The Yule Ball
The Yule Ball had been announced a few weeks ago. Draco knew Harry wasn’t going to ask him to be his partner because their relationship was a secret. Only Hermione knew about them, and it was supposed to remain that way.
But still…
Draco wanted to stop hiding. He wanted to tell the world that Harry had chosen him, of all people. If Harry had seen something good in him, then maybe… other people could too. He was sick of living under people’s prejudices and expectations.
Everyone knew that the Malfoys were Voldemort’s supporters in the first war, their name was stained with the guilt and shame of being a Death Eater. Some people still looked at them with admiration, just because they were one of The Sacred Twenty-eight, but people didn’t forget what happened or what that Mark in their arm meant.
Draco, of course, thought they were wrong. Whatever his family did before was over. Maybe his father was still a bad person, but he wasn’t a Death Eater anymore. And he was not his father. People on the streets, acquaintances… they all said he was just like his father, and every single time Draco wanted to scream and tell them to shut up.
I am not my father.
He reminded himself every day. But what if people were right… after all, he was a Malfoy, he had blonde hair, pale skin, grey eyes and he had once been a bully. He had once followed the path of darkness, the path where his father walked by.
But he changed. He really did.
Why couldn’t people see that? He wasn’t expecting forgiveness, because some things he did were simply unforgivable. Too cruel. Too evil. But at least he wanted people to stop seeing him as the person he was before, he wanted people to notice there was good in his heart. That his last name was just that, a last name.
Not a life sentence.
Not something that defined who he was.
Then, the jealousy began. If Harry wasn’t going with him, who would he go with? The thought of Harry dancing with another girl, so close, Harry’s hand on the girl’s waist— nope. No, that was going to happen.
He knew Harry was not interested in them, and that he wasn’t going to betray him, but girls were interested in him.
And that was not good.
A thought popped in Draco’s mind. He smiled in relief. He had forgotten of Hermione. Of course, now his problems were solved.
Harry could simply go with Hermione. She was a girl, obviously, but she knew. So she wasn’t going to try anything with Harry, besides, they were practically brothers. Even if Hermione was beautiful, it was different. It was safe.
Draco chuckled to himself. It was going to be fine.
It was not going to be fine.
Some days later Hermione told him that the Quidditch celebrity, Viktor Krum, had invited her to the Ball. And she said yes, to Draco’s bad luck.
He was happy for her, of course he was. Hermione deserved a good man, someone to take care of her, to give her the best princess treatment, and Viktor seemed like a nice guy.
But…
Now his problem had returned. He went to the beginning. What was he going to do with Harry? Who was he going to invite?
Ugh. Why was life so unfair?
If he could just change his last name, who he was, his family, if he could just become an anonymous person for that night… God, he wished that more than anything. Maybe then, life could stop being so miserable for once.
*
“So… Draco.” Harry said. “I suppose you heard of the Yule Ball.”
A few days had passed since Draco’s crisis, but his jealousy was still intact.
“Yes?” He said hesitantly, unsure of where this was going.
Harry smiled sheepishly. “I wish I could go with you.”
Draco’s chest warmed, he wanted to melt into Harry. “I know. I want that too.”
Harry groaned. “Life is so unfair.”
Draco chuckled. “Yeah… it’s like they want us to suffer.”
“Right!?” Harry sighed. “It’s so annoying.”
“It is…” He sighed and looked down.
Harry frowned and sat next to him. “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head.
“Well… it looks like something’s wrong.”
He rested his head on Harry’s shoulder. “It’s everything… I’m tired.”
“Of what?”
“I dunno.”
“Aren’t you supposed to have a reason to feel tired?” Harry asked.
Now it was Draco’s turn to frown. Thinking about what Harry said. It made sense… but why do they need a reason for everything? “I don’t think so… sometimes you’re just tired of everything.” He chuckled. “Would it made sense if I say I’m tired of being tired all the time?”
“I suppose it does. I feel like that sometimes…”
He kissed Harry on the cheek. “Who are you going to invite?” Draco asked.
Harry shrugged. “I have no idea.”
He chuckled. “Well… it’s time you start thinking because the Ball is in exactly…” He paused for a while. “Oh. Five days.”
