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The Yule Ball. A wondrous celebration, especially at the most wonderful time of the year. For most people at least. A nice break from the high excitement from the Triwizard Cup. It was all anyone could talk about. Until now. Now, people found their conversations leading elsewhere, The Yule Ball, dates, dance, merriment, and for some shame.
Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were the top of the Slytherin House but at the moment they sat apart from the main festivities. Draco had it in mind to ask Pansy but she already agreed to go with Blaise Zabini. Currently, he sat with his arms folded staring blankly onto the floor. Crabbe and Goyle didn’t share his lackluster mood, they were enjoying themselves, “Lighten up, Malfoy, at least pretend to have fun.”
“Why must I pretend to enjoy sitting with you two at a dance?” He countered.
“Ouch,” Goyle retracted, “It’s not like Pansy rejected you, she was just asked by Blaise first.”
“I think that’s being rejected,” Crabbe offered.
Draco laughed at the thought, “There we go,” Crabbe said. Draco gave in and grabbed the glass he’d been sitting on the entire time they were there to clink it with his friends. They all chugged their cider together to which Crabbe offered to replenish their empty glasses. The hall was decorated beautifully, which Draco had to admit did stir a little seasonal joy in him. He hunched over the table to inspect the guests when the infamous Harry Potter and his entourage arrived. His face instantly melted into a scowl. It wasn’t a secret Draco was slightly jealous of Harry’s special treatment, as such, being the unheard of fourth contestant in the Triwizard Tournament. At the very least it gives Hogwarts double the chance at victory.
Then his eyes looked away to find the oh so familiar Irishman in a face that screamed how loud he was laughing. Next to him stood Lavender Brown. He had to admit, she dolled up nicely. He was really surprised with Hermione though, he didn’t want to admit how stunning she looked or that she came with Viktor Krum of all people.
He had to look away, he was paying them way too much attention, which everyone else would do, and he wasn’t about to join the foray. But then they were getting closer to the dance floor and all Draco could hear was Seamus’s loud laughing. He was definitely saying words but he couldn’t quite catch them but the laugh carried.
Crabbe returned with their cider and gave Draco a puzzled look, “What’s gotten you in a scowl?” His eyes travelled to where he was staring after and set his glass down in front of him, “Don’t let them spoil your fun. Come on, this night is for us, too.”
“All I hear is his laugh,” Draco lamented.
Crabbe looked over, still puzzled, “Harry’s just smiling. Or now, talking…”
“Not him,” Draco grabbed the glass, “that Irish kid.”
Goyle laughed, “Like he’s the only Irish kid here.”
Draco huffed, “The only one who hangs with Potter as far as I’m concerned.”
Crabbe took a seat and a sip, “Isn’t he always setting fires?” He leaned back into his chair and allowed himself to relax, “Why are you tripping over him?”
Draco blushed. He actually didn’t know why his laugh was getting to him. It had stopped during the course of their conversation but it was burned into his ears. That is, until now. At this moment, Seamus turned and caught Draco staring. He raised his brow at him and Draco looked away biting his lip.
Goyle turned his attention to Draco, “Don’t tell me you fancy him?”
Draco almost jumped from his seat, “What of course not!”
Goyle shrugged, “I was only kidding but your reaction says more. You know, I don’t think we’ve seen a same sex couple dance around here.”
Crabbe swallowed before speaking, “Guys and girls dance together all the time.”
Goyle waved him off, “You know what I mean, like, romantically.”
“Then maybe you should be the first to do it,” Draco challenged.
Goyle laughed again, almost choking on his cider, “Where’s the snacks, Crabbe, this conversation is getting too delicious.” He finished his cider and set it down and turned his full attention to Draco, “Malfoy, if I promise to do your homework for a week, would you ask him to dance?”
Draco sat back in his chair flabbergasted, “First of all, I wouldn’t trust you with my homework for one night.”
“Okay, okay,” he took a moment to think it over, “how about your chores for a week?” Draco thought it over, he was really mulling it over but the more he thought about it the redder his face got and he had to look away.
“Okay, now you’ve got to, this will be too rich,” Goyle smiled.
