Thank you for all the reviews.

Sorry for not updating in a while, but until I graduate (hopefully June/July) university has to come first. I get regular panic attacks thinking about how I have to pass two major oral exams and write an 80 page diploma thesis till May, but I have managed to write about a thousand words every November on this story so I should be able to do the same for my thesis. I will still try to write a chapter every week.

It was my birthday two days ago, so be nice ;)

Read, enjoy and review :)

Although the fourth years were given a heavy load of homework, Draco was floating on cloud number nine for the rest of the week. Astoria had said she would be honored to go with him, and that alone was enough for him to be in a constant state of bliss. All the feelings he harbored for Astoria and which he usually had to squash were finally freed from their Occlumency restraints and ready to dictate his body and mind. For once, Draco was absolutely happy and carefree.

As a result, everything else went smoothly as well. He had no problems picking out the perfect Christmas presents for all of his friends and his family, the cure he was working on with Snape and Neville was coming along nicely, and the prank war he was in with Fred and George, who he could now correctly identify 80% of the time, was also keeping the school entertained. Although, right now it looked like the twins were winning. Fred and George had had a great success with their newest invention - Canary Creams - and for the first couple of days of the holidays, people kept bursting into feathers all over the place.

Soon, everyone had learned to treat food anybody else offered them with extreme caution, in case it had a Canary Cream concealed in the center. Not that Draco hadn't learned a long time ago that food at Hogwarts could never be trusted.

Snow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds now. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Durmstrang ship's portholes were glazed with ice, the rigging white with frost. The house-elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews and savory puddings.

One morning, Draco overheard the Golden Trio talking in the Great Hall.

"Hermione - who are you going to the ball with?" asked Ron out of the blue.

Hermione merely frowned and said, "I'm not telling you."

Draco chuckled. He knew exactly who she was going with. Krum had been in a constant state of nervous anxiety until he finally managed to ask her out. How could a Quidditch legend have such self-esteem issues, Draco wondered.

"Oh come on. We're your best friends. You can tell us," Ron tried again.

"No. You'll only make fun of me."

"If you don't tell us we'll just assume you're making this mysterious lover up," Ron huffed.

"Excuse me?" Hermione growled.

"Relax, Granger," Draco said, choosing this moment to enter their conversation. "He's just moody because he's the only one in the whole school without a date."

"Shut it, Malfoy," spat Ron scathingly. But that only made Draco laugh, because he knew he was right.

"Maybe one of the Patil twins will go with you… or Pansy," Draco shuddered. He had been avoiding her ever since the love potion fiasco.

Ron just glared at him.

"How about Luna, then? Astoria mentioned no one has asked her yet."

"I don't need to take little girls on pity dates because they can't go any other way," he spat. "I imagine that's the only reason she - or anyone really - would go with someone like you."

"Take that back, Weasel," Draco growled, good mood vanished, drawing his wand.

"Hey," Potter sprang up and stood between them. "Calm down. Jesus, Ron, what's gotten into you?"

But Ron had left them already.

"Don't take it personally," Hermione muttered. "He's been like that since he asked Fleur out. Unsuccessfully, obviously."

Draco shrugged. He'd had a feeling that he and the Weasel wouldn't become friends anytime soon.

"Still, it was uncalled for," said Potter. "I am taking someone younger as well."

"Ginny?" Draco grinned. Probably another reason for Weasley's bad mood.

Harry nodded.

"Did you ask her out?" He did not remember them going together the first time around, but then again he did not remember who he went with instead either. The ball and who went with whom... it had seemed so big and important, back then, but he could barely remember anything from that night besides snogging Pansy in the end.

"Uhm-" Harry blushed, "not really."

"Ron asked her. Although "asked" might be the wrong term. He pretentiously said Ginny could go with Harry and I could go with him," explained Hermione. "He just assumed no one would want to go out with us and that he was doing us a favor," she huffed.

"Always the charmer," Draco grinned.

On his way back to his dorm, he saw Snape heading for the Astronomy tower. He was followed by McGonagall.

"Severus!" she called, bringing him to a stop. Draco hid behind a corner. He did not want to eavesdrop, but he needed to pass that corridor to get back to his dorm and he did not want to get into the middle of whatever this was.

"Severus, I've been looking all over for you," McGonagall started. "Haven't you gotten my note?"

Draco peered around the corner to see what was going on. Snape was clearly on the offensive and McGonagall was now blocking his way.

"Must have gotten lost in all the paperwork..."

McGonagall glared at him.

"Can't this wait? I was just-"

"On your way to the Astronomy tower?" interrupted McGonagall. "In the middle of the day. During a snow storm, no less."

