A/N ~ I loved reading everyone's theories... oh well... enjoy the rest of the Yule Ball :)

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The double doors of the Great Hall swung open, and the entire hall burst into applause.

Y/N stood in the front row of the crowd with her arm linked with Malfoy's. Rolf and Luna were a few feet away, clapping enthusiastically, as the four champions entered the hall with their partners.

First, came Krum, in his bright red dress robes- with the glowing Hermione, who was beaming widely and waving around at her friends. She caught Y/N's eye and blew her a kiss brightly.

Y/N chuckled and blew one back dramatically. Malfoy stared down at her disapprovingly.

Next was Fleur, in her glittering grey dress, that took everyone's breath away, arm in arm with a very well dressed Cedric, who had a soft grin on his face.

"You're so beautiful," Y/N whispered, as Fleur walked past her.

"Says yourself," Fleur whispered back, giving her a wink.

After the four, Y/N held in her breath.

Harry strode into the hall, with Cho Chang clinging onto his arm. Y/N felt a strong urge to look away and run as far as possible towards the other direction, but stood still, clapping politely.

She looked at Harry and blushed furiously.

He looked so adorable, in his black dress robes and puffy hair. Cho was wearing a long cream coloured dress, and looked painfully beautiful. She waved around and clutched Harry's arm tightly.

Harry had a rather fake grin on his face, and was looking around the clapping crowd. His eyes travelled and scanned the hall, from left to right.

He finally found Y/N, far to the right of the crowd. It took him a second to realize it was her.... his jaw dropped and his eyes grew wide.

Harry stared at Y/N and temporarily forgot how to breathe- her hair, her smile (which looked far from authentic), her dress, and just... her.

The two locked eyes with each other for a few seconds, and it felt like hours.

Y/N finally took a deep breath and looked away, making Harry feel suddenly guilty.

Y/N hated herself for obeying her craving and looking into Harry's eyes. Now, she just looked desperate.

But Harry found it impossible to take his eyes off Y/N. Just the sight of her was addicting.

Suddenly, Y/N felt Malfoy's arm yank her backwards roughly, away from the front of the crowd. She looked up to see Harry and Cho disappear into the dance floor.

"What do you think you're doing?" Malfoy spat, releasing Y/N's arm and straightening his robes.

"What do you mean?" Y/N frowned, as the music started to play for the champions to waltz to.

"You're my partner tonight," Malfoy hissed. "why don't you just behave non-childishly and not stare at Potter and Chang?"

"I'm not staring at anyone!" Y/N snapped back, glaring at Malfoy dangerously. "And if you think me cheering up my friends is childish, then literally leave."

"You should be grateful you even have a partner, tonight, Scamander." Malfoy said, his face scrunching up.

"What's going on, here?" Rolf came swimming through the crowd and stopping in front of Y/N and Malfoy. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

Luna came gliding after him in her puffy green dress with a dreamy look on her face.

"Hello, everyone." she said with a bright grin.

"What's he doing to you, Y/N?" Rolf asked impatiently, looking at Y/N's expression and Malfoy's sneering face. "Y/N? Why is he-?"

"I'm her date," Malfoy said with a smirk on his face. He stepped closer and grabbed Y/N roughly around the waist. Y/N immediately sucked in her breath, trying not to punch Malfoy in the jaw. "you've got a problem?"

Rolf's mouth fell open and stared at Y/N unbelievably.

Luna blinked and examined Y/N's face-it was probably her way of showing disbelief.

"I thought- I thought you and Harry-?" Rolf started. But when he glanced over at the dance floor, his eyes fell on Harry and Cho.

They were dancing to the music- Cho was smiling into Harry's face dreamily, and Harry was grinning back. But Y/N could tell, something was off.

It was different to the grin he had, whenever Y/N did something stupid. It was different from the grin he had, the night he was supposedly spiked with love potion. The smile he gave Cho didn't overflow with emotion and happiness.

"Why are you all gathered here?" came George's voice.

Y/N turned to see him and Katie Bell approaching them from the crowd.

George already had his coat off, and Katie was giggling in her long maroon dress.

The two were smiling, looking like they were enjoying themselves-

"We're not gathered here." Y/N said, not wanting to see George or his twin, after what they did, last week. She shuffled uncomfortably in Malfoy's tight grip. "In fact, I'm leaving."

"We're leaving." Malfoy corrected. "Let's have a dance."

"Sure, OK," Y/N said irritatedly, forcing back an eye roll.

"Wait, Niff," Rolf grabbed his sister's arm. Y/N sighed and looked back and Rolf lowered his voice. "Be careful of what you're doing- please. Especially without Harry, and with Malfoy."

"I know what I'm doing." Y/N said, with a firm nod.

"Come on, Scamander." Malfoy hissed, gripping Y/N's wrist like an angry crab.

