THE DAY BEFORE THE YULE BALL
Alana's POV
By the time Ginny and I arrive at Hogsmeade to pick out dresses, I'm loaded down with bags of jewelry, shoes, and makeup.
Ginny drags me to the back of the store, where we look through the dress racks. Ginny pulled out a light blue dress made out of a floaty material and twirls around. Then she looks at me seriously.
"So what's the deal with you and Malfoy?"
I choke on, I don't know, air. I'm unprepared for the question. "I don't know," I squeak. I busy myself looking at dresses, as though the pale pink dress in front of me is the most interesting thing in the world and needs my undivided attention.
Ginny rolls her eyes. "Look, I know that if he asked you, you would go with him, not Harry. Not that there's anything wrong with Harry, of course," Ginny turns red, and I know it's because Harry's come into the conversation.
I look up. "I guess, but he's a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor, it would never work out."
Ginny smiles. "You would be really surprised the kind of relationships that work out in Hogwarts, against all odds…"
Draco's POV
"Why didn't you ask her?"
My best Slytherin friend, Blaise Zabini, is modeling his dress robe in front of a mirror. Blaise is the only person who knows I like Alana. You know, in that way. Want to know the worst part? He has a point.
I flop down on my bed. "I don't know. I was going to, on the way to Potions. But I chickened out. Then the next time I saw her, she said she was going with Potter," I reply.
Blaise places a large top hat on his head, as though it's really an option. "Want me to talk to her for you. I can do that," Blaise suggests.
I sit up quickly. "No way!" I cry. Blaise shrugs, then takes off the hat.
"If you like Alana, tell her, then she can go with you. Who are you going with anyway?"
I shrug. "No one. I told Alana I was going with Astoria Greengrass to seem less pathetic," I answer sadly. I am pathetic.
"I'm going with Abigail. Alana's sister, you know the one," Blaise says, pulling some shoes out of his trunk.
My eyes widen. "Did she break your arm when you first asked her?"
Blaise chuckles. "No, she actually asked me in the common room last week. We went to Hogsmeade yesterday for butterbeer and then we went to Zonko's."
"I don't know whether to be happy for you or to barf," I say seriously.
Blaise swats me with his top hat. "I hope you don't wear that tomorrow," I continue, eyeing the hat with distaste.
"I was going to, but…" Blaise's voice trails off. I plop the hat on my head, then stand up.
"I'll talk to Alana," I decide, then I walk out of the room. I'm back in two seconds though. "Here's your hat," I say.
Later…
Alana is struggling to pry my hands away from her eyes, as I lead her to a special place. In the Room of Requirement, there is a special dinner set up.
I release Alana, and she stumbles forward, because she had been applying her weight to get free. She turns around slowly. "It's beautiful, Draco," Alana breathes.
I expect her to turn around to the food, but she doesn't. Slowly, Alana stands on her toes, leaning towards me. Looking down, I see her bright green eyes, wide and innocent, and I carefully remove her glasses and tuck them in my pocket.
Suddenly, her lips are on mine, soft and warm, and I feel her muscles tense up. But her hands find their way into my hair, and it feels so good, yet so wrong. I guess Alana agrees, because she pulls away so quickly, you would think my lips were electric.
"Alana, what's wrong?"
She backs away slowly, and whispers, "It won't work, Draco," and turns on her heel and runs away. The wind from her departure causes the candles on the table- the only source of light in the room- to go out. I'm left in the dark with a plate of cold chicken, and a broken heart.
"Alana," I whisper into the darkness. But if she hears me, she just ignores me. I sigh heavily. "Lumos," I say quietly.
Alana's POV
What have I done? How could I kiss Draco? My best friend since, forever? My thoughts are silenced by footsteps. I turn to see a hooded figure, with a wand pointed at me.
"Hello, Alana. We have been waiting for you. Stupefy."