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Chapter 9 Date For the Ball




Harry was the walking dead. That was the only possible way to describe it. Though in the past month he had joined forces with the dark lord, had a scary as piss psychopath following him everywhere, and oh yeah been told to murder his teacher, a dance would be the thing to kill him.

On the one hand he could try to some how manage to get a date four days beforehand. Which would be hard since 3/4 of the school hated him, but even if he could some how manage a date it wouldn't matter anyways. As soon as Draco found out he didn't need to worry about murdering Snape, he would be dead before the sun rose the next day. Harry shuddered. He didn't even want to think about what would happen to whatever unlucky bastard had agreed to be his date. That option was very far from his mind at the moment.

So that left option number two. Which of course would be to just not go. Now even though it was required, a student could probably get away with ditching it...if they had a good excuse. Now this didn't apply for Harry. The raven-haired boy had set the record for most tardies and unexcused absences that Hogwarts has ever seen in one semester. Not to mention he was probably a number of teachers least favorite student. Now Snape he could deal with...that was nothing new, no it was McGonagall that scared him. She just happened to despise him at the moment, and was head of his house. She was probably also pretty pissed that he had sent their house points to the negatives. No, option two was anything but an option. If he skipped the dance he would be back to the Dursley's for good, and although that might solve a few of his problems (namely ones with glowing red eyes) that was something he just refused to do.

This left option number one. Harry swallowed. He would just have to hope that the blond wouldn't freak out too bad. Harry almost laughed at this. Draco not freak out about him touching some girl, that he would pay to see. But since he didn't have a choice Harry thought he would make the best of it, and start by begging every girl he saw to go to the dance with him. But first he had to get some food.

He walked into the great hall, taking a seat at the Slytherin table in an even worst mood now if that were possible. His mood only got sourer when Pansy Parkinson congratulated him for making the so-called "Great oaf of a gamekeeper cry." Harry frowned, but was forced to smile when Draco slapped him on the back, and the rest of the table joined in on the applause. Harry thought his day could get no worse when Hermione came over.

"Oh that's right laugh it up you disgusting people. Do you realize how much you hurt him Harry? Do you realize he looks to you as something like a son, and what you did...you broke his heart?" Harry had never felt more ashamed in his entire life. The whole hall had grown quiet when Hermione said this.

"You have to understand Hermione I didn't mean to hurt him, I was just..." Hermione didn't seem to except this answer. She walked straight up, and slapped Harry across the face. This caused a complete uproar at the Slytherin table, and Blaise had to hold Draco back, who looked like he could strangle the girl. Harry however was in complete shock. He rubbed his face where her hand had him, and stared at her in wonder. He wasn't allowed to do anything else, because some of the teachers had noticed the disturbance, and were already bustling down to investigate. Draco however didn't seem to notice them though.

"You'll regret that mudblood." He had already pulled out his wand, ready to do the first hex that came into his mind, when Snape stepped in between them, stopping whatever notions of grandeur he had.

"What is going on here Mr. Malfoy?" Draco smiled wickedly, and he had a right to. Of all the teachers to intercept the fight it would have to be the one that favored him most.

"You see professor I was just defending Potter here...Granger physically assaulted one of her own kind like some kind of traitor."

"HE'S THE TRAITOR!" She angrily pointed straight at Harry, and the boy felt his stomach tighten when Snape stepped in between them, blocking Hermione from his view.

"Miss Granger I will not tolerate such behavior...You have shown today what kind of people really make up Gryffindor. You will serve one week of detention, and I would take away points, but really I don't see the use anymore." With that he stalked back to the head table.

Harry, not really having an appetite anymore, left the great hall, not looking at anybody...although he knew all of their eyes were on him. The thing that was bothering him the most was the thought that kept going through his head. It wasn't 'Poor Hagrid' or 'Snape actually stood up for me' No what really made him feel terrible was all he could think about was that that fight had probably killed any chance of him getting a date for the dance.

His hope had practically diminished as he was heading to Divination when a very familiar voice, but one he thought he would never hear again in this lifetime, called his name. Harry swallowed hard before shakily turning around to face none other than Cho Chang.

"Umm Hey Cho I haven't seen you since...well since." Cho smiled, and even though the little crush of his was all but diminished, he couldn't help but feel the butterflies twirl in his stomach.

"Yes...I always wanted to apologize for that...I should never have done something like that to you, and I was hoping...well I was hoping we could start over." Harry was so shocked he could do nothing but blink. Had she really said that? Someone actually wanted to befriend him...not the exact opposite. And Cho of all people...besides the whole of Gryffindor house she was the last person he would expect to be in the least bit friendly.

