Anything that rings a bell belongs to JK Rowling

Italian to English translations:

"Leoncina" : "Lioness"

Chapter Thirty: Nobody is having a Ball

Malfoy smirked at Zabini, "Isn't she the cutest little cub?" They shared a laugh at her expense, and she poked Malfoy under the table with her heel.

"Ouch. What was that for?" Nott looked at her half-amused and half-irritated, and she apologised for evidently hitting his shin instead of Malfoy's. Nott turned to Davis, "Want to dance?"

She nodded enthusiastically and walked off simpering up at him, and Ky's eyes followed them to the dance floor. Unfortunately, she caught sight of Cedric whispering into Chang's ear at that precise moment. She laughed so prettily. Who laughs pretty? It's supposed to squish up your face and make you look awkward. And what was she wearing, was it a cheongsam, was it a dress? Was it white, was it grey, was it silver? And now she suddenly wants curly hair and of course it suits her.

"Now, Crabbe."

Ky gave Malfoy a questioning look as Crabbe nodded, stood and walked to the dance floor. He tapped Nott on the shoulder and cut in. Nott walked towards a door, turned, and nodded at them.

Malfoy stood and held his hand out to Ky, she glared at him, and he let it fall to the side with a defeated sigh.

He began walking to the door and she followed him, Zabini and Greengrass close behind. They exited the hall and walked straight past a prefect towards the dungeons. Ky knew some of them were on duty, in charge of making sure this very thing didn't happen. She then noticed the green tie on his chest.

Slytherins.

They walked down the corridor and Malfoy muttered into a portrait, and she stepped in after him. They walked down a long passage. Was she being stupid entering the snake pit?

She smirked to herself; she could handle a few snakes.

Ky turned around and saw Zabini whispering into Greengrass' ears. She bumped into something, not realising that the boys stopped walking. Malfoy steadied her before she fell back, and she quickly pulled her hands away from him. She could walk on her own. Nott smirked at the exchange and tapped his wand on the wall in a specific sequence. It opened like Diagon Alley and revealed a narrow staircase.

They ascended single file and stopped after a few seconds. Nott opened the door at the top and Malfoy followed him. Ky stepped over and she hugged myself against the cold.

They were outside.

Malfoy unlatched a gate and walked through, and they followed.

They were on the quidditch pitch.

She looked at him, impressed. Of course, these sly devils would find a way to get to practice through their backyard.

Nott went into the Slytherin changing rooms and exited with a blanket which he tossed at Zabini, which he laid on the floor. He tossed them each a bottle of butterbeer and sat down.

Malfoy looked at Ky, "You've been quiet."

"Would you rather I speak? You won't like what I say."

"Are you going to chide us for sneaking out?"

"No. I was going to compliment you on it."

"I don't see how I wouldn't like that."

"Oh, did I say that you wouldn't like what I say? I meant I wouldn't like what I said."

He smirked and shrugged off his coat and passed it to her, and she took it. She was stubborn, but not stubborn enough to freeze to death. The coat felt expensive, just like everything that had to do with Malfoy. She realised she was the only one standing and plopped down.

Zabini was giving her a calculating stare. "What?"

"I still haven't figured it out yet."

"What?"

"Why you agreed to go with Malfoy."

"Upset because you had to give him all that gold?"

"Oh no, that was money well spent. And don't tell me it's because you owed him one or whatever. I don't buy that…what are you really up to Thornton?"

Malfoy cut in, "Don't worry about Zabini. He just can't accept that I'm more talented than he is."

Ky gave Malfoy a once-over, "So asking me out was some sport you needed talent for then?"

"Of course, talent and a face like this."

She laughed at his conceit. Greengrass joined her. "You two probably believe the sun rises and sets just to look at your face."

"Of course, it does." Zabini retorted, "You didn't answer my questioncara."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you Zabini." Ky took a swig of the butterbeer and the Italian boy smirked at her.

"Your friends wouldn't be too pleased to see you here with us. You're brave to sit alone with a bunch of snakes."

"You're brave to be sitting with a lioness."

"A lioness isn't so scary without its head."

"It's much easier to stomp a snake to death than it is to behead a lion."

Zabini and she were right in each other's face. He burst out laughing then flopped onto his back. "Ahhhh, I like you Leoncina."

She looked at Malfoy confused at the boy's strange behaviour, and he shrugged. Greengrass cut in, "Were those your brothers you were walking with earlier on?"

"Yes."

"They're well fit. You're fit too. Good bloodline." Ky nodded at the direct comment.

"You're well fit too."

Everything went quiet. The boys' eyes were plastered on the two girls. All they did was compliment each other in an unconventional way and suddenly they thought they would make out or something.

