THE YULE BALL
Alex was in the great hall, so were most students. She was sitting next to Neville, having lunch as they discussed some homework, when Ron received a big package. When he opened it, he got some dress robes off the package. The ugliest dress robes Alex had ever seen. She chuckled.
- Mum sent me a dress?
- Well, it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet? - Harry grabbed a bowtie from the box. - Aha! - people started laughing all around them.
- Really funny, Harry. - Ron walked up to Ginny. - Ginny, these must be for you.
- I'm not wearing that! It's ghastly. - more laughter.
- They're not for Ginny, Ron! They're for you! Dress robes. - Alex said to her friend.
- Dress robes? For what? - Ron was confused. The laughter stopped. Ron was right. What were the dress robes for?
Later, down in the dungeons, the 4th year Slytherins waited in a long room, girls on one side, boys on the other. There was a huge gramophone on the back of the class. They had been called to wait there. Everyone looked at each other with confusion. Suddenly, professor Snape walked into the room, followed by Filch and his cat. The students started chattering.
- Silence! – Snape raised his voice. He looked around as the students grew silent. – There will be no foolish giggling. I expect total discretion from you. Anyone talking about this to other students will be…punished. I'll make sure of it. – it looked like Snape was threatening the students for something. He cleared his throat. – The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall to dance and have…fun. – Snape didn't seem to be having fun. People started chattering again. The boys didn't seem to like the idea of having to go to a dance, however, girls were more excited. Alex looked inadvertently at Draco, who was staring at her. When their eyes met, they suddenly looked the other way, their faces reddened. – Silence! Now, I wish to wrap this up as soon as possible. I will need a partner to set an example… - everyone looked down, hoping to not be the chosen one for Snape. – Draco…come here. – as Draco got up completely embarrassed, Alex couldn't help but giggle. He walked in front of Snape. – Now, place your right hand…on my waist. – people started laughing all over the place. Filch started playing the gramophone. Alex couldn't believe her eyes. Snape and Draco, dancing together. It was hilarious. Draco was red and Snape didn't seem to be enjoying it either. After a couple minutes, Snape stopped and looked at the rest of the students. – Now, everyone. Partner up and try to repeat the movements that Mister Malfoy and I did. – since only some girls got up, Snape threatened one more time. – Don't. Make. Me. Repeat. Myself. Again.
With that, everyone got up and tried to partner up, awkwardly. Pansy ran towards Draco, but he didn't even seem to notice her, as he passed her and walked towards Alex. Maybe things were weird between them, but they had the most confidence to dance, even with the given circumstances.
- Do you want to partner up with me? – Draco asked her, shyly. She looked at him.
- Are you sure you don't want to keep your current partner? – she said laughing and looking at Snape. Alex was good when it came to stop awkward situations. Draco laughed as well.
- Funny. – he grabbed her hand and placed his other hand on her waist. – If you ever tell what happened in here to any of your Gryffindor friends, I'll kill all of them. – they kept on laughing as they tried to dance.
The Slytherins danced all around, stepping on foots and complaining. Other, laughing. It was a very chaotic scene. Alex noticed Pansy looks of anger towards her. She had paired up with Crabbe and he wouldn't stop messing around and stepping on her foot by accident. Once the dance lesson was over, and Snape told everyone to leave, Pansy walked faster towards Draco and Alex.
- Draco! – he turned around to look at her. – I know that usually boys are the ones to ask, but I wanted to know if you'll come with me to the Yule Ball. – "woah, she doesn't waste any time, does she?".
- Well, I'm… - Draco looked at Alex, like she was supposed to be the one to give Pansy an answer. Panic. That's what she felt. Panic flood her brain.
- You'll do an amazing couple! – why was she saying that?
- That's what I thought! – Pansy smiled.
- Sure, why not? – Draco lightly smiled at Pansy. She grinned victorious. Alex left the room quickly, before she could say anything else or had to see Pansy's face for longer.
DRACO'S POINT OF VIEW
He looked at Alex. He had thought about going to the Yule ball with her. I mean, it was obvious he wanted to go to the yule ball since they almost kissed the other day. Thing was, he wasn't sure what he should tell Pansy. That's why he looked at Alex, hoping she would manage to come up with an appropriate argument.
- You'll do an amazing couple! – why was she saying that?
- That's what I thought! – Pansy smiled.
