Smells Like Teen Spirit
Saturday 19th December rolled around quicker than any of the students could have imagined. They had finished school for the term yesterday, only having half a day's worth of lessons. Now, the air in the Great Hall was full of excitement and stress: What was the Ball going to be like? What bands are going to be playing? Do I have everything I need? Am I going to look ok? Questions and excited whispers filled the Hall, many topics on their lips. But there was one topic that was the most common, and the one that everybody wanted to know: Who were the ex-students going to be, and when would they be arriving? Professor McGonagall had kept everything under wraps, including the decorations the Hall was going to get. Though, people had a fair idea as to what there was going to be. All around the school, icicles hung from the ceiling, wreaths were round very staircase, and snow fell gently in the halls, melting before it hit the people below. The only people who knew the exact details of what everything was going to look like were the Professor, Hermione and Draco. Currently, the Head Boy and Girl, along with their friends, were sitting at the Gryffindor table, discussing the Ball.
"Oh I'm so worried. What if something goes wrong, what if we can't get it to work right? What if I can't do the spells that McGonagall wants me to do? What if…"
"Hermione, no more what ifs." Draco interrupted her gently. "You are the brightest witch of our age. You are more than capable of casting a few simple spells. For heaven's sake, you survived ten months on the run from one of the most dangerous wizards to have ever lived! Stop putting yourself down, you are going to be fine. Everything will be fine, now stop worrying."
"Really?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yes." Ron answered her. "You're brilliant 'Mione. If you're really that bothered as to what it's going to look like, I could always come with you, make sure that everything is up to scratch…" Ron suggested, hedging his bets.
"No way Ronald, no way! No student apart from Draco and I is allowed to see what the Great Hall looks like until the doors open, and that includes you." She smacked him on the arm lightly.
"Alright, alright! God, no need to abuse me." He laughed.
"What are you doing today 'arry?" Fleur asked.
"Hmm? Oh, I was just going to spend the day lazing about until it's time to get ready." Harry answered tiredly.
"Oh no, you are not! You, Harry, are coming with me." Draco ordered.
"What for?" Harry whined.
"I need to get some last minute presents, and you are going to help me choose them."
At the word 'presents', Harry perked up. "Presents? But won't I end up seeing mine?"
"Who says you're getting a present from me? And no, you won't see it because I already have it. I had it a couple of months ago. I presume you haven't been arsed to get any from you yet? Going to leave it until the day before again are you?"
"Actually, I think you'll find that I already have most of mine. I only need to get one more, and then I'm done." Harry said smugly.
"Excellent, even more of an excuse for you to come with me then. Come on, if we're going to buy a lot, and get back in time for me to help Hermione and McGonagall with the presents, as well as having time to get myself sorted, we need to go now." Draco stood up and extended his arm down to Harry.
"But Draco, it's a Saturday, and it's only nine in the morning." Harry moaned.
"Exactly. The party starts at six, and I want to be back for just before four so I can help set up. Come on." Draco grabbed the other boy's arm and dragged him. Harry did nothing but protest, and behind them both, they heard the laughing of all their friends and Harry's bad luck.
xxxDHDHxxx
It was three fifty when the boys returned back. Draco had dragged Harry to every expensive Wizarding and Muggle shop he knew of. In the end, Draco had spent a couple of hundred galleons on his remaining five presents. Harry had seen a few things he wished he had seen before hand for his friends, but hadn't bought anything. Not exactly. He had placed an order at Quality Quidditch Supplies for a completely new set of Quidditch gear for Ginny, including robes, gloves and the new Firebolt 2000. A few weeks back, he had also asked a favour, name dropping himself of course, to one of the biggest teams in the world: The Holyhead Harpies. All he needed now was a reply, and then he could wrap up her present. That was just under two hours ago.
