Classes for the rest of the week were dull, not in the sense that what we were learning was dull, but the fact that no one would stop talking about the 1st task, tournament, thingy whatever was starting to make my head pound.
They went on and on about how wonderful Harry did and how proud of the young man they were because he was the chosen one. I was right about Cedric losing his little group of puppy followers, the next day Cedric had a noticeably lesser crowd tagging him. He seemed disgruntled about it for the day but was fine after that.
I wasn't really able to talk to Draco much during the week either, even with how distracted everyone was. I know I shouldn't feel too disappointed but I was a little bit. Just a small bit.
The ball hadn't been announced that week- would probably happen that next week - and I took advantage. No one else really knows about the ball right now, but when they did they'd be down at Hogsmeade looking for something to wear. So I grabbed Ginny because her mother already sent her with a dress, and Hermione because she obviously already knew about the ball but hadn't picked a dress yet, and Luna because whatever she was wearing to the ball wasn't coming from the dress shops; that Saturday the four of us went to Hogsmeade.
Draco
I wasn't surprised that father paid me a visit the weekend before the Yule Ball announcement; I would have been surprised if he hadn't. What did surprise me was that he brought mom with him. Why would he bring her?
I was expecting the usual run down, you know, who he approved of me being seen with and what was expected of me and all the other nonsense he likes to spout like I haven't known all of this since I was five. This was a little different, and a lot worrisome.
"How are your lessons, Draco?" He asked while the three of us took seats in our usual private room for parent meetings, mostly used by the rich families; I hadn't even realized that little fact until last year, that not every family can come and visit once a month or so.
"I have Excellents in all of my classes."
"That's great dear," Mother says and smiles happily.
"Yes, good, good," Father brushes past, eager to move on to another subject, "I have heard that you have a very special student attending your school."
I catch and hold my breath, putting on a firm blank mask to hide behind.
"A metamorphagus, yes? She should be in 3rd year."
He's talking about Evangeline, there aren't any other metamorphagus' in school, but she's in 4th year, same as me. He got his information wrong, he wouldn't do that, but he's looking for her. Why? Why now; she has been in school for almost 4 years, so why now? And why is he interested in her?
I realize that there was a lull in the conversation and decide to speak a small part of my thoughts, "Yes, but she's a fourth year."
That makes him frown, he wasn't expecting that, was sure that he was right, but brushes past it all the same.
"Do you know her, Draco? Metamorphagus' are very rare, such interesting beings."
Keep to our cover story I tell him, "I've bumped into her before, I think we have a class together, but not otherwise."
Mom is giving me a look, one of those looks. One that makes you think she knows, she probably doesn't but she is definitely going to find out.
"And what have you heard of her," he keeps digging for information.
Even breaths, have to stay calm, "I've heard she's adopted, and she does well in her classes; the teachers like her, most people like her."
"Yes, I think she would be a top choice to join you at the ball." The corner of his mouth lifts into what would be defined as a smile, but is much more ominous and only means he's made up his mind.
My mask stays in place as I ask, "And why would that be?" Like I'm not almost sweating through this damned suit that feels way too constricting right now.
"Don't be daft, Draco, despite her unknown heritage she is a metamorphagus; a black unicorn among wizards. The esteemed know it to be a honour and privilege to be in her good graces. That is what you will do, and then you will ask her to the Yule Ball. I want to know everything about her, Draco, and I will be checking later on your progress with her."
I frown at the prospect, he wants me to woo her to collect information. What is he looking for?
"Just be nice to her, Draco dear, I know you know how to be a gentleman. I hear she is a very nice girl," Mother tells me.
So father knows something, or thinks he does, and mother apparently wants me to date someone nice; this happens every time a new girl steps into her line of sight and lasts about as long as it takes for her to meet them. Mom shouldn't be a problem, not until she gets curious, but father will be.
Our conversation ends with me telling them as passively as possible that I would talk to her. As they walked away an unease was left behind in their wake, lingering in the air and settling under my skin.
Evangeline
It didn't take long for the dress shop to become chaos. And if I were honest, it was mostly my fault.
I saw all the dresses and lost it a bit. I never get nice dresses, the only one the Kelpie's ever got me was that one Steve sent me for Christmas during first year. I've also never gone shopping with other girls before and I got a little over excited.
I ended grabbing more from the racks than I could carry and piled them in a changing room. Hermione took more time to pick out a few and I waited patiently, I didn't want to start without her.
I had a lot of dresses to try on so I just magicked most on and off, taking a minute to jump out to get opinions from Ginny, Luna and sometimes Hermione who was putting hers on the regular way as she tells me.
By the time I got through one pile there were dresses all over the place, it looked like a bomb of glitter, satin and lace blew up in the shop.
The dress that got the most oohs and aahs was a pink one; the top was pale white lace over an almost sheer pink cloth, a belt that was silver - almost white - and the skirt was practically molten pink metal. It was the smoothest thing I have ever touched and it was almost heavy which helped do the most magnificent twirly thing - making it look like liquid glass.
In short it was beautiful and so I had it magicked to fit me perfectly by the tailor at the shop and then I bought it.
Hermione picked an equally beautiful dress, and I think she was super happy with it if the secret smile I saw had anything to say.
We spent the rest of the day hanging around town, buying some Canary Creams - Custard Creams, dammit! - and sitting around talking and eating our sweets; the usual gossip of course.
"I heard Lavender is flirting with that Ravenclaw boy again," Ginny piped up.
"That poor boy," Hermione shakes her head sadly before we all laugh at her antics. Lavender is a known boy-eater, she goes through them like Ginny goes through pumpkin pasties, and the Ravenclaw boy in question is the shiest thing anyone has seen.
"You don't talk a lot of boys, Luna. Dating anyone nice?" Ginny asks.