- Sure, why not? – he looked at Pansy with a soft smile. What was that? Maybe Alex didn't want to go with the yule ball with him. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she didn't feel the same way for him. Maybe he had mistaken the signals. Maybe she wanted to go to the Yule ball with someone else. "Weasley". That was his first thought. Before he could try to talk with Alex, she had vanished from the room.
ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW
A few days had gone by. Things between Alex and Draco had gotten colder. Ever since he accepted Pansy's proposal to go to the ball with her, she spent all day glued to his ass, and he didn't seem to care. It was study time. All of the students were on the Great Hall, making homework and studying. Snape and Flitwick were keeping an eye on the students. Alex was sitting across from Draco and his gang. She tried focussing on her homework, because every time she looked up, she would see Pansy hugging Draco or caressing his hair. She was mad. At him and herself. Why did he have to say yes? Why did she have to say they made a great couple? And now, what? They were going to the ball together, but that was it…so why did it look like they were an actual couple? Were they a couple?
She was trying to control her thoughts and feelings when suddenly, she felt something hitting her on her back. She looked. It was a paper ball. When she looked up in the direction the ball had been thrown, she saw Fred smiling and waving at her. He started doing some mimic gestures and she read his lips.
- Do you… - he pointed at her. – want to come to the ball… - he did as he was dancing, which made Alex smiled. – with me? – he pointed at him. George was looking at both of them, laughing. Neville was smiling as well. Harry and Ron looked with curiosity. Fred's proposition made her feel happy and warm. That had to mean that it was a good sign.
- Of course, I do. - Alex said in a whisper, with a bright smile. For Fred's face, she knew he had understood her. Neville smiled at her, giving her a thumbs up. She turned to keep focussing on her homework, with a big smile. That's when she saw Draco's face. He seemed mad. He shook his head, and then, he got up, handed his homework to Snape, and walked out of the Great Hall.
Alex couldn't understand Draco. Yes, she was aware that he hated the Weasleys, but it was just a dance. And, c'mon, he had said yes to Pansy. He couldn't get mad about it. Alex thought about their almost kiss. "Maybe he was just playing around…". With everything that was happening, Alex was certain that Draco wasn't interested in her. Not the way Fred was. But that didn't help. It wasn't other's feelings that she had to understood and live with. It was her own. And maybe, just maybe, Neville was right about Draco, and she was meant to be with Fred.
Finally, the day of the yule ball arrived. Everyone was nervous and excited at the same time. The Great Hall was reorganized in order to fit the dance. There was a stage, a dance floor, several round tables and chairs…The decorations were beautiful as well. Alex had had a bit of trouble with her attire. She had sent Narcissa a letter asking for help, and she had sent her a dress. The top part shone like diamonds, in a silver colour. The lower part was green, something pompous so that it was not completely attached to the body. The colours of Slytherin. Alex felt like a different person when she wore that dress. It was like she was some kind of princess.
She walked down the stairs of the Slytherin Common Room, where a lot of students were still waiting around. Draco amongst them. She saw him. He was wearing a black robe and black pants and a white shirt and vest, with a white bowtie. He was incredible. He looked at her with his mouth partially open. It was like he was kind of impressed. But then, she realised Pansy was right behind her. "He's looking at her…".
Alex rushed down the stairs and left the common room. On her way to the Great Hall, she received a lot of looks and compliments from other students. She smiled at them and returned the compliments. Truth be told. Everyone was looking like they were super models. When she arrived at the stairs next to the Great Hall, she stopped to look around. She was nervous. She didn't feel like herself in that dress, so she needed to find Fred as soon as possible. That's when she saw him. Fred was next to George and Angelina Johnson. They were chattering and laughing, when Angelina saw her, and signalled Fred to look back. When he saw Alex, his jaw felt to the ground. Alex smiled widely at him as she climbed down the stairs. He went to greet her at the bottom of the stairs. He offered her his hand, and she took it.
- Woah! You look…woah! – Fred couldn't stop looking at her. He was wearing a black robe and black pants, a white shirt, brown vest and a black lace in the form of a bowtie. Exactly like George.
- You look great, Fred! – she kissed him in the cheek. That left him even more shocked.
- I think that's the first time someone has left him speechless. – George and Angelina walked closer, laughing at Fred's reaction to Alex's outfit. – You look really good, slithergirl.
- Yeah, that dress is beautiful, Alex!
- Thank you! You both look awesome too. I mean, everyone does! – Alex looked around her. Dozens of girls and boys with different outfits, all incredible looking.
