"Oh, Adelinda, you look beautiful!"

It was just two weeks before the ball and the night before Adelinda's seventeenth birthday; the three girls who had, of late, been inseparable, were gathered in the dressing rooms of Miss Rosemary's Dress Shop, having decided to take their own private trip to the village. Draco had been right in assuming that the Gryffindor friends knew of the secret passageway to Hogsmeade.

She stood before them, her dark hair pulled into a high bun in a fashion similar to the other girls' to make trying on dresses a bit easier; Adelinda had already gone through three, having dubbed them too gaudy, too uncomfortable, or too expensive. "Adelinda, if you get that one, Malfoy will crumble when he sees you," Ginny told her with a sly grin.

"Every girl's goal," Adelinda added with a giggle, turning to the mirror. Adelinda was filled with an indescribable excitement; it was the first year in quite a long time that she would have friends to celebrate a birthday with, and she was preparing for her first ball, to which she even had a date. Her parents had already begun sending her copious amounts of cards and gifts, expressing their guilt for not being there for her birthday; she assured them that she would still have a wonderful time, and she would.

She had worried about choosing a dress that would be too much, but Ginny and Hermione told her that many of the girls would be dressed in ways she had probably never seen before, adding that many would be wealthy Slytherin girls. At the Yule Ball in their fourth year, they told her, some had even had dresses made for them. The idea of not looking overdone and out of place comforted her.

And so she had had no qualms in picking out several princess dresses to try on, but she found herself in love with the last one; it was an emerald color that brought out the brilliant green of her eyes, buttoning tightly down the back with silver buttons. It displayed the perfect amount of cleavage for her, though perhaps a bit more than she had realized she possessed, and silver embellishments danced across the sweetheart neckline. The satin fabric was cinched on her left hip with a silver rose, ruffling down and revealing the black petticoat beneath it that gave the dress its volume and bounce. She smoothed her hands over the fabric and sighed, turning around. She had not had the intentions of buying something so clearly Slytherin inspired, but it complimented her well and she knew that Draco would appreciate it. "I love it," she said with a giggle. "Now please, tell me you will both get something just as big as this.

"Of course," Ginny assured her with a laugh, and they continued trying dresses on; Adelinda returned hers to its hanger and hung it gingerly by one of the mirrors, making the girls laugh. Ginny found herself a beautiful cream colored dress that laced down the back and had rose-gold embellishments, ruffling down the front as Adelinda's did; the younger girl gushed over the way it complimented her hair and the freckles that were scattered across her shoulders.

Finally, Hermione stepped out of the dressing room; she wore a dress that was colored a deep red, and for what it lacked in volume, it made up for in length, trailing a foot behind her. It laced up the back and hugged her curves perfectly until it flared slightly at the knee. "It's a bit much…" she said hesitantly to her reflection, and Adelinda and Ginny gave each other a knowing look.

"'Mione, you look stunning!" Ginny told her sincerely. "Ron will be amazed when he sees you, all the boys will. Let your hair down." The insecure girl reached up and pulled her hair from its place atop her head and her brown curls spiraled down her back.

"The color looks so beautiful against your skin, and the way it makes your hair shine! Hermione, if you do not get that dress, I will see to it myself that no one else does. It was meant for you." Adelinda smiled at Ginny, and she saw Hermione's face light up in the mirror.

"I suppose you two are right…"

They left the shop with dresses in tow and the assurance to Adelinda that they would find shoes and jewelry the next trip. After returning to the castle, she found Draco waiting for her in the common room. It had gotten a bit late. "And where have you been, young lady?" he asked her from where he sat in his usual chair. He eyed the large dress bag she held in her arms and she clutched it closer to her, frowning at him.

"Before you ask, no, you may not see," she said with her chin turned up defiantly.

"I wouldn't dare, I know how you witches are about your dresses for any special occasion." He had tried to give her the money to pay for it as a birthday gift to her, and had even asked to take her himself to shop for a dress, but she had refused. She knew that she would fall in love with a dress of more expensive taste and would not accept that kind of money from him.

