Yule Ball
The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement, laughter filling the air as students twirled around the enchanted dance floor. But the moment Draco and Juliet appeared together, the attention shifted. Eyes followed them — curious, surprised, some even scandalized. It was a pairing no one had expected: Draco Malfoy, the brooding, serious boy who rarely showed kindness, and Juliet Van Der Hart, the wild party girl who thrived on chaos. The unlikely duo moved in sync, their chemistry undeniable yet confusing to everyone around them.
Viktor Krum stood at the edge of the dance floor, his eyes locked on Juliet as she danced with Draco. Hermione, beside him, was chattering away, oblivious to his jealousy. Viktor had brought Hermione to the ball, but his interest had clearly been elsewhere all night.
"You can dance, right?" Draco asks mischeviously.
This time, Juliet had taken it lightly. She giggles at his comment and takes his hand to whirl herself around seamlessly. Draco couldn't have felt luckier.
She tugs at his collar as they danced. "Poor Draco Malfoy, outdanced by a Van Der Hart."
Draco scoffed a laugh. "I'm saving my moves for a girl who can keep up."
Juliet lifted a brow in amusement. "You have another date in mind? The 'It Girl' not good enough for you?"
Draco shrugs with a smirk. "I like to take my chances and keep my options open."
As the music swelled in the Great Hall, the atmosphere was electric with laughter and excitement. Glittering chandeliers cast a warm glow over the sea of elegantly dressed students. Juliet twirled into the center of the dance floor, her dress flowing around her like liquid silver.
"I didn't think you'd actually wear that color," he teased, gesturing to her stunning gown.
Juliet raised an eyebrow, a playful smile creeping onto her face. "What? Afraid it would outshine you?"
Draco stepped closer, their faces inches apart. "Not likely. But you do have a knack for drawing attention."
Juliet laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Is that so? I thought you enjoyed being the center of attention."
"Only when it's deserved," he shot back, his eyes glinting with mischief.
As they moved together, the rhythm of the music enveloped them. Juliet swayed her hips, enjoying the way Draco's grip on her waist tightened, their chemistry palpable. She leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "So, is this your grand plan? To dance with the 'party girl' to raise your social standing?"
Draco chuckled, his expression darkening slightly. "If I wanted to raise my status, I'd choose someone less... unpredictable."
"Unpredictable?" she challenged, spinning away before pulling him back in, her laughter ringing through the hall. "You don't know the half of it."
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, the world around them faded. Draco leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Maybe I'd like to find out."
Juliet felt her heart race, a mix of excitement and something deeper. But this time, she was more careful with her words as she warned him, "Careful, Malfoy. You might not like what you discover."
He smirked, a glint of challenge in his eyes. "Try me."
As the music shifted to a slower tempo, they found themselves drawn even closer. Draco's hand slipped from her waist to her back, pulling her against him as they swayed gently. The air was thick with tension, and Juliet couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath his arrogant facade.
"You know," she said, her voice playful yet sincere, "you're not as insufferable as I thought."
Draco raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "And you're not as naive. It's almost disappointing."
Juliet smirked, leaning closer. "Guess we'll just have to keep surprising each other then."
As the dance continued, both felt the weight of unspoken words hanging between them — a mix of rivalry, attraction, and something neither could quite name. In that moment, surrounded by the elegance of the Yule Ball, they both knew their connection was shifting, evolving into something neither of them had anticipated.
When the music had slowed and changed, Juliet began to feel restless. She flashed a mischievous smile at Draco, her hands slipping away from his as she turned and casually walked off the dance floor, leaving him standing there. Without hesitation, Draco followed her out of the Great Hall and into the quieter, dimly lit hallways of Hogwarts.
They found an empty, secluded corridor where the muffled sounds of the Yule Ball couldn't reach them. Juliet leaned against the cold stone wall, the cool air refreshing against her skin. Draco stood beside her, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression unreadable.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Juliet broke the silence, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So... why'd you take me to the ball, Malfoy?" Her voice was playful, but there was an edge to her question.
