A Cold War.

That's what the period following that eventful Quidditch game felt like. After Hermione and Ron's tense conversation involving McLaggen during Herbology class, the kiss Ron and Lavender shared back in the party, and all their bickering and tension that built up recently, the two of them just couldn't find it in themselves to approach each other anymore — and if they had no choice but to do so, there was awkwardness in the air. The worst part was that they didn't know why it was so hard to face the other. Or perhaps they did but didn't have the courage to admit it to themselves yet.

Analeigh was caught in the middle with Harry. It reminded her of the earlier days of the Triwizard Tournament in her fourth year when Ron and Harry were fighting, and Analeigh herself ended up getting tangled in that mess. Hermione was the mediator back then, but that evidently wasn't the case this time around. It was now her turn, along with Harry, to try and mend things.

And so, that was how she found herself trying to catch up with Ron. His long, confident strides together with the students bustling about the corridor made it difficult to match his pace as they left class.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Ron insisted when Analeigh tried to interrogate him. She already heard from Harry and Hermione about what happened in the empty classroom after the party, but she wanted to know Ron's point of view.

"If you didn't do anything wrong, just tell me what happened," Analeigh pressed, pretending like she was still completely in the dark. "All I know is that Harry found Hermione alone and upset in a classroom. That's it."

Ron sighed and gave in. "Look, Lav and I just so happened to enter the same room. Harry and Hermione looked cozy enough there, so we were about to leave — until Hermione shot birds at me and nearly had my face mauled! Mental, I tell you."

"And you don't know why she did that?"

"No. I don't know what's going in that head of hers, but I can't help it if she's got her knickers in a twist. Maybe she just doesn't like Lav."

"Lav," Analeigh repeated under her breath, holding back a laugh. "So... what now? You're officially dating Lavender?"

"What Lav and I have... well, let's just say, there's no stopping it," Ron smirked. "It's chemical."

"Chemical? Please, you have more chemistry with fried chicken than with Lav."

"Hey!"

"Do you think it'll last?" Analeigh said.

"Who knows? Point is: I'm a free agent."

"Okay, fine, you keep doing your thing. But what about you and Hermione?"

"What about me and Hermione?" said Ron, averting his gaze.

"I mean all this fighting and coldness and awkwardness... everything."

"Oh."

"Don't you want to straighten things out with her?" Analeigh said. She knew she was probably being pushy now, but Good Godric, it was suffocating having to be in the same room as those two, and just as tiring having to accompany only one of them at a time because they didn't want to be near each other.

"She's the one who's being unfair. She can't complain — she snogged Krum before. Now that she's found out that somebody wants to snog me too... well, it's a free country. I haven't done anything wrong."

"Okay, you've got a point there but —"

"I can't talk right now. Lavender wants to meet up." Ron sped up as the corridors gradually started to get emptier.

"Now? Why?"

"You know why. See you."

Not giving her a chance to say anything else, Ron broke into a light jog down the hall, leaving Analeigh behind with no progress.

Meanwhile, Harry was attempting to do some damage control of his own with Hermione at the library. He had never been great at giving advice, so for the past couple of minutes, it felt more like he was merely allowing Hermione to rant about Ron to her heart's content.

"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes... I really couldn't care less," Hermione was venting while simultaneously returning a stack of books she had used earlier. "Was I under the impression he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. Now, given the circumstances, I had to make other arrangements."

"Have you?" Harry finally got a word in.

"Yes.... why?" Hermione turned around to face Harry, allowing one last book to levitate back up to the shelf behind her.

"Well, I just thought seeing as neither of us can go with who we'd really like to, we should go together as friends," Harry suggested. Hermione almost face palmed at that — she couldn't believe she hadn't considered that option before making impulsive decisions.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione groaned. Harry raised an eyebrow at her reaction.

"Who are you going with?"

"Um... it's a surprise. Anyways, it's you we've got to worry about; you just can't take anyone." She stood closer to Harry and discretely motioned towards the far end of the aisle. Sitting at a table and occasionally glancing up at them was a pretty girl with dark skin and curly black hair. "You see that girl over there? That's Romilda Vane, Harry. She's been been trying to smuggle you a love potion."

"Really? How'd you know?" Harry asked curiously.

"Leigh and I were in the bathroom earlier and there were about a dozen girls in there, including that Romilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion. I bet they didn't realize we were in there or else they wouldn't have said it so proudly," Hermione scoffed, still in disbelief that someone was willing to go through lengths to use a love potion and on one of her best friends.

"Nice."

"Hey!" she snapped. "She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One."

"But I am the Chosen One," Harry grinned. That received a whack to the head from Hermione with the folded copy of the Daily Prophet in her hand. Wincing slightly, he said, "Okay, sorry, um... kidding. So, why didn't you just confiscate the potions?"

"They didn't have those with them in the bathroom, so even as a Prefect, I couldn't do anything," Hermione said scornfully. "Anyway, what's your plan?"

"There isn't anyone I want to invite," Harry mumbled, still trying not to think of a certain redhead Gryffindor girl in the year below him.

"But you need someone. Just make sure it isn't any of those girls in the bathroom."