"Wow Cho I really don't know what to say...wow." He couldn't help feel that he was acting extremely stupid, and Cho only furthered his examination when she giggled at him, but seeing his face she immediately stopped.

"I'm sorry it's just you should have seen your face...it was all scrunched up and adorable...You would have laughed if you saw it too." Harry frowned, this really wasn't improving his mood.

"Well as fun as this has all been...I have to go before the school realizes the way I've gone. You'd better watch out too, I suspect a whole group of people will be running this way to hex me." He turned back around, but an arm reached out and grabbed him. He felt a chill go through him at this, but shook it off.

"No wait! Please wait...I was wondering...well." Harry turned to face her, and saw the girl looked awfully nervous. She was biting her lip, and kept twirling a strand of hair in her free hand. Harry sighed ...what was one more embarrassment?

"Okay I stopped. Now you were wondering what exactly?" Harry could already hear her answer. 'Why did you leave all your friends?' or one of his favorites 'What are you doing hanging out with those disgusting Slytherins?' Oh yeah, that one never got old. The answer she gave though he would have never have expected.

"Well you see I know it's sorta late notice but...but I was wondering if you would go to the dance with me?' Harry's jaw dropped.

"What?" The girl looked worried, and a bit like she was going to cry.

"Of course. How could I have been so stupid...I asked you really late...You probably have a date already." Harry could do nothing but stare wide eyed at her, and she, getting the wrong impression, turned to walk away. It was now Harry's turn to grab her wrist.

"Wait...I would love to go to the dance with you...That is if you really want to go with me." Harry had never seen a wider smile in his life. It almost looked like her face was going to crack. She ran up and threw her arms around him. Harry pulled back still smiling, but a little sicker for the wear. This girl reminded him of someone, though he couldn't place who, and right now it didn't matter for they were both there staring at each other, grinning like fools.

"Of course I want to go to the dance with you! There's actually no one I would rather go with." Harry smiled again, but then a sense of dread swept through him when he thought about Draco finding out about the little scene that had just taken place.

"Well I'll see you then Cho. I really have to get to class. If I'm late again...well I don't even want to think about what'll happen to me." Cho smiled before turning around and walking the opposite direction of his lonely trek up to Divination.

He walked through the trap door to see that all of the other Gryffindor's had already made it there, but thankfully this one time he wasn't late. He plopped into his assigned seat by Ron, ignoring the dirty look he received from the red head. He hated Trelawney for doing this to him. After their last fight in this class she had decided that they had great karma. Harry scowled when he thought about the fact that not only was she terrible at reading the future, but she was also equally as bad at reading people. He was disturbed from his stupor by Ron's voice.

"Do you know that teachers now feel so sorry for our house that they won't even take points away anymore?" Harry shrugged.

"Isn't that good thing?" The red head scowled, and spat back his answer.

"No it's not if you haven't got any points to take away in the first place." Harry thought it over. The red head did have a point.

"Be that as it may, is there a reason why you're telling me this? Last I checked we didn't have conversations."

"I'm telling you because it's your fault." Ron growled back.

"Ron leave me alone you're ruining my good mood." It was the truth. He was in an actual good mood, and seeing as how these didn't come around that often, he really didn't want it spoiled.

"Oh really and what do you have that puts you in such a good mood? And if you say it was because Hermione got detention I swear I'll break your nose." Harry shook his head at the red head before folding his arms, and looking him in the eye. If he wanted to know so bad Harry saw no reason why he shouldn't tell him.

"If you must know I just got my date to the dance." Harry frowned when Ron began to double over laughing.

"You!?...You got a date?...Who would go with you?" Harry narrowed his eyes at his old friend. He was really starting to grow bored of this conversation.

"For your information Cho." Ron stopped laughing.

"You're lying. Cho wouldn't go with you...What did you do threaten to curse her?"

"No I didn't threaten to curse her" He couldn't help but be offended at the very assumption. "She asked me if you must know, and who may I ask are you going with?"

"Hermione of course...but that's not the point if you're not lying and you really are going with Cho...how's the little ferret taking it?" Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Don't call him that...and well he doesn't know yet...and well I don't exactly know how to go about doing it." To Harry's surprise, Ron burst out into laughter. He was so loud that the entire class was now staring at the two of them. Trelawney had even stopped what she was doing to watch. "Ron...Ron stop people are staring...Ron get up." The red head made his way back to his chair...muttering something along the lines of 'and I thought this dance was going to be boring.' Harry glared, but couldn't help but agree. Of all the things to describe this dance, being boring was not one of them.

