Rules Are Rules

Groove around like a scary ghost

Spooking himself the most

Shake your booty like a boggart in pain

Hermione heard the party before she saw it. Distant music, shouting, and laughter echoed down the stone corridor of the seventh floor. She shook her head disapprovingly, knowing the commotion could only be coming from one place.

She paced the corridor, waiting for the room to reveal itself. After a few tense minutes, the door materialised in the stone wall. Almost immediately, a group of Slytherins tumbled out, tripping over each other in a drunken scramble.

"Detention, next Friday," Hermione announced firmly, her arms crossed over her chest. She stood tall, in her most authoritative Head Girl pose, staring down at the mess of bodies sprawled on the floor. The pile of bodies groaned in response.

"Granger." Draco Malfoy, slightly less dishevelled than the rest, appeared in the doorway, a smirk playing on his lips. "How are you this fine evening?"

She rolled her eyes. Of course Draco, the Head Boy, was responsible for this. "Maybe I should report to McGonagall that you were absent from rounds this evening."

"We had rounds?" Malfoy smiled.

"We did," Hermione clarified.

"We did," he confirmed. "Surely Granger, you can let it go for once? Come and join us." he slurred, failing to hide his drunken state.

Her gaze remained unwavering. "Rules are rules, Malfoy. I'll have to write you and your—" Hermione glanced at the drunken pile slowly coming to their feet, " —friends up."

Draco rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner, then, to Hermione's surprise, grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the party. "Welcome to Slytherin," he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

The sudden shift caught her off guard, and for a moment, she allowed herself to be led deeper into the room. The music was louder inside, the lights dim and enchanting. The atmosphere was almost intoxicating, a stark contrast to the strict and orderly world Hermione usually inhabited.

She quickly regained her composure, tugging her wrist free from Draco's grip. "This isn't a game, Malfoy," she said, her voice firm but quieter than before, trying to assert her authority amidst the chaos.

Draco's smirk remained as he leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe not to you, Granger. But sometimes bending the rules a little won't hurt. Look around! They're just having fun."

Hermione's eyes flickered to the students dancing and laughing around them. She sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing on her shoulders. "I can't just ignore this."

Draco softened his tone, a rare earnestness in his voice. "Just for a moment, forget about the rules. See what it's like on the other side."

Hermione hesitated, conflicted. The responsible part of her screamed to shut the party down, but another part, one she rarely listened to, whispered that maybe a bit of levity was needed. She took a deep breath and glanced back at Draco, whose expression had turned almost inviting.

"Fine," she said, relenting just a bit. "But if things get out of hand, I'm shutting it down."

Draco nodded, satisfied. "Deal. Now, try to enjoy yourself, Granger."

The Room of Requirement was bustling with life. Students were scattered across plush emerald couches and armchairs, some engaged in animated conversations while others danced to the music that filled the room from a record player enchanted to play new songs over and over without the record needing to be changed.