Chapter Nineteen:: The Yule Ball pt. 2: The Promise
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"Come on," Blaise whispered, "Let's walk around a bit before we look for them."
Kit giggled. "Normally I'd refuse, as I'd suspect you only want to show me off as a decoration. But as I like the sight of all these jaws dropping at our approach..." She laughed outright as a boy glanced up and stuck himself with a corsage, "... I think I'll take you up on your offer."
Certainly, many things were happening as they passed by; one boy walking down the stairs stared and walked into a suit of armor. Several people just stopped what they were doing – whether it be talking, kissing or moving.
Luckily, the pair didn't have that affect on everyone. If that were the case, they'd most likely never reach the Great Hall.
It seemed there were more people in love than in lust that Christmas Eve in Hogwarts. No one was all over each other and no one was leading anyone anywhere but to the Great Hall. Even when it was clearly a friend-friend issue, the night was one sworn to be... magical.
Blaise found his date early on a Kit urged them to go ahead.
Walking halfway up on particularly narrow staircase, she looked over the crowd of couples. Seeing Hannah, she began to wave – but her balance was off – she wavered – her shoe strap broke – she felt herself tipping back – into someone's arms.
She looked up at her savior.
"Halloo." She said conversationally. "Will you always be here to catch me when I fall?"
(A/N: Guess who it is!! Guess!)
The boy holding her grinned and set her down before fetching her traitorous shoe.
"Thanks, Harry." She said quietly. (A/N: Yep! Here is another small appearance!!) Glancing around quickly, she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.
"Anytime, if I continue to get thanks like that." He said with a grin.
Kit laughed and nudged him. "So, who are you with?" She asked curiously.
"Oh, um." Harry hesitated, his cheeks reddening a bit. "Do you remember Ron? Well, it's his little sister, Ginny."
Kit chuckled. "You know Harry, if you say 'younger' instead of 'little', you mightn't feel quiet so awkward. Better yet, skip all adjectives and just say his sister." She advised.
Harry gave a reluctant grin. "Is it that obvious?"
"What? Your discomfort? Of course it is!" Kit exclaimed. "To me, in any case." She added in an undertone.
"Why you - !" He cried in mock outrage. "I should hex you for that!"
"Oh, but I'm too pretty and sweet to hex." She countered, batting her eyelashes at him.
Harry snorted. "You flatter yourself."
"I only speak that which is true." She responded primly.
Harry laughed at her tone. "So," he began once he recovered, "This is the first time I've actually spoken with you and you're only in my house for another three days."
"Three and a half." Kit corrected.
He grinned. "Whatever. Anyway, who are you with tonight? Do I know him?"
Kit snorted. "How much you wanna bet that's what Ron asked Ginny before he flew into a confused tantrum?"
Harry looked confused. "What's that got to do with anything? Are you saying I'm acting like an overprotective older brother?" He asked with a smirk.
"Just a bit, a smidgen, really." Kit explained.
Harry took a breath. "I only asked once, but I'll lay off. It's just, I really like you, Kit, and I honestly don't know why. I mean, I feel so – close to you. It's something about your personality. You're almost like a – a sibling. The cute little, sometimes annoying, get-away-with-murder-cuz- I'm-me little sister."
Aside from the last comment, Kit was genuinely touched. Sometimes she looked at family members together and grew sad, realizing she didn't have anyone of her own to yell at or laugh at, to joke with and protect. It made her feel... content to know that someone felt the same and wanted to remedy it through her.
"Thanks, Harry." She said softly.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah. Well. Now that I'm done embarrassing myself, who *are* you going with?"
"Excuse me Potter," a low voice broke in, "but I do have a destination and you are in my way to it."
Harry automatically stiffened at the voice. "Listen, Ferret," he spat, tensing up for a full out war, "I'm –" He stopped at Kit's choked laugh.
"He – he calls you 'Ferret'? Oh, you're going to have to tell me everything about the story behind *that* name, Draco."
Harry shifted to see his rival glaring daggers at him, as usual.
"And what, exactly," he said through clenched teeth, "Makes you think I'd tell you?"
Kit dazzled him with a sideways grin. "Because," She glanced at Harry and winked, "I'm me."
Draco rolled his eyes – a gesture so normal, so everyday, so – so – *human*, Harry was nothing short of shocked.
