Disclaimer: It was the amazing JKR that created this world; I am simply momentarily inhabiting it.

Le Masque

Chapter Three

The Dancing Commences

Dancing is a perpendicular expression of horizontal desire.

~George Bernard Shaw

Rose looked down at her watch for the twentieth time since she'd arrived at the dance nearly two hours prior. She'd been so excited to attend the dance, imaging all the different scenarios that resulted in her dancing the night away in the arms of Scorpius Malfoy. That excitement evaporated the minute Scorpius arrived and situated himself amongst the most airheaded, idiotic girls in the entire school. Now, she was debating how long social norms dictated she had to stay at the party before she could leave and curl up in bed with a book.

It was currently 8:47 and Rose figured two hours was enough of an appearance to justify her effort in getting dressed and picking out the right mask. All she had left was to kill ten minutes and then slink off. She hadn't danced yet, had simply sat at the table and people watched, but that didn't phase her. Yes, it was a dance, and dancing was the main activity, but Rose wasn't a dance and felt no compelling need to get up and 'shake her stuff.' She was perfectly content sitting at the table, watching the crowd and trying to guess who was behind what mask.

Both Carly, and surprisingly, Ella had tried to convince Rose to get up and dance. She didn't have to dance with a guy; the three of them could dance as a group. She needed to dance for at least one song. What was the point of getting dressed up and doing her hair and make up if she was just going to sit at the table?

None of the tactics the girls tried were working and eventually they gave up. Rose had insisted that they all go and enjoy themselves; leave her to her solitary moping. However, they didn't seem to want to leave her alone and so Carly and Ella rotated going out and dancing, with sitting at the table and talking to Rose.

Rose looked down at her watch for the twenty-first time. 8:50 pm. Ten more minutes exactly. She turned to Ella and Alfie, who were currently on Rose babysitting duty while Carly and Stewart enjoyed the first slow song of the evening.

"You guys should go out and enjoy the dancing," Rose commented.

"But then you'll be all alone and I'll feel like an awful friend," Ella responded, reaching across the table and taking Rose's hands in a comforting motion.

"Well, I was going to knock off in ten minutes anyway, so it won't be that bad if you leave me alone," Rose stated nonchalantly. Ella drew her hands away in surprise, but it was Alfie's reaction that got Rose's attention. As soon as she'd made her statement, he'd stood with such speed and force that he sent his chair banging to the floor.

"What? No! Not acceptable!" Alfie exclaimed, banging his hands on the table. Rose, before responding to his extremely out of character outburst, took a quick survey of the crowd around them. Thankfully, the bands' music was so loud that very few people had heard the chair or Alfie.

"Alfie, calm down. It's no big deal, honestly. There's only two and a half hours left in the dance anyway," Rose commented, waving her hand in a dismissive manner.

"That's a fair amount of time," Elle added quietly. Rose shot her a 'not helping' look. Ella simply smiled sheepishly back at Rose.

"I refuse to let you come to a dance and not actually dance," Alfie stated.

"Let me?" Rose asked, slightly disgusted at the implication in that statement. Alfie had no control over Rose or what she did.

"Yes Rose, let you." Alfie then ended all discussion on the matter by walking to Rose, grabbing her hand, and pulling her out of her chair.

"Alfie!" Rose exclaimed, startled at his action. She tried to put up protest, but unfortunately, her shoes had very little traction and she just slid along behind him. Rose decided that, if she couldn't stop him from dragging her out onto the dance floor, she'd wait until he released her hand and would then head back to the table. She'd already made up her mind not to dance and nothing was going to change that.

"I'm not going to dance, Alfie. I just want to get out of here and curl up with a good book. This evening is already a waste, why continue it any further?" Rose said the last part under her breath. She didn't think Alfie had heard anything, but his actions following her words seemed to imply something different.

They arrived on the dance floor and Rose prepared to turn on her heel and leave. However, Alfie didn't let her go and simply changed from pulled her by her hand to holder her in a traditional waltz hold in a single motion.

"I'm here to make you enjoy it tonight, whether you want to or not! You girls put in way too much effort getting ready and whatnot to spend only two hours here. Especially since most of it was just sitting! I don't know what happened to sour your mood, but I'm here to uplift it." He then began dragging Rose in a small square as the music continued to be soft and waltzy.

After several minutes, Rose relented and began actually dancing with Alfie. He smiled slightly at her when he noticed he was no longer dragging her. She simply playfully scowled up at him.

"I appreciate it, Alfie. I honestly do. I just don't think anything you can do will uplift my mood. I'm upset over something silly and I just need to get over it," Rose commented, still trying to let Alfie let her slink off to bed.

"Heartbreak and destruction of hopes and dreams isn't silly, Rose. And I'm sure I can uplift your mood; you just need to get your mind off that idiotic blonde. Then you'll actually enjoy yourself." Alfie finished his statement by spinning Rose around a few times. Despite her best efforts, a small giggle escaped from her lips.

Alfie pulled Rose back to him and momentarily held her close, whispering in her ear.

"Told you I could uplift you mood." Rose rolled her eyes at him, but continued dancing with him, slowly starting to enjoy herself.

Nine o'clock came and went by nearly half an hour before Rose even realized it. After the slow song had ended and the music picked back up, Rose and Alfie were joined by Ella. The trio danced along to the upbeat songs, acting like fools and enjoying themselves immensely. They were eventually joined by Carly and Stewart and the small group continued dancing around to the bands fast paced songs.

A little over half an hour after Alfie had initially dragged Rose out onto the dance floor, the band began playing another slow song. Instantly, Carly and Stewart began dancing together, leaving the other three standing around awkwardly. Rose could tell that Alfie and Ella wanted to dance together, but were holding back in deference to Rose.

"I'm going to get a drink. You two dance and I'll be back when the song picks back up. I promise," Rose added the last part after the look Alfie gave her. She made her way through the crowd towards one of the long house tables that had been pushed to the side of the hall and ladened with food and beverages.

Rose poured herself some indiscriminate red punch and was turning back to watch the couples slow dance when she collided with someone. Her arm was bumped up and her punch was spilt down the front of her dress.

"Shit! I'm so sorry!"

To be continued

A/N: Oooooooooh! What's gonna happen next! (Shameless self-promotion to keep you reading :P)

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