dark side • draco malfoy

15 | Slow Dancing

It was about three hours later, and I was completely bored of making polite conversation with people that I didn't particularly like.

At the moment, I was stuck standing next to Seamus, who had had a few too many shots of fire whiskey and was having an intense conversation about Quidditch with Ernie Macmillan. I definitely needed to leave before I ended up punching one of them in the face.

"You know Seamus, I'm actually feeling quite tired. I think I'm going to head back to the common room now and go to bed." I interrupted just as Ernie was explaining his experience at the Quidditch World Cup several years ago.

"Alright. Do you need a map? The castle is so big. So, so big." Seamus slurred, slinging his free arm over my shoulder.

"No, I'll be okay. See you later guys." I shook my head, before turning around and walking towards the door.

"Don't get lost!" Seamus called out, and the two drunk boys burst into a fit of giggles. Bloody hell.

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Once out of the room that the party was being held in, I made my way through the dimly lit corridors until I could no longer hear the Christmas music and faint laughter coming from Slughorn's party.

I leaned against one of the cold, stone walls and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in and enjoying the silence of the castle at night. I felt like I could finally breathe for the first time that night, and the cold air felt so refreshing against my skin.

I continued my trek through the castle, and although I wanted to go back to the Gryffindor common room, my feet had other ideas.

Looking up, I suddenly realized that I had somehow ended up in the Astronomy Tower. I thought about turning around and leaving, but even I couldn't resist just a few minutes of the incredible view that the tower offered.

Walking towards the balcony, I froze when I saw movement in the darkness. A figure stepped into the moonlight and I let out an involuntary gasp.

"Malfoy." I breathed, staring at the Slytherin boy leaning against the railing.

"Why aren't you at the party?" He asked, not turning around.

"Parties aren't really my thing. Actually, being social isn't really my thing. I was heading back to my common room, but somehow I just ended up here." I explained, staring at my feet. Merlin those heels were killing me.

"I'll just go now and uh, leave you to your thoughts." I added awkwardly, turning towards the spiral staircase.

"No. Stay." Malfoy blurted out, and I shot him a quizzical look, "Perhaps a little company will be good for me." He chuckled, glancing at me.

"Alright. So, what brings you here then?" I asked, joining him against the railing.

"I just needed to clear my head." He answered, staring straight ahead into the darkness.

"Do you come here often?" I asked, surprised at the softness of my tone.

"Yeah." He nodded, "It's my favourite spot in the castle."

"I can see why. It's beautiful up here, and so peaceful. The silence is so calming." I answered, looking up at the moon in awe, "So you were gate-crashing, eh?"

"Something like that." He laughed, and I instantly loved the sound. How could a simple human being sound so angelic?

"It was a shitty party anyways. Be glad you weren't there." I smirked, and he chuckled a little.

"You look beautiful, by the way." Malfoy finally turned and looked at me. I was silent for a moment as I watched his eyes travel from my feet, up my legs, along my scarlet-coloured dress, and up to my face.

"Uh, thanks." I mumbled, quickly looking away to hide the hot blush that was rapidly spreading across my face.

"Who did you go with?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Seamus."

"Finnigan? Why would anyone punish themselves like that?" Malfoy laughed, disbelief in his voice.

"Now you see why I left the party." I giggled along, noticing the way the moonlight shone on his platinum blonde hair.

"The obnoxious git probably didn't even realize how lucky he was to have you as his date." He commented, and I let out an involuntary laugh.

"If you were my date, I would've spent the entire night dancing with you." He added, and I froze. What was he saying?

"Well I think you'd be disappointed, because I can't dance." I answered, trying hard to keep the awkward tone out of my voice.

"What do you mean?"

"I've sort of got two left feet. I'm really clumsy." I shrugged, watching as an owl flew through the midnight sky.

"I could teach you." Malfoy mumbled, suddenly taking interest in his feet.

"Really?" My jaw dropped. Malfoy was offering to teach me how to dance?

"Yeah. I mean, only if you want to." He replied, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'd like that." I smiled at him, and a grin immediately spread across his face.

"Alright then. May I have this dance, m'lady?" He asked in an extremely posh voice, offering me his right hand.

"You may." I giggled, placing my hand in his. He then moved his hands to my waist and gently lifted me off the ground, before placing me on top of his feet.

"Won't this hurt you?" I asked, glancing up at him. We were only mere inches apart now, and Merlin he smelled good.

"Are you kidding me, Ivy? You're as light as a feather. I can't feel a thing." He reassured me, and I nodded as he placed his hands back on my waist. I gently placed my hands on his shoulders, and the two of us swayed back and forth to a silent symphony.

"See? You're dancing." He whispered as the corners of his mouth tugged up in a smile.

"Thank you." I replied, and he stayed quiet as I rested my head on his chest.

I don't know how long we danced for, but eventually we stopped moving and just stood together. As I moved my head to look up at him, every cell in my body was screaming to lean up and close the frustratingly small gap between our lips.

Instead, I let go of the boy in my arms and stepped back.

"I uh, should really get back to my common room now. It's really quite late." I muttered, tugging at the red material of my dress.

"Yeah, of course. I'll uh, see you later then." He stuttered, fiddling with a loose thread on his grey jumper.

"Definitely." I nodded, still not looking at him, "Goodnight Draco."

"Goodnight Ivy. Sweet dreams." He spoke softly, looking into my eyes one last time before I turned around and speed-walked out of the Astronomy Tower.

I felt like I was in a trance as I made my way back to the Gryffindor common room, but when I finally made it back I could not fall asleep to save my own life. My head was buzzing and my heart was beating and I couldn't wipe that ridiculous smile off my face. The cause for all of this?

Draco Malfoy.