"Let me put this dress away and I will return to the common room, si?" she smiled at him before hanging her dress in her armoire, rushing back to the common room where she finally kissed him.

"Did you enjoy your evening?" he asked her politely, not returning to his seat in the armchair until she had taken a seat on the couch. The common room was empty.

"I did, I had so much fun with the girls," Adelinda told him with a smile. She curled her legs up beneath her. "We're going back sometime to get shoes and anything else we may need."

"All this trouble for a silly school dance," Draco teased her, smirking.

"I seem to recall a certain wizard fretting over when he could get back to his home to find his dress robes," she shot back with a pout.

"Speaking of, what color is your dress?"

"You're not to know."

"It's for my own dress robes."

"You want to match?" she asked with a brow quirked up in question.

"Of course," he told her, surprised by her question. "We are going as a couple, are we not? Couples match."

She huffed. "It's a very beautiful, dark green," Adelinda told him, peeking over at him to see his reaction. He seemed a bit surprised that she would choose their house color, but nodded. It would certainly be no problem to match his dress robes to her dress; he had a set at the Manor that had never been warned and would be perfect for the occasion.

"Good, good."

They spent a bit of time together before he sent her off to bed and returned to his room himself, but not before asking her to meet him in the Room of Requirements at supper the next day. She went to bed a bit disappointed that he hadn't mentioned her birthday.

The next morning at breakfast, she was showered in cards by numerous owls. Her grandparents had gotten word of the ball and had sent her a silver hairpin set with small emeralds, having assumed her dress would match her house as had been tradition during their teen years; they had assumed correctly and she was excited to wear it. There were cards from various relatives, and she was shocked to see that Molly Weasley had even sent her a package filled with homemade sweets and a small cake. "Adelinda, what are the tears for!" Ginny admonished playfully.

"Your mum barely knows me, and she thought to send me something," she said with a little sniff. She was quite touched by the gesture and made a mental note to write her.

"Well, mum liked you," Ron added as he got to the table and wished her a happy birthday. "And coming of age is a big deal." It wasn't unusual for a student to turn seventeen during their sixth year, she had learned. Many were home-schooled for a time like she had been and were a level behind, and many had birthdays right on the edge of the cut off date.

"She asks after you quite often," Ginny told her with a smile. "I think she expects you to visit the Burrow this summer."

That made Adelinda's heart warm and she told Ginny that she gladly would. After tucking away the gifts and cards in her bag, shrinking the treats Mrs. Weasley had sent her to size, she turned to see Hermione and Ginny holding gifts and frowned. "You shouldn't have gotten me anything," she insisted, at first refusing the gifts. Hermione and Ginny became frustrated and finally Ron and Harry told her to open them already.

She reluctantly took the gifts. The first, from Hermione and Ron, was a pair of silver heels to go with her dress; they would give her an extra few inches and she dreaded walking in them, but was excited to wear them nonetheless, thanking the couple profusely before moving on to Ginny and Harry's gift. It was a pair of dangling silver earrings with green gems in them. "Now, they're not real emeralds, obviously, but—"

Adelinda cut Ginny off with a hug. "Shush, it doesn't matter to me and you should know that, they're beautiful," she said, her voice thick with affection. She smothered the boys in hugs. which took them by surprise. The girls laughed at their awkward expressions. "You are all too sweet. Thank you so, so much…"

The day went by rather quickly with a few 'happy birthdays' here and there, and she realized she had yet to see Draco; she hadn't noticed him at breakfast, and when she realized he was absent from Potions, she worried that he was sick. He had seemed perfectly fine the day before.

At suppertime, she continued to the Room of Requirements as she had planned, hoping that he would be there waiting. Her excitement for her birthday had deflated as the day had gone on but she couldn't quite put a finger on why. Slipping her robes and shoes off, she sat before the fire and took her gifts and cards from the bag, finally reading through all of them. She sat there in a rather glum mood and nibbled at the various goodies Mrs. Weasley had sent her.