Harry groaned. “You’re not helping. I don’t know how to dance, I’m a mess.” He covered his face with his hands. “And I don’t even know what I’m going to wear.”
Draco laughed. “I bet you’ll look stunning in everything.”
“No.”
“Yes!”
Harry rolled his eyes. “You’ll look good. Not me.” Then, he sighed. “And I won’t be able to dance with you… what a shame.”
“I won’t. And yes, it is a shame.”
“Yes, you will! I know you’ll look so handsome I won’t be able to stop staring at you the whole night.”
Draco blushed and placed his hand on Harry’s mouth. “Shut up.”
“You don’t like it when I compliment you?” Harry asked teasingly.
Draco blushed even harder. “Oh, piss off!”
“You really don’t!” He laughed. “You’re so handsome, the most gorgeous boy I’ve ever met—”
His hand was still trying to stop Harry from talking. “Stop it!”
“—you’re beautiful, cute, adorable—”
“Shut up! I mean it!”
Harry bit Draco’s hand to free himself.
“HARRY!” Draco hissed. “That hurt!”
Harry kept laughing and tried to run away.
“Oh you’re not going anywhere!” Draco launched himself into Harry. Making them both fall against the floor. “You’ll pay for that!”
He started tickling Harry on his ribs. Harry started a round of unstoppable giggles, kicking his feet in the air and trying to push Draco away.
Draco couldn’t help but laugh too, seeing Harry laughing made him happy. They were both laughing so hard their stomachs ached and happy tears were running down their red cheeks.
Draco finally gave up and threw himself to the floor next to Harry. Both of them laying exhausted and catching their breath.
Harry reached Draco’s hand. Their fingers entwined.
“Thanks for making me happy.” Harry said.
Draco grinned, his gaze focused on Harry’s eyes. The green color was beautiful, reflecting so much love and affection. “You make me happy too.” He whispered.
“Even if I’m an idiot?”
Draco leaned in, his body on top of Harry’s. “Yes, even if you’re an idiot.” He kissed Harry on the lips with all the love he had. His hand stroking Harry’s messy curls while their lips moved together with so much passion.
They only broke apart to breathe.
“My idiot.” Draco said.
“All yours.”
*
On the next day, Draco was in the library with Hermione. Both of them trying to figure out the next task, some way to help Harry.
“I have no idea what this means.” Hermione said, tucking her bushy hair behind her ear. “The egg is useless. It just makes our ears bleed.”
Draco frowned. “It can’t be useless. They wouldn’t have made the champions risk their lives just to get a golden egg. Besides, they said there was a clue.”
“But there’s nothing!” She yelled.
He sighed and took the egg in his hands. “There has to be something, something we’re missing.” He opened it. The egg let out an ear piercing sound, he closed it again before Madam Pince would kick them out of the library.
“Are you mad?” Hermione said. “Why would you open it?”
“I needed to hear it one more time.”
“Well, now I can’t hear anything else!”
She sighed. “I’m afraid we’re wasting our time.”
Draco frowned. “Wait… what if it’s a different language?”
“What?” Hermione looked up at him.
“What if it is a different language?”
“Do you seriously think that is a different language?” She asked annoyed.
“Calm down… I’m just trying to help.” He said.
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just so… exhausted. We’ve spent most of they day here and we still have nothing.”
He sighed.
“What if we can’t figure this out?” She said sadly. “What if we can’t help Harry?”
“We will.” He said confidently. “I’m sure we will. You’re the cleverest person I’ve ever met, you got this. And with my help, we’ll figure it out. We just need more time.”
She smiled softly. “Thanks… but I think we should rest for now. We have to stop or I’ll have a mental breakdown.”
Draco chuckled. “Yeah, me too. I can’t even read anymore, it feels like staring at random letters.”
“Exactly!” She laughed. “Oh! Do you know what you’re going to wear for the Ball?” She asked excitedly.
He shrugged. “I have something in mind, but… I dunno.” After a while he added. “Do you know what you are going to wear?”
Her face lightened up immediately. “Yes! It’s a gorgeous pink dress! I really hope I’ll look good. I’m so nervous.”
“Well, that’s lovely. And I bet you’ll look beautiful.” He smiled. “Viktor is a lucky man.”
