Work Text:
Draco stared at the canopy above his bed. Theo's snores and Neville's grunts permeated the morning air. They'd spent the evening with copious Firewhiskey deciding who their partners would be for the New Years Ball. Draco remained silent as Neville said he wanted to dance with Pansy. They looked at him and wished him all the best in that endeavor. Theo said he'd be happy to dance with Padma for the practice since Blaise hadn't been available. That left Ron for Draco. After verbalizing this observation last night, Neville and Theo looked at him with sly smirks and he'd huffed as if he didn't care.
Draco cast a tempus; 6:30 am, still too early to get moving. Theo stirred and rolled over to glance at Draco.
“It's too early to be this melancholy, amigo.” Theo had spent the summer in Spain which convinced him to use the language at will. It made Draco's skin crawl.
“It's also too early to hear your voice.” He smirked at his best friend.
Theo clutched his chest, feigning a mortal wound, “Oh, Draco, if I'd known this was a battle, I'd have armed myself with an unforgivable, but it seems you've beat me to the draw. To what do we owe the extra moodiness? Memories of the war, the ever present threat of it happening again, the perpetual complexities of your family relationships, or perhaps…” Theo paused for effect, ever the showman, “the impending reality that you finally get close to Weasley?”
Draco glared a warning.
“Ah, Weasley it is. Tell me Draco, what's rattling around in that brain of yours that has you sighing and looking so,” Theo gestured, “dare I say, anxious?”
“That's enough Theo.” Draco curled on his side, turning away.
“Alright mate, stew away if you must, but when you're ready to chat about your opportunity to stare into those ‘pools of crystalline waters’ as you called them, you know where to find me.”
Draco pulled the pillow out from under his head and threw it at Theo, barely missing his head, “Things we say at the Solstice, stay at the solstice.”
“Right you are mate, which is why I've only shared it repeatedly with those who were in attendance.”
Draco sighed at the memory of one of Pansy's creations. Veritaserum and Firewisky; effective and humiliating.
“For what it's worth, everyone already knew how you felt about him.” Theo quipped, scurrying to the showers.
—
“I'm sure you remember the steps we covered in fourth year. We'll do one display, and then you'll partner to practice on your own.” McGonagall's voice carried over the room. “Neville, if you please.” The two met on the dance floor and swayed around the room, and at the end of the song Neville gave McGonagall an impromptu spin and pulled her back into his arms.
“Very good Mr. Longbottom, thank you for that turn about the room,” Out of breath from the spin, she continued,. “Now, join your partners and let's begin.”
Everyone quickly paired up, Pansy to Neville, Padma to Theo, while Draco and Ron looked at each other from across the floor. Draco and Ron had grown closer this year, learning how to balance their opposing skills and finding harmony when working together. They enjoyed any opportunity at collaboration, but relished in every competition thrown their way. Ron, never one to back down from a challenge, huffed and headed toward him on a mission.
“Malfoy.”
“Weasley.”
“So, are we, doing this?” Ron's cheeks turned a gorgeous shade of red, highlighting his bright blue eyes.
“I don't dance, Weasley.”
Ron stared at him in disbelief. Dancing was taught to all of the sacred 48. Malfoy danced. He had to. It was expected.
“Don't think too hard, that red hair might actually catch fire.”
“Don't make this difficult, Malfoy. I can teach you the basics.”
Draco smiled at the attempt to get him to dance.
He took a step closer to Ron, noticing a shift in his demeanor, “You can teach me?” He said with a smirk, “I remember you dancing with Patil in fourth year, I'm not sure you're fit to teach anyone.”
Ron huffed and stepped forward. He loved when Weasley got that stubborn look on his face, “Scared I might be better than you?” Ron stared daggers, and his tone sent flames across Draco's body.
“Do lead the way then, Weasel.”
“Gentlemen, are you in need of assistance?” McGonagall's voice rang out over the music.
“We're quite ready Professor, Weasley here seems to be an excellent teacher.” Draco's eyes never left Ron's, watching a slow blush creep up his neck. “Come now, tell me what to do.”
Though Ron was off count, Draco followed his lead, feigning comprehension just to watch the red head fluster. He'd need to stop them if they were to find the beat again.
“One, two, three - BLOODY HELL! MALFOY!” Ron took a step back to put distance between them, fists clenched at his sides.
“You're the one leading me, Weasley.” Draco closed the space between them, “Maybe this is a testament to your teaching skills.” Ron’s mouth fell slightly open in surprise. Draco reached a hand up brushing a thumb under his chin, effectively closing his mouth. “Come now, before McGonagall intervenes, where were we?”
Ron gasped as Draco pulled him close in one fell swoop. He raised an eyebrow, signalling to begin again.
Ron led them without further incident. They shared moments that could have been seen as intimate from the onlooker; Ron blushed multiple times and looked around the room with Malfoy chuckling for the duration of the practice. When the music stopped, Ron quickly dropped his hand and spun away in a huff. Draco stared after him as Theo came up to clap him on the shoulder.
“Was it everything you hoped for, mate?”
“Everything and more.”
—--------
That night as they prepared for the New Year's ball, Draco dressed in his best, and appraised his reflection nervously.
