"Turkish silk dyed naturally, customed and tailored to fit my frame and grace," Pansy Parkinson gloated about the bright pink dress that her mother had sent to her. Millicent 'oohhhed' and 'awwwwed' at her friend's dress. Daphne did the same from the other side of the room as she kept busy doing her friend's make up.
Tracey didn't care and Nel grimaced at the sight, she hated the color pink, it reminded her of Cordelia Wool and all of those other awful people at the orphanage.
"What's that face for Saintday?" Pansy shot from across the room when she saw the twisted expression on her face. "I bet it's better than any rag that you'll be wearing."
Was that a challenge?
Proud of having spent her own savings in the purchase of the most elegant piece of fabric she would probably ever own she decided to show off. Despite Daphne's protest she stood up pulled out a hanged dress out of a large protective bag and with the same hubris showed off the sleek plum colored dress.
"Ha!" Pansy let out a loud snort. "Hideous." She tossed with her best mean mug.
"I actually quite like it," Millicent admitted innocently from her vanity looking back as she curled her hair.
"Really?" Nel arched an eyebrow. "Because Daphne was actually the one that chose it," She smiled at her friend as she put the dress away to return to her chair where the artistic master could finish her latest masterpiece: a perfect Yule Ball look.
"Uh-I-I mean," Pansy sputtered not wanting to diss Daphne's taste. However, it was too late, she couldn't take it back. Her face turned red half from the anger and half from the embarrassment. Feeling overconfident tonight Nel didn't bother hiding her loud sniggering.
"Stuff it Saintday, acting so smug, you don't even have a date for tonight!" She stuck out her tongue childishly before flipping her hair over her shoulder and brushing one of her eyebrows into place.
It was true after Nel's "Date Triangle Fiasco" between Cedric, Draco and Ellar, the girl instead decided she didn't care enough what anybody thought and to own the night by going stag.
Eyes closed as Daphne professionally applied some bronze eye shadow she frowned at Parkinson's words. "May I remind you that it was my decision to go stag. I didn't have to grovel to get a date unlike you."
Ouch.
Pansy had been particularly on edge as of the past few weeks. Like most people in the Slytherin House she had heard the rumors that Nel and Draco were going to the Yule Ball together. First, she asks Cedric then tells him no, then Draco asks her – or did she ask him? She wasn't even sure which rumors were true and which weren't anymore.
Of course, she didn't believe any of them, not until she smelled his cologne on her that one dinner in the Great Hall.
Pansy hadn't had the heart to ask Draco to the ball no matter how much she tailed after him and he hadn't asked her no matter how many loud hints she dropped. However, it seemed that her hints were misinterpreted, and Crabbe thought she wanted him to ask her. Not wanting to bear the humiliation of going to the ball alone, she accepted. That didn't mean she wasn't willing to ditch Crabbe in a heartbeat if she saw a smidge of an opportunity of getting with Draco tonight.
Daphne would be attending with Theodore.
Tracey with Leanne.
Millicent with Goyle, the girl looked really good in emerald.
"At least I'm not going with a girl-"
Daphne almost dropped the make-up brush she was holding. Tracey who was putting on her glimmering jumpsuit stiffened at the jab. A solemn expression on her face at the unnecessary comment. She remained silent as she zipped up her side.
"What did you say?" Triggered at what she had said about her friend Nel again rose from her chair. This time Daphne did not protest. Having gone from zero to a hundred the girl looked livid.
Millicent's brown eyes darted from one side of the room to the other as the tension in the room escalated. That really was an unnecessary comment. The word mudblood and other derogatory terms were tossed around Slytherin House without much care on a regular basis. However, for somebody- for fucking Parkinson – to toss that kind of malicious comment at Tracey, who was already terribly self-conscious – it was unforgivable.
"You heard," Pansy shook her shoulders exaggeratedly and before she could laugh a curse shot across the room and nasty boils filled with puss began to sprout on her face. She shrieked in horror at the dreadful sight of her reflection and got ready to strike back but before she could retaliate her wand flew out of her hand.
"Good luck getting rid of those before the dance," Nel glowered with hatred. "We're done here," She said dryly before stepping on Pansy's wand. The wand's owner was on the floor scrambling for her weapon and stopped when she saw a foot stomp on top of it.
"That better be the first and last time I hear you say something like that," the brunette warned before kicking the wand under the bed.
With that she turned away picking up a large bag that was by the exit of the dormitory getting ready to go and set up for tonight's catastrophic plan. Pansy glared at her with intense hatred. Her blood was boiling, Nails burying into the palms of her hands as she felt the fury bubbling up inside her.
"Don't be late!" Tracey called after her friend with a grateful smile.
All Nel heard as she descended down the stairs was a rage filled scream that echoed the corridor.
1. Spiked pastries with Love Potion #9? Check.
2. Spike the punch fountain with heaps of Spyrit? Check.
3. Mess up the plumbing of the outdoor loos? Check.
Everything was ready. Even Peeves was around eager and ready to cause havoc. Due to the amassing number of students the heads of each school had set up a massive tent outside of the castle grounds, students would arrive in carriages, dance the night away and return back to their individual schools at the end of the night.
The circus like tent was massive and the set up was like nothing Nel had ever seen before with a long table of pastries and finger food. A towering fountain with seven levels of waterfalls of spiked light pink punch cascaded down into a large bowl. The edges of the ballroom were heavily decorated with Christmas trees that seemed to be enchanted to slowly spin behind many large round tables.
"Ms. Saintday-" A voice piped.
Having been caught in the tent, Nel froze whipping her wand behind her back and turning to face Professor Flitwick.
