Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, its characters or anything else you recognize from the books/movies. I do however own my OC and anything you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.
I've decided Fiona's Patronus is a going to be an Arctic Fox. (I know Seamus' is also a fox but people can have the same patronus and I'm making his a Red Fox) Fox was suggested on AO3 by ketchup_swift. Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
Ron, Fiona, Hermione and Ginny walked through the woods to where Harry and Neville were by the edge of the lake. Neville, standing in the water, waved and Harry turned to see them.
"We've already been through enough people why don't you just go and do it yourself?" Hermione whispered to Ron.
"Why are you being so difficult? Just tell him." Fiona hissed.
"Ron, this is your problem not mine!" Hermione added. "Ughh. What do you want me to say again?" Ron whispered some words to Hermione. It was clear Ron and Harry were not on speaking terms, they hadn't been for a few weeks. Hermione walked up to Harry. "Ronald would like me to tell you that Seamus told him that Dean was told by Parvati that Hagrid was looking for you."
"Is that right?" Harry asked with a frown then actually processed that he hadn't actually understood what she'd said. "Well... what?"
"Uh... um…" Hermione walked back to Ron. "Are you sure you won't do this?" she asked him.
"Do it." Ron whispered. Hermione looked at Fiona who gave her an apologetic smile. She walked back to Harry.
"Dean was… told by Parvati that... Please don't ask me to say it again. Hagrid's looking for you." She said before turning to head back to the others.
"Well, you can tell Ronald-" Harry started. Hermione whirled around.
"I'm not an owl!" she shouted at him. She turned and led Ginny away. Ron glared at Harry who stared back before turning.
"C'mon Fiona." Ron muttered. Fiona shook her head and went to Harry. Ron shook his head and followed after the girls.
"What is going on between you two?" Fiona asked as she stopped in front of Harry.
"Ron's being an idiot." Harry said as he watched the three walk away.
"It looks like you both are being idiots." Fiona said as she crossed her arms.
"He doesn't believe I didn't put my name in the goblet."
"Well, you obviously didn't."
"Thank you."
"You're not that stupid."
"Fee!"
"I'm just joking." She said giving him a smile and a playful nudge. Neville laughed quietly, turning away when Harry gave him a look.
…
Students were wearing badges depicting Cedric on a bright yellow background. The badges were charmed to spin and show Harry on a green background with the words "Potter Stinks" on it. As Harry walked along other pupils aimed insults at him saying he stinks. A young boy ran past.
"Cedric rules!" he shouted.
"Thanks." Harry muttered. As he got to a doorway two students stood in his way.
"Like the badge?" one asked.
"Excuse me." Harry said. They laughed, Harry pushed his way through. He approached Cedric who was standing around with his friends. Cedric's friends hurled off more insults.
"Can I have a word?" Harry asked.
"Alright." Cedric said. They walked away some distance.
"Dragons. That's the first task. They've got one for each of us." Harry said.
"D- Are you serious?" Harry nodded. "And um…Fleur and Krum, do they...?"
"Yes."
"Right. Hey listen, about the badges. I've asked them not to wear them."
"Don't worry about it." Harry said before walking away. Ron and Seamus were walking along the corridor, inside, around the courtyard. Harry approached them as they came to the archway to enter the courtyard. "You're a right foul git you know that?" Harry asked Ron.
"You think so?" Ron asked.
"I know so."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah. Stay away from me."
"Fine." Ron said before walking past him, Seamus followed. Fiona was walking along the same corridor, but a ways back, when she saw Harry.
"Harry!" she called. He turned to see her and stopped to wait for her.
"There's Potter. Cheat." Crabbe said. Harry turned.
"Why so tense, Potter?" Draco called out; he was sitting up a tree. "My father and I have a bet you see. I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament." He jumped down and he and his friends walked over. "He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five!" Harry walked up to him as Fiona came out into the courtyard near them.
"I don't give a damn what you or your father thinks, Malfoy!" Harry pushed him. "He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic." Harry said before turning and walking away, he gently grabbed Fiona's arm to bring her with him.
"Pathetic?" Draco asked with a deep frown as he took out his wand.
