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I laughed, the sound of my voice muffled by the blaring music, "that's the third time you've stepped on my foot!"

Harry and Ron had given up on the dance, slumped into chairs somewhere off in the Hall, but I took the opportunity to take Hermione for a dance. We were only going together as friends, but I wasn't going to let her miss out on having a good time.

Even if she did step on my feet from time to time.

"Sorry!" She giggled, twirling under my arm, "I'm a tad bit out of practice."

"I think you're doing fine."

"Even with my heel jabbing into your foot?"

"Even with that," I nodded, leading her into a waltz, "it's not often we get to dress up nice and go for a dance, and I'm very glad you agreed to it."

"I'm glad you asked me."

Hermione giggled, her hand clasped in mine and her dress twirling around her as she spun around. I don't think I've ever had so much fun. The music was loud, the Great Hall was beautiful, and I finally was able to put my worries aside for one simple, perfect night.

As we circled the dance floor, I led her away from a spinning couple of Beuxbatons and Durmstrangs, making sure she didn't get hit by a misplaced hand, or a twirling cape.

We danced for a bit longer, before I felt her lower her voice discreetly.

"Oh, who would have guessed?" She grinned, her gaze glancing off to the side, "Malfoy can't seem to take his eyes off you."

I blushed, suddenly losing my focus and narrowly stumbling over my feet, "really?"

Hermione nodded excitedly, "I think you should go talk to him."

"Well, everyone is here, Mione'," I noted, "talking to him is a risk."

The girl rolled her eyes, yanking on my arm and pushing our waltz towards the edge of the dance space. She had this devious glint in her eyes, and I furrowed a brow in amusement. She was planning something, wasn't she?

"Why don't you get me some punch?" She suggested, batting her eyelashes innocently, "I'm quite thirsty, so make sure you take an incredibly long time filling the glass."

I was about to question what she meant, but then I turned my head to see where she was looking. Draco was standing by the punch table. And just like she said, he was watching me with a proud look on his face.

"What would I do without you?" I smiled, giving the girl a quick kiss on the cheek, "thank you, Mione'."

Slipping out from the dance floor, I pushed my way through the crowd of standing students, avoiding accidentally stepping on a dress, and finally I reached the punch table. Rows of bowls were donned upon the table, all of them displaying a variety of different colors, so I snatched up a glass and began to fill it up.

It wasn't long before I felt someone's presence appear by my side.

"Love," Draco said quietly, the sleeve of his suit coat brushing against my arm, "I suppose asking you for a dance is off the table."

I could barely control the smile on my face, turning my head ever so slightly to see him. We couldn't look each other in the eye, or someone might see and get suspicious, so we had to pretend to be busy with the snacks.

"Unfortunately it is," I nodded, "but I'm honored you asked."

He chuckled, "at least you looked like you were having fun out there."

"I was! Hermione and I forgot how to do a waltz at the beginning, and then—" I cut myself off, turning my head to see Draco blatantly staring at me. He must have forgotten the rules just to get a glimpse of my face. I smiled softly, "Draco..."

He smiled back, "yes?"

"You're staring."

"I know."

"Someone might catch you," I laughed, holding up my punch glass. Turning my head towards the music, I tapped my finger against the side of the glass cup, "why don't you ask one of those girls to dance?"

Draco looked offended, "what?"

"You haven't danced all night, and I know how much you love it," I assured, "I'd be totally okay with it if you asked someone to—"

"I only want to dance with you, darling, can't you see that?"

"I just don't want you to waste the evening."

"It's not wasted," he grinned, a blonde curl falling over his eyes, "I get to talk to you in public, see? Best moment of this entire bloody school year."

I took a sip of my drink, turning away before anyone could see the giggly look on my face. Draco had a way with words, and he always seemed to use the right ones whenever we spoke.

We were silent for a while, just enjoying each other's company, when another couple stumbled past us, toppling over in laughter. It was a Ravenclaw and a Hufflepuff, and Draco and I just watched as the Ravenclaw pulled out a tiny corsage. He slipped it onto her wrist.

That made Draco gasp under his breath.

"I just realized what a fool I am," he sighed, turning back towards the table, "I forgot to bring you flowers."

I shrugged, "it's alright, you're not my date."

"But you're my girlfriend."

"And I really don't mind," I smiled, "I saw the rose last week, and knowing you bought it for me was enough."

I felt something warm press against my skin, and I realized Draco had placed his hand against my arm. He didn't seem to realize he was doing it, because his eyes were glazed over in a saddened expression.

"I just..." he said softly, "I just wish I could give it to you."

Before I could respond, I felt someone's presence beside us, and I turned my head to see Oliver Wood staring at Draco Malfoy with bludgers in his eyes. He stared at Draco's hand on my arm, clearing his throat in annoyance.

"[y/n]," Wood said quickly, "is he bothering you?"

In a split second, I felt the blond's hand fall back to his side, pretending nothing happened. But something did.

"No, he's—" I began to say, but I was cut off.

"Stay away from her, okay?" The Quidditch Captain snapped, "go bully someone else, Malfoy."

"Oliver, he wasn't—"

I couldn't get a word in, because the next thing I knew, the two boys were facing each other spitefully. Draco was mad that we were interrupted by Wood, and Wood was mad because he thought Draco was trying to pick a fight with me.

Because he didn't know the truth...yeah.

"Have a little respect," Oliver hissed, "she's only here to have a good time, not get spat on by bullies like you."

"I don't spit," Draco frowned, "unlike you, I actually have some class."

