Warning: This chapter is so fluffy it may give you a cavity. Don't send me your dental bill.

Chptr13

Draco was suffering an attack of the nerves; in this case, attack was a very apt word as it felt as though his stomach was waging civil war on his intestines. Approaching the Great Hall, he couldn't help but crane his neck to try and catch a glimpse of his admiree in amongst the rabble of students trying to find their dates. He ran his fingers through his hair. He was awoken from his reverie by a sharp pain to his foot. He was immediately incredibly annoyed for his Italian designer shoes' sake.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, angrily glaring at the cause of his injury. "What did you do that for you stupid bint?"

"You're not paying me any attention," whined Pansy, pouting and swishing her dress about. "You're looking for someone else".

"It's none of your business if I am," Draco growled, feeling royally pissed. "And you're not my date remember?" Pansy glared at him, but it was a mark of the strength of her infatuation with him that she didn't immediately storm off to find a more appreciative dance partner. Draco supposed he respected that, but it didn't mean he liked her.

Just then, Draco saw the Gryffindor girls come into view. There was Chamomile Brown meeting a Hufflepuff boy in the year above, she was wearing fitted pale pink satin robes dotted with pearls, which perfectly complimented her dyed blonde hair – what? Draco was allowed to appreciate fashion -, even in her three inch stilettos she still didn't reach past her date's nose. He felt rather sorry for the short girl, but she seemed perfectly happy. Parvati Patil was next, in deep turquoise robes with a gold sash, looking stunning in matching sandals on the arm of Seamus Finnegan. Draco was pretty sure that Finnegan was gay, but who was he to judge? Hermione didn't fail to please this year either in lilac robes with elbow-length sleeves cinched in at the waist with a lacy belt. Her hair tamed again, and pulled back in a low bun. In her kitten heels, she was about a head shorter than her date, who to Draco's shock and delight was Ron Weasley, looking distinguished in smart new dress robes and a lopsided grin. If Weasley was going with Hermione, who was Harry's date?

All the breath was knocked out of Draco's lungs as Harry walked shyly into view, searching around. She was wearing fitted robes in the shade of green that perfectly matched her eyes, with a full skirt and a golden hem and belt. Her hair which usually hit just past her shoulder, was swept onto one shoulder and seemed to have gained some length since earlier, Her glasses were gone as well, presumably replaced by a temporary vision correction charm. Her big green eyes fixed on Draco for a second, and she quickly ducked her head, trying to hide the flush that had sprung up, luckily missing the matching colour in his face. She was tapped on the shoulder by none other than Ernie Macmillan - who Draco felt a sudden rush of hatred for - and they both proceeded through the doors into the Great Hall.

Pansy dragged Draco through the double-doors - unaware for the moment of his distraction, which luckily for his common sense, vanished into the crowd - and they proceeded into the hall. The Great Hall had once again been decorated beautifully for the event, with ideas stolen from Beauxbatons- such as everlasting ice sculptures glittering around the room- but still with the usual charm of Hogwarts - the twelve trees infested with pixies which probably weren't supposed to be there, and the hire of the Weird Sisters who must have a personal connection to Dumbledore or one of the other teachers, because they seemed to turn up for a lot of school events. Draco wasn't complaining.

Pansy and Draco stepped out onto the floor - which looked like the surface of a frozen lake – and started to dance to the slow song, magically amplified over the hall. Draco of course was very nervous and kept accidently stepping on Pansy's feet, much to her annoyance. Finally, the song ended and Draco pulled away from Pansy with finality, inspiring the comment: "You're a rubbish dancer anyway!" and a pout.

Many other students were now searching around for a new partner, or sitting down to grab a drink. Draco hung about slightly awkwardly at the edge of the hall until he was rescued by Daphne Greengrass, one of Pansy's slightly more amicable friends to whom he'd grown closer in the past month or so.

xxxXXXxxx

Harry was enjoying herself immensely. She had danced the first dance with Ernie - who had then taken off in search of Ginny - and then she had been picked up by a tall Ravenclaw seventh year who was very polite and civil, finally, for a particularly raucous number, she had found herself partnered with Fred Weasley who had whirled her around, and left her breathless, cracking jokes the whole time. One advantage it seemed, of being a girl, was that she had considerably more grace than before. She may not be the most amazing dancer in the school, but she could certainly hold her own. Tuckered out, after the latest dance, she escaped the gleeful masses and made her way to fetch a drink. Armed with butterbeer, she sat herself down at the nearest table, and watched the dancers with interest, until, that is, she heard a spluttering noise behind her. She turned around in surprise.