"Minerva... Do I really have to? Why can't-"

"You are their Head of House! You have a champion in your house. It is your duty," McGonagall explained calmly.

"I refuse to do it," stated Snape, but Draco had a feeling that whatever McGonagall wanted, she would get it.

"I will not have our champions be shown up by those from Beauxbaton or Durmstrang. Besides, if you don't," she leaned forward, whispering something into Snape's ear.

Snape inhaled sharply and went rather pale. "You would not dare," he whispered.

"Try me." McGonagall had an evil glint in her eyes. "And I will make sure that every Slytherin who ever serves detention with me will clean the Gryffindor house cup."

"Fine, I'll do it," sighed Snape.

McGonagall just grinned.

Later that day, Snape announced that every Slytherin fourth year and up would have to come to a meeting in an empty classroom after dinner.

"What's this again?" groaned Blaise. "Another serial killer on the loose?"

Daphne chuckled. "You should ask Draco. He is our resident serial killer expert."

"Hey," laughed Draco. "I have absolutely no idea what this could be about."

"Rrrrright," laughed Theo. "Not sure anyone believes you anymore."

"Well, it's probably got something to do with the ball, seeing how only those who are allowed to go there are called to the meeting."

They had reached the classroom and gathered around their Head of House. Snape outwardly appeared quite calm, which Draco found impressive as he could not imagine his godfather having accepted whatever McGonagall was forcing him to do.

"Attention," Snape called, which immediately let all the noise of the gathering die down. "As you know, the Yule ball is approaching. Although meant as a night of well mannered frivolity, I expect each and everyone of you to put your best foot forward. And I mean this literally as the Yule ball is first and foremost, a dance."

Draco could not help but snicker. Was Snape going to teach them how to dance?

"Mr. Malfoy, do you find this amusing?" Snape chided.

"No, sir," gulped Draco.

McGonagall chose this moment to enter the room and Snape's glare wandered from Draco to her. His posture had become even more stiff than was usual for the man.

Snape chose to let McGonagall explain the basics of the dance they were learning. After her explanation, she demonstrated the dance with a clearly reluctant Snape.

Best spy in the world or not, it was as clear as day that their professor was anything but happy about the situation. They were good dancers, but seeing the two strict professors dance together was still by far the most hilarious thing Draco had seen all year and he was not the only one chuckling. Within 10 minutes they had lost Slytherin a three-digit number of house points.

"Everyone, find yourself a partner," Snape finally barked and Draco knew that he would enjoy seeing them struggling through this socially awkward situation as much as they had watching him.

At first, everyone seemed shocked, but then, a commotion broke out, as everyone tried to find a partner. Had Draco not been equally panicked, he would have found the distress of his usually so calm and collected house funny.

Draco could see Pansy stalking towards him and quickly searched for Daphne. But as soon as he found her, Theo stepped towards her and asked her for a dance.

Draco glowered at Theo, who stuck his tongue out in Draco's direction.

Pansy was getting closer.

"Tracey!" Draco near yelled. Draco had been standing behind the girl in question which now jumped around, startled. "Sorry," Draco mumbled, as she stared at him wide eyed, "do you want to dance?"

First she looked unsure, but then she nodded.

Draco breathed out in relief. He looked over her shoulder to see Pansy pout. She was the only girl who had not found a partner yet and as Blaise had just asked Millicent, that only left her with Crabbe and Goyle.

He wondered whether the Gryffindors had to go through this as well, but judging by what he had seen transpire between them, she probably had. Snape had not done this in the original timeline, but maybe that was just because they did not have a Slytherin champion originally.

"D-do you know how to dance?" Tracey asked uncertainly, when Snape instructed the boys to put their right hands on their partners' waists.

"My parents taught me - don't all parents do that?" Draco asked. He looked around the room. Around three quarters of the students seemed to know the basics of how to dance.

"Uhm- no. Mine didn't," she said. She seemed to be uncomfortable drawing attention to the fact that she was not a pureblood like most others in their house.

"It's fine," Draco assured her, "I'll show you."

Draco spent most of the morning of Christmas Day in his dorm, where everyone was enjoying their presents, then returned to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and large piles of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers.

They went out onto the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched except for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle. Draco and his friends had a huge snowball fight with the Weasleys and the Golden Trio.

The girls left early, getting ready for the Ball. The boys only quit their fight when it got too dark to aim properly.

"Hi, Nev," Draco pulled Neville aside on their way back to the castle, "care to join me to the greenhouses?"

"Why would you- oh, you want to get Astoria flowers?"