"See you, Rolfie. See you, Luna. Enjoy yourself, Katie." Y/N purposely ignored George and let Malfoy drag her away from her brother and friends.

Rolf continued to stare after her in concern and Luna waved at her brightly.

"Scamander, let's dance." Malfoy said with a grin, once the two were away, and by the dance floor.

By now, almost everyone was dancing with a partner. As far as Y/N could see, Ginny was dancing with Neville, Dumbledore with McGonagall, Hermione and Fleur with their partners, and Moody and Filch, by themselves.

"Scamander..." Malfoy whispered, getting more and more irritated.

"Never touch me like that without my permission, ever." Y/N hissed, when Malfoy tried to put his arm around her waist again. "Let's just get everything over with."

Y/N forced herself to not look at Harry and Cho, who were now waltzing closer and closer to her and Malfoy.

"Scamander," Malfoy extended his right hand. "dance with me."

"Yeah, OK, fine." Y/N sighed and took his hand.

Malfoy smirked and immediately pulled Y/N close to him. Y/N stepped away slightly, slowly feeling more and more uncomfortable.

She grimly put a hand on his shoulder and held his other hand loosely.

A new song started playing, in a soft and dreamy tone, and Malfoy steered her into a very formal kind of dance. (A/N ~ I recommend listening to Potter Waltz rn)

Y/N let Malfoy lead her into the dance and was careful not to let him pull her in too close.

She looked to her left and saw Harry and Cho very nearby. Cho was very close to Harry's face, making Y/N's heart sink into her stomach.

She didn't even want to look at Harry's face- she wouldn't be able to handle it, if he looked pleased. So she kept her eyes fixed upon Malfoy's.

"You're very... nice-looking." Malfoy said with a grin, looking at Y/N's lips. "You know, if it wasn't for your family, mother and father would love you."

"Well, I love my family, so too bad." Y/N said cooly. She wasn't really paying attention to him. She could sense Harry and Cho moving closer to them, and Hermione and Krum were also near by.

She quickly looked over at Hermione, who seemed to be really enjoying herself.

Y/N sighed- she didn't want to bother Hermione with her own problems.

"Keep your eyes on me when you're dancing with me, will you?" Malfoy said in frustration.

"Alright, I'm sorry." Y/N muttered, turning back to him. The operatic music started to rise and get more intense, like the climax of a Muggle movie.

Y/N let out a soft gasp when Malfoy suddenly lifted her up by the waist.

She wondered how Harry was doing with Cho, on that.

Y/N finally couldn't take it, and fully let her eyes travel to Harry.

Her eyes fell on him and Cho, just as he twirled Cho around. She spun on her spot, her dress flowing beautifully- Harry was chuckling slightly- they looked perfect together.

Y/N suddenly felt a rush of nausea. She froze in her spot and immediately stopped dancing, letting go of Malfoy's shoulder and hand.

"What is it?" Malfoy asked, sounding quite impatient. "Why do you seem off, today?"

"I don't know..." Y/N said in a shaky voice, adjusting the top of her dress. "I- I'm sorry, Malfoy but I can't dance with you."

"Why not?" Malfoy frowned, his voice rising dangerously. "Everyone else is dancing, why can't you?"

"I didn't want to come to the ball with you in the first place." Y/N said quietly, looking right into Malfoy's grey eyes.

"It doesn't matter what you want or not." Malfoy shot, throwing his arm into the air. "I knew you didn't want to come- but why does it matter? Just look good for me, for Salazar's sake!"

Several dancing people looked around and stared at Malfoy and Y/N, including Hermione and Krum.

"So I'm only here, just to look good for you?" Y/N snapped back. "You saw that I was clearly rejected, so you took advantage of that and asked me?"

"Oh, you've got it all wrong." Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I've always wanted to ask you- and you should be grateful to have me as a partner. Without me, you would've gone alone-"

"I'm sorry, Malfoy, but I've got to go." Y/N said firmly, angry tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm not a good enough partner for you and your stupid family. I'm sorry I agreed to come with you, when I clearly wasn't ready to move on. Now, good bye."

"Hey, don't walk away- hey, Scamander!" Malfoy called. But Y/N was gone.

Y/N vision was blurred by her sudden tears, as she pushed past everyone and headed for the doors.

"Scamander, everything alright, there?" Moody asked her, when she accidentally bumped into him and his whizzing eye.

He was wearing his normal clothes, and his fake leg was decorated with sparkles, for Christmas.

"Yes, Professor." Y/N said shakily, not directly looking at the Professor. "I- I forgot something at my dorm."

Y/N gave the professor a fake smile, waited for him to leave her, and ran out of the Great Hall- her shoes clicking loudly.

