Harry stood nervously in front of Cho Chang.
He took a breath.
HARRY:
"Hey, Chang."
"I know this might be sudden..."
"But..."
"Would you like to dance with me at the Yule Ball?"
Cho looked surprised.
Then she gave him a gentle smile.
CHO:
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"But I've already agreed to go with someone."
"And..."
"I only see you as a friend."
Harry stood there silently.
Then nodded.
HARRY:
"Yeah."
"That's okay."
"Thanks for telling me."
Cho smiled apologetically before walking away.
Harry watched her leave.
Then suddenly—
MALFOID:
"HAHAHAHA!"
Harry turned around.
Malfoid was standing behind him.
She was trying extremely hard not to look happy.
MALFOID, IN HER HEAD:
"YES!"
"YES!"
"YES!"
"NO ONE IS GOING WITH HARRY!"
"I HAVE A CHANCE!"
Malfoid crossed her arms.
MALFOID:
"Well, well, well."
"Harry Potter."
"Rejected."
"How unfortunate."
She stepped closer.
MALFOID:
"Seems the famous Harry Potter couldn't even find someone to dance with."
Harry frowned.
Malfoid's smile grew wider.
MALFOID:
"Fortunately for you..."
"I'm not going with anyone."
She flipped her hair.
MALFOID:
"So I suppose you could dance with me."
"You should be grateful, Potter."
"Not everyone gets the opportunity to attend the Yule Ball with a Malfoy."
MALFOID, IN HER HEAD:
"PLEASE SAY YES."
"PLEASE."
"PLEASE."
"PLEASE."
Harry suddenly snapped.
HARRY:
"ENOUGH!"
Malfoid froze.
HARRY:
"Leave me alone, Dracaena."
"I don't want you."
"I don't want anyone."
"Just..."
"Leave me alone."
Silence.
Malfoid's smile disappeared.
Her eyes widened.
MALFOID:
"...Harry?"
Harry walked past her.
He didn't look back.
Malfoid stood completely still.
MALFOID, IN HER HEAD:
"No."
"No, no, no."
"Harry..."
"I didn't mean..."
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
She quickly turned around and ran.
---
MALFOY DORMITORY
Malfoid slammed the door behind her.
She threw herself onto her bed.
Pulled the blanket over her head.
And finally...
She started crying.
MALFOID:
"Stupid..."
"Stupid, stupid, stupid..."
"I was only trying to ask him..."
Her voice cracked.
MALFOID:
"I just wanted to go with him..."
She buried her face in the pillow.
MALFOID:
"I made him hate me."
She cried quietly beneath the blanket.
---
GRYFFINDOR DORMITORY
Harry sat alone on his bed.
He stared at the floor.
The anger from earlier had disappeared.
Only regret remained.
HARRY:
"...Oh."
He covered his face with both hands.
HARRY:
"What the hell have I done?"
He remembered Malfoid's expression.
The moment her smile disappeared.
The way she looked at him.
The way she suddenly ran away.
Harry lowered his hands.
His face was completely miserable.
HARRY:
"I didn't mean to hurt her."
He stared at the ceiling.
For the first time that night...
Harry realized that maybe Malfoid wasn't trying to annoy him.
Maybe she had actually been trying to make him happy.
And now...
He had broken her heart.
"Blimey, Harry, why didn't you tell me that muggles made something that can surpass broomsticks? If I'd known there were heaps of metal that can fly, I'd have left Quidditch already"
"Oliver, what are you on about?"
"The F-22 Raptor, Harry, it's a magnificent work of art"