"Eager to participate as always," He said with a small smile. Honestly, bless his clueless soul. "Y-Yeah, you know me," Nel raised her hands in an innocent shrug as she played along in the lie. "Always eager to help," She said with forced enthusiasm. A Slytherin? Helping and for no self-interest or convenience? How was Professor Flitwick not suspicious?
"Excellent then, you can help me enchant the sky and set up the lights and streamers."
Shit.
Nel really didn't have any time for this. She still had to get back to the dormitory to get her hair done and get dressed up and looking nice for the evening. But now that she had been caught how was she supposed to swindle her way around Flitwick and back to the castle without raising any suspicion?
Without much choice the Fourth Year stayed behind and set up the decorations with the Charms professor.
"Say, Ms. Saintday, I'm curious," the small man began, both were presently focused on properly enchanting the dozens of stars and snowflakes that would magically snow down inside of the tarp. "Have you given any thought to your future?"
She was silent for a moment waiting for him to proceed. "Career wise, I mean," he specified. "I think you would do well with the Ministry."
"Thank you, professor, but I'm actually more interested in the art of curse breaking. You see, I enjoy puzzles." She explained finally lowering her wand and turning to face the Charm's Master.
"Gringotts's would be lucky to have you. I'd be more than glad to recommend you, if you're ever interested in an internship at the bank."
"Really?" She responded without missing a beat, almost too eagerly, too overexcitedly. "I mean, really," She cleared her throat appearing more composed. "I'd greatly appreciate it," She even bowed her head down nervously, then felt self-conscious he might see it as an insult because of his height and stood up straight before nodding at the man.
Beaming she exited the tent and took the long road back to Hogwarts avoiding all of the passing carriages that were beginning to arrive to the tent's ballroom. She rushed into the castle barely catching her breath when she arrived to the empty dormitory. Rushing in from the outside cold, she tossed her scarf, knitted hat, gloves and coat over the bed rapidly leaving a messy trail of clothes as she pulled out her dress from her wardrobe.
Hair, makeup, jewelry, shoes, dress- She really didn't' have time to waste she was already late – dress?
She had to do a double take when she pulled her dress out of the protective bag. Holding the soft fabric in her hands she looked at it with revulsion. The dress had been shredded; large globs of Daphne's oil paints had been smeared in random rage filled spatters of color. The bottom was ragged, sliced and torn.
Her dress was ruined.
Elowen held her breath for a moment. She brought a clean part of her dress to her face and inhaled deeply. The scent of fresh paint filling her nostrils.
Pansy.
It had to have been that fucking bitch Parkinson. Who else would do something so evil?
Several fish, a grindylow and a creature that could possibly be the Loch Ness monster all calmly swam by the thick windows of the Slytherin Common Room. The water was still and the night was calm until a shrill loud scream sent them scattering away. The thick windows rattled violently as a deep crack carved one of them in a spider web pattern threatening to break. An angry screamed echoed Hogwarts' empty corridors.
The lights in the room popped making glass rain in the dormitory. Millicent Bullstrode's cat screeched as it scrambled out of the room.
Alone, rabid with a wounded pride and mainly a stinging wallet the Slytherin girl attempted to shut down her emotions. After the scream she quietly sat in her bed wallowing in the familiar darkness.
She had sworn she wouldn't let anyone, or anything ruin her night, but this- That dress had cost her blood sweat and tears and now it was ruined. Even if she wanted to go to the ball what was she supposed to wear? Her uniform? She kicked off her shoes with grave frustration and angrily threw one across the room.
She looked at Pansy's belongings twisting and turning in her head just what she could do to ruin her, to make her hurt, to make her feel the same pain she was feeling but there was nothing that came to mind. If anything, she'd just write home and have her belongings replaced. In defeat she tossed her dress into the rubbish bin and returned to her bed, her nails sinking into the mattress.
Whatever she did, she would destroy Parkinson for this.
Still angry, she stood up and kicked the bin making its contents tip over. She was so distraught by her volatile emotions she didn't see Peeves the Poltergeist peeking his head in through the ceiling. He peered around nervously as if looking for the Bloody Baron before fulling entering through the ceiling.
"You're not holding up the end of your bargain Spots!" He said angrily.
The poltergeist flinched slightly when he saw the murderous look in the girl's eyes.
"I'm not going," She uttered darkly.
Stupid ball. Stupid dress. Stupid dates. Stupid everything.
"The loos haven't blown up yet," He said with bitterness at the lack of chaos in the ballroom. "They won't unless I'm there, and since I have nothing to wear, I can't go."
"Your clothes are fine!" The poltergeist said with frustrated anger as he extended a hand which phased right through her.
"Dress," She stressed. "I need a decent dress or an evening gown," She tossed as she removed her socks and began making herself comfortable in her bed. Perhaps the best ending to today would simply be calling it a night and angrily going to bed.
Without another word Peeves vanished.
She figured he went off to unleash chaos on his own account. Letting out a breath she had been holding, she closed her eyes relaxing into the mattress, trying to clear her mind like Professor Snape had taught her and not thinking about anything or anyone at all.
She was about to reach a pleasant level of mindfulness when she felt a heavy weight being dumped on her. Surprised she staggered awake, sitting up in the bed to see a mountain of evening gowns and dresses spilling from the sides of her bed.
Throwing some to the side to emerge from the avalanche she looked at the fabrics on her bed with bewilderment. Now she didn't have one dress, there were at-least four in the bed. Most were nicer than anything she owned and would probably ever own. They were even nicer than the plum dress she had gotten at Hogsmeade.
Still in shock she looked down at the fabrics. One dress was sleek and a light beige almost golden color, another was black with lace, tule and a large body, another was short and black with long sleeves.
"Where did you get these?" She asked not believing what she had at hand. They were all beautiful. Then again, this was coming from someone who didn't know much, if anything about fashion.
