Chapter 11 – The Ball

Finally the ball was here. Draco and I had been spending every minute together over the past week and sometimes it was hard to remember that a few months ago I hated him. Something had changed so majorly, I felt something deeper for him, something indescribable. For once I felt as though things were going perfectly. He was like a drug, every minute I spent with him I wanted more, needed to know more. Tonight was a night to let go and enjoy ourselves. By now most of the school had stopped muttering every time they saw the head boy and girl together but tonight would be different. I didn't want to hide anymore and tonight felt like the right time to prove to the world he had changed.

We'd spent the whole day apart as Ginny and I got ready. It had been nice to have a girl's day for once whilst the boys looked after Scorpius. We'd giggled and laughed and talked about how times had changed. We'd also spent a lot of time talking about Draco. Ginny loved the fact I'd finally admitted I liked Draco as more than a friend even if I hadn't told her how much I liked him. I liked where we were at now, it was casual and we could move forward slowly. Nothing too rushed, nothing too gossip worth. Just two people hanging out.

"Well, well, well don't you ladies look stunning tonight." Ginny and I both spun around to see Blaise leaning against the door frame smirking slightly as he straightened his bow tie.

"You scrub up well too Zabini" Ginny replied quickly doing a dramatic spin in her low-cut satin dress. She'd curled her hair and extended it magically for the evening so the loose curls hung down to her waist. I laughed watching as the two of them smirked and chatted casually. Harry and Ginny had been spending a lot of time with Blaise, Draco and I this past week and we all seemed to gel fairly easily. We never discussed the past but the future, sad things and serious things were never spoken but jokes and silly things were loud and proud.

"You too Miss Granger" Blaise added tilting his head in my direction. I'd gone for a deep red dress with a low cut front and very little back. It hugged my every feature and for once I felt like a woman. I had straightened my hair to one side for a sleek and finished look.

"Why thank you Blaisey, same goes to you. I take it the boys are ready?" Blaise smirked and he bowed his head.

"Ready and waiting for you lovely ladies." I felt my heart quicken slightly. Why was I nervous? Maybe I was afraid of bursting the bubble. Things had been easy when the rest of the school could only presume what was going on. We'd all spent our time privately, no judgement, no risks, no danger. A drama free time, and that's exactly how we liked it. Maybe I was afraid that we'd all be risking the safety net we'd built but on the other hand, everyone was travelling home for Christmas tomorrow so maybe now was the best time. The school would have weeks to get over it. I must admit a part of me felt a little sad, I had been invited to the Weasley's for Christmas but it didn't feel right, not with Ron being the way he had been this term. So I'd made my excuses and planned to stay here for Christmas. I knew I'd miss having Scorpius and Draco here but it was only a few weeks.

"Come on then, best make our way down." Ginny said, her voice pulling me from my thoughts as she handed me my golden clutch. Slipping a smile onto my face I followed Blaise and Ginny down the stairs.

"Gentlemen your ladies have arrived!" Blaise announced loudly as we reached the common room.

"WoW" Harry said softly as he wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist. He muttered in her ear causing her to giggle. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as my eyes slid across to Draco wearing black dress robes with a simple Red flower sat in his pocket. His hair was brushed back but not gelled, maybe too close to his past for that just yet.

"You look beautiful" He muttered giving me a quick glance up and down. He looked somewhat nervous too as he wrapped his hand softly around my waist as if unsure where to put himself.

"You look handsome too." I replied quietly. As a group we made our way towards the Great Hall. I noticed Draco glancing nervously towards me. His step became increasingly cautious as we approached the hall. I could tell he too was nervous. He knew all the eyes that would be on him, on us.

This whispers started before we even reached the hall and I saw Draco's eyes darken.

"It'll be ok, I'm right here. I'll never leave your side." I muttered softly watching as surprise dawned on Draco's face and his silver orbs met mine.

"You've no idea how much I needed that" He replied softly a new found spring in his step. We skipped the people lingering outside and may our way in just as the music started playing. We'd recreated the yule ball with all the ice and snow effects around the room and at the end of the hall stood a great Christmas tree mixing the four house colours flawlessly together. I saw Ron almost instantly he was glowering across from the corner of the room his hatred seething across us.

I gestured for Draco to dance as a slower song came on. He took my hips and looked into my eyes and it was as if the rest of the room just melted away.

"You really do look stunning. Sometimes I wonder how we got to this point, we've come so far, but it never escapes me how lucky I am after all I did to you." Draco said his voice gentle. I searched his eyes and saw pain seeping through his guarded features.

"What you did before the war means nothing anymore, you've grown up a lot since then." His eyes didn't quite meet mine as we swayed back and forth. I could see there was something he needed to get off his chest.

"How can you so easily see past that, the things I did during the war, things that haunt me. How can you still look at me?" I sighed thinking his words over. The war tortured us all but there was a darkness in Draco, something he'd seen that seemed worse than what the rest of us had suffered.

"Draco, I can't judge the man I never knew. I see past that because I see you, the person you are today and the honesty in those eyes of yours. I can't change my opinion based on the things you suffered during a time I didn't know you." Draco stayed silent for a few moments staring directly at me as though he was processing the words that now seemed to hang in the air.

"Spend Christmas with me." He replied softly a few moments later pulling me in slightly closer. I froze for a moment unsure of what to say.

"Draco I…" I paused unsure of what I could even say.

"You don't have to… it's just my mother wants to meet you… the manors not the same anymore… Scorp would love it too and… so would I." He glanced away from me and it was clear he didn't want to look at me to see my reaction, clearly afraid it was not what he wanted. I thought about it for a few seconds as the music slowly got faster but Draco and I continued to sway slowly, oblivious to the world around us.

"On one condition" I replied taking the dive with a smirk as his eyes flicked to mine.

"Condition?" He said unable to keep the smile off of his face and I knew he would never say no.

"Drink with me and let yourself go tonight. Let go of the past and live for right now." I whispered into his ear gesturing towards the drinks table. Draco smirked and kissed the edge of my jaw before muttering in my ear, his voice vibrating through me.

"Anything for you."

*****done****

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