Drarry one-shots! <3

The Compliment

3264 words
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"Wow." Draco murmured as Potter approached, donned in elegant, emerald green dress robes. Robes that he clearly hadn't picked out himself, having no taste, robes that highlighted his eyes beautifully and made Draco slightly breathless.

It was a Winter Becoming Ball, something that all Eighth years were apparently required to attend. How exactly do you require someone to attend a ball? In Draco's opinion, it was by promising an adequate supply of expensive wine and plenty of allotted time the next day for hangovers. While some may have fallen prey to the "house unison," "coping after the war," "last year to feel normal in school" kind of thing, the high amounts of alcohol and free day following the ball were not, in Draco's opinion, coincidences. Though he did wonder why they didn't just do it on a weekend. That'd certainly make it easier for, well, everyone.

Draco'd been lurking -it was the only possible, accurate way to describe what Draco had been doing- in a corner for the majority of the ball, wine glass in hand and looking dazzlingly handsome.
While he'd come alone and had no plans of doing any dancing or socializing of any kind, if he was going to show up he may as well look presentable.

He'd dressed in charcoal grey dress robes that Pansy had said looked absolutely darling and brought out his stunning grey eyes. He didn't disagree.

He'd specially combed his hair forward and blown it out, having once not had time to slick back his hair and ending up with a hickey on his neck because of it. He'd worn his black diamond earrings, elegantly simple yet beautiful. He'd put a slight gloss on his lips, and last but not least some simple eyeliner on the inner and outer edges of his eyes.

He didn't fail to notice the people who shot glances at him, taking in his appearance. Just because they hated him, or at least were slightly confused about him, didn't mean they couldn't still appreciate his beauty. He'd continued to sip his wine and look indifferent, slightly rocking to the music every now and then and gazing over his classmates as they had far too much fun.

So when Potter had neared him wearing that, his heart had nearly stopped. He wasn't counting on this. He hadn't planned on this. He wasn't socializing tonight, but especially not with his mortal-enemy-crush-dilemma that'd decided to show up looking like the most gorgeous thing on the planet.

"What?" Potter asked, slightly addled by Draco's dazed expression and his murmured 'wow' as he stared at the ravishing brunette.

"Oh I um-" Draco spluttered, a very un-Malfoy like thing for him to do, leaving him wanting to silencio himself.
"You just look very..." Draco paused for words, an insult on the tip of his tongue, because Draco Malfoy had to insult Harry Potter, not gawk over his stunning body. But he couldn't when he saw Potter's reaction. Having stared at the boy for seven years, he knew his reactions like his own. The way his shoulders tensed marginally, his fingers curled inwards, and his mouth tipped slightly from the party-eased smile to a grim line, awaiting Draco's gibe. Draco couldn't do it. He'd already caused so much pain, seen that look so many times, so much worse, on so many people that he just couldn't. It reminded him of his mother's reaction to his father,  so much so that he shuddered slightly. And so instead of following "you look very-" by 'hideous', 'ridiculous,' or anything else, his mouth betrayed his brain completely, apparently overridden by his heart.

"Beautiful."

Potter looked at him in confusion, head cocked to the side.

"What?"

"You look very, very beautiful."

Potter's eyes widened, almost comically, and for a moment he was afraid the poor boy was going to drop his glass. Draco's mouth clamped shut after he said it, just staring back at Potter for a moment in shock.