About a week before the ball, Hermione, Ginny, and I decided to go dress shopping. With some convincing from Dumbledore, Narcissa signed my permission form for Hogsmeade, so I didn't have to sneak around under the cloak.

We went to Hogsmeade and looked around the little dress shop they had.

"Ohhh, Hermione, this dress is perfect for you!" Ginny squealed as she held up a pink dress.

"I love it!" she exclaimed as she took the dress. "Isn't this pretty, Max?"

"Yes, it's cute," I replied.

"Are you still having that dream again?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Not since that day I fell asleep on the couch."

"What about Harry?"

"What about him?"

"Is he having the dream?"

"I don't know. He hasn't told me anything."

Hermione sighed and looked at me with a serious face. "I'm worried about you two. It seems like you don't want to talk to each other." Ginny ignored us and continued to look for a dress.

"Hermione, we talk all the time. We just do it privately so no one can listen to our conversations. I mean, it's nice to talk to you and Ron, but sometimes, we like to be alone. If Harry does have that dream again, he'll tell me. He's not going to keep it to himself. Besides, I'd find out, anyway."

Hermione nodded, "I get it. It's a twin thing, I suppose." She dropped the conversation and we continued to look for dresses. During our conversation, Ginny found a dress that looked like a cake. That left with me still not having a dress.

"I'm sure we'll find something for you," Ginny informed me.

And that was when I found it. I found the perfect dress. It was a blue, silky dress that was the perfect length and...yes! It was my size!

"Guys, I found it," I stared at the dress in awe.

The two gasped at the dress. "It's beautiful, Max," Hermione commented.

"It's perfect for you," Ginny said.

"And it's expensive," I added.

"I'm sure it's not that much," Hermione saw the price and her smile turned into a frown. "Oh."

"Just forget it. I can't afford it." I didn't have any money at Gringotts. I checked when I was eleven and nothing was left for me.

"Max--" Hermione started.

"I'll find something else. It's fine." We left the dress and continued searching. I couldn't help but look back at the dress. It was so perfect. I wanted it so bad. But I knew that I couldn't afford it.

It was too perfect for me.

*******

The next day at lunch, everyone couldn't stop talking about the ball. I still didn't have a dress, and I needed one fast. I was going to this ball. I had to keep my word to Malfoy. I still hadn't told Ron and Hermione that he was my date. Or that I lived with him.

Joy. That would end well.

"I heard about the dress," Harry said. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head and looked down at my food. "It's okay. I'll just find something today. That's if I can find something today."

The mail started coming in and packages were being dropped at tables. I caught a glimpse of Hedwig coming in with a package. There was only one package. Usually if Harry and I got a package then there would be two. Hedwig dropped the package and I caught it with both hands.

"What do you think it is?" Ron asked.

"Let's open it and find out," I said. I ripped the package open and saw it right before my eyes. It was the dress. My dress. It was so beautiful, I wanted to cry. I was shocked to see it right in front of me.

"It's the dress from yesterday," Hermione exclaimed.

"It's beautiful," Harry added.

"I know," I said.

"But who sent it?" Ron asked. I saw a piece of paper and picked it up. I opened it and read what was inside:

Max,

I saw you yesterday in the dress shop and this dress seemed to catch your eye. I want my girlfriend to look stunning at the ball. Save me a dance and a kiss under the mistletoe.

Cedric

"Cedric bought it," I said. "I can't believe he did that." I looked over at the Hufflepuff table and saw him looking at me. He gave me a wink and I gave him a smile. Malfoy took notice of this and smirked at me. My smile instantly turned into a glare.

I thought it was going to be interesting.

*******

It was finally Christmas Eve, and I was in my room, getting ready with Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was wearing the mini cake dress and her hair was down with some of it pulled back. Hermione was in her pink dress with her hair curled and in a side ponytail. And I was in my blue dress with my hair curled as well and some of my hair pulled back.

"Max, you look stunning!" the two squealed in excitement.

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yes! Cedric is going to be speechless!"

"Let's hope Malfoy is, too," I added.

"I heard. Harry told us," Hermione said in a disappointed tone.

"Well, I might as well make the most of it. I'll see you two down there." I headed out of my room and down to the Gryffindor Common Room, where Harry and Ron were waiting for me. When they saw me come down the stairs, both boys stared at me in awe. "What's wrong? Do I look bad?" I asked frantically.

"You look great," Ron replied.

I giggled. "Thanks, Ron. Harry, what do you think?"

"You look beautiful, Max," he said. "It's such a shame that your date is Malfoy."

"You're going with Malfoy?!" Ron shouted.

"Long story. We'll tell you later."

We headed down to the Great Hall. On the way down there, the boys were talking about how Hermione didn't have a date to the ball. I was going to tell them that she was going with Viktor Krum, but I decided that they would find out later.

The boy's dates, the Patil twins, came up to us once they spotted us. "Hello, boys. Hello, Max."

Padma looked at Ron. "Don't you look...dashing."

"Max, you look beautiful," Parvati commented.

I smiled. "Thank you, Parvati. So, do you and Padma."

She smiled back as McGonagall came over to us. "There you are, Potters. Are you and your dates ready?"