Draco had slipped into the room some time ago and sat on the sofa behind Adelinda, amused by how entranced she was by the fire before her; he held a small gift wrapped box on his lap and a bouquet of assorted flowers, and while he waited for her to realize she wasn't alone he simply sat there observing her. He noted that she had taken a bit of extra time on her appearance that day; Ginny had been teaching her cosmetic charms and she had put them to good use curling her dark hair, locks of hair spiraling down her back. Finally, after a few minutes, he cleared his throat and had to keep from laughing as she jumped.

"Draco Malfoy!" Adelinda gasped, pushing herself to her feet and putting her hands on her hips, glaring at him. He got to his feet and smiled at her innocently. "Don't you do that to me ever again, mi hai sentito? You scared the—"

He silenced her by standing and pressing his lips to hers, and she melted into it, forgetting her anger at his antics. "Happy birthday, Adelinda," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her bum a gentle squeeze. She wrapped her arms around his neck, reveling in the feeling of him holding her.

"Thank you," she said softly, smiling up at him. "Where were you today? I didn't see you."

"Shopping," he said innocently, stepping back from her to pick up the flowers and the small box. He watched the smile spread over her cheeks. Adelinda took the flowers from him, bringing them to her face to smell them; it was an assortment of red and pink flowers that she couldn't identify with white roses scattered throughout them. She would have to find something to put them in so that she could sit them on her desk, and of course, she would have to press one or two of them.

"Thank you," she said again, and when she saw the small box she frowned at him. He had been trying to shower her with expensive gifts all week and it seemed he had succeeded this time. "Draco Malfoy," she repeated, trying to contain her curiosity.

He pulled her onto the couch with him and she laid the flowers across her lap. "Shush, you know you want to see what's inside," the blond teased, pressing the box into her hands. He watched her eyes go wide as she opened it.

"Is that…?"

"Platinum," he finished for her. After she had told him the colors of her dress, he had decided a fitting gift would be something she could wear with it; he had very tentatively asked Ginny what she and Granger had gotten for them, and though the girl had been surprised to be approached by him, she gave him the information happily. He had made it to a jewelry shop and selected two thin, platinum bracelets set with small emeralds. It was nothing flashy, but he knew that Adelinda would recognize it as costing quite a bit of money, and hoped she would not force him to take it back.

"You shouldn't have!" she said seriously as she turned the bracelets over in her hands, running a finger along the green gems.

"Can you deny that you love it?" he said gently, raising an eyebrow as she looked up at him.

"No, but Draco, they must have been expensive…" her voice trailed off. He took the bracelets from her and slid them onto her wrist.

"Money is no matter to me," he said simply. "Look how beautiful they are on you."

"Your mother would be rather disappointed to know you were spending this much money on a girl she hasn't met, wouldn't she?" Adelinda asked hesitantly. She hadn't met the woman, but she had heard quite a bit about her, and not only from Draco.

"It's my money," he said with a small shrug. "Adelinda, they'll look wonderful with your dress."

She sighed and finally accepted, carefully returning the bracelets to their box and setting them aside, treating them as though they were made of glass. "I love them," Adelinda told him softly. He moved the flowers from her lap and pulled her close, bringing her face to his. "Thank you."

"You are more than welcome, love," he murmured before kissing her with as much passion as he could stand to feel without wanting to take her then and there.

To see two Gryffindor girls assisting a Slytherin in preparing for a ball would have been shocking to anyone, but as it was, Hermione, Ginny, and Adelinda were holed up in the Room of Requirement dressing and gossiping. They had wanted to prepare together and had put the room to good use; it held several vanities and numerous books on cosmetic charms, plenty of hairbrushes and various pieces of make up, and enough oversized mirrors for ten girls to share. They had decided it was due time for the three boys to interact and had slyly arranged for them to arrive at same place to meet them; just before the stairs that led to the Great Hall. They would make a grand entrance, Adelinda had commented.

