Serpent's Veil || Draco Malfoy.

A Grand Entrance and a Silent Confession

🎵''Ocean eyes'' by Billie Eilish

21:00 p.m

I stood at the top of the grand staircase, taking a deep breath as I surveyed the ballroom below.

My mauve dress flowed elegantly around me, the fabric shimmering softly under the chandelier's light. My hair was styled in effortless waves that cascaded down my back, a perfect contrast to the sleek lines of my dress. 

I had made sure every detail was perfect—tonight, I wanted to make an impression that would be impossible to ignore.

I glanced at Mathew, who was waiting patiently near the entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd. 

I had instructed him to wait for me inside so I could make my entrance alone. 

I wanted to ensure that every head turned as I made my way down the stairs. I had also helped the girls prepare, straightening Daphne's hair and making sure Millicent's dress fit her perfectly—after all, she wanted to impress Crabbe tonight. 

I'd even had a conversation with Pansy, who refused to tell me who the mysterious girl she'd been talking about recently was. 

From what she said, it seemed like she was completely in love, maybe even more than she ever was with Draco.

As I began my descent, the crowd's murmurs caught my attention. I could hear snippets of praise—"She looks stunning" and "She's outdone herself this time" were the most repeated. 

The sound of approval was like a soothing balm to my nerves, and I allowed a small, satisfied smile to play on my lips.

Theo was at the bottom of the stairs with his date, that French girl—who, by the way, wasn't pretty at all. 

At least Camille was cute, but this one? 

Ugh. 

I watched with a small smirk as his jaw dropped in astonishment. He nearly choked on his drink, and the girl elbowed him, annoyed and not amused by his reaction. 

Even scarface and his little friends stopped their animated conversation to glance up.

I love dressing up.

My focus, however, was entirely on Draco. 

I wanted to see him and for him to see me. 

Of course, he hadn't listened to me about not bringing Camille because I hadn't told him I loved him. 

Well, it's not that I didn't want to; I just couldn't. 

How do I know if I love him? 

I care about him, but how do I know if it's that kind of love? 

Besides, this isn't exactly the best time to declare my feelings.

I need to be strong and declaring my love would make me weak. 

If that love even exists, that is.

He stood at the far end of the room, engaged in animated conversation with Camille. But as I reached the base of the stairs, his gaze shifted. 

I saw it in his eyes first—a slow, deliberate focus that pulled my attention. His expression softened as he looked at me, and for a split second, the room seemed to hold its breath.

Camille's hand was still on his arm, but he barely seemed to notice. His gaze was entirely on me now, as if nothing else existed in the room. 

The noise of the ballroom faded into a distant hum, leaving just the two of us in this suspended moment.

I held his gaze, feeling an unspoken connection that made my pulse quicken.

A subtle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was a smile that spoke of warmth that made me feel as though things were okay for a moment.

For just one moment, at least.

The world seemed to narrow down to just the two of us, and with his gaze locked on mine, I felt a flicker of hope. 

It gave me the sense that everything would be fine, no matter what we had to go through. 

Draco and I had known each other since we were 10, and though the only challenges we'd faced were related to exams we hadn't studied for or the scenes our idiotic parents made when they had too much to drink, this small moment made me feel like everything would go as it should.

For us, at least.