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Ch. 45: Those Who Ask...

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist:@ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic @kmc1989 @castielscaplan

Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

Fanfic • Ao3 • Wattpad

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know

"Why do they always have to travel in packs?" As soon as the question left Harry's mouth, he had both Romina and Hermione looking threateningly at him.

"What the fuck are we? Deer?" Romina scowled at him.

"Romina…" scolded Hermione.

"Harry meant it's just hard," Ron sighed. As if to prove his point, a group of Hufflepuff girls he flashed a smile at turned their backs on him. "See what I mean?"

Romina had seen that and made an apologetic face. "Yeah, okay, that was kind of icy. But the whole thing isn't impossible."

"Well, I suppose Harry is better off than I am," Ron said, deciding to share Harry's experiences with girls asking him to the ball. Both Hermione and Romina laughed when Ron talked about a particular fifth year girl who'd asked Harry the previous day.

"It's not funny," Harry mumbled.

"It's a little bit funny," Romina clapped him on the shoulder. "But who do you want to ask, Harry? Haven't made any attempts yet have you?"

Harry stayed silent at the question. He hadn't had the courage to tell anyone yet that he wanted to ask Cho Chang but he supposed that would have to change soon when he got the courage to ask her.

"C'mon, we're going to be late for class," Hermione said with a shake of her head.

"It's Hagrid, we won't get in trouble for anything," Ron said confidently. It's like he was asking to argue with Hermione after saying that.

Upon arriving at Hagrid's cabin, they were disappointed to see the damn skrewts getting even bigger. And to the class' horror, Hagrid wanted them to tie leashes around the skrewts in an effort to keep them from killing each other.

"I know what I want for Christmas," Arden said as Hagrid went on to explain methods they could use to tie the leashes, "It's for these things to die."

"Dark," Carolinha remarked, "But...also sort of true."

It was very true once they were given their leashes. Carolinha was ready to cry after the third sting on her hands. Angel wasn't able to do much with his skrewt either. Daphne was genuinely running away from her skrewt. Harry, Ron and Hermione were about the only students honestly trying their hardest to do what Hagrid asked. As much as Romina cared for them and Hagrid, she couldn't bring herself to follow.

"Ow," she flinched when a leash lightly hit her arm. She looked to her left and saw Draco spinning his leash. "Where's your skrewt?" she asked him.

"I could ask you the same thing," he said.

Romina folded her arms over her chest and gazed up ahead. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure mine's the one trying to kill Dean's skrewt over there. Poor Dean." Because Dean had just gotten a wicked burn on his wrist. Again.

"Like mother, like daughter, isn't it?" Draco snickered at his joke.

"Shut it." She shoved him to the side. "Where's yours?"

"I don't bloody care, really. I'm not looking for another burn."

Romina could agree with him on that. "Honestly, Arden's right. These things should just die before Christmas and make a lovely present."

"Oh, are you going to tell your dear Hagrid that?"

Romina rolled her eyes. "Unlike you, I do have a filter. Here." She pushed her leash into his arms. "You go get mine."

"You wish! I'm not going anywhere near those things."

"I bet you five galleons you can't get at least one of them."

"I don't need galleons, Oswell! It's frankly offensive!"

"I know that."

"Then why would I take that deal?"

Romina turned to face him. "Because I'm bored, you're bored and this is the only type of fun we can have until the class is dismissed. Need I go on?"

Draco couldn't get enough of her straightforwardness. How on earth did she get away with stuff like this? He asked that as he amended the deal. "Ten galleons."

Romina raised an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

Draco nodded. "You have enough or what?"

Romina scowled. "Really?"

"Well, do you?"

Romina raised a hand to stop whatever nonsense was about to come out of his mouth. "Fine. Ten galleons." She pointed at her leash in his hands. "Good luuuuck," she wiggled her fingers.

"The things I do for you, Oswell," Draco said with a shake of his head as he walked off. He hadn't realized what he said until he was already gone. Well, I'm not taking it back now. And why would he anyways? He didn't tell a lie. He distinctly remembered visiting that stupid park and market because of Romina.

Romina was left smiling with flushed cheeks. She watched with glee and giggles as Draco lived up to his end of the deal, though it wasn't going so well. The skrewts were creatures from hell.

By the end of the class, only a handful of students had managed to properly leash their skrewts and to Romina's genuine surprise, Draco was one of them. He stomped his way to where Romina stood and held the leash to her.

"Your damn skrewt," he spat.

Romina pursed her lips together to keep her laugh from getting out. She could see the stings and burns on his hands and with his rolled up sleeves, she saw his arms were in just as bad shape as well. "Aw, I'm sorry,"

Draco pointed a finger at her. "Ten galleons," he reminded her. "You're not getting out of it."

"Wasn't planning on it," Romina assured him. She eyed his arms again. "Okay, I really am sorry. I didn't think you would actually do it!"

"Ten galleons," Draco reiterated. Romina nodded again, promising him she would deliver. "Can you at least walk with me to the night wing?"