Once she was away from all the chaos inside the hall, she let out a tiny dry sob... Harry looked perfectly happy with Cho, and without her. Whereas to Y/N, she felt like she wasn't herself, without his company- his laugh, his terrible jokes and even his awkwardness.

The hallway outside was very quiet, and almost empty.

Y/N sniffed her tears back loudly, calming herself down.

The sound of her sniff reminded her of that one time when she got yelled at by Snape in her first year- he made her bawl her eyes out at lunch break.

Harry cheered her up, and eventually made her laugh, teasing her about how accurate Rolf's sayings were- she did sound like a Niffler when she cried.

"Don't..." she said in frustration, to herself.

She quickly tilted her head up, like always, and patiently waited for the tears to be gone.

Once her eyes were dry, she sighed and walked through the warmly lit hallway.

She walked past a few couples that have snuck out of the ball, and past a few crying girls on the steps.

She didn't know where she was going, but anywhere would be better than in the Great Hall, with Malfoy bossing her around and with Harry and Cho dancing happily together...

(Meanwhile in the Great Hall...)

"Rolf, I feel so sorry for her." Luna said gently, after she watched Y/N storm out of the hall, as Rolf steered her around on the dance floor. "She clearly loves Harry Potter. And he clearly loves her."

"I thought so too, Luna." Rolf frowned thoughtfully. "Two weeks ago, they were practically all over each other."

"What do you mean by thought so?" Luna frowned slightly, her large blue eyes staring into Rolf's brown ones.

"Well, they don't look like they're really 'in love' with each other anymore." Rolf shrugged. He was talking about something else, but his focus was all on her- Luna.

"No, I really think they still are." Luna said seriously, not leaving the topic. "Like a story, a healthy relationship will always have a conflict, Rolf. But like a story, it will always have a resolution."

"What if there isn't a resolution?" Rolf asked weakly, glancing at Cho.

"Then, it really isn't a complete story, isn't it?" Luna smiled, tilting her head slightly.

Rolf looked down at her and smiled at her smile.

Luna made him feel safe, even as a thirteen-year-old girl, who was a head shorter than him. Her dreamy voice sounded comforting. And surprisingly, her odd way of waltzing did, too.

She closed her eyes and hummed, and unlike the others, she was the one spinning him around, and had her hand on his waist. Rolf didn't seem to mind that at all.

"Did you lot see Y/N storm off?" Fred asked the two, as he waltzed by with Angelina. "She looked upset."

"Something happened with her and Harry." Rolf replied, finally able to look away from Luna for a second.

"Oh, that's not good." Angelina sighed. "I mean- have you ever seen either of them look happy, without the other?"

Rolf, Luna and Fred shook their heads.

"Well, looks like she'll be needing some of our Cheering Potion." Fred slowly grinned, trying to defuse the tension.

"Cheering Potion?" Rolf frowned.

"Makes you happy and cheerful- four Galleons a bottle." Fred replied proudly. "George, Lee and I have been working on it since October. Just finished up two days ago. We're trying to make money for our future joke shop, you see. But for you, Rolf, I'll make it two Galleons-"

But Rolf was barely listening.

He was staring at Luna in awe- she had started to dance to the music independently, with a soft smile on her face and her arms above her head.

Everyone around seemed to be laughing at her, but Rolf simply stood in his spot and admired her dreamily.

"Well... let me know about the cheering potion, Rolfie." Fred smirked, looking between Rolf and Luna, before gliding deeper into the crowd with Angelina in his arms...

(Flashback to one week ago...)

"Stupid ball... stupid tournament..." Malfoy muttered to Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy, as the four pushed their way through the busy hallway, on an early Saturday morning.

Malfoy glared intensely at a boy that had just asked a Beauxbatons girl to the ball, successfully. "I mean- who even invented this shit?" The blonde fussed.

"I think my dad did." Crabbe replied with his low voice, scratching his head dumbly. "He told me about it first, so he probably invented it."

"Don't be ridiculous, Vincent." Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I just need to find a way to get Scamander to go with me."

"Well... I'm always available." Pansy said hopefully, trotting after him desperately, flinging her short black hair.

"Your father told you to go with Blaise, stupid." Malfoy rolled his eyes once again, making Pansy's face drop. "I'm going to go with Scamander and Scamander only- ugh, Potter's always in the way. Scarhead. Saint Potter!"

His three Slytherin friends followed him quietly, as he shoved everyone in front of him aside and continued with his rant.

"My father will hear about all of this." Malfoy said, looking around the busy place. "It's no surprise this school is a- huh, what's this?"

Malfoy suddenly stopped, making Pansy shriek and trip, causing Crabbe and Goyle to fall down, after her.

"Help us, Draco?" Pansy asked dramatically, reaching her hand out, from the floor.

Malfoy ignored them and frowned at a piece of clothing that lay on the floor in front of him- it looked like some sort of headwear.

