Her breath caught. When had someone passed her a note? Bending swiftly, she snatched it up.

Don't miss next Friday.

Her heart pounding, eyes widening. What was going to happen next Friday? She ran her hand through her hair, wondering at what point in her distraction had someone gotten close enough to slip a note into her collar without her noticing. At some point in the evening, she'd lost herself. Lost track of the game.

She sank against the door, staring at the note. Taking a shaky breath as guilt overshadowed her euphoria.

~*~

The following weekend was Halloween. Hermione made sure there would be no special plans prohibiting them from attending. A batch of fresh makeup had appeared in her bathroom, and Hermione painted her lips and applied the shadow dutifully. Pansy had her in a long-sleeve black lace dress, skin-tight, the hemline barely covering her backside. But at least her chest was covered. It didn't stop Draco's wandering eyes, though. Or hands.

Dinner was a rambunctious affair, with the boys drinking spirits and singing songs. Draco ruled over them all, smirking and enjoying himself, letting his fingers trail over her thighs.

Hermione fought the urge to melt into him. She'd promised herself she wouldn't lose her head in the Lounge again. She could maintain appearances without winding herself up. If she and Draco wanted to touch each other, they could do so at home. She needed to stay alert for whatever she could not miss at this party.

Following the boys down to the Lounge, Hermione kept an eye out, not letting Draco's hand on her waist distract her from her mission. She sat in his lap, taking a glass of champagne offered by a Carrow Girl and searching the room. But alert as she was, she still was totally unprepared for a shadow to cross over them, and a voice to lilt, "Come with me, Mudblood."

She looked up into a pair of grey eyes, and she blinked to realize that Lucius Malfoy was at Edinburgh. Draco stilled underneath her before helping her scramble off his lap. He quickly stood with her.

"Father."

"Son." He eyed him coolly. "It's time for your pet to see the Burgundy Room, wouldn't you say?"

Hermione gaped at him. The Burgundy Room was where the important discussions happened — where the dignitaries were taken. The "other room." And Lucius Malfoy wanted to take her there? She was still reeling from the image of him being at Edinburgh, much less speaking to her publicly.

Draco coughed and gestured for his father to lead the way. Lucius lifted a brow before grabbing Hermione's elbow with firm fingers and turning to escort her to the thick door in the corner of the room. Draco took two steps to follow, and Lucius spun back.

"Don't bother, Draco. I'll take good care of her." His eyes flitted disdainfully over the Slytherin boys who were watching with rapt attention. "Play with your little friends."

Hermione's eyes widened and snapped to Draco. He was mouthing something wordlessly, his face as white as a sheet. Before he could argue, Lucius spun on his heel and dragged her away.