Different

dances

The whole school knew about Claire and Leo. She was more reserved with the relationship, but Leo was proud to finally have her on his arm officially. Claire had been showered with gifts and she tried to do the same to Leo, but she had a lack of funds and a lack of resources. Leo assured her that he just wanted to be around her. That was why she was sitting outside in the cold with his head in her lap while they both read a book.

"You're beautiful," Leo said randomly. Claire grinned and blushed, marking her page and looking down at the boy.

"You're not too bad yourself," Claire teased. Leo smirked at her as he studied her face as if committing it to memory. He was now overly protective of her to the point where it was almost annoying.

"Are you excited for the Ball?" Leo questioned, his voice soft.

"I am," Claire replied with a grin. She was waiting for Hermione and Ginny to come down so she could go get a dress. They had even agreed to let Daphne come with, which would certainly be interesting.

"I'm excited to see you there."

Claire smiled and absentmindedly started brushing her fingers through his hair. The two lapsed into a comfortable silence as they watched the other students go about their day. Luckily for them, their werewolf genes kept them warmer than the others, but she was still chilly. Leo had tried to give her his jacket, but she didn't want him to get cold so she declined.

"Lupin!"

Leo grimaced and sat up as Theo and Blaise sauntered over. Claire sent them a small wave in response as they stood in front of her. She hadn't been spending much time with them because Draco would barely look at her. It made her heart clench anytime he brushed past her without saying a word.

"Missed us?" Blaise teased, pushing past Leo and sitting next to her, Theo following suit. Leo glared at the two boys but didn't say anything. 

"You know I do," Claire assured them.

"I don't," Leo muttered. Claire sent him a small glare and he just smirked. The Slytherins ignored him.

"You need to talk to Draco," Theo said, getting straight to the point.

"No she doesn't," Leo replied automatically.

"I can speak for myself," Claire snapped. Draco was a touchy subject that they avoided. Leo's jaw tensed and he scoffed before standing up and walking over to the lake to skip some stones.

"Trouble in paradise?" Blaise asked with a smirk.

"No," Claire denied. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair before responding. "Draco is the one avoiding me. If he wants to talk then he can talk to me. I'm here whenever."

"But so is he," Theo said, nodding his head towards Leo.

"Draco is going to have to accept that Leo and I are together if he still wants to be friends. It's as simple as that."

"It's not," Blaise argued. "Draco was looking for you that night. He was going to ask you to the Yule Ball before Leo could. And then you guys revealed you were together. He's devastated."

Claire couldn't respond. She was completely shocked at the revelation and it left her more lost than she had been before.

"Claire, you ready?" Hermione asked, coming up behind them. Theo and Blaise ignored the other Gryffindors and looked at Claire.

"Just think about him too," Blaise said softly. Theo nodded and then the two were off. Claire just sat there, staring at the ground.

"Everything okay?" Daphne asked.