Hello dear readers! As I lost the notebook I write this story in (old school, I know) there was a very long delay in getting this chapter to you. I hope you're still following the story, and that you enjoy this chapter. I really am delighted that so many people have read, followed and favourited. Please review - I really appreciate the feedback :)

Chapter 8: Smirking and Showtime

So this was it. The night of Slughorn's Christmas party had come at last. Harry squirmed in his dress robes, feeling like they were choking him. All this formality seemed so stupid, he would much rather wear jeans but Slughorn had insisted. Hardly surprising really, a Slughorn party was always going to be pompous. Harry hadn't expected to be this nervous, an all too familiar churning feeling in his stomach. There had been so much plotting about this bloody party, and he was beginning to doubt whether the plan would even work. That, and Ginny didn't seem to be the slightest bit bothered that he was 'dating' Hermione. She almost seemed pleased about the whole thing.

The plan had definitely been more successful with Ron, who had barely spoken to Harry since their argument. He did grumble under his breath a lot when they were in the dorm together though, a string of expletives that would have appalled Mrs Weasley. Most of his anger seemed to revolve around Hermione. ('She bloody well acted like she liked me, and now she's off snogging my best mate.') However, Lavender also seemed to be irritating him. ('If I hear bloody Won Won one more bloody time...') Other topics included Harry, Snape, homework, Quidditch and anything really. Ron had always been a bit of a grumpy git, but this seemed to be a whole new level. The back of his neck constantly burned brick red, and he stomped his way around the castle, shoving unfortunate little first years out of his path and growling at anyone who dared catch his eye.

Harry regarded his reflection critically again, wondering why anyone in their right mind wuld bother wearing dress robes. They were so outdated and uncomfortable. He looked pale, like he was off to face another task in the Triwizard tournament, not going to a party. At this point, he'd rather take the dragon. The high collar was ridiculous, and made him look like a vampire. Even worse, they were the same dress robes he'd worn for the Yule Ball in forth year, and he'd grown quite a bit since then. A few inches of his jeans were visible. He'd worn his dress shoes, even though they were too small. He wouldn't want to face Hermione's wrath if he wore sneakers. He was ready far too early, Hermione wouldn't be sorted for ages. He sat stiffly on the edge of his four poster bed, examining the Marauder's Map. He had been keeping quiet about his suspicions about Draco lately. Why did everyone find it so hard to believe he could be a Deatheater? His family were so deep in the Dark Arts, of course he would be too. Hermione dismissed his theories about Draco, but Harry knew there was something going on. Draco was acting even more oddly than usual, and had been sneaking about the castle like he was being watched. He always looked tense and pale. Harry knew he wasn't mad, Draco was definitely plotting something. And tonight would be the perfect opportunity, with Slughorn's party providing a distraction...

'Oi! Look at Harry!' Dean laughed. 'Hermione's got him whipped, all dolled up for the big party!'

Seamus clutched his sides from laughing. Harry gritted his teeth. Pair of arseholes.

'Ginny hadn't got you whipped then, Dean?'

Dean shrugged, looking smug. Harry wondered how he hadn't noticed before what a smug git Dean really was. Everything he did was just so bloody...smug.

'I told Ginny I wasn't wearing dress robes, end of story. I'm not going anywhere looking like an idiot. No offence, mate.'

Harry grunted in response. He'd been hoping that maybe, just maybe, Dean and Ginny weren't going to the party together. No such luck, they seemed as close as ever. Damn them.

Harry went down to the common room, trying to ignore Dean's snickering behind him. He was insufferable. Merlin, Harry thought, I sound like Hermione. They had become really close over the last few weeks, and Harry was surprised to realise that he would miss that connection between them. He thought he would have to wait for Hermione, but of course she was there already. She always had been punctual. She looked beautiful, wearing a blue dress in some delicate looking fabric that Harry didn't know the name of, and her hair was in soft curls. They smiled at each other, and Harry hugged her.

'You look great tonight.'