He picked it up curiously and examined it. It was a woollen hat, in a unique shade of F/C. He immediately recognised it.

"I know what this is," Malfoy slowly smirked, flipping the hat in his hand. "it's the pathetic hat Potter gave Scamander, last year."

"How'd you know that?" Goyle frowned. He reached out for the hat, but Malfoy quickly pulled it away.

"Never you mind." he hissed. "If only I could..."

Malfoy looked up just in time to see Harry and Ron, sitting by the fountain in the courtyard.

They seemed to be talking very eagerly about something, Ron smiling widely and Harry blushing furiously.

Malfoy sniggered and glanced back at his three friends. "Watch this."

"Draco, what are you going to do?" Pansy questioned, dusting herself.

Malfoy ignored her again and stepped forwards quickly, shoving Y/N's woollen hat into the pocket of his robes.

Ron and Harry, who were discussing about something excitedly, froze and looked up.

Their expression quickly changed, and their smiles became glares.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron shot dangerously.

Malfoy merely shrugged and continued to smirk at their direction.

Harry scowled and gritted his teeth.

"I'm having a very pleasant day right now- you're not going to ruin it." he muttered.

"I just wanted to ask you something, Potter." Malfoy said in a matter-of-fact tone. As if on cue, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle sniggered in the background. "Do you know where dear Y/N is?"

Ron scoffed loudly, before Harry could say anything.

"What exactly do you want, Malfoy?" the redhead repeated, slightly shielding Harry from Malfoy.

"Just wanted to know where Y/N is." Malfoy shrugged challengingly.

"You have the audacity to call her by her first name?" Ron laughed, tossing his hat strings dramatically. "She doesn't want to see you, Malfoy-"

"Why do you want to know?" Harry asked loudly, glaring at Malfoy intensely. "Why do you care where Y/N is?"

"Well, Potter," Malfoy swaggered forwards and smirked, stopping right in front of them. "Y/N and I- we've gotten a little closer, these days. She's been acting very friendly towards me... especially yesterday evening."

"What are you day dreaming about?" Harry snapped, feeling his blood boil. He had just had the best night of his life, and did not want Malfoy to ruin his mood.

"If you must know, Potter," Malfoy sighed loudly. "Y/N came and visited me, last night, at our common room." Malfoy watched as Harry and Ron's face became redder and redder. "You know, we talked... alone. Just me and her."

"She was with Harry, last night!" Ron growled. "They had a moment-!"

"Oh, is that why she was late?" Malfoy asked innocently. "Oh well, doesn't matter. She came to me late at night. All sleepy and sneaky- but we've been talking for a while, you see, so I guess she had her ways of fooling you."

"You're just a pathetic liar." Harry said firmly, but his voice was slightly less confident.

"Am I?" Malfoy huffed. His friends sniggered, once again. "You see, Potter. Your little girlfriend isn't that innocent, after all. Scamander spent quite a bit of time with me last night, if you know what I mean... didn't seem like she had her mind on anyone else."

"You're- lying." Ron hissed, shoving Malfoy's shoulder roughly. Harry simply glared at him, hating Malfoy with every inch of his brain.

"You think I'm lying, Weasley?" Malfoy laughed slightly. "Well, I can't do anything about that... but return this to her, will you?" Malfoy smirked and pulled out Y/N's F/C hat, shoving it into Harry's hand. Ron's jaw dropped.

"That's- that's Y/N's hat-" he stuttered, looking at Harry for confirmation.

Harry simply stared furiously at Malfoy, gritting his teeth firmly.

"She left it behind, last night, you see-" Malfoy continued nonchalantly. "dunno, didn't seem like she cared about it much."

Harry looked at the woollen hat in his hand- he gulped and realized that it was Y/N's.

It was the one he bought- made for her on Christmas, last year. He remembered him and Hermione working on it together, at the start of December, last year.

He would've never thought that Y/N would leave it lying around- especially around his enemy.

He would've never thought that Y/N would go behind his back and interact with Malfoy that way.

"She's going to the ball with me, by the way." Malfoy added. "I asked her right before she went to bed- she said yes. Good luck finding your partners."

Harry felt a rush on betrayal mixed with sadness. He felt angry, just thinking of Y/N, alone, with someone that wasn't him.

And to think that she was in Malfoy's possession, angered him the most. He hated Malfoy, truly. How could he?

How could she?

Malfoy and his friends sniggered.

"Tell her she's welcome to come back any time." he whispered cockily.

Harry wanted to punch every single inch of Malfoy- he wanted to shout loudly at his face and break down.

The realization that Y/N went to meet up with Malfoy, alone, after she confessed her feelings for him- after he made it very clear that he also loved her, made Harry want to crumble completely.

Malfoy gave Harry one last mischievous grin, before strutting back to his friends. They all burst into laughter, before leaving the courtyard, with triumphant looks on their faces.

