Without You

The Yule Ball

Hermione was standing in front of the mirror, dressed in an amazing purple dress. Autumn could only stare, her mouth agape. She didn't expect Hermione to own such a feminine dress like this. She looked beautiful. She smiled at Autumn in the reflection.

"So, how do I look?" she asked, looking slightly nervous.

"You look beautiful, Hermione."

Hermione laughed, fixing her hair into a neat knot. "How about you, Autumn? Need help with your dress?"

* * *

"Let's walk down the stairs together." Hermione insisted, as Autumn shook her head. Never in her life had she ever felt so nervous about walking down stairs.

"Hermione, you go first. I-I... I don't think I'm ready."

"Don't be ridiculous. Autumn, you look beautiful."

It wasn't her appearance that made Autumn nervous about walking down the stairs. It was the fact that Cedric was standing by the stairs, and Autumn clearly did not want to speak to him. Not tonight. Especially not tonight.

Another girl brushes past Autumn, a girl who she recognised as Lavender Brown. She rushed down the steps quickly, almost tripping. After a while, Autumn decided to find her courage and walk down the steps to Malfoy. He was standing by the bottom of the steps, but didn't seem to notice her standing there. He was dressed nicely in a fitted suit. He wore a silver-grey necktie, matching with Autumn's silver dress.

She made her way down the steps, careful not to make the same mistake as Lavender. Draco turned his head to see her, his mouth slightly agape. He did expect her to dress nicely, but seeing her like this was different than just imagining. She finally reached the bottom of the stairs, smiling as she stepped towards him. He returned the smile, taking her hand.

They walked alongside each other to the ballroom, where the Triwizard champions had been dancing with their partners. Autumn was shocked to see Hermione dancing with Viktor Krum. Across the ballroom, she could see an upset Ron who was obviously not having the time of his life. In the corner of her eye, she could see Cedric dancing with Cho. It somehow made her feel slightly jealous yet relieved.

Soon, others began to join in the dancing. Looking at Autumn, Draco extended his hand to her.

"Autumn, would you like to dance with me?"

Taking his hand, Autumn nodded with a smile.

Autumn froze when she realised the amount of people staring and whispering about them. As expected, people continued to wonder why the unusual pair were dancing together. Everyone must have expected Autumn to go with another Gryffindor, and Draco with a Slytherin. All the girls in Autumn's class were hoping she'd go with Thomas Davies.

Thomas Davies was probably one of the most popular boys in Hogwarts. He was a Muggle-born who grew up with Autumn. He only lived a few houses away from her, which probably explained why they knew each other so well. She could also see him in the corner of her eye, staring at her as she started dancing with Draco.

Draco could sense that she was nervous. Her hands were shaking, and she could barely look at him.

"They're just staring at us, Draco. I think this might've been a bad idea."

Draco gently lifted her chin, his eyes looking into hers. "Don't look at them, Autumn. Just look at me. Only me. Pretend it's only the two of us here."

Autumn was surprised to hear Draco speak like this. He seemed like a completely different person. He reminded her of a Prince. The kind of Prince you could only read about in those children's books. Draco put one hand on her waist, and held onto her hand. Placing one hand on Draco's shoulder, they started to dance.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron refused to dance with their dates, who sat in disappointment.

"Why are we even here, then?" Paravti muttered, watching as the others continued to dance together.

Harry and Ron seemed to be focused on something else more important. Harry couldn't take his eyes off Cho and Cedric, and Ron couldn't look away from Hermione and Viktor. They still couldn't believe Autumn was actually dancing with Draco, and with a smile on her face.

"I reckon he bewitched her. What do you think, Harry?" Ron said, looking at Autumn and Draco. "She must be dying in the inside."

Harry did not respond, and only let out another sigh. He really wanted to dance, but he couldn't bear to dance with a girl who wasn't Cho.

"Well isn't this the best night of our lives."

Once the first song finished, Draco offered to get Autumn a drink. As soon as he left, Autumn could hear footsteps approaching her, in particular.

"Well, well. If it isn't Autumn Rosewood."

Autumn spun around, barely recognising the voice of the girl. It was Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin who Autumn used to be best friends with. When they were four years old, that is.

"Pansy," Autumn said, almost sounding frightened.