Sitting next to her at the round table, was Draco Malfoy. She would have been nervous, but exhilaration from the dancing, and worry that he was choking, made her quite forget her butterflies. She pulled out her wand, and quick as you like, she muttered, "Anapeo". Draco looked at her gratefully.

"Went down the wrong way?" She enquired, indicating his gillywater.

"Yeah," he replied, all abashed and flushing.

"You were with Pansy, where is she?" Harry couldn't help but ask, hoping she didn't sound too interested.

"Oh, I escaped her," Draco answered bluntly, "What about Ernie?"

"He really wanted to dance with Ginny. What do you mean 'escaped'?" Harry's interest was peaked. Did he really not like Pansy?

"I really can't stand her, I promised her one dance if she'd leave me alone. I think I scared her off by treading on her toes, but one can never be sure when one's admirer is a nutty as Pansy," he grinned. Harry let out a snort, while internally, fireworks were going off and she was lifted into a state of euphoria.

"Not the greatest dancer?" she inquired with great interest. Surely someone with his grace would at least know how to slow dance?

"Oh no, usually I'm quite good, my father considered it a necessary social skill, but I was nervous," He quickly looked down with the air of someone who'd revealed a secret. But Harry realised what he said and was quick on the reply.

"Why were you nervous?" She asked, narrowing her eyes, determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

"Erm... well...," he seemed to be trying to find the words, but they failed him, so abruptly he stood up, ran his hand through his hair and then held it out to her. "Doyouwannadance?" He burst out in one. Harry blushed, and replied shyly.

"Why not?" She stood up and took his cool hand.

xxxXXXxxx

Ron and Hermione had been dancing together for the whole ball so far, and both were blissfully unaware of everyone else. Hermione felt as though she was floating. She had been imagining this since the last ball, when Ron had seemed to be just as interested in her as she was in him – and it was better than any of her expectations. Ron was actually a really good dancer for such an uncoordinated guy, and Hermione felt like a princess as her lilac robes billowed around her.

Ron was having the time of his life as well. He wished he had asked Hermione to the ball the ball before as well, he felt as though he would have enjoyed it far more than he had if he'd been in Hermione's arms for the night, although he also felt that he'd matured more since then, and therefore could appreciate the company of a beautiful woman more. They whirled round the dance floor to a cover of a Celestina Warbeck song which was one of Ron's personal favourites.

xxxXXXxxx

Harry was much more fun to dance with, thought Draco as they spun round the dance floor like clockwork dancers in a music box. Both of them were nervous, so they were both stumbling over their feet and steeping on each other, but it was alright, because whenever it happened, they both burst out laughing uncontrollably, earning glares from the surrounding couples who's romantic moments had been ruined by the outburst - but more often than not, the glares turned into unbelieving stares, as they observed the impossible couple in front of them, previously sworn enemies, now laughing together dancing, all because of an unfortunate accident in a potions class. Draco, however, hardly noticed these curious attentions, and they swirled past gaping couples, in fits of hysteria. As they passed the teachers, he caught a half-hearted sneer from Snape, a curious look from McGonagall, but a wink from Dumbledore, who had probably been aware of his feelings before even he had been. That old coot was nothing but perceptive.

Eventually, after about four consecutive songs, Draco led Harry by the hand to their table and they collapsed laughing. It was just time for the meal, and the pair were starving. They were joined by Fred and Angelina, who looked beautiful in her gold dress robes, George and a pretty Hufflepuff girl from his year with curly black hair and a gap between her front teeth whom he introduced as Naomi, and Hermione and Ron. Draco was getting wary looks from George and Fred, but his hand entwined with Harry's combined with his friendliness towards them over the past few days, seemed to dub him alright in their book, although Ron was stilleyeing him with full-on dislike. He could tell that Ron was about to say something rude, but a glowing Hermione hit him on the arm and whispered something in his ear, which reduced his hostility to the occasional wary glance.

They ordered their food and tucked in as it appeared on the table; Harry and Draco occasionally bumping each other's arms and stealing grins. Draco decided to try and get on the Weasley's good books, it couldn't hurt, and the twins were quite the entrepreneurs – he fancied that they'd be great contacts to have – or at least that's how he justified it to himself.