"Harry..." Ron started slowly. "Harry, that git's just lying-"

"He's not." Harry said painfully, gripping tightly onto Y/N's woollen hat. "I knitted this hat myself, Ron- with Hermione's help (and Magic ofc). It's the only one in the world. This- it's hers."

"I don't... it could be- but what if-" But Ron couldn't make up a good excuse.

"You know he's not lying." Harry said, swallowing the pain. "Plus, this explains why she isn't awake yet. She probably took some time with him-"

"Harry, mate, stop!" Ron said desperately, shaking his head. "She didn't-! wouldn't-"

"Don't deny it." Harry said quietly. "He's popular, rich, pure,- why wouldn't she?"

The pain slowly hit him. Y/N. His Y/N. Wasn't his, anymore. He'd always thought- why would a girl like her choose him, out of everyone else? Well, she didn't. She didn't choose him.

"You really think-" Ron's voice shook. "You really- what're you-?"

"I don't want to talk about her, Ron." Harry said cooly, standing up, wanting desperately to sit back down and break down. "I'm going to ask Cho to the ball- I don't care."

"What do you mean?" Ron quickly scrambled on his feet and stood in front of Harry. "Mate, you're not thinking this through- you're going to hurt her-"

"She wouldn't be that hurt," Harry said loudly. "not when she doesn't even have feelings for me."

Harry quickly pushed through Ron, ignoring all of his desperate calls.

His ears were hot- burning with anger. He felt angry tears form in his eyes and let out a growl of frustration. He was mad at her, and he'll do any petty act to get her feeling the same way- or close to the same way.

Ron sighed and quickly jogged after Harry- hating himself for not being able to stop what Harry was about to do next...

(Flashback over)

"Next time there's a ball, pluck up the courage to ask me, before someone else does!"

"Well that's- that's just-completely off the point-"

Y/N watched in shock as Ron threw Hermione a nasty look, before storming up the stairs, to his domitory.

Hermione was standing at the branch between the boys and girls dormitories, breathing heavily, and red in the face.

Y/N quickly lifted up her dress and rushed across the common room, to where her friend was standing.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked in concern, squeezing Hermione's shoulder gently.

"Ronald's what's wrong," Hermione sniffed, pulling Y/N into a tight hug immediately.

"What did he do, this time?" Y/N asked weakly, over her shoulder.

"He thinks it was a bad idea for me to go to the ball with Krum." Hermione said quietly. "He said I'm trying to help 'the enemy.'"

"Well, jealousy does not look good on him, then." Y/N said quietly, resting her chin on Hermione's shoulder. "Don't you remember him fangirling over Krum just a few months ago?"

Hermione chuckled weakly and pulled away, smiling gratefully at Y/N.

She examined Y/N's face carefully, staring at Y/N's red eyes and slowly frowned.

"Y/N... where were you?" Hermione asked slowly, touching the side of Y/N's face.

"I- I was-" Y/N hesitated. "Taking a walk 'round the castle."

"You were crying." Hermione whispered. "Oh, Y/N, you were crying- I shouldn't be talking about my problems when you clearly are suffering more-"

"Hermione, stop," Y/N said, shaking her head. "Don't worry about me. It's already too late for   me, anyway. But we still can solve your problem, so let's focus on that."

"How do you do it, Y/N?" Hermione piped. "How do you move on that fast?"

"The truth is... I haven't." Y/N said truthfully, the picture of Harry and Cho haunting her mind. "You know I love him... loved... whatever... and, well, if he finds comfort with her, then that's what I want for him. Then I have to be ready to move on."

"But that's not fair for you." Hermione said sternly. "Where's your comfort and love?"

"With you and Fleur, of course." Y/N said with a smile. "And maybe Ron... and Rolf and Luna... Fred and George-"

"Those little jerks." Hermione quickly changed her tone. "Why would they do such thing? They could've tested the love potion on themselves."

"What's done is done." Y/N said, trying not to think about it. "At least I was happy at that moment- it was nice."

Suddenly, the common room entrance swung open- in, came Harry in his black dress robes. He had no emotion in his face, whatsoever.

When he spotted Hermione and Y/N, he froze.

He noticed that Hermione had a stern expression on her face, and Y/N looked hurt... her eyes were red and her lips were trembling.

Harry could tell that she was crying. And Y/N didn't cry often. He wanted more than anything to throw himself off the astronomy tower, at that moment.

The look Y/N gave him- the look of betrayal and confusion...

But why would he care? She chose Malfoy... probably snogged him on the same night she snogged him.

It wasn't his job to apologize to her.

But something seemed... off.

Y/N scoffed in frustration, lifted up her dress, and ran up the stairs to her dormitory, leaving Hermione staring furiously at Harry.