Oliver narrowed his eyes, pushing me away from the table defensively. He was only doing it to 'save me' from the Slytherin, but that didn't make me less annoyed. Wood continued, "don't make me bring Potter over here."

And that moment I wanted to risk it all.

To shut Oliver up by telling him that Draco wasn't bothering me in the slightest, and that I wanted nothing more than to talk to him. I wanted to scream it. I wanted to finally say the truth out loud.

But Draco flashed me a look that made me shrink back into my shell. I recognized that look. It was the look he gave me every time he decided to give up on something. Usually he made the expression after failing to braid my hair, or when he couldn't figure out his Arithmancy assignment, but now...

Now he was giving up talking to me.

And that broke me.

"You're right," he said bluntly to Wood, "I shouldn't be wasting my time talking to Gryffindors, and instead I should go with wizards who are actually worth something."

And just like that, we fell back into our charade of pretending to hate each other.

It was normal for us (both of us knowing the other didn't mean a word they said), but we forgot that Wood didn't know that and neither did anyone else. Draco's meaningless insult wasn't meaningless to Oliver in the slightest.

"Watch your mouth," Wood growled, grabbing Draco by the collar, "how dare you insult Gryffindor, you pathetic wimp."

Draco was taken aback, "did you just call me pathetic?"

"Yeah, I did, what are you going to do about it, Malfoy?"

What the hell was happening? One minute ago, everything was fine, and everything was actually perfect for once. Now I was just watching two boys get into a petty argument.

"Nothing," Draco shrugged, smirking at the brunette, "you don't scare me, Wood. The only thing you're good at is falling off your broom."

I saw Oliver's jaw clench, "at least I didn't buy my way onto the team."

"That was in second year, leave it alone."

"Then why don't you leave us alone, alright?"

"Am I really bothering you that much, Wood?"

"Yeah, you really are, Malfoy," Oliver scowled, his hands letting go of Draco's collar, "why don't you run back to your father before you make a bigger fool of yourself."

No, no, no, no, no, bad idea. That was the one sentence I knew would set my boyfriend off, because it was the one thing he hated to talk about. His family. And while his parents weren't always kind, he never stood for someone insulting them.

"Don't you ever speak about my father," Draco spat out, shoving Wood away, "you hear me?"

Oliver sneered, "Touchy subject, Malfoy? Having Daddy-issues?"

"Watch your mouth, Wood."

"Why? It's not like he's going to hear me," the boy shot back, "he's never around anyways."

And that was the last straw.

In a spitfire of adrenaline, I watched as Draco's fist made a direct beeline towards his opponent, socking him straight in the jaw. Oliver stumbled back towards the table, his hand clamped over his chin in pain. He let out a wince, before leaping back at the Slytherin and pulling him down to the ground.

Everything was a blur at first.

Both boys were yelling curses at each other, swinging whenever they could, but soon Draco was pinned onto the ground, Oliver's fist clenched tightly. He hit him. He kept hitting him, and hitting him, and hitting him, until I started to see blood starting to run out of Draco's mouth.

"Oliver, stop!" I screamed, grabbing at the boy and trying to pull him back, "please stop!"

He wouldn't stop.

He shoved me aside, continuing to hit the boy beneath him. They were angry at each other, fire spewing in their eyes like complete and utter hatred. Draco began to gasp for air, trying to shove Wood off of him, but the boy was too strong. He held him down.

A crowd was beginning to form, everyone exclaiming in horror, and suddenly I felt like I couldn't take it anymore.

He was hurting Draco.

And I couldn't control myself.

"Expulso!" I yelled, a bright light surrounding the area.

I didn't even know how I managed to get my wand out so quickly. I just saw Draco hurt, and it was in my hand before I realized it. Everything else happened in the blink of an eye. The blast of my spell sent Wood flying against the wall, his skull hitting the stone wall with a painful noise, and he crashed down to the floor with a thud.

He stopped moving.

"Oh my god..." I whimpered, my body giving out, "what did I do?"

Falling onto my knees, I heard my wand clatter to the ground, and everything became dizzy. Draco was nearly unconscious next to me, his lips twitching in pain. I wanted to go to him and tell him it was going to be fine. I wanted to hold him. I wanted to hold him, but I couldn't touch him. I never could touch him.

And all I could hear were whispers.

What happened?

A fight broke out.

I can't believe she attacked her own classmate.

She had to have missed! She couldn't be defending Draco...could she?

I knew something was up with her as soon as she rejected Harry.

Maybe that's why the fight began!

Oliver was protecting her from Draco, and she must have missed her target.

Why wasn't Harry there?

I heard the sounds of running footsteps, and the familiar figure of Alastor Moody appeared on the scene, followed by the rest of the teachers. They were shocked at the sight, half of them looking away in horror, and the other half trying to piece together what happened.

"You," Moody said, whipping his cane out towards a Hufflepuff, "take Mr. Wood to the hospital wing."

They were frozen.

"Are you waiting for him to bleed out?" The man yelled, "go!"

As students surrounded the knocked out captain, I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, and I was pulled onto my feet. Draco struggled to get up, but he managed to limp his way onto his feet. His jaw was starting to bruise, and his lips were streaked with red.

The last thing I saw was Hermione, Harry, and Ron's faces, all staring at me in concern. They didn't see the fight. They didn't know what caused it. All they knew was that I cast a spell that got Wood hurt. Moody spoke:

"You two," he said, pointing between me and Draco, "my office, now."

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