Ellen's pov –

My days went by quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was already Christmas. I was too caught up with the busy schedule of the tournament and time mercilessly passed by. Hogwarts was now filled with beautiful ornaments that hung around every corner magically. I could never get tired of the splendid decoration.

Giggles and excitement were to be spotted everywhere. It wasn't just another Christmas Day, but a day for our long awaited Yule ball. Seeing everyone so happy warmed my heart but... I felt so empty.

I had best friends I could never be thankful enough for: Amber, Shane, Kyle, Cedric, now Harry, and Hermione but... not him. There's been no Draco in my life for a while. He avoided me and treated me as if I'm invisible just like how he did for a short time before. But this time, he's been doing that for a much longer time. Whenever I was reminded of the gap that formed between us, the memories we built together pierced my heart.

I tried ignoring him in return but my attempts to draw myself further from him somehow got me more attached to him. My whole attention was fixed on him the entire time, wondering when he will talk to me again, wondering what's in his head, wondering if he really didn't... feel anything. To be honest, I think I liked him. Maybe I still do.

.

"Ellen, Hurry! Let's get dressed for the ball!" Amber excitedly jumped over to my bed.

"We have plenty of time left girl" I chuckled and took out a beige silk dress that I bought at the Diagon Alley with Amber before. But then I couldn't help screaming at what I saw.

"Aaaaah!"

"What's wrong?" Amber darted towards me and gasped.

There were dark blood stains all over my dress and my hands dropped the dress on the floor.

"Who could have possibly done this?" My voice was trembling and I heard titters from the other side of the dorm room. Amber and I turned around and saw the two other roommates, Sylvie and Cecilia, laughing at the sight.

"Aww we're sorry you only have one dress. Don't you?" Sylvie spoke in a condescending manner.

"Did you guys do this?" I glared at them.

"No. There's plenty of other suspects around Hogwarts to consider, though" The girls then burst into laughter again and it infuriated me so much that I couldn't think of anything to do. I probably looked really dumb.

Sylvie was right though. There were so many people who would do this to me. From the tournament cheat scandal to... my now non-existent close friendship with Draco Malfoy. I didn't care that much before and I didn't know that they could be so cruel.

"Shut up Sylvie before I seal that mouth of yours!" Amber then held out her wand at Sylvie and Sylvie left the room with Cecilia bitterly.

"I might just not go" I stared down at my dress.

"What?" Amber's voice raised.

"I don't even have a dress now. I'll just go tell Kyle about what happened"

I wasn't in the mood for the ball anyways. I wanted to avoid certain... unwanted sights. But as soon as I walked out the door my foot caught something. It was a vintage black chest with a note stuck on top. On the note was my name, written in an elegant handwriting.

"What is it?" asked Amber.

"I... don't know?" I then grabbed the chest and carried it back into the room and dropped it on my bed.

"Woah, this is heavy"

"Open it!" Amber stared at the chest curiously and I unlocked it. When I did, my eyes met something shiny.

"No way" I gasped. It was a beautiful emerald necklace that seemed to be very costly. I took it out and caressed it. I had never seen such gorgeous jewellery before.

"Wait, look! It's a dress" Then Amber pulled something out of the chest that was underneath the necklace.

"It's so elegant, Ellen. Whoever the sender is, that person truly has a good taste. Go try it on. Oh! And the necklace too! They will suit you so well" Amber then pushed me towards the bathroom. When I came out, Amber praised me crazily and she was literally jumping up and down excitedly. The dress was a black off-shoulder corset dress and fit me so nicely. It looked even more perfect with the necklace... but it felt weird.

"It's really nice but I don't think I should wear this. I... I just feel like I shouldn't" Then Amber scolded me.

"Don't say that! You look amazing! Probably another friend of your parents sent it or something."

.

Amber left early to meet with Shane earlier (they were partners, very surprising) and I was running a bit late finishing up my makeup and hair so I hurried to the ballroom. When I arrived, almost everyone was already present. Then instantly, as I walked through the entrance, I felt all eyes landing on me. They seemed... impressed? That felt good.

"Wow" I heard whispers. The crowd watched me enter and seemed to be unable to take their eyes off. Girls looked sullen as their dates kept glancing this way.

"Where did she get her dress?"

"She looks stunning"

"Probably got it from someone who helped her get into the tournament"

I heard jealousy too, but I simply ignored. Then Kyle approached me.

