Ivy Potter, Year Four | Raised By The Malfoys

Chapter Thirty: Partner

          In the morning, I woke up next to Charlie on the armchair. Since I was already in my uniform for today, I packed my bag for classes and left a note before I left the hut. Quickly, I rushed to the warm castle from the snowy walk. Inside, I sat with Roger and Fleur for breakfast. Roger congratulated me on my first task and Fleur was asking about my injury. So far, it hasn't bled so I was happy. After breakfast, Professor Snape had the students in year 4 and above in the hall. The girls sat on one side of the hall and the boys sat on the other side. The tables were magically moved and we sat on the benches. The Great Hall was now a large ballroom.

          "Now. Who knows the Wizard's Waltz?" Professor Snape asked as his voice echoed.

          I gulped and raised my hand. It was the only dance Draco and I could do. Thinking about it now, it was bittersweet. We used to be so close but now things were so different. 

          "Miss Potter, here, now," Professor Snape ordered.

          I got up and heard Pansy laughing at me. Her laughter was more of a cackle. No one else was laughing though. Since she was laughing so loudly, it caught his attention.

          "Is something funny, Miss Parkinson?" he asked coldly.

          "N-No, sir," she whimpered.

          "Then you shall come and demonstrate with me instead," he demanded.

          She stared with wide eyes and realized he was serious. I flicked my tongue at her as she approached me to the professor behind me. Some boys laughed at her and Professor Snape called for a male partner for me that also knew the dance. I looked at Draco and he was already looking at me.

          "The champions open the Yule Ball. It is a formal event and a formal dance. The champions are mandatory to dance first. You must all participate. It is an honor for the school," Professor Snape explained.

          "Can champions take other champions?" I asked sheepishly, breaking eye contact with Draco.

          After a moment of silence, he was disappointed, "No. No one else knows this dance?"

          Blaise suddenly spoke up and approached me, "I can. Sir, are you saying we have to ask for a date?"

          Professor Snape raised his eyebrow at Blaise, "Yes."

          Blaise bowed to me, "I can dance the Wizard's waltz. Ivy Potter, will you be my date to the Yule Ball?"

          "What?!" Draco and I both yelled.

          "Silence!" Professor Snape shouted once the Great Hall exploded into gasps and cheering.

          I looked at Draco and he was absolutely livid. Blaise looked smug and took my hand and my waist. Professor Snape waved his wand at a record player and started the music. Blaise and I danced well together and soon, everyone was forced to find a partner when Professor Snape threatened detention to anyone who wasn't dancing. By the time Blaise lifted me for the fourth time, I winced in pain. I was embarrassed that I was still injured and went up to Professor Snape and Pansy.

          "Sir, my back hasn't healed yet. May I go to the infirmary?" I asked.

          He saw the top of my right shoulder was seeping blood into my blouse and I knew my lower back was also bleeding. The pain began to throb and I wished I could've been stronger or faster to have avoided the entire situation. He reluctantly excused me and allowed Blaise to escort me since we both proved to be fair dancers. I was relieved to finally leave the tense room. 

          On the way to the infirmary, I nudged Blaise, "What the hell? Why ask me?"

          "I don't want to go. I know you want Draco to ask you and I'm sure you could ask anyone really. Think about it this way, if someone you don't like asks you, you can say you have a date, me, and you wouldn't be lying," Blaise explained.

          "Thanks, Blaise. That's genius," I said, surprised.

          In the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey applied more essence and bandages for me and washed the blood out of my blouse. Before we went to the Great Hall, we snuck out the castle to spy on the other three houses that were also dancing. We laughed at them and returned to the Great Hall and assisted our classmates in their dances. After our lesson, Blaise and I left together and we heard Draco loudly asking Pansy to be his date. Of course she said yes and Blaise picked me up to run out with me. He took me to the library and I cried. What a jerk. At dinner, I came in with Blaise and Roger ran up to me.

          "Ivy," he asked over everyone talking, "will you be my date to the Yule Ball?"

          Everyone started cheering but I had an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, Roger."

          He looked disheartened but held my face in his hands, "It was worth a shot. I wanted to ask the most beautiful girls first. I had a feeling you'd say no."

         I scoffed and everyone who was eavesdropping was a little upset, "Most beautiful girls? Who did you ask before me then?"

          He turned red, "You, um, actually were at the top of my list."

          Everyone made 'aww' noises and he quickly left the Great Hall. I was red too and made my way to sit with my twins. From the Ravenclaw table, I noticed an upset Cho talking to Cedric and they both looked at me but I looked away so they wouldn't notice. Looking back at them, I saw Cho nodding excitedly and hugged Cedric. Rolling my eyes, I saw George looking at Angelina and I knew he wanted to ask her. Fred and I told each other we didn't have dates but nothing more came up. After dessert, I quickly made my way back to the hut and went to sleep on the armchair with Salem.