Draco was currently in the bathroom, preening himself ready for the Ball which would be starting in half an hour. Already dressed in his robes, he was combing through his hair and gelling it back until it looked perfect. He still needed to look good you know, even if he wasn't a Malfoy by name any more. Unlike the last Yule Ball, Draco didn't have a date. He was gay, what was the point of putting a girl through going with him when he had no interest in her? It wouldn't be fair. No, Draco would go with the rest of the eighth years. Amongst themselves, they had all decided to go together as friends, rather than splitting off and going their separate ways. In the four months they had all been living together, the eighth years had all become very close friends, so decided to all go together. Draco smiled at the absurdity of Slytherins being best friends with Gryffindors as he made the finishing touch to his look: a small silver stud in his ear. Happy with his reflection, Draco swept out of the bathroom back into the dorm.
"Wow." Harry simply said, in awe.
"I take it you like it?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Absolutely. You will certainly break a few hearts tonight."
"As will you Harry. With those robes, that loose hair, and those piercings, you look simply divine."
Harry bowed his head. "Don't embarrass me!"
"I'm not embarrassing you." Draco stepped closer until he was right in front of Harry. "Don't you like compliments?"
Harry looked up into Draco's eyes. "Truth be told, no, I don't. I never know whether people are just saying it or whether they mean it."
"Trust me Harry, I mean it. Now come on, we can't be late."
xxxDHDHxxx
The Great Hall looked magnificent. Everywhere students looked, icicles hung from the ceiling. Snow fell from the enchanted sky. Ice sculptures stood in the corners of the room, and next to the door were two polar bear sculptures, poised as if they were on guard and were ready to pounce at any minute. On every table was a miniature of the bears, again, ready to pounce. Any material decorations were blue and silver. The twelve tress that always stood proud in the Hall were decorated with silver and blue, and little fairies that flew around them topping up the snow on them. In the centre of the Hall, once again, was a dance floor, ready for the students to use.
Professor McGonagall stood up to the front of the staff table. "If I could have your attention please? Thank you. Before we begin, we need to welcome back our ex-students. Please welcome back to the school, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Cho Chang, Lee Jordan, and George Weasley." The six strode in proudly, Angelina on George's arm and Katie on Lee's. Alicia and Cho had their arms linked. The students in the school especially those who them, were in an excited uproar, cheering and shouting to their friends. Professor McGonagall once again called silence. "Now, the first dance. Everyone must dance this, but after that, you may sit out for the others. Maestro please." The music started and the students started twirling around in a waltz. In his arms, Harry had Ginny. She had kindly agreed to let him have the first dance of the night. She looked beautiful, in a floor length black dress with silver detailing on the front of the waist. Looking over he saw that Draco was dancing with Astoria. She was in a silver floor length dress that had rhinestones on the top. Her sister wore a similar dress, but in grey. But by far, the most beautiful person in the Hall, all the boys had to agree, was Professor Elliott. She wore a white floor length dress with a design made of Swarovski crystals under her bust. Her long hair was straight down her back. Her blue eyes were framed by icy blue make-up, with a small design made of gems at the outer corners. She wore a single Swarovski heart around her neck on a silver chain, with small dropper earrings, again Swarovski, in her ears to match. She looked stunning. She danced in the arms of the new Potions Master (Slughorn had had an accident in and of his classes and was currently in St. Mungo's), Professor Matt Hopkins, a handsome man who was extremely tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. All of the other girls were beautiful also, but the Professor looked like a super model.
xxxDHDHxxx
It was well after midnight when Draco decided to call it a night. Being Head Boy, he had to stay until the end, or almost until the end, to make sure that everything went to plan. Now however, he was exhausted. Not tired, just exhausted. He needed to rest. Thankfully, Harry was still awake.
"Finally escaped then?" The Gryffindor asked.
"Yeah. Everyone's been made to leave. The teachers have had enough of the noise, and of the drunkenness that's come from Seamus spiking the drink."
"Seamus always spikes the drink if he can't get the actual stuff. Why do you think most of us Gryffindors are so tolerant to it? Every party we used to have when we won the Quidditch games would involve Firewhisky. When you drink every year at least four, five, maybe even six times a year, you get pretty used to it. Astoria looked very pretty tonight."
"Yes she did. I was originally going to be marrying her you know." Draco said as he changed out of his clothes and sat on his bed. "That was until I came out."
"Really? I always thought that you'd marry Pansy."
