Chance Around

Chance Around
Part 1

Halloween was quickly approaching both the Muggle and Wizarding world. Everywhere you could turn, you would see excited children babbling about what they’d dress up as for that one special night, mothers arranging gourds in a basket on their kitchen table, and fathers going to the grocery store purchasing massive bags of tooth decaying candy.
Halloween was also a time to throw spectacular parties. And for Harry Potter, that meant loud music and spiked pumpkin juice for all. He rubbed his hands together excitedly, the anticipation of tonight’s Halloween party building up within him. He was looking forward to seeing his old friends again.
He, to tell you the truth, had gotten caught up in his job in the Ministry of Magic. There was always something interesting occurring in the Wizarding community and Harry always loved to have his hands in on the action. It wasn’t nearly as adventurous as The War had been, but it was a nice change of pace.
Harry looked about his fairly spacious home which had been decorated from head to toe with spiders, skeletons, bats, and other Halloween garb. He turned to his best friend with a satisfied look upon his façade. “Well, Ron, is it not going to be a grand party or what?” He grinned, pushing his glasses up his nose, very much happy with how the decorations and food had turned out.
Ron turned his freckled face towards Harry and nodded, giving him the thumbs up. “Your house is the perfect place to throw a humungous party, that’s for sure. And the décor isn’t too shabby, if I do say so myself.” He replied, grinning as well. He dumped his tall figure unceremoniously into the nearest chair and picked up his spike pumpkin juice. “This ought to be a good one.”
Harry threw himself onto his leather couch and laughed when it squeaked beneath him. Perhaps he had already had too much pumpkin juice…? No, he wasn’t nearly drunk enough. It would take a few more glasses until he was really drunk. “Hey, Ron, I know it’s stupid…but…” He glanced at his red haired friend, his voice unsure.
Ron blinked, lowering his glass. “What’s stupid?” he inguired curiously, wondering if Harry had forgotten something they had needed for this big blowout. It would be rather annoying if he had to run to a store and fetch something.
Harry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose again. “Well… the guest list…” he began hesitantly.
Ron sat up straight. “Yeah, what about the guest list?” he was becoming slightly worried. Had not enough people responded and said they’d attend? Normally many people came to Harry’s parties, so he had been expecting a good, large crowd.
Harry avoided Ron’s concerned gaze. “I invited Malfoy… you know, Draco Malfoy?” he admitted almost inaudibly. Even though it was his house, Ron had assisted him in the planning and the funding for the party, so it was somewhat Ron’s bash as well. “I ran into him and he seemed well enough, so I asked him to come.”
Ron stood up, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head. “That bloody Death Eater?!” he was nearly screaming. Even though Draco had never truly harmed him, he always felt uneasy around him. Ron knew it was foolish, but he had grown up knowing Draco was a nasty fellow and that impression had never left him. “He’s a slimey ferret!”
Harry cringed and stood as well. “Ron, c’mon, this isn’t grade school anymore. We’re all grown up now. He’s not a recess bully trying to get us to loose points.” He raked a hand through his unruly ebony hair. He had a bad premonition that Draco and Ron would not get along well. He hoped that they wouldn’t have any physical spats.
Ron’s handsome features formed into a scowl. “He’s… a Slytherin…and a Malfoy… and…ugh! I can’t believe you went and botched things up like this!”
“Do you really hate him that much?!” Harry questioned accusingly. He frowned, fiddling with a nearby paper skeleton to distract him from his anger. He didn’t want to fight with Ron, especially not before a party, where they were supposed to be enjoying themselves. Harry inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply, trying to cam himself. He didn’t know why he wanted to prove Draco’s honesty so badly.
Ron crossed his arms, looking somewhat like a pouting child at the moment. “He’s going to be the nasty ‘pure-blood’ that he always is.” He was not going to back down on this. He absolutely hated Draco Malfoy!
Harry sighed softly and turned to look at Ron. “Look, I know you don’t like him, Ron. But… during The War, he fought by my side. He watched my back. And for that, I’m grateful. He’s no Death Eater. Draco’s proved himself.” He murmured softly. He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking downward. “He’s my friend.”
Ron exhaled loudly. “Harry…” he began, obviously frustrated, then he shook his head, sighing once more. “Alrightll bll be civil.” he consented, sitting back down.
Harry smiled softly at his friend. “Thanks Ron.”
“Just shut up and drink something. The guests will be here anyent.ent.” An as Ron spoke, the doorbell chimed an odd tune. Harry left the room to go greet their first guest.
Hermoine squealed and threw herself into Harry’s arms before he could say Wingardium Leviosa. He blinked, and then realizing that it was her, proceeded to give her a great bear hug.
“Oh, Harry, I’ve missed you so much!” she cried gleefully. She pulled away, studying Harry’s costume. “Hey, you’re a cop! Neat, although nobody’s gonna know what you are.” She grinned.
Harry laughed softly. “Ron told me I looked stupid. And told me that the Muggles dressed like poofs.” He gestured for her to enter.
Hermoine followed his physical instruction, handing him her robe, revealing a playboy bunny costume. “Aw, that’s Ron for you.”
Harry took in her outfit. “And no one’s going to understand your costume either, and I’m sure Ron will have some derogatory remark about it.” he smiled softly, fingering her white rabbit ears. “It’s very riske. Not like you.” he replied.
She smiled as she looked about Harry’s home. “I was feeling adventurous. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go pester Ron.” and with that, she entered the living room and Harry could swear he heard Ron remarked something about Hermoine’s state of dress.
The rest of the guests quickly arrived and filled the house with laughter, conversation, and music. Harry was thrilled to see so many old and new friends of Ron and his own. He had been through so much with his Hogwarts buddies and thankfully would not have to go through anything nearly as stressful with his new ones.
