Part 3 of my Harry Potter Malfoid Yule Ball Short Story: Draconia felt a number of eyes upon her that evening. But there was only one pair she cared for, and they were too busy talking with those Weasley brothers again. Just like that family of ginger hand-me-downs to make off with Harry when she hoped he would come to her. They were as terrible as blood traitors could get. When her Slytherin classmates started laughing over a joke about a Hufflepuff girl, Draconia joined in, even though she had not heard a word of it. Her eyes glanced over at the table of redheads across the floor. What was so interesting that Harry couldn't be bothered to look her way even once? “Who are you dancing the next waltz with?” asked one of the Slytherin girls. Each one tried to say the name of the boy they hoped would come up to them while trying not to look so obviously in their direction. Draconia kept her eyes off Potter. She could not let her classmates know her heart yearned for a certain Gryffindor boy. Yet when the question was directed at her, she found it hard to lie also. Taking a drink to buy herself an extra moment to think, she eventually said, “Why should I care? Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, as long as he's not from Hufflepuff, they should be honored that I say yes.” One of the girls looked across the room and asked, “So you wouldn't care if a star Quidditch player from House Gryffindor strolled up and took your hand?” “As if one would–” Draconia froze. Her drink nearly slipped from her fingers. Harry was striding her way. No, he must be going for one of the other girls, she thought. Yet the butterflies in her stomach told her otherwise. She nearly startled in excitement when Harry stood a short distance away, bowed from the waist, and asked, “Miss Malfoy, may I have the honor of this dance?” The girls giggled and looked toward Draconia. Behind her icy visage, her mind whirled and her heart fluttered. Was this the same Harry Potter who left so quickly after being rejected? He seemed taller, straighter, and in his eyes sparked a daring lacking in their previous meeting. “You? Harry?” she said with a smirk. “But you left so quickly the other day when I refused to attend the ball with you. Yet you believe I would change my mind like that?” Some of the girls' mouths dropped. One of them reminded Draconia of what she had just said. She replied, “Oh, don't be serious. As if I would taint my hands with someone who's lived under Muggles his whole life.” From the teachers' table, Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands, calling the room's attention. As silence filled the Great Hall, the elderly wizard thanked all for their attendance, and called for everyone to partner for the next waltz. The room erupted into a frantic buzz as the boys rushed to ask for the hand of the girl they admired before someone else beat them to it. Several Slytherin boys approached the girls surrounding Draconia's table and left with a partner in hand. Draconia stood, hoping Harry would ask her again now that her friends were away. Instead, another Slytherin boy put himself between her and Harry, bowed, and asked her for the honor of the dance. Draconia's eyes went to the boy's hand before lifting up to see Harry's face staring over his shoulder. Why wasn't he fighting for her? Growing more frustrated as the dance floor filled and she was one of a handful remaining who had not accepted, she smiled at the Slytherin boy and nodded. Raising her hand, she waited for him to take it. Serves you right, Potter, Draconia thought. Raising his wand while hiding it from view of the teachers' table, Harry quietly said, “Accio!” The hellebore bud on Draconia's ivy-leafed bracelet pulled her almost violently past the Slytherin boy into the waiting arms of Harry. He caught and dipped her to compensate for her momentum. “I'm sorry, Miss Malfoy, but I asked you first. Courtesy should go to me.” Her cheeks flushed. Looking around, she noticed more and more eyes looking their way while whispers and murmurs filled the air. Some were looking toward the teachers' table. McGonagall and Snape stood, trying to see through the crowd. Dumbledore stood to regain order. A couple of Gryffindor classmates loudly whispered to Harry, warning him to hide the wand. Harry quickly stuffed it under his robe. He kept his eyes on Draconia while awaiting her official answer. She thought about calling for the teachers to come and punish him for such an insolent act. But in that moment, all she could think about was Harry's arm around her. The Slytherin boy came up and grabbed Harry's shoulder, arguing for Harry to let Draconia go. Draconia spoke up, saying, “It's alright. If Mister Potter wishes to be a brute about this, then I'll allow him the honor of a dance rather than cause a fight. Youmay have the next dance.” The room erupted in more murmurs. Fred and George secretly shook hands and smiled at their success. Ron smiled as he watched from the empty table he was sitting at. Meanwhile, Draconia looked Harry in the eyes and said, “Well, Harry, this is a waltz. Shouldn't you raise me up already so we can dance?” With a smile, Harry obeyed. Standing facing each other, Harry took her hand and placed his other hand on her waist. A thrill shot up her spine. Yet she dared not shiver. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she asked, “You know how to lead, don't you?” “I'm certain I can manage.” Seeing as there were no further magical disruptions, Dumbledore asked the other teachers to retake their seats. The music started. Harry stepped left. Draconia followed. He was not very coordinated, yet she managed to stay in step with him and avoid his feet stepping on hers. Several times, however, he bumped into another couple. After apologizing, Draconia would chide him for not checking where he was going. “I'm sorry, Miss Malfoy. Maybe it's the butterbeer, but I cannot seem to look away from you.” She blushed and turned her eyes away. “Stop that. And please stop calling me Miss Malfoy. We've known each other for almost four years. Call me Draconia, won't you?” “As you wish, Draconia.” The way he said her name caused her to gulp nervously. She struggled to look him in the eye because every time she did, the world around her blurred and darkened so that only he existed in it. Time was irrelevant as they gazed upon each other. At one point, they stopped twirling around and just stood there, staring. They were rudely brought back to reality when the music finally stopped and everyone around them clapped. Draconia let go out of shock, although she wished she hadn't. Before she knew it, that Slytherin boy from before approached and asked her for the honor of the second dance. She turned to Harry. He nodded and said, “Best you keep your word. I think I'll have another butterbeer and wait for you when this is over, Draconia.” Before she could say anything, Harry turned and walked toward the refreshment table. Keeping up appearances, she danced the second round with the Slytherin. While she attempted to remain polite for her partner, whenever they spun around and she faced the table Harry stood at, their eyes always met. When the dance was over, she thanked her dance partner and hurried away toward the refreshment table. Getting herself a cup of butterbeer first, she drank it to give herself time to think. I just rushed over here, she thought, without realizing what this must look like to everyone else. He's here, and yet– “Draconia?” Harry's voice called to her. Turning to him, he held out his hand and said, “You appear quite flushed. Shall I escort you outside for a bit of fresh air to help you cool down?” This time, her hand floated up to his without her putting on airs. Her mouth opened and said, “Yes.” Her body moved on its own, following alongside Harry, while her mind was caught between her appearances and enjoying the moment. Her loyalty may be to House Slytherin according to the Sorting Hat and her family's history. However, as much as she hated admitting it to herself, her heart had sorted itself squarely into the arms of a Gryffindor.