Staying Alive // D.M *On Hold*

1.7 - A Fairy Tale Ball

"Hermione Granger!" Mia turned her friend around with a hand on her shoulder. It was almost half an hour into the ball and she had ditched Anthony to come talk to the Gryffindor girl for a moment. There hadn't been much going on other than the first dance and come more upbeat songs. "You are rocking the ball tonight." She hugged but quickly let go to throw herself into Viktor's arms next. They developed a friendship after Mia set the duo up together. "You two looked so good at the first dance."

"You look beautivul, Euphemia." Viktor gave her a stern nod after Mia left his arms. "Hermi-own-ninny vanted to talk to you since the start."

"Yes, to say that this dress was definitely the best decision you ever made!" Hermione gushed before pointing to Harry and Ron with their dates. They had been sulking on the corner after the first dance. Mia was sure Harry had been pining over Cho while Ron was sour about Hermione coming to the ball with Viktor instead of him. Served them both right! "They never danced to another song."

"Yeah, I'm not sad about them." Mia shrugged. "Don't worry yourself over them. Have fun, you have-" Mia gasped as a hand sneaked around her waist, not necessarily pulling her towards the owner but holding her lightly as they stood together. Mia turned to see the Slytherin Prince looking down at her. "Draco."

"Hello," he winked at her, pleased with her decision not to push him away as he turned his eyes at Viktor. "A ball at Hogwarts, huh Viktor? Is it anything like you expected?" Hermione watched the exchange in curiosity, trying to catch Mia's eyes and offering her a suggestive look. Mia blushed under her gaze, unknowingly taking a step back into Draco's arms. He tightened his hold.

"Yes, the decorations are very nice," Viktor commented, eyeing them carefully. "Euphemia told me you vere not...together."

Draco chuckled. "She is in denial, you could say." Mia hit his shoulder a couple of times before he managed to catch her wrist, stopping her. He leaned in close, whispering. "Stop, doll. I'm only showing off."

Mia looked around, trying to see who he was showing off to. She didn't notice Hermione and Victor slipping off to the dance floor once more. "Who?"

"Look over my shoulder. In the corner one of the Durmstrangs." Mia turned in his arms, looking directly at the boy Viktor introduced to her. Ivan. "He was watching you since the moment you entered with Goldstein. Since your date seems to be more intrigued by Turpin than her he started planning something...not very nice."

Mia tore her eyes from the boy in red uniform to look up at Draco's icy eyes. He seemed calm to the outer eye but Mia could feel his tense body. "Did you...look at his mind?" She was suspicious of something like that but till tonight Draco never revealed his abilities to anyone in the school. She was a bit surprised by this revelation but still accepted it. He hummed in response.

" That is why I'm here, I'm your knight in shining armor." Mia laughed at that she raised one of her eyebrows teasingly.

"The Great Pureblood Draco Malfoy knows what a muggle knight in shining armor means?" She questioned. She had gotten quite used to his arm around her by now since they had been standing like that for the past five minutes. "Are we going to stand like that? Where is Pansy?"

"Nott stole her right after the first dance." He replied simply, glancing around at the dancing people. A song for a partner-changing dance was starting just now. It required you to change at least three partners during it. He pointed to the dance floor with his head. "Wanna dance?"

"Isn't it one of the ones that you change partners?" She shook her head when he nodded in response. Her eyes glanced at their abandoned table with newly appeared food on it. She spun out of his hold in a move, grabbing his hand instead before pulling him with her. "Let's have dinner then."

"Food?" He questioned but kept following her nonetheless. "We're in a once-in-a-lifetime ball and you want to eat."

"Well, I cannot dance with an empty stomach." She reasoned, sitting down, and starting to grab whatever appalled her. He did the same with a chuckle, letting her lead. "I learned a secret about tonight." She shifted in her seat, turning slightly sideways towards him before adjusting her plate accordingly. "The Weird Sisters will be performing."

"The Weird Sisters?" Excitement flashed in his eyes, he opened his mouth to say something but stopped eyeing her warily before speaking in a less enthusiastic tone. "Do you know 'Do the Hippogriff'?"

Mia beamed up at him, realizing his hesitation was due to his concerns about her knowledge of the area. Fortunately for her, she had heard Ginny play their songs during the days she spent at the burrow. "Yes, that is my favorite."

"Mine too!" He then motioned her to eat, tuning to eat himself. Mia followed suit. They finished their meals in comfortable company listening to the songs Flitwick's orchestra was playing. "He still lingers around." He commented, his hand curled tightly around his knife. He had a murderous look in his eyes. Mia sighed loudly before bringing her hand to rest on his one.

"Stop focusing on him." She then noticed the shift in the tune. Another slow dance was about to start. "Dance with me," his eyes were locked on the Durmstrang boy. "please?"

He nodded, letting the knife fall down to the table with a loud thud. He offered his hand to her, Mia took it with a smile. They were about to reach the dancing area when Mia's eyes got locked on her brother's ones. Draco followed her hesitant gaze around coming across Harry. He started letting her hand go. "Go, talk to him. I'll wait."

"Come with me?" Mia offered, grasping his hand even tighter than before. He gave her a look that clearly said 'It is not a good idea, Euphemia. We will murder each other in a couple of minutes.'. She shrugged. "Come on, you will not do such a thing. Why are you so tense tonight? My date ditched me to dance with my dorm mate and even I am not that tense. You will be fine."

She pulled him with her towards her brother. She felt him drag his feet at the beginning but as they got closer, probably not to give them something to talk about, he straightened his back. His fingers slid down her hand to lock around her own. Mia offered him a gentle smile.

"Well, hello hello, brother dearest." She chipped playfully before bending down to place a kiss on his cheek without leaving Draco's hand. "How do you like your night?"

"Clearly not as much as you do," Ron said pointedly, his eyes burning into their joined hands. Mia saw Harry give him a look but he didn't say anything about it.

"That's right. We just had dinner. Did you see how beautiful the dessert looked, certainly delicious." She propped down next to her twin. Draco didn't sit, instead, he stood by her, not leaving her hand as he inspected Ron's every move. Mia could swear he was trying to read the Weasley boy's mind. "Your dress robes fitted well I see." She pulled her dress up a bit to show them her heeled shoes. "Do you like the shoes you 'bought' for me?"

"They...look very nice, Mia." Harry hugged her shoulders, pulling her tightly close to his chest. He put a small kiss on her head. "You look like a princess tonight." His voice was full of fondness as he glanced down at her. He then gave Draco a nod, to which he replied with the same action. "I am not very fond of your choice of prince."

Mia snorted. "My prince is there," she pointed to Anthony with Lisa next to the punch table. "Mr.Malfoy here claims to be my knight in shining armor."

Harry nodded tightly while Ron looked to the other side, scoffing. "Yeah, good for you, I guess." He glared daggers at Draco. "Hurt her and we will have serious problems."