For the rest of the class instead of working on his essay about palm reading, Harry instead worked on a plan on how he was going to survive the next three days. The only thing he could come up with so far was that he was by no means going to tell Draco about Cho. His strategy was that if he just saw them together at the dance it could bring about two possibilities. Draco could either be pissed about it, but not do anything until they returned from break. He couldn't be to badly injured when he saw Lucius after all, or he could be so mad he ended it all. That includes canceling the Christmas trip. Which on the one hand would be good, because he wouldn't have to go through the thing that would probably permanently ruin his life. But he couldn't help praying for the first one, because the way he saw it his life would be even more ruined if he lost Draco.

By the time Ron was done reading his palm, he had come up with an answer. He would just stay away from the blond for the rest of the week. Then during the dance he might be going with Cho, but that didn't mean he had to do anything with her. He could merely walk in with her, and keep out of the way for the entire time. Draco couldn't get mad at that, after all he had to have a date too, and if Harry didn't have a problem with him escorting some girl to a silly dance, then he shouldn't either. Although a voice in his head kept telling him that him and Draco shared a very different view on the subject of what was right for Harry.
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The day of the dance had arrived, and although it was hard, Harry had managed to avoid any private meetings with Draco. The method he took was probably quite obvious, but it was effective so he didn't care. He would race out of every class before the blond had even gathered his books. He also made sure to not eat in the great hall, but just have Dobby bring him some food to the dorms in the Gryffindor common room, and of course the house elf was only to happy to do this. Sometimes he even made Kreacher (who he had employed to work at the school) do these little jobs for him. Something he found quite funny, seeing as how the little elf just couldn't stand his new master. He also made no nightly visits, which was probably the hardest to do, and if Harry paused to think was probably going to make Draco more pissed.

On the other hand the teachers seemed to be warming back up a bit. He made sure he was on time to all his classes. Actually he ended up being there early most of the time. He made no snide remarks, making sure he had no reason to get detention just in case he had to bail out of the dance. Things were actually looking up, but Harry knew that couldn't last for long, and he hated being right. He was walking down the corridor after Quidditch when he really started to hate himself.

"Potter wait up!" Harry shut his eyes when he heard his voice. True he had grown to love the voice, but right now he would have given anything not to hear it. He turned only to gasp when he saw that Draco was right behind him...close enough in fact to shove him into the wall. Harry winced as the stone corner dug into his back.

"Nice to see you too Draco...What are we not giving friendly hellos anymore?" But the blond didn't look to be in a kidding mood. To prove this he shoved Harry even further into the wall. Harry could feel his back begin to bleed from the impact.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" The blond lifted an eyebrow questioningly before ramming him into the wall again.

"I haven't been avoiding you what would make you..." He was silenced by being rammed into the wall again. "Ow! Would you stop doing that?" Even that didn't earn him a smirk. Harry shuddered then as he thought of how pissed the blond must be.

"Don't give me that bullshit! I know when you're lying, and I know when someone is going out of there way to avoid me. So tell me why?"

"Would you believe me if I told you I can't tell you but it was a good reason?" Draco looked disgusted at this, and it earned Harry another trip into the wall. He could actually feel that his shirt was soaked with blood. "You know that really does hurt."

"Yeah so why are you complaining? It's been awhile but if I remember correctly that's how you like it." Draco smirked, and Harry couldn't help but smile. He could tell the blond's anger was leaving, or at least was going to be vented in a different way.

"Oh I do, but usually it's accompanied by something else even better." This seemed to catch Draco's attention

"Oh really...other things...like this." He reached down, cupping Harry's erection causing him to gasp. He couldn't believe he had given this up for three days. He bucked forward, trying to further the touch, and was only pushed back into the wall again. Harry shut his eyes as Draco's hands continued to roam his body. They opened however when he heard the sound of a zipper. He stared questioningly into silver orbs...He couldn't possibly be thinking to do that right?

"Draco they could hear...someone could see." The blond smirked before also lowering Harry's pants.

"What's life without risks?" Harry didn't get a chance to think on this, because the blond clamped onto his mouth. While devouring Harry's mouth, Draco also got him ready, and without a word of warning slammed into him.

Harry gasped before wrapping both his legs around the blond. He felt tears pouring down his face from the pain. He was used to most of it, but every time Draco would thrust in he would shove him into the wall, tearing his back to pieces. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, but a look from the blond told him that they needed to be quiet. They both completed and fell into a sticky bloody mess on the floor, Draco's lips still on Harry's. They laid like that, just in the middle of the hall for a while, before Draco finally spoke.

