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Draco Malfoy was not nervous.
He had repeated that fact to himself at least twenty-three times since breakfast.
He wasn't nervous now as he sat in the Slytherin common room, pretending to read a book.
He wasn't nervous when Theodore Nott dropped into the armchair across from him.
And he certainly wasn't nervous when Pansy Parkinson walked by, took one look at him, and laughed.
"You're pathetic."
Draco lowered his book.
"Excuse me?"
Pansy rolled her eyes.
"You've been reading the same page for fifteen minutes."
Theo leaned forward.
"Page thirty-seven, if we're being specific."
Draco snapped the book shut.
"I hate both of you."
"Good," Theo said cheerfully. "Now ask Isla Hartwell to the Yule Ball."
Draco nearly dropped the book.
Pansy smirked.
"There it is."
"There what is?"
"That look."
"What look?"
"The one that appears whenever someone mentions her."
Draco glared.
Neither of them looked remotely intimidated.
Unfortunately.
The Yule Ball had been announced two weeks ago.
Two weeks.
Fourteen days.
Three hundred and thirty-six hours.
And somehow Draco still hadn't asked Isla.
Not that he wanted to.
Not that he had spent those two weeks imagining how she might smile if he did.
Not that he found himself searching for her in crowded hallways.
Not that he knew exactly where she sat during meals.
Or which books she borrowed from the library.
Or that she preferred tea over pumpkin juice.
Or that she laughed with her whole face.
No.
None of that.
Absolutely none.
"Draco."
He looked up.
Theo was watching him with barely concealed amusement.
"You drifted off again."
"I did not."
"You did."
"You were thinking about her."
Draco threw a cushion at him.
Theo caught it easily.
"See?" he said to Pansy.
Pansy nodded.
"Completely hopeless."
Draco stood.
"If either of you speak another word, I'm feeding you both to the giant squid."
"Ask her."
"No."
"Why not?"
Draco opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
The truth was embarrassingly simple.
He didn't know how.
Not because he couldn't ask a girl to a dance.
Merlin knew plenty of girls would say yes.
The problem was that this wasn't just any girl.
This was Isla.
And somehow that made everything different.
"That's what I thought," Pansy said.
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"You're both insufferable."
Then he turned and left the common room before either of them could continue.
The library was quiet that afternoon.
Exactly how Draco liked it.
Or at least that was his excuse.
The real reason he found himself there far more often recently was sitting three tables away.
Isla Hartwell.
A stack of books surrounded her.
A quill rested between her fingers as she scribbled notes across a parchment.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching strands of her hair.
Draco hated poetry.
He hated romantic nonsense.
And yet every time he looked at her, his brain suddenly started sounding like one of those ridiculous novels his mother kept hidden on a shelf.
It was deeply irritating.
A laugh escaped her.
One of her friends had apparently said something amusing.
Draco found himself smiling before he could stop himself.
Then he immediately frowned.
Merlin.
This was getting worse.
Across the room, Isla glanced up.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, neither looked away.
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
Soft.
Genuine.
Draco's heart did something profoundly inconvenient.
He looked back down at his book.
The words blurred together instantly.
The following days passed far too quickly.
Students filled the corridors discussing dresses, dress robes, decorations, and potential dates.
The entire castle seemed obsessed with the Yule Ball.
Draco tried very hard not to care.
He failed.
Spectacularly.
By Friday afternoon, even Theo had run out of patience.
"Ask her."
"No."
"Ask her."
"No."
"Ask her."
Draco shoved him into a suit of armor.
The suit promptly collapsed.
Several first years screamed.
Theo laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
Draco regretted nothing.
The opportunity finally arrived the following Monday.
Isla was standing alone near the courtyard.
No friends.
No distractions.
No excuses.
Draco spotted her from the corridor.
His stomach tightened.
This was it.
Just walk over.
Ask her.
Simple.
He adjusted his robes and started forward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three..
Someone reached her first.
Draco froze.
A boy.
Hufflepuff.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Draco vaguely recognized him.
Oliver Hayes.
The boy smiled.
Said something.
Isla blinked in surprise.
Then she laughed.
The kind of laugh that made her eyes sparkle.
Draco's chest tightened.
No.
No, no, no.
