DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．17

Alvena stood in front of her mirror, admiring the delicate gown her mother had sent her for the ball. The rich, deep forest green fabric shimmered under the soft light of the bedroom, the intricate beadwork glinting with every movement she made. She smiled, satisfied with how it all came together—the gown, the makeup, and the soft waves of her hair. For a moment, she could almost forget about everything else that had happened in the past few days. Tonight was supposed to be fun.
Sage, sitting on Alvena's bed, wasn't as sure of herself. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, and her eyes darted nervously to her reflection. "I don't know, Alvena. I don't think I look right," she said, her voice tight with anxiety.
Alvena moved over to Sage, grabbing her hand and gently pulling her toward the mirror. "You look gorgeous. Stop stressing. This night is about having fun." She smiled reassuringly. "You're going to have a blast."
Sage gave a small nod but still didn't look fully convinced. "I just feel like something's missing."
Alvena sighed and grabbed her makeup kit from the vanity. "Okay, how about I help you with your makeup? It'll be one less thing to worry about." She set to work, expertly blending eyeshadow and applying eyeliner with a light touch. Sage relaxed under her friend's gentle care, the tension in her shoulders loosening.
Once Sage was ready, Alvena gave her a final once-over. "You're perfect. Now, go ahead. I still need to finish my makeup."
Sage smiled but hesitated at the door. "Thanks, Alvena," she said softly, before leaving to join the others in the common room.
Alvena reached into the bottom of her trunk and retrieved a small, delicate bracelet—one that her Draco had given her for her birthday the previous year. She smiled to herself as she slipped it on her wrist, the cool metal feeling like a comforting weight. As she adjusted the bracelet, her heart fluttered with nerves. Tonight would be filled with dancing, laughter, and maybe even some surprises, but she could still feel the gnawing discomfort deep inside her.
Alvena took a deep breath, then left the dormitory, making her way down the familiar corridors toward the Great Hall.
As she walked, she suddenly spotted Peeves floating just above her head, a mischievous grin plastered across his face. He circled her with a few loops, then gave her a dramatic salute. "Looking good, Alvena!" he cackled. "Good luck out there!"
Alvena smiled, a small laugh escaping her lips at the poltergeist's antics. "Thanks, Peeves," she said, grateful for the light-hearted moment.
Just then, Scarlet's voice rang out from a portrait nearby, and Alvena turned to see her friend leaning out of the frame. "You look amazing," Scarlet said with a wink. "Going to the ball with Theo, huh? Seems like you two are quite the pair."
Alvena raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Well, yeah. I'm with him."
Peeves made a face of mock disappointment. "Was hoping you'd go with Draco, but whatever. As long as you're happy."
Scarlet chuckled. "Same here. As long as you're happy, that's what matters."
Alvena gave a half-hearted smile. "I am happy. Really." But inside, something felt a little off. The words Draco and happy lingered in her mind longer than they should've.
She waved them both off and continued her walk toward the Great Hall, her heart thudding in her chest. She had to push through this night. Nothing was going to ruin it.
When Alvena finally descended the stairs to the ballroom, she spotted her friends standing near the entrance, chatting excitedly. But it was impossible not to notice the sight of Draco and Pansy standing together, looking as though they had arrived as a pair. Alvena felt a strange pang in her chest.
Theo, noticing her pause, quickly stepped up beside her, offering her his arm with a grin. "Ready for the night?" he asked.
Alvena hesitated, then took his arm, trying to focus on the moment. As they walked into the hall together, her eyes kept flickering back to Draco. She couldn't help it. There was something about him tonight—something in the way he held himself, the way he seemed to almost know she was watching.
She shook herself out of her thoughts and turned to Pansy, giving her a small but genuine smile. "Even if we've never been the best of friends, I just wanted to say I'm happy for you and Draco."
Pansy's expression softened, and she smiled back at Alvena. "Thanks, Alvena. And I'm happy for you and Theo." Then, unexpectedly, she added, "I'm sorry... for everything."
Alvena blinked, confused by the apology, but before she could respond, Pansy was already pulled away by a friend, disappearing into the crowd.
Theo leaned down and whispered in Alvena's ear, "Let's go dance." He was grinning, the night already feeling like it was theirs to enjoy.
As they took to the floor, the music swept over them, and Alvena let herself get lost in the rhythm. Theo was a smooth dancer, leading her expertly across the floor. But every now and then, she caught sight of Draco. Her thoughts kept returning to him, but she pushed them away. Tonight was about having fun.
After a few songs, Theo excused himself to get drinks, and Alvena made her way toward Draco, feeling an odd urge to talk to him. As she approached him, she was surprised to find him standing alone.
"Hey," she said casually. "How are things with Pansy?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, looking slightly irritated. "We're not together. She was just the last resort because I wanted to go with someone else." His gaze flickered down to her wrist, where the bracelet he had given her last Christmas glinted in the light. "I see you're still wearing that. Does that mean something to you?"
Alvena paused, her hand instinctively brushing over the bracelet. She smiled, remembering the warmth of that Christmas, how kind Draco had been then. "I guess it does," she said softly, before realizing what she had just admitted. Her eyes met Draco's, but before she could ask the question burning on her tongue, he was already walking away, heading toward Blaise.
"Maybe I'll go spike the punch," he muttered, disappearing into the crowd.
Alvena stared after him, her chest tight. Something was off, and she couldn't ignore it.
She turned around and collided with Sage, who was wobbling slightly, clearly a bit tipsy. "Sage?" Alvena asked, steadying her friend. "Where's Stormy?"
Sage blinked at her and giggled. "She went to get some drinks. But, Alvena... I need to tell you something." Her voice lowered, her tone suddenly serious. "The night of the first task, when Theo left to go see you, we saw him... kissing Daphne."
Alvena's heart sank. "What?"
Sage rushed on. "Stormy didn't want to tell you because she didn't want to hurt you, we haven't seen you this happy in so long, but it's true. We saw it."
For a moment, Alvena couldn't breathe. Her mind reeled, the words echoing in her head. Theo kissed Daphne?
Before she could process it, Stormy appeared, and Alvena turned to her, demanding the truth. Stormy hesitated, then nodded, confirming what Sage had said. The betrayal hit Alvena like a punch to the stomach.
"Where is he?" she demanded, her voice shaky with anger and hurt.
When she found Theo in the crowd, she didn't hesitate. She slapped him hard across the face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How could you? How could you lie to me?" she shouted, her voice breaking. "I believed in you!"
Theo stood frozen, his face a mixture of confusion and guilt. Before he could speak, Alvena turned to Daphne, who was watching from nearby. "You deserve him," she spat, then ran off, her heart shattering with every step.
As she stormed through the hallways, her mind a blur of pain, she collided with Pansy and Draco, their tongues already down each other's throats. The sight felt like a knife to her heart, and without saying a word, she apologized and ran away, tears streaming down her face, clutching her chest as if the weight of it all might crush her.
Back in the heir's room, still sobbing, Scarlet and Peeves appeared, offering words of comfort as they helped her back to her bed. "Don't worry, dear," Peeves said gently, wrapping a comforting arm around her. "You'll get through this. We'll help you."
Scarlet, ever the odd one for comfort, hovered nearby, making a silly face. "You're better than all of them, Alvena. Don't let anyone tell you different."
But for the moment, Alvena wasn't sure if she could believe it.