Drake

Disclaimer: Harry Potter was created by J.K.Rowling.

Author's Notes: This story is woven into the plot of the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire. Any scene or line you recognize from the book belongs to Ms. Rowling. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 -- Remembering the Yule Ball

"What do you think?" Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle. It was the night of the Yule Ball and Slytherin house was buzzing with anticipation.

Silence.

That's the last time I ever ask that question. Draco thought. He gave himself a once-over before leaving their dormitory. The high-collared dress robes made him look rather sinister--but that suited him fine. When they got downstairs, he got the reaction he wanted.

"You look great Malfoy...Nice robes, Malfoy...I can never pull that look off..." He acknowledged them all civilly, taking in their praise.

"Let's get going. Where's Pansy?"

"Right here!" a voice chirped somewhere. Pansy emerged in pink dress robes. She struck a little pose. "Well? How do I look?"

Pink. Draco said to himself. He hated pink. Girls wear blue, don't they? Why can't Pansy where blue? What kind of girl was she?

"Draco?" Pansy prompted.

"I'm sure we'll stand out." He said smoothly. Pansy blushed with pleasure.

The Great Hall was always nicely decorated during Christmas, but tonight it seemed even more magical. Lights, foliage and ornaments were put in all the right places. The different colors of the students' robes were a welcome deviation from the usual black. Everyone was having a great time.

"Is that Longbottom with Weasley's little sister?" Pansy asked. Draco smirked and nodded.

Well...almost everyone.

The students were being ushered into the Great Hall before the champions and their partners. Fleur Delacour walked by with Roger Davies, who was too busy looking at her to notice where he was going. There was Potter, with one of the Patil twins. Her robes were even pinker than Pansy's, Draco thought disdainfully. His archenemy didn't seem to be looking forward to this ball. God, what he wouldn't give for Potter to trip over his robes?

Draco steered Pansy toward the entrance. Behind him, he could hear students murmur with interest. He turned to see what was so amusing…he couldn't believe his eyes. It was Krum, or rather Krum's date, who was the object of attention. It was Hermione Granger! He almost didn't recognize her. Everything about her was different. Her hair, her posture and, Draco noticed, her smile. She looked terribly self-conscious.

Blue suits her. Draco thought. She's looks-- Then he caught himself. No matter how she looks, she's still the Gryffindor mudblood. What was he thinking?

"Can you believe her?" Pansy piped up beside him. "Imagine! Showing up at this ball with Victor Krum! How she managed that is beyond me. Spending too much time in high altitude must have affected him. I bet everyone in Bulgaria looks awful if he's impressed by the likes of her!"

"Yeah, I really can't figure out what Krum was thinking, asking her to the ball," he said.

When all the students have sat down, they watched the champions march in with their partners.

Trip, trip, trip, Draco chanted in his head, his eyes focused on Potter. He really wasn't interested in Delacour and Davies, or Diggory and Chang. He regarded them with an indifferent eye. He did find himself watching Krum and Granger. Mostly Granger. Her transformation was noticed by the whole school. He scanned the rest of the Hall and saw that a lot of people gesturing at her and whispering. Some looked at her with admiration, others with disbelief. He spotted Ron Weasley looking at the pair. The redhead seemed to be in deep awe and amazement...and there was something else. It was something akin to anger. Draco stared at him, then at Krum. Weasley couldn't be angry with Granger, so he had to be angry with Krum. Why though? A nasty smile played on his lips. He didn't need to be in Ravenclaw to understand this. Weasley was jealous.

"What's so funny?"

"They are." Draco answered Pansy in a tone that said he wasn't going to elaborate. He turned his attention to the menu and said to his plate, "Stroganoff."

The Great Hall was soon filled with conversation and the clatter of cutlery. Snatches of laughter could be heard every now and then. Girls were comparing gowns. Boys were comparing girls. Pansy was talking about her family's trip to Italy where "the pasta was baked in the shape of stars." A friend of hers was talking to her partner about how much her robes had cost. Some of the boys still had Quidditch World Cup euphoria.

"You were in the Top Box, weren't you, Draco?"

"Yes, Father would never let us mingle with the common crowd. Too bad he didn't foresee that the Weasley family managed to get those tickets too. We're still trying to figure how they did it. We know their house can't cover the cost...and I'm sure their Gringotts vault only has a few Knuts in it...so really, it's a mystery."

The Slytherins laughed appreciatively. After a few more minutes, they were all signaled to stand. Dumbledore magicked the dining tables to the sides and conjured a stage for the Weird Sisters. The champions and their partners got on the center of the Hall and began to dance.

"Granger and Krum" muttered one of Pansy's friends, "No one could look worse together."

Draco was watching Granger--more intently than he would have liked. It doesn't mean anything, he assured himself. She looked different, of course he'd watch at her. She looked like she was having a good time. Krum seemed to be enjoying himself too. Soon, more people were getting on the dance floor.

"Let's dance." said Draco, taking Pansy's hand. As they waltzed, Draco looked over her shoulder at Granger again. He was going to admit it. She was...

"Beautiful."

"Why, thank you Draco." Pansy was blushing.

Great. Draco thought and said nothing more. When a new song began, a Durmstrang student came up to them and asked if he could dance with Pansy. Draco consented and wandered to the refreshment table for a butterbeer. Krum was getting butterbeers too.

"Having a good time?" Draco asked nonchalantly. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the Potter trio together again at the other side of the Hall. Granger and Weasley seemed to be arguing about something.

"Yes," Krum answered. "I am happy to be here vid Herm-own-ninny."

Draco choked on his drink. Herm-own-ninny? "When did you ask her anyway?" he asked when he recovered.

"A few days ago, in the library, ven she vos not vid Potter. Pardon me, I must go. Herm-own-ninny is vaiting."

"Cheers." Draco called after him.

Seconds after he had gone, Granger came to the refreshment table. She looked extremely put off about something. Her expression darkened even more when she saw him. "You just missed him, Herm-own-ninny." Up close, Draco got the chance to appreciate her transformation.

"Don't look at me like that, Malfoy." She said in an icy tone.

"Like what?"

"Like you're judging me."

"I wasn't judging you. I was just trying to figure out what charm or potion you used on yourself tonight."

He could see she was trying to control her temper.

"You'd better be off, before Krum starts asking people if they've seen Herm-own-ninny."

She gave him a murderous stare before turning away. Draco heard her mutter something as she left.

"Purebloods..."