"Ouch!"
"Sorry!" Harry mumbled startled. He had overestimated his junior's pain tolerance and ended up hurting him.
His Junior nodded at him from his position on the chair where, Harry was treating his Junior's leg. This time Harry made sure to be more gentle and careful with his hands as he casted 'Episkey' on the broken ankle.
His Junior had been hurt....
On Harry's watch, all because Harry was unable to be there for his Junior on time...
Harry released a sigh unconsciously. He surely had underestimated Barty Jr.'s loyalty towards the Dark Lord....
"What is it?" Harry was brought out of his thoughts by his Junior's question. He tilted his head sideways in confusion, staring at the younger boy.
"Your hold on my just healed, ankle is turning a bit uncomfortable." Harry immediately let go of his Junior's leg as he realized how his hands were unconsciously tightening. He was almost about to loose control of his magic...
"What is it?" Harry glanced up from his kneeling position towards his Junior, who was now staring at him with a curious expression.
Harry sighed once again, of course his younger self would know him and his antics well enough.
"What makes you think, there is something?" he asked instead for he was in no state of answering, it was already difficult to restrain his emotions which was provoking his magic....weak magic to be exact.
"The dragon," Harry looked up t the boy, who had a thoughtful expression on. "There were so many people on the grounds....yet the most dangerous dragon, had its eyes trained on me of all people."
Harry smiled, amused as his Junior was finally starting to observe things more rather than loose his temper and jump to conclusions. The boy continued further, "You appeared at my rescue even though, neither me nor Ron contacted you." the boy glanced at him curiously at that. "Then, you managed to tame a dragon, and not just any dragon, but the Hungarian Horntail, one of the most dangerous species alive." the boy was looking at Harry as if Harry was a wonder. "And then, you were able to apparate in and out of Hogwarts, despite it being nearly impossible. Also, there was the chilling stare you gave to Mad-eye Moody right before we apparated here." the boy said indicating the Room of Requirements, which was now full of comfy and cozy atmosphere.
The boy stared at Harry expectantly...and Harry couldn't help the small laugh that left him.
'His Junior sure had quite amusing tricks up his sleeves...'
The boy was not fazed and was now his eyes were twinkling with an excited spark. "....I arrived at your rescue because, you and me, no matter how different we are, have the tendency to get in trouble like no other." his Junior pouted at that. "As for, how I was able to come to your rescue....my magic warned me."
"Your magic?" the boy tilted his head sideways, -just like Harry had- confused.
"My magic....is a bit special." The boy looked more confused now.
Harry slumped up....what was he doing? He was hiding things from his Junior just like everyone else when his Junior had all the right to know the truth....
But Harry was hesitant, would the boy be able to handle the truth?
"Senior?" Harry looked back towards his Junior, the boy looked so innocent,....completely unaware of the cruelties of the world,.....in comparison to Harry's broken soul...
Slowly, Harry let out his magic, letting it reach the boy. His Junior gasped in shock, as the boy felt Harry's magic, his eyes widening.
"This....?" the boy closed his eyes, feeling Harry's magic, which had surrounded the boy.
"'Its-its so....so- What was that?" Harry brought his magic back inside. Of course he knew the reaction. People were fascinated by Harry's unusual magical presence. Some were envious of the power it held, while some were fearful of the destruction it could cause. Some worshipped his magical aura like the most devoted devotees whereas, some cursed the same....
For Harry's magic was not....normal. If anything it was far from normal.
"Magic of Death...." Harry replied, not ready for the boy's reaction.
A moment of silence passed through them and Harry dreaded opening his eyes in fear of seeing emotions in his Junior's eyes.
"Wow..." the boy whispered in awe. And Harry's dread intensified.
"Its not something to be in awe of,...my Junior." Harry opened his eyes to see the boy looking at him in disbelief. "Do you know....what one has to achieve....to become the Master of Death?"
"Master of Death?" the boy's expression remained curious, still ignorant of the true meaning behind Harry's words....and so, Harry narrated to the boy, the Tale of the Three Brothers and Death.
"Invisibility cloak? Like the one I-we have?" the boy asked bubbling with excitement, and Harry limited to a nod.
"Wow!....wait so, does that mean you were able to wield all three hallows? Like in real?" the boy's voice laced with amazement only made Harry feel emptier by the second.
"Yes." Harry whispered.