Ky smirked at Greengrass, and she returned it. She moved forward and Ky did too, their faces almost touching. She couldn't hold the expression long enough and burst out laughing which set the blonde off.

"You should see your faces. Serves you right for being perverts."

"I need to take a leak." Nott walked off quickly and Malfoy and Zabini tried regaining their customary bored expressions which they usually had down to the wrinkle, but it seemed to evade them now.

Malfoy shook his head at Ky, "You're evil."

"Why thank you."

"You don't get it from your brothers. Did they honestly think that whole act was scary?"

"Probably. It worked on you, didn't it?"

"I was not scared of them."

"You agreed to everything they said."

"Just to placate them, not because I was scared. I didn't want them to ban you from going tonight!"

"And you think them telling me I can't go would stop me."

"Well forgive me for applying the normal rules to you. I thought you were a good girl."

"A good girl you met in detention."

"Just because you got detention doesn't make you bad."

"And just because your- "Ky stopped. Biting back what she was going to say. It was the truth though. Just because his father was an evil prat didn't mean he had to be one too.

They were such idiots, screaming compliments at each other.

He leaned back on the blanket, "What's going on between you and Diggory."

Ky looked quickly at Zabini to see if he had heard, but all she saw was the back of Greengrass' head as they made out. When did that happen? Nott still hadn't returned from his 'leak'.

"Nothing."

"Don't insult my intelligence."

"Can't insult something that's not there…there really isn't anything though. He liked me but now he doesn't."

Why was she telling him this?

"And you?"

"I unfortunately do not possess the switch that he has."

Malfoy puzzled over her statement, and Ky realised she had used a muggle term but refused to explain it to him, he let the thought pass, "You're hotter than Chang."

Ky rolled her eyes at Malfoy. "That's sweet Malfoy but-"

"No, I'm serious. You are. And let's not pretend that isn't exactly what you want to hear."

"She's really pretty but it's not just about looks."

"Haha. Yeah sure. No denying that she's hot though. Very pretty face, but you're in a whole other league." His eyes quickly perused her reclining body, and Ky observed him almost clinically taking her in. Surprisingly his gaze didn't make her uncomfortable. Perhaps because she knew that if Draco tried anything, she could beat him in a fight…or, if she was being honest with herself, he just didn't make her feel unsafe.

That man that attacked her…he had this look in his eyes that was burned in her memory, he made her feel like prey that he wanted to devour. The way Draco was looking at her now was…almost in reverence. As if he was happy to just simply sit and stare at her.

It was odd.

"You were the most beautiful girl at this Ball. I'm not just saying that because you're my date. Actually, because you're my date is proof enough. I have very high standards."

"Ironic considering your lowly state."

"Yes… return compliments with insults."

"Well, it's not my fault you choose to descend in ranks."

"In your eyes."

"In most eyes."

"So, you think I'm scum."

"No. I think you act like scum. You're not."

"Then what am I?"

Ky didn't get to respond as she felt a prickle across her neck. She turned around, looking for the source of the uncomfortable feeling.

She spotted it and acted quickly without thought, she jumped onto Zabini knocking him and Greengrass to the floor, a shot of emerald green highlighting the night.

-x-x-x-

What followed was a cacophony of sounds. A swear word muttered by Malfoy, a door banging followed by footsteps and somebody screaming, "Barry, what the fuck!"

Ky didn't wait for a response from dear Barry. She rolled off Zabini and Greengrass, just having managed to knock them out of the way as the curse whizzed above them.

Thankfully the caster was weak with despicable aim, but a weak killing curse could still do damage.

She whipped her wand out from the fondina at her hip and sent a stunner at the direction the spell came from.

She felt a finger at her back and spun around, twisting the hand, bending forward and using her momentum to flip the attacker over, and he fell on the ground with a thud. She stabbed her heel onto his chest and erected a shield charm quickly, seeing yellow and red sparks bouncing off as it hit.

Ky let the shield charm fall and sent a stunning jinx at the nearest assailant but didn't have to do anything further.

Nott had someone lying at his feet, Malfoy had a boy pinned against the wall and Zabini was still punching his victim, his wand lying forgotten at his side. Greengrass was trying and failing to pull him off the boy.

Ky didn't blame him though, she would be just as pissed if someone threw a killing curse, albeit a weak one, at her, and sometimes there wasn't anything as satisfactory as the feel of flesh to feel redemption.

Ky looked down at the boy at her feet. He was grunting and she dug her heel in deeper into his chest. He had brown hair and black eyes and nothing remotely unique about him.

Malfoy banged his victim against the wall again, "What the fuck were you thinking Rosier! You could have fucking killed someone."