Theo whistled as he joined Draco, “Ron won't be able to look away from you Dray.”
“Mate, we all saw it. You two were radiating chemistry. You barely looked away from each other even when McGonagall told us to switch partners.” said Neville.
“TWICE!” Theo added for emphasis.
“Right, let's get on with it then.” Draco's face was stone as they headed through the floo, exiting the fireplace at the same time as their partners.
Neville nodded to Pansy, who gave a sly smile, looking him up and down. Padma and Theo embraced for a friendly hug and turned to watch Draco and Ron stare at each other unmoving. Ron was in awe of Draco's formal robes, piercing grey eyes locking into his. Draco was drawn in by the well cut robes clinging to Ron's muscles. Quidditch had done him nicely over the years.
He took a tentative step forwards and Ron followed suit. He smirked, raising his eyes to look at him through his lashes. They slowly walked towards each other as a blush crept over Ron's neck.
“Weasley, you look like a king tonight.”
“Ugh, you ruin everything by talking, Malfoy.” There was no bite in his tone, it almost felt teasing.
“Oh, now where's the fun in staying quiet?” He winked and Ron's mouth dropped open again. He reached up to close it, but Ron swatted his hand away hiding a smile behind a huff.
—------
The group spent the first hour of the dance discussing the magical implications of a midnight kiss. Ron huffed about pureblood nonsense that he'd lost faith in, but when Theo's flask landed in his hand he drained it in one.
“Woah there Weasley, big plans for the evening?” Theo's dimples appeared, cutting his eyes to Draco with a wink.
“Just hoping to make it to midnight.” He coughed.
As if on cue, the music transitioned into the waltz that they were all familiar with.
“Ready to make it through, Weasley?” Draco stepped beside him and led him to the dancefloor.
“Barely, not with both of us being horrid dancers.” He looked down at his feet when they reached the center of the floor. Draco cleared his throat to get his attention, and blue eyes met grey as the music began to swell. Draco took hold of his waist and pulled him close. The music started, and Draco moved them, looking at the surprise in Ron's eyes. As they made the first rotation smoothly around the room, he leaned down to whisper in his ear.
“I said I don't dance Weasley, I never said I couldn't.”
They shared a smile, as the confusion melted from Ron’s face. They floated around the room, flowing to the sound of the enchanted tunes as though it had been choreographed. Once they found their shared footing, Draco chuckled.
“Are you ready for a challenge?” Draco's eyes lit up with mischief as he pulled Ron closer, holding their bodies flush together. The music never changed tempo, but Draco sped up their steps to half time. Swirling them both around the dancefloor much faster than anticipated and Ron did everything he could to keep up. “Turn off that controlling brain of yours and let me lead, trust me.” He whispered into his ear.
A chill ran through Ron as he relaxed into Draco and felt his magic stir. Draco's eyes never left Ron's as he led them through the crowd with ease.
Draco's hold was firm, his eyes were warm and full of depth. Ron saw specks of blue and black in the grey around his iris, and was lost in the whirlpool of emotion. Draco simply looked at him, allowing Ron access to the innermost parts of his soul as they twirled around the floor. As the music slowed, so did their dancing until the music stopped.
“Twenty seconds to midnight, we'll start the timer now!” A voice rang out.
A tempus appeared on the enchanted ceiling and everyone called out the countdown.
They stood in the center of the room, holding each other tightly, unwilling to part as the clock moved closer to midnight.
“Well, we're here aren't we?” Ron turned a bright shade of red.
“Are you saying you want to kiss me, Weasley?”
“It's tradition Malfoy, our magic won't be compatible. I'm not worried about anything.” Ron sounded almost disappointed in the truth of his statement.
Draco hummed in agreement, and Ron's eyes shot up to his. Their breaths mixed in the air between them as the countdown continued.
NINE.
Draco felt Ron's pulse hammering from where they were still gripping each other. Unmoving, unwilling to let go. Ron's throat constricted in a rough swallow, and Draco's eyes were drawn to it. His throat, glistening with a slight sheen from dancing, was calling to him, begging to marked as his.
EIGHT.
Ron couldn't stop stealing glances to Draco's plump lips, memorizing the sharp angles of his face, basking in the wonderful scent that was him.
SEVEN.
They didn’t move. Ron, convinced that this was just a traditional kiss. Draco, knowing it would be more. The world around them disappeared. The countdown continued in a dull melody, the only sound between them their shared breaths and hammering hearts, locked eyes communicating the longing, the curiosity, the hope.
TWO.
ONE.
Their lips met as the fireworks erupted along the enchanted ceiling, mirroring their magic bursting fourth to engulf them in a warm golden light.
Draco's hands cupped Ron's jaw, as Ron's hands snaked around Draco's shoulders, deepening the kiss. Draco's stomach flipped with excitement, and Ron suddenly felt a fire lighting deep in his core. The fireworks radiated through his skin, sending sparks throughout his body. Their lips seemed to stay joined for hours rather than seconds before Ron pulled back in surprise.
“Not here.”
“Okay.” Draco agreed.
They stared at each other gasping for breath.
“Where?” Draco asked with clear confidence.
Ron grabbed his hand and led him from the ball room.