"Oh, no, you don't, sonny!" Mad-Eyes shouted before pointing his wand at Draco. Draco screamed as he was suddenly transfigured into a ferret. Harry and Fiona quickly turned and saw. Fiona had to cover her mouth to muffle a small scream. "I'll teach you to cast when someone when their back is turned!" He hobbled over. "You sticking…" he waved his wand and made the ferret fly up and down. "cowardly… scummy…"
"Stop it!" Fiona cried. She looked to Harry but he was grinning.
"…back-shooting…"
"Professor Moody!" McGonagall called as she rushed over. "What-What are you doing?
"Teaching." Mad-Eye said.
"Is that a-? Is that a student?"
"Technically it's a ferret."Mad Eye said before he sent it into Crabbe's pants. Everyone else was laughing. The little white ferret was half sticking out but slipped down. Crabbe squirmed and looked uncomfortable.
"Stand still! Stand still!" Goyle shouted as he came over to help. He stuck his hand in Crabbe's pants but Draco bit him. Mad-Eye winked to Harry and he laughed. The ferret crawled out of the bottom of Crabbe's pant leg and McGonagall turned Draco back to normal. He, of course, let out a small scream before scrambling to get up. He stood there a moment before he turned around.
"Whoa!" He backed away from Mad-Eye. "My father will hear about this!"
"Is that a threat?" Mad-Eye asked as he went after him.
"Professor!" McGonagall shouted.
"Is that a threat?!" Draco ran away, around the tree, as Mad-Eye shouted after him.
"Professor Moody!" she shouted louder. Draco, and his friends, ran away. Not looking where he was going, Draco bumped right into Fiona and knocked them both over. He pushed himself up and his eyes widened as his entire face turned red when he realized she'd just seen all of that – the fact that he'd knocked her over didn't help either – he hurried to get up and keep running. Harry helped Fiona up, still smiling.
"I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair, boy!" Mad-Eye shouted after Draco.
"Alastor!"
"It doesn't end here!"
"Alastor." McGonagall said. "We never use transfigration as a punishment! Surely Dumbledore told you that."
"He might've mentioned it." Mad-Eye muttered.
"Well, you will do well to remember it." She said before turning to the surrounding students. "Away!" she said motioning with her arms before walking back to her classroom.
"You, come with me." Mad-Eye said to Harry.
"I'll see you later, Fee." Harry said to her before following after him.
"Okay." she said watching him walk away. She let out a sigh before walking through the courtyard.
Fiona asked a nearby second year girl if she'd seen the group of Slytherin boys run by and the girl pointed her in the right direction. She headed towards the hospital wing where she found Madame Pomfrey giving Draco a calming draught. He noticed her in the doorway and his face flushed as he looked down. Madame Pomfrey turned and saw her.
"Not now dear." She said.
"I just…" Fiona looked to Draco. "Are you okay?"
"No. No, I am not okay." He said without looking at her.
"Miss Gaunt." Madame Pomfrey said. "I need him to calm down; I don't need him getting all riled up again."
"Sorry… I just… I was worried so..." Fiona played with her fingers as she looked down.
"He'll be just fine." Madame Pomfrey said giving her a smile.
"Okay. Sorry." Fiona said. She looked to Draco but he was still avoiding her gaze. "Feel better, Draco." She said before turning and heading down the hall. Draco looked up and watched her go.
It was the first trial. Everyone moved out to a stadium on the side of a mountain. The crowds were cheering, people were taking bets. Harry was pacing nervously inside a tent. He walked over to one of the sides of the tent.
"Pssst!" he heard someone so he moved closer. "Psst! Harry? Is that you?" Fiona whispered.
"Yeah."
"A-Are you alright? I just wanted to come and wish you good luck. Hermione would've come over too but Ron is being difficult."
"What's new?" Harry muttered.
"I'm sure you'll be fine." Fiona said. "I mean, you've done more dangerous things than this; it's only…"
"Battling a dragon." Harry said. Fiona bit her lip and couldn't keep back her tears. She pushed through the tent flap and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back just as tight. A bright camera flashed and the two broke apart to see Rita Skeeter the journalist.
"Young love!" she said. "Ohh how... stirring. If everything goes unfortunately today you might make the front page." She said.
"You have no business here." Victor said to Rita. "This tent is for champions and friends."