"Now," Kit began, as if picking up on a conversation, "Angea – she's the Ravenclaw who's going with Blaise Zabini –" She added for Harry's sake, "She said that your first excuse for being late was that you couldn't find your hat. She reminded you of Accio and then you couldn't get your cloak to lay right. Now, I've asked myself, what could possibly make Malfoy-the- Great nervous? And," She shifted so she could see him, "I – " She stopped.
There he stood.
She couldn't think of anything to say.
She had thought Harry looked different, with his forest green silk shirt, black slacks and blazer, contacts, and his hair actually under control.
But Draco – it was as if the first time she had seen him all dressed up was only an – an outline, a sketch. Now – this was in full color.
The black and grey silk were amazing on him. His grey cape fluttered and swirled as he descended the stairs toward her, top hat in hand. His hair, for once, was not slicked back, but parted on the side and swirled like it had been when she walked into her room earlier.
The contrast of Dark and Light on him was so complete; it was hard to decide if he was a descending angel or some dark prince come to claim her.
In short, he was not every girl's dream guy; he was every girl's fantasy.
She opened her mouth again, but nothing came out.
Harry couldn't help but smirk. "If you're having this affect on Kit, you might want to bring smelling salts for your date."
Draco scowled at him. "She *is* my date, Potter."
So said, he gently grasped Kit's hand and tugged her up.
Harry, who had been playing with her hair, stood with her and let it tumble.
It was Draco's turn to mirror Kit's initial shock.
Gone were her reading glasses, braid, and ill-fitting school clothes. Here was a shapely, celestial maiden, ribbons of moonlight woven into her curls. Stars seemed to have settled around her neck in a delicate addition, drawing his eyes from her neck to her face. Everyway she turned, she caught the light.
She didn't need a prince or and angel to make her complete; however, she, like any other girl, wanted one.
Draco would be hers.
She stumbled a bit and Draco caught her, aware of how close they were.
"I – I haven't even reached the doors of the Great Hall, and already my shoe broke." She said with a breathless laugh. "I guess I'm no Cinderella."
"Of that I'm glad," Draco replied softly, "It means you won't be leaving me any time soon. I promise not to step on your feet." He added with a small smile.
Kit returned it tentatively.
It was as if they were completely new people. The changes were so drastic, it was almost scary.
"Malfoy."
The pair snapped out of their stargazing and looked down at Harry. Ginny was there beside him in a forest green evening gown. Her flaming hair was partly piled upon her head; the other half tumbled down her shoulders and back in soft curls.
"Hey." She greeted. "Kit, let's let the boys talk some things out," she emphasized talk with a glance at Harry, "and we –" Her eyes slid to Draco and she stopped.
Blinking a couple of times, she shook her head. "We'll – just – we'll be over here." Her voice sounded a bit odd as she spoke and walked hurriedly over to an empty corner, tugging Kit behind her.
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Harry turned to Draco once the girls were out of earshot.
"You heard what I said to her?" He asked abruptly.
Draco nodded absently, his eyes straying after the girls.
"Then you know that I won't hesitate to cause you bodily damage should you make her cry."
Draco snorted. "Isn't that a little extreme, Potter? Girls cry all the time. It's called PMS. Besides," He drawled, "I could easily say the same for you. It's not like you're the only one she's got looking out for her."
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"Wow." Ginny said admiringly, watching the two young men, "What did you do to him?"
Kit looked at her blankly. "What do you mean?"
Ginny shook her head. "I keep forgetting you only just got here. I mean, you've turned him from a whiney, sniveling Ferret wanna-be Deatheater into a fantasy guy."
Kit giggled. "Not really. He was already like that when I came. I may have refined him a bit, though." She added thoughtfully.
Ginny sighed. "Well, whatever you did, I'm envious. He looks – dare I say it? – gorgeous."
Kit nudged her. "It's not like you need to be; your guy is looking pretty fine himself." She said with a wink.
Ginny blushed. "Uh, yeah. He – he said he was saving contacts for a special occasion and – I was as special as they got." She muttered.
Kit put on a face of shock. "No! And you swear he said that? The flatterer!"
Ginny laughed at her exaggeration. "You know, sometimes it seems like – like you almost know him better than us, and you've been here less than a month." She noted thoughtfully.
Kit shrugged. "Sometimes it takes a person from the outside to notice someone's flaws and excessive good points. People who've been close to others for a long time tend to overlook things – habits – that eventually seem natural. I try – " She giggled "- keyword, TRY – to keep those in mind. I'm just better at that than some."
Ginny shrugged. "Makes sense. Oh, don't look now, our prices are about to sweep us off our feet."
Sure enough, the two boys were walking at arms length away from each other, steadfastly ignoring the other.