"Where have you been?" She asked him heatedly, across the room.

Harry was too worried about Y/N to actually answer her.

"Was Y/N crying-?"

"Never mind, off to bed!" Hermione scowled, continuing with her crying. "And I hope you sleep well, knowing how much you've hurt her."

"Hermione, I-"

But Hermione, too, lifted up her long pink dress, and stormed out of the common room... but back through the portrait hole.

Harry knew immediately, that something was wrong. Why would Y/N be so hurt if she knew it was her fault things are this way?

But then again, she could just be confused with her emotions, after seeing Harry with Cho.

Harry liked Cho- she was kind and sweet, and very pretty.

But something about her, or perhaps about him, made Harry feel like he was with the wrong person.

Cho didn't make him laugh, she didn't bring crazy butterflies to his stomach, she didn't make him feel protective or jealous, when she started to dance with Cedric, instead of him...

It was someone else- someone that was now gone, that made him feel fully happy.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

There was a bit of commotion in the Gryffindor common room, the next morning.

Y/N was surprised to see everyone up so early in the morning, after the long night.

She quickly walked over to Hermione and Ginny, who were sitting by the fire place, looking frustrated, while reading the Daily Prophet.

"Morning," Y/N greeted the two girls hesitantly, rubbing her eye.

"Morning, Y/N," Hermione and Ginny chorused, still furrowing their eyebrows at the newspaper in their hands.

Hermione looked up and her lips parted.

"Are you feeling... alright?" She asked slowly. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." Y/N said firmly, wanting more than anything to throw the whole topic away.

"OK..." Hermione smiled and went back to reading the newspaper.

"Oh no, is it the Skeeter woman, again?" Y/N groaned. She sat down next to Ginny and read the headline on the paper- 'Dumbledore's Giant Mistake'. "Dumbledore's... what's this about?"

"Y/N, it's Hagrid." Hermione squeaked. "He's a- a-... here, read it."

Hermione handed Y/N the paper, looking so done with whatever she just read.

Y/N took the newspaper and started reading...

Within a few minutes, she stopped reading and looked up to see Hermione and Ginny swapping nervous glances.

"What?" Y/N questioned them.

"Y/N..." Ginny said slowly and hesitantly.

"What?" Y/N repeated impatiently.

"Hagrid... did you know he was half giant?" Hermione asked qietly, taking the newspaper back.

"Well, I didn't, but thanks to Skeeter's nosy arse, now I do." Y/N felt her anger starting to rise. "Why does it matter?"

"Well, Y/N, the more you know," Ginny sighed. "Giants aren't the friendliest. Never have been- they're dangerous creatures."

"I know, but why would that matter?" Y/N shot impatiently. "Hagrid isn't dangerous. He's one of the most friendliest wizards I know."

"Oh, Y/N... you've never met a monster you couldn't love." Ginny said weakly.

"Hagrid isn't a monster!" Y/N said unbelievably. "I can't believe you're taking it that way. The only thing wrong is Rita Skeeter's horrible words. And what's this bull crap about 'no one liking him'?"

"That's just Skeeter's twists." Hermione said disapprovingly. "I'm with Y/N. There's nothing wrong with Hagrid being half giant, but this writing is way over the line."

"Yeah, I'm not letting this slip." Y/N scowled and stood up. "Not again. I'm going to see Hagrid- come along if you want to."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Hagrid- Hagrid, it's us." Y/N knocked three times on Hagrid's door firmly. "Y/N and Hermione. We want to talk to you."

A beat of silence.

There was some noise coming from inside Hagrid's hut, and some tapping noises of his dog, Fang.

"Fangy- away!" came a big loud voice. "Away from the door-!"

The huge door swung open... inside was Hagrid- eyes swollen and tears rolling down his bushy face, holding the door handle.

Y/N and Hermione froze.

"C'min, c'min," Hagrid muffled.

"Oh, Hagrid." Hermione said sympathetically.

"Hello, Hagrid." Y/N gave her (half) giant friend a warm smile.

The two quickly entered the cold hut. Y/N ruffled Fang's head as a greeting and sat on a stool by Hagrid's dining table. Hermione nervously took a seat next to her.

"Hagrid, everything'll be alright." Y/N assured, as Hagrid slumped down onto his big chair. "The horrid woman won't last long, here. I'll help you get rid of her-"

"This is all my fault!" Hagrid bellowed, sobbing uncontrollably. "I wanted yeh lot to feel- feel safe, around me. I kept it a secret fer a reason!"

"Hagrid, we're not mad at you," Hermione said gently. "No one's mad at you or scared of you."

"We're mad at the Skeeter woman!" Y/N said heatedly. "She really should be bannished."

"Thanks, Mione, Y/N," Hagrid sniffed, wiping his tears with the table cloth. "but I don't think I should go back ter teachin'. No parent would wan' a half-breed like me, teaching their children."