“You’ll steal the thunder from Harry,” Crabbe added as he sipped on his cider.
It was true, Draco’s modus operandi was stealing Potter’s thunder but would this be the kind of thunder he wanted? He folded his arms again and stared at Seamus who was now slow dancing with Lavender. His chest started to burn now. “And you promise to do my chores for the week?”
Goyle pleaded with his hands, “Yes, your laundry and your bed.”
As if it was alcoholic Draco chugged the rest of his cider and got up. “I can’t believe you’re actually going for it!” Crabbe cried out. Draco stood and adjusted his robes, smoothing his hair, “Well, I’d like a bit of fun just as much as anyone else here, and sitting here the whole time sounds dull.” Crabbe sat back impressed, Goyle sat forward in his own waiting for the moment to arrive.
Draco cleared his throat and turned to grab his glass but finding it empty. Goyle laughed, “This cider is not going to give you liquid courage. Maybe you can enchant him from afar.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s just a simple dance,” Draco made his way forward but then quickly retreated back, “but what if he declines? Does that still count or do I have to ask another fellow?”
“I would have said that still counts but I like the idea of you asking another fellow if it fails,” Goyle smiled mischievously.
Draco readjusted his robes again, his back facing the dance floor and all Goyle could do was laugh at how red Draco was getting. He was quickly hushed with a death glare. “Okay, I’m gonna head over now.” But he neither made steps or turned around. Goyle looked at him expectantly, his arms folded, “You wanted some fun, well, here’s your chance.”
“Is this fun for you or for me?” Draco asked embarrassedly.
“Both.”
“Me, too,” Crabbe added and lifted his glass to Draco.
Draco let out a hurried breath, hoping to calm the burning sensation building in his body and finally turned around to make his way forward. He stopped short to find Seamus at the snacks table, Lavender out of sight. Now, he stood chatting up Dean Thomas. Draco’s burning sensation just kept building but he’d already decided. He walked toward the two men with as much confidence he could muster. Fortunately for him, Dean decided to walk away which left Seamus alone for the moment.
He swallowed hard. The ambience of the evening really was quite beautiful. The chandeliers were bright but far way enough that it didn’t blind people. The settings of the tables were incredibly decorated with floral arrangements, ornaments, and dim candles. Just as he was about to make his way closer, Seamus turned around with a snack of some sort in his mouth. He didn’t know why, but Draco’s immediate thought was that he looked cute and that alone worried him.
Seamus smiled at him, although quizzically. He guessed at an event like this, all the torment and bullying seemed to fade away and maybe Seamus wouldn’t do something heinous like reject him and never let him live it down. He didn’t think about that until now but Seamus had already waved him over. Draco tried to keep a straight face but as soon as he reached Seamus he broke out into a laugh.
Seamus raised his brow at him again, “Don’t tell me you came over just to make fun of me.”
“No,” Draco replied immediately, “no, nothing like that.” He could tell his face was getting redder by each passing second.
“Are you drunk?” Seamus asked curiously.
“No!” Draco replied immediately again, “But I think I should be.”
“Why say that?” Seamus asked finishing off the last bit of the sweet cake he had in his hand.
“I actually came here to…” Draco trailed off.
Seamus scanned Draco’s face, which was currently looking anywhere but him, “To grab a snack?”
Draco laughed awkwardly. He looked away so he didn’t catch Seamus shrug his shoulders at Dean and Lavender from afar. Draco swallowed hard and Seamus looked up at him with a curious smile, “Draco, I don’t think we’ve exchanged any kind or positive words with each other and now you’re speechless. I wouldn’t normally care but what’s on your mind?”
His face was so red he had to turn his head and awkwardly shoved his hand out, “I was hoping you’d…” He trailed off again.
“Shake hands?” Seamus did so.
Draco smiled with a hint of a laugh. Seamus liked this. It was nothing he’d ever experienced with this boy ever. They were usually harsh words and judgment. “Actually,” Draco began, Seamus hadn’t let go of their hands and Draco took it more gently, turning it so Seamus’s hand was back facing up. Draco took his fingers, bent down and didn’t dare to look up, “I was hoping you’d join me in a dance.”
