47

New years eve alone was a first.

Though, how alone were you really when you had a bottle of fire whisky right by your side?

The common room was empty; the few Slytherin students that did stay over the holidays still in the great hall with everyone else to celebrate. I simply didn't feel like doing that.

Tipping my head back and taking a small sip from the bottle, a sigh rattled through my chest as I rested my head on the back of the leather sofa I occupied.

I had planned this night out perfectly; wanted to take advantage of Gryffindor's common room being as empty as my one to take what I needed and go.

What better way to smuggle someone a cursed music box than under an invisibility cloak?

And the entire school knew Harry Potter had one.

Clearly, I had gotten distracted— enjoyed drinking in solitude more so than breaking into a common room and having to persuade the rather annoying fat lady guarding it. On the other hand, doing so under the influence seemed easier to tolerate.

So, I staggered through the empty corridors, deserted as the rest of the students celebrated New years eve in the great hall. If I listened close enough, I swore I could hear their giggles and chatters.

And for a split second, I regretted not joining in; remembering immediately afterwards that I was destined for more— for better as I went along my way. 

And as I made my way towards Gryffindor tower, my uneven footsteps echoing through the halls until I came to a halt, I remembered a small yet pivotal fact as I stared at the ever-moving stairs leading up to the door in question.

A harsh "fuck" fled my lips, and a little worried, I scanned the large staircase stretching out before me. The first flight of stairs moved before I ever stepped a foot on it, and a little strayed, I stumbled backwards.

I had the motor skills of a four-year-old whenever I drank, and therefore a hard time even without the ground underneath my feet literally moving.

The portraits scattered across the tall, stone walls watched me carefully, probably not expecting anyone in here up until way after midnight. They muttered things underneath their breaths, whispered to each other, all while their eyes didn't waver from my struggling form.

I held onto the first thing I could when I took a leap of faith and climbed the first steps up to my destination. As expected, the stairway began moving— abruptly so, as I stumbled against the railing harshly.

Instead of the pained hiss that should've escaped my mouth, a singular giggle escaped my lips, the sound lingering in the air as I quickly shut my mouth at the realisation.

After the fifth switch of stairs, an abrupt turn because I took the wrong one, and almost plunging into the depths below me, I had gotten the hang of it quite well. Proudly and faster than I had expected, I climbed the stairs, glared back at whatever painting granted me a similar look and finally arrived where I needed to.

A certain eagerness in me, I stared back at the Fat Lady in the portrait. Silently, her eyes fell down my body and then back up to my eyes, brows raising expectantly.

Interrupting her conversation with one of the portraits a few spots over, she said, "Well, I don't recognise you at all, young lady." Her voice high-pitched, and her tone plain confusion.

I huffed, a slight smile on my lips as I nodded knowingly. "Hello—" I began, immediately cutting myself off to do what I was here for. "If you don't mind, I really need to get in there—" I pointed around her, knowing the entrance to their common room was located right behind the frame she occupied.

Though, instead of opening up— swinging to the side like she usually did, it was her mouth that opened, releasing a deep, passionate laugh that wouldn't stop until her eyes teared and at least a dozen others had joined in.

It didn't coerce more than a grumble out of me, impatiently looking around until she finally cleared the throat. Wiping at her eyes, an amused expression still on her face, she shook her head vigorously.

"Oh, by Merlin's beard—" She began, sighing loudly as she calmed down. "That's not— You need a password, dear," She quipped, brows raised. "Even if you look like a Weasley, you most certainly—"

"—are one," I quickly interrupted, eyes wide at the lie that forced itself out of my mouth. Regret was prominent on my features as soon as the worlds left it. "A Weasley— I'm clearly a Weasley," I sighed in defeat.

My hand brushed through my hair, holding it closer towards the broad woman in case she hadn't identified the colour of my hair yet. And as I busied myself with trying to convince her that I was, in fact, a Weasley — which she absolutely didn't believe — I hardly noticed anything else going on around me.