"The Come and Go Room," Peeves half explained sticking out his tongue and laughing loudly. Whatever that meant- her makeup had survived her tantrum. She made a mental note to find just what the "Come and Go Room" was.
"Let's go," the poltergeist laughed. "I want my boom, shock and pzwaa!" He cried loudly as he cackled vanishing into one of the walls.
Dressing up, quickly brushing her straight hair she rushed down the dormitory and out of the common room. She didn't even notice the noticeably, deep crack that had formed in one of the lake's watery windows.
What was she waiting for?
The TriWizard Tournament Champions had already been introduced and danced a stringing waltz.
A vision of snow fell over the ballroom and vanished on an invisible thin line in the air that gave the inside of the massive tent a Winter Wonderland feeling. Starry night skies had been enchanted in the ceiling. The ballroom looked even more spectacular than before, now packed and crowded with students from Hogwarts, Beauxbaton and Durmstrang all wearing their evening wear or in the case of the Romanian their traditional Bulgarian crimson cloaks.
"Has anyone seen her?" Tracey asked her friends concerned. Theodore who was the tallest of the group stuck his neck up high taking a glance around for anyone that fit their lost friend's description.
"Not in the premises," He clicked his tongue.
"I'm sure your friend will be just fine," Leanne Moon, a Fourth Year Hufflepuff and photography fanatic, said. "She doesn't seem like the type to get easily caught up with things."
"Maybe we should go and look for her in the dormitory?" Tracey added worried. Daphne failed to hide the way her rosy lips turned down into a frown, she didn't want to spend the Yule Ball looking for her friend.
"She'll be fine Trace," She let out an exasperated breath. "Come on, let's go get some punch."
"Probably not the best idea," Theodore grinned knowing it was best not to drink too much of the spiked punch. "Nel said not to touch anything, not even the punch.
"Why can't we touch the pastries again?" Asked the Hufflepuff curiously.
"I've learned not to question why," Tracey mused as she followed after the others.
Around the finger foods and beverages table lingered other students who were chatting amongst themselves or eyeing their love interest from across the room. A group of Slytherins stood nearby.
Crabbe and Goyle hadn't wasted a moment in stuffing their faces with the raspberry crème pastries that were heavily dosed with Love Potion #9 causing them both to be overzealous and hyper enthusiastic about their respective dates almost as if in a trance. Millicent was, of course, over the moon. Pansy, who was still fawning over Draco who looked like a prince with his pristine black and white robes, could care less for Crabbe's attentions.
"You should've seen what Saintday was wearing. It was disgusting. A house elf could have worn that- hell a house elf could've used that rag to wash dishes," She laughed cruelly.
Blaise Zabini shared a small laugh with his friend while he enjoyed the spiked punch. Draco who was also standing with them looked down at his drink dolefully. Blaise seemed to be thriving in this environment having come stag so he could dance with as many French girls as he could. Being of a shyer nature Draco mostly kept to himself having shared the waltz with a Bulgarian girl that sat in the Slytherin table before he was interrupted by Pansy who cut in and abruptly ended it.
"I mean- she couldn't even find a date to the dance. And then she invented that abhorrent rumor she was going with you," She was speaking directly to Malfoy now. "How mortifying!" She laughed cruelly. "That's why she really didn't show."
"Yeah," Millicent laughed. "What a loser," She commented happy that she had scored a date with her crush. Bullstrode took a bite of one of the pastries and her eyes went wide, pupils dilated black when she did, her body suddenly feeling very light, warm and tingly all over. She swallowed hard. Goyle leant over and placed a hand on her shoulder asking if she was alright. Why did his hand send that small jolt of electricity down her body? And why did Gregory suddenly look even more handsome in his all dark dressing robes?
"She's pathetic. Right, Draco?" He snapped out of his thoughts when he felt Pansy clinging to his arm like a constrictor boa. She must've been on her third or fourth drink. Behind her Crabbe looked particularly heartbroken at her rejection.
Draco felt sick about what he had done. He didn't feel like drinking, dancing or even laughing at how ridiculous Crabbe and Goyle looked with that dazzled doe like look in their small eyes.
"Do you ever stop talking?" He didn't know what came over him when he harshly snapped at Parkinson. He looked at her surprised expression before shrugging off her touch and dusting off his shoulder as if she had soiled his robes.
"What's with him?" Zabini asked with a curious small laugh as Draco stepped away from them.
"Look it's Nel!" He heard Davis' loud voice shout.
He stopped in his tracks looking towards the descending stairs of the entrance.
Not a lot of students noticed Elowen as she descended down the stairs, most were distracted with dancing, drinking, eating or paying attention to their dates. Peeves's mischief was restricted by the Headmaster so he stuck to tripping people and jumping between the decorative armors uttering filth at anyone who passed by.
Professor Snape who was on his way out of the ballroom, wearing his usual black robes and dodging a professor that had probably had a spiked pastry and wanted to very badly to dance with him.
"Fancy a dance Professor?" Nel asked with a teasing grin as they met. He had already humiliated her in front of all of Slytherin House. It was time for the tables to be even.
"I'd rather drown Saintday," he uttered coldly before sparing her a glance as he passed her by. Yup, that was Snape for you.
Descending down the stairs she felt a little nervous but successfully managed to avoid the judging gazes of other students. Sitting closest to the stairs she spotted a mop of red hair and a second mop of messy black hair, both unmistakable.
"Hi Harry, Hi Ron," She greeted them both with a bright smile. They did not return it. Both of them look miserable slumped down on a chair with their arms crossed over their chests scowling. Harry looked handsome but why was Ron dressed look like the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz?
Their dates upset faces mirrored their enthusiasm.