Oliver held out his hand.
Even from a distance, Draco knew exactly what was happening.
He knew before Isla answered.
Knew before she smiled.
Knew before she nodded.
And yet it still felt like being punched.
She said yes.
Oliver's grin widened.
They exchanged a few more words before walking away together.
Draco remained exactly where he was.
Unable to move.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to look anywhere else.
Too late.
The thought settled heavily in his chest.
Too late.
"Well."
Theo's voice appeared beside him.
Draco didn't turn.
"I hate you."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to."
"I was."
Silence stretched between them.
For once, Theo didn't joke.
Didn't tease.
Didn't laugh.
He simply stood beside him.
Watching Isla disappear down the corridor.
"Draco."
"What?"
"You should've asked sooner."
Draco swallowed.
His jaw tightened.
Because for the first time in weeks,
Theo was right.
And now there was nothing he could do about it.
Or so he thought.
The morning of the Yule Ball arrived beneath a blanket of snow.
From the windows of the Hufflepuff common room, Hogwarts looked like something out of a fairy tale. White covered the grounds, the lake shimmered beneath a thin layer of ice, and snowflakes drifted lazily through the gray winter sky.
Most students were excited.
Isla Hartwell was trying very hard not to be nervous.
Unfortunately, she wasn't succeeding.
"You've brushed your hair six times."
Isla glanced at her reflection.
"Five."
Her roommate, Amelia, snorted.
"Six."
A second-year passing by looked between them.
"Definitely six."
Isla groaned.
The younger student immediately disappeared.
Traitor.
She turned back toward the mirror.
Her stomach fluttered.
Tonight was supposed to be fun.
A celebration.
A magical evening.
Yet for some reason she couldn't stop feeling disappointed.
And she knew exactly why.
"You're thinking about him again."
Amelia's voice was annoyingly knowing.
Isla reached for a brush.
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Isla sighed.
"Fine."
Amelia grinned triumphantly.
"Thought so."
The truth wasn't exactly difficult to guess.
Everyone with functioning eyesight had apparently noticed long before either of them admitted it.
Everyone except Draco Malfoy.
Or perhaps he had noticed.
Perhaps he simply didn't care.
That possibility hurt far more than she liked to admit.
She still remembered the first time she'd really spoken to him.
Not in class.
Not passing in the hall.
Actually spoken.
Third year.
The library.
A disagreement over a book.
Draco had claimed the author was brilliant.
Isla had informed him the author was an arrogant idiot.
An argument followed.
A surprisingly entertaining one.
By the end of it, they'd both walked away irritated.
And oddly eager for the next conversation.
Years later, not much had changed.
Except now her heart insisted on misbehaving whenever he entered a room.
Which was incredibly inconvenient.
Especially today.
Amelia sat down beside her.
"Do you want the truth?"
"Not particularly."
"I'm going to tell you anyway."
Isla sighed dramatically.
"Of course you are."
Amelia smiled.
"You wanted Draco to ask you."
The words hit their target immediately.
Because they were true.
Painfully true.
When the Yule Ball had first been announced, Isla hadn't thought much of it.
Then she started noticing things.
The way Draco looked at her during meals.
The way his gaze lingered.
The way conversations sometimes stopped when she approached.
The way Theodore Nott smirked whenever she entered a room.
Little things.
Tiny things.
Things that made her wonder.
Hope.
Dream.
And then wait.
Day after day.
Nothing happened.
No invitation.
No conversation.
No sign that he intended to ask.
Eventually Oliver Hayes approached her.
Sweet, polite Oliver.
He'd looked terrified.
Isla had nearly laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was adorable.
He'd asked if she wanted to attend the Yule Ball with him.
And she'd said yes.
What else was she supposed to do?
Keep waiting for someone who clearly wasn't interested?
"You did the right thing," Amelia said softly.
"I know."
"Oliver's nice."
"He is."
"He likes you."
"I know."
Amelia tilted her head.
"But?"
Isla looked away.
"But he's not Draco."
Silence filled the room.
Not uncomfortable.
Just honest.
Amelia reached over and squeezed her hand.
"Then maybe Draco is an idiot."
Isla laughed despite herself.
"That's not exactly groundbreaking information."
"No."
