The Yule Ball rolled around quickly and with a few minutes to go I was found in my room getting ready, having kicked Draco out a while ago. I was almost ready, I just needed on more thing. I put a serpent bracelet on my left arm, having already glamoured my dark mark to be invisible. I walked with Daphne and Pansy to the stairs be the Great Hall before we split up to walk down to our dates. As I walked round the corner I saw Blaise, Draco and Cedric. I smiled slightly and lifted the skirt of my dark green silk dress as I started down the stairs, laughing silently the expressions of the boys shift as they watched my descent. As I arrived at the bottom of the stairs I took Cedric's offered arm and smiled up at him, though I couldn't help noticing how my outfit matched Draco's perfectly. He returned the smile as McGonagall sorted the champions into a line to enter the hall. Suddenly the doors opened and the procession of champions started forward into the Great Hall. The hall seemed to glow an incandescent blue with icicles hanging from the ceiling and glassy ice sculptures of creatures. Students lined the hall, watching as the Champions took their places on the ballroom floor to dance. I smiled awkwardly at Cedric and muttered 'can you dance well?' I was answered by a small shake of the head and I bit my lip. 'this should be fun.' as the music started and we waltzed around the room, I looked over Cedric's shoulder to see the Slytherins watching. I caught Draco's eye and winced slightly as Cedric stood on my toes then sagged in relief as more and more people came onto the floor to take part in the dancing. I smiled at Cedric 'I think I need to sit down for a minute.' he nodded and turned away.
'I'll go get you a drink.' I sat down on a bench and sighed, regretting my choice of date.
The sounds in the room were suffocating me, twisting my insides so I couldn't breath. I stood and rushed out to the courtyard, feeling sick to my core, slowly sitting on a bench and holding my head between my legs, trying to get deep breaths into my lungs.
'Hey, Helen.' I heard someone sit next to me and put their hand on my back. They rubbed my back in a soothing circular motion and I slowly sat up slowly my breath beginning to come back, looking at the person who followed me out, still taking deep breaths. I was met with the gaze of the Malfoy heir. He smiled at me 'You ok now?' I nodded.
'How many people saw me?' he smirked and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me up off the bench to stand in the centre of the courtyard. 'Well… everyone. Diggory looked confused' he half smiled then held out his hand. 'May I have this dance?' I laughed lightly, coming out in a much more flirtatious manner than I had meant it to and nodded, hearing the faint music from the Hall change to a slow dance. 'Of course Mr Malfoy.' I took his hand and he put his hands on my waist while I put mine around his neck. I buried my head in his shoulder as we moved slowly around, trusting Draco to make sure we didn't't crash into anything.
After what felt like minutes but turned out to be hours, the music stopped and we pulled away. I smiled up at him and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek 'Thank you.'
'For what?'
'You've taken my mind off everything, and you made me feel amazing, … beautiful…' I looked at the floor and let a tear escape. He brought my head up and could find no trace of his usual smirk. He looked me dead in the eye, totally serious and murmured 'you are beautiful Helen. Don't forget it' I started to shake my head and he pulled me into a hug, murmuring little nothings into my hair. I let myself relax into his embrace and smiled broadly. BestBall ever.