SCREAM | DRACO MALFOY

chapter seventeen

"Sorry..." Harry muttered for the tenth time in the past twenty minutes. I giggled at him once again.

"Stop apologizing...I'm stepping on your toes just as much." I said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Waltz music bounced off the walls and Professor McGonagall's high pitched counting and reprimanding was shrill in all of our ears.

I wasn't aware of the fact that since I was going to the ball with a Hogwarts Champion that I would be required to learn to waltz and also that we had to participate in the first dance.

Cedric was enjoying himself quite well dancing with Cho, their feet moving gracefully with the music, a smile never leaving his face. Krum and Hermione were more clumsy with their steps but still managed to look professional. Of course Fleur was perfection and her partner equally as gracious.

Harry and I...a mess.

It seems that Harry was born with two left feet and it pains me to say but I seem to have been as well.

We just can't seem to get the coordination down. It sounds and looks so simple but putting the steps into action is way harder than I anticipated.

It also doesn't help that my social anxiety is at an all time high. Dancing in front of the entire school? Not something I ever would have volunteered for. I wanted to take back my agreement after Professor Dumbledore informed us all we would need to attend a one hour dance class. The selfish part of my brain wanted me to run for the hills. My loyalty to Harry seemed to overshadow my fears though as I once again get my foot stomped.

"One more time, Professor?" Harry asked after our eighth failed attempt. Cedric was grinning from ear-to-ear and I knew I was going to be getting teased to no end later this evening. I stuck my tongue out at him, watching as Cho giggled and hid her smile in Cedric's chest.

This was going to be a long lesson. I turn back to look at Harry to find him staring down at his feet in concentration. I couldn't help but to laugh, if it was from the anxiousness or the frustrating look on Harry's face I don't know.

He smiled and looked back up at me, his feet stopping in-between one step and the next. I was surprised he didn't fall with how much he was stumbling. "You find my struggle amusing?"

"Slightly..." I started, letting my grin fully cover my face. "You're just so concentrated."

"Believe it or not this is not my first attempt at waltzing." He rolled his eyes. "Hermione tried teaching me last night."

"Well, you haven't fell yet so I would say this lesson has been successful." I tried to keep his spirits up because despite the smile he was showing me I knew that he was equally, if not more, worried about this ball then I was.

"So how's the dancing going?"

The glare I sent Penny was one full of annoyance and disappointment. I had told her before breakfast not to mention the dance lessons around Cedric. He had finally stopped laughing about it last night before we parted ways. Penny relit the flame.

"More like stumbling." Cedric snickered, trying to bury his smile in his porridge. I kicked him in the shin.

"That bad, huh?"

I reluctantly nodded. As the lesson went on we were getting the right steps down eventually. Although without constant practice we would still be rusty in time for the ball and I really don't think Harry would want to waltz with me down the corridors everyday.

"How about you, Ced?" Penny asked, nudging him slightly with her arm.

He shrugged. "Alright, I guess..." He took a drink of his coffee before continuing. "I haven't waltzed since I was ten so I'm a little rusty."

"The others?"

I rolled my eyes. "As perfect as you'd expect."

Penny frowned. "Figures. All of them are gorgeous and talented. It's like they were all birthed from the essence of perfectness."

"You do realize that made no sense, right?" Cedric asked, a small smirk playing at his lips.

"You do realize you're a pompous prick, right?"

I smiled as they continued to argue, bringing my mug to my lips. Like all the other meals I have had for the past week, I continued to ignore the persistent burning feeling all throughout my right cheek. I knew it was his eyes. His eyes always seemed to find me.

Draco seemed more interested in my presence than usual throughout the past week. Ever since the incident in Hogsmeade I seemed to notice his staring more frequently.

I wanted to confront him. Tell him that he was being rude and downright creepy. He would probably laugh in my face and tell me I was hallucinating.

Another part of me likes that he watches me. That makes me scared.

I finally gave in and turned my gaze towards him. His eyes never strayed from my face, almost as if they were in a trance. I faintly wondered if maybe he was just spaced out. No...they are moving slightly. Slowly moving down to look at each of my freckles. I watched as they strayed further to caress my lips before making the journey back up to my eyes.

I froze. It was amazing no one else in the room was able to feel the tension radiating from our stare. It was almost like walking in between our gazes would burn.

A tap on my shoulder snapped me out of my trance. I jumped so high I scared the third year girl sitting next to me into dropping her toast. I muttered a quick apology before turning to see who wanted my attention.

Harry was grinning down at me, small dusts of crumbs laying on his lips. I smiled back. "I think we could do with some more practice..." He started.

I instinctively grabbed my napkin and reached up to wipe his lips while I answered. "I think you're probably right. Wouldn't want to fall on our faces this weekend now would we?" I placed my napkin back down beside me.

"Tonight at 6?"

"See you then."

Harry started to walk away and Penny could not get rid of the dumb smile on her face. "So uh...is anything..."

I shook my head as I picked up my spoon once again. "He's a really great friend but...no." My eyes once again glanced over towards the real wants of my affection who was currently throwing pieces of bread towards a group of Slytherin boys further down his table.

I made eye contact with Penny once again before retreating my gaze back for the table. Cedric was talking with one of the Ravenclaw boys next to him and even though he wasn't paying attention to what we were saying Penny still spoke under her breath. "You know he'll only hurt you, right?"

My breath caught in my throat. I knew Penny was aware of my crush. How could she be my best friend and not notice my staring and longing?

"I know."

I am hopeless.

—

a/n :

hello hello! it has been forever and I apologize life has been very crazy lately but I finally got some time in to write this chapter.

i hope you all enjoyed. i am thinking there will be probably one more chapter to go until the Yule Ball and I am planning on getting those out in the coming weeks.

once the new year starts I will be taking more time to prioritize my writing once again.

thank you all for reading! please vote and comment I would love to hear your feedback!

- em