Chapter 4: The dance
“So yer not goin’ wit’ Harry?”
Hermione shook her head. “No, it would have been too…weird.”
Emily sat on her bed, leaning against her headboard on crossed arms. “Weird? Care ta ‘xplain?”
“He…kissed me,” Hermione said softly, blushing. “It felt weird. Like I had kissed my brother.”
“Ya don’ have a brother.”
“No…but it was…strange, you know?”
“Oui,” Emily smiled. “So ya goin’ stag?”
Hermione giggled. “Guys go stag.”
“‘Know dat. Mon pére woul’ say I’ didn’ matter though.”
“Guess not.”
“You’re going alone, Harry?” Ron choked.
Harry shrugged, “I don’t see why not.”
“Harry, you’ll be the only sixth year alone,” Ron pointed out. “I mean, Seamus and Dean are even going together.”
“There’s something wrong with that?” Seamus chipped in from the other side of the room. Ron shook his head quickly, suppressing chuckles.
“Nothing wrong at all, Seamus.”
“You’re mocking me.”
“Yes actually.”
“That’s mean! I don’t think you should say things like that.”
Dean laughed, “You? Think? Don’t damage your pretty little head with that, Seamus-love.”
“Oh thanks,” the Irish boy scoffed, as they headed out of the room. “Now we all know how highly you value your boyfriend’s brains.”
“What brains?”
Ron turned back to Harry. “Besides, I thought you were going to ask ‘Mione.”
Harry shrugged, “I did.”
“She said no?”
Harry shook his head, “she said yes. But…”
Ron glared at Harry, “But what? Isn’t ‘Mione good enough.”
“Of course, but…”
“Then why?”
“I kissed her, Ron!” Harry snapped. “I kissed her and it felt
weird as hell, and we both decided it wouldn’t work,” he sighed. “I’m sorry,
I shouldn’t have yelled.”
He shot a sly look at Ron, “besides, who are you going with?”
Ron blushed, “y’see…there’s this Hufflepuff girl Neville introduced me to…”
“Neville?” Didn’t ‘Mione say that Neville liked Ron?
“Yeah, they were working on herbology stuff,” Ron grinned. “She’s cute!”
God, he’s so straight. Poor Nev. At that moment Neville entered the room. Harry laughed, “well, speak of the devil.”
“More like angel,” Ron cut in. “Isn’t that what you’re going as, Nev?” The small boy nodded and Ron smiled. “It suits.”
Harry smirked. Or maybe not so poor, Nev. I wonder what this Hufflepuff girl looks like anyway. “Do you have a date for the Halloween dance, Nev?”
“Me?” Neville looked askance. “No.”
Ah-ha! Idea… “Wanna go with me then? You know…friends, but you’ve got someone to dance with if no one else asks.”
Blue eyes widened in amazement, “really!?” They fell slightly, flickering over to Ron then back to Harry. “I don’t dance all that well,”
Harry shrugged, “me neither, so?”
“You really wouldn’t mind?”
“No.”
“Thanks Harry!”
Harry Potter found himself with an armful of happy blond boy. He laughed. “No problem, Nev.” Looking up at Ron, he saw his friend turn away quickly, some strange look that Harry couldn’t quite place plastered over his face.
Later that night Harry drew Neville aside in the common room.
“Yes, Harry?”
“Nev…is there a reason having a date for the dance means so much to you? Like, a Ron based reason?”
Neville blushed and stared at the floor. “I…kinda…Valerie’s a distant cousin of mine and…”
“You like Ron?”
“…Yes…”
“So why introduce him to…Valerie?”
“That was kinda accidental.”
“I see…but you don’t mind going with me?”
Neville shook his head. “No! I…maybe Ron will…”
Harry smiled and nodded. “Hopefully.”
“Harry,” Neville hesitated. “Do you like someone?”
Harry shrugged. “I don’t think so. But you never know.”
“And you swear you don’t mind going with me?”
“Of course I don’t!” Harry sighed. “You have no self esteem, Nev.”