Kit sighed wearily. At least they weren't foaming at the mouth.
"Hey guys!" She said brightly, "Ready to make our grand appearances?"
Draco scowled. "Wee would if Blaise would ever show up."
Kit's face froze. "Blaise? Oh – jeez, I forgot all about our entrance." She smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh – I'm – I'm so sorry, Draco. He met up with Angea a while ago and went in!"
"And just how long," Draco asked stiffly, "Is 'a while'?"
Kit winced. "Um – twenty minutes? Draco, I am sorry! I was so dumb to have forgotten to tell you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him with big doe eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?" She pouted slightly.
Draco looked down at her silently.
"Draco," She said after a moment, :"If you don't say something soon, I'm going to laugh and we won't be able to go in for another 'while'."
Still he didn't do anything. Finally, he glanced away, saying, "You're not getting off that easily."
"I know." She answered carelessly. "See," She added to Ginny, "He's still icy when he wants to be."
Draco sighed and lifted a hand in a familiar gesture.
"Don't!" She cried out, grabbing his hand.
He glared at her.
"You'll mess up your hair." She explained weakly.
Heaving another sigh, he turned and began walking toward the doors of the Great Hall.
__________________________________________________
Hey guys, it is me! I know it has been a loooooooonnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg while, and I'm sorry. But here it is, the next chapter! And, again, I apologize, the Yule Ball is to go on in Chapter 20, the Entrance, and might not finish until chapter 21... so please, bear with me.
Thank you to all my reviewers, new and old! I love you guys!
~drangonsile~ Yep! A great legend, a great author... I can't help but steal a *little* from them!
~Greek Witch~ So true. But... I'll wait to add his jealous rages... *grins wickedly* Admittedly, that'd be fun!
~Weirdo101~ Thank you! I'm glad you like it; that'll mean you'll read more! haha
~Glass Dragon, a.k.a. Stella~ Thank you, I'll definitely be looking into it as soon as I can... I'm so happy more people are reading and beginning to review!
~MutalatedTurtle~ Aw... come on! I've turned some readers into Draco fans... perhaps I can turn you, too? Perhaps? Maybe? ^_^
Oh, by the way, all regular disclaimers apply... see you in the next chapter!
___________________________________________
"Come on," Blaise whispered, "Let's walk around a bit before we look for them."
Kit giggled. "Normally I'd refuse, as I'd suspect you only want to show me off as a decoration. But as I like the sight of all these jaws dropping at our approach..." She laughed outright as a boy glanced up and stuck himself with a corsage, "... I think I'll take you up on your offer."
Certainly, many things were happening as they passed by; one boy walking down the stairs stared and walked into a suit of armor. Several people just stopped what they were doing – whether it be talking, kissing or moving.
Luckily, the pair didn't have that affect on everyone. If that were the case, they'd most likely never reach the Great Hall.
It seemed there were more people in love than in lust that Christmas Eve in Hogwarts. No one was all over each other and no one was leading anyone anywhere but to the Great Hall. Even when it was clearly a friend-friend issue, the night was one sworn to be... magical.
Blaise found his date early on a Kit urged them to go ahead.
Walking halfway up on particularly narrow staircase, she looked over the crowd of couples. Seeing Hannah, she began to wave – but her balance was off – she wavered – her shoe strap broke – she felt herself tipping back – into someone's arms.
She looked up at her savior.
"Halloo." She said conversationally. "Will you always be here to catch me when I fall?"
(A/N: Guess who it is!! Guess!)
The boy holding her grinned and set her down before fetching her traitorous shoe.
"Thanks, Harry." She said quietly. (A/N: Yep! Here is another small appearance!!) Glancing around quickly, she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.
"Anytime, if I continue to get thanks like that." He said with a grin.
Kit laughed and nudged him. "So, who are you with?" She asked curiously.
"Oh, um." Harry hesitated, his cheeks reddening a bit. "Do you remember Ron? Well, it's his little sister, Ginny."
Kit chuckled. "You know Harry, if you say 'younger' instead of 'little', you mightn't feel quiet so awkward. Better yet, skip all adjectives and just say his sister." She advised.
Harry gave a reluctant grin. "Is it that obvious?"
"What? Your discomfort? Of course it is!" Kit exclaimed. "To me, in any case." She added in an undertone.
"Why you - !" He cried in mock outrage. "I should hex you for that!"
"Oh, but I'm too pretty and sweet to hex." She countered, batting her eyelashes at him.