"That's awesome!" the boy exclaimed and Harry finally snapped.
"No, its not Harry." Harry himself was surprised at the gentleness of his voice. "To become the Master of Death, you must not only have the hallows...but you need to prove yourself worthy of death..."
"How?" the eagerness of the boy, only made Harry's emotional turmoil further chaotic, although his face was carefully blank, not that the boy could see his face due to the mask.
"....By accepting death," the boy still did not understand Harry's implication. "B-by...proving that, one can....not only embrace death....but also know the significance death."
"I don't understand!" the boy exclaimed frustrated.
"One must die Harry," and the boy finally looked speechless. "One must embrace death....like a long lost friend.....and yet be able to kill others, despite knowing the cruelties of death...." Harry whispered almost mechanically. Harry's magic finally exploded!
Harry felt so dirty....so tainted...so evil....
He had allowed a being like death to....taint him....to intertwine with him....to change him....
"But Master," the voice in his mind was chilling yet almost... seductive. Harry could feel a cold touch running down his back as a wave of cold air was blown in his ear. "You were destined to be...mine from the very beginning...." and Harry couldn't help but shiver in rage or disgust, he didn't know.
"Senior?" Harry finally broke out from his inner battles, at his Junior's worried voice.
"....Magic of Death, is a really powerful magic Harry. I was able to feel your emotions through it and so I reached to you as soon as I could. The apparition inside Hogwarts was also possible due to the same." the boy's brows furrowed but he did not comment at the sudden change of topic.
His Junior might be ready to hear all about Death and the power it held.....but Harry himself, was not!
"As for the dragon, she was under an Imperius curse, an unforgivable dark curse, about which you were only taught recently. Someone, wanted you to kill you by letting you become the dragon's prey." His Junior's eyes widened, but Harry did not let him interrupt as he continued, swiftly.
"As for Mad-eye Moody, he was the one who cursed you." Harry watched as the boy's face paled at the news.
"What? Why? Professor Moody?" the boy stuttered out.
Harry sighed, this was gonna take some long time explaining....
*********************************************
'Oh wow....' Harry thought moodily. 'They not only managed to cover the first page of the prophet but the whole prophet was literally about them!'
Everywhere his eyes landed, a copy of prophet along with the picture of him in his Senior's arm in front of the snarling dragon was present in different angles. Some had him and his guardian as their top priority and some talked about how Harry Potter's guardian was able to tame the dragon. Some gossiped about his mysterious guardian's identity and some talked about his guardian's mask mystery.
But all the articles had one thing in common; Harry Potter and his Mysterious Guardian.
And Harry applauded Rita Skeeter's dedication in digging out his personal life.....
The whole wizarding world had found out about Harry's little dragon incident and many were rioting against the tournament and the headmasters for the danger it put their children in. On the other hand, many were being too nosy for their own good in Harry and his guardian's life.
And so had come out the news that, Harry Potter's magical guardian, Lord Harrison Peverell, was not only the lord of the one of the most ancient and noble house but also the new Head Auror instead of Mad-eye Moody.
Harry would have been surprised....if not for the long informative night he had with his guardian. His guardian had painfully taken his time, to explain each and everything to Harry. Apparently, Mad-eye Moody who had been teaching him was not the real auror Moody but instead Barty Crouch Jr., one of the most loyal deatheaters of Voldemort, under Polyjuice, who was trying to force Harry to participate in the Triwizard tournament to lure him towards the dark lord, for god knows why!
And then, there was the weird....information about his Senior's magic.
Harry still felt shivers down his spine, as he recalled the man's....special magical aura. Harry hadn't felt such power ever. It felt so dominant, so powerful, so beautiful....almost seducing. Yet the feeling of danger was not hidden....
And yet his guardian's reaction had been baffling.....as if the man was sharing something of great terror and pain. But Harry failed to understand what was so wrong with such powerful magic...after all, shouldn't one be proud of their magic? But then his Senior had said something about killing and death which had gone straight over Harry's head!
"Hey Harry?" Harry finally broke out from his musings to notice that he was simply staring at his food. He looked up to see Ron and Neville looking worriedly at him. "What?" Harry asked blankly.
If possible both the boy's face turned even more worried with a big frown on their face. "Harry is it about your Guardian? Is that why you look so depressed?" Neville asked.
