I spent the whole day in my dorm, not bothering for lunch and dinner even. With Hermione's and Ginny's constant nagging I went out for a walk. Before I could leave the common room, I made one decision. Harry was sitting near the fireplace. I walked up to him and sat down on the floor, close to the fire place. It was pretty empty, so easier for me. I looked at Harry, he smiled and I smiled back.
I sighed. "Harry, you're my best friend and you know how much I hate to turn people down. But everyone is talking about me, how I am a... a-a slut" I stuttered. "Which you're not, Liv. And honestly, it's okay if you say no to me, I was a coward to not ask you first. But is it really true? Four guys asked you? Including Malfoy?" I nodded.
"Thank you, Harry. For being so understanding" He smiled at me. "I'm gonna go and take a walk" and with that I left the common room.
One boy down, two more to go.
As I was walking to the courtyard, I realized that I was closer to Draco and Cedric than I was to Rafael. So, I turned my direction and went to the Ravenclaw Tower instead. Luckily, Luna was out searching for her shoes.
"Hey, Luna" I said sweetly.
"Hey, Liv" she said with her soft voice.
"Erm, is Rafael in? I wanted to talk to him" I said sheepishly.
"Yes, let me bring him out, or do you wanna go in?" she asked looking back and forth towards me and the door.
"Err" I was thinking, if I went in, Cho would be around somewhere and I don't wanna face her. On the other hand, I would see the view from the Ravenclaw Tower that Rafael was bragging about.
No! No time for that Olivia!
"Just please bring him out" I said giving up the amazing opportunity.
"Okay" she said and went skipping to her common room.
After a few minutes, Rafael came out, smiling. I smiled back.
Oh, how hard will it be to say no to that smile. I let out a deep sigh.
"Hey, Liv" he said hugging me.
"Hey, Rafael. Erm, we need to talk" I said pulling away from the hug.
"Uh-oh. This doesn't sound good" he said with a worried expression on his face.
"You might know how some people have been calling me something that I'm not" I said looking down.
"Liv, don't listen to them, whoever started it was just jealous that you got asked out by four guys" he said placing his hands on my shoulder. I sighed and looked up.
"Yeah, well, that only made me make my decision faster. I am closer to Ced than I am to you and Draco too-"
"Yeah, heard about your dance"
"You did?" and he nodded.
"Why are you closer to him than you are to me?" he asked furrowing his eyebrows.
"Erm, something happened over the summer. To me. And he was there – I don't wanna talk about it now"
Merlin, was I stalling!
"The point is, Rafael, I cannot go to the ball with you, but I'm sure Luna would like to" I said pointing at her when she returned with her shoes. He looked behind and Luna smiled at him.
"Rafael, I am sorry, I hope you're not mad at me. It's just-" I said but he cut me off and said, "Hey, hey, hey, no need for any explanation and you did tell me that you'll think about it and I'm glad that you gave us a thought. And I'm not mad at you" he said politely. I pulled him into a tight hug. Wow, I have great friends!
"Oh, you're an angel" I said not pulling away.
"Erm, Liv, you're talking to me, not a mirror" he said wrapping his arms around my waist.
Two boys down, one more to go.
I was walking in the courtyard and since it was just before curfew, there were fewer students roaming around. I was pacing around in a secluded corner of the courtyard, thinking who to say no to.
Both of them were important to me, Ced and I are definitely close and if he had confessed his feelings, we might've been in a relationship, but Draco... He saved me from the intruder, if he hadn't, then Merlin knows what would've happened. I stopped to take a breather, when a hand grabbed me by my waist and mouth covered, so that I wouldn't shout. I could recognize the smell from anywhere.
I didn't try to free myself from his grip. He pulled me all the way to the dungeons and into his common room. He didn't stop like I thought he would, he took me to his bedroom, what is he gonna do? When we reached, he dropped his hands from my mouth and waist. I sighed.