"You two look like you're having a blast," She chortled sarcastically. Turning her head, she saw Hermione looking radiant in a floaty dress she couldn't tell if it was lilac or periwinkle. The most shocking part was who her date was. Out of all things she was expecting to see this evening Granger dancing with Viktor Krum was not one of them. Both looked like they were having a great time.
"Talk about a plot twist," she whistled surprised at the couple.
"Who'd you come here with?" Harry asked shaking his head slightly. His eyes were fixed on Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw who was sweeping the dance floor with Cedric Diggory.
"Myself?" She half shrugged.
"You can do that?" Ron said in a ghastly breath which made his date slap his arm with her purse before standing up and walking away. He didn't seem to care.
"Saintday actually looks half decent," Blaise Zabini said to the group of Slytherins that watched the interaction from a far. "More than half decent," He corrected himself, his dark eyes taking in the strapless tule black night gown the fellow Slytherin was wearing.
"That dress-!" Elowen turned around when she heard Daphne's voice. "Wow, that happened to-?" Her eyebrows went up in surprise, face twisted into a confused look. It took her a moment to put two and two together.
"Pansy," The two girls spoke in unison.
Daphne looked beautiful; she was wearing a creamy colored champagne dress with hundreds of embroider crystals that seemed to sparkle. Her blonde hair was tied up in an elegant knot.
"Why!" livid, Daphne was ready to give Pansy a piece of her mind.
"No, no," Nel held her back to everyone's surprise. "None of that tonight. We're going to have a good time!"
"Yeah," Tracey snorted. "I hope Parkinson has a good time with those god-awful boils on her face. Was it me or did they spell your name?"
The group laughed loudly at the joke; Theodore looked handsome all in black with golden cuffs with his initials. No doubt a family heirloom. Tracey wore an elegant single sleeved jumpsuit and Leanne a knee length light blue spaghetti strap dress.
Her friends all exchanged a look of surprise at the uncharacteristic decision. The rock band that was playing was presently playing a mellow song.
"Alright then!" Tracey thrusted her fist up in the with a loud whoop. "Let's dance then!" She said taking Leanne's hand and swaggering towards the dance floor. Leanne who was holding a large camera dangling around her neck smiled through the lens as she photographed her date.
"Let's go then," Theodore said cooly also taking Daphne's hand and leading her to the dance floor where crowds of students were moving to the beat of the Weird Sisters playing their number one hit "Magic Works".
Elowen began following after her friends when she spotted someone from across the room. "I'll catch up," She said to them quickly before turning and walking towards a large round table.
He looked terribly handsome in a sharp dark velvet blue suit. Curly hair combed back neatly. Approaching she could hear them all tittering amongst themselves and speaking in French that she couldn't comprehend. All also looked stunning in their gowns and formal robes. Ellar Lestrange was chuckling and rubbing the edge of his pointy nose when she approached him.
"Hi," She said tapping his shoulder.
Turning his eyes, it took him a moment to recognize who was speaking to him. "Elowen," he spoke caught off guard, not rising from his seat to greet her. "You could be a veela," he said the edge of his lips turning up as he delivered the strange compliment before taking a sip from a silver flask he was hiding under the table. A veela? what a strange compliment, a beautiful semi-human creature that is seductive to men, but when angry turn into a cruel-beaked bird like creature with scaly wings.
"Thanks," The girl responded nervously, quicker than she had expected to say. "Want to dance?" She blathered.
She was looking good. She was feeling good. If there was any night to shoot her shot it was tonight. Afterall, anything can happen at the Yule Ball.
Ellar's nose wrinkled a little, his eyes lazily darted to the dancing crowd. "Not at the moment," he said curtly, his smile a thin line that lingered on his pressed lips.
Feeling a little defeated yet not letting it get to her Nel shook his rejection off and returned to her friends.
The group danced jumping up and down to the loud beat, at some point silver confetti fell from the skies. A mob of Durmstrang students were around them. Overall it was a great time. She even saw Cedric dancing next to his girlfriend, the two exchanged a smile as they continued to jump up and down with their respective groups of friends. All the Slytherins shouted singing to "Do the Hippogriff" while thrusting their fists up in the air. Nel was happy to have come along and with their friends, despite everybody being coupled up, several Bulgarian students took her hand and gave her a spin or two, amongst them Viktor Krum's friends, Ivo and Marko.
On the other side of the dance floor Draco did the same with his friends. Blaise was dancing with a girl from Beuxbaton and much to Crabbe's delight after eating a couple of pastries Pansy was more than willing to dance with him. Millicent and Goyle were engrossed with each other with her arms wrapped around his neck. Draco found himself absentmindedly bobbing his head up and down to the beat of the music. Maybe he had attended alone but at least he didn't look as pathetic as Potter and Weasley who were sitting on the sidelines looking absolutely miserable. He found comfort in the pink punch he was drinking and busied himself with it, his eyes glued to a girl in a dark dress who was having the time of her life dancing not with one, but with two older Durmstrang students.
Daphne, usually the most perceptive of the group, was so diverted by her date, the dancing and the music she didn't notice the way the blond was intently and very obviously starring at her friend from across the room.
Seeing Harry and Ron looking flat out glum in the table at the end, wanting to share the enthusiasm of the night Elowen picked up her dress and approached them.
"Come dance with us!" She said giddily to the two Gryffindors.
Ron arched an eyebrow the thought of spending his evening dancing with a lot of Slytherins was enough to make him nauseous. With his arms crossed over his chest his answer was a deep scowl. Harry was more polite and simply shook his head with indifference.
Oh well. Turning her head to look for the Beauxbaton table this time she saw Ellar sitting in between two girls his grade. He rubbed a hand over his nose but seemed more preoccupied with something else. Taking in a deep breath and gathering her courage she decided to give it another shot. The rock music beat was slowing down as the band took a break and more pop like music began to play for couples to dance.