Harry frowned, "What?" he asked blankly...once again. He was not worried and definitely not depressed!
"Mate, you have staring at your food for the past 20 minutes. And even when I joked about you being the 'damsel in distress' you didn't react!" Ron took over. "And Malfoy has been literally staring, oh sorry! Burning holes into your head for the past 15 minutes and yet you don't even know it!"
'What?! Malfoy? Staring at him?' Harry turned his head so quickly, that he might have sprained his neck, only to come in eye contact with pale blue eyes.
The Malfoy heir's eyes were staring intently at Harry's form as if trying to figure out Harry....or well the jerk was just trying to irritate him, who knows...But what bothered Harry the most, was even though the blond had been caught staring, the Slytherin did not avert his eyes nor seem bothered by it.
Harry glared at the boy, averting his eyes back towards his friends. Nope....Harry definitely did not avert his eyes, for he was feeling uncomfortable with the stare!
"Mate?" Harry looked back at his friends and smiled at them reassuringly.
"Don't worry, I was simply lost in thought for,... I have no date to take at the Yule ball yet!" Harry exclaimed, dramatically and both the boys cracked up only to freeze over. "Wait! I don't have a date either!" both of them exclaimed simultaneously and Harry couldn't help but laugh at their antics.
"Oh I know, I am gonna ask Ginny, of course as a friend, you know....that is if she agrees to go with me..." Neville mumbled, shyly. And Harry frowned at his friend's low self-esteem. "Nev," the boy looked up, still shy. "I am sure if you ask her, Ginny would accept to be your date."
"You think so?" the boy asked, his shoulders slumping. Harry shared a glance with Ron and sighed.
"Hey Gin?" Ron called out loudly surprising both Neville and Harry.
"Yeah?" the girl answered back, making her way towards them from the bunch of gossiping girls.
"Do you wanna go to the ball?" The stare at Harry's back suddenly got a lot more intense.
"Yeah....why?" the girl asked hesitantly.
"Do you have a date already?" Ron ignored the nervous tugging at his shoulders as Neville tried to attract his attention.
"No...." the red head girl answered, wryly.
"Wonderful!" Harry contained out an amused laugh at the look Ginny was giving Ron.
"Neville here, would like to take you to the Yule Ball as his date....so, would you accept his offer?" the girl looked surprised at the question, glancing between Ron and Neville and then at Harry questioningly. Harry nodded at the girl and, Ginny looked back towards Neville who looked ready to die of shame.
"Sure, why not! That is if Neville has no problem..." she answered back smoothly and all three pair of eyes turned towards the Longbottom heir.
If possible Neville's face flushed even brighter red, looking supremely uncomfortable at the attention. ".....!Y-yeah...I don't mind, if Ginny has no problem with me...." the boy stuttered out weakly. Ginny smiled brightly at the nervous boy and with a nod towards Harry and a glare towards Ron, left.
"See, she would love to go with you Neville. You need to be more confident, Nev." Harry addressed the still red boy. Neville nodded meekly at Harry and Ron, looking as if he couldn't believe what just happened.
"Mate, I think we broke him!" Both Harry and Ron shared a laugh at that, and Harry tried his best to not bother with the burning stare of a certain Slytherin, who Harry was sure was messing with him.
"Well, Neville is sorted out, but what about us?" Ron moaned out pathetically and suddenly the Harry's mind started whirring.
"Ron?" the boy hummed, his head down on the table. "I heard that Fleur Delacour....is searching for a date too...." Harry whispered conspiratorially and Ron's head shot up lightening fast, looking at Harry wide-eyed.
The boy glanced at Neville beside him, who looked still very much dazed and leaned forward towards Harry, "Are you mental?! Me with Delacour?" the boy asked as if it was the most unbelievable thing in the world.
Harry smirked at his friend, "Why not?" and seeing that his best friend was about to protest, Harry continued smoothly, "I mean, you are not bad looking yourself right and all you you've got to do is ask her. If she rejects then we could always go together a friends." Harry's smirk widened at the thoughtful expression of his friend.
"And, my Senior did taught us the proper etiquette of asking out a lady, didn't he?" Harry deliberately mentioned his Senior for he knew, Ron looked up at his Senior.
And as expected, Ron's eyes shone with determination before he nodded at Harry -who threw him a thumbs up- and neatly walked towards the Ravenclaw table, where the Beauxbaton delegates were seated, chatting elegantly.