He kept his personal dorm or shall I say, bedroom, pretty clean; I took a minute or two to see his room, he had a king size bed, dark green walls, silk sheets, a chandelier on the ceiling, a personal library and his own en-suite. Great, I have to use the lavatory and he gets his own en-suite.
"It is true?" he asked as he sat down on his bed, he was calm for 'Draco', which kinda scared me. He patted on his side of the bed, ushering for me to sit. I sat down letting a big huff out. I let my back relax on his mattress. I don't know why or how, but it felt comfortable - he felt comfortable.
"Depends on what you're asking" I said looking up at the ceiling. He came closer and asked calmly, "What is it?"
I sat up straight and looked at him, "People have been calling me a-a s-slut, because four guys asked me" I stuttered.
"WHAT?" he yelled standing up. I pulled him down to sit next to me, stopping him to do anything irrational.
"Who started it?" he asked and I lied, "I don't know" I knew who started it, Pansy. But if I was to reject Draco, I needed him to go with Pansy, because if he didn't get a date, then I'd had to go with him, because technically, he asked me first. He sighed and said, "So, what did you decide?"
"I said no to Harry and Rafael" and he smiled at my sentence.
"So, it's me and Diggory, huh?" he asked. I shook my head.
"When you pulled me from the courtyard, I had already made a decision. Draco, I mean this in the sweetest way possible, if I go with you, then people will not stop teasing you. You have a reputation to maintain, don't you? And when they find out that you are going with a 'mudblood', then..."
"You're not a muggleborn, Olivia" he said politely, placing his hand on my thigh. I sighed at his touch.
"I know, you know, but the others don't, just go with Parkinson, I'm sure she's dying for you to ask her" He chuckled a little.
"Alright" he said and I looked at him with wide eyes. He agreed? He agreed without causing any scene or creating any fuss?
"What? Don't think that I'll let you go just like that, darling" he said smirking.
"There's the catch. Go on" I said as I stood up from the bed and went to his library.
"You have to do three things" he said coming behind me.
"First, you owe me a dance, both waltz and slow dance" I nodded, not turning around.
Fair enough.
"Second, a picture with you" and I turned around and looked at him with furrowed eyebrows,
"What? I'll bet you anything that you'll be the prettiest girl there, without any doubt" I smiled and asked, "Third?"
"Third, and this is non – negotiable darling, you have to audition for the lead of the choir of Professor Flitwick" he said as he pulled out a book from the library.
"What? No, no, no, Draco. I told you I'm not ready for that"
"I said, non-negotiable. Accept it or come to the ball with me" he said raising his eyebrow at me, waiting for my answer.
"Fine! I'll audition" I said and he handed me a book, "I think you'll like it"
"Thank you, Draco" I said as I took the book from his hand. He nodded and went back to his bed.
As I turned around to leave, I saw Draco lying on his bed, so I went over and kissed his cheek and said, "Thank you, Draco, for being considerate, which I thought you couldn't be and even though you used this for extortion, but still, I'd like to say thank you and need I remind you that we still have to make Skele-Gro for Snape?"
"I'll let you know, Middleton" he said softly.
'Middleton, the good-old Draco is back'. I said to myself and left his dorm. As soon as I closed his door, and tiptoed down the stairs, quietly, I heard someone call me.
"Liv?" the voice said, I knew who it was. "Chris!" I said turning around and smiling at him.
"What were you doing in Draco's room at this time of the night?" he asked, his eyes going back and forth from the door and me.
"Alright, I'll tell you" I said and I told him about the boys and who I'm going with.
The next day, we were sitting for breakfast, when I saw Cedric leave the hall, with his friends. I excused myself and ran behind him.
"Cedric!" I yelled and he turned around and smiled.
"You guys go on; I'll catch up with you" he said to his friends and they left. I was breathless, Merlin, I needed to go back to yoga.
"Hey, gorgeous" he said hugging me.
"Hello, handsome" I returned the compliment.