- Everyone, please, proceed into the Great Hall and wait there for the champions to arrive. – McGonagall was asking the students. They did as she said. Inside the Great Hall, Alex saw Neville, very elegant, next to Ginny, who was wearing a really cute blueish dress.
- Neville! Ginny! – Alex got closer to them and hugged them.
- Woah, Alex! – Neville looked at her up and down. – You look great!
- No wonder my brother looks completely shocked! – Ginny laughed looking at Fred.
- Yeah, apparently, I made quite the impression. – she laughed.
- I told you he liked you.
- It is pretty obvious, isn't it? – Ginny asked. – He never stops talking about you during summer, and he always stares when you walk down a hallway… - Alex thought about it. She had never noticed. Fred was always nice to her, and considerate, but she wasn't aware of his feelings towards her. She was completely oblivious. But apparently, she was the only one.
Everyone at the Great Hall started making a hall for the champions to go through. They all looked expectantly. First to walk in was Fleur with her companion, a boy from Ravenclaw. Then, Viktor Krum next to Hermione. "Hermione?". Alex smiled in shock. Hermione saw her and waved, and she waved back. After them, there was Cedric Diggory with Cho Chang, another Ravenclaw. And finally, Harry with Parvati Patil.
- I don't know which couple is stranger: Harry and Parvati or Krum and Hermione. – Alex laughed.
- I couldn't tell…but I'll tell you the worst couple ever. – Fred pointed at Snape standing next to Trelawney.
- Do you think they'll dance together?
- I hope so. That's something worth watching. – they both laughed.
The music started playing. It was tradition for the champions to be the first to dance. So, the four couples started dancing. Harry looked kind of lost. The rest, however, seemed to be doing okay. After a couple minutes, everyone started joining on the dance floor. Dumbledore was first with McGonagall. They made quite a couple. Then, Snape and Trelawney, which caused Fred and Alex to laugh. Students started dancing as well.
- I think it's our turn, my lady. – Fred kind of bent down, offering Alex his hand, which she took, with a reverence.
They got into position and started dancing. Dancing with Fred was harder than with Draco because of the height. Fred was way taller than them. However, dancing with Fred was funnier. They didn't seem to coordinate their moves, and they kept on bumping against other couples, which made them burst out laughter. She saw Draco amongst the crowd, dancing with Pansy, so close…She felt so much hurt inside her. Lucky her, the slow songs didn't last much. Soon, the group hired by Dumbledore, the Weird Sisters, started playing music to dance and go crazy with your friends. And that's what Alex did. She danced with Fred, George, Angelina, Neville, Ginny, Hermione and Krum. They all had the time of their lives. She saw Harry and Ron sitting on a corner, looking bored at the rest of the people, and she tried a couple of times to tell them to joined them, but they always refused.
As the night was coming to an end, another slow song came in. Fred offered Alex his hand one more time, and they joined together to slow dance. Alex placed her head on Fred's chest, and he placed his head on top of hers. It was peaceful, nice…warm. Alex thought about both of them, together, as a couple. It wouldn't be that bad…They were really good friends, he cared for her, they laughed all the time, they had friends in common…But there was something missing. What was it?
"Fred's not him…". The thought rushed through her head. Yes, Draco had a lot of bad things. Anyone in Alex situation would probably choose Fred over him, but she didn't just saw the bad in Draco. She saw the good things. Draco stood beside her from the start. He wasn't the bully everyone though he was. There was more underneath. A broken boy. The puppet of his father. A kid who just needed to be loved. Everything he did was to try to get the approval of his family. And he could do anything to get that…anything except left her behind. No matter how much Lucius hated her. Draco would never stop caring for her, he would never stop loving her or standing up for her in front of Lucius. Even if that cost him more than anyone could ever imagine…
- Alex, did you hear what I said? – Alex looked at Fred, unaware of what had just happened. Had he said something?
- Sorry, I…My mind was somewhere else. What did you say?
- Well, I was saying that… - in that moment, there was a loud voice heard all over the great hall.
- I don't want to dance with you, okay? I don't like you! – Draco. He was getting away from Pansy, who turned around and looked at Alex. She started walking towards her, anger on her eyes. Alex didn't know what was going on, but she wasn't going to back off. She let go of Fred and stood still, facing Pansy, waiting for her to arrive.
- This is your fault! You little… – Pansy raised her hand and slapped Alex on the face. Everyone stood still and quiet. No one knew how to react. Alex looked back at Pansy. A slap from her was nothing compare with what she had gone through. Pansy had tears on her eyes. For the first time ever, Alex felt sorry for her. Pansy ran away from the Great Hall.
