Yule Ball

Yule Ball

Chapter II

*So Neville knows?*

Harry nodded discretely, taking another bite of his toast. *I don't know how he found out, but he talked to me about it this morning and promised not to say anything.*

Draco frowned as he pulled on his robes, purposely taking his time since he knew Harry was concentrating on him. *Are you sure we can trust him? I mean, hell, this is the guy that bursts into tears when Snape looks at him the wrong way.*

*I'm sure Neville won't say anything,* he reassured him, letting his concentration focus on his food again so he could eat without spilling all over himself. *Besides, it's not as if we have much of a choice in the matter.*

*Hn. I guess you're right,* Draco agreed grudgingly. *Hey, do you want to go down to the Pitch today? The new season's starting soon, you'll need your practice if you want to keep up with me.*

Harry rolled his eyes, earning him a few odd looks from his classmates. *Fine. I was actually going to go there before Neville showed up.*

*I'll meet you there then.*

Asking his plate for a bagel (Draco was too skinny to be skipping meals), Harry left the Great Hall, heading outside to the Pitch. Normally he wouldn't start practising until after the winter hols, but far be it from him to let the Slytherin Seeker get more practice hours than him. He was actually looking forward to the holidays this year, as Draco had convinced his parents to let him stay behind when they went to Holand for Christmas. Unfortunately, both Ron and Hermione would be staying too, and since the Ball would have already come and gone by then, there was no telling whether they'd still be speaking to him or not.

He finally reached the Pitch, where Draco was already waiting for him by the broom shed. Harry handed him his bagel, which he accepted with an exasperated sigh.

"I'm not anorexic, you know."

"Of course not, dear." He laughed at Draco's sour look, and once the other boy was finished eating, they took off into the air. Harry had originally intended to stay out over the Quidditch Pitch, but he found himself wandering out over the grounds, Draco keeping a safe distance away in case anyone noticed them.

*Is that Weasley and Granger?*

Harry followed his gaze down to the gardens, where Ron and Hermione were sitting on a bench and talking. Surprisingly enough, they actually did have a stack of books sitting beside them, even if they weren't being used.

*Interesting spot for studying, don't you think?* Draco commented, smirking slightly.

*Better than that time you seduced me into the Potion's closet during detention...*

Even though he was too far away, Harry could sense that he was pouting. *Well, if I hadn't, none of this would've happened at all.*

He smiled. *I know. You can lure me into closets whenever you want, Drac.*

*Right now I'll settle for luring you out of them, Harry.*

Harry laughed, steering his broom towards the lake and the dark fringe of the nearby Forbidden Forest. *Just another two and a half weeks, you know.*

*What's the matter, Potter? Nervous?*

He shrugged. *Yeah. Aren't you?*

*... A little,* Draco grudgingly admitted. *I'm more worried about my father's reaction to all this than what anyone else thinks.*

Harry glared out into the scenery. *Well, we're graduating this year, and since you're stayiing for Winter Hols, there's not a damned thing he can do about it.*

*You really believe that? You don't know my father like I do, Harry.*

*No, and thank God for that,* Harry replied vehemently, thinking of all the horror stories Draco had told him about Lucius Malfoy. *Look, if you're in danger, then we'll go tell Dumbledore. I'm sure that he'll be able to do something to help you. I mean, just look at Snape.*

Draco snorted. *Poor choice of examples there, Potter. I do NOT want to end up like Snape, and I'm definitely not getting the Mark if I can help it.*

*Well, we certainly agree on that,* Harry said. The wind over the lake was a little harsher than it was by the grounds, and it whipped his messy black hair all over, tearing through his dark robes and making them damp with condensation. *Will you at least promise me that we can go to Dumbledore if you're in danger?*

Draco, now close enough for him to hear, sighed. "All right. But only for you, Harry."

*********

The next few weeks were nearly unbearable for everyone, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy included. The school seemed to be on a permanent buzz of excitement as both the Yule Ball and the Winter Hols drew nearer. There were rumors running rampant as to who Harry was taking to the Ball, and he'd been paired with everyone from Lavendar Brown to Ron. Everyone except Malfoy, of course.