"No matter. We've, uh, got what we wanted." Rita said. The camera man took one last photo before they left. Dumbledore entered behind Harry and Fiona. Fiona held onto Harry's arm as more people came in.
"Good day champions. Gather round please. Now you've waited, you've wondered and at last the moment has arrived. The moment only four of you can fully appreciate." The champions gathered around Dumbledore in a circle. He noticed Fiona and did a double take. "What are you doing here, Miss Gaunt?" he asked.
"I-I'm, I was just…" she cleared her throat. "I'll go. Good luck, Harry." Harry smiled at her before she turned to leave. She glanced back to see Igor looking at her. Fiona quickly slipped out of the tent. She returned to where Hermione was sitting with Ron who was trying to look like he didn't want to be there. Fiona looked over the crowd.
"Who are you looking for?" Ron asked.
"No one." Fiona said quickly. "No one. Just looking around." She said flashing a smile. Ron shrugged. A cannon went off and everyone started cheering before chanting.
"Diggory! Diggory! Diggory!"
…
Soon it was coming towards the end of the event. Only Harry was left to face his dragon.
"Three of our champions have now faced their dragons and so each one of them will proceed to the next task. And now our fourth and final contestant." Harry entered the rocky arena. The crowd was cheering his name then they went silent. He saw the golden egg sitting alone and he made a run for it but the dragon appeared. It slammed its tail next to him making Harry dive out of the way. The horntail was chained to the stadium. He was forced to retreat behind a rock as the dragon flamed him. The crowd screamed. Harry stumbled and fell around the arena.
"Your wand harry! Your wand!" Hermione shouted to him.
"Accio Firebolt!" Harry summoned his Firebolt. It flew in and he jumped on before he flew off, the dragon gave chase around the arena as Harry tired to get the egg. He flew high out of the dragon's reach but the dragon was able to bust the chain a broke free. Harry flew away from the arena and the dragon followed, its tail cutting through the tent above the professors. Soon they flew out of sight
The crowds were mostly silent. Looking for any sign of the dragon or Harry. When they did see Harry flying towards them and the crowd erupted. He went straight for the golden egg.
…
Harry lifted the golden egg, people around him cheering. The Weasley twins had Harry sitting on their shoulders.
"We knew you wouldn't die Harry." George said.
"Lose a leg." Fred said.
"Or an arm."
"Pack it in altogether."
"Never!" The twins said in unison.
"Go on Harry, what's the clue?" Seamus asked. Seamus handed Harry the golden egg.
"Who wants me to open it?" Harry asked. Everyone cheered. "You want me to open it?" He opened the egg and a loud horrific screech came out, he closed it again.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked as he appeared in the doorway.
"Alright everyone, go back to your knitting." Fred said. "This is gonna be uncomfortable enough without all you nosey sods listening in." Mostly everyone left the common room, giving the two space.
"I reckon you'd have to be barking mad to put your own name in the goblet of fire." Ron said.
"Caught on, have you? Took you long enough." Harry said.
"I wasn't the only one who thought you'd done it." Ron said. "Everyone was saying it behind your back."
"Brilliant. That makes me feel loads better."
"Least I warned you about the dragons." Ron said.
"Hagrid warned me about the dragons." Harry said.
"Oh no no, I did. You don't you remember? I told Hermione to tell you that Seamus told me that Parvati told Dean that Hagrid was looking for you. Seamus never actually told me anything, so it was really me all along. I thought you'd be alright, you know, after you figured that out."
"Who-? Who could possibly figure that out? That's completely mental." Harry said.
"Yeah it is, isn't it? I suppose I was a bit distraught." Ron said.
"Boys." Hermione said shaking her head.
"Yay! You two made up!" Fiona said before hugging the two making Harry almost drop the egg. "It's not right when you're angry with each other." She said. The boys smiled at each other. "No more fights."
"No more fights." Ron said as Harry nodded.
"Pinky swear." Fiona held up both her pinkies. Ron held up his pinky, confused, while Harry went to hook his with Fiona's. She took both their hands and hooked their pinkies together. "There." She said with a big grin.
"It's a muggle thing." Harry said with a chuckle at Ron's face.
"Ah… have to tell dad that one."
It was breakfast in the great hall. Hermione was reading a newspaper next to Fiona across from the boys.