"Yeah, of course," Romina chuckled lightly. She motioned him to walk first, though as soon as he did he heard her quiet snickers.

~ 0 ~

By the time Draco was free from the nightwing, it was near dinner time. He went down to the Great Hall immediately; he was actually very hungry today. Chasing skrewts worked up an appetite.

"Where have you been?" Blaise asked him as soon as he'd sat down.

"Nightwing." Draco started weighing the options before him. Truthfully, everything looked delicious, which was a testament to how hungry he was. The french soup didn't smell remotely good.

Angel and Theodore looked up from their plates.

"What for?" Angel asked.

"You haven't spoken to Oswell, have you?"

"Not really, no. Why? Did something happen?"

Draco didn't bother with Angel's suspicion. He was too hungry to take it head on. "She and her ideas, you know how it goes."

"I've been learning," Theodore said, eyes widening slightly. "Arden's told me some stories."

"What the hell is going on between you and King anyways?" Blaise jumped on the opportunity to ask. "Last time we heard, you were at each other's throats."

"From what I heard, shouldn't you be directing that question to him?" Theodore flapped a hand directly at Draco.

"The fact you would even consider that King and I—"

"Not you and Arden," Theodore stopped Draco from finishing what was sure to be an exceptional threat. "You and Romina. It's the whole reason why I now know Arden in the first place."

"What's he talking about?" Angel immediately inquired, eyes flickering between the two suspiciously.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Nothing. Theo" — he spat the new nickname the brunette in question gained as of late — "is just being ridiculous."

Theodore's expression clearly indicated the contrary but since he was well aware of Angel's feelings, he said nothing more for the moment. "Where are the girls anyways?"

"Daphne was holding them hostage with dress discussions," Angel said slowly, still trying to decipher what had just happened. "It'll be a while."

"God help me," Blaise said for some reason, until it dawned on the others.

"Zabini," Draco put a hand on Blaise's arm, "Don't tell me you…"

Blaise nodded. "I asked her earlier."

"Why?"

Blaise shrugged. "Don't know. I figured I already know her and we're past all that awkwardness. It's just comfortable and easy. She agreed. Shrieked about it, actually."

"Alright Zabini," Theodore nodded. "That leaves you two then..." He looked between Draco and Angel.

"You asked someone already?" Draco raised an eyebrow at him.

"Who?" Blaise stared suspiciously at Theodore who, in return, just smirked to himself and continued asking Draco and Angel who they were thinking of going with.

"I don't think I'll be asking anyone," Angel said, ducking his head to his plate.

"What are you talking about? Romina's right there," Theodore said, completely missing Draco's irritated look. "Not literally but you know what I mean."

Angel shrugged. "I've already asked. She's going with Harry."

"Potter?" Draco spat the name out. "No she isn't."

Angel lamented the fact it was true. "She made an arrangement with him. Romina told him if he can't find a date, she would go with him."

"Oh, so it's a pity date. That makes more sense." Draco felt half of his nerves relax once he got the gist. "That's still terrible, though."

"You should still just ask her again," Theodore suggested, once more missing the irritated glare Draco sent him.

"Theodore, eat," he instructed. Beside Draco, Blaise smirked into his goblet.

"She's already got someone, there's no point," Angel shrugged. "Besides, it's Harry of all people, she's not going to say 'yes' to anybody else."

"So you're just...done, then?" Draco asked in a manner that sounded a lot like fishing. Angel nodded. "Really?"

Not a moment later did Draco feel Blaise's nudge. He was still smirking.

~0~

"This is mad," Ron's complaint didn't make it out as a whisper. It was a study session in the Great Hall but instead of actually studying, most of the students were talking about the ball.

"Ron, we're supposed to be studying," Hermione reminded him and ducked her head in her book. Snape was coming by their spot and fast.

Ron didn't notice. He was too disappointed with his lack of victory. "At this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates."

Snape whacked him on the head with a rolled up parchment and went on his way like nothing. Ron rubbed the back of his head while the others snickered at him.

"You had that one coming," Romina remarked in a quiet whisper.

Ron glared at her. "You're not helping!"

"I literally have no power over your lack of courage, Ron," Romina shrugged. Next to her, Hermione chuckled. "Harry, tell me you've asked someone."

Harry regretfully shook his head. "Not yet."

"'Yet' implies that you will ask someone so what's the problem?" Romina all but hissed. Sometimes Harry was very annoying with how slow he was doing things he wanted to.

"It's hard, Rom," Harry said, exchanging nods with Ron beside him.

"Yeah, I can't find one girl alone," Ron said, "At least we're not the only ones having trouble. Neville's probably in the same predicament."

Hermione tutted behind her book. "It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone."

Ron legitimately gasped. "Who?"

"Your sister, Ron!"

"No way!" Ron immediately searched for Ginny but she was too down the table to hear. She was whispering with Luna anyways. "Now I'm really depressed."