"I love this song," she lied through her teeth approaching his table. He turned to look at her with indifference. She waited a second waiting for him to ask. "Feel like dancing?" She asked her voice squeaking at the end already dreading the rejection that was coming.
"My feet hurt," he lied unfazed in a cold matter holding little to no sympathy.
"It'll be fun," She persisted, her eyebrows knotting. What was she doing wrong? She looked the part, stunning wearing a rare midnight colored dress, hair and make-up done and he had said he would ask her. What had changed? What had she done wrong?
"Sorry," He apologized. "I don't do dancing," he grumbled something under his breath before taking another sip from his silver flask. "Have a good time," he said in a dismissive matter before turning away and draping an arm over the blonde's shoulders. The girl flashed her a smug pitiful look.
'"I would've asked you myself, but I didn't want to step on anyone's toes," he shook his head slightly. "So, I asked a friend instead."' Had that been a lie?
She felt as if he had thrown a glass of cold water at her face. Feeling ugly, with a bruised ego she turned away defeated. Giving two steps realizing she couldn't give him the power to ruin her night she made her way to the punch fountain walking with her head held tight.
She desperately helped herself to a cup of the spiked punch hoping the effects of the alcohol would ease the soreness of Ellar's second rejection.
"I can't believe that frog actually let you come alone."
She felt a breath tickle the back of her shoulder. Turning and dodging away from the familiar voice she stepped away from the individual invading her personal space.
After everything he had done Draco still had the audacity to speak to her.
Tonight, Malfoy resembled what she imagined looking like a Count with a pristine white vest, collar and matching bowtie. His long, dark robes were sharp and dark like most of the clothes he usually wore. Long hair elegantly parted on the side.
'"Stay away from me!"' She still remembered the last words she had said to him.
"Draco," She faced him.
Already feeling exhausted even drained by his presence. He was a little surprised she had actually acknowledged him by his name. "I am deeply offended that you are speaking to me right now," She look a heavy sip from her punch basically downing the whole cup. "And it was my decision to come stag," She said without flinching.
"You look bloody stunning," He spoke sincerely in a low tone stepping towards her.
Whatever it was she had been expecting him to say had not been that. It was the kind of thing people said to their dates not to their enemies.
In that moment Daphne's voice spoke inside of Nel's head 'maybe he likes you!' Malfoy fancying her? What a ridiculous thought.
She let out an uneasy laugh and inched back away from him. Had he been drinking the punch? He was probably intoxicated and didn't even know what he was saying. That was more likely. She was waiting for the comeback to come, for the shade or for a vulgar word to spew from him but it never came.
"Have you been drinking the punch?" She asked arching an eyebrow in his direction.
He didn't answer her question and instead boldly reached for her, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her forward towards him. "Dance with me," he demanded without waiting for an answer. "No," She shot him an ugly look and pushed him off. "After everything you've done to me you want me to dance with you?" She let out a haughty and incredulous laugh. "I told you to stay away from me!"
He stood his ground not wavering so did she.
"Don't be difficult Saintday," the edge of his lips pulled up into a crooked smile. Did he think this was some time of game?
Fuming she turned away ready to walk away from the most unpleasant interaction of the evening.
"Fine," He said sharply to her turned back. "If you're not going to dance with me because you want to, at least do it to piss off that French git."
She was brought to an abrupt stop by his words. She didn't even question how he knew. Somehow, Draco always knew. Turning to face him with hesitation she weighted the outcome. What was one dance?
Maybe if Ellar saw her dance, maybe he'd be jealous? Maybe he'd change his mind about dancing? Malfoy's expression was almost fox like filled with a managed mischief as he stretched out his hand to her.
Her eyes jumped from his gray ones back to his stretched-out hand and to the Beauxbaton table across the room. It was tempting, very tempting. She looked at his hand almost fearfully. Pansy had already ruined her dress what was the worst thing that could happen?
She reached for it, but something was holding her back.
"Wait," She paused unexpectedly being flooded by a wave of flushing nervousness.
"Um… What if… I mean," She ran a nervous hand through her hair stammering in a foreign nature. "I'm not very graceful-" Nel had almost ruined Professor Snape's shoes during her first dance lesson, she suspected this time it wouldn't be any different. Draco on the other hand had probably been taking lessons since he could walk like the majority of the other Purebloods. "I mean. I don't know how to dance," she admitted.
He didn't seem to care.
"Come here," He said with a growing smirk at her apprehensiveness. Taking her hand and pulling her towards the dancefloor the momentum causing the girl to stumble forward. He pulled her in at a close distance that was too close for comfort. He held her left hand in his, his other on her waist. Unsure of what to do she placed her hand on his shoulder like Snape had instructed during his torturous dance lesson.
The two danced around the dark room to a three-beat song. Draco moving expertly with experienced grace and Elowen constantly stepping and stumbling on his polished shoes making him wince every couple of steps. She really wasn't doing it on purpose.
"You weren't wrong when you said you couldn't dance," He winced at what seemed to be the fourth time she stepped on him. She smiled innocently enjoying putting him through the pain. It was more than well-deserved, git.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," She said cheekily. Caught off guard he lifted her up in a spin. Letting out yelp, disconcerted she buried her face on his shoulder when they landed. "God, are you trying to kill me Malfoy?"
"I could ask you the same thing," He said torturously wincing as she once again stepped on him.
