Grey Gaze

by Ashley (Hype)

Lavender lay on the large rug in the Gryffindor common room. She traced the golden leaves on it with the tip of her index finger, reflecting what had happened earlier that day...

I was sitting in Double Potions next to Parvati, madly discussing whom we wanted to go to the Hearts Ball with. It was a new annual dance that Hogwarts had just formed. Unfortunately,we only had a week to get ready for it. Parvati sighed and looked at the boy sitting in front of her- Harry Potter.

"I really wouldn`t mind going with Harry again."

"But you said he didn`t dance or pay attention to you! I wouldn`t go with him," I had stated. I wouldn`t, either. He seemed to infatuated with other things besides girls. If I had a guy like that I`d...No, wait. I wouln`t have a guy like that...

"That`s true," Parvati chimed. "He doesn`t pay attention to me. But still, he sooo handsome. He`s gotten even better over the summer...Much more taller. Besides, I would be in the limelight. What girl doesn`t want that?"

I nodded, just in time to see Snape (along with the rest of the class) staring at us. We had done it again. Talked off into our own little world, completely forgetting our surroundings. He was glaring at us with those hideous black eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Well?" he asked impatiently. "What is the answer?"

Parvati and I exchanged nervous glances at each other. I turned my head away from her. "Could you please repeat the question, Professor? I don`t think I heard it correctly." I crossed my fingers under my desk, hoping he wouldn`t catch on.

"What do you get when you mix dragon scales, nymph wings and frog`s eyes?" he asked.

I nearly let out a sigh of relief, but then stopped myself. A least I knew the answer: "You get the Ticklus Potion."

He sneered and said through gritted teeth, "Very good." He turned back to the board as the students` eyes returned to their notes.

All except for one pair of eyes. A pair of silvery-grey eyes that were watching me from the Slytherin`s side of the room. They belonged to Draco Malfoy. I was shocked to find him looking at me shamelessly. His cold, grey gaze stared hard into mine and a flicker of a smile crossed his lips. He slowly turned his attention back to the notes Snape had been scribbling on the board.

My heart was doing a million twists that I never knew it could do. Draco`s rapt attention had scared me out of my wits, but left me oddly satisfied. I sighed, trying to collect myself. I put my hands in my desk. My fingers touched something and I quickly pulled it out. It was a note with very distinctive writing in red in on it. It read:

L.-

I have a question to ask you. Meet me in the library after dinner. I`ll find you.

D.

I crumpled the note up and put it deep in my leather purse where I knew that no one would bother to find it when they opened it. My purse, though I loved it dearly, was always a complete mess. Full to the top with notes, makeup, papers and various other things, I could barely keep track of its contents. At least I knew it was safe in there.

My mind started racing, almost matching my heart`s pace from when Draco was looking at me. It was signed "D". That means it could be from Dean or...Draco. My mind panicked. It had to be from Dean...Why would Draco send me a note? He`s in Slytherin...

My thoughts chased each other constantly through out the day. Even in Divination (which was my best and favorite subject) I was distraught. Parvati had to keep snapping her fingers in my face to bring me back to reality.

The entire day was nothing to how I felt during dinner. I was a complete wreck. I chattered nervously with Parvati about the Hearts Ball, trying to concentrate on the subject. I soon found that I could not talk and listen about the ball, eat my food, think about the note and nervously glance between Dean and Draco at the same time when I knocked my pumpkin juice across the table.

Luckily, it didn`t spill on anyone. Parvati looked at me strangely. "Are you okay, Lav?" she asked.

No, I was not okay. I was a bundle of nerves who had just spilled her pumpkin juice and people were staring at me strangely. "I think I`ll leave now." Parvati arched her eyebrow quizzically. I got up from my seat and walked out of the Great Hall with what seemed like every pair of eyes on me.

After I had made my exit, I headed towards the library briskly hoping not to run into anyone along the way. It felt as though if I got near someone I would explode and wreck havoc on them. I didn`t want a detention going on my record for going off at someone for no apparent reason.

I reached the library doors and opened them. It seemed deserted, which was perfectly logical considering everyone was eating dinner in the Great Hall. I looked at the clock on the wall opposite from where I was standing. There were five minutes left until the Great Hall let out...

Little did I know five minutes could seem like an eternity. Each agonizing second ticked by on the clock, slowly counting the note`s fate. I aimlessly wandered through the rows and rows of books; not looking for anything in particular, just reading titles to pass the time. The clock struck seven and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I whipped around and saw the librarian.

"Is there anything I can help you with, dear?" she asked. I shook my head timidly and she left. Librarians should be outlawed...What was she thinking, sneaking up on me like that?... I turned back to a row of books and started to reread titles again. That was when I felt another tap on my shoulder. I violently turned around and properly exploded on the person, not paying attention to who it was.

"COULD YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, MADAME?! I CAN DO THIS BY MYSELF!" I nearly screamed at them, turning back to the books.

"Madam?" came a deep, hushed voice. I was startled. How can the librarian make her voice do that? I turned around once more and gasped when I saw that it wasn`t the librarian.

It was Draco Malfoy. His cold grey eyes penetrated by blue ones. "You mistake me for a madam?" he asked calmly.

I faltered horribly. "I-I... er. um.. I-I..."had managed to come out of my mouth in a disarranged manner. I blushed from the embarrassment.

He carelessly waved his hand in the air. "No matter. I have a question for you."

"Shoot..."

"Would you go to the Hearts Ball with me?" he asked confidently.

My knees nearly gave way. I certainly wasn`t expecting this! Never the less, "yes" escaped from my lips before I could stop them.

Draco smiled, his grey gaze still on me. "I will see you later then." With that, he left me in one of the many rows of the library, nearly drooling.

I walked back to the common room and lay myself down on the carpet. I had a date with the handsome devil child from Slytherin... I grinned ruefully. What would Parvati say? I already knew the answer. But she didn`t have to know just yet...



DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot and the Hearts Ball. The character and names mentioned are property of J.K.Rowling, her publishers and sponsors. Yada yada yada...

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