"Hi, Harry." The Patil twins said as they passed him. Harry took a drink as he turned to look at Cho who sat across the room with her friends. One of her friends told her he was looking and she looked back. He went to smile and spilled his drink from his mouth. Cho and her friends giggled at him, as he quickly grabbed a napkin, before they turned away.
"Look at this!" Hermione exclaimed as she slammed down the Daily Prophet. "I can't believe it. She's done it again." She said before reading. "'Miss Granger a plain but ambitious girl seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey sources report is none other than the Bulgarian bonbon Viktor Krum. And on the subject of famous wizards it seems love is in the air for a certain Boy Who Lived and his childhood sweetheart, Miss Fiona Gaunt.'" Harry choked on his drink and Ron pat him on the back. "Can you believe her?!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Love-?!" Fiona's mouth fell open and her eyes widened as she grabbed the paper from the girl. On the page in a heart was the picture of her and Harry hugging in the tent. "She can't be serious." A younger boy walked up holding a package.
"Parcel for you, Mr. Weasley." He said.
"Thank you, Nigel." Ron said. Nigel stared at Harry. Hermione got Ron's attention and nodding to the boy. Ron turned back to him. "Not now Nigel. Later. Go on." Ron said. Nigel hesitated but left. "I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph." Ron explained as he opened the box. "Oh look mum's sent me something." Ron took out the clothes the were in the box and stood to hold it against him. "Mum sent me a dress…" he said realizing what it was. He looked at the others with a deep frown.
"Well, it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?" Harry asked. He looked in the box and found one. "Aha! Heh." He picked it up.
"Nose down, Harry." Ron said making Harry chuckle and put the bonnet down. Ron turned to his sister. "Ginny, these must be for you."
"I'm not wearing that. It's ghastly." Ginny said. Hermione laughed.
"What are you on about?" Ron asked turning to her.
"They're not for Ginny, they're for you!" The table laughed. "Dress robes." Hermione said.
"Dress robes? For what?" Ron asked.
…
All the Gryffindor fourth year and older girls sat on one side of a room while all the Gryffindor boys fourth year and older sat on the other. McGonagall spoke to everyone while Filch set up a very large gramophone.
"The yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception." McGonagall said to the students. "On Christmas eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward. And I mean this literally because the yule ball is first and foremost... a dance." Groans emerged from the boys while the girls seemed a lot more excited. "Silence. The house of Godrick Griffindore has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."
"Try saying that five times fast." Fred whispered to George before they both tried it quietly.
"Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight."
"Something's about to burst out of Hilary but I don't think it's a swan." Ron whispered to Seamus seeing the girl shifting on her feet uncomfortably.
"Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance." McGonagall said. "Mr. Weasley, will you join me?" She grabbed Ron and pulled him up to dance. He, of course, looked very reluctant. "Now, place your right hand on my waist."
"Where?" Ron squeaked.
"My waist." She repeated. He did so and a wolf whistle came from the crowd. "Now bend your arm. Mr. Filch..." Filch put the needle on the gramophone and dance music started.
"One two three, one two three, one two three." The two started dancing.
"Oi. Never gonna let him forget this are you?" Harry asked the twins quietly.
"Never." They said with huge grins.
"Everybody come together." The girls instantly stood and walked forward, the boys were all still seated. "Boys, on your feet." The boys all looked embarrassed and didn't want to stand. Neville stood. He looked around at the girls but no one moved to him. Ginny walked up to him with a smile and he smiled back. Fiona walked up to the boys still sitting and stopped in front of Harry.
"Fee, you know I don't dance." He said. She gave him a pout and held out her hand.
"I'll take one for the team." Seamus said as he stood. Fiona gave him a look as she put her hands on her hips and his eyes widened. "That came out- no-! I didn't mean-" The boys still sitting down began snickering until Fiona looked at them. They coughed or cleared their throats as they looked away.
…
That night before diner Fiona sat beside Hermione; Ron and Harry hadn't shown up yet. A paper bird flew over to their table from the Slytherin table, where the Drumstrang boys sat as well. It flew around the girl's heads before landing on Fiona's empty plate. Hermione looked at her.
"Open it." She said.
"Open it?"
