Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: Firstly guys, you don't know how bad I feel for making you wait so long. This whole writing business is harder than it looks, and I got the Block on this chapter. It was bad.
Also, I've screwed up. Lucy and Frank are supposed to be a coupling, not Lily and Frank, gosh damn I'm so stupid. At the start of the fic I did it right, but then I messed up. :'( So, I'm going to say there is a love triangle with Lucy, Lily and Frank and Frank is going to the ball with Lucy, not that other girl. So he made Lily jealous and that's why she tried to get revenge on him? Okay? Sure sure everyone's happy!
Anyways.
Chapter 22: The Yule Ball
Rose's POV
I lay awake a long time that night. The others came up a few hours later than me, one of them whispered my name. I pretended to be asleep.
It wasn't a big deal, just one night. But the thing is, I had been looking forward to this night for ages, finally a chance for me to girly and romantic and now I couldn't be. I knew it was for the best. And, Ferretson was, woah, this is hard to say, hot, eww. Gross. But, I couldn't deny the truth. There would be a lot of girls desperate to be in my position.
I probably would've gone back to Jaque in another situation. But he and Dom were going together now. It wold be a total bitch move to try mess that up. Not that I could. Both Dom and Jaque were both totally smitten.
So, I was going with Malfoy. Yaaayy! Ugh, I sure hoped my mum didn't ask me about the ball when I got back. I couldn't tell her. She would tell dad, and I didn't want that. Dad would be so disappointed.
Anyway, so after a few hours thinking about disappointing my parents and regretting choosing Roderick and Malfoy being hot and happy things like that, I finally fell into a dream-filled sleep. But I won't go into any detail.
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The next morning, I dressed as slowly as possible. The dorm was empty by the time I finally made my way down to the common room, if only that had been completely empty as well.
"Morning Weasley." Malfoy greeted me from his spot near the fire. I looked around, but he was alone.
"Were you... waiting for me?" I asked cautiously, stepping out further into the room and raising an eyebrow at him.
"Al asked me to." He said, "Wouldn't want you to be harassed on the way to breakfast now would we?" He turned to face me, smirking.
I rolled my eyes. "Ugh, just leave me alone." I headed straight to the door on the other side of the room, hoping he would stay where he was, but obviously he didn't. Why would he? He got up and followed me out of the door.
"Sorry, no can do." He replied, grinning.
"Please can you just go stalk some Slytherin slut." I replied.
"No love, I can't, we have to keep up appearances you see. And, we're supposed to like eachother."
"Ugh, like you? I think I'm going to throw up."
"Hey, I don't like it either but it's just until this Saturday Weasley, think you can manage that?"
"No."
"It's me or Zabini."
I fell silent and turned to him. "Okay, let's make one thing clear. Al has asked me to do this, I do not want to. And in no way does our little arrangements make us dating or even friends, so just back off."
He stopped dead in the middle of the corridor.
"Thank you!" I said, and turned and continued my walk to breakfast, alone.
Wednesday passed, then Thursday and Friday, and suddenly, the afternoon of Saturday came around. And Malfoy hadn't bothered me once.
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Lily had been forbidden from going to the Ball by James and Fred, but us girls had agreed to help her sneak out. As long as she promised to steer well clear of Zabini. Lucy and Frank had been as adorably coupley as ever. Only parting finally at 2 when we dragged all the girls off to get ready. The Ball started at 7, and finished at 11 for 3rd years and under. The rest of us could stay as long as we wanted really. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would be staying past 11.
So first, we showered and cleaned and pampered ourselves to simple perfection, and then we added the layers. Nail varnish came first, and we lay on the beds, talking for a while to let it dry.
Then came the dresses, and they were beautiful and flowy and I loved every single one. They made me feel, well, beautiful. And feminine. Don't get me wrong, I love being boyish and mucking around and trousers instead of skirts. But sometimes, it's nice to get dressed up and feel girly and beautiful.
By the time we had perfected everything and were finally completely ready to go, it was 7:13. This was good though, according to Dom.
Never be on time for a party.
I had tried to convince her that this was I little different to just a normal party. But, it had not swayed her opinion, of course it hadn't. Dom was one of those people who were just right, no arguing, no questions. She was just right, okay punk? And yes, she had used those exact words before.
As I sat on my bed, my stomach kept twisting and turning, I was nervous about the night ahead with Malfoy. I shouldn't have been, it wasn't real, but i was.
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Scorpius was already there when we got entered the hall. I must admit, my breath caught in my throat when I first saw him. If I was any other girl and he was any other boy I would be probably be weak-kneed by the sight of him. But no amount of dress-robes could change or make me forget what I knew about his personality.
"You're late." He told me when I sat down in the seat next to his.
"Bite me," I replied, avoiding eye contact as I searched dance floor for no one in particular.
That sends us into silence for a few minutes, not awkward silence. I think hostile would be a better suited word. I thought he might get up and leave, for food or drink, maybe even a bit of dancing or snogging with some random Slytherin girl. But 5 minutes pass, and he's still not made any attempt to leave.
6 minutes. I swear the clocks are slowing down to torture me.
