About a month passed, and every student was excited about the first TriWizard, or QuadWizard really, Tournament task. We all gathered outside and filed into the Quidditch pitch that was filled with rocks and dirt, and eventually, a dragon.
The first person to come out of a small tent was the Beauxbatons girl, Fleur. The whole idea of this task was to get a golden egg, but the catch was, you could only use one spell. I wasn't paying attention to the spell she used. But she got her egg anyway, which was good.
Next was our own Cedric, and he got his egg as well.
After was Durmstrang's Viktor Krum, and finally, Potter.
They all got their eggs, and we were sent back into the castle. I was hoping to sit near Hermione, but she was surrounded by her friends. The Weasley twins looked at me amusedly as I moped about, trying to figure out how to talk to her. I didn't get to see her until after the announcement that there will be a Yule Ball being held in the Great Hall in honor of the TriWizard Tournament.
"This should be fun," Hermione said with a smile under the stairs.
I laughed and replied, "Are you ready to come out about us? I don't mind. I really want to take you as my date."
She giggled and blushed a bit. "I would love to, but-" she quickly silenced herself as we heard someone coming down the stairs.
It was Potter and Weasley.
We both held our breath as they passed right above us. Those two ninnies were arguing about something. Again. I looked at Hermione and her eyes were wide with fright. She looked at me a breathed slowly, not wanting her two best friends to hear her with their enemy. They went into the Great Hall, and I let out my breath. We both looked at each other and laughed.
She hugged me around the neck and said, "I guess that answers that question." She pulled away and left her slender arms around my neck, looking into my eyes. "Draco, I would love to be your date, but I don't think we're ready. Harry and Ron have just become friends again, and I don't want us to tear their fragile friendship apart. I'm sorry if that makes me sound selfish," she added as she looked away.
I lifted her chin up so she was looking at me. "Hey, it's alright," I said. "I understand." She smiled at me and hugged me again. "Let's make a deal," I said. She pulled away and looked at me curiously. "Let's promise not to get angry about whoever we choose as our dates," I suggested.
She smiled and said, "That's a good idea. We have ourselves a deal. Now," her smile changed, though it was still a real smile, "let's seal it with a kiss."
I laughed and kissed her. She pressed me to her and we stayed in the kiss for a few seconds before coming back into the real world. "The deal is done," I whispered.
She smiled at me and left our place, going back upstairs instead of going back inside the Great Hall to eat. Her footsteps thudded lightly overhead as I thought of who my new date to the Yule Ball would be.