4«The Dance Competition

The following Saturday morning was filled with sunlight, but it was starting to get colder outside. The leaves were starting to change and fall from the trees, and the animals were scurrying around for food to store for the upcoming winter.

That Saturday was sure to be an eventful one. At precisely 12:00, a Quidditch game was to take place: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. The students were anxious during breakfast to get to the stadium and watch what was sure to be a great game. Also, the Sixth Year Dance Competition was to take place at 8:00 that evening.

Harry seemed to be a little uptight and nervous, seeing that Slytherin was the team’s hardest opponent. “You’ll do fine like always, Harry,” Hermione assured him.

“Yeah, you go catch that ol’ snitch and leave Malfoy eating dirt like last year,” Ron chipped in.

“Is Malfoy a good player?” Justine asked, causing others to stare at her with wonder.

“He’s not a bad player, but that’s because his father hired a private teacher over the summer, or so I heard from Oliver Wood. Besides, he’s always too busy making fun of me to be paying attention to the game,” Harry told her. He finished the last of his pumpkin juice and got up. “Well, Wood wants us at the field by ten, so I better be off. See you all later.”

“Good luck!” they shouted back.

The wind blew harshly at the students as they gathered in the Quidditch Stadium. Ron, Hermione and Justine took a stand that overlooked the center of the field. “How exciting!” Justine told them as the wind blew her scarf into her face.

Soon, Madam Hooch appeared in her black and white robes. “Remember, a good, clean game! On my whistle…” and she blew her screechy whistle. The quaffle ball was thrown into the air and snatched away by a Gryffindor. She quickly sped through the crowd of opponents and teammates, throwing the ball towards the center hoop at the end of the field. However, the Slytherin Keeper easily blocked her throw, and it was now in the Slytherin’s possession.

While the quaffle was being shuffled around the field, and the beaters were keeping the bludgers out of the way, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of the golden snitch.

“You’re not going to be victorious this time Potter!” Malfoy yelled to Potter as he flew by.

“We’ll see who ends up victorious in the end, Malfoy.” Harry looked around and finally was able to catch a glimpse of the small golden ball flying by.

Malfoy must have seen it too, because he was zooming by Harry at full speed on his Nimbus Two-Thousand-One. “This time I will get it!” He yelled.

“In your dreams, Malfoy!” Harry yelled as he came up, riding his out of date Nimbus Two Thousand.

Malfoy bumped Harry hard in the side, jabbing his elbow into his ribs. This year, Harry decided to strike back with his own forceful blow. Malfoy lost control for a brief second, but regained his course and sight on the snitch.

Gaining speed on Harry, young Draco held his right hand out, reaching for the snitch. He wanted nothing but to prove to Potter that he could be just as good if not better at a simple game of Quidditch.

“Harry, watch yourself!” Fred Weasly shouted across the field.

Harry looked to his right over his shoulder in time enough to see one of the Slytherin beaters strike a bludger towards the Gryffindor seeker. Harry remembered from his second year what it was like to be hid by that particular ball, and wasn’t in the mood to relive his experience. He pulled up on his broom, leaving Malfoy in the clear for the attack.

“Your loss Potter!” Malfoy shouted, as he was about to grab the golden ball. However, his almost-victory was short lived when he felt an enormous surge of pain shoot through his back. He had been hit by a bludger.

At that moment, Justine jumped up and leaned over the edge of the railing. “He’s hurt!” She said, as Malfoy’s legs parted with his broom and he went crashing to the green grass below.

“Time out!” Madam Hooch yelled after blowing her whistle. She and a few other teachers hurried to Malfoy. His teammates landed on the grounded and gathered around.

“Give him space!” Snape snapped at them and they quickly jumped away.

Madam Hooch examined him. “He’s been knocked unconscious. Bring him to the Hospital Wing immediately.” A stretcher was brought out and Malfoy was placed on top.

“I hope he’s alright…” Justine said quietly. Hermione and Ron looked at her with confusion.

The Quidditch game ended soon after the game resumed play. Harry had no competition on catching the snitch, making it a piece of cake for he and the Gryffindors to pull out another win over Slytherin.

“I’m starving,” Ron said as they met up with Harry after the game. “Good game, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Harry said with a smile. “Too bad that had to happen to Malfoy. What rotten luck.”

Justine thought for a moment and then stopped in her tracks. “What’s wrong, Justine?” Hermione asked when she noticed her friend had fallen behind.

“I think I’m going to skip lunch today. I’ve got to ask Professor McGonagall a question…I’ll catch up with you for History of Magic class.” And with that she hurried off around the corner.

“What’s that all about?” Harry asked as the others shrugged.