- Are you okay? – Fred touched her softly on the shoulder.
- I'm fine. – Alex started walking away, quickly. Some thought that she was after Pansy, to pay her back for the slap, but they were wrong. She was heading where Draco had disappeared.
- Alex? – she stopped and looked back. She saw Fred there, with a confuse look and puppy eyes. She wished she could stay there with him. She wished things were different. She wished one could choose who they love. But it couldn't be.
- I'm sorry, Freddie. – she turned and kept on walking, leaving a broken Fred behind.
Following Draco wasn't really hard. There was a lot of people scattered around the hallways of the castle, she just had to ask about a blond guy with an unfriendly face. They pointed her in the right direction, because when Alex climbed up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, there he was, sitting on the steps, with his head between his hands.
DRACO'S POINT OF VIEW
When he saw Alex in that dress walking down the stairs, his heart stopped. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his entire life. For a moment, he thought she was smiling at him, but he was probably wrong, since she rushed out of the common room without saying a word to him. The situation was tough for him. She was her best friend…her only friend, probably. And he liked her so much…Not talking to each other was painful.
- You look amazing, Draco. – Pansy told Draco, who was still looking the way Alex had left.
- Thank you…
- You're not going to compliment me? – he looked at Pansy. She was wearing a long silver dress. It suited her, but he couldn't care less.
- Yeah, you look great too. – manners. That's what they had always taught him. Pansy widely smiled and grabbed Draco by the arm.
- Let's go, Draco boo! – Pansy dragged him around.
- Draco boo? – he looked annoyed at her.
- You don't like it?
- I don't care… - Pansy looked sad as they walked to the Great Hall.
When they arrived, Draco couldn't help it but look for Alex. He knew that seeing her with Fred Weasley would piss him off, but he needed to see her. He wished she was next to him. He wished he had had the courage to tell Pansy off, to ask Alex out…But it was too late now. He found Alex smiling and giggling next to Fred. They looked happy. Draco felt jealousy all over his body. "She likes him…". The sooner he accepted it, the easier it would be to forget about her, especially since they lived under the same roof.
When the dance began, he didn't even notice. He couldn't take his eyes or his mind off Alex. And Pansy noticed, of course. She tried her best to get closer to Draco, to draw his attention…It was a difficult task. He offered Pansy the first dance, just to be polite. After all, he had agreed to come with her to the yule ball. It was the least he could do. He took advantage of the situation to get away from Pansy the moment the band started playing party songs. She was way too busy dancing around with her friends and other people to notice that Draco was not there. He was watching Alex. Dancing, laughing, smiling…She was really happy. Was she happier with Fred than she was with him?
As the night was coming to an end, another slow song came in. Pansy found Draco and asked him to dance with her one more time. He saw Alex taking Fred's hand and getting closer. He took Pansy's hand and walked closer to the couple, to try and hear whatever they could talk about. That's when it happened.
- You see, Alex…I've always thought that you were an incredible girl and an amazing person. – "Is he…?". – To be honest…I think I liked you from the start but…I guess we were too little to have anything at all. But it's been some years now and I…I really like you, Alex. – Draco looked at Alex, whose eyes were closed and she had a smile on her face. "She likes him…She really does…". Draco got away from Pansy and started to walk away. The last thing he needed was to be there and saw them kiss or heard her say that she liked him too. No, it was too much for him. Pansy stopped him before he could leave the Great Hall.
- Draco! Where are you going? Let's dance, c'mon!
- I don't want to dance with you, okay? I don't like you! – Draco exploded. All his anger, all his frustration…it was out.
He couldn't handle it anymore. He left the place quickly, not looking back. Draco walked fast, not really knowing where to go. He wanted to disappear, to not be found, to be able to scream and not be heard. Without realising, he climbed up the stairs to the astronomy tower. When he noticed where he was, he let go a scream of frustration and anger. No one heard him, he was sure of that. No one would be able to, not with the wind up there. He sat down on the steps and placed his head between his hands. He couldn't believe how stupid he had been. For letting her go. For thinking that Alex felt the same way. How could she? He was mean to all of her friends…sometimes even to her. He had the worst family in the world, the family that took her away from her actual family. Of course, she didn't love him. She couldn't…That's when he heard her.
