Blackmail Chapter 9

Dorie Kaiba

The snow had come in and the fern like patterns of ice now hung on the windows as Harry glanced out of them. The snow was pure and smooth and reminded him of Draco. What an odd thought, for something pure to remind him of Draco, only a few months ago Draco Malfoy would never have been associated with anything pure. They had been civil to one another in public for the last two months, and were starting to become friends. There were still some teachers who mouths fell in shock when they would see the two of them conversing politely. Ron had the same expression too. Harry really did like Ron, he was Harry's best friend but sometimes He wished Ron would grow up. Hermione had accepted that Draco wasn't always evil, although Harry hadn't told her about Narcissa's death, he felt sure she would have sympathized. Harry wondered if she would be so accepting if he just came out of the closet. But why invite in to his life more hassle and torment? No, in the closet he would stay, until school had ended.

"Harry mate, its dinnertime, you coming?"

Harry nodded and walked down to the Great Hall.

He sat next to Hermione and saw she was red with excitement.

"Oh, Harry have you heard the news?"

He shook his head.

"There is going to be another Yule ball."

Ron grinned and said, "Maybe we will have a better time at this one. We were too young to enjoy the last one properly."

Hermione scowled at Ron. "You just had to say it that way didn't you?"

Ron made the innocent face and Harry laughed to see it so poorly acted.

"So in the effort to save time, Ron who are you going to take?" He then looked quickly at Hermione and then looked back.

"Hermione would you like to go with me?"

Hermione beamed. "You learned something from last time. Yes, Ron I would be delighted."

Harry smiled, "See you are capable of learning if someone gives you the overly obvious hint."

Hermione broke into laughter.

"You guys are in a particularly cheerful mood tonight. What are you plotting?"

Harry looked up at Draco and grinned.

"We are not plotting anything. We are oh-so-innocent little Gryffindors."

"Yeah right. So who are you taking Harry?"

"I am not going. I don't dance."

"I shall join you in that decision in the spirit of camaraderie."

"Really?"

"No I just don't want to be stuck with Pansy again. She is repellent and I am a fool not to have noticed it years ago."

"You admit to doing something foolish, it's the end of the world as we know it."

Ron added, "And I feel fine. Sorry, it had to be sung."