Chapter Thirty Six

Lysander strolled alongside his friends through the winding corridors of the Hogwarts castle, his tumbling platinum blonde locks pulled back into a loose ponytail as several strands were left free to frame his pallid features. Ailis and Lily buzzed with exhilaration over the Yule Ball, looking forward to spending such a wonderful, formal evening with their boyfriends. Lysander could not help but feel slightly lonely beneath all his happiness at his comrades' new found relationships. He wondered if Fred and Roxanne felt the same, the only other single companions he had. Although, he knew Fred enjoyed his freedom, wooing women left and right, not caring for rejection, well-aware that there were plenty of other females in the world.

Lysander sometimes admired Fred for his emotional stability, his ability to accept rejection without even a quiver of his self-esteem. However, his lustrous attitudes towards women and promiscuous ways were most definitely not something Lysander aspired to achieve. He was broken from his thoughts abruptly as the group of fifth year Gryffindors entered a classroom clear of all desks, the remainder of the fifth year waiting within. Headmistress Quackenbush of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic stood in the middle with a smirk, her tall slender body drenched in royal blue robes as she called for attention.

"Welcome to my dance class. You will all be required to dance a formal waltz at the Yule Ball before you can grind your bodies up against one another," Hugo's features wrinkled in disgust at what she said. Nevertheless the elderly French woman continued, her silvery grey locks falling about her waist in healthy curls, "Assuming the majority of you are going to the Yule Ball that is."

"I would not give it up for the world," Hugo whispered before kissing Ailis on the cheek gently causing her to bubble over with flirtatious giggles.

"I would not either," Liam smirked vainly before snaking an arm around Lily's miniature waist, "I have gotten my woman." Her auburn orbs narrowed into dark slits as she glared at him, preparing to snap back at him for insinuating she was his possession.

"Nonetheless, Mister McLaggen," Headmistress Quackenbush interrupted, standing before Liam with a mischievous grin, "I would appreciate it if you help me demonstrate the dance. And remember whilst we waltz that women are not possessions."

Liam whimpered as he reluctantly obeyed, his lips folding into a sour pout as he rested his arm around the elderly headmistress' waist, his other hand curling around hers. His dark golden eyes narrowed furiously at her punishment as they began to waltz. Snickers erupted throughout the room as Lily could only join in, biting back a loud, obnoxious snort of laughter as she continued to chuckle at his expense. The Headmistress' voice interrupted the chuckles as Liam's face burned deep scarlet with fury.

"Now that we have finished torturing Mister McLaggen, students, please pair up and practice the waltz."

Lysander emerged from the hall with his friends at his side, his sapphire eyes twinkling in concentration as he continued to muse over the Yule Ball.

"I hate that woman." Liam snapped, folding his arms over his athletic torso in sulking.

"Be careful, she might hear you and invite you in for round two." Lysander teased.

"That is not funny." He retorted as Lily and Roxanne shook their heads, preparing to disagree.

"I am sure it was hilarious little brother," Adolyn broke the silence, approaching the fifth years with her fellow seventh years beside her, Rose Weasley and Fred Weasley.

"Shut up Addie." Liam snarled as she simply waved him off, running a hand through her shimmering golden spirals.

"I guess you and Hugo both have dates for the Yule Ball, what about the rest of you?" She enquired, her sepia orbs sparkling with interest as Lysander shook his head, Roxanne and Fred doing the same. She pouted in irritation at the lack of gossip before grinning widely, "Well, Rosie-posie has a date. A certain good-looking Slytherin, a Mister Brayden Zabini." She nudged her elbow into Rose's side.

"Stop it, Addie." She hissed as her face burned beetroot in embarrassment, almost matching her unruly mane of crimson frizz in colour as her mahogany eyes narrowed at her best friend, "What Brayden and I do is none of your business. Or anyone else's for that matter."

"I'm only teasing, Rosie, calm down." Adolyn said with a playful scowl before glancing back at the remaining Gryffindors, "Well, I am going solo to the Yule Ball because James cannot come... I guess it is nice to know I will have some people to hang out with."

"Well..." Lysander mused, concocting a plan with a small smirk, "I have an idea. Roxanne and I do not have a date, nor does Fred as he wishes to," He moved his fingers into air quotes with a roll of his azure blue eyes, "'Keep himself available', and your boyfriend cannot come. So why don't we four just go as a group? Two fifth years and two seventh years, no one is alone and everyone has someone to hang out with."

"That's a brilliant idea!" Adolyen squeaked with excitement, threading her arm through Rose's and her other through Liam's before trotting ahead, "Let's go to dinner!"

"She is excited far too easily," Roxanne stated with a raise of her eyebrows, her tumbling dark locks framing her porcelain pale features. She walked alongside Lysander, her deep orbs glancing up at him every once in a while as they went before she gulped uncomfortably, "Well, why haven't you asked anyone to the Yule Ball? I myself do not want to go with any of the boys who have asked me and as you said, Fred is keeping himself free for any girl who wants a ride."

She glared at her brother briefly in disapproval before returning her attention to Lysander curiously. He shrugged his shoulders limply, not quite sure himself why he did not think to ask anyone.

"To be honest, I do not really know why I haven't asked anyone... I guess I just have not found the right girl to ask beforehand..." He murmured with a second shrug of his shoulders, sliding his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks, "Maybe I will ask someone there..."

"Wow, how confusing." She grinned widely before continuing with a chuckle, "I guess you are basically a more romantic version of Fred."