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Rainstorm grey eyes fixate on pools of amber whiskey irises across the small expanse between them. The bottle stops and beckons them closer together. A large hand slides through the hair to the back of her neck and pulls her nearer. The room goes out of focus and she hears nothing but her own heartbeat, and all she can see is him. The silver flecks in his eyes seem to illuminate as they grow closer, a swipe of his tongue makes his full lips glisten...she licks hers in return…awaiting a taste of something new. She feels the heat of his breath as it ghosts across her lips. ”Granger,” he whispers. “Is this okay?” The sound of his voice summons a wave of heat across her being and she breathes out, “Please, yes, Malfoy” Their lips meet and they melt into each other.
“Oooooooooooooooo….” A chorus of playful jeering surrounds them. Knocked out of their reverie, the two break and Hermione can’t stop a blush spreading across her light cheeks and the laugh tumbling against Draco’s mouth. They reluctantly pull away with heated stares and trembling hands.
“It’s about damn time,” Harry ribs Draco as the boys group back together.
“Shut it, Potter.” Draco tries to sound angry but can’t suppress the upward curve of his lips. “Besides, it’s your turn.”
Harry looks across to gaze at Pansy.
“So, that was long overdue,” shrieks Pansy as Hermione rejoins the girls in the now semicircle as the boys vacate at the sound of Mrs. Granger announcing “Pizza!” from the top of the basement stairs. Theo kicks the bottle beneath the sofa and out of sight before her approach.
Draco rushes over to grab the stack of pizza boxes from Hermione’s mother, ever eager to prove himself the perfect gentleman. She smiles at him fondly. “Thank you, Draco.” Her knowing look grazes him before she glances towards her daughter who still wears a rosy pink blush, quite noticeable against her light, freckled cheeks. As Hermione remains giggling with her friends, Mrs. Granger shakes her head softly. “You all are growing up so fast,” she adds, looking back to him as she pats his arm.
Theo grabs half of the stack from Draco. “Did you get pineapple and ham?” he questions, his pleading chocolate brown eyes looking over at Hermione’s mother.
“THAT IS A CRIME AGAINST NATURE, NOTT!” jests Draco while Harry and Pansy make gagging faces.
Mrs. Granger just smiles to herself and grabs the paper plates and napkins off of the top box in Theo’s hands, placing them on the coffee table between the couches in the open room. The boys follow suit and set the pizzas there as well. Taking the top box from Draco’s stack she slides it over to Theo, “More for you then, huh?” and musses his curly locks, before she goes to head upstairs.
Theo points around the room, his eyes narrowed. “Haha! Suckers!”
Mrs. Granger just shakes her head and huffs a laugh, heading back to the staircase. She watches as the girls saunter over to shuffle through the pizzas as well, and smiles to herself when Draco hands Hermione an already made plate with a slice of her favorite. Mushroom and pepperoni.
“It’ll be about an hour before you boys need to head home. Mr. Granger will be down to get you,” Mrs. Granger says at the bottom of the stairs, poised to ascend.
“Thanks, Mrs. G!” the group of 5 sing-songs in unison, while Hermione throws in a “Mom!”
“You guys be good, and don’t forget, the lights stay on and the door stays open,” Mrs. Granger reminds them.
“Oh my gosh, Mom, we will!” Hermione says while widening her eyes and shooing her upwards with a pleading look on her face.
Her mom smiles and gives her a wink, then heads back to the main floor.
“You’re the best Mrs. G! Thanks for the pineapple!” Theo shouts after her.
“Your mom is the best H,” Pansy says as she squeezes herself between Harry and the arm of one of the brown, floral couches. She stretches her long legs across his lap, as he holds his towering plate of pizza up over his head. “I can’t believe she remembers all of our favorites”
“Well, you do practically live here, Pans,” Luna giggly chimes in taking a bite of pie. Mouth now full, she muffles out: “We all kinda do.”
“It’s…more like home,” Draco says somewhat sheepishly, out of character for the lacrosse captain. His mercury eyes follow Hermione as she takes the seat closest to him and presses against his side.
“Moreso when you’re here,” she says, her face seeming to have gone permanently pink as he leans down to press his lips to her temple.