"So, why did you come running to me?" he asked as he pulled away from the hug.
"I wanted to tell you something" I said placing a hand on his chest.
"Oh" he said sadly, "I heard you said no to Harry and Rafael. You're here to tell me that you're going with Malfoy, aren't you? Why him, Liv? I am-"
"Blimey! Stop talking! No, no, stop fussing. I'm here to tell you that I said no to Malfoy" I said cutting him off.
"Is that right? Well, then I – Wait what?" he asked cutting himself off.
"You're saying yes to me? That you're coming to the ball with me?" I nodded smiling.
He picked me up in his arms, spun me around and said, "Oh, Liv, you made me so happy. I thought that you'd reject me" and he pressed his lips on to mine. He was soft, careful and then he pulled away and put me down, "Erm, sorry, I didn't know why I did that. Just-"
"Ced, it's okay, you don't have to explain yourself" I said and he sighed. I tiptoed and pecked him on his cheeks and said, "Right, now I have to head back to The Great Hall, assignment with Snape, don't wanna be late for that"
"Right, right, I'll see you outside your dorm?" he asked and I nodded.
"Say, 8 o'clock?" I asked and he smiled.
I came to The Great Hall, when Harry and Ron were talking.
"This is mad. At this rate, we'll be the only ones in our year without dates" Ron said and Snape quickly pushed his head towards his book.
"Well, us and Neville" Ron completed.
"Yeah, but then again, he can take himself" Harry replied sarcastically. Ron and I giggled.
"It might interest you to know that Neville's already asked someone" Hermione said whispering, not wanting any attention from Snape.
Ron groaned and said, "Now, I'm really depressed"
George, who was sitting across from us, passed Ron a note that said, 'Get a move on or the good ones will have gone'
"Who're you going with then?" he asked as he passed the note back to George.
"Watch" he whispered as he threw a paper at Angelina.
"What?" she whisper-yelled.
George asked her by acting out the steps of the dance. "To the ball?" she asked and he nodded.
"Yeah, all right" she said showing a thumbs up. George looked at Ron and winked.
"Oi, Hermione. You're a girl" Ron said and I whispered lowly so that only Harry could hear, "Not a good start, Ronald"
"Very well spotted" Hermione replied while Harry tried to get the attention of Ron, as a Snape approached us.
"Come with one of us?" he asked and Snape hit him and Harry with a book. I snickered.
When he left, Ron said, "Come on. It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl, it's just sad"
"Wait, Weaselbee. You don't actually think someone asked this mudblood to the ball, do you?" Malfoy said and his goons laughed.
Harry, Ron and I turned around and were about to say something when Hermione said, "Hello, Professor Moody" and waved her hand.
Draco got scared and turned around to see no one behind him and Moody at the Teacher's table.
"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" Hermione said sarcastically. I laughed with Fred and George.
"I won't be going alone, because, believe it or not, someone's already asked me!" Hermione said gritting her teeth, and she stood up and handed Snape the assignment came back and said, "And I said yes!" picked up her books and left.
"Bloody hell. She's lying right?" Ron asked looking at me and I shook my head and said, "No, someone asked her"
I was just about to see where Snape was, because these two idiots are not gonna stop talking about their dates. As I turned around, Snape saw me and moved his finger to his lips, gesturing me to keep quiet, he pulled up his sleeves slightly and he pushed both of their heads into the book, to which they groaned and I giggled.
I had slowed down on my assignment, so that these two idiots would complete and I would walk with them to the common room. They finished and I said, "Finally! Let's go"
As we were walking to the common room, I saw Cho heading towards her class. I grabbed Harry's arm and said, "Wait here, Ron. We'll be back" and I dragged Harry and yelled, "Cho!" She turned around and waited for us.
"Harry would like to say something to you" I said while Harry stood beside me awkwardly.
"Erm, yeah, I was just wondering if you would go to the ball with me?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yes!" she squealed and I sighed. "Alright, see you then" he said and we turned around.
