Chapter fourteen: Yule Ball
The day before the ball Arthur and Isabella, Legolas, Aundrea's entire guard, her godparents, Maester Seymour, her servants and star reporter Shelinda had all arrived at Hogwarts. Aundrea simply groaned in frustration at this, but allowed her mother to take charge as usual. Before she knew what was happening, the princess was whisked away to spend the morning getting a massage, manicure, and pedicure from her handmaids. Aundrea couldn't help but smile in relief as they waited on her hand and foot. Sometimes being a princess definitely had its perks.
Seymour however spent most of the day with Isabella much to his dismay getting drilled on etiquette in the wizarding world. For the love of Yevon, was she mad? He thought as Isabella explained to him about the headmaster and all the Hogwarts staff. He'd come to the Wizarding world some time ago for political reasons with the Minister of Magic. Personally Seymour couldn't stand the man, and hated that Cornelius Fudge was his mother's estranged brother. The less Aundrea knew about that disaster the better, he thought as Isabella snapped her fingers in front of his face. Groaning in frustration, he sat up.
The Day of the Ball
Aundrea nearly screamed when she saw her mother peering down at her the next day. Isabella pulled her daughter closed to heras Aundrea made to get out of bed. Exhausted the princess didn't even bother to push her mother away. Today was the day she'd been dreading the most as she would be forced to spend most of it getting ready. As well as being photographed for Witch Weekly, the Daily Prophet, and the Zanarkand Gazette.
Seymour simply watched as Aundrea's handmaids helped her get ready for the ball. From head to two the princess adorned a long and flowing Christmas gown with a strapless blue corset and white bottom decorated with silver embroideries that went all the went all the way to the floor. Her long silky flowing black hair was tied back into an elegant bun with waterfall curled ringlets from either side of her small heart shaped face. As she turned around, her handmaids fastened the "Le Coir de La Mere" (The Heart of the Ocean) necklace around her neck as Aundrea put in her sterling silver diamond earrings.
He could not help but notice the sad faraway look in her eyes as she smiled at her servants. She moved mechanically as more blush was applied to her golden brown face. She twirled around in her dress before smiling sadly in the mirror one last time.
"Ladies, could you give us a moment?" Seymour asked, dismissing the hand servants. The maids nodded and disappeared without a sound, locking the door behind them.
"The wedding is off," Maester Seymour said firmly to Aundrea, who looked at him like her was crazy.
"What, why?" She asked him, her face puzzled. Seymour walked to his fiancé, taking her tiny hands within his.
"Because I want to see the young woman I love happy no matter what," Seymour said, looking into Aundrea's golden brown eyes. She creased her forehead as she looked at him.
"Seymour I, do love you-" she tried to speak but he pulled her into a deepened kiss. She felt her mind explode as she he kissed her, her thoughts no longer her own but Ariana's seeing images of her past self and past lover, Zhao Lin. It was not her feelings, but Ariana's. But that would mean-
"You're...you're...Zhao Lin?" She asked Seymour. The Maester nodded.
"Lady Anderson, for the my sake please do not marry me," Seymour said to her. "I wish to see you happy..."
"So you know about...?" She once again was unable to finish for Seymour had nodded.
"Let us for the sake of tonight put on a good show and go to the ball as friends," Seymour said offering her his arm. Aundrea nodded, throwing her arms around his neck as a huge thanks before kissing his cheek. She took his arm, and together. The royal "it couple" headed to meet the Triwizard champions.
Harry watched as a beautiful young woman in a beautiful navy blue and white ball gown glided down the stairs with a man dressed in matching ornate robes with strange marking. He felt his breath taken away by the site and knew right away from the amount of cameras surrounding them, it was Maester Seymour, Aundrea's fiancé.
"Who's that with the scar?" Seymour whispered in Aundrea's ear after they posed for the cover of Witch Weekly. Aundrea raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"Harry!" She greeted the boy with the lightening shaped scar, kissing his cheeks. "Id like for you to meet my fiancé, Maester Seymour."
"Pleasure Mr. Potter," Seymour extended a long talon clawed hand. Harry looked at Aundrea who nodded, and shook it back. "I am half human and Guado," Seymour explained as Harry shook his hand, indicating the strange markings on his face. Harry smiled and nodded politely. He watched as Aundrea gripped Seymour's arm and steered him to meet the rest of the champions. As Seymour shook Roger Davies' hand, cameras surrounded Aundrea and the Beaux Batons champion, Fleur Delacour. Knowing what to do, the two grabbed hands and posed fiercely for the camera.
"Hot Ladies," Davies muttered to Seymour as the bulb flashed, capturing Aundrea's exclusive Yule Ball Gown. He felt his heart swell as she stared coldly at he camera, elbowing Davies slightly, who seemed to be drooling at his own date.
"Thank you, m'lady." Said the photographer of the Zanarkand Gazette. Aundrea nodded, laughing with Fleur and flushed in the face as they headed back to their dates.