"Well, you look quite pretty, all dolled up." she leant in, whispering in Autumn's ear. "If you have any bad intentions on taking down Slytherin, I will not just sit still and watch. You got it?"

Autumn scoffed, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Admit it. This is what this is all about, am I right?"

Before Autumn could respond, Draco returned with drinks. He looked at Autumn, and then at Pansy.

"I see you two have met."

"We're best friends, actually." Pansy corrected, grinning at Draco. "See you around, Autumn."

Draco gave Autumn a questioning look. "Are you... really best friends with Pansy?"

"Years ago, actually." Autumn said, rolling her eyes. "My rival ever since."

Draco passed Autumn her drink, laughing a bit. "I didn't think you were the type of girl to hang out with Pansy."

Autumn took a sip of her drink, slightly tilting her head to the side. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Draco set his drink down on a table close by, his eyes fixed on something past Autumn's shoulder. He was frowning, expressing slight annoyance.

"By the way, your boyfriend won't stop staring at you," he paused, looking back at Autumn, "It's getting on my nerves."

Autumn turned her head to see who Draco was talking about. Of course, it had been Cedric Diggory. Cho was standing with him, but they seemed to be talking about Autumn. Since the both of them had their eyes fixed on herㅡ until she turned to them, that is.

Autumn turned back to face Draco, looking extremely flustered and uncomfortable.

Autumn's Point of View

I was getting sick of it. The amount of people paying extra attention to us tonight was crazy. Was it extremely odd for me to attend a ball with Draco Malfoy? Exactly what was so bad about it? Even Ron and Harry thought it was strange.

I looked up at Draco, who sighed in annoyance. He seemed to be inflicted by the attention, too. He called Cedric my boyfriend. Honestly, I did have a thing for Cedric, but I wouldn't go so far to call him my boyfriend. My feelings for the older boy started fading away after a few days. There was just something about him that reminded me of every other guy out thereㅡ Cedric Diggory was no adventure.

Suddenly, Draco grabbed my hand. It was so unexpectedㅡ he started heading out of the ballroom, pulling me along with him. I think he had enough of drinking and dancing, just as much as I did. I could see Ron and Harry eyeing us, Ron shaking his head.

As soon as we were far enough from the ballroom, he released my hand. His grip was firm, and it almost hurt. He seemed really upset, and I had no idea why. He let out another sigh, messing his hair in frustration. Although his styled hair was ruined, he still managed to look good somehow. Confused about the situation, I decided to speak to him about it calmly.

"Draco, are you alright?"

I had to ask at least a couple of times before he was ready to answer.

"Autumn, I'm sorry. I just wanted to get away from the crowd." He looked away, as if embarrassed about what he was about to say. "Besides.... I think it would have been better with only the two of us alone."

I swear at that moment that my heart stopped beating. I couldn't believe itㅡ is this really Draco Malfoy speaking? The same boy who bullied my friends and broke my wand? All of a sudden, he seemed like a completely different person. He didn't seem like the Draco Malfoy everyone else knew at all.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. I didn't know what to say, but I knew I had to say something. And as expected, nothing came out of my mouth. I couldn't speakㅡ it was as if I had no control over myself.

Third Person

Draco knew he was different when he was with Autumn. All of a sudden, he'd forget his reputation of being the snooty Slytherin Prince and find himself acting and speaking differently ...only to Autumn.

"Draco..." she finally said after a while. She said his name so warmly, he had never felt the way he did before. He could feel his heart pounding, but refused to admit that it meant anything.

Autumn looked up at him, her brown eyes sparkling in the moonlit hallway. They stood there, silently, staring into each other's eyes, as if they were only waiting for their lips to meet each other's. Draco cupped the side of Autumn's face, raising her head only slightly. Their lips finally met for the first time when Draco pressed his lips against hers. It was a gentle, yet captivating kiss, and happened to be the first for the two of them. The first that actually meant something, at least.

Out of breath, Autumn pulled away, her eyes not meeting with his. She was shaking her head, backing away from him. She looked up at him with the saddest expression he had ever seen, quivering the words, "We shouldn't have done that... We really shouldn't have done that..."

Autumn rushed off towards the Gryffindor common room, leaving Draco behind, speechless. He froze on the spot when he heard the familiar, cold voice coming from behind him. Turning around, he was greeted with a slap to the face.

"Father."