The Dance.
Draco follows Harry, stepping in time to the music and moving around the dance floor. Harry has improved since the start of December, and now, he's confidently leading Draco through the dance. The other champions are dancing, too, but none of them are as elegant as Harry and Draco. Everyone is silent, watching the pairs dance to the song. After a while of just the champions dancing, Dumbledore moves onto the floor and signals for everyone else to join. People slowly file on, dancing with their partners or friends. When the song finishes, Draco walks off to the drinks stand. Harry follows, keeping an eye out for their friends, who are sure to corner them soon. After getting drinks, they find an empty table near the door, and they sit down, chatting till someone interrupts them.
"Well, I knew you wouldn't do it, so I'll have to thank you, Potter," Pansy says, approaching them with Blaise behind her.
Harry looks to Draco in confusion, realizing when he sees the blond's red face. Pansy grins, sitting down beside Draco. Blaise sits down beside Harry, rolling his eyes at Draco, who's now trying to curse Pansy from under the table. Harry takes Draco's hand, putting his wand on the table. Draco rolls his eyes, glaring at Harry till he gives up. Pansy makes some small chat, Harry joining in once they all get to know each other. Draco says a few things here and there, but he doesn't say much. Harry nudges him, forcing the Slytherin to look at him.
"What's wrong?" Harry asks.
"Nothing, it's just Weaslette. She keeps glaring at us." Draco replies, looking down at his lap.
Harry scans the room, finding Ginny standing near Ron and Hermione. Sure enough, she soon looks over, blushing when she and Harry make eye contact. Harry ignores her.
"She's annoying and a brat. She's always complaining about one thing or the other. But Im pretty sure she's jealous." Harry replies, leaning in to whisper the last sentence.
Draco smirks, turning back to the conversation Pansy and Blaise are in, something about a bet with Professor McGonagall dancing with Professor Snape. Harry rolls his eyes, the Slytherins are always weird like this. Suddenly, he feels a tap on his shoulder. Harry turns, seeing a red-faced Ron there with an apologetic Hermione standing behind him.
"You guys sitting?" Harry asks, shuffling so they have room.
"No, we're not. Why are you with the Slytherins, Harry?" Ron spits out, looking at Draco with disgust.
"Because they're actually cool people, and they're my friends," Harry replies, turning his chair to face Ron.
"What?! Harry, they are evil! It's Slytherin, Harry! All of them are gonna be death eaters, their parents are probably already ones." Ron sneers, glaring daggers at the group, who all have very different reactions.
Draco is hunching down, Blaise is holding Pansy's hands behind her back, and Pansy is reaching for her wand. Harry stands up, ready to defend his friends. Just then, Hermione steps in. She yanks Ron back, slapping him across the face. Harry and the Slytherins 'ooh' while Ron staggers back, shocked at what Hermione just did.
"Grow up, Ronald! People change! Obviously not you, but try to open your mind." Hermione says, shooting apologetic looks at Harry and the others before dragging Ron back to their dates.
"Well, I did not expect that from Granger there! But good for her. Let's enjoy our night, then!" Pansy declares, pulling Draco from out of his seat and towards the stage, where a crowd is starting to form.
Harry and Blaise tag along, with Hermione and Viktor soon joining them. Dumbledore announces that a band called The Weird Sisters will now play a few of their songs, and almost everyone in the hall is trying to get close to the front. Soon, some music comes on, and people start jumping and singing along. Harry's never heard of this band, but he likes their music. After a few songs, the group decides to sit down for a bit. Pansy finds them an empty table near the back, and they sit down. They bite some food and happily chat while everyone else is dancing like crazy. Draco excuses himself to get a drink, walking over to the punch table. He pours himself a glass before someone grabs his shoulder. Draco turns, just seeing a mess of ginger hair before a wand is in his face.
"What have you done to Harry, Malfoy? I know you've done something, so fess up, or your face will be blown to bits." Ron spits, shoving Draco into the wall.
Harry looks around. Draco is taking a long time to get a drink. Everyone is still dancing, but Draco isn't at the punch table. Before Harry can do anything, Pansy grips his arm.
"Look behind the drinks table and tell me im not seeing things." She hisses.
Harry looks in the shadows, seeing movement. He stands up, Pansy right behind him.
"Harry? What are you-" Hermione gasps, she's seen Ron.