Draco nodded enthusiastically.

"Should I get Daphne flowers as well?" he asked uncertainly.

"Can't go wrong with flowers," Draco said, shrugging his shoulders.

Once they opened the door, a wave of tropic heat and humidity hit them.

"Geez, it must have a bazillion degrees in here," coughed Draco.

Neville chuckled. "I'm sure it only feels like that because we spent hours in the snow."

Draco hummed in agreement and reached for some purple flowers.

"Not those," Neville said, "chrysanthemums are funeral flowers."

Draco took his hand back.

"And nothing yellow. Yellow means friendship and I guess that's not the kind of message you want to send."

"Good point," laughed Draco. "So which ones can I use?"

"Hmm," Neville scratched his chin. "Red is always a good color. Red roses are a classic."

"A little cliché, too."

Neville shrugged his shoulders. "She's your wife, don't you know what flowers she likes?"

"She loves sunflowers. They seem a bit weird for a first date, though."

Neville nodded his head.

Draco frowned. "Just tell me what flower symbolizes that she is the most kind, sweet, intelligent and beautiful person I have ever met."

Neville looked at Draco, amused. "You've got it bad," he chuckled. "How about asters?" He pointed at a red daisy-like, star shaped wildflower. "They symbolize wisdom, love and undying devotion. It's said that the aster was created by the Greek goddess, Astraea. Also fits her name."

Draco smiled, looking at the flowers in new appreciation. "They are perfect. How do you know all of this?"

Neville shrugged his shoulders.

"I feel like Daphne should get you flowers, instead of the other way 'round," Draco laughed. "What are you getting her?"

"Amaryllis, I think," answered Neville and grabbed a red and white flower. "It's a flower of determination and radiant beauty as well as pride. Doesn't that sound like Daphne to you?"

Draco laughed. "Nev, I think I'm not the only one who has a crush on someone."

Neville blushed and shrugged his shoulders.

"Alright, let's go. We don't want to keep our dates waiting."

Draco put on his best black velvet dress robes.

Most of the students with partners from other houses met them in the entrance hall, but Draco decided to wait for Astoria in front of her common room. While waiting, he ignored all the Ravenclaws looking at him warily.

When he finally spotted Astoria, it took his breath away. Her light brown hair fell down her back in magnificent curls, her eyes shone brighter than ever and she smiled a brilliant smile. She was wearing a long, dark-blue chiffon dress with rhinestones on the upper part.

"Wow… You- wow," Draco was at a loss for words. "You look absolutely stunning," he finally said.

Astoria blushed. "Thanks."

"I got you flowers," Draco said, handing her the asters.

Astoria was delighted and sprinted back into her dorm to put them into a vase.

Once back, Draco took her arm and they went to the entrance hall, which was packed with students, all waiting for the doors to the Great Hall to open.

There they found Harry with an excited Ginny, Neville with Daphne, and an unhappy looking Ron with an equally unhappy looking Parvati.

"Looking good, ladies," Draco grinned. Years of experience with dinner parties made the whole situation a lot easier than it had originally been.

"Thanks," said Daphne, "looking dapper yourself."

Draco smiled reassuringly at Neville, who looked a little uncertain.

They sat next to each other during the dinner but they might as well have been alone. Neville and Daphne only had eyes for each other. Harry seemed to be enjoying himself, talking to Ginny. The few times Draco's eyes met Ron's, the redhead just looked grumpy and glared at Draco.

But Draco barely noticed. He was on a date with Astoria and he was enjoying every second of it. They talked all through dinner and commented on the champions' dancing skills when they opened the dance floor. After their first dance, the floor was open for everyone.

"Do you want to dance?" Draco asked and Astoria nodded enthusiastically.

"You know how, right?" she asked.

Draco put his right hand on her waist. "Yes. My mother thought it prudent I know how. But even if I hadn't, Snape gave us lessons."

Astoria laughed and held up her right hand, which Draco took in his left.

"No, seriously, he did." The dance began and Draco brought his right foot forward and the same time Astoria took her left back. Soon they were swirling around the dance floor. "I saw Snape dance with McGonagall."

"I wish I could have seen that," she chuckled.

"It was hilarious. But not as hilarious as watching Crabbe step on Pansy's feet or watching Millicent and Blaise fight over who should lead."

"Sounds like you had fun."

"Not as much fun as I'm having right now."

Astoria smiled.

"Who taught you how to dance? You are a great dancer."

"Thanks. My sister. My mum taught Daphne when she was eight. She thought I was still too young to learn but I wanted to learn it so badly, my sister taught me secretly."

