*You best believe I enjoyed writing this chapter. And yes, Cinderella once again inspired me here. Can't you tell who my favorite Disney princess is?*

"I am not dancing with you," I said abruptly, before walking off toward my table. Malfoy followed.

"I never offered."

"Oh please," I said, giving him a look that he reciprocated. "You pull that line on me and act like you're here just to talk? Don't you have a date to go dance with?"

"Pansy left. And she doesn't dance."

"Really?" I said lowering my voice. I stopped and turned to see him only a few steps behind. "So when I saw her pouting in her chair a few hours ago, it wasn't because you said no to dancing with her?" Malfoy dropped the smirk but his humor was still present in those light eyes of his. He shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze leaving mine for a moment before returning.

"She's been in a foul mood ever since she spotted Granger dancing with Krum. What she did to poison his mind is beyond me- "

"He asked her, actually. Now, I doubt Pansy was in such a foul mood that she would give up dancing with you. Let me guess," I toyed, walking slowly up to him, stopping short by his side," You got tired of her constant attention for once. She wasn't being too handsy was she?"

Malfoy gave me what had to be the funniest glare, as I had to bite back my laughter and look the other way to grin.

"She dances as if one leg is stunned and the other's jinxed," Malfoy explained honestly. "Similar to how Deller danced from what I saw." I turned to look his way, grin gone. "Is there a toe he didn't mark black and blue?"

"Jasper danced fine," I defended, before walking back to my seat. "It's not like most people our age have much experience dancing. I'd be shocked if you were much better than him to be completely honest." I took a seat facing the dance floor. A few couples were dancing and Mila and Ana twirled around in a corner, happily oblivious to my situation.

"You've seen me dance," Malfoy reminded as he joined me at the table. Though he refused to sit and instead leaned against the side, blocking my view. I looked up at him, trying to remember.

"The only time I could of possibly seen you dance would have been last Christmas. But you never danced with your mother. Only came up to annoy me."

"I think I remember asking you to dance last Christmas, not annoy you. Though if I remember correctly, there was also that bit about your father potentially abusing you."

"Stop," I warned dangerously, catching his gaze. I huffed, looking away. "That doesn't count as seeing you dance," Malfoy smiled at my interjection like it was nothing.

"But it does mean you owe me a dance. For our mothers' sake, at least." I sat back in my chair and scoffed before shaking my head at his frankness.

"I knew it. I knew you didn't just come here to talk."

"And?" He asked nonchalantly.

"No," I said back shortly, crossing my arms and looking away. I expected him to start complaining like he usually did at this point in our conversations. But rather, he did the opposite.

"You know, at least I am trying to fix your disaster of a night. And don't look at me like that. You think I didn't recognize how angry you were at your partner being late? Or how about that nasty bicker at the table in between dances? And now this," He waved around us. "No date to end the night. A bit sad, don't you think?"

"The only thing I think is sad is how Pansy left you when she was the devoted one between the pair of you. You spent the whole night watching me rather than her."

"Don't act like you're not happy to hear that," Malfoy chided to my annoyance. "It's not like you to dislike people watching you. Especially on a night like this."

"And so I suppose you expect me to jump up to dance with you now?" I questioned hotly. Malfoy remained cool before speaking.

"No. But I think it would be a shame for you to waste this dance when I know you've been hoping to be out there all night. In fact, I'm pretty sure you'd do anything to dance around the floor again."

My cheeks burned, giving me away. I looked away from him again, my arms clenched across my chest as I thought his words over. How did he read me so well? It's not like I've ever given anything away about wanting to dance.

"What's in this for you?" I asked slowly, glancing back at him. "If I remember right, I've broken all those little rules you told me about when you asked me to the dance. And I don't plan on following them for the rest of the night either." He smirked again, but it seemed to be angled at himself rather than me.

"See that wizard sitting at the ref's table?" My eyes glanced behind him, where they focused on Ludo Bagman, the announcer from the Quidditch Cup. I frowned, before looking back.

"Bagman? What about him?"

"He's a bit of a loud mouth at the ministry. And unfortunately circles around my father as much as Weasley's. I'd bet money he'll bring up seeing us dance the next time he intercepts my father."

"And you think your father will care?" I questioned curiously. Malfoy shook his head a smidge. Another thought popped into my mind.

"Your mother. She wrote to you, didn't she?" Malfoy smiled slowly before nodding. A knowing look passed between us before I stood up.

"One dance. But I swear to merlin, if you step on my feet I'm walking away."

"Limping, actually." I glared his way but he had already taken my hand and brought me to the side of the dance floor. The smirk on his features only heighted as he placed a hand on the small of my back. The quartet was in the middle of a variation to the Blue Danube when we started. Immediately I knew Malfoy knew what he was doing. He led me automatically, something I was pleased to pass on. Seeing my look of relief, Malfoy questioned what that was about.

"You're leading."

"What did you expect me to do?" he argued. I chuckled softly before gently moving with the music.

"I had to lead for Jasper," I explained.

"That's a bit mortifying, don't you think?" He questioned, before turning me slowly, my lavender dress rising and falling against the floor like a breeze.