Neville had been true to his word, as Harry knew he would be, and no one had so much as a clue who Harry's mysterious date could be. Finally, the day before arrived, and the anticipation within Hogwarts had reached near breaking point.

"Haaarry..."

Harry flinched at the all-too-familiar whine, turning to see a pair of bright blue eyes boring into his own startled jade. "Er, Seamus?"

"We're pals, right Harry?"

Harry arched a brow at him. "If you think I'm going to tell you who my date is--"

"It's not that this time, I promise!" Seamus' eyes turned pleading. "Look, Harry, I'm going to be stuck here again cause my parents are on a business trip this year, and Dean's leaving. I know this is a big favor to ask, but do you think I could use you owl over the hols to write to him? Neither of us have one, since his family are Muggles and mine didn't have the money..."

He sighed in relief, thankful that Seamus was finally talking to him about something that wasn't the Ball. "Of course you can. Everyone I usually write to is staying here this year, so I probably won't need her--"

Seamus cut him off, as well as his air supply, as he pounced on him, enveloping the very startled Boy Who Lived in a giant bear hug. "Oh, thank you so much, Harry!"

"Aha!" came a triumphant shout behind them, and both boys broke apart abruptly, staring in shock at Ron and Dean who stood in the doorway. "So that's who you're taking to the Yule Ball!"

Dean, for all his mock anger, looked highly amused at the whole situation. "Over my dead body."

"Ooh, was that a threat?" Seamus asked, eyes practically glowing at the prospect of a brawl. "Gonna fight for me, Dean?"

The black boy smirked. "Who said anything about you?"

Seamus gasped in mock horror. "Dean? How could you do this to me? I'm hurt!"

Sighing in exasperation at his roommates, Harry dropped onto his bed like a lead weight. A moment later the creak of springs alerted him to Ron's place beside him.

"Didn't know you were so popular with the lads, Harry," Ron commented, smiling wryly at him.

Harry chuckled. "Me neither."

"Are you nervous about the Ball tomorrow?" he asked. "I mean, the whole school's been dying to know, and if I know you, it's going to be the last person they'd expect."

He regarded his best friend in surprise. "How'd you know?"

Ron shrugged, grinning at him. "Nothing to do with Harry Potter is predictable."

"So who's the last person you'd expect?" Harry asked, watching Ron curiously.

Ron shrugged again. "Oh I dunno... Pansy Parkinson, maybe?"

Harry choked. "Pansy?!"

After his laughter had subsided, Ron met Harry's glare. "C'mon, Harry I was just joking. 'Sides, everyone knows that she and Malfoy are an item."

He arched a brow. *You hear that, Malfoy? Everyone seems to think you're shagging Parkinson.*

Draco snorted. *I'd rather shag the Weasel.*

Harry fought not to smirk. *Oh, I bet he would just love to hear that...*

"But anyways," Ron said, catching Harry's attention again. "I was thinking... What do you say we take the cloak and sneak off to Honeyduke's tonight? I want to get something for Herm, you know, for Christmas and all since I missed the trip to Hogsmeade last weekend."

He mulled it over in his head for a few minutes, then nodded. Ron grinned. "Sure, why not? Maybe I'll pick up a few things while we're there, too."

*Sneaking off to Hogsmeade? Really, Harry, how is it you haven't gotten expelled yet?*

*To be honest, I really don't know. The cloak certainly helps, though.*

"So we'll leave tonight, then," Ron said, and Harry nodded again.

"Midnight," Harry verified. "And try not to fall asleep this time, will you?"

Ron shot him an indignant glare. "How am I supposed to fall asleep when we're wandering around in dark tunnels?"

"You managed well enough last time."

"You've been getting more and more snarky lately, you know that Harry?" Ron grumbled still glaring at him.

*Wonder who's fault that is...*

*Oh that's right, just blame me for everything.*

"Sorry Ron," Harry said. His gaze turned thoughtful. "Must be some of the Slytherin in me."

*That's not funny, you know.*

"Hmph. No doubt," Ron agreed. "Well, I've got to finish that damned essay McGonagall gave us. See ya later."

*********

"You know, this isn't nearly as easy as it used to be," Ron mumbled. The two boys hurried through the dark courtyard, hunched under the light fabric of the invisibility cloak. They reached the statue and moments later found themselves in the familiar blackness of the tunnel below.