Amelia smiled.
"It really isn't."
The hours passed quickly after that.
The castle buzzed with excitement.
Students hurried through corridors carrying garment bags and accessories.
Laughter echoed from every corner.
By late afternoon, the girls' dormitory had descended into complete chaos.
Hair charms.
Jewelry.
Makeup.
Last-minute panic.
Someone lost a shoe.
Someone else misplaced an earring.
A third-year accidentally set part of a curtain on fire.
It was extinguished quickly.
Mostly.
Isla stayed out of the way.
Watching the commotion with amusement.
Until Amelia pointed at a large box sitting on Isla's bed.
"There."
Isla followed her gaze.
The dress.
Immediately her pulse quickened.
For weeks it had remained carefully hidden.
Protected from curious eyes.
Protected from accidents.
Protected from her own inability to stop staring at it.
Now there was nowhere left to hide.
Tonight had arrived.
Slowly, she crossed the room.
Her fingers brushed the lid.
Then lifted it.
A collective gasp filled the dormitory.
"Oh."
"My."
"Merlin."
Isla stared down at the gown.
Even after seeing it before, she still found it breathtaking.
The fabric was a deep midnight blue.
Rich and elegant.
Silver crystals shimmered across the skirt like scattered stars.
The fitted bodice flowed effortlessly into layers of soft fabric that seemed almost weightless.
Beautiful didn't begin to describe it.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Amelia broke the silence.
"Draco Malfoy is going to have a heart attack."
Laughter erupted around the room.
Heat rushed into Isla's cheeks.
"Amelia!"
"What?"
"Stop."
"I'm serious."
Another girl nodded.
"She's right."
A third pointed dramatically at the dress.
"That thing should be classified as a weapon."
More laughter.
Isla shook her head.
Yet despite herself, a smile appeared.
Because for the first time all day...
The disappointment faded.
Just a little.
An hour later, she stood before the mirror.
And barely recognized herself.
Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders.
The silver jewelry caught the candlelight beautifully.
The gown fit perfectly.
Elegant.
Timeless.
Almost dreamlike.
For a long moment she simply stared.
Then Amelia appeared behind her.
Speechless.
Which was unusual.
Very unusual.
"Say something."
Amelia blinked.
"You're stunning."
Heat rushed into Isla's cheeks.
"Thank you."
"No."
Amelia shook her head.
"I mean it."
She smiled.
"Oliver won't know what hit him."
The familiar disappointment returned.
Small.
Sharp.
Because once again her thoughts drifted toward someone else.
Someone with silver eyes and sharp cheekbones.
Someone who would probably never know how much power he held over her.
Someone who probably wasn't thinking about her at all.
A knock sounded downstairs.
Immediately the common room erupted with excited squeals.
Dates were arriving.
The Yule Ball was beginning.
Isla took a deep breath.
Then another.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Nervous.
Hopeful.
Terrified.
Excited.
Everything at once.
"Ready?" Amelia asked.
Isla glanced toward the door.
Toward the evening waiting beyond it.
Toward a night she would remember forever.
Whether for good reasons or heartbreaking ones remained to be seen.
She smoothed her hands over the fabric of her gown.
Then smiled.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
And with that, Isla Hartwell stepped toward her fate.
Draco hated waiting.
He hated delays.
He hated standing around while everyone else seemed determined to make an event out of absolutely nothing.
And yet there he stood at the entrance of the Great Hall, adjusting the cuff of his dress robe for what had to be the twentieth time.
"You look nervous."
Draco glanced sideways.
"Theo."
"You look very nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
Theo laughed.
"Right."
The Great Hall had been transformed beyond recognition.
Thousands of enchanted icicles hung from the ceiling, glittering beneath floating candles. Silver and blue decorations covered the walls, while elegant tables lined the edges of the room.
Music drifted softly through the air.
Students filled the hall in colorful gowns and formal robes.
Everyone seemed excited.
Everyone except Draco.
Or perhaps that wasn't entirely true.
Because excitement wasn't the problem.
The problem was that every time the doors opened, his heart immediately jumped into his throat.
Only to drop again when it wasn't her.
Pathetic.
Absolutely pathetic.
"You're staring at the entrance again."
Draco ignored Theo.
