Riddle - The untold secret

Chapter 5 (English)

The time until the ball flew by and Draco was still avoiding me.
I thought he would apologize after he saw what the first task was, but he did
not.
Probably his 'oh so great pride' wouldn't allow it.
I shook my head and got my dress out of my bag. Today I shouldn't worry about it.
After all, I was going to the ball with Theodore...
And I was supposed to enjoy that.
"Y/N?", I heard Astoria and turned to her.
"Would you help me with the dress?", she asked and I nodded with a grin.
I had overheard that Blaise had invited her to the ball.
Too bad actually.
Draco should have gone with her, instead of Pansy.
Astoria and I were both getting ready when a completely annoyed Pansy came in.
"Where the hell is my bracelet, Astoria?!"
"Didn't you find it in the common room? That's where you left it last..."
"No, I didn't! I bet you took it and lost it!", she exclaimed and I laughed
dryly.
What a drama queen.
"You think that's pretty funny, don't you?"
"Granted, yes. Don't blame others if you're too stupid to find your stuff.", I
said monotonously and she put her hands on her hips.
"Watch what you say, or else..."
"Or else what? Are you going to tell Draco? I'm his sister, remember?", I
asked provocatively and she smiled at me.
"Who he hasn't spoken a word to in weeks. I, unlike YOU, have talked to him. Every day.", she boasted and I tightened my jaw.
That lousy, little....
"That wasn't nice, Pansy.", Astoria interjected and Pansy walked triumphantly out of the dorm.
"Don't listen to her. I'm sure Draco and you will make up soon.", she said and I smiled weakly at Astoria.
I kind of doubted that...
When we were done, Astoria and I walked down the corridor together.
In front of the great hall our escorts should be waiting for us and I kept
tugging my dress nervously all the time.
Reassuringly, Astoria took my hand.
"Please don't do that... You're making me nervous too.", she said softly and I
sighed.
At the grand staircase, I stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"I... you go ahead. I need a moment.", I confessed and she nodded.
I took a deep breath and counted to 10 in my mind.
10 seconds to mentally prepare myself....
9.
What if Theodore hated the way I danced?
8.
Or he didn't like my dress?
7.
Was my makeup even still on?
6.
It was so warm, it could have been completely smudged by now.
5.
Everyone would be watching me at the opening dance!
4.
I hated so much attention.
3.
Maybe I should just go back.
2.
But I couldn't leave Theodore standing there by himself either....
1.
I... was afraid...
"Are you waiting for someone to roll out a red carpet?"
I turned around and Draco looked at me with his mouth open, then cleared his throat and walked up to me.
"I'm afraid to go down.", I whispered and he frowned.
"You and scared? You were standing in front of a dragon. What's a ball there?"
"That was different. What if Theo... Oh, forget it.", I sighed.
I'm sure he didn't want to know about my girl problems.
"Doesn't think you're pretty enough?", he asked and I nodded hesitantly.
Creepy.
Like he could read minds.
Draco tapped my forehead and I looked at him.
"Then he must be blind. Or stupid. I wouldn't rule either out." he said and I smacked him gently against the arm.
"Thank you, Draco.", I said and smiled at him. He returned my smile slightly
and pointed his head towards the stairs.
"Go now."
I pulled my shoulders tight and slowly walked down the stairs. I noticed many glances, but I skillfully ignored them. Searchingly I looked around until I spotted Theodore, who was talking to Astoria and Blaise.
Astoria looked up, winked at meband nudged Theodore, who also looked in my direction.
Oh heaven, this was embarrassing.
When I got to the three of them, Blaise whistled once loudly and then walked
with Astoria to her sister Daphne.
"Hey...", I greeted Theodore, who looked me up and down.
"Could you stop staring at me like that and say something? Please?", I asked
excitedly.
"I... You look.... Marry me..."
"What?"
Theodore bit his lip and closed his eyes for a moment before he looked at me again.
"That... I didn't want to... well, I mean... oh god...", he stammered and
slapped his hand over his face.
I started to laugh.
My excitement seemed to be blown away when I saw Theodore like that.
Carefully, I took his hand away from his face and he sighed.
"Can I start over again?", he asked almost pleadingly and I shook my head vigorously.
"No way."
"Please?"
Surrendered, I nodded and looked at him, waiting.
