Paul remembered something. He checked his watch.
"Oh, no!" Merula said.
"Pictures!"
Paul got his jacket and they hurried outside. The lake looked utterly spectacular, a pool of gold, with a blazing sky chased by night. Paul's heart sank when he saw the line. It was twice as big as it was earlier. As they got closer, though, he could see that it moved fast. Flashes of purple powder marked when each couple's picture was taken. The photographers posed the couples while their assistants refilled the flash bar and made sure everything was ready.
It took them about fifteen, twenty minutes to finally get their turn. There weren't many couples left behind them. The sun was beginning to set behind the Forbidden Forest; the sky was on fire; the lake was color of gold turning to copper.
The photographer started to pose Merula in front of him, then Merula said, "Wait. I want to do this." She stood back to back with him, heads touching, both arms folded, looking back at him. Paul got the idea and did the same. They had the skeptical air of, "I like you, but you're lucky to be here with this!"
As the flash bar exploded its purple glow, the butterfly took off and they both gasped and laughed. The photographer was overjoyed. You couldn't pose something like that. As they walked back up the hill, Paul said, "That's going to look incredible."
"Thanks for rolling with it. I know it wasn't sweet or cuddly."
"Nah. That wouldn't have been us."
"My turn," Merula said, remembering their game.
"Go for it."
"Favorite... food."
"Fish and chips."
"Salt or vinegar?"
"Pepper and tomato sauce. You?"
"Ugh! How can you ruin perfectly good fish and chips that way?"
"That's what my mum says. You?"
"Salt and vinegar, of course!" She shook her head. "That's disgusting..."
As they got back to the Great Hall, the lights inside dimmed for a slow dance. Merula pulled up. "Oh, no. I... no way."
"Are you sure? I'm good if you don't want to."
"It's too weird."
Paul was surprised he was looking at the same fearless goddess he'd been dancing with earlier. He shrugged. "Well, how about a walk? Madam Rakepick wanted us to keep our eyes open. Bill and Penny can watch the Great Hall."
"That sounds good. Let's hit the east wing. I'll bet there are some good views over that side of the castle."
