... like a bird on a branch!"
Because of your acute distress, Mister Carradine, as the most miserable newcomers of the century, advised you to take a few extra hours in which to teach you privately and undisturbed.
Harry faced Draco once again, who was staring at his feet, frowning deeply to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to, while Mister Carradine pounded the dance on the floor with a long stick.The dance teacher's otherwise serene grin had long ago frozen into a mask that must have been very painful.
Harry, for his part, didn't pay attention to him, but tried to concentrate on his own extremities.
// Shoulders straight, bottom in, keep head up, smile ... //
"Head up, Mister Malfoy, you look like you're looking for breadcrumbs! Look at your partner ... uh ... your partner!" the teacher interjected. Draco's shoulder tightened instantly, his head jerked up, and the muscles of his upper arms tightened under Harry's grip.
"And one ... and two ... and three ..."
They forced each other into a twist that they had relearned.
But at that moment Harry rather wished he could penetrate the cloak that surrounded Draco, because his stormy gray eyes gave nothing away about his thoughts.
"And four ... and one ... And Mister Potter is not allowed to lead because he dances like a woman!"
Harry sighed in exasperation, but forbade himself any further comment on this sentence.On the one hand because it wouldn't work anyway, and on the other hand because he just had to concentrate on other things. He tried to get his steps right this time, but that didn't stop him from throwing a venomous look at the teacher, which the teacher simply ignored. So Harry turned his attention back to the steps and Draco. He really hadn't minded taking these lessons as it would mean for him that he could spend more time in Draco's arms. And that without that it was somehow noticeable. But sometimes he wished he could find out what Draco thought about this. But at the same time that was what scared him. After all, the chances that it could be something good were rather bad. Harry was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice what he was doing and of course just then stepped directly on Draco's feet.
"POTTER!" Draco cursed, holding one foot, hopping away on the other.His longer, blond hair fell over his face in wild strands, which he tossed back in annoyance.
Harry felt a stab in his heart and wanted to excuse her, but Mister Carradine denied him any opportunity.
"Come on, Mister Malfoy! Be a man! Mister Potter is a lady, after all! And now on to the text!"
Draco prodded him with his gaze, but said nothing more about the comment.
When they got back into the dancing position, Draco blinked again and then again looked intently into Harry's face without actually seeing him.
//Do not listen to him! // Harry thought longingly and returned his gaze // It was my fault, after all! //
"And one ... and two .. and three ..."