"Hagrid, don't call yourself that!" Hermione exclaimed. "We want you back."

"It's only yeh lot." Hagrid sniffed. "E'ryone else just laughs at me."

"Stop, Hagrid," Y/N said firmly. She jumped off the tall stool and went over to pat Hagrid's arm. "I'll do something- anything- about this. We can't let her go around writing bull crap like that."

"No, Y/N, you'll get yerself into trouble." Hagrid said, shaking his enormous head and wiping away his tears. "I'll- I'll handle this myself."

"But she has to learn her lesson!" Y/N protested. "It's not only you, she wrote some nasty stuff about Harry-"

But Y/N froze. The realization that she and Harry were not talking anymore hit her hard. She regretted mentioning his name.

"What's up with you and Harry, anyway?" Hagrid asked, no longer crying. "I saw him at the ball, last night, with some girl from Ravenclaw. Why didn't he take you?"

"Long story," Hermione quickly said. Y/N was forever grateful for her. "but basically, they're not talking anymore. It's complicated-"

"That's not alright!" Hagrid suddenly bellowed, causing Y/N and Hermione to jump violently. "Harry without Y/N? You two are inseparable, since the firs' day o' school!"

"People change." Y/N said grimly. "Sometimes, too quickly. But I don't want to talk about him."

"Bu' yeh have to!" Hagrid argued. "I'm not letting yeh jus' drift apart like that- no ruddy way. A relationship like that is too valuable."

Y/N didn't say anything.

Nothing could fix the breakage of their relationship. Not after Harry betrayed her like that. Y/N felt ashamed and stupid for ever believing he would feel the same way she did.

"Then, who's going ter help him with the next task?" Hagrid asked weakly, seeing Y/N's blank expression. "He can't survive tha' without you two."

"That's too bad, then." Y/N shrugged, wanting more than anything for Harry to realize that.

"Yeah, I don't like this." Hagrid shook his head. "I don't like this at all. You two are depressin', without each other. But yeh know why I'm not that mad about it? 'Cause I know you'll make up, sooner or later. Nothin' can break you two apart- nothin'."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"This. isn't. right." Fleur fussed, throwing her arms into the air furiously.

Y/N sighed and braced herself for another rush of guilt.

She knew how much Fleur cared for her- especially about her love life. And there she was, sitting on her rock by the lake, angry and disappointed at Y/N.

"I'm sorry..." Y/N said shamefully.

"No, it isn't your fault!" Fleur said with her nose in the air. "It is the little boy- again! After everything you two have been through together, he still chose a random girl over you?"

"I'm as confused as you are." Y/N shrugged, staring into the frosty lake, as the Giant Squid swam by, under the icy surface.

"And he still hasn't said anything about it-? lâche." Fleur said heatedly, using her arms and hands to express her frustration. "What does Hermione think about this?"

"She... she's not talking to them, either." Y/N said.

"HA! As she should." Fleur dramatically slapped her lap triumphantly. "Stupid boys. Huh. At least he didn't show affection before, and then break your heart, after. 'Cause if he did that, I would kill him before the second task does."

Y/N felt another wave of guilt and embarrassment.

"Yeah. Right." she muttered.

"You deserve so much better, Miss balcony." Fleur said seriously. "I want you to be happy."

"I want me to be happy, too." Y/N said quietly, kicking the snow bellows her boots. This made Fleur even more sympathetic.

"I- I have to help you!" she said firmly, gripping both of Y/N's hands.

"Thanks, Fleur, but you can't help me-"

"Not right now, but I will!" said Fleur confidently, tossing her sheet of golden hair. "I tell you what, Miss balcony. Tomorrow, I want you to have a bathe."

"A bathe?" Y/N asked and frowned. "Do I stink that bad?"

"You don't, you smell amazing." Fleur said, giggling slightly. "But when I get mad or frustrated at something, I always take a long bath. I took a bath two days ago, and now I know what the second task is."

"That's... beneficial," Y/N said with a weak smile.

"I used the Hogwarts prefects' bathroom." Fleur said in a whisper. "It is available for us, Beauxbatons students. I was very excited to use it, the first time. It's on the fifth floor- the password is 'Pine-fresh'. Easy?"

"You want me to sneak into a restricted area, just to take a bath?" Y/N asked, chuckling slightly.

"Well- people do say that I'm extra." Fleur shrugged, grinning dreamily. "What do you say? Treat yourself with something nice, Miss balcony- or at least, do it for me."

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"P-Pine-fresh?" Y/N whispered. Immediately, the statue of Boris the Bewildered jumped aside, revealing the entrance to the luxurious bathroom on the quiet fifth floor. "I'm mad. mental." Y/N breathed.

