Without You

Tonight

Autumn opened her eyes. Hermione was sleeping peacefully, all snuggled up in her quilt. Autumn quietly got out of bed, and left the room in a tip-toe. She had to be careful not to wake anybody up.

Autumn was in the school corridor, walking to no place in particular. She just wanted fresh air, hoping it would do any good. There were only two days left until the Yule Ball. Discouraged, Autumn let out a sigh. She didn't realise how upsetting it was not to be able to attend the Yule Ball.

"So this is how Cho must have felt." Autumn thought to herself. She stopped at the balcony, leaning forwards onto the ledge. The wind blew gently, as the leaves in the trees rustled in the late night. Closing her eyes, she let the breeze pass her. She felt tears forming in her eyes. She let them fall, glad to know nobody was around to witness her distress.

As soon as Autumn sensed somebody's presence behind her, she wiped away her tears with her sleeves. Turning completely around, she sighed in relief. It was only Draco Malfoy, not any of the prefects or Professors.

"What are you doing sneaking around so late at night? You're not snooping, are you?" he asked. Autumn didn't know if he were serious or not.

"Stop following me, Draco." she joked, her voice sounding frail. Draco must have noticed her tear-stained face, since his expression softened. He hated to admit he ever felt any worry over somebody else.

Autumn turned around, her back facing Draco again. He moved to stand beside her, his hands resting on the balcony. They stood there in silence before either of them spoke up again.

"So, what made you so upset?" Draco asked, not looking at her. He wanted to make sure he only sounded curious, and not worried.

"It's nothing. It's pretty stupid, actually," she shook her head. She knew Draco wouldn't understand. She knew that Draco was only going to laugh at her and tease her for the rest of her life. "But it's nothing."

"I promise I won't say anything about it." he looked as though he were being serious this time. "You can tell a friend, can't you?"

Autumn looked at him, wondering if she'd ever regret telling him any of this. Draco Malfoy bullies her friends, teases her, broke her wand and now he wants to know why she's upset? Then again, sometimes he's different. Sometimes he just doesn't act like the Draco Malfoy everyone else knows. Like the time he fixed her wand. It was because of that moment she starting thinking that maybe he could be different; misunderstood.

She took a deep breath before telling him everything.

"So that's what this is all about? The Yule Ball?" he asked.

"I knew it. I shouldn't have told him anything. He's just going to laugh at me and tell everybody that Autumn Rosewood has no date to the Yule Ball." she thought to herself.

Before she could say a word, Draco continued.

"It's really no big deal. If that's the only reason why you're upset, why don't you..." he paused, murmuring. Autumn struggled to understand what he was trying to say.

"Whaㅡ?"

"Why don't you come with me to the Yule Ball?"

She almost laughed, thinking he was joking. Draco Malfoy just asked her to go with him to the Yule Ball! It was his expression that proved to Autumn that he was serious. Genuine. The boy must have had a lot of courage to ask her given the circumstance.

Autumn smiled. "I'd love to go to the Yule Ball with you, Draco."

* * *

"What?!"

Autumn had expected this reaction from her friends, but was hoping Ron wouldn't yell out as loud as he did. He managed to gain the attention of other Gryffindors eating around them. She waited an extra day to tell them, since she didn't want them to bother her about it for two days straight.

"Out of all the boys in the school, you're going with him? Autumn, I think you should go back with Cedric instead. This is a really bad idea." Ron said, shaking his head in disapproval. Harry seemed to be on the same page.

"No, you know what? I think it was really sweet of Malfoy to fix your wand like that. A boy who doesn't pay attention in class reads a whole spell-book to fix your wand? You have to admit, that is pretty sweet." Hermione said, smiling at Autumn.

"Look, I know Draco could be unreasonable, but he isn't a terrible person. I know what I'm doing, so you guys don't have to worry about me." she smiled, reassuring her friends. The two boys still didn't look like they approved. Autumn glanced at the Slytherin table, where Draco was sitting with his friends. Was going to the Yule Ball with Draco Malfoy such a big deal?

After lunch, the four friends headed to their Potions class. Ron couldn't help but look at Draco with an even more disturbed expression but usual. This time, Harry and the others made sure they sat well away from Draco. They all hoped Autumn and the Slytherin didn't get along too well. They were just too different; a friendship wouldn't make sense.

For the whole lesson, Autumn could barely pay attention. There was so much to think about. What was she going to wear? What was she going to do with her hair? What would everyone think of Draco Malfoy dancing with a Gryffindor?

All these things continued to come into thought until Snape slammed a spell book onto his desk. All the students jumped in their seats, gasping.

"It seems none of you are actually paying attention... If a single one of you dozes off this time, it'll be a detention on the night of the ball." he glared at the students, eyeing Autumn in particular. Straightening herself, she opened her closed spell-book and began to read along with the Professor.

"I still can't believe you chose Draco Malfoy. What was so wrong with Cedric Diggory that you had to choose him?" Ron asked, again. He seemed annoyed but only worried about his friend. He knew Draco as an unkind boy.

"Nothing was wrong with Cedric," Autumn whispered back. She had to be careful Snape couldn't hear her. She would hate to miss out on the Yule Ball now. "Can we talk later, Ron? I don't want Professor Snape lecturing us for this."

"Of course you wouldn't want to miss the ball. You're going with Malfoy, after all." he mumbled, rolling his eyes. Hermione elbowed him, shaking her head.

Writing with her quill, Autumn let out an exasperated sigh. What was she to do when even her best friends wouldn't approve? What would everyone else think? Unable to concentrate properly, Autumn continued writing, regardless. "You're only overthinking," she thought to herself, "It's just the Yule Ball. It's no big deal."

After class, many of the students rushed out of the room. Class finished earlier than usual, so the students were able to prepare themselves for the Yule Ball. Hermione, Ron and Harry waved goodbye to Autumn before they left in a rush. Autumn was confused as to why Hermione was such in a rush. Ron had told her that Hermione wasn't going, since not a single boy had asked her to the ball.

Packing her things away, Autumn realised she was the last to leave the class. Almost. Draco was there, walking out of the door at the same time as her. She broke into a smile when he nudged her playfully.

"They won't stop asking about you," he said, "They think I'm crazy for asking a Gryffindor."

"And they all think I'm crazy for saying yes to Draco Malfoy." she laughed softly. Draco chuckled, as the two of them walked down the corridor together. Others rushing past them stared at them strangely, wondering why the pair were even walking together.

Stopping at the staircase, Autumn paused to face Draco.

"I'll see you tonight, then, Draco."