Harry watched as his friend approached the part Veela, and when all the table's attention turned towards his friend, Harry was proud to see that Ron neither backed down nor looked nervous.
'His Senior sure had worked hard on Ron....' Harry thought amusedly as he saw, Ron addressing Fleur.
But before Harry could make out their reactions, a clearing of throat caught his attention making him turn back, only for a glare to form towards the culprit.
"Potter...." Harry was surprised to see the usually confident and proud Draco Malfoy look so civil and.....and polite towards him.
"Malfoy." Harry greeted the boy in the same way, slightly polite and civil, still confused.
The blond's eyes locked onto his, and Harry found his breathe stolen away at the sheer intensity in them. 'Malfoy would never look at him like that!' would be Harry's first thoughts if not for the fact that he had seen the very same Malfoy, laugh and smile with his future self.
As if feeling Harry's surprise, the cocky smirk Harry was so used to, instantly formed on Draco Malfoy's face as he stared down at Harry from his standing position.
"Potter, would you do the honor to go with me to the Yule Ball?" and the whole Great Hall froze, indicating how private their conversation was.
But Harry himself was frozen in his seat, his eyes staring wide up at the blond.
'Draco Malfoy, his childhood nemesis was asking him to a ball?!'
'Holy Shit!' finally Harry's internal panic too over and he choked out a small, "What?" which was loud and clearly heard in the silent hall.
For his part, Malfoy looked highly amused and a bit exasperated, before he cleared his throat and asked in a clear, confident voice, "Harry Potter, would you do me the honor of being my date for the Yule ball?"
Harry could hear collective gasps, whispers and breathes being sucked in, but he did not care as he met the blond's gaze head on. 'Either Malfoy was toying with him....or he simply doing this to embarrass Harry.'
Seeing that Harry was not about to reply anytime soon, Malfoy dared to step closer -beyond Harry's personal space-, his voice lowering down to whisper as he brought his lips near Harry's ears, "Scared Pottah?"
And that did the trick, Harry surprised both himself and by the looks of it Malfoy was surprised as well as the blond's eyes widened slightly, when Harry brought his own lips towards the blond boy's ears, "You wish Malfoy..."
Harry stepped back, slightly embarrassed with how his voice had sounded; border line to flirty and seducing.
Harry waited for Malfoy's reply, not daring to face the Slytherin, only to frown in confusion at the blank silence that had befallen between them. He looked up to see a stunned Malfoy with a faint blush covering his pale cheeks. 'What?'
Finally feeling Harry's stare, the blond broke out from his haze, the smirk back on his face as he repeated the question once again, "So Harry Potter will I get the pleasure of having you as my partner for tonight's ball?"
Harry could recognize the challenging gleam in Malfoy's eyes from anywhere, so without missing a beat Harry replied, like a proper pureblood, "The pleasure would be all mine...Malfoy." and the frozen Great Hall, finally came back to life. Students, professors, ghosts, every single occupant was whispering and some were blatantly pointing their fingers at them too. A small flash too resounded somewhere near them, but Harry was too lost in the staring competition between him and Malfoy to care about anything else.
'What was Malfoy playing at?'
**********************************************
"Hey Ron!" Harry greeted his friend as he slumped up in his dorm bed.
'Today had been too much exciting, for Harry's liking!' he thought grumpily as he turned around to face the red head.
Ron was staring up at him -intently- not even blinking during the process.
'What? What did he do again?' Harry thought as he adjusted back into a sitting position.
"What?" Harry asked feeling quite confused.
Ron remained silent, and when Harry thought he would not answer, the red head finally opened his mouth, " Is there something you would like to tell me Harry? Probably something you might have forgotten?" and Harry felt quite guilty - even without knowing why- at the tone of voice.
'Was he forgetting something?' And then Harry remembered.
"Oh right! What did Delacour say? Did she agree? I am so sorry! I completely forgot about you asking the whole Delacour thing out!" Harry questioned excitedly.
Ron did not seem amused and merely hummed in reply, "Yes, she agreed." And before Harry could congratulate his friend, a question was fired at him, making Harry speechless, "What happened in the Great hall Harry? Between you and Malfoy, I mean. You both looked quite....close for the matter...." and Harry's eyes widened at the suspicious tone of wording.
