For the first time in a while, I was in Hermione's room. I had to be since I didn't want Draco to see the dress robes until I was fully ready and her, Ginny, and I wanted to get ready together.

(you know what time it is. Pick your dress.)

"How do we always get these fantastic looks," I ask the girls as Ginny zips me into my robes, "because we all look fantastic."

"I love these new dress robes," Ginny says as she looks around us.

"I know," Hermione says as she finishes her hair. As Ginny finishes zipping my robes I slide my heels onto my feet then smile at the ladies.

"Well let's go, girls," I say to them. We all march out and meet our respective dates in our respective locations. While the girls dating other Gryffindor's meant they only had to walk out the dorm room. I had to meet Draco, Blaise, and Astoria had the door to the party. As I get there I see Draco's face light up as his eyes land on me. "Man how did I get so lucky?" I ask as I look at him in his all-black dress robes. "You are so damn handsome."

"Thanks, but I'm the lucky one Love," He says as he wraps his hands around my waist. "I love this color on you." I smile as he pulls me closer to him.

"Well maybe I'll wear it more," I say to him, "even tho I wear it every day." He smirks before pushing his lips against mine. I deepen the kiss as I push back to him pushing us even closer.

"Oh well, Y/n," I hear. I open my eyes and pull back and break the kiss. Now seeing Harry and Luna standing in front of us.

"Oh Hi," I say to them, "you both look lovely."

"Thanks," Harry says, "same to you."

"Absolutely amazing," Luna says as she looks at my robes. I smile and pull her into a quick hug. Then I look at Draco.

"We should head inside," I say to him.

"We should," He says watching Harry. I curl my fingers around his and follow him and he leads us inside. Once in Slughorn marches towards us in a tasseled suit.

"Why hello Miss Cultven!" He says cheerfully then looks to Draco a lot less cheery, "Malfoy."

"It's a lovely party Professor," I say as I tighten my grip on Draco's hand.

"Harry, m'boy!" Slughorn booms at the couple behind us, "Come in, come in, so many people I'd like you to meet! You too Miss Cultven!" Slughorn grabs mine and Harry's arm and pulls us behind him as we walk deeper into the party. I keep a tight grasp on Draco.

"Harry, Y/n, I'd like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires—and, of course, his friend Sanguini." They shake mine and Harry's hands quickly. Worple was a small stout mam while the vampire Sanguini was tall and looked extremely bored.

"Harry Potter, I am simply delighted!" Worple says, peering shortsightedly up into Harry's face. "I was saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day, 'Where is the biography of Harry Potter for which we have all been waiting?'"

"Er," Harry says, "were you?"

"Just as modest as Horace described!" Worple says. "But seriously I would be delighted to write it myself—people are craving to know more about you, dear boy, craving! If you were prepared to grant me a few interviews, say in four- or five-hour sessions, why, we could have the book finished within months. And all with very little effort on your part, I assure you—ask Sanguini here if it isn't quite—Sanguini, stay here!" adds Worple, suddenly stern, for the vampire had been edging toward the nearby group of girls, a rather hungry look in his eye. "Here, have a pasty, My dear boy, the gold you could make, you have no idea—"

"I'm definitely not interested," Harry says firmly, "and I've just seen a friend of mine, sorry." They pull off and Worple looks to me.

"The biography of Y/n Cultven would do extremely well too," Worple offers, "a story on how you escaped death time and time again and learned to become an up and coming great witch like the great Philla Cultven. I can see it now-"

"I think I'll have to pass," I say to him, "so sorry. But my date and I must go find our friend."

"Oh-" He starts but I pull Draco off into the direction Harry went before Worple could say anything. As we reach them I see Hermione looks around frantically.

"Oh, I've just escaped—I mean, I've just left Cormac," she says, "Under the mistletoe."

"Serves you right for coming with him," Harry tells her severely.

"I thought he'd annoy Ron most," Hermione says dispassionately. "I debated for a while about Zacharias Smith, but I thought, on the whole—"

"You even considered Zacharias Smith?" I ask her. She looks now noticing my presence.

