The Hufflepuff- A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter 18

"It's been ten days and no one's asked me yet." Hannah says, sadly.

I look sympathetically at her. "Why don't you ask someone?" I look at her meaningfully.

"I tried yesterday." Hannah sighs. "I saw him in the library, but before I could ask, he went up to Ginny Weasley and asked her."

"I'm sorry, Hannah." I put my hand on top of hers. "Hey, Susan, mind cheering up your best friend?"

Susan glances over from where she sits next to Draco playing Wizarding Chess. "Yeah, don't worry, Han. Someone will ask you."

"I hope so." Hannah picks up her bag and stands. "I'm gonna go to the library. I want to make sure I get a good grade on the test tomorrow."

"Alright." I watch as she hurries toward the door. Draco and I share a sympathetic look from across the table.

"Hey, guys." Ben sits next to me, across from Draco.

"Hey," I glance quickly at him then back at Hannah's retreating figure. Suddenly I stop and look back at him, an idea playing at my mind. "Uh, hey, Ben?"

"Mmm?"

"You haven't gotten a date for the ball this weekend yet, right?"

"I have." Cedric appears, grinning. He stands behind Susan.

Ben rolls his eyes. "Yeah, we know. And that's why we haven't seen you for the past week or so because you've been too busy snogging Cho."

Cedric blushes and busies himself with getting something for Susan from his bag.

Chuckling, I continue. "Anyways, maybe you can ask Hannah. She doesn't have anyone..."

Ben's face brightens. "Oh! I should! Good idea!"

I pat him on the back. "Good. You can ask her at dinner."

I go back to eating my lunch. My plate has a huge heap of mashed potatoes on it. Only mashed potatoes.

"What is it with you and potatoes?" Cedric asks, coming around and sitting next to me, leaning so he can kiss my cheek.

I shrug. "I don't know. I just really like them." To prove my point, I take a huge mouthful of them.

Ben turns to me then. "Let's have a mashed potato contest. Whoever can eat the most in one minute."

"You're on." I shake his outstretched hand.

"I'm in," Cedric smirks.

"Let's do this." Ben grins. "Here's how we'll do it. We'll each take a huge bowl and whoever finishes the most, is the winner. And no cheating! One hand behind your back, and one hand will hold a spoon. Susan, Draco-,"

They look up from their game.

"-you'll be the referees. Make sure there is no cheating and whoever wins wins fair and square."

"Got it." Draco turns, to watch our potato eat off.

Susan places three huge serving bowls of mashed potatoes in front of us. I pull mine close, ready to whop my friends' butts.

"On your mark-"

"Get set," Susan prepares an invisible whistle.

"Go!" Draco shouts.

I scoop a huge spoonful of mashed potatoes and shove it in my mouth. I take another and another and another and another. There isn't a moment I don't have potatoes in my mouth. I keep shoveling them in. Finally Susan yells time.

She surveys us. And our bowls. She sighs. "Sorry guys, but-"

"Arista wins," Draco points at me, a grin on his face.

"Pooh," Cedric swallows what's in his mouth.

"Not fair!" Ben slaps his hand on the table, peering into my bowl.

"Twoo bahd, sowh shad," I lean back, my mouthful.

"Hey, guys." Theo comes over. He takes one look at the scene in front of us. "No way! You won a mashed potato eating competition, Fields? Bad. Ass." He holds out his fist and I bump it, giggling through the potatoes in my mouth.

I finally swallow all of my potatoes and smile triumphantly. "See? I told you I love them."

"Yes, we know." Ben rolls his eyes, before grabbing me and giving me a vicious head rub. Laughing, I push at him and manage to knock him off the bench.

He looks up surprised before laughing again. I take his hand and pull him up, hugging him tightly. He hugs me back and Cedric joins the hug.

"Nothing like a good ol' group hug." He grins.

I smile back and hug him tightly before slinging my arms around both their shoulders.

"I love you guys," I sigh, giggling.

Across from me, Susan laughs and leans into Theo. Draco picks at his food. Ben kisses my nose gently, making me wrinkle it in return, chuckling.

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"We're going dress shopping tomorrow, right?" Susan asks, laying in bed.

"Yes, of course. We'll go to Hogsmeade first thing tomorrow morning." I nod, slipping under the covers.

"Ben asked me to the Ball." Hannah's head pokes in from the bathroom, her toothbrush in hand.

"That's great." I say. "I know he's not your first choice, but it's still nice you're going together."

She disappears before the bathroom light shuts off and she closes the door behind her.

"I suppose." Hannah crawls into bed.

"You'll have fun." I assure her. "We all will. You'll see. We'll have a great time."

"I hope so." She sighs and turns onto her side.

"My mom sent me my shoes yesterday." Susan says from her bed. "Did you get yours?"

"Yes," Hannah says. "They're silver."

"No," I shake my head. "I'm just going to buy them at Hogsmeade."

"I don't think you can buy shoes at Hogsmeade," Susan ponders on it.

"I'm not sure, either," says Hannah. "But we can look."

"Okay," I nod, content with that answer. "So what color dresses are you guys thinking about?"

"Well, my shoes are gold, so I'm thinking maybe a red or yellow dress." Susan shrugs.

"That'd be pretty," I say. "Pink could work too."

"Oh yeah." Susan smiles. "Good idea."

I smile back. "How about you Hannah?"

"I'd really like a blue or purple dress." She twists a strand of her hair on her finger.

"Yes! That'd look really nice!" I yawn. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"Me too,"

"Me three,"

I reach over and turn out the light. "Good night!"

"Good night."

"Don't let the nargles bite!"

"What's a nargle?"