Fred passed him a note suddenly and with despondency, Ron read it.

"Oh, that face is even worse. What's the note say?" Romina asked as Harry himself read the note out loud. "Get a move on or all the good ones will have gone!"

"You're shallow, Fred Weasley?" Romina frowned at him.

"I meant personality wise," Fred amended. "Isn't that right, George?"

"Hm? Oh yeah," George nodded. "What about you, Romina? Has anyone asked yet?"

Romina put on a sweet smile for the pair, promising a good answer. "I was waiting for a pair of redheads to get the courage to ask me already." The twirl of her hair was the perfect touch to her dramatics. It gave Harry, Ron and Hermione a good laugh.

"Ah my dear, Romina, you should have just asked," George leaned over the table, "But alas, you're too late, for I have already asked someone else." He bopped Romina's nose with his finger.

"And I'm asking Angelina," Fred said, proceeding to throw another crumpled up parchment, but this time at Angelina a few spots down the table.

The others snickered watching Fred ask Angelina to the ball with silent gestures. To his credit, he did get the date.

"You break my heart," Romina clutched her chest afterwards. The twins laughed with her, barely quieting down in time to avoid Snape's whacks.

"So funny, ha, ha," Ron mocked them. "Hey Romina, what about Arden? She's about the only Slytherin I can tolerate."

Romina deadpanned him. "Wow Ron, you have such a way with words. Not that it's any of your business, but she's already been asked and she said 'yes'.

"By who?"

"Theodore Nott."

"That git!?"

"Arden swears he's funny," Romina remarked She never spent any time with Theodore alone but from what Arden had been telling her lately, he was quiet but with much more to say than people actually thought.

Ron grumbled. After a moment or two, something new came to his mind. Harry and Romina saw it.

Ron's eyes fell over Hermione who was still reading quietly from her book. "Well Hermione, you're a girl."

"Oh well spotted," she said dryly.

Romina looked between the pair with anticipation. "Oh boy…"

Harry heard her and with a sharp look begged her not to interfere. Romina grabbed her Transfiguration book to try and distract herself.

"Come on," Ron insisted with Hermione, "It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl it's just sad."

"He's really doing it…" Romina commented on the side, flipping a page and acting as if Harry wasn't glaring daggers at her to shut up.

Hermione put her book down to meet Ron's gaze. Her face was getting redder by the minute. "I won't be going alone because believe it or not someone's asked me. And I said yes!"

"And he did it," Romina said as Hermione got up and stormed out of the Great Hall after delivering her work to Snape.

"Bloody hell," Ron blinked rapidly, clearly having no idea what just happened.

Romina shook her head. "You're a downright idiot, Ron Weasley."

"Oh c'mon, you don't actually believe her do you?" Ron looked between Romina and Harry, both of their expressions puzzled with his question.

"I'm confused, why wouldn't we believe her?" Romina asked.

"Because it's not true!" Ron waited for Harry to chime in with his support but it never came. "Harry?"

The brunette shrugged meekly. "Hermione doesn't lie."

Romina gestured towards Harry. "Exactly."

Ron and Harry went back and forth about whether or not Hermione lied, more so Ron. Romina saw Snape coming back in their direction and dove into her book. He didn't look too happy. Ron wasn't being particularly quiet.

Snape stopped behind the two boys, his expression utterly irritated with their bumbling whispering. Romina barely hid her laugh when he pulled the sleeves of his robes and pushed both Ron's and Harry's heads down to their books.

"It's not funny," Ron hissed at her when Snape was gone. He double checked.

Romina rolled her eyes at him. "The truth of the matter is that both of you need to man up and ask whoever the hell you were planning on asking and be done with it."

Ron narrowed his eyes on her, none too pleased with her tone. "It's hard to believe no one's asked you yet, Romina."

"The answer's no if you're thinking about it," Romina said, slamming her book shut. "Good luck, Harry." She collected her things and left. She handed Snape her work and walked away. On her way past the table, she heard the twins teasing Ron.

"Shot down before you even asked. That's cold!"

Romina laughed coming into the hallway.

"What's the joke?" Rolf asked as he walked up to her.

"Ron Weasley," Romina said, thinking that was enough explanation. And it was. "You didn't need the study period?" she asked in an effort to change subjects.

Rolf shook his head. "Nah, Luna and I are going to get together later."

Romina was momentarily dumbfounded. "I'm sorry, Luna? My Luna? Quibbler Luna?"

Rolf smiled. "Yeah. Actually, can you keep a secret?"

Romina mimed a zipper across her lips. "Course!"

Rolf's face was tinted pink as he leaned closer to his cousin. "I'm going to ask her to the Yule Ball."

Romina's eyes widened to the brim. "NO WAY!" Her yell echoed down the hallway, prompting Rolf to shush her with a hand over her mouth. "Sorry," came Romina's muffled apology a moment later.

"It's okay," Rolf said, pulling his hand off her mouth. "Don't tell her please."