"Er, okay... do you think Leigh has a date?"

"I doubt she'd want to ask anyone other than Cedric, but he obviously can't go. Then again, maybe they talked it out and she already asked out a mutual friend or something. Or she's going solo..." Hermione trailed off, sounding unsure of herself. "Now that I think about it, I was so wrapped up with my own problems that Leigh and I haven't even talked about the party together that much."

"Oh, then maybe we should just ask her about it first."

"The party's really soon, though. You need to act fast."

"Fine, I'll ask someone I like," said Harry with a tone of finality. "Someone cool."

★ ★ ★

The hallway to Slughorn's Christmas party was adorned with red-orange paper lanterns. Faint chatter accompanied with muffled music could be heard, as well as the clinking of utensils and glasses. Clad in a red lace cocktail dress and a pair of black heels, Analeigh eventually reached the door to the venue and pushed it open.

The music and chatter loudened once she entered the party. The walls and ceilings were decorated with silver drapes and red and green accents on the tables and chairs. Many guests, both students and staff, were already there wearing their classiest dresses or suits and cloaks. Some were eating by the buffet table, others were drinking champagne, and some just sitting down and talking with one another. Analeigh strolled further into the room, smiling at and greeting familiar faces in passing.

"Heart," said a voice just when she had made it into the middle of the room.

Turning around, Analeigh tried her best not to let her face fall into one of disappointment when she realized that this person wasn't any one of her friends.

"McLaggen," she said. "Enjoying the party so far?"

"Slightly. The drinks are good, but my date has run off yet again," Cormac replied, sipping his glass containing what seemed to be red wine.

"I wonder why."

"I have no idea, either," he said, not having picked up on the sarcasm. "We were just standing under the mistletoe a moment ago... maybe she didn't notice. By the way, she's stunning this evening, and I, myself, look dashing. We would've looked like a good pair if she'd just stay by side and given me a little kiss."

"I see..." said Analeigh, finding his choice of words odd. Instinctively, she inched farther away from him.

"Any idea where she might've gone?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"She's your best friend, isn't she?" said Cormac. Analeigh's jaw nearly dropped at that.

"Holy Hipogriff," Analeigh muttered to herself.

"What was that, Heart?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, eyes already flitting around the room and looking for a certain Gryffindor. "If you'll excuse me."

Cormac didn't even get the chance to bid her goodbye before Analeigh was off in search for Hermione Granger. There were so many people, and the venue was so much larger than she expected, and she didn't even know what dress design or color to be watching out for because Hermione had made it a point to leave the girls dormitory early to meet up with her date before Analeigh could find out who it was.

After a couple of minutes, Analeigh found herself standing alone at the corner of the room. With a defeated sigh, she still kept her eyes peeled for any sign of Hermione but with no luck. Then, a hand shot out from nowhere, grabbed her by the arm, and tugged her backwards with so much force all of a sudden that she nearly tripped over her own feet.

"What the — Hermione?" Analeigh exclaimed after a brief struggle with the drapes that she had just been pulled behind.

"Leigh —"

"You went with Cormac?"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you guys," Hermione sighed. Despite the ashamed and glum look on her face, she looked, as Cormac stated, stunning in her baby pink dress with layers and her hair clipped to the side.

"I know I told you to give him a chance before, but after all those times you went on and on about how much you despise him... well, I just can't understand why you'd agree to be his date now," Analeigh rambled, her hands making wild gestures that revealed just how confused she was.

"I told you, I had to do something given everything that's happened!" Hermione insisted.

"Everything meaning Ron?"

"Yes! No, I mean —"

"Hermione, Leigh!" Harry pushed the drapes aside and joined their huddle at the corner of the room. "What are you doing? Why are we standing behind some curtains?"

"I was just in the middle of asking her," Analeigh said, tilting her head towards Hermione.

"Well, what happened to you?" Harry urged.

"I've just escaped — I mean, I left Cormac under the mistletoe," Hermione explained.

"Cormac? That's who you invited?" Harry gasped.

"I thought it would annoy Ron the most!"

"Looks like it's annoying you the most," Analeigh pointed out, causing Hermione to fold her arms and huff.

"He's got more tentacles than a Snargaluff plant," Hermione complained. Then, attempting to change the subject, she added, "Well, where are your dates?"

"Luna went to the buffet table, I think," Harry said.

"I went solo because somebody was already taken," said Analeigh, nudging the boy next to her.

"Hermione pressured me to ask someone before I could talk to you about it," Harry raised his hands up in defense.

"I'm kidding, I'm glad you took Luna. And honestly, I thought the two of you —" Analeigh gestured to her friends —"would go together because your ideal dates aren't exactly... available."

"I told you," said Harry to Hermione.

"I wasn't thinking straight, okay?" Hermione said.

"Dragon tartar?" said a waiter who had poked his head through the drapes, along with his tray of food. Analeigh was starting to think their spot wasn't as secluded as they wanted it to be.

"No, I'm fine, thank you," Hermione refused immediately.

"Just as well, they give one horribly bad breath," the waiter said, ready to leave.