"Here, Adelinda, let me do your hair!" Ginny insisted. She had grown up in a house full of boys, and so her mother had taken special care to teach her every cosmetic spell and trick she knew, all the while enforcing the idea that beauty did not define a person. By the time the redheaded witch had gotten her wand on Adelinda and Hermione's heads, they were done up. She had pinned Adelinda's hair away from her face using the silver hairpin her grandparents had sent her, leaving the other half down and beautifully curled; the Slytherin had chosen to do her make up the Muggle way and dabbed just a touch of color on her cheeks, her eyes made to pop by thin, black winged liner. As Ginny watched her and Hermione do their make up, she was fascinated; she had never worn much make up, and when she did, it came from her wand. Seeing her fascination, the two girls coaxed her into allowing them to do her make up, as well.

They spent an hour chattering away as they readied themselves, but just as they began to slip their shoes on, Adelinda stopped them. The bracelets Draco had given her jingled as she put a hand on Hermione's arm. "I have a favor to ask…" the young girl said with a nervous smile, looking at them shyly. The two older witches gave each other a knowing look.

Adelinda had gushed to Ginny about the night she and Draco had become a bit more intimate, asking for tips and giggling about it, and though she hadn't told Ginny what the boy had said about waiting, she'd had a feeling. "What is it, Adelinda?" Hermione encouraged, not catching on.

"Ah… there was never a need for them, so I'm not sure how to cast one…could you perform a contraceptive charm for me?" Adelinda's hands were clasped together in front of her and her head tilted slightly down in a show of shyness, her eyes turned up to the taller witch whose eyes had widened.

"Tonight?" she whispered, as if someone would hear her. Ginny was giggling and had moved to Adelinda's side.

"Yes," she said with a smile. "I wanted to a few weeks ago, but, well…Draco made the point that it was I who wanted to take it slow, and we decided to wait until I turned seventeen…"

"Are you sure you're ready?" Hermione asked, her voice full of concern. Ginny could swear that she was learning after Molly.

"Oh, 'Mione!" Ginny cried, laughing. "You lost yours after the Yule Ball to Viktor Krum, don't try to scare the poor girl."

Adelinda gasped. "You didn't!" Hermione was blushing and looked away with a sheepish grin.

"I did," she admitted. "And it was wonderful! We snuck into one of the towers…" she was taken back to her first time and her eyes turned dreaming.

"The contraceptive charm," Ginny reminded with a giggle. "You can daydream about Krum later."

Adelinda was quite nervous for what she wanted to happen after the ball; she wasn't sure what to do or how to do any of it, or how it would feel…but beneath that anxiety was an intense excitement to be close to Draco and experience that for the first time. She watched Hermione carefully as she murmured the spell and twirled her wand slowly around her lower stomach; a faint yellow light appeared before seeming to sink past her dress. "I'll have to teach you how to perform this, I'm sure after today you may need it," she told the younger girl with a knowing smile.

"Grazie, thank you! Let's get going before the boys kill each other," she said with a laugh. They slipped their shoes on and headed towards the Great Hall arm in arm, their dresses swishing together.

Downstairs, waiting at the bottom of the stairs, were three very quiet men. When they had all arrived there at the same time, they quickly realized what the girls had done. "Bloody witches," Ron had mumbled. Harry had actually greeted Malfoy, but Ron had simply glared at him. It didn't bother Draco a bit, though the situation was, admittedly, quite awkward.

"How long can it take to get ready?" Harry said, exasperated. Draco sent him a sympathetic look. People were already filing into the Great Hall. The music had yet to begin, and if the women made it down soon, they could make it inside before McGonagall began the dance.

"You'd be surprised how much witches feel the need to do for a simple event," he told him. He was glad to see that Weasley had updated his wardrobe since the Yule Ball, smirking when he remembered the ghastly dress robes he had been forced to show up in; now he wore a decent set, dark brown and reds. Potter wore a similar style, though perhaps a bit more expensive; he recognized the make of the black and cream-colored robes and gold cuff links.