"I won't, I promise!" Romina said, raising a hand to show she meant business. "But...when did this happen? You two didn't even know each other up until a few weeks ago!"

"We owe it to you, I guess," Rolf shrugged. "So, thanks."

"Oooh, this is exciting!" Romina bounced in her spot. "Luna's going to say 'yes', I know it! She's going to be so happy! You know Ginny's going too so that'll be even more motivation."

"You're not going to say anything, right?" Rolf had to ask again. Romina was too excited and he was afraid that she would let something slip in her moment.

"I won't, don't worry!" Romina said, surprising him with a hug. "Good luck!"

Rolf chuckled. "Thanks. Did you get grandma's letter saying she's doing our robes?"

"Mhm! I told her she could pick whatever colors for me! What about you?"

"Same," Rolf nodded. "Grandma never disappoints, you'll see."

"I can't wait to see what she comes up with. I hope it's pretty enough to distract people from the fact I can't dance to save my life!" It terrified Romina to think that if Harry didn't find a date, she would be that partner he would open the ball with.

~0~

At the start of Potions, Romina knew there would be some heavy tension between Ron and Hermione. Harry mentioned the challenge it was becoming to deal with the two ever since Ron made his mistake in the Great Hall. Romina contemplated sitting beside Hermione to ease the tension and help Harry, but she got sucked into a conversation with Carolinha sitting in the desk in front of her and it all went downhill from there.

Now, as Carolinha gushed about the Durmstrang boy named Alec who asked her out, Romina scribbled a couple things down on a piece of actual paper with a pen. She didn't want to waste parchment on things like this, much less the ink. She promised her aunt Sage she would start writing back to get a handle on what they would need to ultimately pay grandma Abby for her designs. Though Romina was pretty sure her grandmother wouldn't allow for any type of payment.

Truthfully, Carolinha's voice had started to drift from Romina's ears. Instead of writing lists, Romina started to think of things she might like to do with her hair. Way to be a girly-girl, she told herself.

"Carolinha, I heard your chatterbox of a mouth from outside," Draco said as he slid into his seat beside Romina. Carolinha frowned at him.

"Don't mind him, Carol, he's just grumpy," Romina said without looking up from her writing. She was thinking maybe half up and half down for the moment.

"That's nothing new, it's like the only emotion he's capable of," Carolinha retorted.

Romina paused to look up, her lips pursed as a laugh threatened to come out. Carolinha rarely had comebacks. It wasn't her style. Draco thought the same which was why he stared at Carolinha for a good minute before it sunk in that she really had said something to him.

"Well, I mean…" Romin started, sticking her pen's cap between her teeth.

Draco knew he wouldn't like whatever was about to come out of her mouth next. His glare didn't deter her.

"She's not wrong."

There it was.

Carolinha smiled triumphantly.

"You're both annoying," Draco said in the end. It wasn't one of his best lines, he knew, but he had other plans.

Romina did not make things easier. And she didn't even know it. "Oh, Carol, you got him good if that's all he's going to say."

Carolinha giggled. She turned around in her seat, preferring to take her victory how it was. She was soon distracted when Daphne joined her.

Romina went back to her paper. Maybe doing a fancy ponytail would be better? Easier? Romina scrunched her nose as she scribbled over that line. What if they made her look old? Or worse, like a kid.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Romina flinched, her thoughts now fully interrupted. She glanced to her right and saw Draco staring at her paper.

"It's a list, can't you see?" Romina shrugged. She perched an elbow on the desk and rested her cheek against her left palm. "Or read, for that matter."

"It doesn't make sense." Draco could see the list consisted mainly of irrelevant things that had to do with hair.

"Because it's my list," Romina said, "I don't know how I'll be doing my hair for the Yule Ball so I decided to make a list."

"You care about that stuff?" Draco asked with genuine surprise.

Romina laughed lightly. She wrote a quick 'Low ponytail?' on the next line. "This may come as a shock to you, but I'm not all shouts and snaps. Once in a while, I like to look my best."

"You forgot incessantly competitive in there," the words tumbled out of Draco's mouth before he knew it.

Romina still smiled. "You're just mad because you lost. And I did give you the galleons so put that grumpy face away already. Sheesh, do you ever smile?"

"Sometimes…"

"Besides when you're making Harry miserable?"

Draco's eyes fell over the brunette in question up ahead. Whatever ghost of a smile that had been on his face was gone. "Don't sour the conversation, Oswell."

"I'm really not," Romina said. 'Braid crown' made it to the list. "In fact, I'm hardly in this conversation at all. I've got important things to think about after all." She tapped her pen against her paper.

"Right—hair." Draco rolled his eyes. "I heard you're going with someone."

"Ish," Romina corrected.

"Yeah, 'ish'," Draco repeated sourly. "Is it really true you're going with Potter?" Romina nodded her head. "If he can't find his own date!?"

"Yeah," Romina confirmed again. "I know you would hate that the most considering your relationship with Harry but he's my best friend."