Seamus snatched his hand back like he’d been burned, “Excuse me?”
“I know you don’t, or wouldn’t believe me, but I did come over to ask you for one dance,” Draco lamented. He looked down, knowing full well of how his peers think of him, at least the non-Slytherins.
“You expect me to believe you ‘just wanna dance’ with me?”
Draco looked up from the floor and met Seamus’s eyes which were a mix of anger and confusion. Seamus was about to leave but Draco grabbed onto his shoulder. Seamus didn’t want to make a scene so he calmly stopped and turned to face Draco. Draco’s face was distraught. And Seamus didn’t want to fall for it, “Is that why you were staring at me earlier? To come up with this prank? Take me to dance and one of your goon-friends does something to me?”
Draco coughed and got red, “Actually, no, I wasn’t staring at you with that in mind.”
“Then what did you have in mind?”
Draco laughed heartily, “I was actually thinking why your laugh was irritating me.”
Seamus’s mouth went wide and he threw up his hands, “And now you want to dance? They dared you? Didn’t they?”
“They did—“ Seamus turned to walk away but Draco pulled him back again, “but I actually do want to try—to try dancing with you.”
“Why is that? You get a prize?”
“Well, yes, I do—“ Seamus turned to leave again but Draco stood in front of him this time, “but I—I actually want to dance with you.”
“Other than winning some sort of prize for this challenge, why could that be?” Seamus was fed up.
“I want to have fun, I want to dance, slow dance—I don’t know when the music will change but if I have to choose a man, I choose you.”
Seamus got red, “Do you—“
“Let’s not overthink this, I wanna give it a try,” Draco replied.
Seamus turned to look around and smiled himself, “You know, everyone will be staring.”
“I don’t mind if you don’t.”
The two looked at each other, Seamus could see the sincerity in Draco’s face, or he was a great actor and he’d regret this for the rest of his life. “Who leads?” Seamus asked.
Draco scoffed, “Obviously, me.”
“Why obviously, you?” Seamus countered. Draco smiled at him and Seamus couldn’t help the smile creeping on his lips. “I asked you to dance, if that clears things up,” replied Draco. Seamus nodded his head.
Draco led Seamus to the dance floor, much to everyone’s surprise, even the teachers were in shock, one even dropped his drink. Draco took Seamus by the hip and Seamus placed his hand on Draco’s shoulder. Their faces both blushed especially since it seemed the whole dance floor cleared way like they were the only two in the room. Everyone watched in confusion and smiles. Hermione herself couldn’t help her own smile. At this, Viktor held out his hand and she took it as she was led to the dance floor.
After a few moments, more and more couples joined them on the dance floor and everything seemed to blur. Seamus and Draco danced in mostly silence, each laughing a little and looking away every now and then. But as the song started to end, their eyes stayed glued to each other. It was like a force of magic, so to speak, as each one felt compelled to dip their faces closer, a gasp in the distance halted them and they settled for dancing with their foreheads pressed together, or more so, Draco’s on Seamus’s head. Draco spun Seamus around and dipped him, which he wasn’t ready for so he had to clutch onto Draco for dear life.
When the song ended, they released each other, both not knowing what to do with themselves.
“Thank you,” said Draco.
Seamus replied, “The pleasure was uh all mine?”
They both laughed. They both parted.
When Draco rejoined his friends he got a big clap on the back from Goyle and another glass of cider from Crabbe as well as a plate of desserts.
“You did it, my friend,” congratulated Goyle.
Draco laughed, “I did. It was nice.” He looked across the room and met eyes with Seamus who smiled back. Draco smiled but looked down. Goyle ruffled his back, “Okay, okay, don’t get to into it, he’s a Gryffindor, remember?”
“What, you think I’m just gonna start having feelings for someone after one dance?”
Draco looked over at Seamus who was most likely explaining the situation to Dean and Lavender. But he side-eyed Draco from afar and a smile took over. Draco smiled and looked down again. Luckily, Goyle and Crabbe were engrossed in a conversation of their own. Draco looked up one final time to see Seamus staring at him. He smiled and walked off with Lavender and Dean.