Title: Summer Dances

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Malfoy seems to be acting a bit unusual around Harry. Some ideas have been taken from Pride and Prejudice. HPDM

Disclaimer: Not mine.


Summer Dances

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Harry dipped his feet into the lake and watched as Ron threw off his t-shirt and jumped into the vast amount of water. Hermione stood next to it, seeming to decide whether or not she desired a swim. She allowed one of her toes to touch the water, which felt warm and luxurious. Her hands slowly took her shirt off, revealing that she was sporting a one-piece swimsuit. Harry looked to Ron, whose disappointment was evident on every pore of his face. It didn't take a genius to know that he felt anxious to see Hermione wearing something a tad more revealing.

Soon, Hermione and Ron were splashing each other, and some of the clear water danced on Harry's clothes. "Join us, Harry," Hermione called. Harry shook his head, smiling as he watched the two from a distance

Tonight, a summer party was to be held here, at the lake a couple miles from the Burrow. The event was somewhat formal, for everyone was to be wearing dresses and suits; it was held outside due to the beautiful weather they had been having recently; summer air felt cool and refreshing; fruits that pleased your tongue was now in season. Mrs. Weasley said they could all come this year since they were all nearly of age. Neither Ron or Harry felt particularly excited about the event, but Hermione and Ginny were, and the boys were to come to dance with them.

Wizards began arriving to set up the decorations, looking at the teenagers in dismay. He guessed that someone would ask them to leave any minute now, and half an hour passed before his predication came true: A surly faced man, with black hair and thick, square spectacles came over to the three. "Sorry, but we need you three to leave as we prepare for the dance."

"Okay," Harry replied as he waved his friends to come out of the lake. For a moment, the man stood there, with a look of growing incredulity on his face; Harry raised an eyebrow at him, and the man shook his head, muttering, "I must be growing crazy," before turning around and going back to his crew.

On the trek back to the Burrow, Hermione chattered excitedly about the dance. "Oh! How I can't wait! Ginny and I have beautiful summer dresses to wear," she said, stressing Ginny's name, and Harry nearly rolled his eyes at her lack of subtlety. Hermione believed Ginny and Harry would be great for each other, but Hermione was biased since Ginny was also one of her best friends; the only three people to believe the two were destined for the other was Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley. Most of the time, however, Harry ignored this. He decided he would dance a few rounds with Ginny that night, but he did not plan on anything further. If Ginny were ever blunt about her intentions with him, he would be honest and tell her that he didn't feel the same way; but, if she continued just flicking hints at him every-so-often, Harry felt that ignoring her feelings would do just fine.

XOXOXOXO

They arrived at the summer dance nearly thirty minutes after it began; Hermione insisted that coming on time wasn't acceptable; apparently, no one goes to these dances on time. It hardly amused Harry to see the point was not lost on Ginny, for she thought forty-five minutes late was more suitable, but Harry felt weary of the dance and persuaded Ginny to see his side.

Immediately, Hermione remarked at the strong enchantments on the area. Surrounding the whole acre, perhaps even two, was a concealing charm. This concealing charm, however, was a magnified version of the original for it was concealing all the magic in the area; therefore, if any stray muggle happened to wander close-by, they'd see nothing unusual.

Above them floated pink and white lilies, and tiny fairies fluttered in the air, casting light from within their bodies; Ginny felt awed at the sight and glanced at Harry. To her dislike, he was watching the buffet table.

Exactly why he was watching the buffet table, she did not know. He should be gaping at her, for she wore the prettiest dress there. Her dress was pink with thin straps, just below her bust was a thick, white sash tied in a bow; the dress ended just above her knees, similar to a baby-doll dress. When she and Hermione were shopping, Hermione assured her that Ginny looked divine. Now Ginny wasn't so sure. "Harry, what are you looking at?" questioned Ginny.

Ginny smiled as Harry's eyes suddenly rested on her face; his eyes did not hold any form of adoration, but shock—as if he had be doing something wrong. This escaped Ginny's notice.

"What are you looking at?" she repeated.

"Malfoy's here," he said, his voice soaked in disgust. "Of all places he would be, he had to be here. Just bloody brilliant," he exclaimed, crossing his arms on his chest.

The smile playing on her lips faltered before saying, "Just ignore him." Then, her smile splattered across her face once more as a new song began. "Dance with me, Harry," she more stated than asked.

Harry somewhat happily obliged.

Every so often, while he and Ginny were swirling around the dance area, his eyes would unexpectedly meet with Draco's. Not once or twice, but a grand total of seven times. Harry never meant to make eye contact with Draco, and the harder he tried not to, the more he did, until finally, the song stopped.

As the song stopped, Harry and Ginny ceased spinning around the lake; Ginny's face formed a frown as Harry walked over to Hermione, who seemed to have a group formed around her.

She was conversing with Slytherins, and she appeared to be enjoying herself. There she stood, surrounded by Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, and Pansy Parkinson, who clung herself to Draco's right arm. Draco eyed him. "What are you doing here, Potter?"

"Trying to enjoy myself, thanks," he replied. He turned to Hermione, "D'you want to walk around the lake?" Which, if she didn't notice, and she didn't, was her chance to break away from the snakes and not get poisoned.

"No, thanks, Harry," she said, not looking at him as she said it. Instead, she was gazing into Zabini's eyes, grinning whilst doing so.

"I'll take that walk with you, Potter," Draco said, his mouth forming what could be called a smile, except, it didn't seem all that warm. To an outsider, it would appear to be a nervous one. However, Harry wasn't an outsider, so this he did not notice.

"No, that's okay, Malfoy," Harry said, "You should be with your girlfriend." Quickly, Harry walked away and involuntarily glanced over his shoulder at Malfoy. He couldn't believe that Malfoy had wanted to stroll around the lake with him, and why would Malfoy think that Harry would want to talk with him? Because of this, Harry concluded that Malfoy had temporarily forgotten how he felt about Harry because of the summer heat and the situation. And when the dance ended, Ginny, Ron, and Harry met up with Hermione, who was standing rather close to Zabini, and blushed when she realized her friends stood behind her

Then, Malfoy appeared sans Pansy, another smile glued to his face. "Goodnight, Potter," he said, his voice appearing as smooth as melted chocolate in a fondue pot, but Harry took it as a trick played by his tired mind. As far as Harry could recall, Malfoy had not send one vicious word all evening… He could not imagine why; it was somewhat difficult to be mean to someone without cause.

"Goodnight," Harry said, turning to Hermione. "Let's go."

Hermione shot him a glare, before wishing Zabini a wonderful night.