I Swear This Time I Mean It ✔️

Chapter 36

{Chapter 35 was uploaded 2 days ago, make sure you read that first!}

In between exam preparations, all anyone could talk about was the ball. The eighth years were all offering advice and answering any questions the younger years may have had about what to wear and what to expect. Pansy was ecstatic that so many students were coming to her to book appointments.

Hermione was absolutely in her element helping with the combination of planning and studying. She carried at least four different ink colors on her at all times, and Ron found it to be quite endearing. Her tasks kept her so occupied that she didn't notice he was slightly standoffish.

So distracted was Hermione, that she quite literally almost lit the Great Hall on fire.

"Bloody hell Mione!"

"What? Oh!"

She had knocked over one of the candles on their table and hadn't even batted an eye.

"I'm so sorry! Why are there candles on our table?," she asked suspiciously.

Ron flashed her a sheepish grin, before standing up.

"Ron?"

"Hermione Granger, would you do me the greatest honor of accompanying me to the graduation ball?"

Smiling, he unfurled parchment containing very detailed plans for the ball if Hermione were to come with him.

"You made me lists, charts, and diagrams?," she asked, her mouth falling open in surprise as she stood up. "And it's color coded! Oh Ron, of course I'll go with you!"

Little did Ron Weasley know what he had started. In true muggle fashion, "ballposals" were popping up daily, each one seemingly more elaborate than the next. The fifth time that Draco had been covered in a mixture of glitter and confetti, he was absolutely fuming.

"If one more person does a stupid proposal for you I swear I'm going to tear them to shreds," he muttered through gritted teeth.

As soon as Harry walked into the Great Hall, all eyes were on him.

"Oh fuck this," Draco growled, turning around to leave the room, when Harry stopped him with a gentle hand placed on his shoulder.

"Come on."

Harry was no fool, he had cast a protective charm around them so they wouldn't be hit with anymore... well, anything. He was paranoid enough that he wouldn't eat or drink anything without testing it multiple times for traces of any magical substances. Even then, he preferred to grab something from the kitchens in between study sessions.

"I swear to Salazar Potter- oh."

With a grin, Harry got down on one knee holding a bouquet of Draco's favorite flowers.

"Draco Malfoy, will you accompany me to the ball?"

"Of course I will," he answered with a grin, his laughter drowning out the groans of irritation from everyone who had hoped to go with Harry to the ball.

"Then this is for you."

Harry had gotten a corsage made up of calla lilies and spray roses for Draco, and happily slid it onto his wrist.

"Oh I absolutely love this."

Draco didn't stop smiling the whole meal, and as soon as they got back to their room, he had Harry pinned against the door.

"Well aren't you sweet?"

"I wanted everyone to know we were going together. I would've done something grander, but it defeats the purpose of not confirming that we're together."