***

"So how's it going, Harry?" Hermione asked beaming with joy as he dragged himself into the Gryffindor Tower a few days later. It was Friday and tomorrow the great meltdown would take place, but he still had the feeling that he was moving like an inflated stockfish that had lain in the sun too long.But he only had to do one dance to complete his compulsory part. Then he could sit down again and watch everything in silence. The girl he was going to dance with he probably didn't need to see again in the rest of his life.
// And what if Draco wanted to dance with me ... //
But he quickly put the thought out of his head. That THIS case happened was highly improbable!
Besides, he didn't feel like bothering about other people's questions. He was much more interested in how he should be able to actually * dance * the miracle by tomorrow. So he walked past Hermione without saying a word, grabbed Ron unceremoniously and disappeared with him into the dormitory, from which he first drove all the others. As soon as they were alone, Harry began to practice the steps with his unsuspecting friend, but whatever he tried, it just didn't want to get the right feeling for such a situation.Harry got a faint suspicion that it might be because it wasn't Draco who danced with him, so he collapsed on the bed in frustration and stared at the ceiling.
// Hopeless ... Absolutely hopeless ... I can never do this ... //
Trying rather helplessly to help Harry, Ron stared at his friend, trying to find a useful explanation of what was wrong with him.
"You have defeated Lord Voldemort, so you will surely grab this! But one thing I can say: Your weakness is not the technique! There is only one little thing missing!"
With that he sank down next to Harry on the bed and patted his shoulder.
He managed to smile with no humor and continued to look at the ceiling.
"And what should this little thing be? Talent ????"
Then there was an excited knock on the door.
"Harry! Ron! You idiots, let's get back in!" called Dean.
"I need my aftershave!" Seamus shouted in between.
"I want to see my mommy!" Neville sniffed.But Hermione's excited, yes, almost hysterical voice far surpassed the three boys.
"HARRY!"
Surprised by Hermione's voice, Harry yelled an exasperated "WHAT ???" back before he threw open the door and stared at her quizzically. She looked kind of breathless and looked at him with piercing eyes.
"Draco Malfoy is standing in front of the portrait and wants to speak to you. It sounds like it's important."
The silence around them was clear and everyone stared at Harry as if to get him to tell them what it all meant. But Hermione only stared at Hermione for a moment in silence before a beaming smile crept onto his face and he ran down the stairs to the entrance of the Gryffindor common room.
Draco was really here ... because of him ... Harry couldn't believe it. At that moment he had the feeling to be the happiest person in the world and so he quickly opened the passage to find himself face to face with a rather exasperated Slytherin."You wanted to speak to me?"
"Um ... yes!" Draco said, brushing back his hair with his right hand.
Harry could tell that he was here, as if he was afraid of being seen. His heart sank a little in his chest again.
Well, at least he had come for him.
"What is it?" he asked, this time in a calmer voice.
"Though Blaise advised me not to ... but we Malfoys always do what we want!"
Draco put on the most charming smile Harry had ever seen on him.
"Mind if we practice a little more?"
Harry blinked in confusion, then his expression brightened.
"Yes ... I mean, no, of course not!" he exclaimed, finding it difficult to hide his joy.
Draco snapped and his smile widened too, revealing his snow-white teeth.
"Then tomorrow at 11 o'clock in the history room! And don't be late!"
"No way!" Harry panted.
And then Draco disappeared again.
Sighing, the black-haired boy leaned against the frame of the portrait of the Fat Lady, who seemed clearly confused and was talking excitedly to the neighboring paintings.Hermione, Ron, and the others had appeared on the dormitory landing.
"What's up, Alder?" asked Ron.
"Then was ... Malfoy ... Harry's dance partner?" it dawned on his girlfriend.
Harry closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath before looking at the others, a strange gleam in his eyes.
"Right," he whispered breathlessly before he floated past them beaming with joy and disappeared into the dormitory.
"What was that??" Ron asked confused and looked at his friend questioningly, hoping that she would have an answer.
Harry sighed happily on his bed and snuggled into the soft blanket. Draco had just really asked him if they wanted to meet up to practice and best of all ... he had smiled. Just for him. Harry felt like he was bursting with joy and a low chuckle left his throat. The day really couldn't get any better and he resolved to be in the classroom as early as possible tomorrow.****

Draco was more nervous than he wanted to show outside. But his hands were sweating and his back was wet too and moistened the inside of the cloak that he would wear with his festive outfit. But if things went on like this, he would have to change clothes again before he got into the fray tonight.
He rubbed his hands over his clothes just in time before the door opened and Harry entered.
The black-haired man was a few inches shorter than Draco, but no less well built. His fine features looked more mature now, compared to what Draco had got to know then. During the seemingly endless dance lessons over the past week, Draco had been able to admire the almost flawless, white skin that contrasted with the jet black hair several times.
But especially the fiery and lively green of his eyes had done it to him. And while Draco wouldn't openly admit it, he wished he could look at Harry for the rest of his life.// What an irony ... All because of my dad's crazy idea. The time in Azkaban still seemed to have done something good! //
He almost laughed at the thought.
"Hello Harry!" Draco called instead, "Come on, we have to hurry so we have more time!"
Harry nodded enthusiastically and walked lightly to Draco, with whom he then got into the correct dance position. Harry smiled contentedly as he snuggled lightly against Draco and then focused on his steps. If it were up to him, then they could dance the whole night here and not even go back to the others to take part in the party. Too bad that he had now agreed to one of the girls and was therefore more or less obliged to show up at her place. Besides, Draco probably wouldn't even want that, but it was enough for Harry to lie in his arms one last time and let himself drift with him.

[i]~ I've been meaning to tell youI've got this feelin 'that won't subside
I look at you and I fantasize
You're mine tonight
Now I've got you in my sights

With these hungry eyes
One look at you and