- Draco? – he raised his head and saw her standing there, at the top of the stairs. As beautiful as she was at the start of the night. Even with her hair all messed up. She was always beautiful at his eyes. She looked worried. Had she followed him there? What about Fred?
- What are you doing here? – he asked, confused. Maybe it sounded harder than intended, but she didn't seem to mind.
- I was worried for you… - she came closer. – You left the ball so suddenly… - Draco wanted to hug her and tell her about his feelings. But he remembered what had just happened at the ball. Fred's confession. Her face of happiness.
- Where's Fred? – he said with a rough tone. She didn't look away from him.
- I guess he's still at the ball… - she came a little closer. He got up and headed to the railing, turning his back on her.
- Shouldn't you be with him? He's your boyfriend, isn't he?
- My boyfriend? – Alex voice was confused. – What are you talking about?
- He just confessed he likes you, Alex! Don't play dumb! – he looked at her, hurt in his voice.
- So that's what he said… - she looked down, pensative. – I didn't even hear him, Draco.
- Oh, please, you looked happier as ever!
- Because I was thinking about you, you idiot! – they stayed there, looking at each other in silence for a moment.
- What?
- I was thinking…about you. Do you really think that if I wanted to be with Fred I would be here, arguing with you, instead of being at the ball? – she was right. If Alex was into Fred, she would have stayed with him…Or maybe not. Maybe she just felt bad for him. Maybe she was just being a good friend, nothing more.
- Then why did you accept going to the ball with him?
- Because you agreed to go with Pansy! – this time, it was Alex the one who was mad.
- You told us we made a great couple! What was I supposed to do?
- What was I supposed to say? She was asking you, and you looked at me, I didn't know how to react!
- Why didn't you tell me?
- When? One of the thousand times where I saw both of you hugging or snuggling around the castle?
- That's not…
- You looked like you were already dating! What did you wanted me to do? Stay on my bedroom crying?
- Of course not! But, that's not the point!
- Yes, it is! Maybe next time you should ask me before anyone else does! Or better, next time don't say yes to someone you don't want to go with!
With the hit of the moment, they didn't notice but they had gotten closer. They were just inches away from each other. "This is it". Draco didn't think it twice. He knew he had to do it before it was too late. Before someone interrupted them. He grabbed her face with care and kissed her softly on the lips.
ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW
Draco kissed her softly. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. His lips were soft. It felt nice. The kiss warmed her up. It was short, however. When they looked at each other in the eyes, they didn't need to say anything else. Everything they had wanted to tell each other for a long time, was there, in that kiss. Alex placed her left hand on Draco's cheek and the right one on the back of his neck, dragging him closer to her, for another kiss. This time, the kiss was deeper, stronger. Draco placed his hands on Alex's waist and back, dragging her as closer as possible. They had been wanting to do that for a long time now, they both knew. When they parted ways, they looked each other in the eyes again, and started laughing. They hugged each other.
- Can I have one dance? – he whispered in her ear. She looked at him and smiled.
- Of course!
Draco grabbed her hand and place his other hand on her waist, and they started dancing. No music. There was no need for it. Draco started humming a melody and they both smiled. After a while, Alex started humming harder, more moving music, and she started to jump all around the tower. Draco laughed and followed her around, jumping as well. If anyone had seen them, they had thought they were crazy or something. When they stopped, they sat down on the steps next to each other and grabbed their hands. They smiled and kissed once again.
- You know what? – Alex said.
- What?
- Some waffles would be awesome right now. – Draco laughed.
- We should go to the Great Hall, see if there's some food left.
- Let's go!
They climbed down the stairs holding hands, and that's how they arrived at the Great Hall. Only some couples remained there. Neville and Ginny amongst them. Draco and Alex passed unnoticed and grabbed some food that was left from the ball feast. They sat on the stairs outside the great hall and started eating what they could grab as they talked and laughed and kissed. Draco touched Alex's necklace, the one he had given her some years ago.
- I'm surprised you didn't take it off after all these years…
- Why would I? Besides… - Alex touched the bracelet she gave him back in the day. – you didn't take your bracelet off either. – they stared at each other with smiles on their faces.
- Do you want to be my girlfriend? – the question took Alex by surprise. Draco was so direct. He didn't stutter or doubted.
- Your father's going to kill you.
- He doesn't have to know… - they laughed.
- I do. – Alex grabbed Draco's face and kissed him once more.
They headed back to their common room, and said their goodnights, with wide smiles on their faces. That night they dreamt about each other.