It was the 29th October. Two days before Halloween and all the students were ecstatic about it. The Great hall was full of talk about the preparations of decorations and costumes. The hall's ceiling was already scattered with floating pumpkins to mark the coming of Halloween.
"I'm so excited about the Halloween Ball" Ginny said. Harry sighed and slumped onto the table.
"I hope it's not going to be like the Yule Ball. I cannot go through having to find a partner again" He said.
"Well, you never know. It might not be as bad as the Yule Ball" Neville interrupted.
"Maybe, but you weren't the one with a last minute date" Ron said. Harry sighed again.
"I'm not in the mood for breakfast, I'm going back to bed" Harry said and stood up.
"Hey, we didn't mean to depress you over the Halloween Ball" Ron said through a mouthful of Corn Flakes.
"Really, it's nothing to do with that. It's just me" Harry said and walked towards the door. It really was to do with the Halloween Ball. If there's anything he hated more than Voldemort, it was dancing.
"So Potter, you looking forward to that ball on Halloween?" Draco said. And if there was anything Harry hated more than dancing, it was Draco Malfoy. He turned to face the blonde. He was leaning against the wall, slightly in the shadows, and he wore that usual Malfoy smirk. There was something about Draco that was different though. He definately looked a lot paler than he usually does and Harry swore Draco's ears were slightly pointed at the tip. But he put the thought aside and put it down to him still being a bit tired.
"I'm not in the mood for your games Malfoy. And no, I'm not looking forward to that stupid ball" Harry groaned and continued to walk to the Gryffindor common room. Draco followed him, still sticking to the shadows.
"Actually, I'm not here to torment you. I wanted to ask you something" Draco said and stop walking. Harry too stopped and turned to face Draco again.
"You, want to ask me, something?" Harry enquired.
"Yes. I know you probably think I'm not serious, since as we've spent most of our time hating each other, but I am" Draco said in a low voice. Harry looked at him puzzled and sighed.
"Fine, I guess I better make the most of you not making snide remarks towards me. So, what did you want to ask?" Harry said.
"Well" Draco started, a slight blush creeping across his face. "I know its a couple days away, but I was wondering that if you didn't have anyone to go with, would you like to go to the Halloween Ball…with me?" He added, playing with the hem of his jumper. Draco had been planning this for a couple of weeks. He knew it was stupid to ask Harry this without at least gaining a little respect from him prior to asking, but he thought it was worth a shot. Harry just stood there staring at him, wide-eyed. Did Draco really just ask him to the ball?
"Are you insane? Of course I won't go to the ball with you! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get back to bed" Harry growled, turning around and began to walk up the stairs. Draco watched as Harry disappeared up the stairs. He stood in the shadows, thinking to himself.
"How am I going to get him to be my mate in two days? It'll take too long to try and gain his trust and friendship from him. Not unless, I give him that bite. No. I couldn't do that to him. I couldn't ruin his life more than I already have, there's got to be another way than that!" Draco thought. He then shook his head and walked back to his common room, still keeping to the shadows.
When Harry finally got to his bed, he flopped onto it and stared up at the ceiling, reflecting on what happened a few minutes ago.
"Why was he asking me that? You only ask people you like to go to the ball with you. Is it possible that he, my enemy, could have feelings for me? And what's up with his face? He looks so pale, more so than usual. Could he be ill? And why do I care?" Harry thought, a pink tinge coming up on his cheeks. He closed his eyes and Draco's pale image worked its way into his thoughts. He re-opened them, his sight a little hazy, even with his glasses on. He rolled over and caught sight of the time in his clock.
"Quarter to three…I must have been tired" Harry yawned out as he stretched. Sitting up and making sure his glasses were on straight, he got up and walked down to the common room.
"You're awake then?" Hermione called out from behind the textbook she was reading.
"Yeah" Harry sighed.
"You're lucky we didn't have any lessons today. Ron said he tried to wake you several times but you wouldn't even flinch" She said. Harry smiled at the mental image he produced.
"Where is he anyway?" Harry asked, now sitting down in an armchair.
"Some of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were baking some Halloween cakes for the ball and they were looking for people to test them out. Of course he was the first one there" She replied, now glancing at Harry over the top of the textbook.
"It wouldn't be him if he didn't though, would it?" Harry laughed.
"S'pose not" Hermione said and giggled to herself. As Harry sat there, his thoughts drifted back to Draco. He got up and went to go up to his dorms when Hermione called out.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I'm gonna get my robes and scarf, I need to take a walk" Harry said. Hermione gave a little nod and Harry continued his way to his dorms. When he came back down, he bided farewell to her and disappeared out the common room. On his way down the halls, he saw Draco again. He studied him for a moment.
"Would it really hurt to give him a chance?" Harry thought. Draco noticed him and went to walk in the opposite direction.
"Draco, wait!" Harry yelled and ran to him. Draco stopped but didn't turn round.
"What do you want?" He asked in a low voice.
"I want to push our differences aside for a moment and I want to talk to you, if that's okay" Harry said. Draco turned around and looked shyly at Harry.
"Okay" He said, giving a small nod. Harry smiled a little and approached him more.
"Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go to talk?" Harry asked. Draco looked at the floor in silence for a moment.
"Potions room. I don't think it's being used and it's nice and quiet there" Draco said, looking up at him. Harry gave a little nod and followed him as he walked in the direction of the Potions room.
"And dark" Draco thought to himself and smiled. When they reached the room, Draco peered inside to see if anyone was about. After not seeing any movement inside, he opened the door further and motioned for Harry to enter. Once Harry was inside, Draco shut and locked the door.
"Any reason you're locking the door? And could we maybe have some light in here?" Harry asked, hoping up to sit on one of the desks.
"No, I feel less nervous in the dark. It calms me you know? And I'm locking it so no one comes walking in" Draco said and moved towards Harry, hoping up onto a desk opposite him. Harry's eyes began to adjust to the darkness and saw Draco's outline through it. He smiled in his direction.
"That's fine by me. So, um, I wanted to talk to you about earlier. I didn't mean to shout at you like that, it just came as a shock to me" He said and blushed a little.
"It's okay. I didn't expect it go so well. I didn't think you'd return my feelings. It was stupid of me to ask you that" Draco sighed and looked away from Harry.
"I didn't mean to put it so bluntly. Really, I'm flattered and surprised that you asked me, but I just don't feel the same way" Harry said getting flustered.
"Like I said, it's okay" Draco repeated. A long moment of silence came before them. Harry was staring at the floor, kicking his legs out in a slow motion back and forth. Being in Draco's company wasn't at all the bad. In this one whole day, Harry had seen a completely different side to Draco. His thoughts then drifted to those of which they were both a couple. Harry felt his cheeks heat up a little at the thought.
"Why do we always fight one another?" Draco asked, breaking the silence.
"I've always wondered the same thing. I put it down to the fact I turned down your friendship in first year" Harry said grinning. Draco said nothing and silence fell upon them again.
"I think I should-"
"What would you say if I told you I didn't want to be your enemy anymore? What would you say if I still wanted to be your friend?" Draco interrupted Harry.