-1Chapter 2
A.N: I hope to have this story most of the way finished before Christmas, so I may update once every two days if I can. Please review!
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The first day of vacation Harry was almost surprised to wake up to an empty room. His friends were all away with family, after all. Sighing, the boy got dressed, noticing the huge flakes beginning to fall as he put on a red shirt.
As he entered the common room, he was startled to see Minerva McGonagall sitting on the large, red sofa, sipping politely from a gold-rimmed cup of tea. She gave him a warm smile. "Good morning, Harry. I trust you noticed the snow outside."
Harry nodded, eager to discover why this strange woman was here. "Yes, but… what does that have to do with me?"
The old professor nodded, putting her tea down on its small saucer with a light clank. "Well, whether you know or not, Hogwarts does, no matter what the amount of students still here, put on a holiday ball."
"A… a holiday ball?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows. What had he been missing returning to the Dudleys' for Christmas?
"Yes, Potter. It's quite important that we throw this ball. It is Hogwarts tradition. So I am here to ask for your help as well as the help of the others in decorating and organizing it."
Harry looked perplexed. "But there're are only 9 people still left in Hogwarts. That's hardly enough to throw a ball for," he said. To him it made no sense to throw a whole party for such a small group.
McGonagall smiled. "Oh, Potter, ever the logical. But every year it is not only us here. Hogwarts extended the invitation to Durmstrang and Beauxbaton. They are sending their students as well."
"How many?" Harry inquired.
"9 from Durmstrang and 12 from Beauxaton," she responded, sipping her tea again.
Harry's brow went up. "That's quite a few."
"Yes, it is, so lets get working!"
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Harry was muttering spells to string up white lights on the Christmas trees in the Great Hall when Draco casually strolled in, dressed in silver and green as always. The boy glanced at Harry, looked away, then glanced again for a longer time. Finally, after clearing his throat, Draco moved to him.
"So, Potter, who are you going with to the ball?" the blonde sneered.
Harry looked at him, surprised. Why did Draco care? The boy must have seen his confused face. "I'd hate to embarrass myself by asking someone who's already going with someone else is all," Draco easily lied, hoping Harry thought he meant the Hufflepuff twins and not the Boy-Who-Lived himself.
Harry actually smiled. Draco felt his heart flutter, but kept on the traditional Slytherin gaze. He'd grown quite good at that, having had to to keep his crush on Harry Potter from being exposed.
"Well, I was going to ask Danya. Anday told me she didn't want to go with anyone; she has a date from Durmstrang.," Harry explained, turning away to string up more lights, not seeing Draco's flickering grin.
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Draco walked back to Slytherin common room, grinning from ear to ear. He ignored the retort from the portrait that his face would stick that way, and went in, finding Blaise sitting comfortably on the green sofa. "Blaise, my dear ol' friend," he hissed.
Blaise looked at him. "Are you feeling okay, Draco?" he asked. It was unusual for Draco to admit anything with feeling in it unless… "What do you want this time?" he added, his brows dropping.
Draco frowned. "What do I want? Since when does being nice mean I want something?"
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Since 2nd year when you buttered up to Crabbe to get him to make your potion," he casually replied.
"What! I did not butter up to him and--- no, no, it doesn't matter. I do need you to do something for me," Draco said, trying not to lose his composure as he felt his heart rate speed up.
Blaise eyes him suspiciously. "What is it?"
"I need you to ask the Hufflepuff twin to the ball."
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Draco retreated back to the Great Hall, fixing his blonde hair. He'd never seen Blaise so angry at him. All over a simple request. An essential request. If Draco was going to go in for the kill he needed to have Harry all to himself.
Harry, now, was busily helping make intricate snowflakes. Each flick of the wand made a new, unique shape. The witch McGonagall noticed him and beckoned him over. Groaning, Draco moved to the Gryffindor head-master.
"Glad to see you, Mr. Malfoy. We are in need of your services. It's a simple spell, now, where's your wand? Aha, there it is. Now, just point to the paper and say 'Celero Charta-ningues!'."
Draco rolled his eyes but stepped up to the table and picked up a sheet of light, silky paper. He looked over to watch Harry as he cast his own spell, hardly paying attention until he looked at the paper snow-flake and gasped. Intwined in the rungs of white was the line 'Draco + Harry'. Almost immediately he dropped the paper and set it on fire, arousing odd looks from Snape and McGonagall.
He smiled sheepishly and picked up another piece of paper.
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As the boys ate lunch, Draco watched Harry turn to look at Danya. The blonde boy glanced at Blaise, who nodded, and Draco turned back to Harry.
"Danya, I know we hardly know each other, but I was wondering if perhaps you'd like to…"
"Go to the ball with you?" the brunette finished, and Harry nodded dumbly. She frowned. "I'm sorry, Harry. Blaise already asked me."
Harry's face fell, but he put on a fake smile. Draco was kicking himself for hurting him like that but it was all a part of his plan. "Well, alright," Harry replied softly. Draco was practically dying just to tell Harry that he would be the one to take him to the ball.
"Well, Potter, maybe a Beauxbaton would agree to take you," Draco said, a smirk on his lips. Harry frowned at him.
"And who are you going with, Malfoy?"
"It just so happens I prefer to go alone. Someone with me would only downplay my ever-so-elegant Malfoy look," Draco told him, smoothing his silky hair.
"Then I guess you'll be alone the whole night. No one except Madamoiselle Maxine herself would be big enough to suit your ego," Harry retorted, obviously upset, and left.
Draco sat back, ignoring the looks from the remaining students. "Gee, for a boy who likes Harry Potter you sure are lousy at showing it," Danya said, and Draco looked up at her, wide eyed.
"What did you say!" he practically shouted.
"Calm down, Draco," Blaise said. "They know. They've always known. Danya came to me to ask me to the ball, sayin' she knew about your crush on Harry."
"They what!" Draco was livid by now, and very bug-eyed. Blaise sighed and just sat back, letting Draco have his little rant as he ate. Anday was giggling, and Danya was just finishing her sandwiches.
When Draco finally came up for air, Blaise said, "You know, Draco, it doesn't matter who knows. After vacation everyone will know anyway."
This seemed to calm the Slytherin down. Blaise was right. Soon everyone would know he loved Harry Potter. Draco sighed. It was only a matter of time now.