A frustrated groan escaped my lips, taking a step backwards as my eyes diverted to roam my dimly lit surroundings. In the haze, my eyes simply skipped over the blond boy suddenly standing beside me.

It was only when my eyes darted back onto the portrait, skipping over Malfoy a second time, that they widened. My brows furrowed as I recognised him, eyes flickering back and forth between him and the fat lady.

The latter a rather horrified expression on her face.

With a cocky smirk on his lips, he leaned against the railing with his arms crossing in front of his chest.

"What are you doing, Hayes?" He asked, amusement lacing his voice as his own darted back and forth between me and the closed common room door.

"I'm—" A frustrated sigh rattled through my chest, hands flying up to cover my face as the world around me spun just for as long as my eyes were closed.

Simultaneously, the fat lady scrunched up her nose in disdain, eyes not wavering from the blond as she shrieked, "Oh— no!" A gasp escaped her lips. "This boy shouldn't be here! He can't be— Not a Malfoy—" She went on, hands covering her own mouth in shock as she caught every by standing portraits attention.

The scene made me roll my eyes, Malfoy beside me growing restless with a scowl on his face, ready to open his mouth and insult her back at the disrespect.

I understood, truly. Though, I simply couldn't have him do that right now.

With a silencing glare in my eyes, I turned towards him.

"Malfoy—!" I hushed, catching his attention. Pleased, I watched him close his mouth, brows furrowing in confusion as he waited for me to go on. "Just... shut up for a second, will you?"

If I wasn't drunk, I could've chosen my words better, though, now, they only seemed to anger him further. At least the Fat Lady was listening now, interested in where our conversation was going.

"Please?" I added, regretting my plea as soon as that satisfying smirk on his lips grew.

He huffed, though raised his arms in surrender nonetheless. His attention finally no longer on the portrait, he said, "Not before you tell me what you're doing... here." He trailed off, eyes flying through the tower and over a few portraits.

I rolled my eyes in disapproval, head cocking to the side as I shook it. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked, taking a step closer to him as I whispered in hopes the rest of the portraits eavesdropping wouldn't hear. "It should be obvious to you."

Narrowing my eyes, I took him in as he raised a brow at me, still expecting a solid answer.

My eyes flickered over to the portray, the lady leaning in closer towards us to listen in.

"I'm—" I leaned in closer once more, my voice nothing but a shouted whisper in the awfully quiet space— nothing but the sound of moving staircases in the background. "I'm having a conversation with—" I paused, looking back and forth between the blond and the portray once more.

Clearing my throat, I tilted my head slightly as I asked, "What's your name?"

She seemed surprised, brows raising, yet a slight furrow in them; bottom lip quivering, yet a light smile playing on them. "No one's ever asked me that before," She admitted, her eyes glassy and her voice wavering.

I smiled, watching as she took me in once more, this time an ounce of recognition in her teary eyes.

"You remember me, don't you?" I muttered. "I've been in there before," I tried, watching her carefully as she turned around her own axis to follow my gaze. "Last year... around the same time?"

She continued to be clueless, shaking her head to herself as he tried hard to remember the incident.

Unsure whether I wanted to go into more detail, my eyes flickered over Malfoy's figure; the boy watching our interaction just as closely as he, himself, tried to figure out how I had been in the Gryffindor common room before.

I sighed. "Thom She as? Dean Thomas—? Surely you remember—" 

That's when it clicked.

Her eyes widened significantly, recognition fully striking her features as her eyes fell down my figure once more.

"Of course!" She exclaimed, hands falling to her cheeks in surprise. "Yes, yes— Dean Thomas," She muttered to herself, blinking quickly before she swung to the side without another word.

Before she could change her mind, I slipped through the little opening in the wall.

Malfoy right behind me; I was too drunk to tell him to piss off.

A/N: No because I really truly love this chapter LOL

The next one is just as good hehe

I hope you liked it!