Chapter 11 – Being Asked Out
Yet again I find myself saying that I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I am completely fired from this job. I should be locked away and someone should throw a way the key… Okay maybe that's going a little too far. At any rate, here is chapter eleven and yet again jumping another year. However, fourth year we're going to play with a bit because I really like Zatora's fourth year and a lot of important things happen to her in her fourth year that change her.
The fourth years were talking loudly once again during Transfiguration. Not that this particular bunch cared; they were Slytherin's, after all, and it was fun watching Professor McGonagal go from upset to furious right as the bell rang. They still did their studying and worked during class, most of them weren't stupid, but near the end they would always attempt to drive her to her limits. Most of the girls were sitting around one table giggling about boys, while the rest of the class played a game of exploding snap. Professor McGonagal sat behind her desk watching this and cleared her voice loudly but to no avail; the fourth year Slytherin's just weren't that interested in what she had to cough about. McGonagal stood up just as the game of exploding snaps exploded and caused the group playing to burst into fits of laughter.
"That's quite enough, thank you," McGonagal said hushing the Slytherin's slowly. "I have a very important announcement and unless you want to be the only ones not going to the ball in a couple weeks then I suggest you listen."
The affect of her words were almost instantaneous. The girls, who had been chattering away, looked at each other and then glanced at the boys before turning to face towards the front. The group who had been playing exploding snap fell silent and looked at Professor McGonagal expectantly. In fact, McGonagal had to admit that this was the first time her classroom with these students had ever been silent. It was almost as if McGonagal had put a silencing charm on each of the students who were waiting for her to take it off them.
"Well, seeing as the Triwizard Tournament is taking place here at Hogwarts it is a tradition for the hosting school to hold a ball. Seeing as we have a fourth year the age restriction was moved to include fourth years in the ball." At this the girls sat up a little straighter and a couple busied themselves with fixing their hair. "You may ask someone younger to attend with you to the Yule Ball, which will be held on Christmas Eve. This is also why I hope most of you bought dress robes so you won't have to worry about having nothing to wear or sending your parents on a hunting mission for you."
Several of the students laughed and she said, "Well, then, carry on with your conversations."
Zatora glanced across the room to find Draco smiling at her. She hastily began grabbing her things and shoving them into her bag. Pansy watched her and asked hesitantly, "What the heck are you doing? We still have five minutes before the bell."
"Yes, but do you think I'm going to give Draco the chance to catch me before I leave? I'm not about to go to the ball with him, and it's impolite to turn the first person down. I simply refuse to give him a chance to ask me. I'm going to be out that door as soon as the bell rings. Care to join me?"
"All right fine," Pansy said, "but I don't see what your big problem is. I would be honored if he asked me the Yule Ball."
"Yeah, that's only because you're his number one fan girl and you absolutely love him to death." Zatora said closing her bag and swinging it over her shoulder.
"Just because you hate him doesn't mean I have to."
"I didn't say that. By all means, if you can get him to leave me alone I would be happy. Ugh, I wish all the guys would stop staring at me. I mean, what do they see in me anyways?" Zatora said looking down at her robes and clothes.
"Have you not looked in a mirror lately?" Pansy asked starting into a fit of giggles.
"No I haven't, I didn't think I was any more special then everyone else at this school." Zatora shot at her.
"It's not that you're more special or anything, you're just drop dead gorgeous. Most of the boys in this school like you for how you look, not to mention your personality. You're always smiling, you're smart, you're sarcastic sometimes, even kind and caring, for a Slytherin that is." Pansy said rolling her eyes, "come one, Zatora, admit that you're just someone a lot of people want to be around especially guys."
Zatora shook her hair out of her face, "oh, I'm not that great. I have my flaws; I tease the Gryffindor's sometimes, and the Hufflepuff's. Not to mention I'm quiet, I don't get everything right – don't even think about giving me that sarcastic look some of my grades aren't perfect – not to mention I'm not that good looking, you're making it sound like guys only care about looks not my true self."
"Most guys go by looks, not by who you are or how you act," Pansy said straightening up and giving a small smile over to some boys who grinned back. "See what I mean, they like it when someone cute flirts with them. That's just how guys are, you first see them, you start liking them, and then you start the dating and getting to know them. I don't make the rules it's just how life works."