“I know.”
“So, you’re going as an angel?”
“Well…sorta…”
Three days later it was the Halloween dance. Hermione was standing outside the bathroom waiting for Emily.
“You going to take much longer, Emily?”
“Nope.” The taller girl stepped out, and Hermione fell back a pace. Emily was dressed all in black. Black leather pants, black leather, knee high combat boots, black leather vest, unzipped most of the way down her chest, black leather collar, with a snake pendant hanging from it. Her nails were painted black, as were her lips, and an intricate black tattoo covered half her face. But the most stunning part of the costume was the wings. Huge and white they sprung from her back and lifted a full three feet above her shoulders. Hermione gasped.
“They look so…real,” she murmured, reaching out to touch a feather. Emily shuddered slightly, reaching around herself to take hold of the tail that Hermione had failed to notice.
“T’ank you,” Emily smiled. “Ya don’ look so bad yerself.”
Hermione smiled in delight at the compliment, smoothing hands down her poofy black skirt. Emily laughed.
“I believe Beelzebub and the sock hop girl from hell are the last of their dorm,” she said. “Shall we head down?”
Hermione nodded and they headed down into the grand hall.
Everybody was dressed up. Some masked some just with their faces painted. Emily slid a half mask down over her tattooed face; one with devil horns on it. Hermione smiled, somehow it looked appropriate…but not, on the girl. It took them a minute to find Harry and Neville, who were talking to a flapper and a fop…or rather, Seamus and Dean. Emily laughed, lifting her mask to kiss Seamus’ cheek.
“Ya got guts,” she told him.
“Guts and a buff boyfriend,” Seamus replied. At her inquisitive look Harry explained.
“Crabbe and Goyle have been looking at Seamus like a punching bag even since he walked in.”
“Ah.” Emily inspected the Robin Hood and Green angel that were
Harry and Neville. His green mask hid even Harry’s scar, and Neville’s
face was painted.
“Cute,” came the final verdict.
“Thanks.”
Seamus piped up, “have you seen Malfoy?” When Emily and Hermione shook their heads no he plowed on. “OH, he’s a treat! He’s dressed as Brain Slade. Y’know, the Glam rocker from ‘Velvet Goldmine’?”
Hermione turned to Harry for confirmation. Harry merely nodded, and Neville giggled. At that moment Ron came back leading a girl dressed all in grey that looked remarkably like a female Neville. Beside Harry, Neville winced.
“Harry did you see Malfoy?” Harry nodded. Ron laughed. “He’s dressed like a slut.”
“I’m dressed like a slut,” Seamus pointed out, laughing. “C’mon Dean, let’s dance.” He dragged Dean away. Hermione turned to Neville.
“You want to dance, Nev?”
Neville smiled at her, “sure.”
Emily smiled at Harry, and then held out a hand.
“If ya please sir.”
Harry nodded and let her whisk him off and around the floor.
“Thanks Emmy. Thought I was going to be dancing with Neville all night, not that that’s bad but…”
“I know. So, point out Draco ta me? I can’ tell anybody t’rough dis damned mask.”
“He’s over there.” And god is he HOT!
Draco had changed over the years, like they all had. But instead of broadening out like most men he just grew prettier, and kept the same slim build his father had. His father, however, probably did not approve of just how effete his son managed to look. Despite the feathery blue mask Harry could still tell it was Draco, no one else looked that perfect or moved that arrogantly.
“He can’ tell ‘s you,” Emily pointed out softly. “Ya could go dance wit’ him.”
“Emmy…”
“Yer lookin’ at him like ya wanna eat ‘im, Harry. Go on.”
“Emmy!”
“Jus’ go, Harry,” so saying she danced them off to the side and
let go of him, giving him a slight shove towards the Slytherin boy. Then
she sat back, watching
Hermione and Neville dance with no slight warmth in her eyes. Finally
the two came back.
“I’m sorry I’m not a guy, Neville,” Hermione was laughing. Neville shook his head, smiling.
