just for you (years 3-5)

chapter 44

"would you like to dance?" i say, letting down the bottom of my dress and stopping in front of draco

"are you talking to me?" he looks behind him, and then back at me. i nod, "diggory not good enough for you?" he sneers, "needed someone like me to-"

"i'll walk right back over to him if you don't shut up" i say sternly, holding out my hand. draco goes quiet, looking around again, like he's waiting for someone to jump out and say 'april fools!'. but no one does. he reaches out, taking my hand and standing up.

he pulls me down to the center of the ballroom, where we're surrounded by other people dancing. one of his hands comes down, resting on my lower back, while the other remains clasped in mine, raised to our side. my free hand rests on his shoulder as we spin around, keeping in time with the music.

"your dress really is beautiful" he says after a bit, "daphne had said it was nice but i'd never imagined...." he trails off, looking me up and down. i clear my throat and he looks back up, meeting my eyes

"thanks" i say shortly, trying to make it through this song

i wait a little bit before speaking again, "so.. how do you know flora?"

"don't really" he shrugs, "our father's are... acquaintances. when i complained about her asking me, my mother said i had to say yes the next time"

"oh" i say quietly, looking down a bit. to think, i had been jealous of a business arrangement

"yeah" he says back, bringing both hands to my waist to lift me up, and spin me around in time with the music (as everyone else does) when i land back down, he's smirking

"will you stop looking at me like that" i scold him, trying to stop myself from blushing as our hands come back together

"like what?" he smirks wider, tilting his head a little. i roll my eyes, but i know i'm still smiling as i look down away from him.

"you know, i didn't mean i thought no one else would want to ask you" he says as we switch directions, following the flow of the crowd, "i just thought no one else would, since you and i were well-" he clears his throat softly, "whatever we were"

i look back up at him, and see that he's looking at me nervously. he swallows awkwardly before he continues, "and- and well. you know i'm not good at these things" he chuckles, "you've told me many times i have awful communications skills" i laugh a little at this, and i can see his eyes grow more hopeful, "but i really, really wanted to come with you. i just didn't know how to tell you that... properly, like you said" he bites the inside of his cheek, sighing

i look deep into his eyes, and feel myself starting to get sympathetic. i break eye contact, looking past him to cedric, who's sitting down at our table talking to another boy from hufflepuff. i sigh.

"i don't know draco" i bite my lip, trying to stay calm, "i think it's just too little, too late"

he sighs, "please. can we at least go talk in private?"

"i..." he raises his eyebrows, pleading with me. i look back over at cedric, who's still engaged in his conversation. i suppose he won't miss me for a few minutes. i nod to draco, and he slips his hand off my waist, grabbing my hand and pulling off the dance floor, and out of the great hall.

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cedric's pov

"isn't that your date?" edmund says, looking past me over my shoulder. i follow his gaze, seeing a flash of gold and blue being pulled through the crowd, out towards the doors

"malfoy" i say under breath, knowing he must be taking her somewhere, "sorry, edmund... we'll catch up later" i nod to him with a small smile, getting up and trying to make my way to the exit

"i wouldn't follow them if i were you"

i look up to see two of y/n's friends standing in front of me

"it will just end in a big fight, y/n will be upset with you" the one on the right, daphne, says

"honestly, we're rooting for you cedric. you're much nicer than draco" the other one, pansy, says. daphne nods, "but following them up there isn't going to help your case, trust us"

"you really think?" i crane my neck, trying to look over them. i can't see y/n or draco anymore, they must've left

"positive" they say in unison. i sigh, looking down at each of them

"alright" i nod, "i suppose i don't have much choice but to trust you, you do know her best" they nod, and i start to walk away, but then turn back.

"she's wearing the necklace" i say, "the one he gave her" i sigh slightly, turning my back again to them, going back to my friends to chat and distract myself.

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your pov

he pulls me up to the astronomy tower, despite my frequent protests. i guess i could have gotten out of his grip, went back to the dance... but i am curious to hear what he has to say.

he lets go of my hand, and i walk up to the railing, leaning out and looking over the snow covered grounds and the frozen over lake. i shiver slightly, my dress is strapless and was not meant to be worn outside like this.

"sorry" i hear draco from behind me, "i didn't think of the weather" i feel fabric hit my shoulders, and look back to see him putting his dress robe over me

"you don't have to-"

"it's no problem" he shrugs, laying it over my shoulders. i give in, pulling it up and pushing my arms through the sleeves, crossing my arms to bring it around me tighter

"thanks" i say softly, looking back out at the grounds

"nice up here, isn't it?" draco says, leaning against the rail next to me. i nod a little, only looking at him through my peripheral vision. he clears his throat, "it reminds me of the manor" i look over at him completely, seeing him looking out over the trees, "there's a terrace on the back. my mother would bring me there when father had his.... meetings" he says slowly. i can assume what types of meetings he means. he turns his head towards me, smiling a little, "warmed up a bit?"

"yeah" i nod, "this is better" i pull the robe a little tighter again

"good" he nods, looking away from me again, "i should've just asked you" he sighs. i turn to him, not really knowing what to say, "i got too cocky. i had just assumed-"

"that i would go with you?" i say. he looks at me, nodding, "well, there's only so many times i can forgive you, draco"

"think you can manage one more?" he raises his eyebrows, straightening up a bit and turning to face me

"i.." i cough slightly, feeling him drawing closer, "i'm not..." he looks down at me as i meet his eyes. i can feel myself giving in, wanting to move closer. i fight it, "i've given you loads of chances i-"

"this time-"

"there's not going to be a 'this time' draco! you've done enough-"

then, in one swift motion, he wraps one arm around my waist, bringing me against him, as his other hand flies up to cup my cheek, tilting my face up to his, and pulling me in.

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everyone knew this was coming at some point

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