"Wait until my father hears about this!"

"Chill, Drac," I said, rolling my eyes as he angrily kicked the sofa.

It hadn't been a good night for him. Not only had our disappointing hero made champion, but so did also Cedric (which I have to say pleased me to no end) and Harry Potter.

"How the fuck does he even do it?!" Draco spluttered, throwing himself down next to me and huffily crossing his arms. "Every bloody year he has to make a scene about something. Was it not enough that he had a murdering godfather after him last year; now he's claiming someone else is trying to kill him?!"

"Well, it's either that or Potter managed to hoodwink one of the most powerful wizards of all time." I shrugged, turning a page of my magazine whilst simultaneously wondering if Cedric was going to be wearing a special champion's outfit.

"You know what, I'm not going to stand for this anymore," Draco bristled, "I'll make Potter pay for trying to steal all the attention again! Even if it means showing my support for Pretty Boy Diggory."

I released a heavy, wearied sigh; closing my magazine and tossed it down onto the floor. "I'm off to bed, I've suffered enough excitement for one night. Whatever you're planning, don't involve me."

But Draco barely acknowledged me; and I could almost hear the cogs whirring behind his dancing silver eyes as an idea started to form in his head.

The following day, he was nowhere to be seen; and so I could only assume he was working on this 'plan' of his. And sure enough, as Monday morning rolled around, I found out exactly what had kept him busy for an entire Sunday.

"What the absolute fuck, Drac?" I sighed exasperatedly as he showed me the contents of his school bag.

Gone were his books and other items he would surely need for classes; instead, it was filled to the brim with large circular badges.

"Good, aren't they?" he drawled pompously as he smugly tapped the one pinned to his chest. "Took me all day, but I reckon I've made enough for the entire school to each wear one."

"Well you could have saved yourself some time and made one less," I muttered, holding up a badge just as Cedric's face vanished from it, to be replaced by the words 'POTTER STINKS', "you won't catching me wearing this shit."

A look of hurt rippled across Draco's pale face as I threw the badge back in his bag with an air of contempt.

"But I'm supporting Diggory," he pouted, "I thought you'd be pleased."

"Pah!" I scoffed, shaking my head, "don't make out you're supporting him for me. Not when you're clearly only doing it to get further under Potter's skin."

"I'll wear one, Drakie," Pansy simpered, coming up behind him to snake her arms around his waist. "I'll wear anything for you."

"Cheers, Pans," Draco said drily, his steely eyes piercing accusingly into mine. "Nice to know that some people have got my back."

"Oh grow up, Drac," I sniped, picking up my own bag, ready to depart for breakfast, "you know I've always got your back; which is why I'm telling you to drop this embarrassing obsession you have with getting one over on Harry Potter. But whatever, you just go on ahead and make a fool out of yourself yet again."

I turned around and left, leaving him spluttering wordlessly behind as Pansy continued to hang off of him.

*****

It seemed, however, by the time Potions class rolled around, that Draco and Pansy had managed to persuade the rest of the Slytherin house to pin those atrocious eyesores onto the front of their robes.

"Like them, Potter?" Draco said gleefully outside the classroom as we waited for Snape to arrive.

"Oh, very funny," Hermione spat sarcastically in Pansy's giggling face as she too, taunted Harry with her badge, "really witty."

"Want one, Granger?" Draco said, holding out a badge to her. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see, don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

Needless to say, Draco's typical behaviour ended up with him and Harry unsuccessfully duelling; resulting in Goyle and Hermione both ending up in the hospital wing.

Fourteen year old boys suck.

*****

I felt slightly embarrassed for Cedric when Harry performed better than him in the first task.

I mean, I wasn't sure why he thought using a dog to distract a dragon was a great idea, but it worked, I suppose. Just not as well as a broomstick.

Still, Cedric far outranked Potter in the looks department, looking fucking hot in his champion robes; and he got a badass burn on his face for his efforts, too.

Literally hot stuff.

And then, once the first task was out of the way, there was the flurry of excitement amongst the students when the Yule Ball was officially declared.

Apparently, it was imperative for the champions to take dates; and whilst Draco was wondering out loud who Harry was going to ask, I was quietly musing about Cedric - wondering if he had anyone in mind.

And I didn't have to wait long to find out.

"Can I have a word, Blaire?"

I looked up from my dinner to see Cedric standing over the Slytherin table, his eyes sparkling down at me as a nervous smile twitched at his lips.

"What word?" Draco spat at once before I could put down my fork and reply. "I don't mean to be rude, but she's kind of in the middle of eating at the moment."

"Oh, I can come back if you'd prefer?" Cedric said, making a point of addressing me.

I shook my head, quickly swallowing down the food in my mouth. "No need," I said, darting Draco a filthy look as I pushed my plate aside. "Shoot."

"Oh, erm... here?" Cedric answered, suddenly sounding flustered. "I was thinking maybe-?"

"Anything you need to say to Blaire, you can say in front of me," Draco demanded, banging his fist authoritatively down on the table.

"Oh give it a rest, Dad," I scoffed before getting to my feet and smiling up at Cedric. "Come on, I'm all yours."

"SHE'S FOURTEEN!" We heard Draco bellow after us as we stepped out of the hall together.

"He's, erm... a bit intense, isn't he?" Cedric mused, raising an eyebrow. "And isn't he with that Parkinson chick?"

"He just gets a bit protective, that's all," I shrugged, "I think he fancies himself as some sort of big brother of mine, despite the fact that I'm older."

We came to a halt in a quiet spot under the stairs of the Entrance Hall, and turned to face one another.

He looked nervous about something, I realised, as he rubbed the back of his neck, blushing. And I knew then that this was it.

"So, what can I do for you, Cedric?" I murmured softly, my heart suddenly fluttering like crazy as I caught a whiff of his cologne.

"I was just... erm-" he paused, clearing his throat and I couldn't help but think how cute he looked, "I just wanted to know if you'd like- if you'd like to come to this Christmas ball? As my date, I mean?"

He immediately bit his lower lip, his eyes looking hopefully down at me; and even though in my head I was screaming 'Yes! Yes! Yes!', I still gave it my best effort to play it cool.

"Sure," I shrugged, my lips tugging into a small, coy smile, "why not? It could be fun."

Relief flooded his face in an instant, and for a brief moment, I thought he was going to reach out and kiss me.

I mean, I wouldn't have complained.

"Great!" He beamed, running a hand through his hair, making it flop back messily down again. "Fantastic, even. I promise you, we'll have a night to remember."

Oh yes, I thought; my stomach squirming with excitement as I made my way back into the hall towards a surly faced Draco.

Because I had to agree with Cedric; the night of the Yule ball was definitely going to be unforgettable.

*****