"Only to you would that be mortifying," I countered. Malfoy managed a shrug before leading on. Six other partners danced in similar circles, though not as coordinated as Malfoy and I quickly became.

"You never told me how you learned. Your mother I assume?"

"My grandmother actually," he explained, before leading me through another turn. "She had me dance with her until she couldn't leave her bed."

"You knew your grandmother?" I asked curiously. He nodded again.

"She died when I was eight. Bit of a pain, really. She smelled horribly of prune juice." I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of eight-year-old Draco waltzing with his old prune-smelling grandmother to the Blue Danube.

He twirled me around once more before the quartet strung their last chord. I made to let go of his hand but Malfoy kept it.

"I said one dance," I warned.

"Yes, and that was only half a dance. Come on." I gave him a haughty look that quickly disappeared the moment the opening chords to La Valse de L'Amour reverbed through the great hall. I loved this waltz.

As I circled back on the dance floor, I couldn't help smiling gleefully. This was how I wanted the Yule Ball to be. Being able to waltz 'till midnight.

"And to think you were going to sit through this dance. I should have waited for you to beg," He jabbed, before grasping my other hand and lifting me up in the air. On the descend I tskked his way, poking fun.

"I do not beg. Nor will you ever hear me beg. Especially to you."

"Bet you did when asking Deller." I caught his eye before he lifted me again. This time when I landed, I made to step on his foot on purpose. But as if sensing my thoughts, he twisted me further away from him and then back. He gave me a warning look that quickly broke into laughter as I looked away with a growing smile.

"Just because I asked Deller doesn't mean I had to beg," I said, getting back on subject the minute all couples changed sides. Malfoy gave me a hazy glance, his grey eyes suspicious of every word I said.

"By the looks of it, Deller seemed ready to run the whole night. What did you promise him to make him come?"

"I promised him nothing!"

"Oh?" Malfoy questioned, oddly cool. I managed a glare before turning away from him.

"Jasper's just shy. I'm happy he danced as much as he did."

"He looked scared of you. Even Pansy noticed."

"Pansy would say anything to get your attention," I interjected.

"Which made it so much easier to ask her out," He said causally, making me scoff.

"Right. Because I warned you about her. You're welcome by the way."

"For what?"

"Tell you about her," I explained. "As well as shooting you down when you asked me to the ball."

"I never asked you."

"Don't start," I warned as I caught a glint of that grey eye stare before he lifted me up in the air again. The pressure of his hands on my waist grounded me as the rest of me floated.

"Nott asked me out, you know," I said the moment I landed. He shook his head, not believing a word I said.

"Oh I'm sure he did. Was this before or after I asked you?" The sarcasm was heavy in his words.

"It was in the library. Shortly after you played with the idea of asking me. He seemed to think that it would be great fun to take the girl who made fun of Malfoy to the ball just to irk you."

"Why are you telling me this?" He asked in a serious voice for a change.

"Because you need better friends than him. He openly admitted to asking me out only to spite you. For all the grief you give me about my choice in friends, you are really one to talk."

The music was nearing its end as we slowed down. Malfoy's expression was carefully obscured as his eyes flickered behind us and then back to me.

"And I thought you were saying all this to make me jealous."

"Why would I do that?"

"You fancy me."

"I- what?" I gawked.

As the last chord graced the strings, I was taken by further surprise as Malfoy ducked to my face and kissed me gently. The shock that went through my system was different than any other kiss I've experienced, which hasn't been much.

As his fingers brushed through my curls on the nape of my neck, I naturally bended inward, my face angled up to his before he let go. I caught his silver gaze, containing that same shock I had felt moments before. His eyes said it all.

He had been right.

"I should slap you!" I hissed at him, seething.

"Do it, I dare you," he replied through a winning smile that made my teeth go on edge. "It's not like you haven't already proven something."

"Proven what? You kissed me. That says nothing about me liking you. Only you-"

"Maybe," He said coolly. His gaze drifted behind me again before returning to mine with a wider smile. "But it proved something to Deller. Just look behind you."

I froze before slowly turning toward the door. The quartet had started on a waltz variation of the Holly and the Ivy when my eyes took hold of Jasper with crossed arms fuming by the wall to the doorway. When he saw me looking, he made for the door.

"Such drama. It's not like he ever could end up with someone like you," Malfoy mused, as I slowly turned back to face him. "Even if he was a pureblood, he doesn't have the class to keep up with you."

The slap that followed was to my living memory the best slap I have ever acted on a person ever. If it wasn't for the volume of the quartet, I was pretty sure it would have echoed in the Great Hall. It sure felt nice, let alone the look of bewilderment that came over Malfoy before I stalked off, my lavender dress fanning out behind me.

It wasn't until after Ana and Mila next saw me that I understand just how many people witnessed such a spectacle. Even if the slap didn't echo in the hall, everyone saw it.

-

Hello There,

I've come to the conclusion that I should move my update times to days other than friday. I keep missing that deadline and it's not fair to all of you reading. I will post again on tuesday/wednesday and follow up on Sunday.  

I hope you liked the chapter. I greatly enjoyed writing their causal bickering. 

Until I see you next,

-WG-