She flushed. “Oh shut up! Would you like to see my dress?”
“I would love to.”
They both stood up, leaving the books behind.
Hermione grinned. “After that you can show me your dress robes.”
“Sounds fair to me.”
She smiled brightly.
*
The next day.
“Draco! Draco!” Hermione said anxiously. “Are you in here?” She knocked the door.
He placed his book on the bed before opening the door. “Hi! Is everything alright?”
Hermione was standing in front of him, eyes wide and grinning in a pleasant way. She seemed excited and proud of herself. As if she just invented a new spell.
“Remember what you said that day at the library?” She said at last. “About the other language?”
He frowned, trying to think of it. “Oh, yes. Bad idea.”
Her smile grew even more. “Not at all!”
“Huh?”
She chuckled as she step inside the room. “Well, what you said was obviously not right—”
“No need to remind me, Hermione.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let me finish.” She cleared her throat. “As I was saying, it wasn’t right, but it gave me a brilliant idea. What if it was a code of some sort? Maybe it was saying something, but we couldn’t hear it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think it is a secret message. Those awful sounds are actually words, maybe not in another language, in ours. But we just couldn’t hear them.”
He grinned when understood what Hermione was saying. “So… if what you think it’s true… we just have to figure out how to listen this secret message?”
“Exactly!” She jumped in excitement. “It might be hard, but at least we know we’re not wasting our time.”
“This is brilliant, Hermione!” He scoffed. “You are so clever!”
“Thank you! But you helped me, without your suggestion I wouldn’t have even thought about it in the first place.”
He smiled proudly of himself. “Okay, I’m going to accept what you say. I helped a lot.”
She scoffed. “Alright, but don’t take all the credit!”
“We have to tell Harry!” He said.
“Yes! Come on. We have to tell him now!”
They ran out of the room, looking for Harry in the big castle. When they finally found him, they told him everything.
“So, what do you think?” Hermione asked.
Harry was staring at both of them with his mouth open. He cleared his throat. “I think you two are the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.” He said in awe.
Hermione and Draco chuckled when Harry pulled them both into a hug.
*
Hermione and Draco were in the stairs when they heard Harry talking with the Ravenclaw girl, Cho Chang.
“What is he doing?” Hermione asked.
“I think he’s making a fool of himself.” Draco sighed.
Harry nervously turned around. “Um… I just wanted— if maybe you want to go to the ball with me?” He said faster than normal and the owls were making too much noise.
Cho frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t catch that.”
He closed his eyes, steading himself. “I was wondering if maybe— you wanted to go to the ball with me?”
The girl put an awkward face, and Draco knew what was about to happen.
“I’m sorry, Harry. But… someone already asked me, and I said yes.”
Harry turned red. Literally red. “Oh… it’s okay.”
“You sure?—”
“Totally.” He managed to smile. “I’ll- I’ll go.” He turned to walk away.
“Harry?” Cho said.
“Yeah?” He looked at her.
Maybe he could make it after all. Huh.
“I really am sorry.” She said instead.
So… nope.
Harry nodded awkwardly and walked away.
“I feel bad for him…” Hermione said.
Harry looked at the both of them and closed his eyes. He seemed like he wanted to throw himself to the stairs. “So… you heard the whole thing?”
“Yep.” Draco said.
Hermione just shot him an emphatic look.
“I’m sorry, Harry.” She said.
“It’s alright.” He sighed. “Was it really that bad?”
“It was hard to watch.”
Hermione shrugged.
Harry groaned. “I think I won’t go to the ball. Better that way.”
“You have to go, Harry.” Hermione said.
“Unfortunately. I’ll have to keep humiliating myself to get a partner.”
Draco snorted.
Harry glared at him.
“Sorry! Sorry!” He stepped closer to put his arm around Harry’s shoulders. “You’ll find someone.”
Harry sighed.
*
“Mate? You in there?” Ron knocked the door.
“Yes! Hold on!” Harry stopped fixing his tie to open the door.
Ron stared at him, blinking in complete silence.
Harry frowned. “What is it? Do I have something on my face?” Harry stared at him too, with a frown he added, “and what are you wearing?”
“What are you wearing?” Ron said.