"The entrance is not going to suddenly fall in love with you, you know."
"Be quiet."
Theo grinned.
Then suddenly-
The doors opened.
And the room fell silent.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough that Draco immediately looked up.
Enough that conversations slowed.
Enough that dozens of heads turned toward the entrance.
And there she was.
For a moment, the entire world stopped.
Isla stood in the doorway, framed by candlelight.
The midnight-blue gown flowed around her like liquid starlight. Silver crystals shimmered across the fabric with every movement, catching the light and scattering it around her.
Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.
And somehow..
Somehow.
She was even more beautiful than he'd imagined.
Draco forgot how to breathe.
Theo looked from Isla to Draco.
Then immediately burst out laughing.
"Oh, that's bad."
Draco didn't hear him.
Or perhaps he did.
He simply couldn't process anything besides the sight standing across the room.
Because Merlin.
Merlin.
No human being should be allowed to look like that.
Theo slapped a hand over his mouth.
"You are staring."
Draco finally blinked.
"Shut up."
"You've been staring for twenty seconds."
"Shut up."
"I timed it."
Draco contemplated murder.
Then Isla smiled at something beside her.
And Draco finally noticed Oliver Hayes standing next to her.
His mood immediately darkened.
Theo followed his gaze.
"Ah."
"Don't."
"The boyfriend."
"He is not her boyfriend."
"The date."
Draco looked away.
Unfortunately that didn't help.
Because no matter where he looked, he somehow found her again.
Across the room.
Near the refreshment table.
Talking with friends.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Existing.
It was deeply distracting.
Meanwhile, Isla was doing an excellent job pretending she wasn't searching the room.
Unfortunately, she was.
Oliver was speaking.
She was listening.
Mostly.
Probably.
Hopefully.
Because her attention kept wandering.
The Great Hall was beautiful.
The decorations were stunning.
The music was lovely.
Yet somehow none of those things mattered.
Not when she was looking for one specific person.
Then she found him.
And immediately regretted having functioning eyes.
Draco Malfoy looked unfair.
There was simply no other word for it.
His black dress robes fit perfectly.
His blond hair was neatly styled.
And the confident posture he'd carried since first year remained entirely intact.
He looked exactly like the kind of boy girls wrote ridiculous love stories about.
The realization was profoundly annoying.
Especially because she was apparently one of those girls.
"Oh no."
Isla blinked.
"What?"
Her friend Sophia followed her gaze.
Then immediately groaned.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"You like him."
Heat rushed into Isla's cheeks.
"I do not."
Sophia stared.
Isla stared back.
A battle of wills followed.
Sophia won.
"You absolutely do."
"Keep your voice down."
"I'm not judging."
"You sound like you're judging."
"I'm fascinated."
Isla covered her face.
This was a mistake.
Attending the ball had been a mistake.
Existing had been a mistake.
Sophia laughed.
"Does he know?"
"No."
"Good."
"Good?"
"If he knew, he would've combusted by now."
Despite herself, Isla laughed.
And unfortunately...
Across the room, Draco saw it.
Saw her laughing.
Saw the way Oliver smiled at her.
Saw how close they were standing.
A knot twisted painfully inside his chest.
The worst part?
Oliver seemed nice.
Draco wanted to dislike him.
Wanted to find something wrong with him.
Anything.
But Oliver Hayes appeared to be perfectly decent.
Which was incredibly inconvenient.
Because it meant Draco couldn't even justify his jealousy.
The dancing began shortly after.
Couples flooded the floor.
Music echoed through the hall.
Laughter filled the air.
Isla found herself pulled into one dance after another.
Oliver was kind.
Patient.
Easy to talk to.
Exactly as she'd expected.
Yet every so often,
Her gaze wandered.
Every single time,
She found Draco.
Near a table.
Standing with Theo.
Speaking with Pansy.
It didn't matter.
Whenever she looked, he seemed to already be looking back.
And every time their eyes met...
Something happened.
A strange tension.
A silent conversation neither understood.
Or perhaps both understood perfectly.
Neither possibility was comforting.
By the time the next slow dance began, Draco's patience had officially run out.
Theo noticed immediately.
"Oh."
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"Oh what?"
"You've reached the dangerous stage."
