Adeleine Potter: The Shifting Shadows, Draco fanfic

Part 22

It was Saturday morning, and we were all gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast when Professor McGonagall entered, her presence commanding immediate attention. She cleared her throat and announced a piece of news that sent a ripple of excitement through the hall—the Yule Ball.

The announcement of the ball, scheduled for next Saturday, set off a wave of excited chatter. Pansy and I exchanged wide-eyed, thrilled smiles.

"A ball?!" Pansy nearly squealed, her voice filled with excitement as she clapped her hands together.

I nodded, though there was a nervous flutter in my stomach. "Yes, a ball. And we'll have dance lessons starting Monday," I added, though my mind was already racing ahead.

"Oh, I hope Enzo asks me," Pansy whispered, her gaze flickering over to where he sat. Lorenzo caught her eye and offered a small smile, which she returned with a giggle. It was clear he was going to ask her, and I couldn't help but feel happy for her.

But for me? The question of who would ask me was far more uncertain. My eyes wandered over to Draco, who was predictably seated beside Daphne Greengrass, as usual. I rolled my eyes at the sight, feeling a small pang of irritation.

I could feel Cedric's gaze on me from across the hall, but I chose not to look back. I wasn't ready to deal with that right now. My attention shifted to Mattheo, who sat with a scowl on his face, looking as though the idea of attending a ball was the last thing on earth he'd ever want to do. The image of him trying to dance made me smirk despite myself.

As the meal ended, I hurried to catch up with Harry. "Harry!" I called out, and he turned, revealing a bruised eye that made me gasp.

"What do you want, Adeleine?" he asked, his tone clipped with frustration.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know—"

"There's nothing to be done about it now," he interrupted, already making to leave.

"Please wait, I don't like how things have been between us," I pleaded, stepping closer.

"That's your own fault, ever since you started hanging around Malfoy," he shot back, the bitterness in his voice unmistakable.

For a moment, I was silent, the weight of his words sinking in. "What did you expect me to do? You three are always so close, there's no room for anyone else. So, yes, I made friends," I argued, though the hurt in my voice was evident.

"They aren't your friends, Adeleine," he said with a shake of his head, exasperation creeping into his tone. "Just promise me Malfoy won't become more than a 'friend' to you."

Relieved that he was at least willing to talk, I nodded quickly. "I promise."

The rest of Saturday passed in a blur. Pansy and I spent the afternoon cozied up in the common room, discussing the ball, the boys, and who might ask whom.

"Do you think Cedric will ask you?" Pansy teased, a knowing grin on her face. But before I could respond, she continued, "You should give him a chance, you know. He's a good guy, like you said. Don't just lead him on."

Her comment left me feeling uneasy, but I decided not to dwell on it.

Sunday evening found me heading to the library for my usual tutoring session with Draco. The air was thick with an awkward tension as we sat across from each other, trying to focus on our Potions work. But it was impossible to ignore how good he looked in that crisp white shirt, the way his hair fell just right across his forehead.

"Have you asked Greengrass to the ball yet?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I tried to break the silence.

"She doesn't need to be asked," Draco replied, his tone laced with irritation. "Can we just focus on Potions and forget about everything else?"