after dusk - draco malfoy

iii. | three

          "Yeah, Ron," Fred joined in, playing with Ron's long hair. "Girls love that kind of stuff," he added on, getting everything wrong.

          I exhaled sharply as we began to walk up the many stairs until we reached our seats. "Actually, I think you will find that Draco is actually a very nice, caring person on the inside," I defended him, my anger slowly simmering away. "He's just got walls built up, you've just got to get through to him to see the real him."

          Harry didn't seem to understand, either. "But would you really want to be with someone that is nice to you and not nice to your friends?" He asked me. I could feel the anger coming back as they just wouldn't understand that's not what he is really like.

          "Harry's got a point, Tasmin," Hermione added on, agreeing with the boys. "Draco Malfoy is a foul boy and if you can't see past the facade he's putting on to reel you in," she paused, taking a breath in. "Then more fool you."

          I opened my mouth to argue back, but Cederic spoke before I could. I thought he was going to join in but I was actually wrong. "If he treats Tasmin right, and she believes him to be the person she says he is, then what is wrong with that?" He questioned everyone.

          Tommy agreed with Cederic and it was pretty much just left at that. Many flights of steps later, I found myself walking up beside him. "Thanks for earlier," I told him. He looked down and sent me a smile. "Sticking up for me and not laughing at me this morning when I completely embarrassed myself."

          He shook his head with a smile on his face. "Don't worry about it," he brushed it off. "So, you're rooting for Ireland?" He asked me, pointing to my facepaint and scarf.

          I let out a laugh and shook my head. "The twins forced me," I explained, which had been very much true. "I'm not bothered, either way, I'm just here for the experience, I guess."

          "Blimey, Dad!" Ron exclaimed, letting out loud huffs with every step. "How far up are we?!"

          "Well, put it this way," a voice answered, coming from the flight of stairs below us. We all looked down to see Draco and what seemed to be his father. "If it rains, you'll be the first to know."

          I was stood a little behind Cederic, not wanting to catch eye contact with his father. He seemed very judgemental and I would like to be introduced to him properly, rather than in a passing conversation.

          "Father and I are in the Minister's box," I heard Draco speak up. Ron turned his head to me, flashing me an 'I told you so' look. "By personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge, himself!"

          I peaked around Cederic, slightly, to see his father jabbing him with his cane. "Don't boast, Draco," he scolded him. "There's no need with these people." Harry began to pull Hermione away but Draco's father put his cane on Harry's foot through the bars to stop him from moving. "Do enjoy yourself won't you," he told him with a bitter voice, "while you can."

          My curiosity got the best of me and I made my way to the bars, looking over at Draco. He was in a full black suit, nothing that I had ever seen him in before. He looked as though he had grown a few inches over the summer. My eyes landed on his ring, the same one he wore all last year. My eyes made their way up to his face to see him looking up at me, a shadow of a smile on his face. I forced one back as Fred and George unintentionally pulled me away.

          It wasn't long before we all made our way to the top. The crowd was roaring with excitement but I felt something in my chest that prevented me from matching the energy. I felt so low. I hadn't felt this way in a long time. I heard Mr Weasley uttering something about the seats being worth it but I didn't really listen in much.

          Fred and George were leaning over the bar, yelling at the pitch with excitement. When I didn't join in, they turned around to face me. "What's wrong with you, faceache?" Fred questioned, while George nudged me before pulling me closer to the railings.

          I shrugged my shoulders but George almost threw me over his shoulder, jumping up and down in excitement until Mr Weasley scolded him for acting so stupid when we were so high up. I finally laughed along with them until the Irish flew right over our heads on their broomsticks. "It's the Irish!" Fred yelled while George pointed out all of the players to me.

          A large firework boomed in the sky of an Irishman dancing. We were all looking up in awe at the magical firework until the Bulgarians flew into it, causing it to disappear. Fred and George chanted as the Bulgarians flew on to the pitch. They pointed out Viktor Krum, apparently the best seeker in the world.

          "Good evening!" The Minister's voice echoed loudly across the stadium. "As Minister of Magic, it gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to the final of the 442nd Quidditch World Cup!" The stadium became a lot quieter to listen to what the Minister had to say, all excited and anticipating the match that was about to begin. "Let the match begin!"