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The morning after detention, Hogwarts was buzzing with anticipation for the Yule Ball. It was only two weeks away. News had spread quickly about the Triwizard Tournament's most exciting event, and every student seemed preoccupied with who they'd be going with. The Great Hall was decorated in shimmering icicles and snowflakes, giving it a wintery, magical glow.
As Juliet sat at the Slytherin table, picking at her breakfast, she noticed Viktor Krum walking towards her, his eyes fixed on her. He looked as intimidating as ever, towering over the students with his broad shoulders and confident stride. The whispers around the hall grew louder as people realized who he was headed toward.
"Juliet," Viktor greeted in his thick Bulgarian accent, his deep voice drawing everyone's attention. He stood over her, blocking out the rest of the world as his dark eyes met hers. "I vould like to ask you something."
Juliet glanced up at him, raising a brow but smiling slightly. "Sure, what's up?"
Viktor cleared his throat, seemingly a bit more nervous than usual. "Vould you go to the Yule Ball vith me?"
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, there was stunned silence. Pansy, sitting beside Juliet, felt her face tighten, her envy almost palpable. Here she was, a dedicated Quidditch player who had followed Viktor's career for years, and Juliet — who barely knew anything about the sport — had managed to get the invitation from the international star.
Juliet, on the other hand, was taken aback. She blinked a few times before recovering. "Oh, um, thanks for asking. I'll let you know, okay?"
Viktor nodded, his expression unreadable, and walked away. The second he was gone, Daphne leaned in close, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Are you kidding me, Juliet?" Daphne whispered loudly. "You just got asked to the Yule Ball by Viktor Krum, the Viktor Krum. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?"
Juliet smirked, shrugging as if it was no big deal, though the attention was starting to boost her ego. "I guess."
Pansy, however, wasn't as subtle with her feelings. She glared at her breakfast, clearly irritated. "It's ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for Juliet to hear. "You don't even know a thing about Quidditch, and you got the star player asking you out."
Juliet rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, Draco, sitting nearby, was brooding silently. In his head, he was mentally hurling insults at Krum. How dim-witted must he be to ask someone like Juliet to the Yule Ball? Of all the girls at Hogwarts, he chooses the school slut? Ridiculous.
Draco clenched his fork, biting back his frustration. As much as he tried to convince himself that he didn't care, something about Krum's interest in Juliet gnawed at him. His mood darkened, and he was barely able to mask his irritation as he stabbed at his food, refusing to look in Juliet's direction.
Daphne's voice snapped Draco out of his thoughts as she giggled to Juliet. "You're so lucky, honestly. Viktor Krum asking you? It's like something out of a fairytale."
Juliet only shrugged again, but she couldn't help the small grin tugging at her lips. "We'll see," she said, noncommittally, though her mind was already starting to consider the possibility of going with Viktor.
Pansy crossed her arms, forcing a smile as she glanced at Juliet. "Well, I'm sure you'll have a great time," Pansy said through gritted teeth, her forced smile faltering. There was no denying the sting of jealousy as she watched Juliet, who barely understood Quidditch, get asked by the biggest star at Hogwarts. Pansy glanced away, stirring her pumpkin juice, wishing she could be the one to stand in Juliet's shoes.
Juliet, completely unfazed, gave a nonchalant wave of her hand. "I haven't decided yet. It's not like he's the only option, right?" she said, though a small flicker of excitement sparked in her eyes. However, she had to hide how much she'd reveled in the attention, knowing how much it bothered Pansy.
Draco scoffed audibly, catching their attention. "You really think you're doing him a favor by making him wait? It's Viktor Krum, not some random nobody from Durmstrang."
Juliet shot Draco a sharp look. "Why do you care, Malfoy? It's not like you're going to the Ball with him."
Draco smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I don't care. But it's funny watching you act like you have any standards. Everyone knows you'll say yes. That's what you always do, isn't it?"
Juliet's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the playful spark in her expression was gone, replaced by cold fury. She opened her mouth to snap back, but Daphne quickly jumped in, sensing the tension. "Okay, okay, let's not start this so early in the morning," she laughed nervously, looking between Draco and Juliet.
Juliet didn't break her gaze from Draco, her lips curled into a thin, tight smile. "You know, for someone who claims not to care, you sure have a lot to say about my choices."
Draco's smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "I just call it like I see it."
Before the situation could escalate, Pansy stood up abruptly, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Alright, that's enough. This is getting ridiculous."
She shot a glance at Draco, silently pleading with him to drop the conversation, then turned back to Juliet, her expression softening. "Just... let me know what you decide about Viktor. You'll want to pick out the perfect dress."
With that, she quickly walked away, Daphne trailing behind her. The tension at the table remained thick as Draco and Juliet sat in silence, their previous banter still lingering between them.
Juliet finally broke the silence, her voice low but firm. "You think you know everything about me, don't you?"
Draco didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly. He studied her for a moment before leaning in closer. "I know enough. You're not exactly a mystery."
Juliet clenched her jaw, not willing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her get worked up again. Instead, she stood up, shooting him a defiant look before walking away, her head held high.
Draco watched her leave, his expression unreadable. He didn't know why it bothered him so much that Viktor Krum had asked her to the Yule Ball. It wasn't like he cared who she went with. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.