"It's a note. Can't you see him smiling at you?" she asked. Fiona looked over at the Slytherin table and her eyes immediately went to Draco but he was glaring at Kosta. When Fiona looked at him she noticed he was smiling at her. She smiled back slightly before looking down at the paper bird. "Open it." Hermione urged. Fiona opened it slowly. "What does it say?" Hermione asked.
"Give me a minute." Fiona said looking at the girl with wide eyes. "You're more excited than I am." She looked down at the note and couldn't help but smile.
"Did he ask you to the dance?" Hermione asked with a huge smile. Fiona shook her head but was smiling as well.
"No, but he thinks my eyes are very pretty." She showed the note to Hermione.
"Stars-! That's so sweet." The two girls gushed over the note. Fiona looked over at Kosta as her face flushed. He smiled at her and nodded his head. "If he did ask you would you say yes?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Fiona said biting her lip. She glanced back and saw Draco glaring down at his food.
…
Fiona was sitting on her bed that night with a book when Grimm meowed up at her. She looked down to see a note in the cat's mouth. The cat jumped up onto the bed and Fiona took the note from him. She hesitated on opening it. Grimm nudged her hand with his head.
"Okay… okay." She said. "I'll open it." She took a breath before opening it. Fiona gasped slightly as a rose grew out of the paper. She took it off the paper so she could read the note below it.
Our place. 11 o'clock. It's important.
Fiona let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
"Do you think he'll ask me?" Fiona asked the cat that simply blinked at her. "I guess I'll have to find out…" She smiled down at the rose and smelled it. A smile came to her face. "Oh boy."
Fiona headed down to moaning Myrtle's bathroom where she saw him waiting. She couldn't help but have a flashback to the year before when she'd first met him there.
"You came." Draco said as he stood from leaning against the sinks, he did his best not to smile too big. Fiona nodded.
"You… said it was important?"
"Yeah I…" he cleared his throat. "I was wondering…" he looked at his feet.
"Yes?" Fiona asked. Draco looked at her and couldn't help but think she looked hopeful for something.
"Would you… do me the honor of going to the ball with me?" he asked. "Less of course Potter has already asked you." He said quickly as he looked away.
"Harry hasn't asked me." Fiona said with a frown as she shook her head.
"Good-"
"If you saw that article, that woman just… We're definitely not a thing." Fiona said. Draco nodded.
"So… no one's asked you then?"
"Well… I think Kosta, one of the Durmstrang boys, is planning on askingme."
"Oh… well… sorry for wasting your time then." He quickly walked past her, his head down.
"I wouldn't say yes!" she said quickly, turning to face him. He stopped and turned to her slowly. "To him, I mean. At least… I don't think I would… I don't know anything about him but his first name." she said forcing a chuckle. "But you…"
"Then…" he swallowed and motioned between them.
"Can I have time to think?" she asked before biting her lip.
"Of course." He said without hesitation. He gave her a slightly forced smile. "Good night, Fiona." He said before leaving.
"Good night…Draco." She whispered.
Harry, Fiona, Hermione and Ron were sitting by the lakeside on a large rock. Viktor Krum was training; a group of girls were following him around as he jogged. He smiled at Hermione who quickly looked down. Fiona nudged Hermione and pointed to a piece of paper she'd written on and hidden in her book. Hermione looked at it.
Did he ask you?
Hermione nodded subtly before looking to Fiona to silently ask her the same. Her cheeks went pink and she looked down. Hermione nudged her and Fiona gave her a look before nodding.
…
Fiona sat across from Hermione, Ron and Harry in the great hall during study hall one afternoon. Surprisingly enough, Draco was also at the same table with a few other Slytherin students of course – during study halls students were allowed to sit wherever they wanted to – a few feet to the left of the twins who sat to her left.
"This is mad. At this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates." Ron said. Snape walked past and pushed Ron's head down towards his book. "Well, us and Neville." Ron said to Harry with a chuckle.
"But then again he can take himself." Harry said.
"It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone." Hermione said. Ron groaned.
"Now I'm really depressed." Ron said. Fred handed Ron a note, and he quietly read it aloud "'Get a move on or all the good ones will have gone.'" Ron looked to Fred. "Who are you going with then?"