"So what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You!" Draco didn't think he would have to actually spell it out for her. Romina was too smart for that.

Romina playfully rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a drama queen. I'm doing my list, aren't I? I'm content, Draco. I didn't think you would be so concerned."

"I'm not concerned, I'm annoyed!"

"Because it's Harry, I know."

"You're literally giving yourself up as a second choice, a pity date if you will."

"It's not that big of a deal—"

"So you admit that I'm right," Draco cut her off and motioned her to agree with him out loud.

Romina shrugged meekly. "I guess? I just don't really care. Lots of people are stressed out over these dates. I mean, I guess if I was one of the girls hoping Viktor Krum would ask me out, I could see it." Draco scoffed. "And of course there's Cedric…"

"Oh please," Draco scoffed coldly. "What the hell does Diggory have that would make you go all...you know…?"

Romina was up and ready with her list. "He's got the gorgeous hair, mesmerizing eyes, charming personality, he's tall, smart — need I go on?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "You're disappointing me, Oswell. I didn't think you would be like the other girls."

Romina giggled. "I'm not blind. But that's never happening. Cedric and I are just friends. Like Harry and I."

"Except Diggory isn't the one forcing you into a pity date."

"I've already told you that Harry's not forcing me. I just don't care."

Draco was silent for a moment. Romina was busy writing yet another possible hairdo on her paper to notice the pensive, nervous, glint in Draco's eyes.

"You don't care who you go with?" He asked a few seconds later.

Romina half shrugged. "Not really, no."

Draco shifted in his spot to face her. "Then...go with me."

Romina's laugh was expected. "Right." She didn't even bother looking up from her paper.

"I'm being serious here. Go with me," Draco said. He knew he got her attention when she finally looked up.

Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out what on earth just happened. "What?" She put her pen down and looked around, half expecting someone to start laughing.

Draco presumed where her thoughts went. "Romina, seriously. Go with me to the Yule Ball."

It still didn't fully register with Romina. Everything was scrambling up in her head. Thankfully—for the first time in her life she was thankful—Snape finally entered the class.

Romina waited until the professor passed them to speak again and even then it was hushed and quick. "You, me, after class. Alone."

Draco nodded and faced forwards. Romina looked at the board ahead where Snape was already writing down the lesson of the day. She wouldn't be able to pay attention for sure.

~ 0 ~

Romina yanked Draco out of class before anybody had a chance to talk to either of them. In the time it took them to come up from the dungeons, Romina had thrown every possible threat at Draco if he thought he was being funny with her.

"Why on earth would you ask me?" Romina demanded. "We all know that you're taking Pansy!"

"Who the fuck said that? Because it wasn't me, I can tell you that! In fact, I'm pretty sure it was you who started that." Draco stopped walking and forced Romina to do the same.

She scoffed at him. "You are taking her!"

"No I'm not! You said that, not me!"

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did!"

"No I didn't!"

"Yes, you did," Draco said slowly for Romina to finally understand. "You said it a couple days ago during breakfast. Unprompted too. I have never said that I was going to ask Pansy. That was you, you bloody stubborn girl!"

Romina brought a hand to her mouth once she remembered that morning. "Oh my God...it was…Alright, I'm sorry for that one but…" she pursed her lips, her eyes flickering to the side. She saw a couple of Beauxbaton girls making way for the courtyard. "Well...how do I know you're actually serious? You go all ga-ga for the Beauxbaton girls anytime they pass by."

"I do not!" Draco nearly laughed but Romina was quite serious.

"You've blown me off twice. You literally lost all focus on me because you were staring at the Beauxbaton girls!"

Draco smirked suddenly. "Well, go to the ball with me and I will focus solely on you."

Romina became flustered on the spot. You walked into that one, she reprimanded herself. But why the hell was it making such an effect on her now? "Okay, so…" she struggled to find her words, and it irked her that in all that time, Draco just kept on smirking at her like he knew what he'd done.

And he probably did.

"You—you're actually asking me?"

"What gave it away?"

"But why?" Romina asked. "I-I've said that I'm already going with Harry—"

"As a pity date," Draco finished for her, "You shouldn't go with someone because they couldn't find a date. You should go with someone because you want to."

"Oh, and you want to go with me?" Romina raised an eyebrow at him. "Me? Don't I make things hard for you? Aren't I annoying? That's what you always say about me."

"And a living hell sometimes, yeah," Draco cracked a smile at her as if he was just coming to terms with that now. "You're fun. Your competitions, albeit annoying sometimes, are amusing. I don't ever know what's going to happen when you're around. You're a breath of fresh air and I find myself liking it more and more."

Romina gulped, feeling the same rush of heat starting in her chest. All her words were caught in her throat.

"Romina, do you want to go to the ball with me or not?"

Romina lightly flinched when he stepped closer to her. "Um...I mean...I already told Harry…"

"I heard," Draco said, "But did you hear me? You shouldn't be someone's second choice. You're certainly not mine."

