YEAR 4
"This is a stupid dance. Why do we even have to go?"
Draco fixed his emerald green bow tie in place for the 100th time that day. He was not ready to be in a room full of people adoring stupid Potter and even worse, he had heard that Hermione was to going to the ball with Viktor Krum, someone he had befriended and educated through his time at Hogwarts. He felt slightly betrayed, he didn't know why but Viktor had crossed a line by asking Hermione out; it hurt. They might have nothing to do with each other but seeing Hermione with other boys like that created feelings of sheer jealousy and hatred. He couldn't handle it.
They walked into the Great Hall that had been redesigned for tonight's dance in order to greet the champions and their partners. Fleur was first with her partner Roger Davis, then Cedric with Cho Chang, then Krum… with Hermione. She looked absolutely radiant. Her hair sleek and pulled into a ballerina bun, her make-up was flawless, her eyes sparkled in the candlelight of the hall and her dress. Her dress flowed beautifully; the periwinkle material complimented her skin perfectly. She looked magnificent. And she was with another man. Draco pushed his way through the crowd towards the back, trying to keep his face from flushing in case Pansy Parkinson came over to stick her nose in like she usually did. He was not going to watch her dance, watch her smile, watch her enjoy herself with someone that wasn't him. It wasn't happening.
Pansy had forced him to stay through a couple of The Weird Sisters' songs before he managed to tell her that he wanted to go to bed and she should stay and have fun. As he was walking past the entrance to the Great Hall he heard a voice screaming:
"Ron, you've ruined everything!"
It was Hermione. Resisting the urge to walk away like he wanted to, he climbed the stairs to where she sat, crying.
"Are you alright? And before you ask what do I care? I don't know, I guess I just didn't like hearing you cry."
"Ronald was just being his usual selfish self. Apparently, I'm fraternizing with the enemy, but while they're here, they're our allies. He's jealous, I know that much. Why can't he just leave me alone?" Fresh tears sprang to her eyes.
"Take a walk with me?" He stood, stretching out a hand for her to take to help her up.
She took it and as he went to pull away, she gripped it his hand tighter.
"Don't let me go yet. I can't get down these stairs easily in these shoes."
Draco smiled and walked her slowly down the stairs. They exited the school through the front doors onto the grounds, hands still entwined, both with a secret, shy smile on their faces.