"Oi, Angelina!" Fred whisper shouted. She mouthed out 'what?' "Do you… wanna go…" he mimed dancing. "to the ball… with me?" he pointed to himself.
"To the ball?" she whispered with a smile. "Yeah, alright, then." Fred winked at Ron with a grin.
"Oi, Hermione, you're a girl." Ron said.
"Oh well spotted." She said. Harry desperately tapped Ron's arm to get him to shut up.
"Come with one of us?" Ron asked as he mimed dancing. Snape smacked Ron on the head with a book. Harry closed his eyes to prepared to be hit next and he was. Snape walked away.
"Come on. It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl it's just sad." Ron said.
"I won't be going alone because believe it or not someone's asked me." Hermione said before she got up and handed in her notebook to Snape. She came back to get her things. "And I said yes!" she hissed before storming out of the room.
"Bloody hell." Ron said. "She's lying, right?"
"If you say so." Harry said.
"Fiona?" Ron whispered to the girl who sat across from them. She glanced up. "Uh… anyone ask you yet? I know you've known Harry longer but we're friends too."
"Um…" she cleared her throat softly then nodded.
"Yes you'll go with me or yes someone's asked me."
"Someone's… already asked me." she said quietly without looking at them.
"Who?" Harry asked with a frown. Fiona noticed Draco looking over at them, his head down towards his book but tilted slightly towards them.
"Did you say yes?" Ron asked.
"I… I haven't answered yet." She whispered.
"But are you going to say yes?" Harry asked.
"M-Maybe, I don't know." She whispered before looking down, making it clear she didn't want to speak any more on the subject. She glanced over at the blond as the twins leaned back simultaneously. He gave her a small smile. The twins leaned forward again and caught her eye making her face flush as she turned back to her work. George, the twin closest to her, nudged her with his elbow. She gave him a look before turning back to her work.
"Look, we've just got to grit our teeth and do it." Ron said. "Tonight when we get back to the common room, we'll both have partners. Agreed?"
"Agreed." Harry said with a nod. Snape shoved both their heads down making them groan.
…
Fiona was walking down a corridor sometime after study hall had let out when Kosta jogged to catch up to her.
"Fiona," he said with a big smile. "Do you have a moment?" she nodded. "I was wondering if you would go to the ball with me?"
"Um, Kosta… I-"
"The blond boy yes?"
"Huh?" Fiona blinked. Kosta chuckled.
"He is glaring at me from the end of the corridor behind you." He said. "He tends to do that a lot when I look at you."
"Sorry. He asked me first, I haven't said yes yet but…" she looked down.
"I understand." Kosta gave her a smile. "I see the way he looks at you. I also see the way your face goes rosy when you notice." Fiona's face flushed and he chuckled again. "Maybe you could save me a dance? As friends." He added.
"Of course." Fiona said with a smile. "Thank you for understanding."
"I would give him your answer soon." Kosta before he quickly bowed then walked away. Fiona turned to see Draco standing around a corner. He quickly hid when he saw her turn. Fiona jogged back and leaned around the corner.
"Draco?"
"Gah!" He jumped.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she asked.
"He asked you, didn't he?" he asked as he looked at the ground.
"He did." Fiona said. She saw his fists clench slightly. "But you asked me first, remember?" He looked back at her, his eyebrows up. "What colour dress should I wear?" she asked with a small smile.
"I'll have one sent to your dorm." He said, a huge, almost silly grin coming to his face.
"You don't have to do that."
"I know. But I want to." He said leaning his head against the wall, the grin growing as he looked down at her.
"You don't know what size to get me."
"You'd be amazed at what house elves can find out." He said with a shrug. Fiona shook her head with a smile.
"Alright, but nothing too… showy or expensive." She said making him frown. "I don't want you to spend money on me."
"But I want to." He whined quietly making her laugh.
"Fiona!" Fiona turned to see Hermione coming down the hallway. Draco was hidden around the corner still so she didn't see him. Fiona turned back to him but he was already walking away. He turned around to wink at her, making her smile, before he hurried off. "Fiona. Who were you just talking to?" Hermione asked when she saw no one there.
"Oh… Kosta." She said.
"Fiona, I just passed Kosta in the hallway." Hermione said motioning behind her.