Romina had no idea he was capable of saying words like that and with meaning. And yet hearing them for the first time had her heart racing. "…can I think about it?" The question left her lips before she knew it.

To her surprise (yet again), Draco nodded. "Yeah. But don't take too long, I won't be a second choice either." He stepped around her and walked off.

Romina watched after him until it dawned on her that she was staring at him. She shook her head and hurried in the opposite direction.

~ 0 ~

When Arden found Romina, the latter was on her bed with a dozen books and parchment surrounding her. However, based on the fact Romina was staring into space, Arden could bet that no work was actually getting done.

"Earth to Romina!" she called on her way to her own bed. She let her book bag unceremoniously drop on the covers. Romina startled but stayed silent. "Where'd you get to today? Luna's been looking for you. Says she has something to tell you."

"Mhm." Romina looked down at the book on her lap. She forgot she was doing her Muggle Studies essay.

"Oh, and Harry asked for you too."

Romina's head snapped up, her eyes widening in horror. "Is he mad!?"

Arden laughed. "What? No. Don't think so, anyways."

"Are you sure? What did he say?" Romina pressed for an exact answer. What if Harry already knew about Draco asking her to the Yule Ball? Oh God, what if they fight again?

"Romina, you're so pale," Arden said as soon as she noticed. "Are you feeling well?"

Romina brought her hands to her cheeks and gave them a light pat. "I'm fine," she said quickly.

"Bullshit." Arden forgot all about her bookbag and walked over to Romina's bed. "You look like hell. What's going on?"

Romina took her bottom lip with her teeth. She looked down at her book again.

"Hello?" Arden called, waving a hand. "Romina? What's going on?"

"N-nothing," Romina said weakly. She was going to burst if she didn't start talking and yet her tongue wouldn't help her out.

Arden pushed books out of her way to sit down on Romina's bed. She then pulled Romina's book on her lap, or rather she tried to because Romina gripped it. Arden's brow furrowed. "Romina, let go!"

Romina shook her head. "I have an essay to do!"

"Yeah and I can bet you're not actually reading anything! Let go!"

"No!"

"Fine." Arden suddenly let go of the book and watched Romina fall back against the headboard. Romina now had to deal with a pain in the back of her head. "Learned your lesson yet?"

Romina pouted. "Sure."

Arden sighed and reached over for the book again, this time Romina let her have it. "Thank you." Arden placed the book behind her. "Now then, what's got you all messed up?"

Romina pursed her lips. "I don't know if I should say anything."

"With that face?" Arden pointed at Romina's pale face, "You bet your ass you're going to tell me. Who did it?"

Romina eyed the door and made a quick mental note of where Carolinha and Daphne were at the moment. She didn't want either of them coming in and overhearing. Arden would keep the secret for sure. "It's Draco."

"Goddammit—what did he do this time?" Arden furiously demanded.

Romina grabbed Arden's arm when the brunette gave signs of getting up to find Draco. "It's not what you think! He…" Arden noticed the paleness in Romina's face fade away to be replaced with red. "He asked me to the Yule Ball."

Arden dropped herself back on the bed, her eyes wide with dazzlement. "No way!" she exclaimed.

Romina nodded. She put her hands together on her lap, her shoulders slumping. "He did."

"When!?"

"Today in the morning. It came out of nowhere and he's actually very serious about it. He wants me to go with him."

"So, what did you say!?" Arden was absolutely excited and Romina couldn't figure out why.

"What do you think? I said I needed to think about it."

"What?" frowned Arden. "What for!?"

"Arden! What do you mean 'what for?'?" Romina reached over to tap Arden on the forehead. "Did you listen to what happened!?"

"Yeah, did you?" Arden removed Romina's finger from her forehead. "What's the problem? He wants to go with you, you clearly want to go with him—"

"I haven't said that!" Romina exclaimed.

"I know it because I've seen you with him. Romina, you cannot sit there and tell me that everything that's happened so far this year hasn't gotten you thinking a little bit more about Draco than usual?"

Romina shook her head fervently, her cheeks puffing. "Course not!"

Arden raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, I know you, Romina Oswell. This has been going on since summer. It's been escalating without you realizing it."

Romina passed her hands down her hair and let out a big breath. "I can't...that can't be true."

"Why not?" challenged Arden.

"Because it's not possible. He's...he's him! And I'm me!"

"Yeah, and you both feed off of each other. Hence the bets and the back and forth. C'mon Romina," Arden chuckled, "Just say yes and see what happens. It doesn't have to mean anything."

"I can't go with Draco to the ball," Romina said definitively. "Can you imagine what Harry would say? Apart from the fact that I've already told Harry I'd go with him if he didn't find anybody else, he would go ballistic if I told him I was going with Draco."

Arden couldn't deny that the scene would be particularly violent. The bad blood between Harry and Draco was far too high to come back from. "Well, you know what? What they have going on is not your fault," Arden said. "If they want to kill each other, let 'em. After your date, of course."

"It's not a date!" Romina snapped. "It's so not a date and don't you dare say that again. If I were to go, it would just be a one night thing."

