her an awkward smile and left.

Sipping her drink, Hailey engaged in small talk with others, her eyes scanning the room. And there they were: Luna Lovegood and Harry Potter. Luna, in her unique style, had chosen an intriguing date. Hailey wondered what conversations would unfold between them.

But then, she noticed Harry walking away from Luna. Concern tugged at Hailey's heart. She approached Luna, who wore an expression of quiet resilience. "Hey," Hailey said softly. "Is everything okay?"

Luna's dreamy eyes met hers. "Sometimes," she replied, "people need a little kindness." And in that moment, Hailey understood. Luna, like her, saw beyond the surface. She saw the threads connecting hearts, the fragile beauty of empathy.

In the dimly lit room, Hailey and Luna settled buy a table, their voices hushed amidst the festive buzz. Hailey's curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned in. "So, why Harry?" she asked, her eyes searching Luna's dreamy expression.

Luna tilted her head, her gaze distant. "I don't know," she replied. "I needed a date, and Harry needed one too. We're good friends, you know. It just... worked out."

Hailey nodded, appreciating the simplicity of Luna's reasoning. "That's nice," she murmured.

Luna turned the question back to Hailey. "Do you have a date?" she inquired.

Hailey hesitated. "Oh... no," she stammered. "I just came with my friends, really."

But then, the room erupted into chaos. Filch, the caretaker, dragged Draco Malfoy by his shirt, and Hailey's attention snapped to the scene. Draco looked utterly uncomfortable, on edge. She strained to catch snippets of their conversation, but it remained a mystery.

Draco eventually left with Snape, and the party resumed its rhythm. When Hailey got back to her dorm, she immediately got undressed and sunk into her bed.

her body weary from the night's events. Yet her mind raced, fixated on Draco. Why was he sneaking around? Surely he'd been invited to the party. What secrets lay hidden in that enigmatic boy's life?

Magnetized                                                       Draco Malfoy Where stories live. Discover now