"Ready, Professor?" Harry asked in confusion.

"To dance. It's traditional that the champions are the first to dance. Surely, I told you that."

"No," we both said at the same time.

"Well, you know now." She left us, followed by Ron and Padma, then Harry and Parvati.

I caught a glimpse of Cedric and Cho. I saw Harry looking at Cho. I guessed she told him no because she was going with Cedric. Cedric saw me and smiled. I blushed a little. But that went away when I saw Malfoy walking towards me.

As I hoped, he was speechless.

"You sure cleaned up," I told him.

"So did you. You look..." he trailed off. I noticed that he was staring at me. I thought it was...cute. "You look nice, Potter."

"Thank you," I replied.

I linked arms with his and lined up behind Harry and Parvati. First was Fleur and Roger Davis, then Hermione and Viktor, then Cedric and Cho, were in front of Harry and Parvati. Soon, the doors opened and everyone applauded as we walked in.

"Ready, Potterette?"

"Of course not."

"I won't let you fall."

"Promise?"

"Absolutely."

I was worried whether or not people were talking about us. But I was determined to have fun tonight, even though I saw Rita Skeeter in the corner with her camera and notebook. Still, I was going to have fun, even if it meant having fun with Malfoy.

We all went to the center of the floor and got ready to dance. Malfoy took my waist with one hand and my hand with his. The music started and we began dancing.

I really thought he was a bad dancer. He actually wasn't. When he lifted me up, I felt like I was flying, like I was on Buckbeak again. I was smiling, genuinely smiling, and so was Malfoy. Soon, everyone joined in.

"Are you having fun?" he asked me.

"More than you think," I replied.

He laughed, then we spun around, making me laugh even more. When we stopped dancing, we just stared at each other.

"Told you I wouldn't let you fall." He winked at me.

"Thanks." I smiled.

Then he left, leaving me alone. I noticed that Harry, Ron, and the Patil twins weren't having a good time. I was about to go over there when a hand grabbed mine.

"You look beautiful," it was Cedric.

"You didn't have to buy the dress," I said.

"I know. But I wanted you to look stunning."

"Thanks. That was sweet of you."

"Care to dance? I told Cho I was coming over here to ask."

I smiled and took his hand. We headed in the center of the floor. He placed his hands on my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck.

"So why are you here with Malfoy?" he asked me.

"He knows about us."

"What?!"

"It's okay. He's not going to tell anyone. He promised."

Cedric sighed and dropped the subject. He looked at me and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" I asked him.

"You're just so cute, Max."

"So I've been told."

"Because it's true."

"You're the best boyfriend ever."

He playfully rolled his eyes. "Hardly. Plus, I'm the only boyfriend you've ever had."

"That's why you're the best boyfriend to me."

He laughed. "Well, you're the best girlfriend ever."

"Are you just saying that or do you mean it?"

"I mean it." He smiled.

I smiled back and we continued dancing. I noticed that Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't in the Great Hall. They were fighting. Great.

"You should go see what's up," he told me.

I nodded. "Okay." I left him and found Hermione on the stairs while crying her eyes out. I went up to her and wrapped my arms around her.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Ron spoiled everything," she replied. "He was jealous of Viktor."

"I'm sorry," I said. "Don't listen to Ron. He's an arse sometimes."

"Thanks," she said, wiping her eyes. "I think I'll just go to bed now. You go have fun."

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

She gave me a weak smile and headed upstairs. Instead of walking back into the Great Hall, I decided to walk around a little bit. I stopped by the entrance to the courtyard, staring at the snow.

"I knew you'd be here." I turned around to see Malfoy. "Why aren't you with your boyfriend?"

"I went to check on Hermione," I replied. "Why aren't you with Parkinson?"

"Because she's aggravating, that's why."

I just shook my head and chuckled a little. He just stared at me, and I stared back at him. Suddenly, mistletoe formed above us. No.

"Mistletoe," he said.

"You're not going to kiss me, are you?"

"Of course he's going to kiss you!" Great. It was her. "I think this will, for sure, make the front page!" Rita came up to us and slammed us into each other like last time. Except something different happened this time. And neither of us were expecting it.

Our lips met.

It was a long enough kiss for Rita to get a picture for the paper. After a few more seconds, we pulled away and just looked at each other in shock. Rita squealed and left us.

"We don't tell anyone about this," Malfoy said.

"We won't have to. It'll be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow," I reminded him.

"Well, then, um...I'll see you later, Potterette." He left me alone under the tree and went back into the Great Hall.

I had no idea how I was supposed to react to what just happened. But I was worried about what Cedric would say when he saw the picture. But I also had another problem.

I kissed Draco Malfoy, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.

~~~~~~~

A/N: OOHHHH SNAP! Didn't see that coming huh? ;)

So how do you think Cedric will react? What about the Golden Trio? Lorddyyyyy this is getting innntenseeeee!

Also, I'm aware that I did not really include the inheritance Max would've gotten from Gringotts. At the time I wrote this, I forgot about that, so it gets explained in This Means War (Book 5).

But comment, vote, you know the usual. Bye lovelies!

-A