Draco chuckled. "How did that go?"

"Pretty well until we crashed into a vase that my mum had gotten as a wedding gift."

"Oh no," gasped Draco. Even though he knew Astoria pretty well, he had never heard that story before.

Astoria shrugged her shoulders. "Mum wasn't too mad. I don't think she much liked that thing... Wow, I really love the music they are playing tonight."

"Do you play any instruments?"

"The piano. My dad is teaching me how."

And just like that, Draco forgot everything around him. He didn't notice which songs the Weird Sisters were playing, which other students were there and with whom, he did not look at the champions, he didn't stare at Hermione like almost everyone else did, he did not once look at the head table, where Madame Maxim, Karkaroff, Bagman, Crouch and the teachers were sitting, he did not even watch McGonagall force every Professor to dance with her. He only had eyes for Astoria and enjoyed the moment. They danced and laughed, and Draco only noticed other dancing couples enough to not crash into them while dancing.

After an hour or two, their faces were flushed, and Astoria asked him for a break.

"I'll get us drinks and then we can go for a walk."

He got himself a bottle of butterbeer, and a bottle of Pumpkin Fizz for Astoria. Ron was sitting next to the drinks, alone and sulking. Harry was on the dance floor with Ginny.

Astoria and Draco slipped out into the entrance hall. The front doors stood open, and the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as they went down the front steps, where they found themselves surrounded by bushes; winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. Draco could hear splashing water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on carved benches.

Draco handed her the Pumpkin Fizz.

"Thanks. It's my favorite. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess," Draco smiled.

They walked through the garden, talking about everything under the sun. They talked about their families, their friends, their hobbies, their hopes and dreams.

While walking, they saw Madame Maxim and Hagrid and changed directions. But Snape was blocking there new path. He was talking to Karkaroff and looked angry enough that the couple quickly hid behind some rose bushes.

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroffs voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it -"

"Then flee," said Snapes voice curtly. "Flee - I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."

Snape and Karkaroff came around the corner. Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeals issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Longbottom!" Snape snarled as Neville ran past him, holding the hand of Daphne. "And ten points from Slytherin too, Miss Greengrass!"

The caught couple ran away, laughing.

Snape and Karkaroff kept on walking.

Astoria and Draco began to giggle.

Good for them, Draco thought. He turned his attention back to Astoria. They were looking at each other and there was an awkward silence. Draco wondered whether he should kiss Astoria. He really wanted to, but he wasn't sure how Astoria felt and didn't want to pressure her.

But he needn't have worried, because before he could say or do anything, she had closed her eyes and the distance between them. Draco's mind shut down after that. He didn't think any longer, but instead just felt. And he felt great. Fantastic. And in love.

They kissed for quite some time. And then they stared into each other's eyes, smiling. No words were necessary.

There moment was interrupted when the rose bush behind which they were standing was pulled aside and the face of Severus Snape appeared in their line of vision.

"Draco?" Snape sounded surprised.

"Evening, Professor," he said with a cheeky grin.

"A-Are you enjoying the ball?" Astoria asked, innocently.

Snape's look of surprise changed to one of annoyance. "Not quite," he mumbled. "How about you two get back inside? The ball is almost over."

Draco put his arm around Astoria and they did as they had been told. They returned to the dance floor, dancing till the Weird Sisters played their last song. Then Draco walked Astoria back to her common room.

"Tonight was perfect," Astoria said, smiling at Draco.

"It was," he agreed. They were looking at each other, neither wanting to end the night by saying goodbye.

But eventually, Draco gave Astoria a soft, sweet kiss, and said "Night."

"Night," Astoria smiled.

Draco went back to his own common room. Astoria had been right: The night had truly been perfect.

TBC

A.N.:

Any ideas for future chapters are greatly appreciated. From April to July I have a pretty good plan for what's going to happen and I already have a few chapters written, but for January to March I could still use some ideas :)

I hope you liked this chapter. Let me know what you think :)

In case you were wondering, Harry is going with Ginny because Neville is going with Daphne. Draco doesn't know because I doubt he remembers that Neville originally went with Ginny.

I'm not trying to bash Ron. And it's not like I don't like him. But he was quite the asshole in the fourth book, not talking to Harry and being mean to Hermione... And he is (not yet at least) a friend of Draco's...

The ball is a bit of a mix between the book and the movie.

Story suggestions:

1. From a terrible fate by forevordreamer – Fred and George try to get Sirius and Snape to befriend.

2. Dudley Dursley and the Deathly Hallows by Grey Streaked Fur – The Deathly Hallows from a surprisingly likable Dudley's point of view.