Draco glanced at her but didn't respond immediately. He seemed to be weighing his words carefully. Finally, he shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Does it matter?"
Juliet rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with his lack of an answer. "Of course, it matters. You don't do anything without a reason."
Draco smirked but didn't elaborate. Instead, he changed the subject. "Why do you always carry booze on you?" He nodded toward her thigh, where she'd secretly taped small bottles of liquor under her dress.
Juliet grinned, reaching under her gown to pull out one of the hidden shots. She tossed it to Draco, who caught it effortlessly. "You never know when things might get boring," she replied with a wink. "Besides, isn't it more fun this way?"
Draco scoffed but opened the bottle. "You're impossible, you know that?" He took a drink, then handed the bottle back to her.
Juliet laughed softly, taking a swig before sliding down the wall to sit on the cold stone floor. "That's what they all say," she teased. "Come on, Malfoy, loosen up a little. You're at a ball, for Merlin's sake."
Draco hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her. The two of them passed the bottle back and forth, their usual biting remarks gradually giving way to something lighter, more playful.
"You really don't care what people think of you, do you?" Draco said after a few drinks, his voice quieter now. He leaned back against the wall, his pale eyes watching her intently.
Juliet shrugged, her smile softening. "Why should I? Everyone's got their opinions. I'd rather do what I want and deal with the consequences later." She paused, then glanced at him. "What about you? Always so concerned with keeping up appearances. Don't you ever get tired of it?"
Draco's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't respond right away. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "What was it like? That night... at the rave."
Juliet tensed, her smile fading. She'd been expecting this question, though she had no idea why he hadn't asked sooner. "What do you mean?" she replied, playing dumb, though her heart was racing.
"You know what I mean." Draco's gaze was sharp. "I could've held that over your head. You got lucky, Van Der Hart. I didn't say anything, but you're not exactly careful about the company you keep."
Juliet swallowed, her mind flashing back to the chaotic night at the Quidditch field. She'd been reckless, drunk out of her mind, and the aftermath had been disastrous. But she still didn't understand why Draco hadn't used it against her. "Why didn't you?" she asked quietly, genuinely curious.
Draco didn't answer immediately. He stared ahead, his jaw clenched. "It's not my business," he said finally, his tone cold. "But you've got a way of attracting the wrong kind of attention."
There was a long silence between them, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Juliet took another drink, trying to shake off the unease that crept into her chest. She was about to make a snide comment to lighten the mood when Draco suddenly spoke again, catching her off guard.
"Do you like him?" His voice was low, but the question hit her like a curse.
Juliet blinked, startled. "What? Who?" she asked, trying to play it off. But deep down, she had a sinking feeling she knew exactly who Draco was referring to. And it wasn't Viktor.
Draco didn't look at her, but his jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "You know who," he muttered.
Juliet felt her breath catch in her throat. Her mind raced back to the rave — back to the chaos, the flashing lights, the people she shouldn't have been involved with. She could picture his face, but she didn't want to admit it. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said quietly, but the words felt hollow.
Her silence only seemed to confirm Draco's suspicions. He gave her another shot. Went against his mind and followed his heart. And still, it was never going to be him. He stood up abruptly, his expression hardening once more. "Forget it," he muttered under his breath, his voice clipped. "Should've known you wouldn't give a straight answer. You never do."
Juliet's heart sank as she watched him walk away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows of the hallway. She remained sitting, the cold stone pressing into her back as she tried to process what had just happened. She didn't like him — the person Draco was talking about. She was sure of it. But if that was true, why hadn't she just said so?
She took one last drink, the burn of the liquor doing nothing to dull the sudden ache in her chest. Every time it was getting good between her and Draco, she always had to do something that makes him walk away. Why? Why did she have to mess it up all the time?