Darling, You're Mine

The Rose

When I entered my astronomy class, it was almost split in half. Girls were sat on one side, and the boys sat on the other. Professor McGonagall stood in the middle of the room, and waited for everyone to take a seat to begin her announcement.

"A tradition that comes along with the Tri Wizard Tournament, is the Yule ball. As representatives of the hosting school I expect you all to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule ball is first and foremost, a dance. A dance I expect each and every one of you to find an accompaniment for. Now, for practice, everyone pick a partner."

Harry began to walk towards me, but as I looked around the room I noticed everyone quickly finding a pair except for Neville, who was the first to stand up, but last to find a partner.
'I'm sorry' I mouthed to Harry as he stopped in his tracks. Every girl in this room would trip over themselves to dance with Harry, even just as a rehearsal, but no one would do so for Neville.

"May I have this dance?" I reached my hand out to Neville.

"Are you serious?" He asked as if with caution before embarrassing himself by actually taking my hand.

"Deadly." I assure him with an inviting grin. He took my hand in his and I led him to the dance floor. He lightly put his hand on my waist and interlocked the fingers on his other hand with yours. I began to sway, and he was surprising good. "You have some moves Longbottom."

"Don't tell anyone, but I practice with my quidditch broom. It never gets any good usage anyways." I chuckled at his joke, but felt bad for him deep down. The music stopped and I curtseyed while Neville bowed, and as he bowed he kissed my hand looking up at me. "Thank you May, this meant a lot." I smiled at him brightly as we both left the room.

Once again, standing in the doorway was Cedric. I smiled and walked towards him.

"Are you stalking me now Diggory?" He simply smiled at me bigger and didn't answer my question. "Hello?" I waved my hand in front of his face.

"I saw you turn down Harry to dance with Neville." Surely he wasn't jealous, he was smiling from ear to ear.

"That was like ten minutes ago, how long have you been stalking me Diggory?" I tilted my head which exposed part of my neck.

"I just think what you did was quite beautiful." He rested his elbow on the doorframe so he was now hovering over me. "Which just makes me so much more confident in what I'm about to do." He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine, and I certainly didn't resist. His kiss was soft and gentle, everything I imagined from Cedric. "Go to the ball with me May." He said as he only pulled away by a few inches.

"Was that supposed to be an asking?" He laughed and rolled his eyes at me.

"Will you please allow me to show up with the prettiest girl at this school?" His compliment was a nice touch.

"Yes I will Cedric." I got on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek. As I stepped down and looked past Cedric, I saw a rose that didn't lie there before laying on the ground. I went and picked it up as Cedric looked at me confused. When I held it to my nose a green butterfly flew from it and landed on my neck, where it turned into a pendant attached to a silver chain.

"An enchanted rose laying on the ground? Some poor guy must've gotten rejected." Said Cedric, coming up from behind me and putting both his hands on my shoulders as he spun me around to face him. "Im sure the necklace looks much better on you though." He said as he wrapped his arm around my waist before the two of us walked off.

Draco's Pov

I wanted to ask her in a way she couldn't say no. I wanted my ask to make her forget every bad thing I've ever done. In order to do that, my only hope was to swallow my pride. I had to speak to Hermione.

She was in the library just as I could've guessed, and there was a book she couldn't quite reach. I didn't understand why she didn't just use magic, but nevertheless I came from behind her and grabbed it while keeping my feet flat on the ground.

"Thank yo-" She started as she turned around. When she saw my face she rolled her eyes, but I handed her the book anyways. "What do you want?" She asked already walking away.

"I'm sorry for calling you names Granger." I've never apologized before, but maybe I wasn't doing it right because she was still walking away. This was my last resort. "It's May!" I yelled catching her attention as she stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around to look at me.

"What have you done to her?" She assumed.

"Nothing I- I" Why did I keep stuttering?

"Out with it Malfoy!"

"I've fallen for her!" I screamed. That wasn't what was supposed to come out. Hermione stared back at me with an unreadable expression on her face.

"I'm sorry you've what? When have you ever spoken to her Malfoy?" She was right. I still haven't spoken to her, yet I felt like I've known her forever.

"Well I haven't yet." I admitted.

"Then how on earth have you fallen for her? She's a fantasy Draco you don't know her. Frankly if you did know her you would instantly fall in love, real love, but if she knew you she would hate you." I tried my hardest not to grow angry at her words. What made matters worse was that I knew they were true. I would give anything to love her outside of a fantasy, but she could never love me outside of it. She was just too..good.

"Then please help me know her Hermione." All I could do now was beg.

"Did you just call me Hermione? Not Granger or mud blood?" I nodded to her question.

"Very well. You'll ask her to the ball then." Hermione told me of her favorite flower, a rose, and helped me pick one half as beautiful as her. Before I left to finally speak to May, Hermione put an enchantment on it as a special touch.

I clutched the rose in my hand and walked out of the library. Her next class would be astronomy, so I waited. Not so close that I was right next to the door, but not far enough she wouldn't notice me. That was when I saw Diggory walk up and wait right by the door. He was already ruining my plan.

I caught a glimpse into the classroom and she was dancing with Neville Longbottom. If it were any other man I'd be steaming jealous, but I wasn't worried about him. She was kind to dance with him, I can imagine no one else wanted to.

When she stepped out of class Cedric stole her attention, and then I saw him make his move. He kissed her. He kissed May and then asked her to the ball, and she said yes. I dropped the rose to the ground, not out of spite, but because I felt all of the muscles in my body shut down.

I walked away and turned into a bathroom before she could see me. I splashed water on my face and hovered over the sink as I caught my breath. At least he had the courage to speak to her, I was too damn afraid of what people would think, even though in my mind I worshipped her. It was best she went with Cedric. I didn't deserve her.