Draco had had his mother mail him his dress robes; they were black with deep green accents and, of course, a pair of exquisite platinum cuff links inlaid with emeralds. They matched the bracelets he had given Adelinda.

Just as he finished his scrutiny of the two men's attire, he heard their sharp intakes of breath and turned his attention to the top of his stairs; he understood the feminine gasps that had slipped from the two so-called wizards. Their women stood at the top, arm in arm and smiling down at them coyly. Adelinda was stunning. Her hair was tucked away from her face and beautifully arranged, framing her cheekbones and jaw wonderfully, and her green eyes seemed to pierce holes in his heart, made brighter by the color of satin dress. She had one hand on her hip, the bracelets shining on her wrist. As he walked up the stairs to guide her down, the other wizards realized they should follow suit.

"You look beautiful," he said softly, bowing to kiss her hand. A giggle escaped her lips.

"And you look quite handsome yourself," she commented with a smile. His hair was slicked back neatly and he was freshly shaved; she liked him in dress robes.

He didn't want to take his eyes off of her, letting them linger on her chest and earning himself a playful smack on the arm before taking in the dress. It was quite magnificent, the silver accents shining in the light and the princess skirt drawing attention to her small waist and bust. "Shall we?" he said, and she nodded, resting her hand in his. Ron was looking at Draco in disdain, but Harry was observing quietly, appreciating the way that Malfoy was treating their friend.

For the first time, it occurred to Adelinda that they would be confirming every rumor of their relationship and throwing their status in the student body's faces, and her heart sped up a bit. Draco gave her hand a squeeze as he led her down the stairs. Once inside, he tried to lead her away from her friends; she tugged on his hand. "Can we stay with them for a bit?" she asked softly, and though his idea of fun did not involve Gryffindors, he glanced at the two couples and nodded. Anything for her. Her friends were her safety net, and she could already see people glancing back at her and Draco.

McGonagall began to speak, standing atop a stage that had been erected where the teachers normally sat; there was a band behind her, patiently waiting for the dance to begin. "Welcome, students!" as she spoke, there was a brief moment of loud clapping. "Ladies, you all look beautiful—gentlemen, you are quiet sharp tonight as well, I didn't realize some of you had it in you to clean up so well." Her voice was teasing and she had a slight smile on her lips. "Please keep the dancing appropriate—that is my only request. Enjoy!" With a clap of her hands, the band began playing.

The men went to get punch and food while all the witches circulated the room, chatting and telling each other how wonderful they looked, commenting on the gowns; Ginny and Hermione stayed near Adelinda, knowing how nervous she had become.

"We'll be close-by if anyone says anything," Ginny assured her as Harry returned. Adelinda smiled at her and assured her she would be alright, just as Draco returned with a glass of punch for her.

Harry twirled Ginny away, and Hermione stalked off to find Ron, who she knew would be lingering around the refreshments in an attempt to get out of dancing. "You look magnificent," Draco told her again.

"You already said that," Adelinda teased. She sipped at the juice.

"Care to dance?" he asked her, and she gave him a sheepish look.

"I don't know how."

He took the glass from her and set it on a nearby table. "Allow me," Draco said with a grin. He pulled her onto the dance floor, where no one paid them any mind, twirling her and pulling her back against him. When the band began to play a song that required true ballroom dancing, the number of couples on the floor halved. He saw her anxious look as she glanced around them at the couples dancing. "Put your feet on mine and just follow me." She gave him an odd look and he chuckled. "Trust me."

Adelinda stepped gingerly onto the toes of his leather shoes, worried about ruining them with her heels. He moved one of her arms to his shoulders and one of his hands to her hip, the other hand encasing hers, and he began moving them across the dance floor. Adelinda couldn't stop giggling. She felt ridiculous and a bit like a child, but she found herself enjoying it. "Where did you learn to dance?"

"My parents insisted on their one child being well educated in the art of ballroom dancing," Draco informed her. He had his head bent close to hers and he kissed her briefly, enjoying the smile the flit across her face. They were so engrossed in each other that they did not see the pair of eyes watching. "I attended many dinner parties that involved dancing, and many ministry balls. I've known how to dance since I was old enough to walk without falling over."

