Chapter 26
The day of the Holiday Ball came and the school was filled with groups of giggling girls and boys smirking in excitement at the evening events. As it was a Friday lessons still resumed but with little attention payed by students and even teachers. Harry was the same, his mind was mostly preoccupied by the thought of being able to take Draco to the ball. Although he was excited by the chance to spend some time with Draco in a new way he also felt equally nervous and worried at the thought of the entire school being there too. He would have to be blind not to notice the negativity Draco received by the rest of the school, even though it was kept to a minimum when Harry was around. He was also dreading how his friends would take his surprise attendance, especially when they knew he was bringing Draco as a date.
He couldn't worry to much, it was happening and that was that. His friends would get over it eventually, surely? They hadn't spoken much in the past few weeks as he spent most of his meals and any other free time with his roommate. Often he saw the confused and slightly disappointed expression from them when he did look in.
"Harry, you haven't written anything down? Are you okay?" Draco's cool whisper broke Harry's train of thought.
"Yeah m'fine, just tired, this is boring anyway and you'll just let copy yours later." He said with a confident, slightly cocky smirk.
"I bloody think not! Have you always been this cheeky?"
"Nope, I suppose you just bring out the worst in me."
Harry could see Draco was trying to suppress a grin himself and the two giggled quietly at the back of Professor Flitwicks classroom. Not that he noticed, he was to engrossed in charming the decorations for that evening.
When that last class ended, RE two boys walked side by side to the dining hall. They took their seat in their usual spot away from the rest of the students.
"Look, Harry I know you're probably nervous about tonight, and it's okay you know? To back out, because I know you're just trying to be nice but you should go with your real friends, not with the freak of the school."
Harry looked right into those stormy blue eyes and forced himself not to lean in because all he wanted to do was kiss Draco's anxiety away.
"Draco, for the last time, I want to go with you. Now can we please stop talking about it because I'm starving and I was going to ask if you wanted a quick fly around before we have to get ready."
"Oh, well uh yes I would like to, too, I mean to the ball- and flying , oh god I sound like a twat."
He let his head fall into his hands and coughed out something that sounded like a hysterical laugh or sob, Harry couldn't tell.
"Shut up, now hurry up and get some food down you." Harry smiled, prying Draco's hands away from his face.
They're trip around the grounds was perfect if not too short for Harry's liking. The wind whipped past their faces accentuating the wife smiles on their faces. Harry noticed that Draco's normally smooth porcelain cheeks were tinted with rosiness, reminding Harry that they were both still young, still barely out of childhood. And yet both of them were made to grow up before their time, before they were ready. In a way he and Draco were mirrors of each other, their whole lives so far had been dictated by the adults sworn to protect them. But now, with the grass miles below them, traveling so close together that Harry felt Draco's body heat radiating onto him, they could finally free.
"We better go back if we want enough time to look presentable." Draco shouted over the whistling of fresh air.
So they headed back to where they took off as slow as they could. Harry didn't want to rush this, ever.
Once back in the familiarity of their room, Draco called first dibs on the shower so Harry gathered his outfit and waited. They were running a little late so he took his suit into the bathroom with him to change straight away. Showering quickly, he felt the millions of butterflies in his stomach begin to dance, in less than an hour he and Draco would be entering the ball together. He expected that Draco would be ready by the time he was done casting drying charms on his hair. Harry'd even tried to comb it, which did nothing so instead he just fluffed it up so that it looked a bit different that his usual mop. What Harry didn't expect though, was the breathtaking beauty that greeted him when he came out of the bathroom.
Draco stood before him, leaning gently on the bedpost in a dark emerald suit jacket, made from expensive looking velvet. Underneath was a matt black shirt and a black tie with gold embroidery on it. Half of his platinum blonde hair was held up by complicated looking braids while the rest fell with a slight curliness to it.
Harry's mouth was completely dry and he tried not to look like a complete prat.
"Is it alright? I can change if..."
"NO! I mean, uh no, don't do that you look..."
"It's too much isn't it? The hair? Don't worry I can-"
"No Draco please, don't do anything, you look...amazing."
"Oh, thank you Harry, you clean up well too." He smiled bashfully.
Harry decided that if he was going to do this, he may as well do it properly. He outstretched his crooked left arm and offered it to Draco as they made their way to the ball.