"You... look so beautiful , Ellen" He then offered me his arm and I put mine around it.

"Hopefully that means you forgive me for being late" I quipped.

"Uh... I guess?" We laughed. As he escorted me to the dance floor, the crowd continued to look this way. Then I thought it might be because there's something on my dress or something.

"Why are they keep staring? Did I wear my dress inside out?"

"Do I really have to tell you why?" Kyle then smiled at me.

"Nope never mind" I giggled. But as we walked through the crowd, my eyes were busy secretly scanning the room for... I found him.

My eyes caught Draco already staring at me from across the room. There were many people in between us blocking the view, but when our eyes met, it was as if the time had slowed down. Everything else except him was blurred out. He looked great in his tuxedo.

"Ellen?" Then I realised Kyle was talking to me.

"Yes?" I answered awkwardly. He was now facing me and asking for a dance.

"Shall we?" I nodded in reply, forcing a smile, and let him grab my waist. I gently placed my right hand on his shoulder and left one in his hand. We danced just like how we were taught in previous quick dance class with Professor McGonagall (that class was pretty boring)

Every once in a while, I glanced at Draco. He wasn't dancing with anyone. His eyes would meet mine every time I looked his way. For the first time in almost a month, he was looking at me. But then the next thing I saw, wasn't pleasing: Sylvie approached Draco and asked for a dance. I quickly looked away and asked Kyle.

"Please tell me there's something more than just dancing all night" I sighed and he smiled.

"Of course not" He then grabbed my hand and briskly led me out of the dance floor. We stopped when we saw Shane and Amber.

"Shane! You have it right?" Kyle spoke, thrilled.

"Have what?" Amber and I asked in unison and Shane chuckled.

"The real fun" He whispered as he took out a water bottle from his tux. Then I realised from his look that it wasn't water that was inside.

"You guys..." I shook my head and burst into laughter.

"I love you guys so much that is exactly what I've been longing for"

"Uh, nope. You shall not drink this water tonight. You, drunk, that's a no no" Shane hid the bottle away from me playfully.

"Give me!" Then I fetched the bottle from him and poured the drink down my throat. It was burning. Kyle, Shane, and Amber all gasped and took the bottle away from my hand before I could finish it.

"There's only few drops of fun left, Ellen!"

"You can 'Engorgio' it, idiot" I coughed a bit.

"That's actually a good idea. We'll be right back" Shane then left the ballroom with Kyle. My head then began spinning. It was a bottle of vodka that I gulped down so that wasn't a very surprising reaction from my body. Then I turned to look at the dance floor, where I saw Sylvie and Draco dancing. Draco's hand on her waist, their faces only inches away... Amber was watching me.

"Ellen, whatever you're thinking, don't" She nervously chuckled.

"Don't worry" I smiled at Amber and walked towards the pair.

"Ellen..! Ellen!" I ignored Amber calling me and proceeded with my steps forward. I was awkwardly standing in the middle of dancing couples now. I stopped right beside the pair and glared at Sylvie. Thanks to Professor Flitwick, the music just ended and he was preparing for his next grand musique. Sylvie cleared her throat as if displeased.

"Thank you, Draco" She then kissed Draco's cheek and walked away. I snorted. The music began playing again. Then Draco nonchalantly grabbed my waist and led our dance. He wasn't really looking at me, though.

"Draco..?" I called his name but he continued to coldly look away.

"Draco look at me" Still, he didn't move his head. We danced silently and awkwardly until Professor Flitwick ceased the music, as Professor Dumbledore gathered students around him to make an announcement. Draco let go of me and turned around to walk away. The alcohol was almost in full control of my body now and I felt so emotional. I followed and grabbed his hand. The lights in the ballroom got dimmer by Dumbledore's spell and I could now only see his back silhouette.

"Draco..."

He didn't move. Dumbledore's voice was echoing but somehow sounded muted.

"If I walked out the door..." I spoke to him, trembling with my overwhelming emotions.

"Would you... Would you notice that I'm gone?"

He didn't move.

"Would you care enough to follow?"

...This time he did move and it was to remove my hand from his.

"Thank you for your answer" I then ran through the crowd and ran out of the ballroom, ran out of Hogwarts, to the Viaduct courtyard.

Great, it's raining.