"Hmm, quite," she says dreamily.
Hermione looks a bit shocked at the information, "Who?"
"Oh. I won't say. He is very shy, you see."
Ginny and Hermione looked a little put out by this, but don't press her. It is going to be a sight when Luna and Neville show up at the Ball together.
Hermione shifts gears quickly, "And what about you, Evan? Any boys of interest?"
She's looking at me like she's pressing for answers, at the same time daring me to lie.
"Not really," I tell her a half truth and look at Ginny for help. She looks worried but also like she isn't going to help me.
"Not really? No boy from, say, Slytherin house perhaps?"
"What are you on about Hermione?"
Luna pipes up breezily from between the chocolate frog in her mouth, "She's talking about how you stare at Draco Malfoy and how he stares back."
Everyone looks a little surprised at the suddenness of the statement but Hermione just picks back up after her pause, "Yeah, that."
She looks at me waiting for her answers and as Ginny is leaving me to my own devices I find my voice again but look away as I say, "Nothing to tell."
"Wrong. Spill it."
"I- there's just- it won't go anywhere anyway so why are we talking about this."
"Because you like him," she states bluntly.
"No, I don't." Deny it until it goes away.
"And why does he stare at you," she continues without recognizing that I spoke.
"He doesn't."
"He never looks forlorn or pining or anything, just cold. Cold stares. What's that about?" Now she's just thinking out loud.
Ignore it until it goes away: The revised edition. "Hey Ginny, pass me a pumpkin pasty."
"Sometimes he looks like he's going to storm over all angry and brooding to yell at you."
"More like to snog her," Ginny snorts, and now I know why she was keeping her mouth closed.
"No, that can't be it. That's kind of preposterous."
"What about you, Hermione, any boys on your mind?" Distraction tactic.
She blushes and looks away, "I don't know what you mean." Mission success!
Ginny joins in on the poking and prodding this time before we decide to head back up to the castle.
We're walking towards the Great Hall when we pass Draco, looking more internally stormy than usual. He looks at me for a second, but I have to tread carefully with Hermione looking on like a hawk. I, as discreetly as possible, hold up the universal sign for 'wait a moment' behind Luna's back, hidden away from Hermione's prying eyes.
As soon as we round a couple corners I make the excuse to use the loo before heading to dinner, Hermione gives me a look like she was about to question me but drops it.
I do head in the direction of the bathrooms at first but then make a mad dash back to where I hope Draco is waiting for me.
He's leaning against the wall next to a window, fading sunlight and torches lighting the hall when I get there.
"What's wrong?" I ask, panting a bit from running.
He grabs my wrist and tugs me along into the nearest cupboard. As soon as the door shuts he seems to breath a little easier.
"So there's been a development," he tells me warily.
I kind of want to reach out and give him a hug, he looks like he needs one, but this conversation also seems important so I refrain for the moment.
"Do you know about the Yule Ball?"
I give him a small nod in reply and he continues.
"My parents came to talk to me about it today."
He seems to be having a hard time saying whatever is on his mind and I decide to wait him out.
After a breath he continues, "My father hinted at knowing you were here, and he seems more than a little interested."
It takes a moment for the implied information to sink in. Draco's father was a death eater and he was with the death eaters that attacked the World Cup festivities; the ones that were there to support their twisted beliefs and their Dark Lord. I can practically feel my skin crawl, it almost feels like deja vu, but it's not because I know where this leads eventually.
"Okay... and what did he want?"
"He wanted me to talk to you, to get closer to you, tell him things about you."
"That's creepy." I look to the ground and bite the inside of my lip while Draco waits for more of a reaction.
"You have to tell him something. You could find out stuff about me without even talking to me so he'd know you weren't trying if you didn't give him anything. Did he say anything else?"
"He made this weird comment, thought you were in 3rd year."
I look up quickly at this, very very surprised. Lucius Malfoy knows my age - what year I should be in - and I don't tell people about the fact that I came to school early. The twins know along with several Weasley's, Harry, and Neville, but it isn't something people just know.
"How does he know that." I hadn't really meant to say that out loud but continue on anyway, "I'm supposed to be a 3rd year, but I got invited early. How does he know that?"
Draco looks very unsettled by the prospect, but forges ahead and just absorbs the new knowledge without blinking, "I told him that you were a 4th year, he didn't seem happy at the idea. Maybe we should keep it that way for as long as possible, throw him off of whatever it is he's looking for."
"Okay, yeah. What should we give away, maybe you should just ask around about me and tell him what you find with just that at first, it sounds kind of silly but it could work. You could start to say hello to me in front of people every so often. If he knows about my age I wouldn't doubt that he'll be watching what happens here like a snake. Ha, snake because-"
Draco gives me a look that's telling me this isn't the time.
"Right, sorry. Does that sound like an okay plan though? I don't know what else we could do other than start to look friendly."
"You know people are going to talk."
"The only reason we can't talk in public is because we were hiding me from your father, but now he knows. We can't just go from zero to a hundred in front of the public though, people would question it."
"Alright, okay. We can start when ever a good time is, during a class maybe or in the Great Hall."
"Alright. Cool. This is a thing we're doing. Okay."
Draco sends a sly smile that feels more soft than sharp, "Don't be scared Evangeline. Only a step at a time."
"Step at a time. Right, we've got this." I give him my most determined look and he laughs slightly, but refrains from smiling; he doesn't do that too often, but it feels like winning a Quidditch game when he does.
With a quick hug - I think both of us could do with a little comfort, this is bound to be a trying week - I rush off to the Great Hall to catch up with my friends wondering how they would take to Draco talking to me like it was a regular occurrence. Whether they know it was or not. I know a few people who really won't take well to this. They'll understand eventually, I hope it'll be sooner rather than later.