"Finally," She says then looks to Draco, "Hello Malfoy." She looks back to me. "Yes, I did, and I'm starting to wish I'd chosen him, McLaggen makes Grawp look a gentleman. Let's go this way, we'll be able to see him coming, he's so tall..."

"Ahh no no no," I say stepping back, "your mess not mine."

"We have to find Blaise anyways," Draco says. I wave and follow him through the party until we meet the tall statute like boy.

"Blaise you look like you aren't enjoying yourself," I say jokingly he rolls his eyes and hands me a cup. "What's this?"

"Firewhiskey, I snuck it in," Blaise says as he holds Astoria up. She definitely was drunk.

"Yeah is she okay?" I ask him looking at the girl. She sways happily as she sips her drink.

"A true lightweight," Blaise says as I take my cup. I take a sip and the strong liquid hits my tongue. It was fairly awful but anything to make this party more bearable. I finish the cup and Draco looks at me in a mixture of proudness and shock.

"Damn," He says, "would have never guessed you could chug firewhiskey."

"I hang out with the Weasley twins during the summers," I say to them, "I've drank with them a fair amount to build up a nice ability to drink." As we finish a couple more drinks Draco's arm wraps around me. While Blaise, Astoria, and I talk about school and exchange stories.

"So there Pansy is with 100 gallons worth of papers just tossing them in the air like confetti all because you were in the article being called a slut," Astoria snorts, "she really thought that would end you and Draco."

"And here they are strong as ever," Blaise says smiling like a proud father.

"Hey, I'll be back," Draco says pulling away as he looks up at the clock, "I'm going to the dorm. We have some more firewhisey there."

"Oh alright," I say. He pecks my cheek quickly then walks off.

"Y/n come over here," Slughorn says waving me over. I sigh and slump over there. I was with teachers now. Harry, Luna, Hermione, Slughorn, Trewlaney, and Snape. And I was fucking slurring my words I was so drunk.

"Y-yeah," I hiccup as I join them.

"We were just talking about you and Harry's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you Severus, of course, you taught them for five years!" Slughorn says. I look to Harry in an attempt to get him to take over talking.

"Funny," Snape says, "while Y/n I know did well. I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all."

"Well, then, it's natural ability!" shouts Slughorn. "You should have seen what he gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death—never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, I don't think even you, Severus—"

"Really?" Snape says quietly, his eyes still boring into Harry, who felt a certain disquiet.

"Y/n's was just as fantastic," Slughorn says, "very much so."

"T-thanks," I slur. Subconsciously trying to act like I hadn't taken about 15 shots of firewhiskey.

"Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Harry?" Slughorn asks Harry turning to him.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology..." Harry lists off.

"All the subjects required, in short, for an Auror," Snape says, with the faintest sneer.

"Yeah, well, that's what I'd like to do," Harry says defiantly.

"And a great one you'll make too!" Slughorn booms. They look to me expecting a comment.

"Yeah yeah a great one," I say. Harry looks over.

"You okay?" He asks. I nod.

"I don't think you should be an Auror, Harry," Luna says unexpectedly. Everybody looked at her. "The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought everyone knew that. They're working to bring down the Ministry of Magic from within using a combination of Dark Magic and gum disease." Harry and I almost choke on our drinks as we look at the blonde.

"What about you Y/n?" Slughorn asks looking to me, "what subjects are you taking?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Care for Magical Creatures, Astronomy, History of Magic, and Potions," I say to them as I list off the classes.

"No particular career path?" Snape asks me curiously.

"Not exactly," I say to them, "I would like to pursue playing Quidditch professionally for a couple years. Then work with some magical creatures or become an Auror."

"You have the talent to go where ever you would like," Slughorn says as he starts to say something else the door swings open and Filch drags Draco over to us.

"Professor Slughorn," wheezes Filch, his jowls aquiver and the maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

"As a matter of fact he is my date to the party," I say to Filch, "if you'd so kindly unhand him."

