soft Drarry, yule Ball, no!Voldemort au, fluff, tiny bit of angst, smut
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"I have an announcement to make that since we are having the Triwizard Tournament," the Headmaster started. "There will be a Yule Ball happening and the Champions needs to have a date," he informed after the Sorting Ceremony, blue eyes twinkling under the light. "And maybe a party too."
The students around him started talking all at once with excitement, asking around to be their partner for the Ball. Harry groaned internally, not knowing who to ask. Ron immediately turned towards Hermione, face flushing as red as his hair, and asked her out to which she said 'yes'. Neville asked Ginny to be his date. Dean asked Seamus out. Lavender and Parvati seemed to be going together too. It seemed like everyone had their partner already.
All except for Harry.
Oh for heaven's sake! he cried out in his mind, feeling frustrated. He sighed and buried his face in his hands. "It's gonna be okay, mate," Ron said, patting his back sympathetically. "You'll find a date soon enough. Maybe you can ask Malfoy out," he snorted amusedly.
Harry perked up at the thought. Malfoy, he blinked as he searched for the blond hair he was familiar with. Ron and Hermione saw the look at their friend's expression. Their eyes widened.
"Mate, no–"
Harry stood up and marched towards the Slytherin table, face determined, ignoring everyone's questioning looks thrown at him including the professors. "Malfoy," he cleared his throat, trying to gather the courage to ask him to the Yule Ball. The blond eyes were wide, clearly thrown off guard by him.
"Would you do the honour–" Harry's voice cracked slightly because of nerves but he continued bravely. "–going to the Yule Ball with me?" he asked, heart thudding against his ribcage hard. The Great Hall was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Malfoy's pale cheeks flushed bright red, eyes darting around nervously as if he was anticipating a laugh. Sadly it wasn't, Harry thought.
"Y-You... with... me?" Malfoy stuttered looking genuinely confused as if he never thought Harry would even think of him. "Yeah, with you," Harry mumbled, suddenly feeling shy. "I want to go to the Yule Ball with you. No one came to mind when Professor Dumbledore said to bring a date until Ron jokingly suggested I should take you to the Ball. It's... not actually a bad idea. So, I thought why not?" he explained.
"O-Oh," Malfoy said. "Y-You'd... still want me... e-even when I–" he cleared his throat consciously. "Even when I... made everyone wear the Potter Stinks badge?"
"Even then," Harry said. Internally, he thought to himself. I feel humiliated but still, I'm not going to the Ball without a date. Even if it's you who I have to go with, I'd do so without a thought.
"A-Alright. I-I'll go to the Yule Ball with you, Potter," he accepted.
Harry almost sighed in relief but he just put on a confident facade that he learned from Sirius and smirked instead, running a hand through his growing hair, saying, "You might want to start calling me 'Harry', love. You're only allowed to call me 'Potter'–"
"–if you plan on taking the name."
He quickly turned to leave, leaving the Great Hall in pure shock. Once he reached the dormitory, he screamed into the silent place and smacked his head. "Harry James Potter, you idiot! This is why Moony said Padfoot is a bad influence on you! You're supposed to ask him to the Ball! Not insinuating marriage on the goddamn albino!"
∆
A few weeks passed by and Harry hasn't seen the blond at all, too busy doing his tasks. Decided to release all of the tension on his body, he took off his clothes, leaving only his pants on as he stepped into the Black Lake that evening. Some of the Hogwarts students and students from other schools all turned to watch him, all genders.
