On some level, Draco was impressed by how well he knew and understand his friends. He could pinpoint the exact moment that Harry started becoming suspicious of him. And it was because he knew his friend so well, that Draco did not question the suspicion cast on him, did not even have to strain his eyes to know that Harry was now constantly watching him on the Marauder's Map. The suspicion did, however, cut him to his core. He knew that he deserved it, he could attest to that, it just hurt him to know that Harry had foregone their friendship to question Draco's motivates. Harry was a loyal person, he would not just question Draco's friendship without just cause.
Draco accepted this new reality, pushing aside any pain or guilt that arose at the thought of it. It was better to ignore his feelings than to address them. He had more important matters to attend to.
Like, for instance, what he was going to wear to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party.
Truthfully, Draco had expected that Hermione would have asked Ron to the Slug Club party. It had been blatantly obvious that the redhead was jealous of Hermione and Harry's inclusion in the club, but Ron's rejection from Slughorn, to the point that the man could not remember his name.
But Hermione and Ron were no longer on speaking terms, reverting to the silence that echoed around them like in third year. So, naturally, Draco assumed Hermione would go with Harry. They were both being forced to go to the occasion, they might as well hate it together. But Hermione did not ask Harry, she marched straight up to Draco and asked him to go with her. He could not very well say "no" to her when she was looking at him like that. He was not sure he had even strength in him to crush Hermione's hopes.
So, he agreed to go with her.
The night of the party, Draco stood anxiously in the Gryffindor Common Room, waiting for Hermione. As he stood, he remembered, vividly, the night of the Yule Ball. A smile flickered to his face. He was glad he had chosen to go with her, instead of breaking it off like he had originally intended. There was no possible way he could have enjoyed that night with anyone else. And that was how he knew he would enjoy this night, too.
Finally, Hermione emerged from the Girl's Dormitories, dressed elegantly in a pink dress. Draco's expression contorted into an amazed grin. Hermione was beautiful, he knew that, but it was moments like these that made his heart race.
He held his arm out to her, which she took gratefully. "Thank you for coming with me," she commented as they strode towards the party.
"Well, the alternative was taking Ron and we've seen his dress robes," remarked Draco.
"The ones you bought him?"
"He outgrew them," Draco muttered, his annoyance clear in his voice, "he's far too tall for them now."
"Well, I'm glad you're here," she continued. "We'll have a good time."
"Well, as much fun as you can have at a Slughorn party," mumbled Draco. Hermione chuckled slightly beside him.
Needless to say, Professor Slughorn did his best to make the night magical for his guests. Draco knew that Slughorn had used magic to ensure his office was larger than any other teacher's study. In addition, the ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson, and gold hangings, so that the guests looked as though they were all inside a vast tent. The room itself was already crowded by the time that Hermione and Draco entered.
Upon their arrival, Slughorn hastened over to Hermione and Draco, showing off his special guests who had been former students of his. Draco shook his head, trying his best to keep his annoyance with the professor to a minimum. He, personally, hated the way the man paraded around, dropping names of famous witches and wizards simply because he had taught them. It was despicable for a teacher to have favorites like this. And, if he was being honest, he missed when Severus taught Potions. At least under Snape, he had learned something. Potions had been one of his best subjects. But Potions, like his other classes, had fallen into the abyss of his depression, any natural talent in the subject wasted away.
YOU ARE READING
The Brave at Heart
Fanfiction"He could only imagine what his father was going to say when he heard. Oh, he had really done it this time. His father had once told him he was a disgrace to the Malfoy name and now he really was. It wasn't supposed to have gone this way. He was sup...