"He is a date of one of the people who was invited," Slughorn says, "he's allowed to be here." Filch sighs and lets Draco go. He marches towards me and pushes me behind him. "

"He should know the rules," Filch says, "Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"He was out," I say behind Draco thinking of a good lie, "getting me the gift I got for Slughorn that I left in our common room. Sorry to spoil the surprise Professor."

"Is this true Draco?" Slughorn asks.

"Yeah, it is," Draco says gripping my hand tightly.

"He can stay," Slughorn says. Filch looks at Draco with a growl then leaves. Then Draco turns back to me. I place my hand onto his cheek as Snape marches towards us.

"I'd like a word with you, Draco," Snape says suddenly.

"Oh, now, Severus," Slughorn says, hiccuping again, "it's Christmas, don't be too hard—"

"I'm his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be," Snape says curtly. "Follow me, Draco." Draco looks to Blaise who now had Astoria and himself behind me.

"Can you walk her back to the common room?" Draco asks Blaise who nods as they walk out.

"Carry on everyone," Slughorn says, "carry on!" As if to top off the awful night I could feel my stomach grow uneasy.

"Oh no," I groan.

"Come on Cultven," Blaise says as he takes my hand. I start to move but suddenly the room was spinning. I could feel my stomach turn.

"We need to go now," I say, "I need a bucket or something. Now." Blaise senses the urgency and pulls me along with Astoria to the small staff bathroom in the room. As I reach the toilet I lean over and gag harshly. Emptying the contents on my stomach. The cherry on top of the crap storm day.

****

"Draco," I say as I watch him pace around the room. "You aren't going home? But your mother-"

"Asked me to stay here," Draco says, "I'll be fine I promise."

"Alright," I say to him, "I'll see you after the break. You'll get your present on Christmas. I love you." He stops pacing and wraps his arms around me tightly before planting a soft passionate kiss. He was obviously hiding something. Why would his mother want him to stay here when her husband is gone? Wouldn't she want her son home for Christmas? That wasn't the type of mother Narcissa is. As he pulls away a smile at him. "Happy early Christmas."

"I love you," He says.

"I love you more," I say. He lets go of me and I walk from the dorm to catch the train with the other kids leaving over break. An uneasy pit forming in my stomach. As I climb into the compartment with Harry and Ron I curl up against the wall. Drifting asleep sadly.

"I have to do this- or he'll kill her," I hear again. The voice still so harsh and fake. It made no sense and I can't tell who it could be.

"We'd never let that happen," Dumbledore's voice cuts through. The dream moves and I see a tall dark cloaked figure pointing a wand at someone.

"Avada Kedavra," I hear a harsh fake voice scream. Then the man falling from the tower. The hut burning. Bellatrix smirking. This was new. I could tell she was smirking at someone else and it wasn't meant to be me. In the same harsh voice that killed the man before croaked out. "You know she isn't safe. He'll still kill her if he gets the chance."

As I lash forward screaming loudly I feel someone's arms wrap around me. "Y/n breathe! Come on you're alright," I hear Harry say. He pulls me towards him into his chest as I start to sob.

"The- someone- I the dreams," I sob. He rubs his hand across my back.

"Is everything alright in here?" I hear Neville's voice asks. "Y/n are you alright?" I pull away from Harry and wipe my eyes.

"Just a nightmare," Ron says, "she's been having them a lot."

"She'll be fine guys," Harry says. I look to see a small crowd around the door. My scream probably alerting everyone.

"Y-yeah I'll be fine," I say to them, "just a nightmare." As the crowd disperses Harry looks to me and nods.

"You're talking to Lupin," He says shutting the door to the compartment, "you're mental health is on the line. And so might someone's life."

"I'll talk to him," I say to them, "but only him. Do not tell Molly or anyone else. I don't want this getting out any further than it has."

"Why?" Ron asks. As I look at the compartment across from us to see Goyle, Crabbe, Nott, and Blaise I sigh.

"I think Voldemort's side already knows. And I don't know how long I have until he himself knows."