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Ron gasped, stunned, "what are you wearing?"

Hermione and I had kept our Yule Ball date a secret, and now that the day had arrived, I was waiting for the girl at the bottom of the stairs. I remember the look on Draco's face when I told him; a proud, yet 'jealous-of-Granger' grin, and I took that with complete confidence.

But now I was standing in front of Harry and Ron, watching as they stared at me in complete shock. They didn't know I was going with Hermione, not yet at least, but they seemed more in disbelief at the present moment. Why? Because I was wearing...

A suit.

"How do I look?" I grinned, taking a step back to strike a pose, "Neville lent me his spare, and Luna tailored it to fit better."

Harry's eyes were widened behind his glasses, and I saw the blood rush to his cheeks quickly, "wow...you look great, [y/n]."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter."

"You're wearing that better than half of the guys here," he laughed, tilting his head towards Ron's (incredibly ugly) dress robes, "especially Ron."

Ron, who wasn't in a good mood from his clothes, narrowed his eyes. He took that remark with as much offense as possible.

"Shut up, Harry," he scoffed, "you don't have to pity-compliment her, she's already rejected you."

Oh, so Ron was in the worst mood. He was like this when he found out Harry's name was in the Goblet of Fire, and now he was just mad that I turned Potter's offer down. At least that's what I think it was. Ugh, men.

Harry blinked, scratching the back of his head, "I wasn't pity-complimenting her."

"Yes, you were," Ron frowned.

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were."

"That's not even a real word!"

I just stood there awkwardly, glancing at the stairs to see when my date would arrive. Hermione wouldn't tell me what her dress looked like, so I found myself waiting to see it in anticipation—while also looking for an escape from Ron's horrible mood.

Speaking of Ron, he wasn't done yet.

"Good thing you're going alone," he remarked, turning back towards me, "I'd pity the bloke who'd show up expecting a ballgown, and see you dressed just like him."

Harry narrowed his eyes, whacking the redhead in the shoulder, "I think she looks great, Ron, give it a rest."

"Thanks Harry," I smiled, cocking a brow at the boy next to him, "and I actually do have a date."

Ron frowned, "yeah, right."

"I do!"

"Who is it? Snape? At least he has a dress to go with your suit."

What was making his mood so foul? I knew he and Harry had to ask the Patil sisters at the last second, but they were perfectly nice girls, and he shouldn't be so mad about it!

"No, it's not Snape, you idiot," I frowned, "it's—"

"Me."

A familiar voice rang out into the hall, their figure standing at the top of the stairs.

All three of us turned our heads to see Hermione standing above us, a wide smile on her face. Her hair fell in ringlets beside her cheekbones, dangling against her golden earrings, and her dress was...wow. She looked gorgeous in the pink and maroon color, which fell in waves towards the ground.

"Blimey, Hermione," Ron choked out, "you look like—"

"My date," I said, cutting the boy off and extending out my hand.

Stepping forwards, I let the girl place her palm against mine, and I helped her descend the remaining few stairs. Now I knew why Ron was so peeved. He wanted to go with Hermione, but she told him she was taken.

And now he knows it was by me.

"Stop staring, boys," the girl smiled, "I know the two of us look great, but you don't have to make it so obvious."

Ron looked like he was going to die.

Harry looked like he should have asked Ron.

And Hermione looked beautiful, but she didn't need me to tell that to her twice. As more and more students filled into the Great Hall, I managed to get our friendly conversation back into swing by poking Harry about his dancing and asking Ron if he had seen Padma yet.

Not even a few minutes later, I felt Hermione squeeze my arm gently.

"Hey," she whispered, "look."

I turned my gaze away, unsure what she meant by that, until my eyes caught sight of a familiar boy at the end of the hallway.

Draco was lingering by the opposite corridor, staring at me with a smile on his face. He had a white tie in his hand, which matched his white tux and black coat, and gave me a pleading expression. He held up the tie, nodding his head.

