I Beg Your Pardon, Potter?

Chapter 31

"Before I forget, we brought snacks." Hermione was standing at the bar in front of Blaise. She had finished the drink that Draco had made her, which was delicious, but now she wanted to see what her potions partner could do. She had wanted him to make the first one, but Malfoy had beaten him to it, and he was still mixing cocktails like a pro at his end of the bar. Hermione wondered idly where the blond had learned to bartend so well.

"Snacks?" Blaise asked. He looked up from the lemon he was cutting in two. Hermione opened her bag and pulled out the plate of cakes and placed it on the bar top. Blaise's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes, snacks," she said. She continued to pull various desserts out of her bag and watched in amusement as Blaise's mouth fell slightly open.

"That's like half the dessert table," he said once she had finished.

"Drunk people get hungry," she said with a shrug.

"You're a genius." She waved off his compliment.

"It was Ron's idea," she said.

"What was my idea?" Ron asked. He had been across the room talking with Dean and Seamus when he had spotted the doughnuts and had made a beeline for them. He had most certainly not been keenly aware of the bar area for reasons of 'Pansy Parkinson was still bartending'. What would make anyone think that?

"The food," Hermione said, gesturing at the spread.

"Oh, yes," Ron said. "It was." This was indeed something he could take credit for.

"Yum," Pansy said, leaning over to break off a piece of a doughnut. "Thanks Ron." Ron beamed and then realized what he was doing and toned it down somewhat.

"Are you going to be stuck working back there for the whole night?" Hermione asked.

"Nah," Blaise said. "In fact, now that they're here," he jerked his head in the direction of the three house elves who were now patiently waiting by the corner of the bar. "We can stop. But I want to make you something first." He caught her eye and smiled. Next to Hermione, Ron resisted rolling his eyes and making a gagging noise.

"Good point," Pansy said. "I'm done with this." She put down the cobbler shaker she was holding and turned to the house elves. "Could you?" She gestured to the bar and two of the elves happily jumped up to oblige. She stalked around to the other side of the bar and then grabbed Ron by the sleeve of his costume's toga. "Come on, Weasley," she said. "I want to dance." Ron, stumbling slightly, followed.

...

"Fucking McLaggen," Neville said, angrily dropping into the seat next to Harry. He glared through the window into the main party space.

"What's he done now?" Harry asked.

Once Draco had finished up his shift at bartending, they had decided to move outside, and were now sitting in front of one of the outdoor fire pits. Pansy clearly had a better eye for furniture and space than Harry had, as the outdoor area was nicely arranged in a way that invited both more people, and also smaller groups. There were several fire pits and circles of chairs, including some that were far less well lit than others. Harry could see the outline of one couple who were taking advantage of the low lighting and wished that he and Draco could do the same. But in spite of the darkness, it was still too visible for them.

"He's dancing with Claudia," Neville said.

"With who?"

"Claudia," Neville repeated and then realized that Harry probably had no idea who Claudia was. "Uh, this Hufflepuff girl I like."