Justine made her way to the Hospital Wing, a part of Hogwarts she had yet to visit. She entered the large room lined with white beds and noticed a thin woman dressed in a nurse’s outfit. “Excuse me,” she said to get the lady’s attention. “I was wondering if I could…err…see Draco Malfoy?”

“Mr. Malfoy is resting from his injury,” Madam Pomfrey told her. “But, as long as you don’t disturb him,” she didn’t finish the sentence and led Justine down the row of beds to where Draco lay.

Justine couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Slytherin boy, as he lay totally oblivious to what was happening around him. “Will he be alright?”

“Oh yes,” Madam Pomfrey said folding her arms. “I had to mend his bones, but he’ll be fine within a few hours. I expect he should be waking up soon. Who knows what kind of drama act he’ll give me.” She turned and hurried off towards another bed.

Justine took a seat next to Draco and looked at his pale white face and his messed up blonde hair. She smiled and pushed a piece of hair out of his face. He must have felt it, because his body shifted a little. Justine pulled her hand away, not sure of what his reaction to her being there would be.

She sat there for almost half an hour, obviously missing all of her lunchtime. She was starring off into space when she heard a small moan. She looked down and saw Draco’s eyes forcing themselves open.

Draco’s vision was blurred at first, but it slowly started to focus on a figure he never in his life expected to see—Justine Tidewater. “You…” he said softly. “Why are you here?”

Justine didn’t know what to say. “I…eh, I came to see how you were.”

“Why?” He asked forcefully.

“I dunno…I just thought…”

He started to sit up, but stopped and leaned on his arm. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but just because we’ve been forced to be dance partners, doesn’t mean that I like you.”

“I never asked if you did,” Justine said, astonishingly.

“I never said you did,” Malfoy shot back quickly.

“Well, I hope you’re pain keeps you company for the rest of the day, Draco Malfoy. And don’t bother showing up later. I’d rather skip the stupid competition than be in the same room with you!” She got up, almost knocking her chair over and stormed off.

“Well, what a fine job that was,” Madam Pomfrey scolded Malfoy as she came back to his bed with a bottle and a spoon. She poured the liquid on the spoon and shoved it towards his face.

“What do you mean?” He ignored the terrible medicine in front of him.

“That girl skipped her lunch to come here and see how you were, and you cause her to leave. How ungrateful can you be?” She shoved the medicine in his mouth, making him gag on the terrible taste. “You’re free to go.”

It took Malfoy a second to recover from the taste, but he finally pushed himself up off the bed. He twisted around to crack his back, which felt much better now. And for once in his life, he thought about what someone had said to him. For now, the only question racing through his head was why?

Eight o’clock came, and the music hall filled quickly with students of all years and teachers. They all seemed to be in a delightfully cheerful mood, with music playing and students dancing with friends. Hermione was busy dancing with Ron, while Harry and Justine sat on the side drinking punch.

Justine sat quietly wearing her sparkling blue dress with her hair hanging over her shoulders. Harry noticed her sad face. “Are you alright?” He asked humbly.

Justine looked up from her trance. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

Harry shrugged. “Nothing. You just seem down. You’re not upset that Malfoy’s not here, are you? Seriously, you’re better off without him.”

“I know.”

“Maybe we could ask Madam Winslow if you and I could be partners for the dance,” he said thoughtfully.

Justine smiled at him. “That’s alright Harry. It wouldn’t be fair to Jessica if you left her without a dance partner. I’m fine, really. I never cared anyway.”

The music had stopped and Hermione and Ron joined the two. They talked for a while, watching a bunch of first year’s acting quite strangely when a certain song was being played, however, it actually seemed to be a fast paced muggle song.

“May I have your attention please!” Madam Winslow shouted amongst the crowd. She stood on a small stage that had been set up with a group of teachers that were to be the judges. “Now, in a few minutes we’ll have the sixth years get with their partners and perform their practiced dances. Now, this year we’ve decided to do something a little different. We’re letting them have a second chance of winning a prize. There will be the planned dance, and then they’ll be allowed to do a sort of freestyle dance where they could do whatever they want.” Some of the students were amazed, but nonetheless, it was another chance to win whatever the prize was going to be.

“Are you sure you’re ok with this?” Harry asked Justine again.

“Really, Harry, I’m fine.” She watched as her friends met with their partners and went out towards the dance floor.

Justine sighed lightly and leaned over to put her glass on a table behind her. As she did so, someone walked up in front of her. “Are you just going to sit there all night?” A sinful voice asked.

Justine couldn’t believe the sight before her. Draco Malfoy, dressed in black pants and a royal blue button-down shirt that brought the color of his eyes out. His hair was in its usual slick style, and his mouth barely smirked.

“I don’t…understand,” Justine started.

Malfoy extended his hand as his left eyebrow rose. “You have a lot to learn about me, Miss Tidewater.”