"Alright I was… talking to someone else."
"Who?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?" Hermione asked as she frowned.
"Cause you'll judge me."
"What? I wouldn't do that. Who were you talking to?"
"Uh…" Fiona started walking and Hermione walked beside her. "My date." She said.
"But… I thought Kosta was going to ask you."
"He was- did- but this boy asked me before."
"So when you said he'd asked you, you were talking about…?"
"I never said anyone asked me."
"You asked me if Viktor asked me then I asked you and you nodded!"
"Well… I hadn't said yes yet." Fiona said. Hermione let out a frustrated sigh.
"So you said yes to this boy?" she asked. Fiona nodded. "Who?"
"You can't tell Harry."
"Oh no. It's Malfoy, isn't it?"
"What?" Fiona's eyes widened.
"He stares at you all the time."
"Yeah but-…"
"It is him, isn't it?"
"Yes…" Fiona mumbled. "You can't tell Harry or Ron!" she said quickly.
"But Fiona-!"
"Hermione, you have to promise!"
"All right, all right, I promise not to tell." She said softly.
"Harry would kill me." Fiona said letting out a breath.
"I think Harry would kill Malfoy." Hermione said. "Are you two dating or just going to the ball?"
"Well…" Fiona bit her bottom lip.
"Fiona."
"Not this year."
"Last year? Is that where you kept sneaking off to in the middle of the night?"
"What?" Fiona turned to her with wide eyes.
"I couldn't sleep one night and saw you sneak out. Then I stayed up a few more nights to see if you did it again." Hermione explained.
"You never said anything."
"Neither did you. I figured you had a good reason. I thought you were just going down to the common room to read."
"I don't read that much."
"You go to the library almost as much as I do."
"Touché." Fiona muttered.
"So you were dating last year but not this year?"
"We had a fight… but… he," Fiona let out a sigh. "You know he can be a jerk-"
"A jerk?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"Okay." Fiona said. "But there's this whole other side of him. He's sweet and loves to make me laugh."
"Fiona… look I don't want to start a fight but… he could be faking this other side with you." Hermione said. Fiona shook her head.
"I don't think so." she said. Hermione looked like she was trying to hold back saying something then finally threw her arm up in defeat.
"Oh, I think you're right!"
"Wait… what?" Fiona blinked.
"Have you seen him looking at you during classes?"
"Well…" Fiona's face flushed. It seemed a lot of people noticed; thankfully Harry and Ron had yet to see.
"Without fail, he looks at you and the smallest little smile is suddenly there on his face."
"Really?" Fiona asked with a smile. Her smile faded. "Are you angry?"
"Angry? I don't like him but… he makes you happy… somehow." Hermione said making a face. "But you're going to have to tell Harry at some point. He'll find out eventually and it would be best if it came from you."
"I know but… he has the whole tournament to deal with right now. He doesn't need to be worrying about me."
"He's going to see you at the ball with him. You realize that, right?"
"Of course I do. And when he asks me… I'm just going to say, Draco asked me and I said yes… and…."
"Great plan." Hermione said giving her a look.
"Okay not the best thing to say but… I don't want to give them a reason to fight. I can't say he made me go with him because then Harry will get upset and…" she let out a frustrated breath.
"I understand." Hermione said with a nod.
"I could say that no one else asked me."
"But Kosta did ask you."
"He doesn't need to know an older boy wanted to take me to the ball."
"There's nothing wrong with an older boy taking someone to the ball." Hermione said.
"No, no, of course not. I wasn't thinking of you and Viktor. You're not the one with Harry as an older brother." Hermione smiled. "I mean it's sweet but we're growing up. I can make my own decisions, right?"
"Exactly."
"Did you tell them who you were going with?" Fiona asked. Hermione shook her head. "What are you wearing?"
"He sent me a dress." Hermione said with a grin. "Do you know what you're wearing?"
"He's going to send me a dress too. I have no idea what it's going to look like though." She said with a shrug.
"You'll help me get ready?"
"Only if you help me." Fiona said with a grin.
"Deal."
"I can't wait to see their faces when they see you with Viktor."
"I'm a bit scared to see their faces when they see your date." Hermione said with a nudge to Fiona's arm. Fiona nudged back with a chuckle.
"They'll live."