Chapter Text
The day after Frank had talked to Alice he found Lucius in the courtyard, one of their designated meeting spots. Lucius was sitting by the fountain, quill in hand, and writing down something in his journal. He paused for a moment, thinking, then wrote a sentence down. Thinking better of it he shook his head and crossed it out.
Frank walked up to Lucius and tapped him on the shoulder. The other boy whipped around, startled, and quickly shut the cover of his journal. Once he saw that it was Frank, he relaxed, and patted the bench next to him, an invitation.
Once seated Frank asked about his day, his classes; small talk, fitting for a greeting between acquaintances at a formal event. Lucius immediately spotted that something was up. “Okay, enough with the small talk. What’s up?”
Frank took in a breath and said, “I was wondering if you could help me with something. To, uh, teach me something.”
Lucius looked intrigued, “what is it?”
“Ballroom dancing,” Frank lied. He felt his face heat up as if Lucius could immediately spot the lie, but thankfully the blond didn’t so much as blink, instead turning a slight shade of red.
“Oh- sure! What do you need to know?” Frank watched as Lucius seemed to lose his composure for just a moment before snapping back to normal.
“All of it, I guess.” Frank shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t really know any, and with the Yule Ball coming up, I thought it’d be useful, you know?”
Lucius blinked. “Oh. Yeah, yeah- it’ll be useful.” When did it get so awkward? Frank felt like he was heating up, as if the room he was in was too stuffy - which couldn’t have been the case seeing as they were outside, on a winter’s day.
Lucius snapped out of his daze. “I’ll see you at six, then? Does an empty classroom work? There’s some on the fourth floor - you know where the old Arithmancy classroom is? We could meet there, if you’d like.”
Frank smiled and nodded. “Sure, that works.” He bit down the smile that was surely showing on his face and stood up.
The two gave their goodbyes and headed their separate ways. Frank, to report back to Alice, who was surely lurking around the corner, ever the snoop, and Lucius, unbeknownst to Frank, to freak out in his room and gush to his friends.
Just as he suspected, Alice was only a corridor away, leaning against the wall and conveniently saying her goodbyes to a first year most likely in need of directions. She pulled him over to a more secluded spot, a bench along a window, and smiled.
“Well? How did it go?”
Frank blushed and opened his mouth to get the words out. For someone who was usually perceived as confident, he seemed to be very flustered and slightly embarrassed, stuttering over his words as if they were the first things he’s spoken in a long while.
He finally managed, “Okay- he said yes, and we’re going to meet up later, and he seemed really chill about it, but he was acting kind of weird.”
“Weird? How?” Alice asked, engaged in the story.
“Like, when I walked up to him he slammed his notebook shut, like he didn’t want anyone to see inside of it. And he just seemed kind of fidgety, but not in a bad way, you know?” Alice nodded, motioning for Frank to continue. “But he rushed to agree. I’m not sure what that means.”
Alice laughed. “You’re not sure what that means? Frank! He was totally wanting to dance with you, then.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. We don’t know that!” Alice only gave him a look - one of hers that could only be interpreted as are you serious?
Then, she asked, “So, when and where is this date happening?”
Frank rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. “It’s not a date,” he complained half-heartedly (because, truly, he wished it was one). Alice stared at him expectantly.
“Okay, fine. It’s at six, on the fourth floor. The old arithmancy classroom,” he added on. Upon seeing Alice’s shocked expression, he said, “What? Have you heard of it before?”
Alice leaned back against the wall and brought her hands to her mouth, laughing. Frank wasn’t sure what to do with this, so he just sat, stared, and waited for an explanation.
Eventually Alice’s giggles settled down and she managed, “And you’re sure this isn’t a date?”
Frank furrowed his eyebrows. “Um, yeah. I don’t see what’s funny here?”
Alice stared at him as if he had grown a second head. “You seriously don’t know?”
“Know what?” Now he was getting concerned. What was this all about?
“Oh my god, Frank! You really don’t know about the Arithmancy classroom!”
Frank stared, utterly confused, and Alice relented. “It’s the most famous date spot in the castle. Like, all the couples go there. How did you not know this? It’s legendary!”
It was Frank’s turn to laugh. “No way! You’re joking!” He looked for signs of a prank on Alice’s face but found none. “Well, maybe Lucius didn’t know? I mean, I didn’t know until right now, so maybe he didn’t?”
The lie was a flimsy excuse. Alice rolled her eyes affectionately and said, “I can’t believe it. My very own Frank Longbottom, going on a date. With Lucius Malfoy, nonetheless.” She mimed wiping a tear from her eye, as if she was a proud mother.
Frank’s face heated up. “It’s not a date!” He reached blindly for an excuse but found none.
“Keep telling yourself that, Frank,” Alice smirked.