Dursley's Choice | The Dursley series #2 |

♧ Chapter 8 ♧

"Nicholas Malfoy, will you go to the Yule ball with me? Please say yes..." A Chesire grin peaked across his warm face, almost as bright as the sun, "Of course I would! My sweet Princess!"

-♧-

"I can't believe you get to go to the Yule ball!" Liza hissed, unable to conceal her loud tone at breakfast; "Shh! People will hear you. And anyway it's not a big deal" Audrey said calmly,
"Not a big deal... Not a big deal!" Liza paused hearing her voice echo, and slouched back into her seat, "Audrey this sort of thing doesn't happen every year. This is a once in a life time thing! For us anyway"
"That's why I don't plan on making a big deal out of it. I'm sorry you can't go though, if I could change the rules-"
"Nah, doesn't matter! Oh! Check out what's going on at the Lions den." Immediately her eyes fell on Ron, lifting up dusty dress robes that seeped with age and an odd smell Audrey couldn't think of a name for. "They aren't for Ginny! They're dress robes!"
"For what?"
"The Yule ball you silly duck!" Audrey yelled from across the hall, he stared at her confused for a moment before storming away with dress robes in hand.

When the owl post arrived, Audrey watched as a barn owl landed into her porridge with a large, seemingly heavy parcel in his beak. "I don't get mail. I only get letters!"
"Well" Liza examined it cautiously, "Its addressed to you- says so on the card, from... Snuffles? Who in Merlin's name is that?"
"Just someone I met back in- um, Diagon Alley and um, he said that he would send me a parcel soon! Dunno what it could be?"
"Probably something like Weasleys parcel eh" she tore at the packaging to reveal a beautiful dress. A soft, pale gold dress with flower patterns sewn across the waist, to top it off a beautiful crown made of several exotic flowers.

Dear Audrey,
As a Triwizard champion, I expected you'd be going to the Yule ball so I picked up this dress to show that I'll always be there.

Your mother wore this to her first ball at the Potters mansion when we were kids, don't be kissing Nicholas Malfoy again. Yes. Harry told me.

Speak to you soon,
Snuffles

"HARRRY POTTER!!!!"

-♧-

The days grew shorter and chillier, the evergreen forrest was powdered with snow and frost. Young students began flocking away for the Christmas holidays, all except  Audrey and Nicholas whom were preparing for the Yule ball, which was edging nearer and nearer; "How was your Hogsmeade shop?" She smiled, embracing him, "I bought some sweets obviously- and also... I snuck you a bit if butterbeer-"
"Really?! I've never had any" she hissed, peaking into the Slytherin boys bag and spotting a glass enclosed in a magic bubble, "I might just kiss you. I didn't know you were a bad boy"
"I'm a Slytherin" he shrugged,
"I hate that stereotype! Slytherins can be nice!"
"Am I nice now?" he grinned, throwing her over his shoulder and sprinting away with her.

A distance away, Draco stood watching his brother run away with her, he smiled at the thought of being able to hug her like Nicholas did. He watched her until she was out of view... The Hufflepuff who stole his heart.

-♧-

"The meaning of my life has changed!" Audrey screamed at Ginny and Hermione, their eyes darted to one another immediately and to Audrey who was wide eyed and clearly had something sugary. "Are you okay? Is it the ball?"
"Mmmmmmaybe- Liza got this idea in my head that this is like the most wonderful thing to have ever happened- and Nik and I have to learn this dance-"
"If it makes you feel better" Hermione paused glancing around for signs of the boys, "I'm going to the ball with Victor Krum" both girls squealed. "Shh! I don't want anyone to know- especially the boys they'd ridicule me if I told them" nodding in agreement the three hugged swiftly before departing for their dorms.