"Fred, I saw you dancing. You're very good," he said in between bites of chicken, "Where did you learn to dance like that?"

Fred looked at him suspiciously but spoke relatively amicably. "Georgie and I decided to take lessons in the social arts. Because of our joke shop we've been invited to quite a few social gatherings and we felt we ought to brush up on our dancing".

"Well, as I said, impressive," Draco reiterated, earning an appraising look from Angelina.

"Mr Malfoy Junior," George suddenly burst out, "What brought along this sudden change of heart?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

"You're being nice to us!" Fred answered with relish.

"Yes, from my memory you were always a snivelling little bugger with more money than sense," added Angelina with her mouth full of lamb. "And you always cheated at quidditch".

Draco laughed. "Charming. But the fact is that I realised that I was being, as you so eloquently put it 'a snivelling little bugger with more money than sense'-"

"That's my girl!" Fred grabbed her round the shoulders and she rolled her eyes, still chewing.

"-and I figured that nobody likes a jerk and I resolved to 'mend my ways' as you would say". Harry placed her hand on his thigh, and he turned towards her, his heart leaping in his throat as she smiled at him.

"Hear hear!" chorused the Weasley twins, who Draco had decided were not so bad after all, and the table proceed to engage in a lively conversation over the various merits of Dumbledore's new festive hat.

xxxXXXxxx

As the food cleared away, Harry and Draco remained seated, not sure they were up for another dance at this point – too full of good food. As they sat, quite content, hand in hand, George and Naomi took to the dance floor once again, closely followed by Fred and Angelina, leaving only Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Harry herself. Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder, and turning her away from her date, he murmured, "Can I have a word?" They stepped away from the table.

"Harry," Ron blurted as soon as they stepped away, "I don't like Malfoy, and I don't trust him."

"Well you got straight to the point didn't you?" Harry replied, irritated, smoothing down the creases in her robes.

"I mean it!" Ron said earnestly, taking her by the arm. "Don't let him take advantage of you. He's cunning, you don't know why he's being nice to you".

"I think he really likes me Ron, so you could try and be happy for me!" Harry hissed, tugging her arm back, hurt. "Now if you'll excuse me!" She stormed away from her best friend, leaving him standing there with mingled shock and concern written across his face. Harry immediately resolved to forget what Ron had said and get on with enjoying her night. Ron's doubts about Ginny's many boyfriends had never rung true, so she resolved not to let this get to her.

She arrived back at the table, and Draco stood up, looking like a gallant, but bashful prince.

"What did he want?" He asked, concern written all over his face.

"He still doesn't trust you," Harry shrugged, "He'll get over it".

They joined hands and, almost pulled by a sort of magnetism, headed towards the exit.

They went through the double doors and out into the snowy grounds. The glittering snow piles seemed to be sitting perfectly, as though Hogwarts was the winter wonderland from the song. They walked silently, hand in hand, not noticing the occasional rustle or gasp from the bushes. They kept walking, admiring the glittering ice sculptures and clear starry sky surrounding them. Eventually they came to a natural stop 'round the far side of the castle.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Draco asked, breathlessly, a funny look in his eyes.

"Yeah, it is," Harry quietly agreed, staring at him in wonder. She gazed up into his endless grey eyes, entranced. She felt as though she was connected to this beautiful boy standing before her, his eyes showing his every emotion plain to see. The snow was starting to fall again, and she vaguely registered that it must be magical, as the sky was so clear. The flakes were falling heavier now, frosting Draco's hair - which was bleached silver in the moonlight - and landing on his long eyelashes. Their faces were much closer now and she giggled nervously and a little breathlessly, as she reached her hands up to his shoulders. She felt his long fingers on the small of her back, his other perfect hand in her hair, and suddenly, her lips met his and they were kissing. Finally.

It was the most magical thing that had ever happened to her, and speaking as a Hogwarts student, this was clearly saying quite a lot. She moved her hands to the back of his head, lacing her fingers into his beautiful soft hair, pulling him against her, deepening the kiss. Her head emptied of thought of anything but him, and she was aware of nothing, but the feel of his lips against hers and his hair against her fingers. Nothing but his hands pulling her in at the waist. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not a thing.

I know I was clutching at straws to put the twins in, but I couldn't resist a bit of Gred and Forge! Let's just pretend that Dumbledear invited them!