"No!" and Ron simply raised an eyebrow at him. "No Ron, there is nothing going on in between me and Malfoy. He simply asked me to the Yule ball and I simply agreed out of courtesy." Harry stated firmly.
But Ron did not look assured. "So you mean to say, that the Draco Malfoy, simply asked you, The Harry Potter out for a ball is completely normal occurrence....not to forget the whole 'whispering' in the ears part." Ron pointed out accusingly and Harry didn't know why he felt himself heat up.
'Its not like he was actually flirting with Malfoy or anything,....was he?'
Despite his blush, Harry still managed to give Ron, what one would call a 'Please believe me!' look and said, his voice barely above a whisper "....Please trust me?" and just like Harry had expected, Ron deflated under his puppy dog eyes, shooting Harry a pointed glare before sighing.
"You really are getting all Slytherin, using all those tactics on me..." Ron grumbled sulkily as he made his way towards his cupboard.
Harry simply sighed in relief, 'Thank god, Ron had let the matter go....for, Harry himself didn't know why he did that today. It was as if, his body acted under its own accord, within the blond's proximity.'
A package was thrown at his direction, which Harry swiftly caught with his seeker reflexes. He looked questioningly at Ron, who signed him to check the parcel.
Harry turned over the parcel and picked up the note stuck on it, 'I know you probably forgot to buy your ball outfit,' and Harry flushed red, for he really did forget with all the things happening around him. 'Hope you enjoy the present, Yours Senior. P.S: Forget about partners and dancing, just focus on enjoying the ball, you too Ronald!' and Harry couldn't help but smile fondly.
He excitedly, tore open the wrapped parcel only to gasp in surprise.
Ron, who was curiously looking over his head, gasped too.
'His Senior surely had outdone himself....' Harry thought as he ran his hands over the smooth material. Just by touching, Harry could tell the robes and the outfit were branded items, which screamed luxurious and classy.
"Mate, this is..." and Ron needn't finish the sentence, for even Harry himself felt overwhelmed with the outfit. He was about to discard it when another note fell out from the robes.
'You may be overwhelmed by the outfit, but please remember, an even such as Yule ball is not only a lace where children mingle but also a gathering of many influential families. Make sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone.' the note read and Harry sighed bringing the package closer, once again. 'And tell Ron, that if his robes need a quick fixing, the Patil twins and Lavender Brown, can work miracles with fashion problems.' Harry frowned at the second half confused.
He looked over to see, Ron about to open his own outfit package, sent to him by his mother.
Both Harry and Ron choked up simultaneously at the clothing. The clothes....Harry would definitely wear his over the top richie-rich robes.....rather than...those.
Ron made a sound, almost sounding like a dying whale....and Harry too grimaced.
"Uh, Ron?" Harry called out hesitantly, and Ron looked over towards him, looking very much horrified. "Senior suggested that....if your err, robes require a quick fixing...Lavender Brown and the Patil twins could help." and before Harry knew it, Ron was out and away of their dorm doors.
Harry chuckled at his friend's actions before grimacing as he caught sight of his own set of lavish robes once again.
'Oh well,' Harry thought. 'Let's get this over with...'
************************************
Harry really had to praise the Patil twins' and Brown's abilities, Ron looked far more charming and handsome than his usual self, in the modified robes.
Harry finally understood, why his Senior had suggested to modify the robes instead of completely displacing them; Ron almost seemed to glow in his mother's handpicked robes.
His red hair was styled and gelled, and Harry had to admit Ron looked quite pleasing in the marron-red robes which had been tailored to fit his body correctly. The horrifying ruffles had been removed and instead, stylish cufflinks and golden embroideries had been added. Ron looked quite noble and princely in his now handsome robes. Harry on the other hand, had taken the liberty to tame his bird nest of a hair, and managed to...look somewhat decent.
"Ready?" Harry asked Ron and, at his nod, both the boys made their way out of the dorm room. Both of them had taken their time into getting ready, for the first time. And the result had surely paid off...
Mid-way, Harry and Ron met up with Fleur Delacour. She looked even more lovely in her beige colored gown, her hair styled down into a low bun with butterfly shaped pins. 'Harry could see, why half of the Hogwarts population fawned over the girl....Fleur Delacour knew how to user her looks well.' Fleur cast an appreciative glance at Ron, and a charming smile at Harry, who returned the gesture before hooking her hands with the red head.
