Draco had been nursing the same drink for over an hour, slumped in one of the leather armchairs near the fire, watching the party happen around him rather than actually participating in it.

His head felt heavy. His eyes burned. And the flickering green light from the lake windows was doing absolutely nothing to help the dull ache building behind his temples.

Across the room, Mattheo was attempting to balance an empty bottle on Blaise's head while Lorenzo filmed it on his phone. Pansy was arguing with Daphne about something that required a lot of dramatic hand gestures. Theodore sat in the corner, looking deeply unimpressed by all of it.

Draco hadn't slept more than three hours in the past two days combined.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. The room tilted slightly.

Draco's eyes found her before his brain could stop them.

Of course she was laughing. She always looked so disgustingly well-rested.

It made something bitter curl in his chest, hot and familiar.

The party churned on around him, relentless and too loud.