“Get a room, you two!” Nott jokes as he plops down with a flourish next to Luna on the arm of the opposite end of Harry and Pansy. “Oh, you only blow smoke dearest Dragon, I’m not fearful of any flames,” he adds when Draco sends a heated glare his way. His look softens at the sensation of a light touch on his knee. Hermione’s hand sits atop his leg and the mirth across her features eases his annoyance at Theo, momentarily at least.
“What are you guys getting into tonight anyways?” Harry asks, setting his paper plate off to the side and resting his arms now around Pansy’s outstretched limbs.
“I mean, it is our last weekend before Senior year starts,” Pansy whines. “Ugh, I can’t believe it’s our last year all together.”
“I know what you mean, Pans,” Hermione says “But I know we’ll be close.” She immediately glances up at Malfoy. “I don’t even want to think about it, I just want to make the most of our time, just doing all things we never got to. Let’s just be, just soak up all of each other that we can this year. And think about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Draco reaches his arm around her and pulls her even closer though barely any space remains.
“Cheers to that!” Theo says, popping the last bit of crust with pineapple remnants into his mouth and leaning over to kiss Luna on the cheek. The dreamy blonde just giggles and jokingly complains about crumbs while he falls over on top of her, inevitably crashing into Harry as well in his path of destruction.
“Ew, get off, Theo!” Pansy gripes, pushing him off Harry with her petite silk stockinged feet.
Theo just wriggles his eyebrows at her in response and laughs, earning a sigh but also a mirthful smirk that widens on her crimson red lips.
“What do you guys want to do tonight though?” Luna asks thoughtfully.
“OH, I KNOW!” Theo shouts.
“Of course you do,” Draco drawls, rolling his eyes. “But no one is going streaking down Main tonight…or ever, Nott.”]
“Always the spoil sport, Drakey-Poo,” Theo retorts with a pout. “But, that’s not even what I was going to say.” Looking smug, he glances around the group and lowers his voice to a hushed tone. “You guys ever hear of that Moldy Voldy game?”
“What’s that?” Luna asks, taking his hand and gazing at him curiously.
Theo opens his mouth to speak, but Pansy interrupts. “That sounds absolutely disgusting Theodore. Hard pass.”
“No, seriously guys, listen.” Theo settles in his gaze flitting excitedly from person to person. “There is this legend about a wizard guy from a long time ago and it’s said you can resurrect him and take his powers.” Harry snorts but Theo continues. ”Apparently, no one has made it through the entire summoning. Something always interrupts the process.”
“Is this like your *light as a feather, stiff as a board* bullshit?” Draco laughs. The group snickers remembering their multiple failed attempts at levitation.
Theo shakes his curly head. “Dude, I’m not joking. Dean told me that his sister and her friends played but got scared and stopped. Apparently, it can get intense.”
“What do you mean by intense?” Harry asks while rubbing a spot on his forehead. “Did he tell you how to play?”
“The thing is, the summoning is really easy I guess,” Theo starts to whisper. “All you need to do is say Moldy Voldy three times into a mirror…and it can be anyone, like everyone could get a turn. It just has to be started at 11:11 on the 11th day of the month, within 11 minutes.”
“Oh, that sounds like a load of malarkey,” cackles Pansy, kicking her feet off of Harry’s lap to now sit upright, seeming vaguely ruffled.
“Worried there, Pans?” Hermione asks and smiles at her friend.
“As if,” Pansy scoffs in retort.
“Is that all though, Theo?” Hermione encourages him to continue, intrigued and eager to know the rest of the instructions.
“I guess so, no one has ever made it past two times. Dean’s little sister told him though that her eyes turned red in the mirror and her friend screamed and then they all screamed and ran away. I guess she hasn’t been sleeping since.”
“Today is the 11th you know,” Draco says pointedly, but now regretting his words. Seeing Hermione’s eyes widen with wonder, he attempts to take it back by adding; “I definitely think this is something we should all do together.”
“Awwww. Does big bad Malfoy think the girls can’t handle a little ghost story all by their lonesome,” Pansy teases.
Luna giggles. “I ain’t afraid of no ghost!” The friends erupt in laughter.
“Time to go boys,” a deep voice echoes from the stairwell. The group shrieks in unison all jumping to their feet, Draco, Theo and Harry all taking a protective stance against the interruption.
“OH MY GOD DAD, SERIOUSLY!” Hermione yells with mock anger.