"We really should get dressed, but don't think this gets you out of telling me." Harry saw him smirk. "It only postpones it." Harry nodded before getting up. He got dressed then turned to look at the wall.

"Err Draco what do you think we should do about this?" Draco walked up behind him, tracing the gash on his back where he had been forced into the wall. Harry winced slightly when Draco dug a finger in to see how far the gash went.

"Don't worry it isn't serious." Harry smiled when he felt the blond lean down and kiss it. "We'll just let the squib take care of it." Harry turned around so he was facing the blond.

"Won't there be questions?" To this Draco actually smiled.

"No, I don't think there will be...That disgrace of a caretaker will probably just be pleased that some nasty student got what they deserved." Harry laughed before glaring at the blond.

"Are you calling me nasty?" Draco smirked before nodding.

"But you're a good kind of nasty...trust me. Now we can continue this later tonight after that pesky dance is over with. You can go to my room and clean your back, it shouldn't last too late. I should be back fairly early." Harry quickly shot his gaze to the floor. So that's what he thought Harry was going to do, which of course he would have if it didn't mean his expulsion, but he couldn't get into it now. The blond would probably lock him up somewhere. So he just nodded before giving a last kiss and walking towards Gryffindor tower. Yes, tonight would definitely be interesting.
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Harry was shaking the entire time he changed into his emerald dress robes. What would happen tonight? How could he possibly get through this? He practically jumped when he saw the reflection of the Weasley twins standing behind him.

"Guys what are you doing here? I thought..." But Fred stepped forward placing a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Well unless you plan on telling him."

"He won't hear of it from us." George finished, and Harry couldn't help but smile. He had really missed the two.

"Thanks guys." Not really wanting to be on the subject anymore, he opted for a new one. "So who are you guys taking?" He knew at once he had said the wrong thing. The twins both gave each other the weirdest looks before unconsciously moving away from each other, but they still seemed to answer.

"Well me I'm taking Angelina Johnson...you know her of course." Harry nodded to Fred, and turned to George, who didn't seem to like this answer.

"I'm taking Katie Bell." Harry couldn't help but laugh, and was practically rolling on the ground. "Can I ask what's so funny about my date?" Harry was shocked to see Fred practically wince when George said the word date, but decided to ignore it.

"Oh nothing it's just that's the person who Fred told you at the beginning of the year was an easy lay." He saw the two exchange odd glances before laughing. Although to Harry the laughs seemed forced. These two were sure acting weird. He decided to ignore it, and continued getting ready. As he straightened his robe he fought the urge to wince as it grazed his back.

"So Harry we told you, now you gotta tell us why you're even getting ready." Harry turned shooting Fred a cold look.

"Yeah Harry I mean Malfoy doesn't really seem the sharing type, and since you can't go same sex or stag we're just confused." Harry grabbed a comb, trying to tame the mess that was his hair.

"Well you see he doesn't exactly know I'm going yet...and I can't skip cuz I'm already in too much trouble." He could see the twins trying to hide their laughter.

"So Harry who's the unlucky girl?" George smiled, and Fred continued for him.

"Yeah who do we get to see humiliated in front of the entire school?" Harry gulped as a wave of dread spread through him.

"That's not funny guys, and I'm taking Cho." This time they didn't even try to hide their laughter. Harry just scowled and continued getting ready. This was definitely going to be a long night. He was about ready to go get Cho when a snickering Ron told him that his date was here. Personally Harry didn't see anything for the red head to be laugh at. Okay well he did see something to laugh at, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

Harry gasped. He had to admit that the Asian was stunning. She was wearing silky red robes, and her hair was down flowing and partially curly. He almost smiled at the thought that they would look awfully Christmassy, but he didn't let it bother him. Holding out his elbow, he escorted her to the great hall.

The trip over had been harder than he thought. He kept shaking, though he didn't know if it was from the cold or nerves, but it was a lot colder in the castle then usual. He thought it was probably because his robes were thinner than normal. He looked over to see Cho smiling at him, and it gave him a little courage...enough courage that is to push the door open and walk into the room, which he had no doubt would ensure his doom.

Harry kept walking although he could feel eyes on him. Of course this must be a shock to everyone. Why would Cho Chang of all people go to a dance with one of the most hated students at the school? He decided to make the best of what would no doubt his last night in the living.

Looking around he noticed all of the different pairs. He wasn't surprised to see Ron and Hermione dancing, but he was when he saw Neville and Ginny, but they really did look cute together. He also noticed Seamus was dancing with Lavender, and it seemed Stewart didn't like it. He kept shooting the girl nasty looks from over the shoulder of his own partner a Ravenclaw named Mandy Brocklehurt.

