Harry has yet to ask someone to the Yule Ball. He has tried to ask Hermione (as friends) but she has declined, saying she's already going with someone. Of course, Harry can't actually ask who he wants to, seeing as this person is Draco Malfoy.

Harry sits down at the table for lunch. "Hey," he says to Ron. Hermione is apparently in the library. "'Sup," Ron says, munching on a hamburger. Harry sighs. "Have you asked anyone to the dance yet?" He asks. Ron takes a minute to reply.

"No," he sighs.

"Me neither."

Harry is walking out of Herbology when Draco stops him.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry tries to sound intimidating, but Draco can see right through him.

"I want to ask you something." Draco's voice is scratchy, as if it hadn't been used in a long time. Harry's heart is beating too fast.

"What?" Harry sneers.

"Will you go to the, uh, you know, Yule Ball, um, with, you know, me?" Draco tries. Harry's shocked but incredibly happy.

"Uh, uhm, wha- yes, i will, yeah, okay." Harry bursts out. A genuine smile takes over Draco's face.

"Can I, uh, touch , you?" Draco stammers.

"i- okay, yeah, okay," Harry says awkwardly. Draco reaches out and grasps Harry's hand. They smile at each other.

Draco pulls his hand away after several minutes.

"Don't be late," Draco requests and is gone.

The next day, Harry is ecstatic. He tells Ron he finally has a date, but he refuses to tell who. Ron is frustrated. Then Harry says:

"You could ask Padma Patil?" Harry suggests. "I heard she doesn't have a date yet."

"Good idea!" Ron grins. He walks over and asks her. he comes back a few minutes later smiling widely.

"She said yes!"

"Congrats, mate!" Harry claps him on the back. He can't stop thinking about Draco.

"You finally got a date to the ball?" Hermione has appeared. Ron scowls at her teasing tone.

"He has," Harry says for Ron, because the redhead doesn't look he would reply anytime soon.

"Who?"

"Padma Patil." Ron cuts in. Hermione smiles at him. He smiles back.

Harry decided to leave them and take a walk around the castle. He excuses himself and exits the room, Ron staring at his back, silently pleading for him to stay and help him with Hermione. Harry smirks.

Harry's walking around the winding halls when he sees someone sitting on a windowsill. He comes closer and notices that it's Draco. "Hi," he says. Draco's head snaps up and he looks at Harry. He relaxes and Harry sits next to him. "What are you doing?" he asks. Draco sighs and his hand reaches to take Harry's, who squeezes it affectionately.

"Contemplating life," he says softly. Harry smiles at him.

"Whatever for?" Harry asks tersely.

"It's hard," Draco admits.

"What?"

"Pretending to be fine."

"You're not fine?"

"Nope."

Harry hugs him and Draco turns his head to look at Harry. They stare into each other's eyes for a moment and Harry leans forward and kisses Draco. The moon shines down on them as they kiss gently. Draco smiles into the kiss and tugs Harry closer. They break away and look at each other again. Grey eyes stare into green.

"I have to go," Draco says huskily. Harry sighs but lets him go. Harry returns to Hermione in Ron, who are in a heated argument with a half smile, a confused look in his eyes.

The next day Harry realizes that there are only a few days left before the Yule Ball. He has robes picked out for the dance and is excited. (at least more so than Ron, who doesn't like Padma in the slightest.) He misses Draco, too. The blonde has been looking tired lately and Harry remembers the words from their last meeting. So after class, Harry leaves after Draco, who is the second one out. He backs Draco into a corner, and, surprising himself and Draco, he hugs Draco. The boy is stiff, but soon enough melts into the embrace. Harry rubs soothing circles on his back. They stay like that for a while until Harry pulls away. "You seem so tired lately," he worries, clutching Draco's hand. "I-i uh," Draco starts. "My-my father," he stammers. Harry's eyes harden. "Is he hurting you?" He asks fiercely. Draco shakes his head. "Physically, not yet, but mentally, yes," He says. Harry hardly stops to ponder "not yet" but tries to focus on the present.

"That's verbal abuse," Harry snaps. He knows it's too early in their "relationship"(he wouldn't call it that yet) to be so protective, especially with his former enemy, but he cares about Draco a lot. Draco still seems a little on guard around him, but right now he seems so off guard. Draco moves into Harry's warm body. Harry awkwardly embraces him. They talk for a while the rest of time before they have to split up and go to classes.

/

Soon enough, it's the day of the ball. Harry and Draco have not interacted since when Draco was having a hard time. Draco is nervous, Harry is both excited and nervous. He lays his robes out on his bed before going to lunch. It's a Saturday. He talks with Ron. "Do you think he'll like my robes?" he asks nervously, not thinking. Ron nearly spits out his chicken. "He?!" he says loudly. People look at them as Harry flushes red. "You're gay?" Ron says, quieter this time.

"Yep."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

Harry looks away. "I don't know who it is, mate, so I can't answer your question." Ron answers his original question.

Soon it's time for them to get ready. Harry shrugs on his robes, trying to arrange them neatly. They are dark green with silver patterns on the sleeves. He clears his throat nervously, his heart beating quickly. Everyone is going to find out about them. He wants Draco to be with him. He heads downstairs and goes to the doors. Draco is waiting. "Hi," Harry rasps. He looks stunning. Draco is wearing some black and green robes with white patterns on the chest. The blonde smiles weakly. "You look amazing," he says. Harry moves toward him. "You too," he replies. He offers his arm to Draco. Draco accepts and they walk in. People stare at them, and Harry wants to hide behind Draco. It's a laughable situation, he knows, being faced by the Dark Lord and not being nervous, and now he's practically a mess. Draco smiles at him, noticing the panicked look on his face. "It's okay," he murmurs into Harry's ear. Harry takes a deep breath and leads them up. People are gawking and whispering to each other. The first dance is the only one they HAVE to participate in, luckily.

/

Harry is talking to Ron and Hermione when Draco sits down next to him. "Hey," he says, lifting a hand to squeeze Harry's shoulder. The brunette sighs happily and leans into his embrace. "Hi," he says softly. Ron and Hermione gawk. They had no idea this is who Harry was with. The boy leans into Draco's side. Draco wraps an arm around him and smiles brilliantly. Ron and Hermione have never seen Harry so happy. "Malfoy?!" Ron splutters. Draco raises an eyebrow. "Hmm?" he says nonchalantly. "Wha- why are you with Harry?!" He exclaims. Draco snorts. "You think I'm going to try and trick him, leading him to his death?" he inquires. "Well-kind of," Ron says. Harry speaks up. "He wouldn't do that."
"How do you know?" Ron exclaims.

"I just do."

"I won't hurt him, I lo-like him a lot," Draco says, looking into Harry's eyes. People are gawking yet again.

Draco kisses Harry. The brunette kisses him back fiercely.

A few hours later, after they are done talking, and the activities have died down a bit, Draco pulls Harry out onto a balcony. The wind blows, cold and harsh.

Harry leans against Draco. The taller blonde smiles and suggests they slow dance. Harry grins and accepts.

"You clearly have no idea how to do this, do you?" Draco says, stifling a laugh. Harry shakes his head.

"Show me."

A few moments later, once they have figured out the positions, Harry lays his head on Draco's chest. "When you said you 'like me a lot', were you going to say- that you love me?" Harry inquires.

"Yes." Harry grins.

"God, I love you too Draco."

They dance to the gusts of wind blowing noises and cold, but they couldn't care less. They have each other.