Feast of Yuletide
Hermione parted from the girl's dormitory a bit early for the feast, and left Penny to examine herself in the mirror. She didn't consider herself pretty, it is a flaw most girls have, and she was no exception, she told herself. She smiled softly at the delicate hint of makeup she wore, but the shadow of doubt about her date still lingered in her eyes as she made her way to the Gryffindor Common.
When the bell for the students to make their way to the feast rang, Penny rose softly, her dark red gown smoothed down as she made her way through the portal and along the corridors to the feast. She walked with her head canted ever so slightly to the side, her shadowed eyes cast downward as she walked, and it was thus that Draco found her.
As he approached her, he could not help but think that whatever troubled her made her twice the beautiful young woman she was, though she was five years younger than he. His father had ridiculed him for asking a first year to the ball, but he was mesmerized by her beautiful features. He'd made himself scarce to her because every time he thought about her, he blushed, and Crabbe and Goyle need not see him so.
He stepped to her side without her noticing, and tentatively touched her arm "Penny?" He waited in silence for her to speak, and it was a long moment before she withdrew from her reverie and focused on his presence.
"OH! Draco!" she smiled, suddenly looking up from the floor, and he blushed, realizing that she was three times her beautiful self when she smiled. Her eyes were dazzling and her smile, so delicately accented with a blood red lipstick drew his eyes to her lips.
She wrapped her arm around his, and let him steer her toward the great hall for the feast before the ball. She chattered absently while they walked, and he nodded, or responded as he deemed fit. As they entered the Great Hall they were greeted with near silence and whispers as those who had barely caught a glimpse of Draco's young beauty gaped at her, or cursed him internally for being so lucky to have such a treasure on his arm for the night.
Harry, who was escorting Cho Chang rolled his eyes and said "No wonder she hasn't wanted to tell anyone." in a bored tone to Chang, who eyed the younger girl with a smile. "She'll do alright by him this once, I'd say. I think he's got most of the guys in the hall jealous already." She was rewarded with a gulp from Harry as he turned away from both her, and the entering couple.