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Though she had insisted that she wouldn’t attend the Yule Ball, Melody abruptly changed her mind and decided to go after all.
Getting ready with the other Ravenclaw witches, they eyed her skeptically and giggled at whispered jokes. As usual, Melody paid them no mind. She did her hair and makeup, put on the dress robes she shopped for with her mother, donned the jewellery her father had sent from the Nott family vaults, slipped on her heels, escorted herself down to the Great Hall and arrived at the Yule Ball all alone.
She told herself that she was content with just being there, enjoying the beautifully decorated hall, the music and hors d’oeuvres. She would be able to tell her parents all about the ball and not lie, and they would be happy with the illusion that she was living the “normal” Hogwarts experience they didn’t have.
Her peers danced and enjoyed themselves while she walked laps around the Great Hall, making it appear like she was needed somewhere instead of sitting like a lonely freak who had shown up to the ball with no date, because nobody had asked her. Really it was a wonder that she wasn’t sorted into Slytherin like her father considering she could be about as conniving as one. At least she wasn’t sorted into Gryffindor, sorry mum.
Running into Scorpius and Albus, her friends were overjoyed that she had changed her mind about not attending the ball. Scorpius dramatically ooh-ed and ahh-ed at her dress robes and requested a twirl while Albus gushed that she looked beautiful. Then the Slytherins whisked themselves away for another dance.
Of course, she just had to have a run-in with James. He made a comment about her looking a lot like the picture of her mum when she had attended the Yule Ball, further cementing the fact that he was a complete idiot. For one, her mother’s dress robes were periwinkle, while Melody opted for sapphire to match her eyes. Secondly, her mother had used a ton of Sleekeazy that night, the accounts of which made Melody swear that she would never use such a potion on her own curls.
But blue dress robes and pinned-up hair were all the same for trolls for brains like James Potter. Luckily his date was urging for another dance and they left Melody alone. At this rate, as long as she didn’t have an encounter with that bitch Rose Weasley, then she would consider the night a great success.
Walking aimlessly in heels eventually tired her, and she leaned against a shadowed wall. Again, she was avoiding the narrative of the pathetic witch sitting alone at the Yule Ball. She wouldn’t give her peers that satisfaction.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to come,” a voice materialised next to her. She didn’t have to look to know who it was.
Cole.
The Slytherin was posed as if he had been leaning against the wall this whole time instead of having just joined her. She had actually been wondering where he was and had tried to spot him among the dancers, searching for pale blonde hair contrasted with dark skin.
Typical of a Zabini, his black dress robes were exquisitely tailored. His blonde coils were freshly cut close to his head with sharp edges. Several of Aunt Luna’s tiny silver amulets were pinned onto the lapels of his robes, except he had that ability to make them look cool instead of quirky. And what a coincidence, he had also chosen sapphire blue for his accent colours. A sapphire kerchief was neatly folded into his pocket, sapphire gems adorned his cuff links and sapphire stud earrings glittered in the soft light.
Her friend turned to her, light eyes expecting a response.
“It would have been a waste of new dress robes if I didn’t come,” Melody shrugged.
“They’re very pretty,” he complimented.
Of course, her dress robes were pretty, but not her.
“Where’s your date?” She asked him.
“I never asked anyone.”
That must have been devastating for all the witches who had a crush on him and held out hope that he would ask them to the Yule Ball. Which was pretty much every witch in Hogwarts.
“Wait, so why did you come?” Melody eyed him with confusion.
Cole shrugged in his usual aloof manner and smirked, “It would have been a waste of new dress robes.”
Let it be known that no wizard infuriated Melody Nott like Cole Zabini.
“We should dance, since we’re here,” he then suggested, looking at the dance floor.
“Do we have to?” Melody eyed the crowded space.
“Don’t come to the Yule Ball if you’re not going to dance.” And then he grabbed her hand and dragged her out to the dance floor.
Stupid, stupid Cole.
Weaving through the crush of couples, Melody felt their eyes watching her, she heard their shocked whispers through the music. But when Cole properly took her hand in his, placing the other on her back, all of Hogwarts was tuned out.
They moved like clockwork. A lifetime of sharing dances making them come together in sync. She could close her eyes and trust in him completely to guide her. She could pretend that they were kids again, practicing the steps in her sitting room or the terrace of Zabini Villa and then showing off in the ballroom of Malfoy Manor.
She could go to a different time, before they came to Hogwarts and Melody had to navigate by herself what it really meant to be the daughter of Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott.
What hadn’t been said about her. She was a know-it-all. She was the daughter of a Death Eater. She ruined the Nott bloodline. She was a nightmare. Everyone had some grievance against her.
Except Cole.
As much as he infuriated her, he was her only friend. Well, so was Scorpius, who she also grew up with, and by extension so was Albus, since they were together. But not like Cole.
But what did he know about what she was going through? Cole was cool. Cole was popular. Cole was respected. Everyone was a good sport if they lost to him in a Quidditch match. Everyone wanted to be his friend. All the witches, and some wizards, had a crush on him. Except for Rose Weasley, but again, she was a bitch.
One would think Melody’s friendship with Cole would help her image or whatever it was people had a problem with. But no. Instead, witches especially resented her even more, clearly jealous that they were close. Sorry that they’ve known each other since they were kids and have a concept of loyalty.
Melody was sick of it all. Whether it was bravery or spite that she hadn’t begged her parents to let her drop-out of Hogwarts and homeschool her, she didn’t know. Or maybe she just didn’t want to disappoint them. After all, they had it so much worse when they went to Hogwarts.
But she knew why she really hadn’t gone through with it, because of Cole, who convinced her to stay. And now she was dancing with him at the Yule Ball. Out of all the people he could be at the ball with, he was with her. She was in his arms. His hands felt so warm, they pressed her closer to him. It was so comforting to be so close to his chest.
It meant nothing. It was just another dance between two childhood friends. But something was different and Melody hated it. She didn’t understand this nagging feeling in her heart. She kept her eyes closed, looking up at him while they danced would make whatever this was worse.
Why are you making this so much harder for me? She wanted to scream at him.
She didn’t. She let herself get dizzy in the steps while he kept her safe. Her eyes remained closed, and it was just the two of them, even though it hurt.
Finally, the song ended and they stopped, but he didn’t let go. Her eyes fluttered open, but she didn’t dare look up at him.
“Thank you,” Melody murmured, trying to take a step away from him. Only, he wouldn’t let go, his arms kept her securely to him.
Don’t make me look at you. She pleaded, her heart pounding in her throat.
“Mel,” his voice entreated with her stupid boy-ish nickname. She swore she felt his lips brush her hair. The warmth of his embrace was stifling.
“Cole! I thought you’d never show up!” A fellow Ravenclaw witch squealed in delight. For once, Melody was grateful that one of his fans interrupted them.
“You’re going to save me a dance right?” The other witch’s voice was sickeningly sweet, completely ignoring Melody.
Cole’s hold on her tightened, but she could be stronger sometimes, and she slipped from his grasp.
“Thanks again,” Melody said politely and rushed away.
She was absolutely done with the Yule Ball and she beelined through the crowd towards the exit. It was a relief when she crossed the doors of the Great Hall, leaving the ball and Cole behind her.
The music was starting up again as Melody began climbing the stairs to go back to the Ravenclaw tower. Even if she left early, at least she’d be able to tell her parents that she danced at the ball and not be lying. It would make them happy.
While Melody mentally drafted the letter she would send home, a shadow followed her all the way to Ravenclaw, watching to make sure she returned safely to her tower.