"Well," Zatora said looking haughtily over towards the guys, "I'm going to fall in love with someone who likes me for me, not my looks."
Pansy shook her head and rolled her eyes, "right, whatever Zatora."
As soon as the bell rang Zatora was out of there with Pansy close behind her dashing through the corridors in an attempt to get away from Draco. Zatora was running so fast she was soon loosing sight of Pansy over her shoulder. She continued walking fast as the crowd thickened, students filing out of their classes to get to dinner. Once again Zatora glanced over her shoulder to find that she had successfully lost Draco and Pansy and bumped right into someone. She fell backwards onto the floor and students began making their way around her. Looking up she found a very good looking boy from Durmstrang who smiled down at her.
"Sorry," Zatora said going bright red, "I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Don't worry about it," he said giving her his hand to help her up.
Zatora could feel her cheeks turning brighter with embarrassment as she got back to her feet and faced the boy. She smiled and said awkwardly, "well, I need to get down to dinner."
"Wait," the boy said, "I've been watching you all year and I was wondering –"
"You've been watching me all year?" Zatora asked now feeling flustered and aghast at the same time.
"Yes," the boy said hesitantly his friends behind him smiling now as well. "Anyway, I was wondering if you would like to go to the ball with me."
"You want to go to the ball with me?" Zatora asked bewildered while thinking horror-struck, maybe Pansy was right.
"Unless you've already been asked out and said yes," he said swiftly.
"You can say no?" Zatora asked feeling stupid and sheepish.
"Well it's always up to the person whom you ask," the boy said his friends holding back laughs. "Look, I'd understand if you're already going with someone."
"No, I'm not going with anyone. You're the first to ask me." Zatora said quickly. Zatora then said swiftly, "yes, I would love to go to the ball with you."
"Great, I will meet you in the Great Hall on Christmas Eve," the boy said before taking her hand and placing a small kiss on it. "By the way, my name is Hector."
"Zatora," she breathed while thinking dang, he's hot.
"Until the ball then, Zatora," Hector said before turning and walking away with his friends.
"Wow," Zatora said staring after him breathlessly. She shook her head and then said, "dang it, Pansy was right, you first get blown away by looks and then suddenly your saying yes and your on cloud nine and…"
"There you are," Pansy said running over to her. "Goodness, I thought I lost you. I'm pretty sure Draco has no idea where you went or if you're still in Hogwarts for that matter. Hey, are you even paying attention to me? Zatora, what's up?"
"I just got asked to go to the ball," Zatora said still breathless.
"Who in the world asked you? Was it Draco, did you turn him down?" Pansy asked quickly.
"No it wasn't Draco, his name is Hector and he's from Durmstrang." Zatora said looking at Pansy.
"So, did you say yes or what? The suspense is killing me!" Pansy said playfully hitting Zatora on the arm.
"I said yes of course," Zatora said, "and might I just add, he's utterly good looking."
"Ooo, imagine if you got married and had kids," Pansy squealed. "You would have drop dead, good looking, gorgeous children."
The girls burst into a fit of giggles. "Yeah, although I think marriage is pushing it a little far don't you think? I just met him." Zatora said bluntly.
"So you said you liked him." Pansy pointed out, "Besides have a little fun Zatora, you are such a Tom Boy."
"I'm perfect as a girl thank you very much." Zatora said offended.
"Yeah right," Pansy said. "Oh, can we go to dinner and tell all the girls who you're going out with, please!"
"We aren't going out; we're going on a date to a ball." Zatora corrected.
"Make that you like him and going on a date then," Pansy corrected.
"Fine, let's go."
Zatora quickly found out that the fact that she had gotten a date would soon be the only thing her friends in Slytherin were willing to talk about that night. Every time she turned around someone was excitedly asking her questions about her date. Tell me again what he looks like Zatora? Was he tall or short? What color hair did he have? Do you like him Zatora? Do you think he likes you a lot or just a little? Tell me his name just one more time Zatora, it sounds so cool when you say it! Just tell us how you met one more time Zatora, please. Zatora was slowly finding the fact that she had a date rather old.
