The common room pulsed with the remnants of celebration, the low hum of laughter and clinking goblets echoing off the dark stone walls. Green-tinted lanterns cast a flickering glow across the emerald and silver banners that hung from the ceiling, their shadows dancing lazily over the cold, polished floor. The fire in the ornate hearth crackled softly, throwing warmth into the otherwise cool, underground space.

Draco lounged on one of the leather couches near the fire, sprawled carelessly across it like he had no bones in his body. His usually sharp, aristocratic features were softened by intoxication, a slight flush creeping up the pale curve of his cheeks. His platinum-blond hair was disheveled, a few strands falling over his eyes, which stared blankly up at the ceiling with a glazed, unfocused look. His green tie hung loosely around his neck, and the top buttons of his dress shirt were undone. A girl sat beside him, trying and failing to draw his attention, her voice gradually growing sharper with irritation. He barely registered her presence, and eventually she stood with an annoyed huff, disappearing into the dorms without a backward glance. Draco didn’t care. He was too far gone for guilt, the room spinning gently around him like a slow-moving carousel. He rarely let himself drink this much, if at all, but Blaise had insisted they celebrate their crushing victory over Gryffindor, and Draco had been too flushed with adrenaline and success to say no.

He’d caught the Snitch, ended the match, and basked in the flood of praise and attention that followed. Girls had swarmed him all evening, giggling and congratulating him, slipping innuendo-laced invitations into their compliments. He had turned them all down, of course. Merlin, did they think he had no self-respect? He might be drunk, but he wasn’t pathetic. Now, as the common room began to quiet, Draco lay still, his long frame draped over the couch, one arm slung over his eyes. The muffled sounds of retreating footsteps and laughter faded into a hush. For the first time that night, he was blissfully alone.