7 minutes. I can't take this any more, I turn in my chair and face the side of his head. His gaze flicks to me. "Are you just gonna sit here silently all night long like some annoying robot bodyguard," confusion flicks across his face at the mention of robots, they were a muggle thing. "Or are you gonna move around and be sociable?" I ask snappily.
He raises an eyebrow at my outburst. "I'm sorry, and what are you doing right now?"
"That's different..." I stumble for a reason why, "I don't want to run into Zabini."
"Mmm yes, and me leaving you to sit here alone would be the best way of making sure he stays away."
He has a point.
"Okay fine! But can we do something." I beg, I've decided to be friendly. If we're gonna be spending the whole night together I want to make it at least a little enjoyable.
Whoa that whole sentence didn't sound right.
"Um.. you wanna dance?" He asks the question as if he knows it's a failed idea.
"Mmm, any other suggestions?" I ask, eyeing the dance floor like its one big trap.
"Like what?"
"Like anything except that."
"You wanna go snog in a broom cupboard?"
I turn to look at him, I'm wearing my haha-you're-so-funny-except-if-you-suggest-that-again-you'll-find-yourself-waking-up-in-a-broom-cupboard-next-week-with-no-balls face. Yep, I can go into quite a bit of detail with my faces.
But he's wearing that smirk and his eyes are laughing at me. He doesn't seem at all phased by my silent threat, which just ticks me off even more.
"Scorp," a Slytherin in the year above us walks up to Malfoy and holds out two drinks. "A drink for you and your girl." He explains, winking, then he sets down the drinks and walks off.
Malfoy doesn't move until the guy has disappeared into the crowd of people and is well out of sight. At which point, he stands, scoops up the drinks and goes to tip them out into a nearby flower pot.
He comes back to sit down and I scowl at him. "Umm.. excuse me, I'm thirsty." I tell him.
"God Weasley, you're so thick."
"Am not! I' just thirsty."
"It was spiked Rose." He rolls his eyes.
"Spiked with what? Alcohol? I can handle alcohol!" Lie. "And I don't appreci-" wait, did he just call me Rose...?
"Alcohol would have been the best case scenario." He said seriously, dark silver eyes staring sharply at the moving bodies in the centre of the room. Then he snorts, "and even that would have made you crazy enough."
"Would not!"
"Would too."
"Wou-"
"I see you two are bickering as always." Dom pulls up a seat between us and grins. "You know," she pauses for mischevious effect, "there's a fine line between love and hate."
I stamp on her toe, earning an 'oww' and an exaggerated pout. "Shouldn't you be with Jaque?" I ask.
"Oh he's gone to get drinks," she sighs dreamily, "isn't he so gentlemanly?"
"Yes, he is." I look at Malfoy pointedly. He sees, and I know he understands what I'm implying. But he makes no move to get up. "I'm quite thirsty actually." I say this louder, hoping to make a point. Partly because I am actually thirsty, and partly because I just want to talk to Dom without the creepy robot bodyguard.
"Oh yes, Scorpius." She turns to touch his arm and bat her eyelids, "won't you be a dear and get Rose a drink."
Malfoy frowns at her. He rolls his eyes and reluctantly gets up. Muttering something about veelas as he pushes through the new line of ogling boys.
Dom offers a flirtatious wave at the boys as she turns back to me and they shake their heads, dispersing. "Hmm, that's strange. My veela hardly even affected Malfoy." She looks slightly put out.
"Well... he went to get the drink didn't he?" I say. Even I feel a little mind muddled from the display of veela.
"Yes," She nods. "But that wasn't me." She frowns, before perking up a second later. "Anyway! How's the date-that's-not-a-date going? Is there romance on the horizon?" She asks excitedly.
I scoff, "Dom please. Malfoy and me is not going to happen."
She winks and smiles like I'm an immature 5 year old with a stupid girly crush. "That's what they all say."
At that point, Jaque saves me from having to respond by walking into the scene. He sits down in Malfoy's abandoned chair. "Vat are you girls talking about?" He asks, grinning and raising and eyebrow.
At the same time as I say, "Just school stuff." Dom tells him, "Rosie's love life." He chuckles as I hit Dom in the shoulder.
Malfoy arrives back then, and Jaque vacates his seat. He takes Dom's hand and pulls her in to the mass of bodies dancing in the middle of the room. Malfoy passes me a drink and I eye it carefully before taking a sip and setting it down.
"Thanks." I say, avoiding looking at his face.
"Don't mention it." He replies, but when I turn back there's a small smug smile on his face. He was proud of himself for getting a thanks out of me. How pathetic. I rolled my eyes.
"So... we could play eye-spy?" I suggest, he looks at me like I-would-rather-wake-up-in-a-cupboard-with-no-balls. "Hide and Seek?" I received the same reaction and threw my hands up in the air with exasperation. "Well, I don't wanna just sit here all night." I whine.
"Jeez, you're like a 5 year old." He rolls his eyes, "fine, let's go do something." He stands up, and, downing my cup, I do the same. Suddenly, I feel light-headed.
"Whoa." I say, swaying.