Through the darkness and the dancing couples, not noticing the odd looks she was getting from some of her friends, she looked away feeling more self-conscious with each step. The only reason she had agreed to dance with Malfoy was to get under Ellar Lestrange's skin, yet he seemed indifferent to this. One of his hands was on a French girl's knee, the other around another's shoulders as he leaned in and either kissed her face or whispered something to her, she couldn't really distinguish or tell which gesture was worse. Draco immediately felt her shift in emotion when her steps instead became dragged slides and her face dropped.
"I told you he was an arse," he murmured pulling her close enough so that she could hear over the loud music. "I don't know why you blindly believe everything he says to you."
She sighed with sadness ignoring his words. Ellar wasn't even looking at her or in her direction. He honestly didn't care about her. Quickly glancing around the room, she spotted Theo and Daphne dancing all the way across on the other side of the ballroom. Leanne and Tracey were sitting on a table looking at some photographs that Leanne had taken.
"I just…" She stopped herself. "I don't understand what I'm doing wrong," her voice faltered. Lowering her hands, she began to turn away from him halting mid dance. "And what?" He held her in place. "You're going to go sit down and cry over some git that's not even worth an ounce of your attention?" He huffed at her pridefully.
Great advice coming from the arsehole that had made her cry more than a handful of times over the past four almost five years.
"Go check on your date," She grumbled not wanting to dissect his words, dropping his hand and walking away from him.
Retreating she sat with Tracey and Leanne who were sitting on a nearby table.
"Did my eyes really just see what I think they saw?" Tracey said gaping at her friend in horror as she joined them.
"Was that you dancing with Draco Malfoy?" Leanne asked with a small smirk.
"Yeah," The girl said absentmindedly as she took a drink from Tracey's cup of water.
"You two looked really cute. I even took a photo," Leanne said pulling up an animated picture of the two dancing in the middle of the room. It was the moment when he lifted her.
"Don't encourage it!" Tracey elbowed her with panic in her voice.
'Maybe he likes you!' Again, Daphne's voice was inside her head.
"Merlin," She flashed the Hufflepuff a ridiculous look her face feeling a little hot. "It's not like that."
"Yeah, all hell would freeze over twice before that happens!" The three shared a laugh at Tracey's comment. However, the laughing ceased after a moment and Nel felt a deep sadness. She turned to look over her shoulder her eyes seeking for the French boy that had already rejected her twice in the evening, but he was gone. Scanning the mobs of students, she saw him walking into one of the restrooms with the two girls he had been with. Without any explanation she stood up and followed him in.
Why was he even going into the girl's restroom?
Walking into the girl's restroom she eyed him oddly as he was bent over the sink with his back to her.
"Ellar?" She asked, almost afraid to interrupt whatever he was doing.
Whipping his head up he turned and snorted a white powder from the edge of his nostril.
"Elowen," He said her name not in shock of having been caught in such a compromising position but more in acknowledgement. He whipped the white powder from the edge of his nose a familiar tick that had been developed from his filthy habit.
The two Beauxbaton girls starred at the Slytherin displeased with her invading presence as the three kept busy snorting dragonpuffs. She saw the way one of the girls grabbed onto Ellar's neck and tilting his head to the side messily poured the powder on his neck before tracing a line with her tongue and then rubbing it into her gums.
"Join us?" He questioned twisting his neck up straight, fidgeting and adjusting his velvet robes.
"Isn't she like your little sister?" The other tossed snidely.
Feeling her mouth being dry Nel said nothing else to him and walked out in shock. She bumped into students and professors. People seemed to move out of her way at the dazzled expression on her face. She walked directly for the punch fountain and downed at least three cups shaking her head.
Ellar was a liar. Not only that but he engaged in that filthy habit and with those girls. She could still see the way that girl's tongue traced the side of his neck before kissing his jaw. She flinched slightly, the memory. Draco was right. He was always right. He had warned her more than once and she hadn't listened. Maybe everything he had said to her really was a lie, maybe he really didn't mean anything to her.
"You're going to go sit down and cry over some git that's not even worth an ounce of your attention?" His words echoed her head. She had to find him. Looking around almost desperately she walked past Daphne and Theodore who were about to stop her and ask her if she was alright.
It was then that she spotted him by the entrance with his hands in his pockets standing next to Blaise Zabini who was checking out some Durmstrang students, no doubt sizing up which one he would hit on next.
"Elowen Saintday care for a dance?" Zabini flashed her his most charming smile stretching out his hand. Unaffected by his charms she starred down at his hand. Every time she thought of Blaise, she was always brought back to that awful moment in Hogsmeade when he humiliated her in the Three Broomsticks making her blow up the restaurant.
"You don't look half bad. You clean up well. I almost forgot you're a nameless mongrel from the streets," He insulted when his pride was wounded by her rejection.
"I'd rather eat shit."
"Ladies shouldn't curse," he glowered.
"Get fucked," she moved past him and came face to face with Malfoy who was about to get in a carriage back to the castle. Millicent and Goyle had just gotten in one and from the looks of it they were eager to eat each other's faces all the way back to the castle.
She didn't know who he was waiting for or what he was doing standing by the exit. Pansy was probably off somewhere fawning over Crabbe. Draco turned to look at her and she looked like she was about to cry. Her nostrils flared like they did when emotions were running high. It had been such a long day, such an emotionally dreadful day. He knew it had to have been that French git, that arsehole.
Emotions were running at an all-time high at the Yule Ball. Some students were vomiting for their lives outside of the tent, others were tripping and stumbling making professors take points of houses and help them back to the castle due to the punch intoxications. Couples had been made and others had broken up due to the influence of the spiked pastries. Overall it was a mess. Scattered girls were seated in the stairs consoling their crying friends. Ron and Hermione were shouting at each other in the middle of the dance floor.
"Want to dance?" He asked in the middle of the hellstorm.
In a nearby distance Peeves cackled maniacally as he enjoyed the unwinding storm.
