Veritaserum Prank Wars

Chapter 2

That afternoon they all began gathering at a room they'd rented just for the occasion of Williamson's party. It was tastefully decorated and most were dressed in their best. Hermione had worn a floor length purple dress and pulled her hair into a quick bun. Everyone was there except for Draco.

"Where's your partner, Mione?" Ron asked, glancing around at all the people gathered there.

"Yes, how is dear Draco these days?" Seamus asked, grinning mischievously.

"Ah- he seemed a bit strange at the office and then had to go... he said he would definitely be here though. He's probably just fashionably late." Hermione replied, watching as Harry strolled across the room, wearing a casual black suit and emerald green shirt. She smiled softly at him, shaking her head a bit. There really was nothing that could be done for the mess of black hair and it wasn't because they hadn't tried. She marvelled for a moment in the fact that not only had no one noticed the Potions Master certificate in Draco's office, but they hadn't seen him slipping out of the kitchens, cloak drawn over his tell tale hair not fifteen minutes earlier.

"There's our boy!" Dean said laughing, sipping the pumpkin juice that had just arrived. Seamus seemed to be figuring out how to spike all of it too, most likely with alcohol this time.

Draco smiled as he approached, bowing a bit at Hermione. She returned the gesture, sipping the tea she had brought from home. She wasn't sure she wanted to drink anything at that party that night. He smirked, having taken notice of this,

"Hermione, you look absolutely lovely!"

"Oi! Malfoy! Quit ogling my wife!" Ron said playfully, glancing around the room. As expected, the others were approaching, circling like vultures.

"You look rather dashing yourself, Draco!" Hermione said, laughing at both Ron's comment and the unafraid, defiant look Draco was giving her. His looks spoke volumes once you got used to them. Draco took a glass of pumpkin juice from a tray as it passed and turned it to his lips, but Hermione noticed he wasn't drinking it. Now she knew what to avoid.

"How are you, Draco?" Seamus asked in a sickeningly sweet tone.

"A bit uncomfortable, like a snake in the lion's den," Draco lied. Seamus smirked, casting knowing looks at his fellow co-conspirators. Something else Harry missed. Hermione inwardly groaned. WHen this was over she was going to have to talk to him about his lack of attention.

"Problems at home all taken care of?" Harry asked, eyeing Draco instead of the others.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Potter," Draco replied, blatantly searching the crowd to look as though he was avoiding Harry.

"Harry, you look rather nice tonight yourself," Dean said, approaching them quickly, "as do you, Malfoy." Harry blushed a bit and looked uncomfortable as did Draco before "attempting" to gain his composure,

"I always do," he said, smirking. Hermione bit down on her tongue to keep from laughing, what was he up to now. Dean and Seamus eyed Draco carefully before giving each other knowing looks.

"Seriously guys, don't start your trouble. If I have to pull you two off of any of the other Aurors tonight, I swear I'll give you all my extra paperwork. I'll not have a repeat of our last get together," Harry said laughing.

"Oh, no, Harry- we've not been drinking tonight have we Ron?" Seamus purred. Ron nodded and Hermione snickered, watching Draco check the time.

"No, they haven't, mate. Honestly," Ron said, putting an arm around Hermione's waist.

"You really do just look amazing, Harry," Seamus said and Draco gave him a withering look that Hermione found to be very real- not a part of his act. She frowned inwardly, this was apparently going to be a well laid out plan. She had never seen him blatantly show his true feelings where anyone could see them.

"Yes, I'd agree," Dean added, nodding, "wouldn't you say so Draco?" Well. They'd wasted no time in showing what they wanted.

"Ravishing." Draco replied, before side stepping the group quickly, walking a bit too quickly to get to the table where the snacks were being served. All of the boys quickly glanced at each other, snickering and Harry just seemed flustered.

"Draco," Hermione called, crossing the room behind him and knowing they would all follow her. They, of course, did. She got there first and was very careful to only eat what Draco ate. Just in case. "Are you feeling alright, Draco?" she asked as they again surrounded them, "you seemed a bit flustered earlier."

"I'm fine, thank you. I do feel a bit... odd, but I'm sure it will pass," Draco said, nodding his head to her- a thank you for helping. She smiled brightly back, her 'they deserve what they get' smile. She'd warned them time and time again not to get on the blonde's bad side.

"Ravishing, Malfoy, really? Are you drunk?" Harry asked, peering at the blonde curiously.

"Nope, completely sober right now, Potter. Yes, ravishing. That green shirt really brings out your eyes," Draco replied nervously, causing the others to snicker.

"Pants make your arse look nice too, Harry, wouldn't you say so Draco?" Seamus asked, waggling his eyebrows. Only Hermione noticed Draco's growl. So this was what they were up to- they'd noticed the looks Draco gave Harry as well Hermione thought. They were going to try to drive a rift between them. Save Harry from the Slytherin, she could tell that was their thinking. They had been oblivious to Harry doing the same thing. Now Hermione was angry as she turned to see Draco's response,

"Indeed, very nice." So, he wasn't going to give in either, allowing them to out him to get his own revenge. He checked the time again and smirked. Five minutes. Veritaserum would have taken a complete hold by now. He'd returned the favor. She snorted a bit, nearly choking on her tea.

"You okay?" Draco asked. She nodded,

"Yes, hmm. Excuse me," she said, coughing, "choked a bit." and she could tell they thought she'd done it due to Draco's response to Seamus' question. Harry was showing his Gryffindor colors now, bright red with embarrassment and a bit of curiosity. He realized now, or was hoping Draco wasn't being a sarcastic but Hermione knew he wouldn't press the issue. She decided to spur the thing forward herself, "are you drinking pumpkin juice as well, Harry?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied, looking strangely at her. He'd meant to merely nod, she could tell but hadn't had a choice but to answer. She placed a hand comfortingly on his shoulder, "you all look rather attractive tonight. I wish you could do something with your hair though, Harry," she sighed, "all of you anyway. Honestly, Draco's the only refined looking gentleman here. That shirt really brings out the silver in your eyes, dear, wouldn't you agree Harry?" she asked. Draco blanched a bit, fixing his trademark glare on her quickly- realizing where she was going. He was pleading with her to stop but she merely smirked back.

"Certainly, they're very pretty, Malfoy- a bit like mercury." and, with that, Harry was so concerned with why he'd actually said that that he would be easily manipulated. Draco coughed, shooting Hermione a questioning glance and trying to figure out her own plan. She hadn't really ever participated in the prank wars.

"I think so too, Harry!" she said, "in fact, I'm glad you noticed. I think there's a lot about Draco you lot haven't noticed," she added, looking around at the other smirking Gryffindors. They still hadn't realized Draco's plan, didn't know Harry was telling the truth. Only she and Draco knew and he seemed very confused, obviously losing control of his own plan due to Harry's revelation. Well, Hermione thought, I'll just have to help him out. "Let's all have a seat over here shall we? Draco, you too, come along." she said, corralling them all at a nearby table. She'd never seen Draco or Harry look so uncomfortable and it only fuelled her anger.