"What?" Malfoy is beside me, frowning at me and my swaying. I shake my head and steady myself.
"Nothing, I'm fine now." I bounce and grin, "Let's go exploring."
He chuckles, "Okay, let's get you some food. You're acting weird."
"No, I am not. You're acting weird." I glare at him and refuse to move.
"Okay... I'm acting weird. Sure." Amused confusion flashes across his face. We then head over to the tables around the edges that are covered by plates that are piled high with food. I scoop up an empty plate but don't even bother using it as I prance around, picking up pieces of food and popping them straight in my mouth. Malfoy follows me around, watching me eat my food.
"Umm, stop following me around, stalker." I tell him before putting my empty and unused plate on the floor and looking towards the dance floor and gasping. "We have to go dancing," I took his hand and dragged him towards the swaying mass of people.
"No," he freed his hand and put his hands on my shoulders, steering me the other way. "You have to sit down." I pout and try and squirm round to face him, but he's stronger than me and soon has me sitting obediently in a chair.
"I don't wanna sit down." I tell him, batting my eyelids and pouting. I begin to stand but he pushes me back in to the chair. "Fine," I concede. "Will you sit with me?"
He looks wary but pulls up a chair beside me. A soon as he sits down I jump up and sit nestled in his lap.
"Rose." He sounds pained as he tries to pick me up off of him.
"What?" I ask innocently. "I'm sitting down, aren't I?"
He shakes his head at me whilst picking me up by the waist and plopping me back down in my own seat. "Ethan?" He calls to a Slytherin in our year, one of the very few that I've never had a problem with.
"Yeah Scorp?" He wanders over.
"Can you go find Al?" He asks, whilst keeping me in my seat.
"Umm, last I saw him he was heading away from the party with that Longbottom girl, I don't really want to break that up dude." He explains awkwardly.
Malfoy sighs. "Fine, I'll go get him." He points to me, "don't let her out of your sight, got it?" Ethan nods and sits in Malfoy's empty chair, eyeing me nervously.
"Hey.. Ethy." I giggle at the nickname, "Ethy..." I put my hand on his collar and fiddle with his bow tie. He pulls away, clearly uncomfortable and this make me giggle harder.
"Hey Ethan." Tyler Zabini slides into the scene. He put a hand on my shoulder and smiles, "get back to the party. I can handle it from here." Ethan looks doubtful, but he eventually shrugs before slinking back into the crowd.
I giggle as Zabini sits across from me and lean over to poke him in the chest. "I'm supposed to be avoiding you." He smirks.
"That's nice Rose," he tells me and I nod vigorously in agreement. "What do you say we get out of here? If Scorp comes back he probably won't let us talk anymore." I frown, then look around for Malfoy. I kind of miss him. But I turn back and nod anyway. He takes my hand and starts leading me out of the hall.
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So far, in my frantic searching of broom closets and empty classrooms, I have come across one fighting couple, three snogging couples, two couples that weren't really snogging.. but almost. And one couple who, well, really weren't snogging.
That was an awkward freeze and retreat.
But Al and Longbottom were nowhere. Not surprising really, he probably wanted to take her somewhere more romantic than a cupboard. To me, it's all part of the experience.
I turn around, ready to move on to the next room when who should walk around the corner? No one other than the delightful James Potter himself.
"Potter." I call out, running over.
"Malfoy." He replies, resentment dripping from his tone.
"I think Rose's drink was spiked." I tell him, ignoring the fact he obviously wanted me far away.
"Oh shit." He states brilliantly and starts walking, I follow. "What, so you decided to leave her all on her own did you?"
"No." I contradict him, how stupid does he think I am? "I left her with Ethan."
He stops short. "Ethan... as in the Slytherin dude?" His face is slack with horror.
"Yeah." I reply coolly, daring him to say anything. He doesn't, just breaks into a run.
"I'm going to strangle you, Malfoy." He tells me as I run alongside him. I roll my eyes, but honestly, I wouldn't put it past him if something had actually happened to her.
We get to the hall quickly and I lead him around the swaying crowd to where I left Rose.
"Shit." I mutter.
"What was that?" Potter asks, "where is she Malfoy?" I can here the anger in his voice and I do a full and desperate sweep of the hall with my eyes.
"She's gone.." I tell him.
His eyes widen and he looks like he wants to punch me, I wouldn't blame him if he did. He seems to think better of it though, and turns, running off in the opposite direction to go find her.
I myself wouldn't be so merciful with that prick Ethan when I found him. Turning around, I spot him on the edge of the throng of bodies, speaking to some girl.
No warning, no dialogue, I march up and grab his collar. Next thing I know, I've sent him flying into a table. "Where is she?" I growl at him. His eyes are wide.
I see him glance towards where she had been sat and then, "I-I don't know." He tells me.
"Well why did you let her out of your sight?" I ask this calmer, but it wasn't a good calm.
Just the eye of the storm.
"Zabini came along a-and told me that he c-could take it from here and, well, you and him are friends so I..." He has said enough, and he knows it as I straighten up, snarling.
I was going to find Zabini and kill him.