Harry's POV.

It's way past curfew when I decide that some food would do me good.

Making my way to the kitchens, under the protection of my invisibility cloak, I spot someone else along the corridors, heading outside it seems. My interests thoroughly peaked, I decide to follow.

As we walk further, I can tell we're heading to the Astronomy Tower.

'Interesting, usually people only go here in pairs,' I think.

Once we start walking I become very cautious of the close proximity, and how easy it would be to hear me if they tried.

When we make it to the top of one of the towers, I know I'm safe from suspicious noises and let my guard down.

"You know it's not nice to spy on people, Potter,"
Malfoy.
Crap.
Guess I wasn't as quiet as I thought I was.

Pulling away my cloak and stuffing it in my pocket, I look to Malfoy again and he seems to find the situation... amusing?

He gives me a funny look and then speaks.

"Just couldn't get enough of me, eh, Potter?"

I chuckle.

"Sod off Malfoy," I reply. 

A comfortable silence surrounds us.

I eye Malfoy quickly and notice that he's only about two feet away from me. How did that happen?

When I look at him again, seeing as the silence has become strange, he meets my gaze. My heart beat doubles in speed, so I walk over to sit on the ground by the wall and break the silence to try to calm myself.

"So, um.. the Yule Ball.." I trail off. He's not going, now I remember.

"Didn't we go over this just yesterday with that girlfriend of yours?" He questions.

I nod awkwardly causing him to roll his eyes.

"I'm surprised you agreed, seeing as the last Yule Ball was an obvious disaster," he jokes.

"Who's to say I'm not the one making her go?" I ask.

"Are you?" He sounds surprised.

"Well... no. I can't dance very well,"

"My point exactly, Potter. Though I can't believe you haven't improved at all since 4th year," he says while smirking.

"I might've actually gotten worse," I reply, which causes Malfoy to let out a genuine laugh. Possibly the first time I've ever heard him laugh like that. It's like his entire presence fills the room for once, without any effort at all.

"I'm serious! Ginny's going to kill me if I make her look like a fool. It's like I've got two right feet," I exclaim.

"Left feet," he corrects while still laughing.

I raise my eyebrows in question.

"The expression is, 'I've got two left feet,' Potter" he drawls, sarcastically.

"Oh, that makes sense I suppose," I say.

"So I assume you're practicing?" He says, like it's a question.

"Practicing?" I ask.

"Dancing, Potter. You won't get any better if all you do is sit there," he scoffs.

"Well I mean, I don't know.. not really. I can't exactly tell Ginny that her date to a dance doesn't know how to dance," I say, emphasizing the obvious.

He walks over to me and puts out a hand.

"What are you..?" I question unintelligently.

He rolls his eyes and gives his hand a slight shake.

"I don't... what do want me to do?" I ask, still not putting two and two together.

"Growing up I had a private tutor that taught me how to dance. Though I consider it a rather pointless skill, it seems like you could use some help," he suggests.

"So you want me to..."

"Oh just stand up and take my hand," he demands.

I widen my eyes and look up at him. He's serious. I reach out and grasp his cool hand firmly, allowing him to pull me off the ground.

"Alright, so you're going to be dancing with the weaselette, so I'll teach you how to lead," he intones.

"There's no music," I counter.

"Are you joking with me Potter?" He asks, then he proceeds to roll his eyes.

"I need music to find my rhythm," I reply.

He sighs and takes in a deep breath.

"Just put your right hand on my waist and be glad I'm helping you," he reiterates.

I place my right hand on his waist like he ordered.

"Your other right hand," he lectures, grabbing the hand I currently have placed lightly on his side in his hand and making me put the other one on his left hip.

"Alright now, she's your girlfriend Potter, she won't bite," he pauses, "Well.. at least I don't think she will."

I shove him causing him to chuckle.

"My point being," he continues, "you're standing too far away. I promise I won't step on your toes, though I can't make the same promise for anyone else you dance with," he says, drawing me closer.

I look at his eyes.
I don't think he even notices how fast my heart is beating from the close proximity, which is ridiculous, considering I'm practically pressed against his chest.

I take a half step backwards to provide myself with a little space between us. He looks down at me and gives me a half smile.

"Alright, 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.." he begins humming in time with the imaginary music, guiding me at first because of my limited skill.

"And back, two three, one two three, back two three, one two three," he whispers.

We're so close, and there are so many thoughts running through my head that I can't concentrate on what we're doing and keep messing up.

"Potter, if you step on her toes this much you won't have a girlfriend for long," he notes before continuing with the counting.

We slow down slightly so I can get the hang of it and I start to lead.

I step on his toes again causing him to laugh.

"Potter! You are a retched dancer!" He taunts to get me to work harder.

Instead of trying harder like he wants I decide to give him a spin, causing him to let out his second real laugh of the night.

It's one of the most magical sounds I've ever heard. 

I'm laughing too, and not really learning enough to call this a lesson.

I spin him again and when he turns to face me, we're entirely too close.
He's gripping the back of my shirt because I suppose I spun him one too many times.

One of my hands is holding his loosely and my other is pressed against his chest with him standing not five inches away from me.

I look at his eyes and notice that they are most definitely staring at my lips. What's going on?
I can't breathe or think clearly because Draco freaking Malfoy is pressed up against me, after just teaching me to dance for the past hour and a half.
It's Malfoy. So what's going on?

His eyes dart to mine and we both take a step back, dropping each other's hands.

"Um thanks," I whisper, not really knowing what to do.

"Yeah, sure. See you around, Potter," he says before backing away slowly and then taking off down the stairs.

Draco's POV.

I rush back to the Slytherin common rooms and arrive, out of breath, to the sight of Pansy Parkinson sitting in a huge chair, confrontational style.

"Someone was out late," she sounds hurt.

"Um.. yeah. I was.." she interrupts before I can finish.

"With Potter, surely. He's always who you're spending most of your time with now. You seem to have forgotten about everyone else.

Is golden boy really so amazing?" She asks.

I shift around uncomfortably, remembering what had just happened and how strange everything had felt.

"Do you even care about me anymore?" She questions. This time, I'm almost positive I hear her voice shaking.

I knew that Pansy had- well maybe has, fancied me since fourth year. And she probably liked me before then as well. I really only feel that she's a friend to me, though. I don't know what to do.

I decide I need to make it up to her. Besides, after whatever happened tonight, it might be best I stay away from Potter for a bit.

It's like I wasn't in charge of my thoughts.

I look at Pansy's hurt eyes.

"Pansy, do you have a date to the Yule Ball? Cause if not I'd like to make everything up to you and..." I'm interrupted for a second time tonight by a face full of dark hair.

"Of course Draco," is all she says.

I am feeling very strangled and remember to make one thing clear.

"Pansy, this is only as friends. You know that, right? Cause if you want to be someone's actual date then you should go ahead," I clarify.

"I know. I want to have fun, at a dance, with my best friend," she says, smiling in a very sweet, un Pansy like way.

I nod slowly and she runs off to bed.

What a night.