Ron smiled pleasantly at her, as the pair made their way inside the hall. 'They both did complement each other.' Harry thought starting to get bored, as he waited for his 'date' to arrive.
Ginny and Neville looked adorable together, as a finely dressed Neville spun around a laughing Ginny. Cedric Diggory and Cho were both looking pretty together (although Harry was surprised to feel no attraction towards Cho in the slightest bit, now.). Then there was Hermione, who was talking animatedly with a handsome Viktor Krum. Hermione too looked pretty and anyone could see, she really had made an effort to dress up. Ron appeared to be in a pleasant conversation with Delacour and some other student. There were few Slytherins too, whom Harry recognized as Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini, looking as proud yet -grudgingly beautiful- as always.
Harry was brought out of his observation, by the small tug on his pants. He looked down to see, a mini version of Fleur Delacour, looking up at him shyly. Harry tilted his sideways in question and the girl, turned a bit pink. "Hello," realizing the girl was nervous and uncomfortable, Harry tied to ease her nerves. "I am Harry Potter, and who might you be, pretty lady?" Harry asked kneeling down in front of her. The girl truly was pretty and cute looking, like a doll. Smiling slightly wider, the girl replied in light French accent, "I am Gabrielle....Gabrielle Delacour." the girl curtsied at the end in an elegant manner.
Harry gave her an encouraging smile, as she finally opened up and started to talk. "And, what might I do for lady Gabrielle?" Harry had very much not forgotten his heir training, thank you.
"U-uhm....I-I just wanted to say that you look very pretty, Monsieur Potter!" the girl stammered out. And Harry froze in shock, he was pretty? For god's sake, he was a man dammit! He was handsome not pretty!
Albeit, Harry gave the little girl a charming smile who had turned all red. "Yeah....he does look quite pretty...." Harry turned around to come face to face with his long-awaited date, Draco Lucius Malfoy.
Malfoy was dressed in similar clothes to Harry, which looked just as classy and expensive as Harry's. The only difference was while Malfoy's robes were midnight black with silver embroideries, Harry's had tiny emerald ones which according to his Senior, brought out his facial features.
Malfoy's platinum blond hair was gelled back, which enhanced his aristocratic features even more. His face had this...this strange charming glow in it, and Harry wondered if the boy had always been this stunning, as he looked now.
Harry once again averted his eyes -for the second time in the day- from Malfoy's bluish-grey ones, feeling supremely affected with the way they were staring at him....as if Harry was some type of prey waiting to be pounced upon.
"Malfoy." Harry nodded at the blond in greeting, who still had this predatory gaze upon Harry.
"Potter." despite the heated gaze, Malfoy was after all, a born pureblood, so he elegantly took Harry's right hand, bowed down and his breathe fanned over Harry's skin, lips not touching but close enough to touch.
Harry carefully retracted his hand back, swiftly yet politely. 'He was not going to be flustered because of mere courtesy!'
Finally, did Harry realize the strange atmosphere inside the hall. He turned his head away from the blond to notice the whole student body along with the professors, gaping at them.
Harry couldn't help the faint blush this time! 'Merlin! Could this get any more embarrassing?!'
Ron was once again looking at the pair of them with raised eyebrows. Fleur Delacour was staring...like...a fangirl. Hermione was looking at them -or most likely at Harry- as if Harry had just pushed her off a cliff. Viktor and Cedric looked fairly amused for their part. Cho seemed as if she couldn't decide whether to look happy for Harry or disturbed with the fact, that Harry's attention was no longer on her.
Dumbledore and Severus Snape were staring at them with identical cold yet suspicion filled eyes. McGonagall, was doing an excellent job of looking shocked and then there were the Slytherins. Pansy Parkinson was smirking at the pair of them and so was, Blaise Zabini. Theodore Nott on the other hand, looked supremely uninterested with whatever was going on.
Before the situation could get any more embarrassing, thankfully the first dance commenced with the three champions leading it. Harry sighed in relief although for some reason the blush refused to leave him.
"Say Potter," and a still faintly blushing Harry turned towards Malfoy back again. " May I have this dance?" the blond Slytherin extended his hands towards Harry.