She didn't know what she was doing. She was breaking several school rules just to get a nice bathe. Yep. Mental.

It was only eight in the evening, not yet past curfew, but it was the most quiet time around the castle. With only some people in the library, the Great Hall and the sauna.

Y/N quickly walked through the narrow entrance of the prefects' bathroom nervously and her jaw dropped.

The place was absolutely stunning.

She thought to herself that it would probably be worth becoming a prefect, just to get to use the bathroom again.

The bathroom was softly lit, making everything barely visible.

In the middle of the room, was a huge bathtub, the size of a small swimming pool. The whole thing was made of white marble, with rows of golden taps with different jewels and rolled up towels around the brim. There was also a diving board.

Long white linen curtains hung in front of the windows, and a large painting of a blonde mermaid was on the side of the wall.

Y/N sighed and moved closer to the tub. She ran her fingers through the golden taps and chuckled. Fleur was right- it was exciting, using the prefects' bathroom for the first time.

Y/N placed her wand at the edge of the tub and slipped off her school robes.

She stood at the side of the tub, in her button-up shirt and her skirt.

She shivered, as she took off her shoes and her toes touched the marble floor.

Y/N, then, started to unbutton her shirt, wanting more than anything to open all the taps at once, just to see what colour the water turns into.

But suddenly, something caught her eye, making her freeze immediately...

A pile of clothes. And it wasn't hers.

Suddenly, something- or rather, someone- emerged from the bubbly bathtub, making Y/N shriek in horror.

"AAARGHHH-!"

She ducked, as the water splashed all over her hair and clothes.

Y/N looked up and gasped loudly- and so did the person that emerged from the water.

"H-Harry?" Y/N got the tiniest glimpse of Harry's face and quickly shut shut her. "What are you doing in here? How did you hold your breath underwater for so long?"

"Y/N?" Harry exclaimed, coughing and breathing uncontrollably.

"Boo-hoo, Y/N... wait, who's Y/N?" Came another high-pitched voice of a girl.

A girl.

Y/N felt her anger rise immensely.

"WHY ARE YOU WITH A GIRL?" she exclaimed into the dark, not opening her eyes. "HARRY, I'M SO DONE WITH YOU. IS ASKING ANOTHER GIRL TO THE BALL NOT ENOUGH-?"

"Bitch, I'm a ghost." said the girl's voice, giggling evilly.

Y/N gaped and blushed furiously, feeling more embarrassed than ever.

Of course- it was Moaning Myrtle's voice. The ghost that haunted the bathrooms and pipes. How did she not recognise it?

"And you can open your eyes." Harry said with a sigh.

"But you don't have your clothes on-"

"A lot bubbles. Doesn't matter." Harry said shortly.

Y/N slowly opened her eyes and squinted through the dark. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized how insensitive and stupid she was.

How did she not see the pile of clothes before even removing her robes?

She didn't even notice that the tub was filled with bubbles, and not empty.

Her eyes, then, fell on Harry, who was half buried by the fluffy bubbles. His hair was soaked and flattened against his head, and he looked unsure.

Moaning Myrtle was giggling beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Y/N shot at him, annoyed. "I was going to take a bathe!"

"Well, the bath is occupied." Harry replied cooly, remembering that they weren't talking. Y/N scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Oooooh," Moaning Myrtle cooed, enjoying the scene in front of her.

"Why didn't you say anything when I came in?" Y/N asked heatedly, ignoring Myrtle's intense giggles.

She noticed that Harry had the golden egg from his recent task in his arms.

"Because my head was underwater, maybe?" Harry said, gritting his teeth. "How'd you get in here?"

"The same way you did, maybe?" Y/N sassed back. Harry growled and glared at her.

Myrtle continued to giggle loudly, eventually breaking into a shriek of laughter.

The two ex-friends stared at each other intensely, not caring that they were both not fully dressed.

Y/N was hurt to see that Harry didn't seem guilty about what he'd done to her- and Harry felt the same.

He didn't understand why she was mad at him- when she was the one who took off to Malfoy, the night he confessed his feelings for her.

But despite his confusion, he couldn't help thinking that Y/N looked pathetically adorable, standing there, in the middle of the room.

With her extremely messy ponytail and her scrunched up eyebrows. Harry looked at her up and down and quickly looked away, blushing slightly.

"Your buttons are undone." he muttered, staring firmly at bubbly water.

"And so is our four years of friendship, I guess." Y/N spat, before aggressively buttoning up her shirt and turning away.

She didn't wait for another word from Harry. She collected her wand and her robes from the brim of the tub and stormed away out of the luxurious bathroom, Myrtle's faint giggles following her behind.

Sorry, Fleur, but that was a horrible idea.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ No words. Head empty.

(Also, by Snapchat is @scribblequills, soooo add me if you want to)

-ScribblingQuills