A/N: Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for (I have at least): The Yule Ball! Lots of dancing, lots of smiling, and who knows... maybe a kiss? Anyways, enjoy!
"I've been looking for somebody
Tryna kick it with somebody
I need a rude boy to tell me something sweet
Same time got his hands up on my body
I wanna get high when he take it low-low
Let me feel strong when I'm taking control
I've been looking for my shawty
So come and get it if you got it
All my girls 'round the world, I know you know what I mean
I get a little sexy when I'm lonely
One thing on my mind, I know what I need
All my girls 'round the world, hands up and sing it with me
'Cause everything I got, you know it's all me
Even though a man ain't something I need
I want a boyfriend, so put it on me
I'm looking for a man who can take that heat
Want a boyfriend, but not too sweet
My baby gotta be tough while he running that street
Is he ride or die?
I've been looking so long for a guy to turn me on
I want a boyfriend, yeah, yeah
I want a boyfriend, yeah
I been looking like"
Boyfriend - Mabel
The following weeks are hella busy. You have the usual homework, combined with my extra Potions lessons and trying to set Harry up with someone other than Cho Chang, considering Cedric already asked her, bustling around to point out certain girls here and there. Eventually, he and Ron settle on asking the Patil twins, so I guess that's good.
I'm also incredibly busy helping out Vik with his plan to ask Hermione out, which is a total success, thank God.
I'm hiding behind one of the bookshelves in the restricted section, occasionally taking sneaky glances around the corner to see how Vik's doing. I'd told him Hermione would want something simple but romantic, hence why we were in her favourite place, the place I'd introduced them: the library.
"What… are you doing here, hiding in the restricted section, Miss Leroy?" I jump, spinning around to find professor Snape standing there.
"Shit, professor, you scared me!" I exclaim, sighing.
"That does not answer my question. What are you doing here?" He asks, not very impressed.
"I'm here to watch my plan succeed! Vik's asking Hermione to the ball, we've been working on the idea for a week." I explain, unable to prevent a grin from appearing on my face. When I peer around the corner, I'm surprised when he follows me, taking a look at the two myself.
"What's he doing?" Snape asks when Viktor hands her the book.
"It's a copy of the first book they read together. We've marked the first letter of 24 chapters with a red hearts , if she puts those letters together, it says 'Will you go to the ball with me?'" I explain with a grin, watching as Hermione begins to search for the marked letters eagerly.
"How thoughtful." Snape mutters.
"It's fucking romantic. I wish someone would do that kind of corny stuff for me." I state, watching Vik's nervous look.
"You do?" I can practically hear the raised eyebrow in his voice.
"You sound surprised." I mutter back.
"I didn't expect you to be a silly romantic."
"I believe you call it a hopeless romantic." He scoffs at that, but I ignore him, seeing Hermione close the book and beam up at him, saying 'yes'. I turn around when they hug, a smug look on my face.
"Once more, I have succeeded in my matchmaking plans!" I exclaim, grinning up at Snape.
"Very well, but now you must leave the Restricted Section. I know you don't have permission to be here." Snape orders, and I rush off, flashing him a last smile.
"Hey." I plop down onto the blanket next to Niklaus, sighing deeply.
"You okay?" He asks, glancing amusedly at me.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm just very busy." I admit, turning to lie on my side so I can watch him.
"Well, time for you to relax now. The house elves were so kind to help me make lunch." He says, smiling when I sit up, noticing the basket. He hands me a sandwich, and I take it eagerly, the both of us beginning to eat in silence.
"So, how are you feeling about the Yule Ball?" Niklaus eventually asks when we're finished. I'm sitting next to him, my head resting on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around me.
"Excited. It seems like fun, dancing and laughing with my friends all night long. Also, I can see Hermione and Vik dance together." I say, smiling.
"And do you have a date already?" He asks, sounding nervous.
"No, I don't." I answer honestly.
"Why not?"
"Because no one asked me yet." I admit, shrugging against him.
"Good. I have something for you." He sighs in relief, moving away from me for a second. I watch as he reaches into the basket once more. My heart skips a beat when he hands me a small gift, wrapped in dark red wrapping paper, a silver bow on top.
"Open it." He says, urging me with a smile. I open it carefully, gasping when I see what it is.
"You got me an iPod?" I ask him, eyes wide when I look up at him.
"I know you don't have one. This way you can listen Muggle music at Hogwarts as well." He says, smiling secretively at me.