"The dangerous stage?"
"The stage where you either do something incredibly romantic or incredibly stupid."
Pansy appeared beside them.
"My money is on stupid."
Draco sighed.
"Why are you both like this?"
"Because someone has to force the plot forward."
Draco frowned.
"The what?"
"Nothing."
Theo waved dismissively.
"Anyway."
His grin widened.
"Ask her."
Draco followed his gaze.
Across the room, Isla stood near the edge of the dance floor.
Alone.
Oliver had apparently wandered off toward a group of friends.
For the first time all evening.
She was by herself.
The music softened.
The crowd shifted.
And suddenly it felt as though the entire room disappeared.
Just her.
Standing beneath thousands of floating candles.
The midnight-blue gown sparkling like a sky full of stars.
Waiting.
Not for him.
Probably not for him.
Definitely not for him.
Yet somehow his feet moved anyway.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
Until Theo's voice called after him.
"About time."
Draco ignored him.
Because for the first time that evening,
He wasn't looking from across the room.
He was walking straight toward her.
And with every step, Isla Hartwell grew closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until finally,
She turned.
And found him standing there.
Only a few feet away.
Silver eyes meeting warm brown ones.
Neither speaking.
Neither looking away.
The music continued around them.
But suddenly it felt very far away.
Draco swallowed.
His heart pounded.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then, finally,
He held out his hand.
And spoke.
"One dance, Hartwell?"
For a moment, Isla simply stared at him.
The noise of the Great Hall faded into the background.
The music.
The laughter.
The conversations.
Everything disappeared.
Because Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her.
Holding out his hand.
Asking her to dance.
Her heart nearly stopped.
"What?"
Brilliant response.
Absolutely brilliant.
Draco's lips twitched.
The smallest hint of a smile.
"I asked if you'd like to dance."
As though he hadn't just shattered every coherent thought in her head.
Isla swallowed.
She was aware of people moving around them.
Aware of the music drifting through the hall.
Aware that she was probably taking far too long to answer.
"One dance?" she repeated softly.
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Draco's face.
So brief she almost missed it.
"Unless you'd rather not."
The idea was ridiculous.
There were many things Isla Hartwell wanted in life.
Refusing Draco Malfoy was not one of them.
Slowly, she placed her hand in his.
"One dance."
The tension in his shoulders immediately eased.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Enough that she noticed.
Enough that she wondered if perhaps she wasn't the only nervous one.
Without another word, he led her toward the dance floor.
And somehow that simple touch—
His hand around hers,
Was enough to make her pulse race.
The music slowed.
Couples swayed across the floor.
The enchanted candles above reflected in the polished stone beneath their feet.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Draco carefully placed one hand at her waist.
The touch was respectful.
Gentle.
Yet somehow it sent warmth rushing through her entire body.
Isla rested a hand against his shoulder.
And suddenly they were dancing.
Actually dancing.
Merlin.
This couldn't be real.
"You look beautiful."
The words escaped before Draco could stop them.
His eyes widened immediately.
As though he'd surprised himself.
Isla blinked.
Then felt heat rush into her cheeks.
"Oh."
Wonderful.
Another eloquent response.
Draco looked mildly horrified.
Apparently they were both struggling tonight.
A laugh escaped her.
Soft and genuine.
The tension instantly eased.
"Thank you," she said.
His gaze briefly traveled over the midnight-blue gown.
Then returned to her face.
And for a second...
A dangerous second.
Neither looked away.
Draco cleared his throat.
"The dress is..."
He paused.
Searching for words.
Which was unusual.
Draco Malfoy always had words.
"The dress is what?"
A corner of his mouth lifted.
"Unfair."
She laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound seemed to surprise him.
And something softened in his expression.
Something warm.
Something real.
For the first time all evening, Isla forgot about everyone else.
Forgot about Oliver.
Forgot about her friends.
Forgot about the hundreds of students surrounding them.
There was only Draco.
Only this dance.
Only the way he was looking at her.
As though she was the most important person in the room.
Across the hall, Theodore Nott nearly choked on his drink.
"Oh, this is fantastic."
Pansy glanced toward the dance floor.
Then smiled.
"Finally."
"I was beginning to think he'd never do it."
