hey bubs!! i know i don't usually post at this time but here i am

theres not really a song for the chapter other than if you wanna listen to "Neville's waltz" which might just get you into more of a Yule Ball mood;) (no this chapter is not the yule ball)

i hope you enjoy!

It's officially two weeks from the Yule Ball.

Have I been asked by anyone to go? No.

I know I shouldn't ponder on the idea of Draco asking me. Of us having a wonderful night filled with dancing and laughter. Of ending the night up in the astronomy tower looking out at the stars. Though there was still a small hope in me that it would happen.

That someday he'd show up with a beautiful rose and a romantic poem. Or even dedicate a song just for me, but as everyday passed by, my hope grew smaller and smaller until really, it was gone.

"Have you gone deaf or-?" Pansy's voice breaks me out of my thoughts, my eyes lifting to look up at her. She had been talking to me for awhile though as soon as she mentioned the Yule Ball, I zoned out.

"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry," I stutter, repositioning the book sitting in my lap.

"You have gone deaf?" She asks, glancing down at the book in my lap.

I huff humorously, rolling my eyes. "So Blaise hasn't asked you yet?" I change the subject, writing a quick note down about my homework.

"No, and I doubt he will."

"Why not?" My head pops up to look at her, my brows raising in concern and confusion.

She responds with a shrug, though I knew she had more to say about why she thought that way. Before she can begin with her explanation, Harry walks up to us, a nervous bounce in his step.

"Hey Harry," I say, slight concern showing in my voice.

Pansy and I had been studying in the library for a little now, meaning we were in a public place. Maybe he just wanted to say hi?

"Uh hi." He states quickly, still bouncing anxiously.

"Is something wrong?" I ask as he awkwardly glances at Pansy, giving a small wave to her which she confusedly returns.

"Could I ask you something?" He lets a loud huff of air out, clearly trying to relax himself.

"Yeah... of course." I give a small glance at Pansy, silently telling her I had no idea what was going on.

"Well uh Mcgonagall told the four Triwizard tournament competitors that we will be leading the first dance- meaning we all need dates." He frowns slightly. "I know this seems strange- but Cho is already going with someone else and you came to mind next so um... would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"

My eyebrows raise in surprise, as I process everything he has quickly spilled out. "Oh um..." I look at Pansy who has a small smirk on her lips. "Yeah- yeah sure,"

He grins immediately, repositioning his glasses on his nose. "Brilliant!"

I give him a small smile, not sure whether I was happy, surprised, or bitter.

"Oh- uh also!" Harry begins again, though now he's speaking to Pansy. "Ron was wondering if you'd wanna go with him?"

Pansy's mouth gapes open slightly, glancing around a little. "So- so you're asking me... for him?" Harry nods hesitantly. "No romantic gesture?" She quirks an eyebrow. Harry now shakes his head slowly. She stays quiet for a moment, staring at the ground. "Fine I'll go."

Harry grins again, a smile growing on my face as well from her hesitant answer.

"Thats great! I'll go tell him right now." Harry quickly walks off, leaving us speechless.

Theres a small moment of silence once he's gone before we both burst out laughing at the ridiculousness at whatever had just happened.

"Got ourselves some pretty romantic dates haven't we?" Pansy jokes.

"Most definitely," I laugh, shaking my head slowly.

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"I quite like doing this whole waltzing thing," Neville grins at me, as we continue to practice waltzing.

"You're very natural at it," I smile back at him, before he spins me around by my hand.

"You really think so?" He asks as we go back to the 'step step step' part as he likes to call it.

"Absolutely!" I laugh a little at his shocked and happy attitude.

We step away from each other, he bows, I curtsy.

"So what are you thinking for your suit?" I ask, sitting down against a wall in the empty corridor we were in.

He sits down next to me, fixing his hair a little. "Well Ginny said she doesn't mind what color I wear, so I might just do black and white."

My brows furrow slightly in confusion. "Ginny? Why would it matter what she thinks?"