Justine heard Madam Winslow’s announcement once again. She kept her sights on Malfoy as they walked into the center of the dance floor.

Hermione leaned over her dance partner towards Ron, who was next to her. “Look, Malfoy showed up.” Ron had an expression of shock, as did Harry when he saw the Slytherin punk.

“The freestyle dance will be first,” Madam Winslow announced as a loud and fast song started to play. The teachers had no idea who the musician/singer was, but a good number of the students seemed to.

Hermione, Ron and even Harry couldn’t help but pay more attention to Justine and Malfoy than to their own dance partners. Malfoy, in fact, was showing an array of different moves, making him look sly and sexy.

Justine never broke eye contact during the dance, except when Malfoy went behind her. Even when he had taken her hand to spin her around, she tried to keep her eyes on the young man next to her.

As the song was coming to an end, the tune started to get faster and louder. But just as it stopped, Justine’s foot slid on the floor, causing her to fall back. Lucky for her, and the girl behind her, that Malfoy’s arm caught her easily and held her there as if it was supposed to happen.

The audience cheered at the students, being pleased and surprised at their performance. Justine looked at Draco’s sweaty face as he helped her back on her feet. He panted lightly, but now he had a smug grin on his face. “Not bad, Tidewater,” he said almost in a whisper as he rolled up his sleeves.

“I should say the same. You definitely surprised me, Draco.”

The next announcement was made, and it was time to put all the students’ practicing to work. The soft and much slower music started, each student bowing or giving a slight curtsy towards the other.

Malfoy and Justine took their positions with each other and moved along the dance floor gracefully and flawlessly. Justine moved without thinking, as if her feet were programmed to move in sync to Malfoy’s. She took the time to study his features, and saw that he didn’t seem like such a bad guy; at least not to her.

Draco was doing the same thing at that moment. Hundreds of different thoughts ran through his head, many of them associating with Justine. She was a beautiful girl; he would admit that in a heartbeat. He wouldn’t mind spending some extra time with her, but he knew that it would be different with her. She didn’t seem to hate him as much as Granger did. And as far as he knew, she wasn’t born from muggle parents.

The song ended with a graceful beat, and each pair of students stopped as well; some were before, after or right on with the music.

Malfoy’s hands didn’t let go of Justine just yet, however. He seemed to be glued to her, trying to contemplate what was running through his mind. Finally, he realized what was happening and let her go and stepped back. “We’ll see how we stand when they make the scores. I don’t think it was that bad.” He barely smiled and walked away.

Justine stood there for a moment speechless. That was until her friends came bounding up next to her. “You did great!” and “I can’t believe it!” was coming from all of their mouths.

Hermione took her aside a minute and asked what she had been dying to ask all night. “Why did he bother coming and not ditch you?”

“I have no idea…” was all that Justine was able to say.

Madam Winslow, accompanied by Professor Dumbledore, walked up the few stairs onto the makeshift stage. “Your attention, please,” she said happily. “Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words and then announce the winners of our Sixth Year’s Dance Competition.”

Professor Dumbledore took once step forward and put his hands behind his back. “I’d like to congratulate every student on a job well done. You impressed many of us teachers, and we were delighted to see almost all of you take a part in this event.” He held out a piece of parchment in his hand. “Now, these are the winners. The total results will be posted by the door after the winners have been announce.” He took a second to clear his throat. “For the freestyle dance,” he began, “we have Justine Tidewater and Draco Malfoy as our winners.”

The room broke out into an explosion of applause and cheers. Justine was frozen into place, unable to believe what she had just heard. Dumbledore asked if the two would come up onto the stage, and Harry and Ron practically had to push her to start moving.

Justine and Malfoy entered on opposite ends and each were handed a small trophy.

“Now, don’t go anywhere you two,” Dumbledore said as he held up the paper again. “For our formal dance there was a tie. Justine and Draco was one pair of winners, and the other was Pansy Parkinson and Joe Smelts. Congratulations to them all.”

Draco and Justine looked at each other in amazement, both thinking the same thing. They won both contests…go figure!

However, because there wasn’t supposed to be two winners, each pair was given only one trophy to share. Draco told Justine he had no need for such silly items and she could keep it. After that, he left the stage and the room all together, his friends Crabbe and Goyle following close behind.

“That’s wonderful!” Hermione couldn’t stop saying for the rest of the night. “I can’t believe that Malfoy cooperated with this whole thing.”

“Me neither.” Justine placed both trophies on her nightstand and changed into her pajamas. She said goodnight to Hermione and slid under the warm blankets of her bed. She lay on her side, looking at the two trophies. She had wondered why Malfoy didn’t care about the second one, because he took the first one. She shrugged and closed her eyes, only being able to see images of Draco Malfoy and herself dancing the night away.