"Olivia, I'm sorry, for..." she said and I turned around and replied, "It's okay, Cho. Don't sweat it" and we left.
That night, Harry and I were sitting in the common room, he was holding his egg. "You didn't find the clue?" I asked and he shook his head.
"It's okay, it doesn't matter, Ron" Ginny said as she came in holding a very scared Ron's arm.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked as we stood up and went to him.
"He just asked Fleur Delacour out" Ginny replied as he sat on a chair.
"What?" Hermione asked kneeling down in front of Ron.
"What did she say?" Harry asked
"Of course, no" Hermione replied for him. But he shook his head.
"She said yes?" I said covering my mouth.
"Don't be silly. There she was, walking by. You know how I like it when they walk" he said and looked at Harry and I rolled my eyes at him.
"I couldn't help it, it sort of slipped out" he completed.
"Actually, he sort of screamed at her. It was a bit frightening" Ginny said and I bit my lip to hold my laughter in.
"Yeah, yeah, you laugh, Liv. You helped Harry find a date, even Rafael and Malfoy, why can't you do that for me?" he asked standing up.
"Fine! But you will have to ask her, I'll just build you up, okay?" I asked and he nodded.
The next day, I went to Padma with Ron and he asked her and she said yes. That day, Hermione, Ginny and I had agreed to go to Hogsmeade for dress shopping. I had already bought it from the muggle world, since I knew about The Yule Ball beforehand. I put a spell on the dress, everyone's reaction would be amazing when they find out what my dress does.
They bought the dresses and we went for butterbeer. It was snowing already, so we quickly went in and stripped our excess clothing. And sat down at the table and ordered.
We were talking when Hermione asked, "What are you wearing, Liv?"
"It's a surprise. Say we will start getting ready at 5? Since we'll be doing hair and makeup, it's gonna take a lot of time" They nodded.
"Erm, Mione can I ask you something?" I asked sipping my butterbeer.
"Yes, of course" she said putting her drink down.
"I am, erm, can you come with me, tomorrow, in the music room? Say after lunch?" I asked rubbing the back of my neck.
"Yes, of course. But why?" she asked.
"You'll see. Ginny you can come too, if you'd like" I said smiling.
"Good, I was just about to ask you, if you forgot about me" she said as she gulped her drink in one breath.
We went back to the castle and spent the rest of the day in the courtyard.
The next day after lunch, I dragged Hermione and Ginny, for my audition, since I was the last person to audition, there were a lot less people in the room. But still they all knew me, I was scared.
I went on the stage and was ready to play the piano, when Draco came in. He nodded and I sighed. One familiar face who had heard my singing. I took a deep breath in, closed my eyes and started playing the piano.
A/N – Please play Never Enough
I'm trying to hold my breath
Let it stay this way
Can't let this moment end
You set off a dream in me
Getting louder now
Can you hear it echoing?
Take my hand
Will you share this with me?
'Cause darling, without you
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
For me
For me
For me
For me
Whoever was sitting in the crowd, stood up and clapped for me. Professor Flitwick came on the stage, stood on a chair and placed his hands on my shoulder and said, "Where have you been, my child?" I smiled and he turned towards the crowd and said, "I have found the new lead"
I looked at Draco who was still clapping but when I saw him, he raised his clapping hands above for me to see them and then he whistled. I smiled and looked at Hermione and Ginny still shocked, who had heard me singing for the first time.
I went to them and they engulfed me into a hug. "You were absolutely amazing, Liv. Words would be empty to praise your voice" Hermione said happily.
"Thank you, guys. It means a lot that you were here" I said as I saw Draco waiting for me. "Excuse me" I said and skipped happily to Draco.
"Well done, Middleton. Let me repeat myself from about a year ago. That was beyond angelic" he said like a proud friend.
"Thank you, Malfoy. Now, I completed one of your three wishes. See you at the ball" I said and left.