She was surprised by that. They spent quite a bit of time dancing, and eventually Adelinda felt comfortable enough to attempt it on her own; he led her with words and every time she made a mistake he helped her correct her movements, and she found that she enjoyed even that.

"I'm famished," Adelinda finally told him as the song changed again; there were little beads of sweat on everyone's foreheads and her cheeks were flushed.

"Well, love, let's go find something to eat." He led her off of the crowded dance floor and towards the refreshment table that was being tended to by house elves and tiny dress robes. He was surprised to hear Adelinda greet a few of them warmly by name and gave her a questioning look, but said nothing.

He retrieved drinks while Adelinda piled a plate high with food for the two of them, and they found a vacant table to sit at. He pulled her chair out for her and she smoothed her skirt beneath her before taking a seat. The dress popped up on her lap and she had to press it down as he pushed her chair in. "I adore this dress, but I'm not sure how women used to wear these bloody things every day," she said with a laugh.

"I couldn't complain if you wore it every day," he said slyly, and she smiled. They picked at their food and sipped at their drinks as they talked and watched, Draco commenting on some of the people and telling Adelinda who they were. After a few minutes, Hermione and Ginny dragged their boyfriends to the table.

"Mind if we join you?" Ginny asked brightly.

"Of course not," Adelinda said, shocked that she had even asked. When the girl turned her eyes towards Draco, she realized the question had been meant for him.

"Ah, go ahead—there are plenty of seats," he said politely, eyeing the male Weasley, who did not seem happy to be there. Hermione sat next to Adelinda.

"Are you enjoying the dance?" she asked the younger girl with a smile. They began to chat about the dresses they had seen and the way some girls had done their make up, leaving the boys silent. Eventually, Draco and Harry began to engage each other in small talk that was only slightly uncomfortable while Ron sulked in his chair.

"Adelinda, let's go dance while the boys are managing to get along," Hermione whispered in her ear and pulled both she and Ginny from their seats.

"We'll be back!" Ginny called back to the boys with a grin. Adelinda made a mental note to thank Draco for his brief lessons in dancing as she was dragged back onto the dance floor. Large glass balls had been enchanted to float above it and colorful flashing lights were held inside; the twelve Christmas Trees lined the walls that were draped in white cloth, and the ceiling had been enchanted to 'snow,' the soft white flurries disappearing just as they reached the students. It was, well, magical; Adelinda could think of no other way to describe it.

Adelinda felt a hand on her arm and turned around with a smile, expecting Draco. "Pansy." Her voice was hard and she did her best to conceal the alarm she felt. She kept her right hand close to the concealed pocket in her dress, made for the storage of wand, something no witch could go anywhere without.

"Congratulations on snagging Draco," Pansy drawled. Even Adelinda could admit that she looked, at the very least, quite regal; a black dress hugged her body and flared at the knees, and she held a sheer black shrug around her arms. Her hair was pulled into a neat topknot that was encased by gold netting, matching jewelry draped around her throat and jingling around her wrists.

Adelinda eyed her. She could feel her friend's hands brush her back as if to let her know they were still there. "What do you want?" she said coolly, maintaining her indifferent visage.

"Oh, I simply thought congratulations were in order…" the woman said innocently, folding her arms loosely over her chest. "…though I do wonder how you managed to do it. Perhaps the rumors are true, and he seduced you just as he has seduced every other girl, drawing you in for a bit…? Until he grows tired of you, of course."

The comment stung, and part of her wondered briefly if there were truly rumors of such things—Adelinda told herself that she was simply trying to get under her skin. "Why, Pansy, I believe you would know more of that than I do," she forced out, putting her hand on her chest in feigned disbelief. She heard Ginny's stifled giggles behind her and was encouraged by them. "I would never allow a man to draw me into his bed, and I would certainly never give such a man my heart. No, Draco has earned it in more innocent ways that I'm not sure you would know of."