Again he just stared at me and swallowed hard. Grinning, I snapped my fingers in front of his face.
"Sorry, I..."
"Miss Malfoy, Mister Nott, this way. The opening dance is about to begin.",
Professor McGonagall called out to us and Theodore took my hand. We quickly caught up to the others and entered the Great Hall.
When we had positioned
ourselves, I started to get nervous again.
"So, ready for the biggest embarrassment of your life?", I asked Theodore jokingly and he pulled me closer to him.
"With you? Anytime.", he replied and already the music started and we began to dance.
Theodore was an excellent dancer and didn't even flinch when I accidentally stepped on his foot.
When the others also entered the dance floorI automatically looked for Draco. I spotted him and Pansy.
She seemed very happy, while he was staring around in a scowl.
Oh dear... poor thing.
"Did you two make up again? You and Draco, I mean?", Theodore asked and I nodded.
"I think so. Now I'm even more sorry that he has to dance with Pansy.", I said quietly and when Draco looked at me, he put on a faint smile that almost tore at my heart.
He looked so unhappy....
Theodore stopped, took my hand and pulled me behind him.
"For what I'm about to do, you owe me a butterbeer. Or more like ten. I'll
probably need that much to forget.", he said and Itilted my head.
What was he going to do?
Theodore walked on and stopped at Draco and Pansy.
"May I take over?", he asked Draco and Pansy was about to say something in retort when Draco let go of her and smiled politely at Theodore.
"Of course."
Reluctantly, Pansy started dancing with Theodore and I grinned.
For that I owed him at least twenty butterbeers.
Draco held out his hand to me, which I accepted after a formal curtsy.
"So, how are things with Pansy?", I asked teasingly and he rolled his eyes.
"Please don't ask."
"Who he hasn't spoken to in weeks. I have, unlike YOU been talking to him.
Every day."
Suddenly, Pansy's words from earlier came back to my mind. I wonder what the two had been talking about.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Not that important.", I waved it off and Draco raised an eyebrow.
"For 'not that important' you looked pretty sad, though. Did...
Theodore do something?", he asked seriously and I shook my head.
"What? No. I was just wondering... what you and Pansy have been talking about for the last couple of weeks.", I said and he started laughing softly.
Wow, thanks.
I didn't think it was funny at all.
"You're not jealous of her, are you?", he asked arrogantly and I looked down at the floor.
"I'd be jealous of anyone who tried to take my brother away from me. Besides, Pansy's a bitch.", I snorted.
Draco sighed and tapped my forehead.
"Hey!", I grumbled, but he just smiled weakly at me.
"No one's going to take me away from you. Because you have something that
others don't have.", he said, as I took his hand out of my face and held it tightly.
This time I didn't have a problem with it.
I was just happy that we had made
up again.
"And that would be? Wait, don't tell me. An irresistible charm and sense of
humor, right?", I asked with a grin and he shook his head in amusement but in denial.
"What then? The same blood as you? Little sister status?"
"Stop guessing. I'm not telling you anyway.", he laughed and I rolled my eyes.
"Why? Afraid I'll take advantage?"
Draco hugged me as we danced and rested his head on my shoulder.
"You wouldn't. Never."
Wow. He seemed pretty sure about that. But that was just one more reason for me to find out, what he meant.
Draco and I danced together for a while longer, until Theodore and Pansy came back. They both looked terribly annoyed and I had to stifle my laughter.
Theodore pulled me behind him and once again our path led to the lake, where he took a deep breath and stretched his arms wide.
"Do you think the moonlight will replenish your energy?", I joked and he snorted in amusement.
"If not, my reserves are almost gone for the day.", he sighed.
I laughed as I felt something wet drip onto my face. I looked up and at that
very moment it started to rain.
"Maybe we'd better go inside.", I said to Theodore, but he was still standing
there with his eyes closed. Unlike me, he seemed to be enjoying the rain.
"Theo.", I said, tugging at his sleeve. Suddenly he grabbed my hand and pulled me to him.
"A dance."
"What?"
"One dance, then we go in.", he said and I looked at him doubtfully.
"And then you'll be the one in bed with a fever again."
His immune system wasn't exactly the best.
I didn't like it when he was sick.
He always seemed so... fragile.
Theodore looked at me silently and I sighed in surrender.
"But really just one dance."