She nodded sadly and she reached to tug on the edge of his sleeve, instead he grabbed her hand. Harry who was sitting on a table nearby with his arms crossed over his chest gawked at the scene.
She walked close to his shoulder; he didn't say anything as they reached the mostly empty dancefloor where few unaffected couples swayed together to slow music.
They assumed a dancing position. He still didn't say anything.
"I saw him," She began to explain. "With them."
She was waiting for him to call her out. To maybe mock or boast that he was right by rubbing it in his face, yet the sneer never came.
"You're right. I can't just sit and allow him to ruin my night. I don't want to look as miserable as Harry or Ron."
"So, you saved the last dance for the best dancer," He smiled as the two swayed together.
She let out a slight huff and shook her head the edge of her mouth turning up in the smallest of smiles.
"Where'd you leave Parkinson anyway?" She asked changing the subject not wanting to delve into anything to emotional.
"She's with her date," He simply responded. "I came alone."
She looked at him oddly. "Why?" She had to ask.
"Do I need a reason why?" He dodged bringing his defenses up.
"Yes," She stepped on him accidentally making him bite the inside of his cheek. "Most people have them," she ignored the brief flash of pain in his face.
"I thought it be fun," He spat defensively in an unenthusiastic tone that made it clear it was an obvious lie. "Is that so hard to believe?"
Draco was a liar, and a cheat and she didn't know how it was he always managed to snake his way back into her life like the venomous adder that he was. Maybe it was the Spyrit spiked punch acting through her not allowing her to care about whatever judgment this dance would bring.
"Can I tell you something?" She offered and he remained silent allowing her to continue.
"The worst part is that… If you had properly asked me to the ball. I might've actually said yes."
"You would've?" He asked in surprise.
Probably not, but she was here to get answers not more questions.
"Maybe," she half shrugged with a weak smile. "Why didn't you just ask?"
Why in the bloody hell didn't he just ask instead of creating such an elaborate lie?
Bracing himself with the little braveness he had, he gathered some courage.
"I was afraid you'd say no," he confessed.
He had done all of this – all of this bloody mess- Cedric, Ellar, the bet, the fight everything - because he was scared that she'd say no?
"Coward," She shot coldly without sympathy.
Her word stung him. She didn't know what she was asking of him when she asked him to do things like this. Nel had nothing, therefore she had nothing to lose. Him on the other hand, everything was always on the line.
Just in cue the song was over. "I best get back to the dormitory," she said dismissively dropping his hand.
He said nothing and followed her to the carriages.
She doubted her friends would miss her very much or even notice that she was gone seeing as they were all probably preoccupied with their dates.
"Thanks," She thanked him as she got ready to climb on the enchanted carriage.
"Elowen," A familiar voice called. "There you are," Ellar stepped in. He looked ill. His face pale and eyes dark as he brushed his messy hair out of his face. "Let's dance," he said gripping her arm pulling it so hard she almost tripped on her feet.
Oh, now he wanted to dance.
"No," She dug her heels on the ground. "I didn't come here with you," She pulled away from him bracing her arm.
"Come on Elowen, you know you want to," he insisted once again reaching for her. "I said no!" Hesitantly she stood her ground against the boy of her dreams.
"Didn't you hear? she said no," Draco butted standing next to her. She looked at him with pure shock not expecting him to ever meddle in her affairs and less in such a protective manner.
"Thanks for entertaining my girl mate," Ellar said lazily. Flashing Malfoy one of his shit-eating grins.
His girl? She looked stunned by his words.
What had changed in the past hour or so that had made him go from rejecting her twice to him claiming her as his girl?
This… didn't make any sense.
"Two things you should know you rat-faced git. One, I don't entertain. Two, not your girl," He glowered stepping in between them protectively.
"Ahhh," Ellar cooed out sardonically.
"You're high Ellar. Go sit down," Nel rounded around Malfoy and shot the Beuxbaton student a mean look.
"Does she know?" He furrowed his eyebrows looking at Malfoy with a taunting smile.
"Does she know?" Draco shot the question back with the same nasty look a mean glint in his eyes as he insulated to something hidden in Ellar's past.
Before either of the Slytherins could react, Ellar swung forward striking Malfoy in the face. His sapphire rings breaking his skin making him bleed. Draco staggered backwards falling. Lestrange glowered at Malfoy with a triumphant smile and without a moment took the girl's hand in his.
Malfoy looked up from the polished floor and covered his bleeding nose. His stomach churning with nausea at the sight of the Frenchman placing a hand on her body. He looked away when he saw her place her arms on his shoulders.
Malfoy wasn't sure what foul spew of curses she said to him before she rolled all her inhibitions off her shoulders and head butted his face. Kneeling over to cover his nose she kneed him in the crotch before brutally pushing him to the floor making several students nearby shout and gawk in horror. The professors much to distracted with the unraveling chaos of intoxicated students and disputing couples.
She had no doubt his mother would hear about this, but Cloelia wasn't at Hogwarts to torture her. Her punishment would have to wait until the summer. Without another word she took Malfoy's hand, and both went inside of the carriage.
"You should see the other guy," Draco laughed weakly. "Wait until my father hears about this," He spoke in a feeble tone, dreading what his father would say about the little stunt he had just pulled. He knew they would be bitterly received with shame.
"Let me see," She grimaced looking at his swollen nose and open skin. His nose definitely broken. She had to give it to Ellar for someone so lean he had a nasty hook. "Don't move," She warned pulling something out of her dress's cleavage.
"I thought I felt something," He said in a nasal tone. "You were feeling for something?" She asked in a warning tone. Another witty jab and she would give him something to moan about.
"Episkey," She casted without warning the spell that his own mother had once used with her. His nose automatically snapped back into place. Casting the cleaning spell, the blood magically vanished from his clothes.