"Same."
Theo shook his head dramatically.
"The emotional incompetence of that boy needs to be studied."
Pansy nodded.
"For scientific purposes."
"Exactly."
Neither of them felt remotely guilty for watching.
Back on the dance floor, the conversation came easier than expected.
Perhaps because they had spent years speaking around their feelings instead of about them.
Talking itself wasn't difficult.
It never had been.
"So," Isla said softly.
"So."
"You finally asked me."
Draco nearly stumbled.
Almost.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Enough for her to notice.
A smile tugged at her lips.
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Look so pleased with yourself."
"I can't help it."
"You absolutely can."
She laughed again.
Draco found himself smiling despite every effort not to.
Merlin.
This was dangerous.
"Oliver seems nice."
The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
Immediately he regretted it.
Isla blinked.
Then understanding dawned.
And suddenly she looked suspiciously amused.
"He is."
Draco nodded.
Silence.
"He asked first."
There it was.
The real reason.
The confession hidden inside a simple sentence.
He saw the realization in her eyes.
Saw her heart catch up with the meaning behind his words.
"He did."
Draco looked away briefly.
His jaw tightened.
"I noticed."
The music continued around them.
Neither spoke.
Because suddenly the conversation felt different.
More fragile.
More honest.
Isla's heart pounded.
Had he just admitted what she thought he'd admitted?
Slowly, she gathered her courage.
"Would you have asked?"
Draco froze.
Completely froze.
The question hung between them.
Waiting.
Demanding an answer.
He could lie.
Pretend.
Deflect.
Normally he would.
Tonight, somehow, he couldn't.
"Yes."
The word came quietly.
Yet it felt louder than any shout.
Isla's breath caught.
For a moment she wasn't sure she'd heard correctly.
"Yes?"
His gaze found hers again.
Steady.
Certain.
Painfully honest.
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
Then skipped again.
The entire room suddenly felt too warm.
Too bright.
Too overwhelming.
Because for months...
Months.
She'd convinced herself she'd imagined everything.
The looks.
The tension.
The possibility.
And now, now Draco Malfoy was confirming it had all been real.
"I waited."
The confession slipped out before she could stop it.
His expression shifted instantly.
"You what?"
"I waited."
She laughed nervously.
Looking down.
"I thought..."
Her voice softened.
"I thought maybe you'd ask."
For once in his life, Draco Malfoy had absolutely no idea what to say.
He simply stared.
Because somehow...
Somehow.
The possibility had never occurred to him.
Not really.
Not truly.
Not in a way he'd allowed himself to believe.
"You waited for me?"
Isla nodded.
A small smile appearing.
"You're not the only idiot in this situation."
The laugh that escaped him was genuine.
Rare.
Beautiful.
And entirely worth every ounce of embarrassment she felt.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
The distance between them suddenly felt smaller.
The air felt different.
Charged.
Hopeful.
Dangerous.
The song began to slow.
Its final notes drifting through the hall.
The dance was ending.
Neither wanted it to.
Isla felt it immediately.
The disappointment.
The knowledge that reality would return any second.
The music faded.
Couples began stepping apart.
Yet Draco's hand remained at her waist.
Just a moment longer.
Just one selfish second.
Then two.
His silver eyes met hers.
And something passed between them.
Something unspoken.
Something impossible to ignore.
"Come with me."
The words left his mouth quietly.
Almost cautiously.
As though he wasn't entirely certain she'd agree.
Isla's pulse quickened.
"Where?"
A faint smile appeared.
"The castle grounds."
She looked toward the windows.
Beyond them, snow continued to fall.
Soft.
Silent.
Beautiful.
Then she looked back at him.
Back at the boy she'd spent months trying not to fall for.
The boy who should have asked sooner.
The boy she was beginning to suspect might be worth the wait.
Slowly, she smiled.
"Lead the way, Malfoy."
And for the first time all evening,
Draco smiled back.
A real smile.
One meant only for her.
Together, they stepped away from the dance floor.
Away from the crowd.
Away from the music.
Toward the snow-covered night waiting outside.
Toward the moment that would change everything.
The cold air hit them the moment they stepped outside.
After the warmth of the Great Hall, the winter night felt almost shocking.