The only probably Zatora could see was the fact that she didn't think Draco would ever figure out that Pansy adored him. In a lot of ways she felt bad that Draco had no chance with her now but at the same time she didn't want to give him an opportunity to put his foot in the door and keep it there. She didn't like Draco, maybe as a friend which had been going well, but not as someone she could consider liking for the rest of her life. He was a good friend and that's the way she felt things should stay. Not that Draco wasn't good looking for her liking he just wasn't her type. He was pushy and she was subtle and quiet. Zatora didn't find herself pushing someone to be in a relationship with her whereas Draco wanted things to move a little faster at the moment. Draco had taken to following her again but she refused to talk to him. Although this seemed to be working well she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid him forever and the end of the avoidance came too soon.
Zatora was sitting the common room reading a book when suddenly she sensed someone sitting down next to her. She stiffened automatically, her senses on end when suddenly Draco's drawling voice said, "good book you're reading there, Zatora?"
"Yes," Zatora said putting it down so she could look at Draco, "it's a good book but it's for homework, you know. I'm looking up stuff for that potions assignment Professor Snape gave us."
"Oh, I haven't looked at it yet," Draco said put his hands behind his head and stretching out his legs.
"That's due in two days Draco," Zatora said sounding shocked.
"Well maybe you could help me," Draco suggested softly, "I just don't understand the stuff."
"You did the potion just fine last time I was watching you," Zatora scoffed closing her book completely.
"I get it when I do it in Potions but I don't get it when I do it on paper."
"How is that even possible?"
"I don't know, you tell me."
"You're hopeless, you know that?"
"So you'll help me?"
"I don't even get this stuff, what makes you think I can help you?"
"Because you're smart and you usually get this kind of stuff."
"Nice try Draco."
"What?" Draco asked sounding taken aback.
"I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work." Zatora said flatly
"What am I trying to do?" Draco asked again.
"You're trying to lead up to asking me to the Yule Ball and I'm telling you now it's not going to work."
"Why not," Draco demanded.
"I'm already going with someone to the Yule Ball," Zatora said calmly.
"What? Who asked you out?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Why can't you tell me?"
"Because you'd go and give him a hard time."
"You know how frustrating you can be?"
"Do you know you can be really pushy at times? Why are you so determined that I should go out with you? I'm not that special."
"Yes you are, I am head over heels for you and you still don't acknowledge that I could be more than a friend."
"Well you're treating Pansy the same way."
There was silence for a few seconds before Draco said, "what?"
Zatora let out a small laugh, "you are so blind, Draco. You're so busy trying to impress me and get me to like you that you're completely missing the signs that Pansy likes you. Not only does she like you but she's madly in love with you. She's pretty dang beautiful as well and she's standing right in front of you and you can't even do her the decency of noticing that."
Draco stared at her speechlessly and then said, "She likes me? She really likes me?"
"Oh my goodness," Zatora said frustration etched into her voice, "I just said she loves you, when is it going to settle into your head?"
Draco was quiet again so Zatora continued on. "Look, I'm going to the ball with someone else and I'm not going to change my mind about that so you might as well give up on me. Why don't you use your time to go ask Pansy to the ball? She hasn't been asked to go yet and it would be a shame if both you ended up missing out because Pansy's too shy to ask you and you're too stupid enough not to ask her."
Draco sat there stunned and Zatora shook his arm slightly, "What are you afraid of Draco, being turned down?"
"I'm not afraid, just shocked that I didn't pick up on that." Draco said softly.
"Draco, I've been trying to tell you for the past four years that I don't like you and you still haven't caught on. Really, in the long run, it's not that surprising. Just think about asking Pansy, all right?"
Draco nodded and Zatora simply got up and walked back up to the girls' dormitory. She flopped down on her bed and smiled up at the ceiling. Everything was hopefully going to fit into palce now. She was going on to the ball with Hector; Draco was probably going to pluck up the courage to ask Pansy, and Christmas coming up quickly. Zatora didn't know how long she laid there on her bed thinking but sure enough Pansy came running up the stairs and squealed happily, "Zatora, Draco just asked me to go to the ball with him! Isn't that great?"
"Yeah," Zatora said smiling at her, "everything about today is going great."
Okay, I did say I was going to try to make this chapter longer. Wow, I had a lot of fun playing with and writing that. Well, did you like it, was it horrible? Let me know (reviews are nice ;) ). I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
Hermione-Hermyown