'Thanks Harry.' She smiled and tilted her head towards Ron and Lavender who were sitting on a sofa in the common room, both looking miserable. Ron was red in the face, and couldn't take his eyes off Hermione. Lavender was furious. She kept trying, and failing, to get Ron's attention. The plan was working, and Hermione was delighted. Harry hoped it would work as well on Ginny. The thought of her with Dean was painful, and jolted him out of any sappy feelings he'd been having about Hermione. Ginny was meant to be with him. That was how it should be. Romilda spotted Harry and Hermione holding hands and stomped up the stairs to the girl's dormitory huffily.

'You should have worn dress robes Dean, Harry looks so handsome.'

Hermione tried not to laugh at Harry's miserable attempt to hide his smile at Ginny's words. He looked like he wanted to punch the air, or jump around the common room, whooping and yelling.

'Bloke looks like he's being strangled!' Dean smirked, and Harry's smile quickly became a scowl. Hermione gave his hand a squeeze. He kissed the top of her head, and she felt herself blush. Just because the others were watching, of course. Nothing more. Ginny wrapped her arm around Dean's waist, pulling him close, looking hard at Harry and Hermione. It really was all rather tense, Hermione thought.

'So! Let's go to the party, shall we?'

Ginny and Dean set off ahead, so closely entwined that Hermione was quite impressed that they could walk at all. Harry's grip on her hand tightened as they walked behind the lovebirds. It got tighter and tighter, becoming very painful.

'Harry!' She hissed. He looked startled, and dropped her hand, babbling apologies and getting more and more flustered. She rolled her eyes. 'Get it together, Harry.' Sighing, Hermione pulled him into an alcove off of the corridor. Ginny and Dean walked on, too caught up in each other to notice the absence of the second couple.

'Harry' Hermione whispered 'You're losing it. We have to make this work, okay?'

Harry was staring at her, the strangest expression on his face.

'Harry? Are you even listening to me?'

He reached up and brushed a curl of hair off her forehead. Hermione's cheeks went red, and she found herself at a loss for words. This was not part of the plan.

'You really do look beautiful tonight, Hermione. I don't know if I said that before...'

'Thank you Harry. That's very nice of you to say. Er, now, back to the plan, right?' Hermione was thrown by the sincerity in his voice, and the odd intensity of the moment. Harry was still gazing at her. She had planned so carefully, everything should have been under control. But they quite clearly weren't. She honestly had no idea what was going on in Harry's head.

'Right. Yeah. That.' Harry seemed to jolt out of the strange trace he had been in. 'Thank you for doing this Hermione, really.' He kissed her forehead softly, and Hermione closed her eyes. It was absurdly comforting.

Harry and Hermione hurried along the corridor, catching up with a smirking Dean and a steely-eyed Ginny. They walked to Slughorn's party in silence, Harry and Hermione hand in hand. More than once, Hermione questioned the sanity of their plan.

Entering Slughorn's office, Hermione couldn't but be impressed. Emerald, crimson and gold fabric hung from the ceiling, giving the room an exotic appearance. A few years ago she would have described it as magical, before almost everything around her was. Music played in the background as the guests chatted and laughed. Hermione frowned at the sight of house elves bearing trays laden with food.

'Harry. This is atrocious. Those poor house elves, can you believe this? Look at them, slaving away as we party. I really should find Professor Slughorn and talk to him about S.P.E.W.' Harry managed to calm her down, but then she noticed the fairies trapped in the large lamp at the centre of the room. Once more, she was incensed. She made a mental note to research the treatment of other magical creatures once this dratted party was out of the way. She needed to get back to the library. Something had to be done, this was just barbaric. 'Hermione, focus!' She turned back to Harry, taking a deep breath and trying to let go of her anger.

'Harry, m'boy!' Slughorn threw an arm around Harry, dragging him off to mingle. Hermione, her hand still in Harry's, was pulled along behind them.

The party had begun.

More party time soon, plenty of drama ahead! Thanks for reading :)