Harry snorted. "You flatter yourself."
"I only speak that which is true." She responded primly.
Harry laughed at her tone. "So," he began once he recovered, "This is the first time I've actually spoken with you and you're only in my house for another three days."
"Three and a half." Kit corrected.
He grinned. "Whatever. Anyway, who are you with tonight? Do I know him?"
Kit snorted. "How much you wanna bet that's what Ron asked Ginny before he flew into a confused tantrum?"
Harry looked confused. "What's that got to do with anything? Are you saying I'm acting like an overprotective older brother?" He asked with a smirk.
"Just a bit, a smidgen, really." Kit explained.
Harry took a breath. "I only asked once, but I'll lay off. It's just, I really like you, Kit, and I honestly don't know why. I mean, I feel so – close to you. It's something about your personality. You're almost like a – a sibling. The cute little, sometimes annoying, get-away-with-murder-cuz- I'm-me little sister."
Aside from the last comment, Kit was genuinely touched. Sometimes she looked at family members together and grew sad, realizing she didn't have anyone of her own to yell at or laugh at, to joke with and protect. It made her feel... content to know that someone felt the same and wanted to remedy it through her.
"Thanks, Harry." She said softly.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah. Well. Now that I'm done embarrassing myself, who *are* you going with?"
"Excuse me Potter," a low voice broke in, "but I do have a destination and you are in my way to it."
Harry automatically stiffened at the voice. "Listen, Ferret," he spat, tensing up for a full out war, "I'm –" He stopped at Kit's choked laugh.
"He – he calls you 'Ferret'? Oh, you're going to have to tell me everything about the story behind *that* name, Draco."
Harry shifted to see his rival glaring daggers at him, as usual.
"And what, exactly," he said through clenched teeth, "Makes you think I'd tell you?"
Kit dazzled him with a sideways grin. "Because," She glanced at Harry and winked, "I'm me."
Draco rolled his eyes – a gesture so normal, so everyday, so – so – *human*, Harry was nothing short of shocked.
"Now," Kit began, as if picking up on a conversation, "Angea – she's the Ravenclaw who's going with Blaise Zabini –" She added for Harry's sake, "She said that your first excuse for being late was that you couldn't find your hat. She reminded you of Accio and then you couldn't get your cloak to lay right. Now, I've asked myself, what could possibly make Malfoy-the- Great nervous? And," She shifted so she could see him, "I – " She stopped.
There he stood.
She couldn't think of anything to say.
She had thought Harry looked different, with his forest green silk shirt, black slacks and blazer, contacts, and his hair actually under control.
But Draco – it was as if the first time she had seen him all dressed up was only an – an outline, a sketch. Now – this was in full color.
The black and grey silk were amazing on him. His grey cape fluttered and swirled as he descended the stairs toward her, top hat in hand. His hair, for once, was not slicked back, but parted on the side and swirled like it had been when she walked into her room earlier.
The contrast of Dark and Light on him was so complete; it was hard to decide if he was a descending angel or some dark prince come to claim her.
In short, he was not every girl's dream guy; he was every girl's fantasy.
She opened her mouth again, but nothing came out.
Harry couldn't help but smirk. "If you're having this affect on Kit, you might want to bring smelling salts for your date."
Draco scowled at him. "She *is* my date, Potter."
So said, he gently grasped Kit's hand and tugged her up.
Harry, who had been playing with her hair, stood with her and let it tumble.
It was Draco's turn to mirror Kit's initial shock.
Gone were her reading glasses, braid, and ill-fitting school clothes. Here was a shapely, celestial maiden, ribbons of moonlight woven into her curls. Stars seemed to have settled around her neck in a delicate addition, drawing his eyes from her neck to her face. Everyway she turned, she caught the light.
She didn't need a prince or and angel to make her complete; however, she, like any other girl, wanted one.
Draco would be hers.
She stumbled a bit and Draco caught her, aware of how close they were.
"I – I haven't even reached the doors of the Great Hall, and already my shoe broke." She said with a breathless laugh. "I guess I'm no Cinderella."
"Of that I'm glad," Draco replied softly, "It means you won't be leaving me any time soon. I promise not to step on your feet." He added with a small smile.
Kit returned it tentatively.
It was as if they were completely new people. The changes were so drastic, it was almost scary.
"Malfoy."
The pair snapped out of their stargazing and looked down at Harry. Ginny was there beside him in a forest green evening gown. Her flaming hair was partly piled upon her head; the other half tumbled down her shoulders and back in soft curls.
