The rest of the story

Chapter Six

"Eh! Draco! Draco!" Goyle flaps his pudgy hand emphatically, ushering for me to join him and Goyle at a table in the outdoor courtyard. It's one of the very rare days where the sky doesn't look bleak as all hell. I don't like it. I roll my eyes before strolling over to join him and Crabbe begrudgingly. I suppose I don't have anything better to do at the moment. God I need to get better friends.

"Hey." I slide into the seat next to him before immediately pulling out my textbook. I don't even need to study right now.

"Goyle, who are you going to ask to the Yule ball?" Crabbe mumbles dumbly, a fleck of muffin stuck to his bottom lip. He sort of looks like a fish the way he always holds his mouth like that.

"Well, actually, I think I do." Goyle blushes, and I quickly turn away before I puke.

"Why do they always have to travel in packs? How are you supposed to get one alone to ask them..." I turn to see Harry groan in exasperation while glancing around at all of the girls. The corner of my mouth twitches into a smile. Well, someone's having trouble.

"Blimey Harry, you slayed dragons. If you can't get a date who can?" Weasley trots along beside Harry, looking oddly greasy and desperate as ever. God, he's disgusting.

"I think I'd take the dragon right now." Harry strides quickly out of the courtyard as Ron toddles along after him. Well, that simply settles it. I'd better get a date by this afternoon.

"What do you think, Draco?"

"Huh?" I turn to see Goyle staring at me expectantly. He looks like a lost puppy. It's so annoying. What were they talking about? Yes, the ball. Just like everyone and their bloody mother. "Ask whoever you'd like, Goyle. What's it matter to me?" I turn back to my book, hoping that for once he'll just shut up.

"I just thought... I mean, I wanted to make sure that you... I don't know." Goyle grows beet red, and I roll my eyes. I don't even bother answering. I pretend to read for ten minutes before I can't take it anymore. Goyle keeps thinking, and it's horribly off putting.

"I'm going for a walk." I push up from the table. Goyle pretends not to care and nods before turning back to a cheese stick. Crabbe just keeps staring dumbly at the air in front of him like he's somehow reading empty space.

"Draco—"

"I'll see you later." I stride quickly away from them.

"Do you know who you'll be asking to the Yule ball? I'm going with—"

"I'm so nervous for the ball, what if—"

"Did you hear that Neville—"

Ugh. I try to ignore the snippets of conversation surrounding me as I hurry out of the courtyard. I don't know why everyone is so bloody obsessed with this stupid ball. Yesterday everyone was all about the tournament. Then McGonagall announced the Yule ball and suddenly everyone and their mother went raving mad about it. I'm not sure why everyone is making such a bother about it all. It's a lot of fuss over dressing slightly nicer than usual and dancing for no bloody reason. If anything this whole event is rather annoying. The only result seems to be making everyone suddenly panic about having to find a date.

"Oh, hey Draco."

"Hey." I look up to see Pansy staring at me with a weird expression on her face.

"It's a rather nice day out, isn't it?"

"I guess." Pansy shifts from foot to foot. She looks like Snape just called on her in class.

"Have you asked someone to the Yule ball yet?" she finally asks, tentatively. Ugh. Even she's stuck on that? She's normally so level headed and clever. I would've thought that if anyone would evade the mass hysteria it might be her.

"Haven't gotten around to it yet, no," I answer somewhat boredly. I haven't even considered who I might ask yet. I honestly don't care in the slightest as long as it isn't someone that makes me hate my own existence like Crabbe and Goyle.

"Oh, that's cool." Pansy glances down at the ground. "I got asked by a few people, but I didn't want to go with them, so I said no."

"Who do you want to go with?" Pansy's face flushes bright pink.

"I don't know."

"Well, maybe we could go together then, since I don't know either."

"Okay." Pansy smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Well, that worked out much easier than I thought it would. I don't know why Potter is so hung up about it all.

"I was just headed out for a walk if you'd like to come with me."

"Oh, um, sure." She's looking at me with that weird expression again. I wonder if she feels nauseous or something. We walk together out along the outskirts of Hogwarts, and it feels really good to get away from the strange chaos for a bit.

"Okay, how about Hagrid?"

"Slugulus Eructo for sure."

"Really?" Pansy raises her eyebrow, her eyes glimmering.

"Yeah, why?"

"Diminuendo, obviously." I roll my eyes.

"Okay, fine. Dumbledore?"

"Too easy."

"Fine, McGonagall."

"Are you only going to ask about Gryffindors?"

"Are you going to answer the question?"

"Alarte Ascendare."

"Why?"

"Don't you wanna see if she'd land on her feet?" Pansy snickers, and I roll my eyes.

"You're very funny," I answer flatly.

"Alright, Snape. Which spell would be funniest to use on him?"

"The imperious curse," I whisper, glancing over my shoulder. Pansy smacks my arm.

"You're not supposed to talk about that one," she whispers back.

"Am I wrong though?" Pansy thinks for a moment, picking absently at the petals of one of the flowers she scooped up from along the side of the pathway.

"No," she finally answers begrudgingly before a mischievous smile flicks across her lips. "It would be bloody hilarious."

"Okay what about..." my voice trails off as I try to think of another name. Is there anyone left? God, how long have we been walking? I guess I do feel pretty tired. I hadn't noticed. "Was that everyone?"

"I mean, other than Hufflepuffs. Which..." Pansy shrugs, "you know." I laugh and am immediately surprised. Pansy glances at me with a mixture of confusion and amusement. I smile at her, and she looks at me with that same weird expression again.

"I think the Yule ball will be really fun." Pansy smiles back at me, her cheeks flushing bright pink again.

"Me too."