Snow drifted lazily from the dark sky.
The grounds were quiet.
Peaceful.
For the first time all evening, there was no music.
No laughing students.
No curious glances.
Just the two of them.
And somehow that felt far more dangerous.
Their footsteps crunched softly through the snow as they walked.
Neither seemed eager to break the silence.
Not because it was uncomfortable.
Quite the opposite.
It felt fragile.
Like something precious neither wanted to ruin.
The lights of Hogwarts glowed behind them, reflecting against the snow-covered grounds.
Everything looked softer beneath the moonlight.
Dreamlike.
Almost unreal.
Isla wrapped her arms around herself.
Immediately, Draco noticed.
Without a word, he shrugged off his suit jacket.
Before she could protest, he draped it around her shoulders.
The warmth surprised her.
Not because of the jacket.
Because of the gesture.
Draco wasn't known for acts of kindness.
At least not publicly.
Yet tonight, she was beginning to realize how much of Draco Malfoy the world never actually saw.
"Thank you."
His shoulders lifted slightly.
"It's cold."
A smile touched her lips.
"Right."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
His expression narrowed.
"You sound amused."
"Maybe a little."
Draco sighed dramatically.
"Unbelievable."
The laugh that escaped her echoed softly through the night.
And Merlin.
There it was again.
That feeling.
That dangerous warmth spreading through his chest whenever she smiled.
Whenever she laughed.
Whenever she simply existed.
He was beginning to suspect there was no cure for it.
Eventually they reached the edge of the courtyard.
The fountain had frozen.
Snow covered the stone pathways.
Moonlight painted everything silver.
For a few moments they simply stood there.
Watching the snow fall.
Watching the world continue around them.
And avoiding the conversation both knew was coming.
Draco spoke first.
"Why did you wait?"
Isla looked at him.
His silver eyes reflected the moonlight.
For once, there was no arrogance.
No mask.
No carefully constructed walls.
Just honesty.
The sight alone nearly stole her breath.
She looked away.
Toward the snow.
Toward anything that wasn't him.
Because somehow answering felt terrifying.
"I don't know."
A small smile appeared.
"That's a lie."
Draco's lips twitched.
"Thought so."
Isla laughed softly.
Then sighed.
"I suppose..."
Her voice grew quieter.
"I hoped I wasn't imagining things."
His gaze never left her.
"The looks."
She swallowed.
"The conversations."
A nervous laugh escaped her.
"The fact that Theodore Nott practically smirked every time I walked into a room."
Draco groaned.
"Theo is incapable of subtlety."
"No."
She smiled.
"He really isn't."
Silence settled again.
Gentle.
Comfortable.
Then her smile faded.
"I thought if you liked me..."
She paused.
Gathering courage.
"...you'd eventually ask."
Draco stared at the snow beneath his feet.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"That was your first mistake."
Her eyebrow lifted.
"Oh?"
"I'm an idiot."
The answer came so quickly she burst into laughter.
The sound echoed across the courtyard.
Draco found himself smiling.
"I spent weeks trying to ask."
"Weeks?"
"Weeks."
Isla looked genuinely surprised.
"Weeks?"
Draco nodded.
"Every time I saw you, I had a plan."
"And?"
"It immediately fell apart."
The grin spreading across her face made his heart do something deeply inconvenient.
"Draco Malfoy gets nervous?"
"Don't tell anyone."
"I'll consider it."
"You shouldn't."
"I probably will."
Draco rolled his eyes.
And for a moment they simply laughed.
Together.
Easy.
Natural.
Like they'd been doing it forever.
The snow continued falling around them.
Tiny white flakes settled in Isla's hair.
Without thinking, Draco reached forward.
His fingers brushed a snowflake from a dark strand.
The movement was instinctive.
Gentle.
Careful.
And the second he realized what he'd done...
Everything stopped.
The air.
The conversation.
His breathing.
Her breathing.
Everything.
His hand lingered near her face.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Because suddenly the distance between them felt impossibly small.
Draco could see every detail.
The warmth in her eyes.
The faint pink coloring her cheeks.
The way her breath caught.
And suddenly he wasn't thinking.
A dangerous thing.
Thinking was useful.
Thinking created plans.
Thinking prevented disasters.