The look he noticed the most was the one that held burning hatred, and it was directed at him. He looked at Draco, trying to explain with his eyes, but to his surprise Draco just dragged his partner (who happened to be Pansy Parkinson) onto the dance floor. "Cho I'll be right back I'm gonna go get us some drinks...I'll find you." The girl nodded before going over to some of her friends.

"Is he really mad?" Blaise looked up to smile at Harry, who had found him at the drink table.

"Well if after seeing you walk in, him smashing the glass he was holding, then grabbing Pansy who he had been doing his best to ignore all night counts as mad, then yes I would say he is." Harry looked worried.

"I didn't have a choice...I had to come. I'm sure he'll understand right?" Blaise shook his head, and gave him a look that said he would certainly not understand. Harry began to dislike him. In a meaner voice then he should have he quickly asked the brunette whom he had brought.

"Ah that would be Millicent Bulstrode...I told her I'd take her only if she didn't hug me...I think I'd be crushed under the weight." Harry couldn't help but laugh, and he felt his anger leave...now he only felt panic. Without even saying good-bye to Blaise he made his way back towards Cho, completely forgetting his earlier plan of avoiding her all night.

He was just about ready to head to pack of Ravenclaws, when he felt a hand pull him to a corner. He looked to see it was a very pissed off looking Draco that had grabbed him. Harry's eyes widened, he thought Cho looked good, but Draco blew her out of the water. He was wearing shimmering silver robes, and his hair was ungelled and flowing in his face. His examination was cut short however when a hand, friendly to the public, dug it's way into his back.

"Thought you'd bring a date did you?" Harry was close to tears as the blond continued to dig deeper.

"Draco stop. It's gonna start bleeding again...people will see." Draco harshly grabbed Harry's face.

"Do you think I care about that right now?" Harry stared into fiery silver orbs. Draco definitely wasn't himself right now.

"Excuse me Draco but you seem to be hogging my date." The blond glared murderously at Cho, who didn't even seem to notice the tension between the two. In fact she grabbed Harry's hand and began to drag him onto the dance floor, but Draco grabbed his shoulder making them stop.

"Fuck off bitch we weren't done here." Cho gave Draco a dirty look, and Draco glared back. Harry just watched all of this, wishing he were dead.

"Sorry Draco but you can finish later. I personally don't want Harry bleeding everywhere before I get at least one dance out of him." Harry stared strangely at Cho, as far as he knew his back wasn't bleeding yet, but then maybe she just knew where the conversation was going. After she had pried Draco's hand off of Harry, he was dragged onto the dance floor.

Most of the couples were on the floor, he even saw that Blaise and Millicent had made it. He looked into Cho's dark eyes, and thought he saw something familiar there, and he couldn't seem to look away. "Harry?"

"Hmmmm?" Harry seemed to be caught in a sort of trance.

"Can I do something I've been wanting to do for awhile now?' Harry, not really listening, nodded. He was still lost in her eyes. He didn't even snap out of it when he felt her lips on his. He felt a warmth spread through him, and not thinking grabbed the back of her head, pulling her closer. He couldn't say how long they stayed like that, but they only separated when pulled apart by Draco.

Harry snapped out of it when he saw Draco dragging Cho by the arm. The girl didn't seem to be struggling at all, so she must have gone willingly. Harry's head was still foggy, and the consequences of his actions hadn't really sunk in yet. In fact his head only seemed to be getting foggier. His last thought was of Draco before he fell to the floor in a dead faint.

Draco didn't seem to notice his lover faint, he was to busy fuming at him. He could have dropped dead at that moment and he wouldn't have cared. The fact that he actually had the gall to cheat on him pissed the blond off the most. He dragged the girl outside before throwing her in front of him, and reaching for his wand.

"Oh what are you going to do Draco, kill me for touching your precious toy?" Draco stared wide-eyed at the girl.

"How did you?" To the blond's surprise the girl laughed.

"How did I know?...Being with him has really made you stupider hasn't it? And when I had you you were so bright." Draco was thoroughly confused now. He now stood staring at the girl like she was completely daft. Cho took a few steps towards Draco until they were only inches apart. The blond felt a coldness surround him, and backed away.


"Awww that's not very nice. Is that anyway to greet old friends? Especially seeing all the stuff I've done for you. I would think instead of trying to kill me you would be begging at my feet." Draco's eyes widened as dark eyes shifted to red, and finally the blond understood. Slowly he got down on one knee before the girl, making her smile. "Good boy. I knew I had trained you well...now Draco I have a job for you."
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