"Pansy? Seriously? No. She's been betrothed to Blaise since they were born. The only reason we went out with each other is because we wanted a bit of fun before we had to grow up. Plus, she used to fancy me, and I thought I'd be nice and let her go out with me before she had to marry him."
"So you went out with her despite the fact you're gay? Bit unfair on her isn't it?"
"This was before I knew I was. I used to fancy her, but as I got older, I realised I focussed more on the boys than I did the girls. So we ended it. No more."
"Fair enough. I didn't know you could dance that well."
"It's been taught to me since I could walk Harry. I'd like to think I can. I noticed you've improved since the Yule Ball, but I tell you, you don't know how to slow dance."
"I do!" Harry protested.
"No, Harry, you don't. I mean sure, you know how to move in a circle, but as for how to hold the girl, you certainly don't." Draco chuckled.
"And I suppose you do?"
"Yes actually, I do. Come on." Draco stood up and walked over to Harry, holding out his hand.
"What?"
"I'll show you how to slow dance. Up." Draco grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him up and over to the centre of the room. "Right, you'll be the girl for this and I'll be the guy."
"That's not fair!"
"Actually it is. I'm trying to teach you how to treat the lady when you dance with her, but for you to learn, you need to know how she feels when you do treat her right. Therefore, you're the girl for this lesson."
"Ok fine. What do I have to do?"
"First, you put your arms around my neck." Harry did. Draco waved his wand and Bon Jovi's Always started to play. Throwing his wand onto his bed, he placed his arms around Harry's waist and started to slowly move them in a circle. "Now then Harry, when slow dancing with a girl, you have to put your head close to hers, like this." Draco placed his head next to Harry's, who automatically rested his own head on Draco's shoulder. "See? How automatic was that? If she can't reach your shoulder, which poor Ginny can't, she'll rest her head on your chest. It induces an intimate feel between you both, and closes you off from the rest of the world. Then you start talking sweet nothings into her ear, including how pretty she looks and how amazing she is. Or, because it's you, how amazing you looked tonight at the Ball, and how amazing you are at everything, including saving the world."
Harry laughed. "Why thank you. But I must ask, are you flirting with me?"
Draco smirked and chuckled again. "Trust me, Potter," he purred, "you'd know if I was flirting. You'd know it, because my voice would drop like this." It did. "Then I'd start saying stuff better than 'you're amazing', including, 'that suit you wore tonight was driving me crazy. I just wanted to rip it off of you'. And then…yep, there it is. You're breathing would change and become all ragged and uneven. That's flirting. Did it work?"
"Yeah." Harry panted.
"Tut, tut, tut, Harry. Calm down. When you slow dance with a girl, unless it's one you're already with and one you know you're going to get it on with later that night, you do not flirt. You just compliment. Then that's it. Nothing more is needed. Just let the music and the atmosphere take over. Make her feel safe in your arms. Make her feel wanted. Make her feel loved, even if you don't love her back."
"Wouldn't that be unfair, leading her on like that?" Harry asked, his voice muffled against Draco's neck.
"Trust me, it's what they want, even if you don't feel that way." They continued to sway on the spot until the music faded out, where they came to a slow stop. They stayed locked in each other's arms for a while longer as Draco spoke again. "That is how you slow dance."
Harry pulled away slightly so he could look into the other boy's eyes. Slowly, tentatively, he leaned forward, until their foreheads rested against each other's. Harry's breathing hitched slowly and his eyes closed, but a brief moment later, he felt the pressure of the other boy leave. Opening his eyes, he saw Draco retreat to his bed, climbing in. "Draco?"
"I can't Harry, not yet. I'm sorry. Goodnight." Draco turned away from the Gryffindor, who stood dumbfounded.
"Draco…"
"Goodnight Harry," the other boy repeated, effectively ending the conversation.
Harry sighed. He knew he wouldn't get anything else out of the boy tonight. It wasn't fair though, Draco talking like that, turning on Harry like that, and knowing what he was doing, but not wanting to take it any further and shutting Harry out like that. Not fair at all. Never mind, he would talk to him during the holidays. They left tomorrow after all.
xxxxx