"So then why is it a big deal if it's just for one night?" Arden smirked knowing that she had gotten Romina with that one.

Romina ducked her head. "You know what I mean. I'm genuinely afraid that it'll make Harry angry with me forever."

"But then you do want to go with Draco?"

Romina shrugged again. "I don't know...maybe?"

Arden laughed and playfully patted Romina's knee. "I knew it! Just go for it! You deserve it."

"I think you're being biased," Romina said, meeting Arden's gaze from under her lashes. "You're my best friend. Of course you're going to forget all logic and tell me to go for it. I need some more opinions on this matter."

"I can get Carol and Daphne—"

"No!" Romina was quick to say, making Arden laugh again. "I love them but I know once I tell them, they're going to be all giggly about it. They won't be able to keep it a secret."

"Alright, who do you have in mind, then?" Arden curiously asked. If Romina was cautious telling her about the situation, who else could she want to tell?

~ 0 ~

"Malfoy asked you to the ball?" Hermione could not believe her ears. Unlike Arden, she hadn't yelled. The shock was too much.

Romina could only nod. She had managed to find Hermione on her own the next day and with luck, they took a walk through the courtyard without disturbances.

"Please don't tell Harry or Ron," she begged Hermione.

"Of course," Hermione said, much to Romina's relief. "I'm really surprised here. Pansy Parkinson is always after him, I just thought they'd…" She trailed off upon seeing the frown marking Romina's face. "But he asked you so…"

"It's okay to have no words, I sure didn't," Romina bit on her bottom lip. "I still don't. It's why I'm avoiding Draco until I have my thoughts in order."

"That can't be easy being in the same House," Hermione said. "But listen, don't take this the wrong way but, why are you telling me? I would think Arden would be above me on your list."

"I did tell her but I also know that Arden is loyal to me. She'll tell me to go for it. You don't have that problem. In fact, your loyalty is to Harry and that's okay with me!" Romina finished quickly before Hermione felt the urge to apologize to her. "I get it. So, only you can tell me if this is nonsense."

"What? You mean tell you that you shouldn't go with Draco? That's kind of a lot of pressure, Romina," Hermione said, tugging her collar for show.

Romina chuckled. "You know what I mean. Look, Draco and I went back and forth on this. Of course I warned him I'd kill him if this was a joke but he swore that it wasn't. So then I reminded him that I already told Harry I'd go with him if he didn't find somebody."

"And what did he say about that?" Hermione presumed there had been a lot of condescending words in that conversation.

"That I shouldn't go with someone as their second choice. He called it a pity date. He said…" Even now, Romina felt an annoying flutter in her heart remembering Draco's exact words, "I should go with someone because I want to go with them. The person I go with should want to go with me as well."

Hermione's eyebrows raised. That wasn't anything near what she was expecting to hear. "He said that?"

Romina nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh my god," Hermione said, suddenly stopping in her tracks.

Romina saw her rubbing her stomach. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern.

"Yeah, it's just…" Hermione's nose crinkled, "I can't believe I'm going to say this—it's probably the only time I'll ever say it—but I agree with Malfoy."

"Woah," Romina blinked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

Hermione gave a small laugh. "Yes," she assured. "Harry and Ron would crucify me for what I'm saying but I think Malfoy's got a point. I think what you're doing for Harry is sweet and caring but at the end of the day, Harry doesn't actually want to go with you. He asked Cho Chang and it didn't go so well but she's the one he wanted to go with."

"Oh poor Harry," Romina said, swallowing hard. If the girl of his dreams said no to him, he was more likely to fall on her word of going with him. That was...disappointing? Oh God what is happening to me?

"He'll survive," Hermione said. "Cho's going with Cedric. If you go with Harry, you really will be his second choice."

"He would never see me like that," Romina said weakly.

"Of course," Hermione agreed. "But it's what you would be. If somebody wants to take you to the Yule Ball—if they ask you with sincerity, you have every right to say yes."

Hermione looked so sincere that it brought tears to Romina's eyes. Hermione would be okay if she decided to say yes to Draco. "Hermione, you have no idea what you're doing to me."

Hermione smiled at her. "I can make a guess," she put a hand on Romina's shoulder. "I just have one thing to ask."

"What?" Romina sniffed, clearly wiping some tears off.

"Don't ask me to tell Harry."

Despite being legitimately afraid of how that would go, Romina laughed. "Of course not." Hermione joined her soon enough.

"While we're on the subject of secret dates," Hermione started once they'd sobered from their laugh, even walking again, "Is this a two way conversation?"

Romina nodded. "Of course. Are you going to take pity on me and tell me who this mysterious date of yours is?"

Hermione had been in Romina's predicament albeit with slight differences. But, like Romina, she needed to tell someone before she burst. "It's Krum. Viktor Krum."

Romina slapped a hand over her mouth to prevent an actual shriek from getting out. Hermione was red as the color of her House. "Hermione Granger, how'd you manage to snag him!?"

