dancing venus

It was a long drive to the port key, and Venus had spent the whole ride begging James to take off the blindfold and asking about forty thousand questions every 2 minutes.

First, it was: "Oo a blindfold, kinky."

Then it was: " Why do I have a swimsuit when there's not a beach near here."

And then it was: "If you kill me you'll never get my secret fortune." That was his favorite; mainly because they both knew that there was no secret fortune to be had.

When they arrived at the port key there were hundreds of other people there, zipping in and out either ready to have to time of their lives, or dashing out and quickly coming back for more. James took her blindfold off and watched as her excited expression dimmed as quickly as it appeared.

Her shoulders slumped and her she pouted, "Is this it? A bunch of drunk people standing around a giant potato?"

James chuckled and grabbed her by the hand moving closer to the 'giant potato'. "This potato, my dear, is a port key that will take us to our real destination."

"This is an awful lot of traveling, Bello." She frowned.

"Just put your hand on the potato love, I promise you won't regret it." James kissed her forehead, and she laughed.

"You're lucky I like you so much." She smirked.


By the time they arrived, it was already sunset and the party was in full swing. Drinks were being handed out like free puppies at an adoption agency, and there wasn't an angry face insight. Even the wait staff seemed to be having a good time. Vee was going to love this. He slowly navigated her to the bar and helped her into her seat.

He signaled to the bartender and quietly ordered three shots of firewhisky. One for him and two for her. That was another one of the things that he loved about Vee, she could out drink him better than Sirius could, and that was a major feat.

As the bartender finished pouring their drinks James gently reached around Venus and untied her blindfold. She sat up straighter and James watched as her head spun around and her eyes darted back and forth so quickly that it made him dizzy. Once she finally placed where she was her head zipped right back to James and she pulled a huge grin. "Are we where I think we are?"

James smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Well, that depends." He said. "Do you think we're at the Sounds of the Mystic Music Festival?"

Venus hopped up and down in her seat, ecstatic that she was finally at the one place that she had been dying to visit for the past two years. She downed one of her two shots and jumped into James' lap.

"Have I ever told you that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me?" She whispered before kissing him softly.

"Maybe once or twice." He hummed into her lips.

The Sounds of the Mystic Music (or TSSM Fest as most liked to call it) was a very secret, very wild, and very hidden music festival for the magically and monetarily inclined, where the best names in wizard music came to perform, and it just so happened that Sirius Black had tickets but lost his date. So, in a perfect Sirius Black fashion, he gifted his tickets to his best friend and his best friends wife. And James Potter just so happened to gift his second ticket to his mistress. Not his wife.

Best decision he'd ever made.

James and Vee had gotten so caught up in their moment that he'd almost threw out the whole plan he had for them. He pulled away from Vee and held the side of her face in his hand. "Ah-ah-ah." He laughed, "we have an itinerary for tonight ma'am."

Venus threw her head back in laughter taking another shot before turning back to face him. "Is that so sir?"

James nodded his head and smiled, "All of your favorites are here and I'm making a promise to you, right here and right now, that you won't leave here without seeing all of them."

"And which of my favorites are here exactly?" She laughed smartly.

"Oh nobody, just The Hobgoblins, Michael Jackson, Queen, and Spellbound." He bit his lip and waited for her to start squealing, her normal reaction to the slightest mention of the aforementioned musical acts. Instead, she took the last shot, meant for him, downed it, and kissed him all over his face before jumping out of her seat and grabbing him by the hand, and pulling him up with her.

"Where to first?" She grinned.


All of the performances were over and now they stood in the middle of a makeshift club. Loud music played and all anybody did was drink and dance, James and Venus included. Venus shook and spun and flailed her arms all about dancing with more joy, vigor, and passion than James had ever seen, and just the sight was enough motivation to keep him running after her all night.

By now it had to have been 3 am, and he was sure Lily had probably called the overnight house three times to check-in. He told her there was an imperative Auror-slash-Order job he had to take care of all weekend and that he would be back home Monday night if all went well. It seemed like the more time went by, the easier it was to lie.

By this point, his body was aching, and his legs felt like jello, but he pulled himself together for what he'd momentarily convinced himself was one final dance. He finished off his beer, the alcohol was working to numb his aching joints, and ran back to the dance floor to find his love.

When he reached her she was moving at a pace faster than the song that was playing. He got behind her and wrapped his arms around her hips moving with her, their bodies rocking together as one. They ground, slid, and moved against each other together in a way that made everyone around them stare in jealousy. Anyone within a ten-foot radius could tell what they had and no one in the room could stop themselves from being filled with envy at the mere sight of it.

And then, the first slow song of the night came on and James couldn't have been happier. Spending his whole night trying to keep up with Venus had him more exhausted than any quidditch match could, and while he enjoyed every second of it, he probably didn't look the most attractive with droplets of sweat running down his nose.

As the songs shifted so did their bodies. James pulled Venus close and held her in his arms, swaying along to the music. Through the sound of the music and the chatter of everyone in the room, James could hear Venus speak. It was a fleeting sound, so soft he was able to hear the sound of her fingers tapping against his chest before he actually heard her.

"Esme." She whispered.

"Huh?"

"Esme." She looked up at him and smiled. "It's short for Esmeralda, but I want you to call me Esme. You got that Bello?"

James held her hand and squeeze it tighter. "Yes, ma'am."

As they continued to sway James looked towards the coastline of the beach with the brightest smile on his face. He couldn't believe she actually told him. He'd thought it would have taken another month at least.

With the woman he cared most about pulled close to his body, he couldn't help but repeat her name over and over again in his head. Esme, Esmeralda, Esme, Esmeralda. It was so fitting of her. He couldn't explain it. It just was. It was complex, yet simple; it was gorgeous and new, and just like her stage name, it was somehow able to capture everything about her in just a few syllables.