"There go Cedric Diggory, The Hogwarts Champion and Cho Chang," Aundrea whispered, as a handsome young man with brown hair smiled and headed her way. She blushed as Cedric had been her crush before she started dating Fred.
"Lady Anderson," Cedric said, taking Aundrea's hand within his and kissing it. Seymour took Cho's and did the same much to Aundrea's dismay. She already hated Cho but smiled tightly at the beautiful fifth year, who was dawned In a silver kimono, her long black hair in an ornate bun with a flower-jeweled hanging from it.
"Champions over here please!" Professor McGonagall beckoned them. She jerked her head to the side for Aundrea.
"You are to take the first dance as Guardian of the Goblet," she whispered in Aundrea's ear.
"I'm aware." Aundrea nodded bluntly. "Since my dear sister backed out."
She stormed off in a huff and gripped Seymour's arm. He looked at her, but Aundrea staters straight ahead with her piercing amber eyes. She and Seymour were right behind Harry and his date Parvati Patil. The fanfare began and soon the doors to the Great Hall swung open to welcome the four champions.
"Is that Aundrea Anderson?" Draco Malfoy heard someone say. He looked up to see Aundrea gliding into the Great Hall, cameras flashing as she and Seymour proceeded to the middle of the dance floor to take their positions. Malfoy watched as Aundrea's elegant hair fell from its bun as Seymour lifted her up during the waltz. Waterfall curls cascaded down her shoulders in a magically pinned style as the Guado dipped his fiancé, dazzling on lookers nearby.
"She's impressive I must say," Pansy admitted in his ear as Aundrea was lifted above Seymour's head and gently touched the floor. Malfoy raised an eyebrow at his date..
"I thought you hated Anderson?" He asked. Pansy nodded.
"Yes well, you can't deny the girl's got moxy," came Aliana's voice from behind them. Draco felt his face burn at the sight of the second Anderson twin. Her bleach blonde hair, usually short bob cut was neatly curled and pinned back into an elegant bun. She was dressed in an all-white sleeveless white, floor length gown that hugged her figure modestly. She looked-
"Hot," Malfoy said, thinking out loud. Several onlookers nearby had heard him and he felt his face burn once more.
Aundrea made her way over to Harry and Ron, who was still mad at her for breaking up with George. She looked at their dates to see that the girls were having a miserable time as the boys couldn't get the dates they wanted. Rolling her eyes she plopped down next to Harry, flushed in the face from dancing.
"How are you?" He asked her quietly as he gave her a tight hug. She nodded solemnly, her eyes on Ron, who refused to look her way.
"You're going to have to speak at some point, Ronald," Aundrea retorted, crossing her legs. Ron was about to respond when Hermione came bouncing over to them, her face flustered.
"Viktor's gone to get drinks," she said cheerily. "Would you like to join us?"
"No we would not care to join you and Viktor." Ron sneered, crossing his arms . Sensing an argument was coming, Aundrea kissed Harry's cheek and headed to the punch table only to run into-
"George!" She said. George Weasley was dressed fashion handsome and Aundrea's heart ached. He extended a hand to help her up and she took it.
"You look beautiful," he said kissing her white gloved hand.
"Thank you," she said breathlessly. "Seymour!" She called to her fiancé, waving him over. George looked at her but Aundrea's eyes widened, pleading for him to stay.
"Is something wrong?" Seymour asked her, getting in front of her protectively. Aundrea gently pushed him to the side.
"This is George, George meet Seymour," she said breathlessly. Seeing Hermione coming towards her, face streaked with tears. She looked at Seymour, who nodded and ran to Hermione.
"What happened?" She asked her best friend, only to be interrupted by Ron.
"Might I have a word?" He asked Hermione, ignoring Aundrea who simply took a step back. She watched as the two walked off together arguing.
"He'll come around," George whispered in her ear, placing both hands on her shoulders.
"What are you talking about?" Aundrea asked. "Where's Seymour?"
"Lady Anderson, might I have a word with you?" Seymour asked in her ear. She looked at George, who nodded. The two walked out of the Great Hall and into the courtyard, Seymour handing wrapping Aundrea in his coat.
"It's time I depart," he said to her quietly, his voice serious. "But before I do, go to him."
"I-what?!" Aundrea uttered in confusion.
"Go to George, M'lady. He is waiting for you," Seymour said. Aundrea looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"You...you mean that? "she asked, her voice cracking. Seymour nodded. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"I do, now go," Seymour urged her. She turned to see George Weasley waiting for her in the distance. Hugging Seymour goodbye, she handed him the engagement ring, the arranged marriage broken as he had finally set her free. George pulled her into a deepened kiss, he face wet with tears he held her. She turned to see, Seymour had disappeared.
"Thank you," she muttered to the winds.
He arrived back in Spira with his heart aching and pounding from panic but knew he had done the right thing in setting her free. Hopefully she would come back to him someday, but for now he would her be happy. Pulling out a poisoned dagger, he plunged it deep into his heart.
"I'll be seeing you soon father," we're his last words only to be drowned by Lord Jyscal's screams, who had just walked onto the horrendous scene. The Maester smiled at his servant, before all went black.