Red & Green ~ Dramione

Chapter 8

"There are a few rules that we've set. Although there will be teachers around please try not to create chaos, once the ball ends at 12, I want everyone up to bed.
And I am not naive, I know that quite a few of you have snuck alcohol in, and I'm going to allow it this once," there were cheers from around the room, lots from the Slytherins, "but I'm going to ask that you don't get too hammered. Madam Pomfrey will have hangover potions in the hospital wing tomorrow. Besides that, enjoy your night."

There were more cheers and people got onto the dance floor as soon as the music started. Ginny went off to say hi to Luna and Hermione headed towards the food table. She hadn't eaten in hours as they had been cooped up in the gryffindor tower getting ready.

She took a plate and filled it with a bit of everything. There were cucumber sandwiches, biscuits, cake, and much more. She went to get some pumpkin juice too, she didn't feel like drinking tonight.

She sat down at one of the smaller tables and surveyed her surroundings as she ate her food. She would dance, just not yet.

They had set up a table with all the booze that was brought and already there were couples making out in dark corners.

Hermione was about to go join the people on the dance floor, when she spotted something that shook her. In the corner of the room, tongues down each other's throat, was Ron and Pansy Parkinson.

They had broken up months ago and technically it was a good thing that they seemed to be getting along but for some reason the sight of them making out still upset her. Maybe it was because her and Malfoy were still as far apart from a couple as could be, or that she felt that everyone else was making progress with their pairing while she was stuck with someone that was avoiding her.

So Hermione did something she normally never did. She veered away from the dance floor and towards the drink table.

She poured herself a shot of firewiskey, downed it in one and refilled it drinking it slightly slower as she relished in the burn that ran down her throat.

She was definitely overreacting, but maybe it was time she actually let loose a bit, with the events of the previous year, she could use a night of not worrying. Hermione had never been great with alcohol and was already starting to feel the effects of the firewiskey, but she still joined the crowd of people dancing. The sound of the music and the feeling of everyone's bodies so close together was exhilarating. She danced and danced until her feet hurt and her head was spinning.

Hermione left the throng of people and went to have another shot of firewiskey, at this point she had completely forgotten about Ron and Pansy, she was having fun.

She left the hall with her glass and went to get some fresh air. The cold stone bit her legs through the thin dress as she sat down on the entrance steps. Outside of the Great hall the music sounded distant.
The night air on her face was amazing and relaxing. Hermione slipped her heels off and stared up at the stars.

##

Ginny was enjoying herself, she had said hi to Luna and was now looking for Harry. Hermione had wandered off to the food table a little while ago. Finally she found him, but he didn't look too happy to see her.

"Hey Harry, what's up?"

"Hey, um look I didn't want to do this here but I think I need to," he looked around uncomfortably.

"What are you on about Harry"

"Ginny, I'm with Daphne now."

"What? Already? ", Ginny looked at him both surprised and hurt, how had he moved on so quickly.

"We shouldn't be near each other, sorry Gin," Harry walked away.

Ginny felt as her eyes started to water and she rushed out of the hall. She collapsed onto the grand staircase and stared at the steps as tears ran down her cheeks. She sat there for what felt like an eternity until a voice snapped her out of her trance.