The boys had spotted Pansy and had come to stand with Adelinda just as she spoke, and Draco felt himself swell with pride. Her confidence faltered as Blaise walked up to join Pansy, whose eyes had darkened in anger as Adelinda spoke. "Is everything all right here, Pans?" he asked, and his eyes turned to Adelinda.

"Well," he said stiffly, glancing towards Draco. "Look what the snake has caught now."

"Can't leave women to their business, Zabini?" Draco commented in a bored tone of voice, his eyes narrowed at the man.

"Oh, darling, it's quite alright," Pansy purred, leaning back into the well-dressed man as she watched Adelinda. The younger girl couldn't explain the hurt she felt at seeing Blaise with Pansy; it felt like a betrayal, a confirmation of her previous suspicions on his involvement and feelings towards her, though she knew it shouldn't matter. "I was just having a bit of a chat with Adelinda. I'm worried for her chastity, you see."

"Well, it was probably gone the second Malfoy got her alone," Blaise spoke in her ear, just loud enough for all of them to hear.

Draco drew his wand quickly and pointed it towards his old friend's chest. "Say another word, Zabini, and I will hex you into oblivion," he growled, his voice low and eyes dark. The man had put his hands up and a wicked grin danced across his face

Harry and Ron had drawn their wands as well, angered by Zabini's words against the girl they had come to care for. No one noticed Pansy draw the wand that had been returned to her the day before in lieu of the holiday beginning soon, but Adelinda had hers drawn in a second, pointing it towards her.

"Ah, someone has become a touch too confident, I see," the woman taunted, eyeing the younger girl.

"Leave us be," Adelinda told her, her voice loud.

"Or what?" Pansy said, and laughed at the younger girl's silence. "See, I simply cannot let Draco stoop to such a low level with you…a muggle born, simply disgusting. Of all the girls he could choose."

"You're making yourself look a fool," Adelinda said coolly, eyeing the girl. All eyes had turned towards her; Hermione and Ginny had drawn their wands, ready to defend their friend should the need arise. "Do you not think people have seen how you doted over the man who chose me? I've heard of your escapades with him, you know, and yet…never a relationship. Never anything more than sex behind statues when you should've been in class."

Pansy gasped and suddenly a stream of water hit Adelinda in the face, sending her back to that day in Hogsmeade; a surge of rage brought her back from it and she pushed forward. "Expelliarmus!" her voice was loud and sharp, and the wand flew from Pansy's hands as the girl backed up, eyes wide. With a slash of her wand as Adelinda pushed forward, a stream of hot water hit Pansy in the chest and the woman shrieked; her skin turned an angry red and Adelinda found herself cruelly hoping it blistered. She was flicking her wand up towards her face when Draco grabbed her arm, stopping her and pulling her back against him.

"Have you anything else to say?" Adelinda snarled at her as Draco tugged her back. The girl just stared.

"You'll pay for this," she said darkly.

"Not if you pay first."

They had drawn the attention of the students and Draco knew that that would quickly draw the attention of the professors chaperoning the ball. He pulled Adelinda through the crowd, knowing her friends were following, and led her out of the Great Hall. She was trembling and cold water dripped from her hair. Her jaw was set angrily, her hands balled into fists. He carefully pulled her wand from her and tucked it into his robes. The last thing an angry witch needed was a wand. "Adelinda," he said quietly. "Adelinda, are you okay?"

She turned her attention towards him. "How could you have ever slept with that bint?" she said with disgust, storming away from him. Draco found himself hurt by her misdirected anger and shocked by her language.

"I'm going to go after her—" he said, turning towards the Gryffindor couples as he began to walk quickly away. "—I need to make sure she's okay…"

Hermione stopped the boys from following. "They need to talk," she said softly, and they watched Draco chase after the angry Slytherin.

This chapter was originally meant to be twice its length, but I got to the end and couldn't wait to publish it. I hope you enjoyed it. Happy 4th to my american readers! Please review! :)