“Er— dress robes?”
“Well, they are alright!”
“Yes?”
Ron groaned and entered the room to look at himself in the mirror. “No lace, no dodgy little collar…”
Harry grinned when he understood Ron’s complains. “Well, I expect yours are more… traditional.” He snorted.
Ron turned to glare at him. “Traditional! They’re ancient!” He looked in the mirror once more. “I look like my Great Aunt Tessie.” A sniff. “I smell like my Great Aunt Tessie!” He said grumpily.
Harry snorted. “Come on. We’ve got to go, we can’t stay the whole night here.”
“Just murder me already, Harry.”
Another snort. “I’ll pass. Now hurry up!” He pushed Ron through the door. “We’ve got a Ball tonight.”
They went downstairs and the whole castle was decorated. It was quite beautiful. The snowy atmosphere, the lights, the music. Wonderful. The Patil sisters were already waiting for them when they arrived.
“Hi, Harry!” Parvati said, giggling.
“Ron…” Padma eyed him curiously. “Don’t you look—” she didn’t finish her sentence.
Ron groaned and took her hand, pulling her into the room. The girl looked at her sister in disappointment and followed him.
Harry turned around when Parvati said “She looks beautiful!” Only to find Hermione on the stairs with Draco next to her.
Harry’s heart started beating faster and he was so close to start drooling. Draco was, without doubt, the most gorgeous person on Earth. He was stunning, shining. He was wearing a white shirt, with a white waistcoat that fitted him perfectly. His trousers and shoes were completely black. His hair was beautifully combed and—Sweet Merlin! His face was so beautiful, his cheeks and nose were a tinted with a light shade of pink, which made him look so adorable. His pale skin and grey eyes matched perfectly.
I am the luckiest man.
Harry thought. He knew he wasn’t ugly, some people even considered him ‘pretty’, but he was nothing compared to Draco. Draco was a dream. A masterpiece.
Harry hated Lucius, but — goddamn it! What an amazing job he did! He’d have to thank him later. Draco was the only good thing Lucius had done in his whole life.
And damn…
“Yeah, he does…” was what he said, but flushed immediately when he remembered that Parvati was talking about Hermione. For a second he forgot Hermione was next to him, she was wearing a lovely pink dress and her hair looked fantastic. She was beautiful too.
“What?” Parvati asked.
“She. I meant she.” He said nervously.
Then, McGonagall got his attention.
“Mr. Potter.” She nodded. “Miss Patil, are you ready to go to the ball?”
Harry frowned. “What?!”
“Nobody told you that the champions are always the first ones to dance?” She asked.
What the hell!
“No!” He said awkwardly.
“Oh.” She said. “Well, now you know. Come on.” And she pulled them both into the room.
The dance was… decent. He nearly tripped like a thousand times, but, fortunately, he didn’t. Parvati was clearly annoyed, her dancing skills were much better than Harry’s, but… it wasn’t his fault. His feet had a problem, his head was guiding them to the right, but they decided to go left! How was he supposed to control them?
They were living in their own different reality!
And… seeing Draco dressed like that was not helping at all. He couldn’t focus, his gaze was directed to the only person he cared about in that room. Draco. His Draco.
Who was dancing with Pansy Parkinson. That pug face girl. Harry hated her, and they would probably talk afterwards, but now wasn’t the time. When they finished dancing it was a huge relief, his feet were starting to burn.
He sat next to Ron, who was sitting next to a furious Padma. The four of them sat for ten minutes, watching how everyone else was having fun. Jumping, clapping, dancing, snogging— ew. Why like that in public? Put that passion in the dance or save it for later, when they’re alone.
“Are you going to ask me to dance?” Padma asked to Ron.
He just sighed and shook his head. “No.” He murmured.
She rolled her eyes and walked away. Parvati looked at Harry, and Harry could realise what she meant. She was asking the same thing.
He just shook his head.
She rolled her eyes and walked away, just like her sister. Now it was only Ron and him. While the rest of Hogwarts was enjoying, they were here. Sitting alone, in silence, without a date and without food or something to drink.
Then, out of nowhere, Hermione appeared in front of them with Viktor Krum. He leaned forward to whisper something into her ear, Hermione giggled and nodded. Viktor left her alone.