Hermione burst into laughter again. "It just happened! He was in the library again and I of course turned to leave because of the group of girls he was going to attract but he stopped me and we talked. Turns out he finds them just as annoying as I do."

"Ah, and so it was love at first sight," Romina feigned dramatics with a hand over her heart.

"Don't go that far!" Hermione tried to scold but she was a laughing mess. Romina had never seen her in such a state.

"You do realize you'll be opening the ball with him, right?"

Hermione nodded. "I have given it some thought, yes. How do you think the boys will react?"

Romina's eyebrows raised as she considered how the whole ordeal would go. She brought a hand to the back of her head, fingers lightly scratching through her hair. "Umm, I think Ron will have a proper heart attack. He still thinks you're lying so this will be a good way to show him you weren't."

"I didn't do any of this just to prove him wrong," Hermione said in alarm.

"I know that," chuckled Romina. "But serves him right for what he said. You'll get him good. It'll be like a two for one thing."

Hermione smiled but it was still done nervously. "And what do you think Harry will say? Krum is someone he's competing against."

"Harry will be surprised but I think he'll ultimately remember that you're his friend and he'll get over it."

Hermione's smile softened. She nudged Romina on the side. "You should take your own advice."

"Oh no," Romina shook her head quickly, "My situation is completely different. Harry doesn't absolutely despise Krum. He hasn't nearly dueled him twice."

"No, he just competed against him," Hermione shrugged and earned a startled blink from Romina.

"Are you cracking jokes now? Impressive," Romina ultimately said, "But what I'm saying is true. Honestly, a little part of me is wondering if Draco did it to spite Harry."

Hermione bobbed her head in thought. "That does sound like something he would do."

Romina nodded. Draco had swore that it wasn't a joke but what if she wasn't supposed to figure it out? Would he lie? The mere thought of it all being a joke gave her a pang in her heart. Being aware of that pang pointed out where her stance was in the 'yes' or 'no' department.

"Romina," said Hermione, unknowingly pulling the girl out of her darkening thoughts, "Do you want to go with Draco? Forgetting everything, and I mean everything, do you want to go with him?"

"Well…"

"No," Hermione said sharply, "None of the 'wells' or the 'buts' here. It's yes or no, Romina. Pick one."

Romina started biting on her bottom lip. When it was put like that, she had to be honest with herself. "Yes." Her answer was so quiet, almost a whisper, that Hermione had barely heard.

Luckily, Hermione was a sharp listener. She patted Romina's arm comfortingly. "There you go."

"Harry's going to kill me." Because not only would Romina have to tell Harry that she would no longer go with him to the ball, but he would also learn who she decided to go with.

"Who are you going to talk to first?" Hermione asked her after a moment.

That was an easy answer. The one who wouldn't kill her on the spot.

~0~

Romina slunk down at the Great Hall table. She didn't touch her plate, her goblet, nor the various dinner choices in front of her. Her arms came together to rest on her lap.

"Took you long enough," Draco took pity on her and said. "You've been avoiding me."

Romina wouldn't deny it. If he was coming into a room, she was rushing out. "Don't suppose you want an apology…?"

Draco couldn't tell if she was joking or not. "Can we get to the point before the others start coming?" Neither would be able to say a word with their friends around. Chatterbox Carolinha would have a word or two to say, or yell.

Romina sighed. "Tell me one thing…"

"What?"

"Did you ask me just to spite Harry?"

Draco froze. He looked at Romina, initially surprised but ultimately impressed for some reason. "No, but that would've been a good idea."

Romina's head snapped up, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "What the hell, Draco!?"

"Again, you said it, not me," Draco laughed at her.

Romina rolled her eyes at him. "You could've bloody well said yes or no."

"Funny, I was just about to tell you the same thing." Draco reached for the platter of toast when Romina put her hand over his arm.

"Just tell me the truth please," she pleaded. There was genuine fear in her eyes and all because of that one silly thought?

"Who the hell put that thought in your head?" Draco demanded, pulling her hand off his arm. "Did you tell Potter already?"

Romina shook her head. "No. I didn't tell him and nobody put the idea in my head. I thought of it. And can you blame me? For the past 3 years, you've found every possible way to mess with Harry. I'm one of his best friends. It's not that big of a stretch."

"You're my friend," Draco snapped, sounding almost possessive. "I've told you that I'm not kidding. I don't know how else to put it. You're too smart for this, honestly."

Romina brought her hand on the table, fingers lightly tapping. Her eyes fell over her empty plate. "So...not a joke…"

"No."

"Okay," Romina paused for a minute. "...then yes."

Draco did a double-take on her. "What?"

Romina sheepishly met his eye. "Yes," she repeated, this time with flushed cheeks, "I'll go with you to the ball."

Draco didn't know he could smile so quickly until that moment. "Brilliant."

Romina had no idea what to do with herself at that moment, nor did Draco. They sat together sporting the same smiles and blushes.