Unfortunately, Isla Hartwell had made him forget how to think months ago.
"Isla."
Her name sounded different coming from him.
Softer.
More intimate.
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then returned to her eyes.
The movement wasn't missed.
Not by either of them.
Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs.
This was happening.
Merlin.
This was actually happening.
"You should've asked sooner."
The words emerged as barely more than a whisper.
Draco laughed softly.
The sound carried through the falling snow.
"I know."
"I spent months wondering."
"I know."
"I thought you didn't like me."
His expression immediately shifted.
Something fierce appearing behind his eyes.
"Never that."
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
Never that.
The sincerity of it stole the breath from her lungs.
Because there wasn't a single lie hidden inside those words.
Not one.
Draco stepped closer.
Only slightly.
Enough.
Enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
Enough that the world seemed to narrow.
Until there was only him.
Only this moment.
Only the snow falling around them.
"I liked you for far longer than I should admit."
A nervous laugh escaped her.
"Good."
His eyebrow lifted.
"Good?"
"Because I don't think I should admit how long I've liked you either."
For a second they simply stared at one another.
Then Draco smiled.
And Merlin.
Isla was completely doomed.
Because she had seen Draco smirk.
Seen him grin.
Seen him look pleased with himself.
But this?
This smile belonged to no one else.
Only her.
And somehow that made it infinitely more dangerous.
The space between them disappeared.
Not all at once.
Not dramatically.
Just slowly.
Naturally.
As though neither could bear it any longer.
Draco's hand found hers.
Their fingers intertwined.
The simple touch felt more intimate than any dance.
More intimate than any conversation.
More intimate than anything either had expected.
His thumb brushed softly against her skin.
And suddenly neither was looking anywhere except at each other.
The snow.
The castle.
The world.
Gone.
Just them.
Just this.
Draco swallowed.
Then finally said the thing he should have said months ago.
"I like you, Isla."
Simple.
Honest.
Real.
Her eyes immediately softened.
And for a second he thought that might be enough.
Then she smiled.
That smile.
The one responsible for half his problems.
"I like you too."
Relief crashed through him so suddenly he almost laughed.
Months.
Months of overthinking.
Months of waiting.
Months of convincing himself he wasn't good enough for her.
Gone.
Just like that.
And suddenly the only thing left was her.
Standing beneath the snowfall.
Looking at him as though he hung the stars himself.
The realization nearly undid him.
Slowly, carefully, Draco lifted a hand to her cheek.
Giving her every opportunity to pull away.
She didn't.
Not for a second.
Her eyes fluttered briefly.
Then returned to his.
And that was all the permission he needed.
The kiss was gentle.
Tentative.
Soft.
Everything a first kiss should be.
For a moment neither moved.
Neither breathed.
Neither thought.
Then Isla kissed him back.
And suddenly the entire world disappeared.
The snow.
The cold.
The castle.
Everything.
Gone.
Only Draco.
Only Isla.
Only this.
When they finally pulled apart, both were smiling.
Neither seemed capable of stopping.
"You know," Isla said softly.
"Hm?"
"You really are an idiot."
Draco laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Warm and unguarded.
"That's fair."
"I waited months."
"You think that's bad?"
His eyes sparkled.
"I had to watch Oliver Hayes walk around with you all evening."
She laughed.
"Oh, were you jealous?"
"Violently."
The answer came so quickly she nearly doubled over laughing.
Draco sighed dramatically.
"I've never hated a perfectly nice person more."
Another laugh escaped her.
And somehow that sound felt even better than the kiss.
Behind them, Hogwarts glowed beneath the winter sky.
Ahead of them stretched a future neither could predict.
For once, Draco didn't care.
For once, neither of them needed answers.
The night was enough.
The snowfall was enough.
She was enough.
Draco squeezed her hand gently.
"One more dance?"
A smile immediately appeared.
"Out here?"
"Why not?"
"There isn't any music."
Draco stepped closer.
His arm wrapped around her waist.
And beneath the falling snow, he offered her that rare smile once more.
The one meant only for her.
"I don't think we need it."
Isla smiled back.
Then rested her head against his shoulder.
And together, beneath a sky full of stars and snow, they danced.
Their own midnight waltz.
THE END