Their group then gets up, walking towards the table. Pansy and Blaise promise to block them from the teachers line of view, while Harry and Hermione go to help Draco. As Harry approaches, he can hear Ron yelling and Draco crying. He runs towards Ron, throwing him on the floor. Draco is against the wall, holding his cheek, which is bleeding. Harry gets his wand out, cleaning and sealing the cut. Draco hugs him, falling into Harry's arms. Harry holds him, whispering words of comfort in his ear. Pansy comes to take Draco, leaving Harry to deal with Ron. Harry turns around, seeing Ron struggling against Hermione, who is holding his hands. Harry points his wand at Ron, who stops struggling when he sees Harry.
"Harry! Snap out of it, you're under a spell, or something-" Ron starts, but Harry doesn't let him finish.
He throws Glacius and the tongue horn hex at Ron, causing him to freeze on the ground and turn his tongue into a horn. He looks to Hermione, who nods and drags Ron outside, before turning to Draco. Pansy led him away to the table they were at before. Harry walks over, hugging Draco so tightly the Slytherin can't breathe. Draco hugs him back, quietly crying from shock. Harry gets his wand out, summoning a mild calming potion and handing it to Draco. Draco takes it, tipping it down his throat before relaxing slightly. Harry leads Draco out of the hall to a bench in some small gardens near the castle. Draco significantly relaxes when he gets outside, feeling like he isn't trapped. Harry sits him down, sitting beside him and holding him. Draco leans into Harry, listening to the Gryffindor's heartbeat. They stay silent for a while before Harry can't stand it anymore.
"What did he do to you, Draco? What did he say?" Harry asks, his voice low.
"He claimed I had put you under some spell or curse and threatened me to fix you," Draco whispers, looking out to the lake, which is shining under the full moon.
Harry sighs, holding Draco close.
"Im sorry he did that. You didn't deserve it. I'll never let him do anything like that again, I promise." Harry says, whispering in Draco's ear.
Draco nods, closing his eyes and relaxing against Harry.
"I love you." He mumbles, not thinking.
Harry freezes up under him, and Draco regrets his words. Before he can apologize, though, Harry tilts his chin up.
"I love you too." He says, looking into Draco's eyes.
Draco leans in, keeping a small amount of room between their faces. Harry closes the gap, pressing a soft kiss to Draco's mouth. Draco kisses him back, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. Harry puts his hands on Draco's waist, rubbing a soothing hand down Draco's back. Draco pulls away, smiling up at the boy he's had a crush on since first year. Harry smiles back, his teeth shining in the moonlight, his face full of happiness. Draco sighs happily, leaning back down on Harry's chest, tracing patterns on his hand. Harry feels Draco relax, and feels himself relax as well. Just then, they hear rustling in the bushes. Harry takes his wand out, pointing it at the spot where they hear the noise. Hermione walks out, smiling at them before turning back to the castle. Harry and Draco turn to each other before laughing out loud. They stay out there till they hear the song currently playing end and announcments start. They walk back to the great hall, finding their friends at a table near the back. They sit down, just as Dunbledore is wishing everyone a very merry Christmas in the morning, for presents were delayed because of the Yule Ball. Harry spots many of the Slytherins rolling their eyes when Dumbledore wishes them a merry Christmas. He doesn't understand why, till he hears a seventh-year girl whispering to her friends about, 'Not realizing Christianity isn't the only religion.' As Dumbledore finishes speaking, everyone gets up, heading to their dormitories. Harry wishes Draco a good night before walking up the stairs with Hermione. They get halfway up the stairs before Harry notices Ron isn't in the crowd.
"Er, Hermione?" Harry says.
"Yes, Harry?" Hermione replies, sounding exhausted.
"Uhh, wheres Ron?" He asks.
"I left him in the pumpkin patch outside the entrance hall. Hagrid will find him soon enough." She replies, grinning wickedly.
Harry laughs, high fiving her as they reach the potrait hole.
"You never fail to amaze me, 'Mione. Just remind me never to get on your bad side. I'll see you in the morning. Night!" He says as they part ways in the common room.
Harry gets to his dorm, finding Neville already there, reading a book on his bed. Harry takes off his robes, pulling on his PJs, and getting into bed. He closes the curtains around him, getting out the Maraders map. He sees Ron, walking in circles outside the hall. He chuckles before turning his attention to the dungeons. He finds Draco walking with Pansy and Blaise down the steps to their common room. He watches them before getting tired and putting the map away. He places his glasses on his bedside table, putting his wand there, too. He lies down in bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to come. He thinks,
Tonight was so much fun. I can't wait for tomorrow.