Hermione noticed.

"I think I left my handbag back in the room," she announced, glancing at me, "[y/n], would you be a dear and go get it for me?"

I didn't hesitate, "right away."

Before Harry and Ron could offer to come with, I brushed past them, disappearing into the crowded hallway and towards the place I saw my boyfriend standing. He had clearly left due to the public area, but I knew where he would have gone.

And that's why I found him outside of the Room of Requirement.

"Hey," I said breathily, coming to a stop in front of him.

He looked stunning, to say the least. I didn't doubt that he'd show up with something that looked luxurious, and he made due with that. The white suit looked perfect on him.

"Hey," he smiled goofily, "funny meeting you here."

I grinned, "hilarious."

"Wow," he started, struggling to find the words, "you look...."

"Hot?"

"I was going to say beautiful," the boy blushed, "but I agree with your statement completely."

Gosh, nearly five months of our relationship, and he still knew how to make my stomach flutter happily. I glanced at his hand, noticing that he still had his satin tie hanging limply in his palm.

"The ball starts soon, darling," I noted, "why aren't you fully dressed?"

He blushed.

"I didn't know how to tie this dress tie," he mumbled, "my mother always helped me with these fancy versions, but she's not exactly here right now, and—"

"I can help," I said, stepping into the room, "it would be hard for you to do it without a mirror anyways."

And on cue, a slow rumble began to surround us, and the ROR opened its doors to the two of us.

I cut myself off when I realized there was already a mirror inside the room. Then again, the Room of Requirements always managed to supply the thing you needed the most, and getting Draco's tie done was the subject for today.

But Draco wasn't impressed.

"Shouldn't it show me how to do this tie? Have some instructions on the side?" He said, stepping into the room, "why the hell would the Room of Requirement just give me a plain mirror?"

I snorted, "so you can see your reflection as you tie, you big baby."

"But why can't it do it for me!"

"Oh, quit whining," I laughed, "I'll do it."

As I wrapped my hands around his tie, I began to twist it into an Oxford knot. The boy winced as I tugged harshly at various times, but managed not to complain too much. As I neared the finished touches, I caught him glancing at my reflection in the mirror.

"You should have worn a green suit" he added smugly, "it's your color, you know."

"You never fail to tell me that," I laughed, "and besides, this is Neville's spare."

Draco turned to look at me, his eyes scanning me quickly. I knew there was something devious going on in his mind, and usually I'd snap it out of him, but I suppose today will be an exception.

"For once in my life," he smirked, "I might have to thank Longbottom."

"Oh, shut up," I grinned, giving his tie a final tug, "you're all done."

He tilted his head downwards to observe it, "looks good."

"I know it looks good, I did it."

"Oh, look who's acting all cocky now."

"Piss off, Malfoy," I chuckled, rolling my eyes, "the ball's about to start, and we best not be late."

As I turned back towards the door, I felt Draco wrap his hand around my wrist pulling me back towards his chest. I knocked into him, smiling when I felt his arms slide around my waist. He nuzzled his head in my neck, his lips brushing right above my collarbone.

"I mean it," he whispered, "you really do look beautiful."

I felt my heart melt ever so slightly. It was sad these were words he could never say at any other time, because we could rarely ever be alone together. I suppose that's what made them feel so special.

"You flatter me too much, darling," I smiled, hesitant to pull away, "but we really do have to go."

"Fineeee, love," he whined, "always spoiling the fun."

I rolled my eyes, waving my hand to open the room's door again. As soon as the light came streaming back in, I felt Draco's hand drop away from mine, a cold rush of air replacing where his touch would have been. We were going back in public, so we had to resume our double lives.

But as we walked out of the room, I turned back to watch the door disappear. I didn't know why, but something told me to.

It was a normal mirror, Draco and my reflections shining back at us, but as the wall crumbled back into place I noticed a carving at the top of the mirror that I hadn't noticed before.

Erised.