"We…we didn't know that was what Barry was going to do. We just heard-"

"Heard what? That Greengrass was with Zabini, so Blishwick wanted to kill him! That makes bloody sense."

Ky bound her guy and walked up to Zabini and helped Greengrass pull him off of what she thought was Barriston Blishwick, with the amount of blood on his face she couldn't make out. Zabini had done a better job than she at disfiguring his face.

Nott walked over, addressing Greengrass and Ky, "You two go back to the castle, back to your dorms and pretend like nothing happened."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "The fuck I am. Tell me what's going on and tell me now."

Greengrass tugged her hand, "We should go."

"No. You can go. What do you plan on doing with these boys?"

"Thornton go. This isn't your business." Ky looked at Malfoy.

"I'm sorry Malfoy, but when people throw around killing curses, I make it my business."

"It wasn't supposed to be killing curses. There wasn't supposed to be any curses. Just a warning."

They looked down at the boy tied up on the floor. Zabini walked up to him and kicked him in the face.

"Zabini."

He spared Ky an annoyed glance and then bent down, "Speak the fuck up Pucey, or I'll give you a matching one on your left."

Pucey swallowed thickly and started, "Tracey went looking for Nott when he didn't come back for her. She went straight to Blishwick, saying that you lot had disappeared. The Farley brothers, Rosier and I came with him just to see what happens. We weren't supposed to get involved. I didn't expect Blishwick to flip out like that and throw a killing curse at you."

"Well, that's what you get when insolent dogs like you try to think." Zabini looked like he was going to hit Pucey again and Ky put her hand on his arm, he turned and gave her an angry glare. He straightened up, shaking her off and walked away. Greengrass followed him, looking paler than usual.

Nott turned to Malfoy, "Why don't you take Thornton to her dorm, and I'll clean this lot up and send them on their way."

Ky looked sceptically at Nott, and he grinned at her, "Relax, I'm going to get them back to the dorms, that's all. You'll see Blishwick's annoying face again. Prats honour."

Ky nodded and turned around and walked towards the gate, adrenaline still pumping in her veins. Malfoy seized her arm, and she shrugged him off, he grabbed her harder and spun her around, his face red.

"Don't ever do something so fucking stupid again."

She glared at him, "I'm not some weak little girl that takes orders from Snakes. I can defend myself; I won't play damsel-"

"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about throwing yourself in the way of a killing curse for a fucking stranger."

"I didn't throw myself in the way of a killing curse. I threw Zabini out of the way, there is a difference. And you don't have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do."

He opened his mouth then closed it. He slapped the wall next to her in anger and swore at the pain. "Why would you do that? You don't even know him!"

"I do know him. He's Blaise Zabini, he is fifteen years old. He belongs to Slytherin house, and he has cheek bones to die for. His mother had more than four husbands and that's probably why he's so screwed up. He has a penchant for dark humour, and he is vain but has a soft spot for Greengrass."

"You only learnt all of that tonight; you don't know him."

"No, this is what's wrong with you people. You don't let yourselves feel close to each other. You keep distance by using last names, cower away by claiming the purpose of your friendships are purely utilitarian and take refuge in isolation! I refuse to be a coward."

"You're a stupid Gryffindor then and you'll die young like all the other Gryffindors. Like Potter's parents and all those other fools that throw themselves in front of killing curses for strangers!"

Ky glared at Malfoy, breathing heavily. Just when she thought she could make some progress, he's back to being a scared little child. She turned and charged down the corridor. He made to follow her.

"Don't follow me." She didn't shout, she was surprised that her voice was steady, but she knew he was more likely to listen if she appeared level-headed, "Go back and help Nott. If teachers ask, what should I say?"

"Teachers won't ask, we don't tell on each other. I'll walk you to your dorm."

"I don't want you to. Goodnight."

Ky turned and walked away, knowing her tone was not one that would allow pushback.

She finally reached the Entrance Hall and made for the stairs. There in the little corner that was beneath the grand staircase stood two lone figures. One slight and slender, and the other tall and tapered. Ky tried to tear her eyes away from the scene but all she saw was long fingers in black hair and bodies pressed up against each other. She couldn't see their faces seeing as they were trying to swallow each other whole but she didn't need to see faces to know who they were.

She would know that brown hair anywhere, and as if to make sure she knew exactly who it was, his eyes opened and fell right on her. An easy job seeing as she was right across from him, rooted to the spot…he didn't stop though, he continued kissing Chang, his grey eyes bursting with loathing. Ky continued to the staircase, hands trembling with anger.

How could he…wasn't it just a few days ago that he was confessing his feelings for her? The image of the two of them was burnt in her retinas and it fuelled her anger all the way up to the common room.

