Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Thirty-Two: I Don't Want This Night To End

Maddie and I climbed the stairs into the Entrance Hall together before she found Fred. "Oh there he is. I'll see you later, have fun," she said.

"You too," I responded before she left me. Draco was on one side of the room talking to Blaise and Daphne. Walking up to him, I lightly tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey," I greeted as he turned around.

"Katie, you look amazing!" Draco breathed.

"Thanks, you're not so bad yourself," I smirked.

The clock chimed eight and the doors to the Great Hall opened. Draco held out his arm. "Shall we?" he asked.

I took his arm and replied, "We shall." The Great Hall looked amazing. The house tables were gone and there was a dance floor towards the front while small circular tables covered with a white cloth were scattered around in the back. Everyone stood around and watched as the champions and their dates danced to open the evening. I smiled as I watched Hermione and Viktor dancing.

"Krum asked Granger to the Yule Ball?" Draco asked, perplexed.

I nodded. "Surprised? He's been spending a lot of time in the library so if you think about it, it makes sense." The dance ended and everyone took a seat at a table to eat. Draco and I sat with Blaise and Daphne at a table. Instead of the same food appearing for everyone, we had menus. You just spoke your order and it appeared on your plate.

After finishing our dinner, Draco and I got up and danced to the music performed by the wizard rock band called The Weird Sisters. They had really great music even if I didn't know much about wizard music groups before. I was able to catch onto part of one song. "Na na na na na na na na na," I sang as Draco spun me around.

Next time around in the song Draco and I both sang, "Na na na na na na na na na!" He had me out of breath and laughing by the end of the song.

Soon the slow songs kicked in and the two of us talked as we danced. "So, it was you who has been writing me those love letters?" I asked.

"You just figured that out?"

"What? No, I knew as soon as you asked me to the Yule Ball. I just kept forgetting to ask you about it. Well they were really sweet. So you've liked me for a while now?"

He sighed "Katie," he began, "I've liked you since that day on the train, way back in first year, when I met you."

"I fell and you helped me up," I smiled as I reminisced the moment.

"What about you? How long have you liked me?"

"Well let's see. It was probably a week or so before Seamus broke up with me. Which was why I was OK with it." We danced without talking for a while. I laid my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes, and sighed, "This is nice."

"Having your head on my shoulder? You do that all the time," Draco said.

"No, well that, but also dancing. You and me. Together, finally." I looked up at him and saw mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. "Mistletoe," I whispered. He looked up at it too before looking back at me. We both leaned in. This was my first real kiss. Not a dare or part of some kissing game. Not forced, but a real kiss.

I'm not going to describe it how people do in books or in movies. How sparks flew and fireworks went off, because that is not true. The kiss made me feel warm inside and gave me butterflies. It was gentle, yet passionate.

The song ended and another one started soon after. Draco and I continued to dance until George came up to us. "Hey Kate! Would you mind if I steal you away for a song or two?"

I looked at Draco. "Go ahead, have fun."

"Thank you!" I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek before allowing George to take my hand and lead me to another area of the dance floor. "So where'd your date go?" I asked him as we spun around slowly in circles.

"She sort of ditched me to go hang out with her friends," George explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," He smiled. "I only asked her to go with me so we both wouldn't have to go without a date. I didn't get the chance to ask the girl I really wanted to come with to be my date."

"That's too bad," I replied.

"I wish I could've though. Asked her."

"Yeah, it's a shame you couldn't." There was a space of silence between us for a while before I started up conversation again on a different topic. We talked and continued to dance until the song ended. "I should go find Draco. Thanks for the dance."

"It was my pleasure." He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it before letting me walk off to find Draco.

At midnight, the Yule Ball ended and the staff made everyone go to their sleeping quarters. Maddie and I stayed up telling each other about our nights after putting on our pajamas. I told her all about my night and then I listened to what happened with her tonight.

"Fred and I ate with George and his date. Then when The Weird Sisters performed, we got up and danced."

"Did you dance the whole night?" I asked.

"No. When The Weird Sisters stopped, we sat down and talked for a while before slow dancing a bit." She told me.

"Did you kiss?" She nodded happily. "Is he a good kisser?"

"Great. How about Draco?"

"Amazing," I sighed.

"That's nice. I'll have to see for myself sometime."

"MADDIE!!!" I yelled, surprised.

She laughed. "I'm only joking. I wouldn't do that to you and I'd never cheat on Freddy."

I smirked, "Freddy?"

"Yes Freddy." She looked at the clock. "It's 1:30 a.m. we should go to bed."

With that, she turned off the light and I had no choice but to go to sleep. Sadly, I might add. I had such an amazing time tonight. It all felt surreal and I didn't want it to end.