"Hm? Oh I guess I didn't tell you- uh well Ginny is my date to the ball..."

A loud gasp leaves me, my mouth hanging agape. "Really?! Oh thats wonderful Neville!"

He laughs, his cheeks heating up a little. "Yeah I'm really excited." He stares down at the ground, his knees tucked in to his chest.

"Well... do you think you're actually interested in her?" I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively, fully invested in whatever he had to say.

"What? Oh no... no I don't think so," He shrugs, fidgeting with his hands. "She's always been nice to me though so I thought I'd ask her to come with me y'know- she wouldn't have been able to because she's a third year."

I nod along with his statement, a small smile growing on my lips in admiration of his kindness. "Makes sense."

A small moment of silence goes by before I slowly stand up, offering my hand to help him up. "We should probably go back to our dorms now, its close to curfew."

He nods in agreement, taking my hand to help him up. "I'll see you sometime soon," He smiles at me before walking towards the Gryffindor dormitories.

It takes me about four minutes to get back to the dungeons, relief flowing through me as I realize Snape wasn't in his classroom to get me in trouble. I quietly walk through the entrance of the dormitories, not seeing the boy sitting on the couches in the dim lighted common room.

"Where've you been?" Draco asks, shutting the book in his lap. His legs were stretched out to the coffee table in the middle of the couches.

A small gasp leaves me, my hand flying up to my chest. "Merlin you scared me,"

I slowly walk over to the couches, setting my bag down and plopping down next to him.

"Well?" He asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ive been helping Neville with waltzing... y'know for the ball." I tried my best not to talk about the ball in a bitter way in front of him, though I knew I was still a little mad at him for not asking me.

He nods slowly, shifting almost uncomfortably in his seat. "You're going to it? The ball?"

"Uh yeah... I'm gonna go." I bite my bottom lip, hating the awkward tension between us currently.

He clears his throat quietly, tapping on the closed book in his lap. "Has anyone... asked you?"

"Mhm," I respond quietly, looking anywhere but at him as my hands fidget in my lap.

"Oh- thats... thats good."

I hated the small feeling of guilt that was popping up in my brain. We weren't actually in a relationship, and I wasn't cheating on him. Something just felt wrong about going with Harry. No. Nothing was wrong with it... right?

"Yeah um-" I clear my throat almost aggressively. "I'm gonna go with Harry." I spit out, trying to feel relief though I only feel regret.

"Harry?"

"Yeah... he needed a date as one of the Triwizard champions and he said Cho is going with som-"

Draco interrupts me with a small laugh. "Hey- its fine. I don't mind," We finally make eye contact.

My eyebrows unintentionally furrow in confusion a little as I search his eyes for any kind of lie or anger. My hand flies up to his chin, turning his face from side to side as I inspect him. "Are you under some kind of potion?"

He chuckles quietly, gently removing my hand from his chin. "Im fine. As long as your not secretly falling in love with him, I'm fine."

I sit up straighter, my brows still furrowed slightly though a small smile quickly grows on my lips. "You're fine with it?

He jokingly glares at me, turning his head away from looking at me. "The more you ask the less I want to be fine with it,"

I laugh quietly, moving my head to be in front of his eyes. "Thank you."

"I shouldn't be praised for the bare minimum," He whispers, glancing between my eyes.

A small smile grows on my lips, my eyes locked with his. "You have pretty eyes," The words slip out of my mouth before I truly realize what I'm saying.

He huffs humorously, shaking his head slowly. "Thank you."

"I shouldn't be praised for a simple compliment," I whisper softly, as we both slowly lean in towards each other.

He kisses me softly, before leaning away, our foreheads still touching. "Goodnight Y/n." He says quietly.

I smile before slowly and quietly getting off the couch and grabbing my bag. "Goodnight Draco."

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heyyyy;)

yes there will be some jealous draco soon, don't think they'll always be super nice to each other because that is not enemies to lovers !😁

thank you for reading and thank you for all of your constant support. i still can't believe how much this story has grown. you all mean the world to me. i love youuuu mwah!