Eclipse ; Draco Malfoy

Chapter Forty-five

astoria greengrass

Malfoy's Yuletide Ball 1996

When I saw Draco walking towards my direction, my heart suddenly pumped twice its normal beating rate. I don't think it will ever change the reaction of my heart every time I see him.

Every woman at Hogwarts was drooling over him, if not, at least most of them. Why? Because he was so charming in all ways, in all aspects. He was intelligent and skilled too.

"Astoria, stop staring at Draco like you're one of his obsessed followers for goodness' sake." said Daphne, my sister, but I didn't mind her and continued staring at Draco. "Astoria," she once called. "He's coming on our way."

"I know, Daphne." A huge smile grew internally.

"Don't be so obvious that you really, really like him, Astoria. He has a girlfriend already, if you don't know. You'll just look desperate in everybody's eyes." Daphne advised while clasping her bag.

We were at the Malfoy Manor, attending the yearly Yuletide Ball hosted by the Malfoy family— a rich family of pure-bloods, Death Eaters and sophisticated people.

He was about to reach us to where we were standing but then two old men approached him and caught his attention that drove him away from us.

I frowned silently but Daphne does not seem to notice.

"Hey Astoria," Daphne pulled me. "Let's go to the wine station, shall we? Let's have a fee drinks before the main event starts."

"But Draco..."

Daphne rolled her eyeballs in irritation. "We'll catch him later. For now, let's drink, alright?"

I didn't have the chance to disagree when she pulled me with her.

After a few moments, the main event started. Before the program started earlier, Draco was asked to give a short speech and welcome remarks to the guests and in the brief moments of his speech on the stage, I did not take my eyes off him. He was handsome and I'm drooling over it.

He was so dignified when he speaks. Full of confidence and appeal. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of our schoolmates liked him too.

He was in the middle of speaking when our eyes met unexpectedly that made my heart increase its speed. My heart is raging inside my chest and I couldn't do anything to hold it back. I don't know what to do but I don't want to break our eye contact.

I was blushing already, I can feel it. But, I managed to smile sweetly at him as if I was inside a children's fantasy story.

Oh my gosh! He's looking at me! He really is! Oh, Merlin! How do I look? How do I look?

I glanced around me to check if he was really looking at me only to find out that he was smiling at his girlfriend who is covering her lower face with her hand.

Seriously, I didn't know he has a girlfriend. I didn't know who she was, because even though we are all attending the same school, we barely see each other. There are only specific areas in the Common Room where we, the younger students are allowed to hang out.

It's been a fun night, to be honest. The music they played was good and the foods? They are delicious. The event was almost finished now. My family already went home while I'm still here, waiting for Draco's next appearance.

I feel tired and it's freezing cold in here, given that it's Christmas. My gown was long yet it was backless, exposing my fair, smooth skin from behind me.

"Excuse me?" said a masculine voice.

I turned my head behind my back and when I saw who it was, I was petrified. I was like a statue, standing at the counter.