In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*Yule Ball

The evening of the Yule Ball had approached and Hogwarts looked like the inside of a Christmas tree bauble, and it was obvious the overly extravagant decorations had been put up to impress the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons 

Briar and her dorm mates had spent nearly their entire day being pampered and getting ready, so when it hit 7 o'clock the 6 girls were all ready to go. They had all gotten dates from fourth year boys, so they were all glad to be going together

Briar had had her sandy brown hair done up in the top half, with two strands of hair out to frame her face, and the rest of it was curled and flowing around her shoulders.

She twirled in the mirror and couldn't stop the smile that graced her face

"I look so grown up" She smiled

"You do!" Ginny exclaimed and the 6 girls began to make their way out of the Gryffindor tower. When they reached the entrance hall everyone was already there so it took a bit of searching to find each of the girls' partners

Briar was waiting with Ginny and Neville, and her eyes finally landed on a group of Slytherins coming up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar. Pansy Parkinson in veryfrilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle were bothwearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders, and neither of them had managed to find a partner. Theo and Blaise stood behind them, and Blaise had Daphne Greengrass on his arm, while Theo's eyes scanned the crowded room before landing on Briar

The pair smiled and Theo walked over to her, his eyes scanning her up and down and widening in surprise 

"Hi, love," He grinned

"Hey," she replied nervously

"You look amazing," He said

"Thank you," She smiled "So do you"

The doors to the Great Hall opened then, so everyone began to make their way inside, but on their way they passed the group of Champions and their dates, who McGonagall was telling off. In particular, Briar looked at Hermione, who was on Viktor Krum's arm, and looked unrecognisable. She had her hair done up into an elegant knot at theback of her head and was wearing a dress made of a floaty, periwinkle-bluematerial.

Hermione smiled at her nervously and Briar gave her a thumbs up before she and Theo headed inside the hall.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told thechampions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so,and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking uptoward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.

Once seated, the rest of the school took seats at the remaining tables, and Briar and Theo ended up on one with Blaise and Daphne, Penny and Dean, and Ron and Padma. The three Slytherins engaged quickly in conversation, while the Gryffindors spoke too, except for Ron who spent the entire meal moping

When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked thestudents to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomedback along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platforminto existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello,and some bagpipes were set upon it.

The champions and their dates took to the dance floor first, and everyone else gathered around the outside to watch. 

But soon enough everyone else began to join in the dancing. Briar wasn't a bad dancer, nor a great one, but she found herself naturally following Theo's movements and the pair moved gracefully along the floor