With a wide smile in her face, she walked towards them. “Hi!” She said excitedly. “Isn’t it hot in here?”
Harry snorted and Ron rolled his eyes.
She sat next to them and sighed happily. “Viktor went to grab some drinks. Do you want to join us?”
Before Harry could answer Ron rejected her harshly. “We don’t want yours or Viktor’s company. You can both sod off.”
Hermione looked at him angrily. “I was just asking, Ronald. There’s no need to be rude!”
“Well, it’s your fault anyway. And did you know he’s only taking advantage of you?”
“What?” She scoffed. “You are an idiot, Ronald Weasley.” She stood up and walked away, after two steps she looked back again. She opened her mouth, like she wanted to say something, but shut it again. She left quickly.
“Why would you say that, Ron?” Harry asked. “She was only trying to be nice.”
“I’m sick of people trying to be nice. Just like the Malfoy thing, he thinks that now he acts ‘nice’ people will forget all he did before.”
Harry’s hand clenched into a fist. “Don’t bring him into this.”
Ron scoffed. “Oh, yeah. I remember, now you’re a Malfoy lover too.” He said angrily.
And right there a voice appeared. “Who’s a Malfoy lover?”
William.
“What do you want?”
“Harry… never getting tired of saying the same thing? Anyway, so… who’s the Malfoy lover? You?” He smirked.
Harry’s patience was starting to run out. “Don’t you dare say anything about him.” He said coldly.
William let out an annoying whistle. “But weren’t you the one who told me Malfoy’s secrets?”
Harry froze. Why was he bringing that up? Why right now?
William laughed. “Just look at your face!” Then, he said dryly. “I don’t think you should defend him, after you told us about his ‘daddy issues’.”
“You what?” Another voice said. Harry knew that voice too well, but now it sounded broken.
When he looked to his left he saw Draco. His smile was fading and he had two drinks on his hands.
“Isn’t this great?” William laughed. “Malfoy! Good to see you, man! Harry here was just telling us about you.” He smirked.
Harry froze, all his ability to speak had abandoned him. His knees were giving up and his stomach sank, Draco was never going to forgive him.
Then, his heart broke when Draco’s eyes watered, he looked so fragile, so vulnerable, so hurt.
“I…” That’s all his mouth managed to say.
Draco’s lips were trembling now, and William was smirking. Harry had seen enough. “This is all your fault!” He yelled at William. Drawing the attention of many people.
“Mine? But you were the one who told me. I didn’t force you, I just asked and you told me everything. You didn’t even complain.”
Harry turned to look at Draco. The boy had never looked so broken and hurt.
“Please tell me it isn’t true…” Draco whispered, with such pain that it made Harry’s heart ache badly.
Harry’s own eyes watered. “I’m sorry…” He said.
Tears finally left Draco’s eyes. “I can’t believe you.” He said coldly. The same eyes that once looked at him with love and affection, were now filled with hate and anger. “From now on… you are dead to me.” He said dryly as he turned away.
William was laughing and Ron was saying something, but none of that mattered. Harry couldn’t think, couldn’t listen, couldn’t speak, all he could do was feel. And he didn’t like what he was feeling. Not one bit.
He grabbed Draco’s arm, trying to stop him from walking away, but Draco spilled the drink on his dress robes. Harry jerked away and when he had a chance Draco ran.
Harry ran off too, trying to catch him.
“Draco, wait!” He was crying now. “You don’t understand! Please stop and talk to me!” He begged. He had never begged in his life, but for Draco, he would do that and much more.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” Draco said between painful sobs. “And you can sleep somewhere else tonight! I’m not opening the door!” He ran away even faster.
Harry finally stopped. Draco was going upstairs and he was too fast to catch him. He stared at the silhouette of Draco, which was slowly disappearing into the walls.
His knees finally gave up, he ended up in the floor, his hand running through his now messy hair. His vision blurry because his eyes were full of tears. His heart ached painfully.
He felt like he was going to throw up. Everything that happened wasn’t supposed to, everything went wrong. And it was his fault. He had experienced physical pain, but none of them were like this.
Today, he had lost the love of his life. The only person he cared about in this world.
And that… was the worst pain ever.