I appreciate critique of any kind. Also, I don't own Harry Potter, in case you were, you know, wondering.
Thanks for reading.

Just a Puppet on a String


Draco Malfoy has never been a bad dancer. When one's family has been as wealthy and popular as his once was, dancing is a necessity on certain occasions.
But tonight, tonight he has a hard time simply trying to not step on her small feet. This, he knows, is probably because he keeps shooting glances at their spectators.
It is no wonder that she eventually gained quite a few friends once people outgrew the nicknames and stopped stealing her belongings. With a personality bordering on carefree like hers, nor is it a wonder that they grew protective.

"Look at me."
It is the first time she speaks since she asked his wife if she could borrow a dance, saying that it was, after all, her birthday-party and she wanted to dance with everyone if they would allow it.

He spins her briefly.
Surely they're all holding their breath, waiting for him to do something that will take that little constant smile off her face. His growing paranoia and frustration leaves it tempting to follow their expectations.
Old habits die hard. So do reputations, apparently.

"Just look at me." Her voice is so gentle, so painfully aware.
He tries, he really does.
Eventually she lifts her small hands to his face, steadying it, forcing him to stop averting his eyes again. How stupid of all of them to think that she is not stronger than everyone in that room. How stupid of them to think that the puppet is not him, that a flick of her fingers would not send him falling to the ground.

"You're better than that. Just look at me." When she speaks with so much optimism, how can he not do his best to appear comforted?

She has to stand on her toes to place her head by his shoulder, so the dance falters for a moment.
"To me, you're worth just as much as either of them. Nothing less." Her whisper leaves him colder than usual.

He gulps, but allows her another of those spins she seems to enjoy so much before continuing.
Her laughter fills the room, removing the tension in his body.

She doesn't do this to him on purpose, but she does it nonetheless. Being innocently unaware of how seductive she really is is no excuse for him to not tell her or at least turn her down.
And yet, he lets her, because he's already lost.