A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get up, Thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter

Z-Nugget xx

Mia sat in what would have been a potions class, her eyes glazed over as she listened to Snape. The lesson itself had been cancelled. In fact every lesson this period had been cancelled and every student was now in an allocated hall with their house. It was slightly cramped considering there had to be a big enough 'dancing' space left in the middle of the room, so all of Slytherin house was currently pinned against the walls whilst trying to figure out how the potions master was going to give a ballroom class.

"You will be expected to dance, showing poise and elegance" he threw a disdainful look at Crabbe and Goyle, the concept of either showing any amount of poise or elegance truly laughable. Which was exactly what Mia did. Of course she tried to do the very cliché thing of covering it up with a cough, but it had still caused too much unwanted attention. "Ah, miss Lestrange. Thank you for volunteering" she started, looking up. Since when had laughing- or coughing for that matter classed as volunteering? She couldn't dance; she'd be laughed at by everyone! Yet somehow that still wasn't the biggest problem right now. No, Snape as a dance partner was easily winning.

"With y-you?" she stuttered, trying to keep the disgust off her features but the mental image of having to put her hands on his shoulders. It took all of her self control not to shudder.

"Don't be ridiculous" he snapped his black eyes briefly widening, apparently the thought wasn't so great for him either. "Mr Malfoy will be your partner" Ok, so maybe they were stood beside one another, but that hardly meant either wanted to be used as demonstration.

"I really don't think..." the protest died half way through due to the look Snape was giving her. At least Draco knew how to dance, she was sure he'd mentioned ballroom lessons.. This should be easy! The blonde pushed himself forward off of the wall he'd been lounging against, slowly striding into the centre of the room with Mia in toe.

Face to face he was roughly four inches taller than the younger Slytherin, her head having to tilt upwards to meet his eyes. She lifted one arm up, placing her left hand on his shoulder, whilst he took hold of her free one, entwining their fingers, his other resting lightly on her waist.

"I trust you know the basics" both teenagers glanced, or rather glared in Draco's case at their head of house positive they'd heard a mocking undertone to his voice. Of course Draco Malfoy knew how to dance. And he wasn't about to let Mia humiliate herself in front of ¼ of the school either.

"Follow my lead" he muttered to her as the music started playing, taking a step backwards with his right foot which thankfully she mirrored. It took her almost a minute, but she managed to pick up the steps and soon trusted herself enough to not have to look down at their feet permanently. They were gliding around the floor, several of the Slytherin's looking on with awe at how effortless the two were making it appear. Then again, Mia was pretty amazed that she hadn't stumbled yet. In fact it all seemed to be going well until the music sped up. The brunettes' eyes widened slightly at the thought of trying to pick up a faster routine, but Draco's hand squeezing hers briefly was oddly comforting. His steps started to become faster and more complicated, all of her focus going onto keeping up and not falling over. she risked a fleeting look up at Draco, deep green orbs meeting stormy grey which hadn't left hers from the beginning. He released her waist, spinning her out suddenly, dark waves of hair momentarily covering her vision before he pulled her back, her free hand bracing itself against his chest only to be snatched back up again. They were flying over the floor now, not gliding yet somehow the rapid movements were still appearing graceful, Mia performing moves she really hadn't thought possible.

Part of her wanted to stop, the horrible sensation of dancing In front of the whole house terrifying, but the naturalness of being in Draco's arms was slowly winning out. He pulled her close, sliding his hand teasingly slow down to her lower back then dipping her backwards just as the music ended. They were both breathless, the blondes face mere inches from here and for one wild moment Mia was sure he was going to kiss her again. But then the whole atmosphere was shattered by a smirking voice to the side.

"Very extravagant Mr. Malfoy" Draco finally tore his eyes from the fourth years, lifting her back up right, his hand lingering on the small of her back for several torturous seconds before he stepped away. She could still feel everyone's eyes on her, heat rising to her normally pale cheeks.

~Act natural. It was just instructed dancing that actually went far better than I expected. No one laughed. I can feel myself going red. This isn't good. Not good one bit. Breath. Breath!~

By the time she did remember how to take in oxygen other people were now gathering in the middle space and trying to get partners, whilst Draco was giving the brunette a curious look. She shook her head, explaining being the last thing she wanted to do.

"Need to get a drink" she mumbled, slipping through the crowd and out of the hall. The blonde kept his eyebrow raised for several more seconds before shaking his head.

~And she has the nerve to call me strange~

He grinned to himself, shoving his hands deep into his trouser pockets.

"Are you going to show me those moves Draco?" if his name hadn't been on end he would've just pretended not to have heard and walked off, instead he had to look over his shoulder and act interested in Pansy.

"I'll sit this one out" he announced, smirking at the pout she was now giving him. It just made her look even more like a pug. Did she honestly believe he'd want to touch her? Let alone dance. Please. He hadn't even intended on doing that with Mia and he actually liked her! No, why this girl had the notion that he even wanted to be talking with her was beyond his knowledge. Their teacher on the other hand seemed to have a different idea.

