Not Alone After All

Chapter LX

As soon as Laura entered the Slytherin dormitory and her eyes fell upon Draco Malfoy, she knew he was up to something.

"Potter," he called her. Laura sighed, knowing there was no way around this. She didn't hate Malfoy, she just wasn't quite fond of his friends and the way he treated Harry simply for being Harry.

"Malfoy," Laura responded. He didn't say anything immediately, a dumb grin on his face. "What are you up to?"

"Will you go to the Yule ball with me?"

♧♧♧

"Malfoy asked me to the Yule Ball," Laura told the table of Gryffindors as she sat down for breakfast the next day.

"He what?" Fred frowned.

"You said no, I hope," Harry wondered. Laura bit her lip, shaking her head. The table was silent, everyone's expressions of shock at the young girl. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean no. I mean he asked me and i just said yeah," Laura explained.

"Why?" George asked her, a confused frown on his face.

"I don't know, George," Laura exclaimed. "There wasn't much thinking involved in this decision. I just said yes, he's the only one who asked me. I really wanted to be there," she tried to explain herself.

"You don't have to explain yourself," Ginny cut in. "At least you'll be there too," she smiled.

"The Yule ball is in a week," Harry told her. "Do you have time to find a dress?"

"How long do you think it takes to find a dress, Harry?" Ginny frowned at him.

"I don't know, I've never bought one," he shrugged.

"I didn't have to buy one, Sirius sent me one of mum's old spring dances dress," Laura told him.  The table fell silent, not knowing how to react to that. Harry smiled.

"I'm glad you're going, then."

♧♧♧

"Nice dress, Potter," Draco smiled at her as she left her dormitory. Laura snorted at the lack of formality. She was glad Draco had clearly asked her as a friend and nothing more. Well, they hadn't exactly talked about it, but by the was he was treating her, it was rather obvious.

"Nice hair, Malfoy- oh wait, that's how you wear it every single day," she smirked. Draco shrugged, running a hand through his hair.

"When you know something works, stick to it."

Laura's dress was dark green and it matched Draco's suit. It was an a-line backless dress, and it reached her ankles, her black slippers visible. Laura had considered wearing heels, but being as clumsy as she is, she didn't want to risk an injury and ruin the night.

"Come on, then," he showed her his arm, which she gladly took. They followed couples and gangs of friends from their dormitory to the Great Hall.

As they entered, they spotted the four champions and their partner's, waiting for their cue to come in.

Laura sent a thumbs up to Cedric, who smiled right back at her. And then she saw Hermione. She looked absolutely beautiful in her blue dress, her hair up in a bun, but pieces falling to the sides, framing her face.

"Woah, Hermione looks so pretty," Laura said.

"Yeah, the dress looks good on her," Draco admitted. Laura held back every instinct that told her to tease him. She didn't want to push him back back his cold, rude shell. She enjoyed this Draco.

♧♧♧

The four couples danced, and soon enough  teachers started to join in  along sith other students. And just as Laura was about to leave to join her friends, Draco grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?" Laura asked him. "We had a deal."

"Our deal was; you don't get to hang out with my friends," Draco reminded her. "Were not going to hang out with them, were going dancing." Laura frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you're my date?" He laughed at her.

"Then let's make a deal," Laura told him, as the classical song ended and a more energetic one started to play. Younger couples and dates were now dancing, jumping, turning to to music's rhythm. "No fighting. Whilst we're together, we don't approach either of our friend groups. Let's just have fun without talking about anything that would make us fight." Malfoy smirked, obviously very fond of the idea. He extended his hand, which Laura grabbed, thinking he wanted to shake on it. Instead, he brought her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back.

"We have a deal."