"Hey." She greeted. "Kit, let's let the boys talk some things out," she emphasized talk with a glance at Harry, "and we –" Her eyes slid to Draco and she stopped.
Blinking a couple of times, she shook her head. "We'll – just – we'll be over here." Her voice sounded a bit odd as she spoke and walked hurriedly over to an empty corner, tugging Kit behind her.
_____________________________________________________
Harry turned to Draco once the girls were out of earshot.
"You heard what I said to her?" He asked abruptly.
Draco nodded absently, his eyes straying after the girls.
"Then you know that I won't hesitate to cause you bodily damage should you make her cry."
Draco snorted. "Isn't that a little extreme, Potter? Girls cry all the time. It's called PMS. Besides," He drawled, "I could easily say the same for you. It's not like you're the only one she's got looking out for her."
_______________________________________________________
"Wow." Ginny said admiringly, watching the two young men, "What did you do to him?"
Kit looked at her blankly. "What do you mean?"
Ginny shook her head. "I keep forgetting you only just got here. I mean, you've turned him from a whiney, sniveling Ferret wanna-be Deatheater into a fantasy guy."
Kit giggled. "Not really. He was already like that when I came. I may have refined him a bit, though." She added thoughtfully.
Ginny sighed. "Well, whatever you did, I'm envious. He looks – dare I say it? – gorgeous."
Kit nudged her. "It's not like you need to be; your guy is looking pretty fine himself." She said with a wink.
Ginny blushed. "Uh, yeah. He – he said he was saving contacts for a special occasion and – I was as special as they got." She muttered.
Kit put on a face of shock. "No! And you swear he said that? The flatterer!"
Ginny laughed at her exaggeration. "You know, sometimes it seems like – like you almost know him better than us, and you've been here less than a month." She noted thoughtfully.
Kit shrugged. "Sometimes it takes a person from the outside to notice someone's flaws and excessive good points. People who've been close to others for a long time tend to overlook things – habits – that eventually seem natural. I try – " She giggled "- keyword, TRY – to keep those in mind. I'm just better at that than some."
Ginny shrugged. "Makes sense. Oh, don't look now, our prices are about to sweep us off our feet."
Sure enough, the two boys were walking at arms length away from each other, steadfastly ignoring the other.
Kit sighed wearily. At least they weren't foaming at the mouth.
"Hey guys!" She said brightly, "Ready to make our grand appearances?"
Draco scowled. "Wee would if Blaise would ever show up."
Kit's face froze. "Blaise? Oh – jeez, I forgot all about our entrance." She smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh – I'm – I'm so sorry, Draco. He met up with Angea a while ago and went in!"
"And just how long," Draco asked stiffly, "Is 'a while'?"
Kit winced. "Um – twenty minutes? Draco, I am sorry! I was so dumb to have forgotten to tell you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him with big doe eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?" She pouted slightly.
Draco looked down at her silently.
"Draco," She said after a moment, :"If you don't say something soon, I'm going to laugh and we won't be able to go in for another 'while'."
Still he didn't do anything. Finally, he glanced away, saying, "You're not getting off that easily."
"I know." She answered carelessly. "See," She added to Ginny, "He's still icy when he wants to be."
Draco sighed and lifted a hand in a familiar gesture.
"Don't!" She cried out, grabbing his hand.
He glared at her.
"You'll mess up your hair." She explained weakly.
Heaving another sigh, he turned and began walking toward the doors of the Great Hall.
__________________________________________________
Hey guys, it is me! I know it has been a loooooooonnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg while, and I'm sorry. But here it is, the next chapter! And, again, I apologize, the Yule Ball is to go on in Chapter 20, the Entrance, and might not finish until chapter 21... so please, bear with me.
Thank you to all my reviewers, new and old! I love you guys!
~drangonsile~ Yep! A great legend, a great author... I can't help but steal a *little* from them!
~Greek Witch~ So true. But... I'll wait to add his jealous rages... *grins wickedly* Admittedly, that'd be fun!
~Weirdo101~ Thank you! I'm glad you like it; that'll mean you'll read more! haha
~Glass Dragon, a.k.a. Stella~ Thank you, I'll definitely be looking into it as soon as I can... I'm so happy more people are reading and beginning to review!
~MutalatedTurtle~ Aw... come on! I've turned some readers into Draco fans... perhaps I can turn you, too? Perhaps? Maybe? ^_^
Oh, by the way, all regular disclaimers apply... see you in the next chapter!