Darkness and Light

Periwinkle dresses and Third-wheeling

The Castle doors burst open and a crowd of beautiful girls in identical blue dresses and hats move forward on their toes, as if they are dancing. Heads turn. Jaws drop. After floating several paces forward, they lean to one side, elegantly curving one arm and leaning forward. Draco, slumped forward in his seat next to Pansy and Blaise looks up, curious. His eyes caught on a girl next to the leader of the group. Something about her makes him look. She isn't wearing the 'head full of air' expression- lips puckered, eyebrows slightly raised, fluttering eyelashes. She wears an intense look of concentration. She flings one arm out, eyes narrowed, lips pursed. Her eyes follow her arm and she leans into it, graceful as a gazelle. Draco jerks back to reality as Pansy sniggers,
"Who you eyeing up, Malfoy?" He snaps his head around to stare at her.
"I'm not eyeing up anyone!" He snorts. His eyes travel over to Blaise. Blaise's eyes bulge as he stares at the brunette at the front of the group. She leans a little too far forward and his jaw drops. Pansy glares at him, grabbing his chin and turning it to face him. His eyes flicker back to the girl and she clicks her fingers in front of his face,
"Hey! We are going out, remember." Blaise rolls his eyes, jokingly, but wraps an arm around Pansy. She leans into him, murmuring,
"These girls have no shame." Blaise laughs and mouths,
"Lucky, single you." Over Pansy's head. Draco forces a smile, which ends up looking more like a grimace. Then he folds his arms on the table and rests his chin on them, gazing up at the girl as they sit in spare seats at the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables.

At night Draco, Blaise and Pansy make their way to the Slytherin common room. Down winding staircases until they reach the dungeon. Pansy mutters the password and they slip inside. Located under the lake, the common room is cool and filled with green light as the windows look out into the water. A fir crackles in the corner and the trio flop down on the sleek couches. High walls and chandeliers give the room an elegant feel. Pansy leans into Blaise and Draco rolls his eyes.
"See you upstairs, mate." Draco says upon seeing them giggle and kiss.
"Mmkay." Blaise mumbles and Draco makes his way deeper into the dungeons. He takes the left staircase and opens the door into the dorm he shares with the other fourth years. He makes his way over to his fourposter bed, lays down and pulls the hangings shut, He closes his eyes but the girl from earlier fills his head. He groans in annoyance. Never had he felt this way before. A small voice in his head whispers that he only likes her because of her beauty and to stop being ridiculous. But another, larger part of him insists that it's more than that. Suddenly the door slams open and Blaise pulls his hangings apart,
"Hey?! I thought that was about to become a major make out session." Draco greets him,
"Yeah, well. I thought you looked like you had something on your mind. And we could do with some talking, man to man." Draco can't hide the smile that tugs at his lips,
"Thanks, mate."
"So what's on your mind?"
"Well.." Draco finds himself telling Blaise about the girl and how Pansy assumed he liked her for her looks but how he was sure it was more than that. There was a slight silence,
"I know you Draco. There are plenty of beautiful girls at Hogwarts who would be dying to go out with you. Not to mention all the hotties from Beauxbatons. You actually, genuinely like someone! It's obvious what you have to do, isn't it!"
"No...?"
"You approach her, dumbass!"