AN: it's the dreaded flashback chapter, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. I toootally considered writing a separate fic off this chapter alone, but then I would be overwhelmed with having to update everything consistently. Anyway, I want to thank everyone reading for giving my spur or the moment fanfiction some moderate attention. You guys are great.

I don't have a beta for this chapter. I'm looking to get someone else to help me soon, but for now please forgive my many many mistakes.


7.

Draco stood at the edge of the ballroom, careful to keep his drink steady aside his drunken and swaying female companion. The Slytherin common room had somewhat of a pre-ball party beforehand, leaving him and most of his friends intoxicated just before the ball began. He somehow managed to pass off as slightly more sober than he actually was, saving him the trouble of a lecture from one of their professors for drunkenly stumbling down the walkway. Pansy, had not done as well. He lost track of how many times she nearly tripped on the long tails of her gown. She never stopped at a reasonable amount of drinks, no matter the occasion. Draco hated having to babysit her while she was like this, and would have ditched her had he not been concerned for her well being.

Luckily, everyone's attention seemed to be drawn away to the main entrance. As directed by the staff, the students crowding around the door moved to either side of it, forming two neat lines to give enough room for the participants in the Triwizard Tournament to make their grand entrance. Pansy, who saved no breath expressing her excitement to see Viktor Krum, stumbled forward, taking Draco with her. She forced their bodies into the already congested area until they were just two heads away from the front of the line.

Draco didn't want to admit that he also had been excited. If it hadn't been for the presence of his least favorite Gryffindor in the tournament he would have been overjoyed. Though, he loved the idea of the arrogant little brat getting his head smacked straight off his shoulders in whatever the tournament had in store for him. He tried to stay hopeful that would happen, if he didn't manage to weasel his way out of a death sentence this time.

He recognized a familiar voice to the side of him, belonging to one of Weasel's siblings. He couldn't for the life of him recall her name, but dared not turn around and acknowledge her presence. Not with a drunk Pansy on his arm who was just as unreasonable as she was unpredictable. He looked straight forward, trying to tune out everything else going on around him.

"Ron is so upset right now, but just wait till he sees who Hermione is coming with. He's going to completely lose it."

"He doesn't know yet?" Another recognizable voice asked.

"No, not at all. She hasn't told anyone yet, but I saw them snogging in the library a while ago."

He hadn't been trying to eavesdrop on her conversation but couldn't help but have his interest peaked. Weasel had gotten into another fight with Granger? It wasn't at all something unexpected, but the idea that he could have been crushing on Miss Granger made him want to laugh. While she was just as obnoxious as Weasel, only an idiot would think he was anywhere near her league. Draco took note of this, eager to get a look at the red head's face later that night.

Interesting.

Draco cleared his throat, hiding a smirk behind his fist. He looked back at Weasel spawn who's ears had been as red as her hair. Her and her long-faced date made their way out of the crowd and found a new spot on the other end to nest themselves in.

The loud chattering around them started to dull down, and he knew to turn towards the door. It had swung open. As soon as the doors hit the walls the first pair walked out. His eyes widened, as did everyone else's around him. Granger had looked different. Her hair was put together in a low updo, framing a small face that was usually hidden by her frizzy locks. Little was done with her makeup, but her dress seemed to accent around all the right places. His eyes followed her down the carpet until he accidentally caught the gaze of the small redhead on the other side of the crowd. Pansy hadn't seemed to notice anything thankful, too caught up in eyeballing Krum.

Krum. That's right, he forgot all about him. His arm had been wrapped around Granger's waist the whole stroll in, Draco was surprised he hadn't noticed him sooner. Draco allowed his eyes to wonder back to her, watching the two interact with each other. She seemed to be having a good time with him. The same smile she had plastered to her face on the walk in stayed, her joy unfaltering. He felt a pang of something. Sympathy maybe? He never once saw her this happy around the two idiots she liked to follow around. He could only imagine how Ron must be feeling, together Granger and Krum had looked like the perfect pairing. The pang throbbed again.

"She looks different doesn't she?" Pansy pulled at the fabric gathering on his shoulders, pulling his attention back to her. His face was only inches away from her chest.

Draco nodded. Pansy didn't seem like she was getting sober anytime soon.

" 'Must have done something about those nasty buck teeth." She bent over, cackling into her palm.

Draco smiled back, but didn't find the humor in it.

"Krum could do better, but this gives us the opportunity to see the look on Potter and Weasely's faces. Let's go see if we can get a peek." She pulled him down the dance floor, bumping aside all the students in her way. One muttered what sounded like a slur at them, but she paid him no mind. Draco was glad they were both on the same page, but he didn't realize Weasel's feelings for Granger had been so obvious to everyone else around them. He felt like he had been the only one to not realize till just now. With the way they act toward each other it seemed like the furthest thing from the truth.

They stopped a few feet away from where the golden trio stood, hiding behind a girthy beam near the end of the refreshments table. He knew the location had been too convenient. Pansy poured herself a glass of a hard beverage, winking back at Draco as she took a sip. Draco rolled his eyes, putting his palm over the rim of her glass before she could take another gulp. "I think you've had enough. McGonagall isn't going to look the other way if she catches us getting shitfaced here."

"Afraid she's going to tell your Daddy?"

Pansy leaned against the beam and pulled Draco against her. She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his ear. "What are they talking about?"

He shrugged her off and stuck his neck out to the side to get a better look. Pansy was pushing her limits with him, as she always tended to do and the alcohol was amplifying it. When his eyes finally found them they seemed to have already gotten into a fight. He couldn't tell what about but Granger raised her voice, shouting something at Ron he couldn't make out over the music. They continued arguing, rushing out the main entrance the new Granger only just made her new dazzling debut through. Her eyes were watering, and her updo laid even lower down her neck, threatening to undo itself.

Draco stepped forward; instinctively going to follow her but was pulled back into Pansy. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her whole body into him.

"Where are you going Draco? We haven't had any fun yet."

Draco turned around and let her deepen her embrace. "I think you've already had enough fun. You look like a mess."

She frowned. "What's going on with you? I thought you would have fun tonight. Maybe if you would stop focusing on those three freaks you'd be able to enjoy yourself for once."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Maybe if you weren't so drunk we could have a real conversation about this."

"Or are you just focused on her."

Draco stood stunned, not sure how to reply to her accusation. If she would have said that to him any other time before then he would have been able to brush it off, but today, he truly was at a loss of words. He had no explanation for it, but he was indeed hyper focused on a certain Gryffindor princess.

"I thought so." She stormed off, leaving Draco to collect his thoughts.