“It’s ok. It was fun.” He sighed, “I do wish a guy would ask me though.”
Emily chuckled, ruffling Neville’s sprayed green hair. “Jus’ wait a bit, cher. It’s possible.”
“Thanks.”
Hermione watched the crowd for a bit, sudden her eyes widened at a swirl of sparkles and green.
“Is that…?” she asked in astonishment.
“Harry an’ Draco,” Emily pronounced smugly. “Yes.”
Both boys, actually, were enjoying themselves immensely. Harry, shoving aside his hatred for his blond rival found that he could very easily fall in lust with the other boy, considering they both kept their mouths shut. From talking of course. Harry guessed, given how amenable Draco had been to dancing so closely with someone so obviously male that anything else wouldn’t be too…difficult. Besides, the hatred…or the reason for it, that awful, almost evil arrogance was almost sexy at times. Slowly Harry edged the beautiful boy towards a dark corner of the hall. Anonymity was a beautiful thing sometimes. All he wanted was one kiss, just to taste, question himself. It wasn’t like he was in love with Malfoy. No. Not at all. And there was no way he would ever be. Really there wasn’t…
Draco did taste like ice. But not in any way that Harry had expected. He was like ice down Harry’s throat on a hot day, thirst quenching and beautiful. Harry wanted him; there really was no denying it. He spent so long being good, being perfect he found himself desiring the touch of imperfection Draco brought with him, the bit of evil. He longed for that sliver of cold that was his pale, impassive rival that could be melted into such heat given the proper chance. Besides, the boy could kiss! He was just resting his hands on Draco’s hips when the other boy jerked away from him, the half mask hiding part of his…heated…scowl.
“Harry Potter!” he spat.
“Like you didn’t know!” Harry shot back, feeling slightly betrayed and attempting to shove it away under the heading irrationality.
“You think I would have kissed you if I had known? You flatter yourself too much, Potter.” Draco wiped the back of his hand over his kiss-swollen lips in disgust.
Harry glared at the boy he had been kissing only seconds before. “Do you really hate me that much, Draco?” he snapped.
“Truly?” Draco looked somewhat confused.
Harry nodded and Draco shook his head.
“No, not really. It’s true my family is haughty, and my father wouldn’t like me to be friends with you unless I used you. But no, I don’t hate you. You’re just fun to tease.” Harry stared wide-eyed at the other boy, causing Draco to smirk. “Now after that uncharacteristic bout of honesty,” he chuckled. “What’s it to you? Before…this I was pretty sure you hated me.”
“I thought so too,” Harry muttered. Draco raised a silvery eyebrow.
“Then…”
“Then—“ Harry paused, his nerves tightening further. He burst. “Then I realized I was bi and you’re damned hot, even if you are an arrogant little bastard.”
Draco snickered. “Thank you, I think…”
“Come off it Draco,” Harry snapped. “If nothing else you knew I was a guy.”
Some of Draco’s confidence faded. “I suppose I did…” his voice was almost a whisper.
“You suppose?” Harry snorted. “Malfoy, maybe I gave you too much credit for being able to tell a girl from a boy…y’know, the whole breasts vs. dick thing.”
“Trust me, Potter,” Draco snapped, his face shuttering in. “I could tell.”
“Hmmm…” something Emily said was coming back to him. “Is poor little Draco afraid of being gay?” he drawled.
Draco snapped around, pinning Harry against a wall. “Listen, Potter. I know you think we all have the same freedom you do, but if my father finds out that I so much as think about a guy my head will be on a spike! Is that reason enough for you’re sappy little brain?”
Before Harry even really have time to think about it there was
a shout and a scuffle somewhere across the room. Then the most confusing
thing he could have possibly had heard, until he realized it was referring
to Emily.
“Hey, guys! They’re real!”
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End chapter 4. Yeah…cliffhanger…as if more than half of you haven’t guessed already. I seem to be on a roll here…not to mention my upcoming break. So there should be more really SOON. And I mean it this time.
Plot! Plot! God forbid, there’s actual plot!