Ky entered to find Ron, red faced with anger and Harry standing there stunned.

She rushed to Ron, "Everything OK? Did something happen?"

He looked at her and his eyes dulled down from anger to disappointment. He frowned at her and shook his head and walked to the boys' dormitories. She turned towards the girls' staircase, not in the mood to talk to Harry.

"Malfoy…. from all the boys in this school, you pick Malfoy."

Well, it looks like he felt like talking. Ky was already angry; this conversation was going to go south and quickly. "Look Potter, it's been a long night, and I haven't spoken to-"

"Yeah, it sure looks like it's been a long night." His green gaze surveyed her with disgust and she realised then only that she was still using Malfoy's coat and the few strands of hair that had been tied back now hung loosely across her cheeks.

Ky turned to walk away.

"You know what I don't get. You claim to be her friend. You two act like sisters or something. Yet you would date a person that thinks she is the lowest of the low." She ignored him and proceeded to the staircase.

"But birds of a feather flock together."

Ky stopped. Harry continued, "So you two disappeared for a little while. Initially I thought that it was to do what you so obviously did do, but then I noticed that his cronies were missing as well. I had the urge to race up the stairs and check on all the little muggle-born first years, make sure you weren't floating them down the astronomy tower."

"What stopped you?" She whispered, processing his words and they sat heavy on her vocal cords.

"What?"

"What stopped you from running upstairs?" She rasped, she needed Harry to explain that he didn't think she was scum.

"I knew you wouldn't do something like that." Ky turned around, her face shining with relief despite her best efforts. Though Harry's face was red and scrunched with anger. He gave her a smile laced with hate, "Oh, that came out wrong. What I meant to say is that you wouldn't do something like that now. I mean what purpose would all these months have served if you let it all go to waste on something so small? Afterall, you have been making such progress. You have most of the staff wrapped around your finger, and let's not start with the student body that trip over themselves to even talk to you. And then there's me…and Ron and Hermione. Hermione…who thinks you're the girl friend she always wanted. Who treats you like a sister! Do you know what Malfoy did to her in second year? He introduced her to the prejudices of this world! He wished her dead when the basilisk was unleashed. Just last year she punched him in the face because he was laughing at the killing of an innocent creature! Just a month ago he called her a mudblood! You were there!"

"Been talking to Ginny, have you?"

"I don't have to talk to Ginny to draw these conclusions. I was blind before. By…by friendship and faith. But I can't ignore these signs. Your relationship with Snape, your disappearance whilst the Dark Mark was conjured, and now you're dating Draco fucking Malfoy."

Ky breathed. Willing herself to turn around, to just walk away. Images of green light and intertwined bodies kept flashing in her head, making her stay rooted to the spot. The anger burned bitter in her mouth.

"You think I'm a death eater? That I conjured the dark mark?"

"No. I don't think you're a death eater, that would be stupid. But I think everything you say is a lie. You and your brothers were probably brought up by some Death Eaters that taught you the tricks of the trade. What I don't get is-"

He dodged the jet of red and it hit the armchair to his left. Ky's eyes burned and blurred with tears of anger and her hands trembled, "Don't you dare insult my brothers! I stood there and took it the last time because Ginny was a little misinformed girl, but I will not let you stand there and insult them. Say whatever the fuck you want about me Potter. Shout to the world about how I am evil, and I duped Nonno and Mi and everybody else, but don't you dare utter a thing about my brothers OR I SWEAR BY THE FOUNDERS I WILL HAVE YOUR TONGUE FRAMED ON THE WALL!"

There it was. Breaking point.

"THE TRUTH HURTS HUH THORNTON! WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, PLOT AND PLAN WITH MALFOY! DO WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT! BUT YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME AND STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HERMIONE!"

"GO TO HELL POTTER! YOU DON'T GET TO DICTATE WHAT MI DOES! GET YOUR SCARHEAD OUT OF YOUR ARSE!"

A blue jet whizzed past Ky and hit the torch bracket dousing them in darkness.

Unfortunately, the force off the spell flung the bracket off the wall and it hit Ky painfully on the face. She ignored the ache and sent a stinging jinx at Harry that he dodged, the idiot didn't even know how to perform a shield charm, but he wanted to duel her.

A noise from upstairs interrupted them and she heard footsteps. She couldn't see much of him, but she could hear his heavy breathing.

"I'll stay away from you with pleasure."

Ky walked out of the room and up the stairs.

At least Malfoy held up his end of the bargain.

The night definitely was not boring.

A/N: Ah man I hated writing this. But…I don't blame either of them acting this way. No matter how well-intentioned, it was naive of Ky to think her taking Malfoy to the Ball will have no fall-out. What do you think of the argument - whose side are you taking?