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she’s talking again.
running that stupid mouth of hers as if i give a damn about what she’s saying.
do i give a damn?
of course i do.
it’s her. even if i didn’t want to, she has a way of drawing people in. what, with her disgustingly optimistic disposition that should’ve landed her in hufflepuff. but she’s a slytherin - and rightfully so. because under all the smiles and laughs she throws out, she’s always calculating her next move. i can see the subtle shift in her expression when someone compliments her. she’s proud, but not vain. i can see the way she preserves herself while making herself seem selfless. she’s ambitious and cunning.
she’s a snake.
i fucking love her.
“draco, are you even listening to me?”
her voice snaps me back into reality. she’s frowning. merlin, she’s so fucking adorable.
“to be completely honest, no,” i reply. she huffs and rolls her eyes, continuing to scrawl on her parchment. i watch her write in that delicate penmanship, trying to memorize every stroke. the curve of her y’s, the loop in her l’s. i’ve known her long enough to recognize her writing in a heartbeat, and yet i continue to be mesmerized.
you are so incredibly pathetic, draco.
“i can feel you staring, malfoy.”
fuck.
“i wasn’t trying to hide it, sato,” i deflect, throwing her last name back at her. i smirk as her cheeks change in color, but she just shakes her head with a small grin on her face.”blaise and theo were talking about the yule ball earlier. says you haven’t asked anybody yet. i wanted to hear it from the source.” she raised an eyebrow at me and i shrugged, faking nonchalance, “it’s all kind of a waste of time, isn’t it? looking for a date, dressing up. formal dancing and events, i do these things enough as it is.”
her face face falls, as if she’s disappointed.why on earth would they be disappointed? besides - i leave unsaid - i wouldn’t ask anyone else other than you.
as if it never happened, her face brightens up again. i hate that it hurts my chest this much seeing it. she forces a laugh, and the knife twists deeper. “i guess you’re right. we do these things all the time, don’t we? i suppose i just thought it would be a tad different, being at school and all. it’s sort of, freeing, not having our parents breathing over our shoulders.”
she’s right, it will be different. this will be the first time i actually have to ask her to be my date, instead of it already being arranged. it’s been grinding on my nerves ever since the triwizard tournament was announced. blaise and theo have been teasing me nonstop. i’ll have to ask her soon, or someone else might do it first. not that they should. everyone knows kally is mine. but i decide to ask the question anyways.
“speaking of, has any boy asked you out yet?” i try to keep the menacing undertone out of my voice, though i cannot be sure that i didn’t accidentally let a growl slip out. she purses her lips in thought, then proceeds to count them on her fingers. the fuck? she can’t be serious.
“some 6th year ravenclaw, one of cedric diggory’s friends - he was quite nice, some scrawny gryffindor kid and blaise.” my jaw unclenches in shock at the last name. “blaise? as in, blaise zambini?” she frowns, “yeah, i’m a bit lost too. though i’m not sure he was serious. he did mention something about ‘hurrying you along,’” she makes air quotes with her fingers at that.
i am going to hex him into oblivion.
“have you said yes to any of them? i hope you know that the entire house will disown you if you even entertain the thought of going with a gryffindor." she looks at me, aghast, as if i’d said something blasphemous. i might as well have. “god, who do you think i am? of course i won’t be going with a bloody gryffindor. and for your information, i have not said yes to anybody. i’m.. waiting.” she bites her lip at the end of her sentence and it takes every ounce of my self-control to banish the thoughts that arise at the sight.
“waiting for what, exactly?”
“for the right person.”
“and who might that be?” i pry, raising an eyebrow.
her cheeks turn a delicious shade of pink but all she does is shake her head. “frankly, it’s none of your business, draco.”
“i think it is,” i say, standing up and leaning across the table to hold her chin in my hand, forcing her to look up at me. “since i’m the only one you should be going to that ball with.”
she raises an eyebrow at me, a mischievous grin on her lips. “is this your way of asking me to the yule ball?” “so what if it is?” i drop her face and sit back down, leaning as far away from her as possible with my arms over my chest. that wasn’t how it was supposed to go. i was consumed with jealousy and just blurted what came to mind. i’m embarrassed and ashamed, so i avoid eye contact with her.
“well, as awfully unromantic as that was, i’ll be glad to be your date, draco.”
i scowl at her, but she’s smiling at me, showing those ridiculously cute dimples of hers. she gets out of her chair to stand beside me, her hands cupping my face, so that i’m forced to look up at her.
“that wasn’t how it was supposed to go.”
“i figured.”
“i was supposed to do something extravagant and knock you off your feet.”
“well, consider me knocked,” she grins, pretending to swoon and gently falling into my lap. i catch her with my arms, my hands gripping her waist to steady her while i look down at her with as much contempt as i can muster. which, considering the situation, isn’t much.
“i hate you,” i mutter.
“i know,” she pokes at my cheek with her finger. “you hate me so much that you asked me to be your date in a jealous stupor.”
“i revoke that statement.”
“sorry, too late. no take-backsies,” she giggles.
i roll my eyes affectionately and kiss the crown of her head. “would you shut up. i think you’re affecting me with your stupidity”
“nah, you love me, i’m a delight.”
“that you are, kally.”
merlin this girl is going to be the death of me