Adeleine Potter: The Shifting Shadows, Draco fanfic

Part 26

The day of the Yule Ball had finally arrived, and despite all the excitement in the air, a gnawing sense of uncertainty had settled in my chest.

I was perched on the edge of my bed in the dormitory, staring at the beautiful gown draped across my vanity chair. The soft, shimmering fabric seemed to glow in the dim light, casting delicate silver and gold reflections across the room.

Pansy was sitting nearby, humming to herself as she painted her nails a deep crimson, but I could barely focus on her chatter. My mind kept wandering back to the tangled mess that had become my relationships with Mattheo and Draco.

With a deep breath, I stood up and moved towards the gown. It was time to get ready.

The moment I slipped into the dress, it felt as though I had stepped into a different world. The fabric clung to my body in all the right places, flowing out from my waist in soft, ethereal waves.

My hair had been charmed to fall in soft curls down my back, and I had adorned it with tiny crystal pins that sparkled like stars.

As I turned to face the mirror, a soft gasp escaped my lips. I barely recognized myself.

"Adeleine," Pansy breathed from behind me, her eyes wide with admiration. "You look... stunning." I smiled at her, though my heart wasn't fully in it.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Pans," I replied, trying to match her excitement. Pansy, in her deep green dress, looked every bit the regal Slytherin, with her dark hair sleek and her lips painted the same crimson as her nails.

As I glanced at the clock, my stomach churned with anticipation. It was almost time. Mattheo would be waiting, along with everyone else, at the entrance to the Great Hall.

"Let's go," Pansy said, standing and smoothing out the folds of her dress. "We can't be late."

The sound of music drifted down the corridors as we made our way towards the staircase leading to the Great Hall.

My heart raced with each step, the clack of my heels echoing through the empty stone halls. Pansy chatted excitedly beside me, but I could barely hear her over the pounding in my chest.

When we reached the top of the staircase, I froze for a moment, taking in the scene below.

The entrance to the Great Hall was alight with warm, golden light, and students in their finest robes and dresses milled about, chatting and laughing.

I could see Mattheo standing near the bottom of the staircase, talking to Theo and Lorenzo. He looked up just as I stepped forward, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped.

Mattheo's expression shifted from his usual cocky smirk to something softer, more intense.

His dark eyes scanned me from head to toe, lingering on every detail, and when our eyes met again, there was an unmistakable glint of admiration.

"You look... breathtaking," he said, his voice low and smooth when I finally reached him.

"Thank you," I replied softly, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. Before I could say anything else, I felt another pair of eyes on me.

My gaze flickered to the side, where Draco stood near the entrance, Daphne on his arm. He looked just as handsome as ever in his sharp, tailored robes, his platinum hair slicked back. But it wasn't Daphne or his outfit that had my attention—it was the way he was looking at me. His gaze was piercing, intense, as though he couldn't tear his eyes away, even if he wanted to.

I felt my breath catch in my throat, a strange mixture of emotions swirling inside me.

But then, with a subtle movement, Draco turned back to Daphne, murmuring something to her. The moment passed, leaving me feeling strangely hollow.