"On second thought, it might keep Cormac at bay," Hermione grabbed the silver tray from the man and began scarfing down the delicacy. "God, here he comes."

She shoved the tray into Harry's hands, ducked, and crawled out from the curtains to who-knows-where. Just as she disappeared from sight, Cormac entered the scene, joining Harry and Analeigh there.

"I think she just went to powder her nose," was the first thing Harry said.

"Slippery little minx, your friend," Cormac told them, picking up a dragon tartar and popping it into his mouth. "Likes to work her mouth too, doesn't she?"

Analeigh shuddered and exchanged disturbed looks with Harry.

"What is this I'm eating, by the way?" Cormac asked.

Harry opened his mouth to answer, hesitated for a second, then changed his mind. Suppressing a smirk, he answered, "Dragon balls."

The translucent curtains were pushed aside yet again, this time revealing a tall man with a hooked nose, greasy black hair, and wearing all-black clothing. Professor Snape stared the three of them down with an expression that clearly showed he wanted nothing more than to get out of this room full of students, but had no choice but to be there. He had barely opened his mouth to say something when Cormac lurched forward and retched. Analeigh and Harry backtracked in unison as the contents from Cormac's stomach spilled out and onto the floor, right by Snape's feet.

"You've just bought yourself a month's detention, McLaggen," Snape said, glaring daggers at the guy.

Not wanting to face Snape's wrath, Analeigh pulled Harry with her in an attempt to escape. However, Snape moved even faster than they did.

"Not so quick, Potter."

"Sir, I really think I should rejoin the party. My date —" Harry began.

"I'm sure Miss Heart can survive your absence for another minute or two."

"Oh, no, Professor, my date's actually waiting for me at the —"

"I stand corrected, then. Miss Heart can accompany your date whenever she may be while I speak to you," Snape interjected again. He eyed the dirty blonde standing awkwardly to the side, clearly waiting for her to take the hint.

"Oh. I suppose I'll go look for Luna," Analeigh said, finally taking her leave. She walked across the room, thankfully spotting Hermione in seconds even though she was partially hiding herself behind another set of drapes and a table. Coincidentally, the girl was already standing next to Luna Lovegood, who was wearing a spangled silver dress that was unusual yet fit her appearance and personality perfectly.

"Hello, Leigh," Luna said, her voice and smile as whimsical as ever.

"Hi, Luna," Analeigh smiled back.

"Have you seen Harry? I'm afraid I took off to the buffet table so quickly and seem to have lost him."

"Don't worry, he's just speaking to Professor Snape right now," she answered. "I'm sure he'll be back soon."

"Snape?" said Hermione, interested enough to step out from her hiding spot. "What did he want?"

"I didn't get to hear, but I have a strong feeling it's got to do with Dumbledore," Analeigh said quietly.

"Have you met Sanguini?" Luna suddenly asked.

"Sorry, who?" Analeigh said.

"The vampire. The author, Eldred Worple, is friends with him and brought him as a guest tonight. I wanted to ask him on his thoughts on Honeydukes' blood-flavored lollipops, but Professor Slughorn took him away before he could answer."

"I read somewhere that vampires like to indulge in Blood Pops," said Hermione. "Perhaps it really is tasty to them since Honeydukes hasn't phased them out."

"That's a very good point, Hermione," Luna said. "Do you think they'll come up with blood-flavored smoothies one day? I think that'd be more efficient and even tastier for vampires."

"Oh... I don't know about that..."

"Get your hands off of me, you filthy Squib!" an irritated voice rang through the air. Despite all the chatter and music filling up the room, the noise was loud enough to steal everyone's attention away from whatever they had been doing beforehand.

Analeigh and her friends also halted their conversation and scanned the party for the commotion. Right by the entrance was Filch, holding a boy with platinum blonde hair by the back of his coat.

"Malfoy?" Analeigh whispered, sharing shocked glances with Hermione.

"Professor Slughorn, sir," Filch said as the Potions Master hurried to the center of the room, a glass of mead still in his hand. "I just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party."

"Okay, okay, I was gate-crashing!" Malfoy spat. "Happy?"

"I'll escort him out." It wasn't Slughorn who spoke; it was Snape. He didn't seem that bothered nor surprised to see Malfoy there, and Analeigh wasn't sure if he knew what Malfoy was up to or he was just showing his favoritism towards the boy like he always did.

Malfoy visibly eased up when seeing his Head of House. He forcefully shrugged Filch's hand off of his shoulders, straightened up, and looked Snape dead in the eye.

"Certainly, Professor," he said. Without another word, the two Slytherins made their way past all the guests and out the door. The silence they left behind was deafening, which Slughorn did not appreciate at all as his party should have still been in full swing.

"Alright, everyone," Slughorn announced with a chuckle. "Carry on, carry on!"

The music and talking resumed, and slowly but surely, everyone fell into the pace and atmosphere of the party without further issues.

"What's Malfoy done this time?" Hermione said. Analeigh shrugged and shook her head.

"I don't know, but I bet Harry's gonna find out for us, anyway."

A/N: Sadly no Cedric again in this chapter, but he'll be back in the next :>