Mr. Granger just stands at the bottom of the stairs and laughs “That’s some story Mr. Nott. Come along fellas, let's get you home. It’s nearly 10:30. You girls should head up as well”
“Thanks Mr. G,” the boys reply as he turns and heads back up the stairs.
Draco spins quickly to Hermione and sneaks a soft kiss from her surprised lips. As she begins to melt into him, he pulls away to go, but winks at her. “Don’t get into any mischief while I’m gone.”
He strides away looking back once more and she notices her friends all parting from similar embraces.
This year was going to be bittersweet.
* * *
In Hermione’s room, the girls ready themselves for supposed sleep with cute pajamas and teeth brushing and styling each other's hair.
“That’s the best I can do with…this...” Pansy gestures her hands in exasperation around Hermione’s curly mane of sunkissed, caramel hair.
“It’s perfect,” Luna says dreamily, twisting braids into her own long, golden hair.
“You would think that.” Pansy sighs, smoothing her hand over her own sleek, midnight black hair. “I guess it’s not that bad, it’s almost as if I can do magic.”
“You guys it’s 11:00,” Hermione says seriously.
“And?” Pansy questions while poking through an array of hair products on Hermione’s vanity.
Luna whispers a shout. “The game!”
“Precisely,” Hermione responds excitedly. “Let’s go to the hall bath!”
“But, Draco said…” Luna starts but Pansy quickly cuts her off, grabbing a flashlight off of the vanity.
“Seriously, Luna, we can play a dumb game without the boys…girl’s night!” She wags the flashlight before them.
Luna looks thoughtful for a moment but nods.
“So, yes?” Hermione asks eagerly.
“YES!” her friends answer in unison.
* * *
”Shhhhhhh,” Hermione hisses to the giggling girls huddled together in the dark, small guest bathroom. “This is serious guys…” A snigger passes her lips unbidden and they all chuckle, hands clasped to their mouths.
”Okay, okay…who’s going to do it?” Hermione asks her friends, taking the flashlight to power on and waving it over their faces.
“You do it ‘Mione!”’ Luna whispers excitedly. “You’re the brave one!”
Pansy and Luna beam smiles and nod their heads in agreement.
“Right then…” Hermione says, straightening her shoulders. She turns to the mirror and places the flashlight under her chin for effect.
With a deep breath she stares into her own eyes reflected before her and begins her chant….
“Moldy Voldy.”
As she ends the words, the reflection of her eyes flicker in the dim light. All the girls’ collectively gasp.
“You guys … did you guys see that?”’ squeaks Luna.
“Keep going,” Pansy urges.
Hermione can see Luna nodding in the reflection of the mirror.
Hermione inhales deeply and sets her shoulders…
“Moldy Voldy.”
The image flickers again and the flashlight falters. Hermione’s reflected irises turn a deep crimson, barely noticeable in the jittery light.
Luna whimpers. “You guys, I’ve got a really bad feeling…maybe we should—“
Pansy cuts her off and insists, “H, say it again.”
The girls now huddle around Hermione, staring into the swirling, crimson eyes glimmering in the mirror like heated coals.
“Wicked,” breathes Pansy, hypnotized by the scene before her.
Hermione straightens and the girls fall silent.
She audibly swallows.
“Mold—"
A blast of bright light fills the bathroom and the girls all shriek with terror as the door opens wide.
“OH MY GOD, DAD!!!!!” Hermione shouts at her equally horrified father.
The girls push past him and race away down the hall giggling and screaming, their game now forgotten.
* * *
Mr. Granger laughs to himself at the girls’ antics as he finishes up in the bathroom.
“Oh, to be young again…” He chuckles.
Drying his hands on the towel slung on the wall ring, he leans forward into the mirror. “Moldy Voldy,” he whispers.
The power in the house surges briefly.
…
“Daaaaaaaaaaad. The internet is out!” Hermione yells from down the hall.
Looking up, the man stares at his reflection, the crimson pools of his irises the only familiar sight. He turns his head back and forth to examine his new features.
The man exits the bathroom, wiping his glasses on the hem of his shirt.
Wearing a sinister smirk, his red eyes gaze down the hallway and he rasps; “Coming sssweetheart,” as he stalks towards the echoing sound of the girl’s laughter.