I found the perfect dress.

It was pink, simple and elegant, and I was sure no one else would have one quite like it.

I could scarcely believe it when Gran agreed to order it for me. Viktor was bound to notice me in it, and then hopefully proceed to fall completely in love with me.

"Wow," Seamus breathed as I descended the stairs from the dormitory into the common room. "Neve, you look-"

But he didn't get to finish his sentence as I stepped on the hem of my dress and started to go flying forwards down the last few steps.

Luckily, Seamus was close enough to catch me.

"Woah there!" he chuckled, managing to steady me on my feet. "I'd ask if it hurt, but even I'm not that cheesy."

"Huh?" I asked wondering what on earth he was talking about.

"Nothing," he said, his cheeks glowing red.

"Um, I'm okay now, Seamus." I said, looking down pointedly at his arms that were still circled tightly around my waist. "You can let go."

But the truth was, I wasn't very good at walking in high heels. I just prayed I'd be okay dancing in them; I had been secretly practising the waltz in the bathroom when no one else was around.

It was imperative that I impress Viktor so that he'd fall in love with me.

Seamus kindly let me cling to his arm as we made our way down to the Entrance Hall. I was so nervous about seeing Viktor.

We stood amongst the others, waiting for the rest of the arrivals before we could be permitted into the Great Hall.

The Slytherins arrived up the steps from the dungeons, led by Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

I was utterly horrified to see Pansy was wearing a pink dress in a terrifyingly similar style to mine.

The disgust on her face was evident as she marched over to me, dragging a disgruntled looking Draco with her.

"What is the meaning of this?!" She spat, revulsion dripping from every word as she looked me up and down.

"Look now-" Seamus said, putting up a warning hand to Pansy, who was leaning in so dangerously close to me that I had to wrinkle my nose up from the stench of her overpowering sickly sweet perfume.

Draco yanked her back slightly, his eyes landing on me ever so briefly. "Come on, Pansy," he gritted through his teeth. "Don't make a scene."

He forcibly guided her away and, as they walked back towards the rest of the Slytherins, I allowed my eyes to glance up to his hair, which was looking particularly bright tonight; shining like the sun against his rich black velvet dress robes.

"You look a million times better than she ever could," Seamus said, pulling my attention back to him.

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling somewhat despondent, although I didn't know why.

And then I had a lot to feel crap about when Viktor Krum walked in with his date.

"Hermione?!" I cried.

She looked completely beautiful in robes of periwinkle-blue; her hair no longer bushy, but sleek and shiny. Viktor couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Even Seamus gasped at the sight of this unexpected beauty.

Hurt ripped through me like I had never felt before. Betrayal, rejection and a feeling of absolute patheticness made me want to burst into tears right there and then in the middle of the Entrance Hall.

I had never felt uglier and more of a loser in my life. Why couldn't anyone look at me in the way Viktor looked at Hermione?

But I couldn't dwell on it. I had a dance to attend.

And I had a feeling something was coming, maybe tonight.

Who knows?

*****

I couldn't help but look around in awe as we entered the Great Hall.

It was like a fairytale. The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The house tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen chairs.

The champions led the dancing, Harry looking awkward as hell as he kept stumbling over Parvati's feet.

Cedric and Cho, Fleur and Roger, however, all looked liked models in an advert for ballroom dancing.

I tried not to look at Viktor and Hermione, who seemed to be stealing the show.

Or more like stealing my dream.

"Shall we?" Seamus asked as other couples started to step onto the dance floor to join in the elegant formation.

I nodded, allowing him to lead the way before he stopped to face me, placing one hand awkwardly on my waist and the other clasped in my hand.

We started revolving, stepping in time to the music as I concentrated hard on not tripping over my feet.

But dancing was coming surprisingly easy to me.

I almost forgot about my heartache over losing yet another prince as I danced effortlessly in Seamus's arms, letting the music and feeling of euphoria overtake me whilst we twirled round and round.

But then after a while, the music changed. And to my horror, familiar notes filled the air.

It was the Frog Song.

I froze as loud sniggers started up.

"Ignore them," Seamus said as my eyes travelled to where Draco and Pansy were standing suspiciously near the orchestra, looking gleefully over at me.

I closed my eyes in humiliation as more titters sounded around us. I could feel everyone's eyes swivel to me; gouging my reaction.

Seamus forcefully grabbed my waist with renewed fervour and started twirling me again.

"Show them you don't care," he whispered in my ear.

And so I did just that, twirling around with extra effort, and finding myself even smiling as I looked up at Seamus's cheerful face.

But then shit happened.

"Switch to your left!" Professor McGonagall cried halfway through the dance.

Seamus gave me an apologetic look before breaking away and swaying to the next partner.

And, to my horror, I suddenly found myself in a new pair of arms.

Draco Malfoy's.

He effortlessly led us straight into the next steps, twirling me with surprising elegance.

"Why, Longbottom," he drawled, moving his lips dangerously close to my ear, "I'm surprised you can keep up."

I found my breath hitching in the back of my throat as I caught a whiff of musky cologne.

"Do you like my choice of song?" he smirked amusedly as silver eyes glinted down at mine from beneath his white-blond hair. "I chose it especially for you."

I couldn't answer, instead staring speechlessly up at him as his hand clasped in mine, continuing to twirl me around, his other hand gripped firmly to my waist.

I felt giddy, and I couldn't understand why. My heart was beating at an unnatural pace and I had no idea if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

I had no words; instead, I just continued to dance with him, not being able to tear my eyes away from his; everything around us becoming a blur.

What was going on?

The heat in my cheeks became too much, and before the dance had even ended, I pulled myself away from him.

He gave me a funny look as his hands fell away from me. Everyone continued to dance around us, but I was barely aware of them except for the white-blond haired Slytherin in front of me.

My heart was beating fast, my chest heaving heavily up and down.

All I could see was him.

And, as if by some unknown magnetic force, we were moving back closer together whilst everyone else continued to dance in a blur around us.

"Draco?" I breathed in a trembling whisper.

His silver eyes seemed to search my own, something unusual flashing in them as his face slowly inched closer and closer to mine.

I couldn't take it anymore, and I closed my eyes, my heart racing at the intensity of the moment.

And then, just as though someone had flicked a switch, a hand grabbed my arm, bringing me back to my senses.

"Here I am, Neve!" Seamus cried jovially just as Pansy threw herself back into Draco's arms.

I blinked, not sure what had just happened.

As Seamus pulled me away to go and find a drink, I couldn't help but look back over my shoulder.

A flash of silver grey eyes met mine, and I didn't miss the mutual look of confusion in them.

Something crazy had just happened, but I wasn't sure what.

*****