Only one guest had not shown up, and that was the one he had been looking forward to seeing the most. Draco Malfoy. He sighed disappointedly. Maybe Draco wasn’t really ready to partake in the side of goods’ activities just yet. After all, he had been raised upon a strict foundation that didn’t allow for emotional nonsense and for reckless abandon.
And just when Harry had decided Draco wasn’t coming after all, he miraculously appeared. Draco had always held an element of mystery and surprise. Even though Harry had been friends with him for close to five years, there was little he knew about what Draco thought about and felt. He knew about Draco’s past, but he didn’t know Draco’s feelings about it.
“Hey, Potter.” He nodded his blonde head in acknowledgement. He hand his hands casually tucked into his pockets beneath his robes and he seemed cool, distant, and calm.
He was dressed in black customary robes and slacks, looking very much like…himself. Draco Malfoy, the head of Malfoy manor. No costume whatsoever.
“Hey, Draco, this is a costume party, you know.” He looked at Draco skeptically.
Draco arched one perfectly curved, pale brow. “So, I’m not allowed in unless I have a frock?” he adjusted his stance somewhat, but was otherwise unaffected. He had come to this blasted party to see Harry and be a ‘friend’ and now Harry was criticizing his state of dress. How absurd.
Harry laughed sheepishly and shook his head. “No, please, come in. I was teasing, Draco…” He ushered him inside and out of the nippy weather. Merlin, couldn’t Draco lighten up a little?
Draco handed Harry his scarf and gloves, looking about the spacious house. “Not a bad place, Potter. Rather cozy, actually.” He commented appreciatively. He looked back at Harry, managing a small smile, which was rare.
Harry smiled generously back and rested a hand on Draco’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I haven’t kept up with the news. How have you been, Draco?” Harry was very glad that Draco had some after all. It was definitely going to be an interesting party with Draco to talk to. He had missed his friend, if they could be called friends.
A strand of platinum blond hair fell into Draco’s eyes and the soft orange glow of the lights illuminated his handsome features. “Well, I was actually wondering how you’ve managed without me watching after your back. It seems now that you’ve secured a good job and a suitable home. I approve.” he nodded confidently.
Harry smiled softly. Draco hadn’t changed a bit. “I’m doing very well, now tell me about you Draco.” He urged gently, wanting to know what his rival friend had been up to. Draco seriously needed to warm up and laugh a little.
Draco looked thoughtful for a moment, his brow furrowing together, then he nodded. “Well, I’ve taken the title of Draco Malfoy, the owner of the Malfoy manor. And I’ve taken my father’s business from corruption towards honest work. I’ve also invested in Muggle companies. Stocks and the such.” he scratched at his cheek ponderously. “Some of the Muggles have the most interesting contraptions, honestly.”
Harry blinked and then rolled his eyes. “I wanted to know about you, not your work. How are you?” he questioned gently, not wanting to push Draco back into his shell. He had closed himself behind a wall when his parents had been murdered during The War. Harry wasn’t sure exactly Draco’s feelings about his parents’ death, but he knew he was hurting in some way. It’s just Draco didn’t let him know anything.
“I’m fine Potter. Don’t get your britches in a pinch.” And he submerged himself into the crowd.
It was clear that the conversation was over and no more questions were to be asked. Harry inwardly sighed. Draco was very difficult at times and his reaction to Harry’s invasive questions had only proved it. He most likely excelled at dodging such questions and changing the subject. Harry shook his head and joined the party. There would be another time where he and Draco could have a heart to heart. Although Harry seriously doubted that such a conversation would be feasible.
Draco looked about the festivities, noticing some familiar faces. Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Lavender Parvati, Ron Weasely. And… Hermoine Granger. He was so shocked to see her. The last time he had seen her was on the train leaving Hogwarts. Or, more correctly, the back of her figure as she left the train station with Weasely and Potter.
He had a feeling at that moment that he would most likely never happen upon her beautiful face again. It had… disturbed him, to say the least, that he had cared whether or not he would lay eyes upon that sharp-tongued, mudbld wod woman ever again.
Well, maybe it had not disturbed him that he had cared so much about Hermoine walking out of his life. He knew he had cared for her. Draco knew that he was the one who had pushed her away. He was the one who was unable to accept their social standings; him being a pureblooded wizard of long lineage and her being a Muggle born witch. They had come from different worlds where different things were expected of them.
Even though Draco’s parents had been murdered during The War, their words had still haunted him. He still had obligations to marry Pansy, to take up the Malfoy name, to run the Malfoy business. And this prevented him from ever loving Hermoine. Oh, yes, he loved her, but he never allowed himself to express it.
It was so ironic that in his attempting to forget Hermoine, he only thought of her more. He had broken his engagement to Pansy and had steered the Malfoy business away from corruption and greed. He had created a ‘good’ lifestyle for himself. He had changed the reputation of the Malfoy name. He had not forgotten Hermoine.
And her she was, in front of him, wearing an utterly ridiculous bunny outfit. It was probably some Muggle costume which he was sure Harry had been wearing as well. Never mind that, despite the silly outfit, she was still as beautiful as the last moment he had seen her, 4 years ago. In fact, she had become more outstanding in her beauty. It took his breath from his throat, leaving his fighting for air.
Hermoine saw Draco from across the room, his gray eyes piercing through her as they always had. He was still the same. His form tall, slightly muscular, and possessing pale, aristocratic features. He was devilishly handsome, as always. She knew, from this very moment, that he was walking into this room and back into her life again. And it scared her. She knew that something would happen tonight.
Hermoine clumsily downed a shot of Ron’s special pumpkin juice. She was going to need a little buzz to come face to face with Draco Malfoy. The man who broke her heart, 4 years ago, by pushing her away from him.

End Part 1