'What?' Harry thought incredulously, although his face was that of completely relaxed guy. 'Seriously, what was wrong with Malfoy today? First the staring, then the asking to be his date fiasco, then asking for a dance now?! Either this was some great big plan to embarrass Harry or Malfoy had been dared to do it or he was just messing with him!'
Despite his inner thoughts, Harry accepted Malfoy's hand, who elegantly guided him towards the dance floor. Of course, they were still getting stared at, fingers were being pointed in their direction and whispers were being made about them.
But, Harry could focus on none, because he was suddenly aware of Malfoy's hand resting on his waist. Of course, it was only for the stupid dance, so Harry gathering up his Gryffindor courage, hesitantly placed his own hands on the blond's shoulder.
The music slowly began and with a yelp, Harry was pulled closer to the Slytherin's body. Harry despite being nervous, still looked up at his partner's eyes. He was not worried of misplacing his dance steps, after all, he had spent tireless nights with his Senior being coached around. Malfoy was already looking at him and although, Harry might have grown he was still not as tall as the blond, and he suddenly felt a lot smaller now that he was in the blond's arms.
"Relax....just follow my lead." the blond's soothing tone surprised Harry but he nodded nonetheless.
They began moving slowly but with confidence and Harry relaxed little by little with each passing step. Malfoy was a really good dancer, if Harry had to say so. "Weasley really surprised us," Malfoy started mid-dancing -almost conversationally- as he gazed at their side, where Ron and Fleur were dancing. "we never thought, he had the guts in him to ask Delacour out."
Harry was not angered at the possibly insulting remark, and instead answered, "Well, Ron was in need of a date and so was Fleur, so I suggested to him to why not ask her...." Harry observed the blond for any possible reaction, but the other simply nodded, still staring at Fleur and Ron.
"I didn't think you could dance Potter." the off-handed comment too, surprised Harry.
"Me neither." Harry replied back, laughter filling his voice as he remembered his trainings with his Senior. Only then did the blond questioningly glanced back at him and Harry let out a small laugh at the memories before clarifying, " If not for my Se- Guardian, I wouldn't even have bothered with the ball at all."
"Your guardian," And Harry hummed in reply, now completely relaxed and enjoying himself. "You meet him during school days too?" and Harry froze. Although the question was asked completely conversationally, Harry knew it was anything but. Bracing himself, Harry once again answered back coolly, " I hardly think that is any of your concern Malfoy."
"But, Potter I am merely truing to find out more about my date." the blond's purr and the smirk, made Harry glare at Malfoy.
'Trust Malfoy to ruin the mood!'
Although, Harry was glad the topic was not approached any further, and instead the conversation was directed in other direction.
Harry was gracefully led out of the dance floor, as the music ended. "Would you like anything to drink?" Harry although surprised, didn't show it on his face and simply nodded at the blond.
"Stay here. I will get us something to drink." the blond casted one last glance at him before moving away.
'Draco Malfoy, was surprisingly being a gentleman...' Harry thought as he averted his eyes back to observing people.
Hermione looked really happy dancing with Krum, however her eyes kept glancing back at Harry and Ron both. Ron was introducing Fleur to the twins, and they seemed to be getting along well. Neville and Ginny looked good together, with Ginny teasing Neville and Neville blushing around. That is when Harry first saw her, right behind Ginny and Neville, in the corner of the hall.
She seemed to humming alone, twirling and swaying dreamily.
Harry felt his heart beat rise as he caught sight of the platinum blond hair.
His feet moved automatically, and before he knew it he was right beside her. The same girl, who Harry had seen in almost all of his Senior's memories. The same girl who had looked like an angel in her wedding dress. The same girl who had....died in his Senior's arms....
The girl, Harry noticed had big dreamy eyes, bluish-grey to exact and a beautiful face. She looked just like a fragile doll and Harry's face softened unconsciously as the girl, who had only now noticed him, and was gazing up at him with big dreamy eyes.
"Hello," and Harry cleared his throat, as his voice actually cracked. "Hello, I am Harry Potter." he extended his hands towards the girl, who still looked at him with the same dreamy eyes, he had seen numerous times in the memories.
And suddenly, the girl smiled at him a small dreamy smile, extending her hands in his, "Hello Harry Potter," and her voice too had this dreamy note to it...almost like a lullaby. "I am Luna...Luna Lovegood..."
************************************************************
New chapter! Hope you enjoy! Have a good day ahead!
-Azure