"You are here to learn dancing for the Yule ball, not to sit out" it had been said to the whole hall but Draco knew it was directed at him. Begrudgingly he turned back round to face Pansy who was still hovering around him like a fly.

"Can't you find someone else?" he asked, surprising himself with how whiney his voice suddenly sounded. Whether he wanted to get it of this or not, a Malfoy never whined.

"I don't want anyone else" that ugly pout was back on her equally ugly face. He resisted the urge to glance around for another partner, and instead allowed Pansy to cling to his shoulders like a repulsive koala. It was no surprise that she couldn't dance. In fact that was an understatement. She'd seemed to lose the ability to rest up right let alone put one foot in front of the other gracefully.

"You should've insisted on demonstrating with me" she whispered in what Draco regretfully presumed was a seductive voice.

"Why would I have wanted to do that?" he had to force a smirk onto his features instead of a grimace as she stepped on his right foot. Seriously, a blind chimp could do enter than this! Mia certainly could do better. That thought caused his eyes to flicker around the hall, catching the brunettes' who was now stood beside the door, what he was sure a forced smile covering her lips. She'd spotted him as soon as she'd walked back in, her emerald eyes drawn to the white-blonde head bobbing around in a sea of green and black robes.

~Why's he dancing with her? I've been gone 5 seconds and she's already pounced~

The smile faltered for a moment, replaced momentarily by a frown. Why was she over reacting so much? So what if Slytherin's prince wanted to practice with someone else. He could practice with the rest of the hall if he wanted to, and he probably would. But Mia really didn't feel like taking part with anyone else. Instead she waited until Snape was facing the opposite direction and slipped back out of the door, making her way back to what would be a completely empty Slytherin common room.

The blonde noticed the fourth year leave, but couldn't get out of his partners vice like grasp to go and catch her up. He'd seen the frown, but couldn't be sure as to why it had come about. Then again, maybe it was better if she left. He'd unintentionally got close to her again, and if staying in the hall dancing with the 'flower' would help sort that out, so be it.

ZNZNZN

Draco spotted her as soon as he reached the entrance to the dormitory stairs. The teenager was sitting on what appeared to be a supply crate from a potions cupboard almost completely hidden by the top stair case overhead, with one knee pulled up and the other leg dangling over the side of the crate. Mia's hands were locked around her knee and her back was resting against the cool stone wall. It didn't look comfortable but the distracted look on the Slytherin's face indicated that she didn't care. He could've carried on down the stairs, using the excuse that she was so well hidden he simply hadn't spotter her, but the distant look in her eyes didn't make that possible. The blonde had to duck down slightly to get between the two stair cases before sitting down on the small crate.

"Snape sent a second year to go look for you, when they couldn't find you he sent me" Why he felt the need to explain himself was anyone's guess, and why it wasn't the truth was also a mystery. A second year had been told to check the dormitory, but Draco had taken it into his own hands and managed to sneak away. The brunette gave a small nod, her mind still elsewhere.

"What's wrong?" he asked, bumping her shoulder playfully in an attempt to cheer her up. Mia let out a sigh, blowing black curls from her face. She hadn't intended to walk off and sit on a crate. Then again, who would intent to do that? But in all honesty she hadn't intended to dance at all that day, so this really wasn't so weird.

Looking over at her friend, she shrugged. Nothing was wrong, well nothing she wished to admit to.
"Just wanted a drink" she muttered.

"They do drinks under here?" the younger resisted the urge to bump him onto the floor, although that was an amusing mental image.

"Only if you ask nicely"

"And I'm not able to do that?" the blonde raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing over his chest. Sure he'd play along, anything if it made her talk.

"You're catching on fast" her other leg dropped down off of the crate, heels going together. It had been oddly peaceful sitting there alone, not comfortable, but certainly peaceful. Although the crick in her neck wasn't so nice. "Have fun with Pansy?" if anyone had been passing they would've thought it was just a harmless question between friends, but Draco caught the undertone to her voice and had to bite down on his lip to stop a snide comment. Instead he shrugged, attempting to appear unaffected.

"She can't dance"

"Neither can I"

"You were holding your own pretty well" Mia glanced over in the others direction, her eyes briefly meeting his. What was he playing at?

"Was that meant to be a compliment?" both Slytherin's paused, their attention momentarily drawn to a group heading down to the dormitory. Once they'd passed Draco stood up off the crate.

"Maybe we should go back up to the room" he suggested ignoring the earlier question and holding his hand out for her to take. The younger blinked, suddenly caught off guard,

"I need to go to the library, I'll meet you later?" Taking his hand she allowed him to pull her up, glad she didn't have to bend down like he was to fit under the staircase. Sometimes being small had its perks. The blonde nodded, his hands going back into his pockets as he stepped out of the hidden space, straightening up and stretching. That probably hadn't done his back any good, but it was highly likely that Mia would have sat there for hours if he hadn't done anything. So all in all, it was worth it.

"Ok" he agreed, taking the several steps to the main stairwell, cracking his knuckles as he waited for her, smirking at the expression she was now giving him. "What?" The brunette shook her head, half tempted to hit him with the empty crate, and if it hadn't been for the fact the library would be shutting soon, she probably would have.