"Lumos," Harry whispered, and a faint white light sprang from the end of his wand. He swung it back and forth, checking the path ahead of them.

"Harry! Shine it over here again," Ron said in a hushed, excited voice. Harry complied, hurrying over to see what he'd found.

"What is it?"

"I think there's something writted on the wall here," Ron answered, gesturing towards the cool stone in front of them. Harry swept the wand over its rough surface, stopping when he discovered some letters hewn into the rocky wall.

"R.L. + S.B.," Harry read, squinting in the dim light. He could just barely make out the initials, surrounded by a small heart. "Ron, you don't suppose that stands for Remus Lupin and--"

Ron's eyes widened. "Lupin and Sirius?!"

Harry smiled. "I always did wonder about those two. Guess I'll have to ask Snuffles about it in my next letter."

The rest of their journey to Hogsmeade was uneventful, aside from Ron tripping on a root and falling flat on his face. It was dark and cold in Hogsmeade when they arrived, and the streets were empty aside from a few drunks making their way home from the Three Broomsticks. Fortunately Honeydukes was still open when they arrived, although the cashier sent them a few nasty looks for having woken her up.

Ron found a chocolate rose and a couple frogs, and was already checking out while Harry perused the shelves. Finally he sighted a small, white chocolate dragon, pushed behind a bag of sugar quills. He smiled and took it off the shelf.

"What'd you get?" Ron asked as they headed back to the tunnel's secret entrance. Harry pulled it out of his bag and showed him. "I didn't know you liked dragons."

"I guess you could say it's a recent development," Harry commented, lowering himself into the tunnel. Ron followed a moment later and they started off towards Hogwarts again. "And it's not for me, anyway."

Ron grinned. "Oh, your mysterious girlfriend, eh? I can't wait to find out who it is."

"I'm sure you can't," Harry said smirking at him. "Only one more day, though."

*********

That one more day felt like an eternity when it arrived. Having slept till noon to make up for last night's trip, Harry had managed to kill a good amount of time. Unfortunately, Draco had been awake since seven and his anxiety and excitement hit Harry like a tidal wave when he finally did get up. Harry groaned and somehow managed to stumble down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Ron was already there, talking to Hermione whose nose was buried in a thick old tome. Harry dropped onto the bench across from them, noticing with no small amount of annoyance that Draco was nowhere to be seen.

"Hullo, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes taking on a knowing look. "You certainly took your time getting up today."

Harry smiled at her innocently. "I need my beauty sleep before the ball, you know."

Hermione arched a brow. "I bet."

Harry let his attention wander out over the link, trying to calm some of Draco's nervousness. He found the other boy out by the lake, sitting at the base of an old oak tree. He smiled to himself, watching Draco for as long as he dared before turning his thoughts back to the Great Hall.

"You see what I mean, Herm?" Ron was complaining, gesturing over towards Harry. "He's doing it again!"

Harry blinked. "Doing what?"

"Spacing out with that dreamy smile!" Ron exclaimed, drawing the attention of a few nearby Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. "Jeez, you've got it bad."

Harry had the decency to blush, and Ron snickered. "Yeah, well... You know, I think I'll just go take a walk now."

"All right. See you tonight, Harry," Hermione called, before Ron could interrupt.

Harry headed out towards the lake, trying not to run when he spotted the small figure sitting beneath a tree. Draco looked up when he approached, offering him a warm smile that made Harry's heart leap in his chest. Settling himself beside the blond, they sat together in silence for a few minutes, Draco leaning lightly against his shoulder. The warmth felt good out in the snow, and Harry sighed happilly, drawing him in closer.

"So what'd you get me at Honeyduke's last night?"

Harry laughed. "Awfully presumptuous, aren't you?"

Draco smirked at him. "If you tell me, I'll kiss you."

"You'd do that anyway, you cheat," Harry teased. "Besides, if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret."

The Slytherin groaned. "I don't think I can handle anymore secrets."

Harry leaned over and kissed his temple. "After tonight, you won't have to."

"Thanks for reminding me. I was hoping to forget about that."

He trailed kisses down Draco's jawline, smiling as he heard the other boy's breathing quicken. "I'll help you forget, Drac."