"Good as new," She whispered with a heavy sigh and lowered her wand.
"You didn't have to-" She gaped sitting next to him in the carriage. "Why- why would you do that?" She asked still in disbelief he had taken a stand for her.
"You called me a coward," He stated sorely shooting her a doleful look.
She looked at him with sad eyes wanting to take back her bitter words yet being unable to do so. His expression mirrored hers.
"I won't take it back," She uttered in a half whisper. "That's what you are!" Her voice shifted to a much harsher tone. Despite not being the insulted one she felt wounded by her own words. She withdrew from him turning away. Distraught she barely felt his hand on her face turning her face towards his.
"Would a coward do this?" His voice dropped an octave. Eyes closing halfway as he leaned forward. Heart hammering in her chest she didn't move, she couldn't find the strength to.
"Ten points from Slyt-" Snape stopped himself halfway through his sentence never having and never taking points off his own house.
Draco and Nel jumped as far away from each other as they could. Her face was bright red and his mortified one was buried in his hands. He looked more frustrated than anything and the professor who had so brassily interrupted them looked at them with an unreadable expression.
It seemed like Snape despised the Yule Ball so much he took pleasure in disturbing teenagers who were canoodling and taking away points from their houses as punishment.
"I don't want to hear it," He spat out avoiding their eyes and strongly pronouncing each syllable as the words drawled out from his mouth.
"Out. Malfoy. Saintday," He shot them a warning look.
Back at the Yule Ball. Ellar was looking at his reflection in the restroom's mirror. That had been a nasty move Elowen had pulled on him.
Of course, he had heard about her ill reputation at Hogwarts, but he never actually believed she would dare strike him.
Especially considering how infatuated she was with him.
A sadistic thought entered his mind as he thought of the vile things, he would do to her to get even.
Freshening his bruised face with cool water he could hear a clock tower striking midnight in the distance.
The sink began to tremble under his grip. Looking down he released it only for it to rattle wildly the porcelain and metal hitting each other repeatedly. It wasn't just this one, it was all of them. He gave a step back eyes darting up and down from the mirrors and the sink.
He looked around at the urinals and toilets behind him that were still for a moment. Not a noise could be heard.
And then the geysers came.
Violent fountains of aggressive sewer water pulsing from plumbing that hit his face and flooded the bathroom.
Both Slytherins skulked back to the Common Room both too nervous and awkward to say anything.
"The ball, it was nice," Draco broke the silence between them.
"Yeah," She agreed in a sheepish tone running a nervous hand through her dark hair.
"My family hosts one every Christmas. You should come to the next one," he genuinely invited.
"That'd be nice," she responded not sincerely but because it felt like the polite thing to say. She doubted that he would even remember by next Christmas. The thought of being with his creepy father, overbearing mother and the crème the la crème of Pureblood society sounded like a weekend with Satan and associates in the warmth comfort of hell.
"You'll have plenty of time to work on your dancing so maybe next time I'll still be able to feel my toes afterwards."
She elbowed him and flashed him a cross look. He smiled at her playfully but stopped when she stretched out a hand and pulled him against the dungeon's stone wall.
"Did you hear that?" She asked narrowing her eyes at the strange noises she was hearing. Creeping through the corner of the wall she peered over and encountered a most disgusting sight.
Her jaw dropped at what she was seeing. "They've must've had the pumpkin pastries," She thought bringing a hand to her mouth to cover her sniggering.
Pansy Parkinson and Vincent Crabbe were aggressively snogging outside of the Slytherin Common Room. Her hands were draped around his neck and he held her tiny body against his much larger one.
"I bet it's the best night of their lives," she said almost in horrific awe.
Draco had been silent all this time. He was much more preoccupied keeping his glazed eyes focused on the girl that was holding him close and onto his arm tightly. Perplexed by his silent expecting at least one snide comment or two she turned to face him, and her nose hit his when she turned.
She hadn't realized he had been standing so close. She held her breath and let go of his lower arm swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat.
Why was he looking at her like that? She knew that he had been drinking the spiked punch. So, had she- but his pupils were so full blown and dilated they almost looked black. It was that same look she had seen in the eyes of the unsuspecting guests that had consumed the pastries. That would explain a lot.
"You had one of them too. Didn't you?" She asked referring to the pastries.
"No," He responded in the same low voice slowly leaning forward. She could smell the punch on his breath. She shrunk against the wall and her eyes darted to the entrance of the Common Room seeking for an escape. Noticing this he stretched out an arm caging her in place.
"I think you're drunk Draco. I spiked the punch and the pastries and-," He shut her mouth holding her jaw making in place her grow silent.
Daphne's voice was screaming things she should have known, things she had been denying to herself for what felt like her whole lifetime. Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid it would give. She saw him lower his head and she shut her eyes tightly almost as if it would hurt - but it didn't.
He pressed his mouth against her forehead for a second that felt like an eternity to her.
Face burning hot, heart stuck in her throat, somehow-
Somehow, this was even worse than whatever it was she thought he was going to do.
Whatever this was – whatever the two of them felt could no longer be ignored. They had passed the point of being able to shoot snide comments, hexes, or straight up flashing mean mugs at the other.
The intimacy the two shared could no longer be denied.
Nel couldn't manage a word from the overwhelming emotion.
"I have to go!" She ducked under his arm stammering rushing into the Common Room before he could witness the vulnerable expression on her face. She dodged past Parkinson and Crabbe running in as quickly as she could without tripping on her dress leaving Draco outside to pull at his blond hair in frustration.
AN: Phew! Sorry it took me so long to post. ((I haven't forgotten about you I promise, but I did just get a new job so it might take me a little longer to post) Congrats to me.)