Though I wasn't sure the exact time the party ended, I knew it was way past midnight and we'd definitely get into trouble if we were caught. Fortunately, nobody did anything too insane, but there was no way for us to act anywhere near sober.
"Can we just all sleep here?" Daphne Greengrass said sluggishly. She lying on the couch with the chips bowl in her hand, "Come on, we are all too drunk to go anywhere, am I right, Granger?"
"Don't know what to tell you," I shrugged while barely could keep my eyes open. I was holding onto Malfoy's arms with my head on his shoulder so that I could prop myself up.
"Zabini and Parkinson will kill us if we don't go back," The boy who opened the door chimed in, I felt ashamed that I still hadn't learn his name, "Remember how we agreed to go to their party?"
"Boo," Greengrass made a face, "Who cares? They have enough rooms here. I think we should stay."
"We really should go back," Astoria Greengrass pulled on her older sister's sleeve. She briefly made eye contact with me but immediately looked away, "I don't want to get into trouble."
"Astoria, dear," Greengrass sat up straight and put the chips bowl away, "What did I say about not to be so uptight all the time?"
"Not again," The younger sister sighed, "Let's just go."
"Sit next to me," Greengrass gestured. After her sister sat down, she put her hand on Astoria's back. She pointed at me and winked before she continued, "Haven't you been saying how you want to talk to Granger? Look, she's right there. You should go talk to her about all those things you admire about her, and maybe, just maybe, you can ask her about Neville Longbottom."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Astoria turned red. She shook off her sister's hand and stood up abruptly, "Well, if you are not going, then I am."
"Greengrass, stop tormenting your sister," Malfoy stopped Astoria at the door, "We are all leaving."
Astoria mumbled a quiet 'thank you'.
"Longbottom, eh?" Malfoy curled his lips, "As much as I believe this is an awful choice, I have to say I'm glad to hear you are not interested in one of the Weasleys."
Astoria went red again.
"Alright, we should get going," I clapped my hands, then I leaned over closer to Astoria and whispered, "Don't worry about them, I'll introduce you to Neville. He's a good guy."
"No, uh, it's…it's ok," Astoria shook her hands repeatedly, "That won't be necessary. My sister is just talking nonsense."
The half-drunk me winked at her, which a sober me would never do.
"We should hangout more often," Greengrass said when we were about to part ways, "Don't be strangers, Granger."
"Definitely not," I squinted and gave her the thumbs-up, seemingly all serious, "See you around."
"I'll come up with something fun us to do together," She began walking downstairs to the Slytherin common room while waving her hand, "Stay tuned."
"I sure will," I laughed with Malfoy shaking his head next to me.
"I hope you've found a replacement of Ginny Weasley," Malfoy said as he was walking me to the Gryffindor tower.
"I'm surprised by how welcome your people are," I intentionally avoided his comment and almost tripped over the stairs but Malfoy was quick to catch me.
"Your people?" He chuckled, "Is that what you think of us? What happened to never read judge a book by its cover?"
"Right," I rolled my eyes. Then I grabbed his arm, got rather close to him and said it in a low voice, "Hey, Malfoy, call me noisy, but how come you had a fling with Parkinson but not any of the Greengrass? I mean, they also match your blood status and seem way better than Parkinson."
"Yes, you are noisy," Malfoy sighed, "And now I regret not stopping you from drinking excessively."
"Come on, tell me," I shook his arm, "I'm curious."
"I don't know," He shrugged and said lightheartedly, "Maybe because Parkinson was into me?
"True," I nodded in agreement, "She's so into you. I feel bad and sorry for her. Sometimes I think about it, then I was like damn, maybe I was stepped in between something that supposed to be beautiful."
"You are not making sense," He said, holding onto me so that I wouldn't fall, "Just go to bed, there's' nothing more to talk about regarding Parkinson."
"Look, Malfoy," I stepped one stair above him and stopped. I looked right at him as if I suddenly grew taller and could tower over him, "Just let me talk. Parkinson loves you. You know what she said to me in the infirmary? She said all she wants is for you to be happy. Just listen to that, can you imagine how heart-wrenching it is for her to watch you with me? She said I'm not good enough for you, and from times to times, I think she's right."
"Stop spouting nonsense," Malfoy sighed with a frown, "As I said, the Parkinson case is closed. We have gone over the facts and you should move on."
For the first time in ever, I pouted. Now I came to think of it, that wasn't a very pour moment.
"Alright," Malfoy put his arm around me, speaking as if he was comforting a child, "We'll get you back to your dorm so you can sleep it off. "
"I don't want to go back," I protested, refused to move, "Do I have to go back to that place? Why can't I go with you?"
"Though I'd love for you to come with me," Malfoy continued trying to get me to begin walking again, "I believe the Weasleys will lose their minds if you don't go back tonight."
"Fine," I finally started walking up the stairs again, "But not because I care about them, I'm only doing this for you. I love you, Malfoy."
"I'm aware," He smiled, "I love you too."