"This is too much." I state, staring at him.
"It's not. Turn it on, I put some music in it for you." He urges, grabbing a hand with his. I turn the device on, he'd taught me how to do it when he first played me his 80's music, the two of us often just listening to music together, sharing a pair of earphones. I open the playlist, and freeze up when I see the song titles. Together, they form a sentence.
'Will you go to the ball with me?'
I look up from the device, into his blue eyes.
"So, what do you say? Will you go to the ball with me?" He asks, rather nervous.
"Yes!" I exclaim, pulling him into a hug. He chuckles at it, strong arms wrapping around me in return, holding me there.
"I'm SO nervous, I just can't take it anymore!" Lavender Brown squeals, making me chuckle from where I'm helping Hermione with her impossible bush of hair, as Lavender paces around the room, searching for various things: her makeup, her earrings, her hair clasp… that girl was impossible, I didn't know how she could just leave everything all over the place like that!
"There you go, Hermione, we're done. You look stunning!" I say, smiling at her through the mirror. She truly looked gorgeous in a way I'd never seen her before, and it had taken us a lot of work, but I was happy with the result.
"You think Viktor will like it?" She asks softly, and I can see the nerves in her eyes.
"I know he will, don't worry. You're gorgeous, and smart, and you'll have tons of fun tonight." I assure her, and she seems to calm down a little at that. Lavender's still panicking, and when I focus my magic and send it throughout the room, I quickly locate the lip-gloss she's been looking for. Levitating it with my mind, I send it flying right in front of her on the bed.
"Oh, it was right here, how silly of me!" she exclaims, making me shake my head.
"Hermione, Alistair, Lavender, we have to leave in 5 minutes or we'll be late!" Parvati exclaims, bursting into the room.
"SHIT!" We all exclaim simultaneously, and I hurry to my wardrobe, grabbing my heels and putting them on. I'm checking my makeup in the mirror, reapplying some lipstick when Parvati enters again, saying it's time. I quickly help Hermione get up, and smiling, we leave the room.
"Ali?" Hermione whispers as we're on our way to leave the common room.
"Yeah?" I answer, following her through the tunnel.
"I'm so nervous." She admits, flashing me a nervous look.
"Don't be, everything will be just fine." I assure her, taking her hand to squeeze it softly.
"Aren't you nervous?" She asks curiously.
"Only a little. Don't worry, just focus on having fun." I whisper with a smile, and she smiles back a me. We had a ball to attend.
-Severus' POV-
She looks radiant. It's the only word he can think of when he sees her make her way into the ballroom, escorted by Prince Niklaus, right behind the four champions with their partners. She's dressed in a killer shade of red, Gryffindor red, with a dress that shows off her shoulders and collar bones, the long sleeves narrowly enclosing her wrists. Her high heels match the colour of her dress, and she doesn't look so tiny anymore, carrying herself with elegance. Her hair's being held up with pins, a few strands that have been curled for the occasion framing her face. He even notices the makeup, subtle but definitely complimenting her natural beauty, red and gold eyeshadow nearly making him roll his eyes at her probably unintentional house pride. There's a dazzling smile on her face, and if he wasn't so shocked he would've told her off for the wink she gives him when she catches his gaze, making him scowl. Still, he watches as she begins to dance with Niklaus, graciously being led across the dancefloor.
He's surprised, he'll admit. Anyone could tell the girl was pretty, sure, but now, seeing her in something else than baggy sweaters or robes? He forces himself to look away, only to scowl when Dumbledore's gaze meets his, a twinkle in the old man's eyes. He'd seen him staring at her for sure. Eventually, his gaze finds her once more, as she's being lifted in the air by her partner, the boy entranced by her. He remembers holding her like that, but quickly tries to think of something else.
Soon, the dance ends, and he glares subconsciously when the boy presses a kiss to her cheek, making her giggle. The torture of foolish teenagers. He's surprised when she says something to the boy with a sweet smile before walking over into his direction, until he realizes bloody Karkarov is standing beside him.
"You clean up nicely, Professor." She says with a cheeky grin as she reaches them, locking eyes with him, and he flashes her a warning look automatically, which only amuses her more.
"Miss Leroy." He finds himself greeting her nonetheless.
"Speak for yourself. You look like a goddess!" Severus now actually rolls his eyes, watching how his former co-Deatheater pulls her into his arms eagerly, even pressing a kiss to her temple. The nerve.
"Thanks, Igor. You look good too." She says when he lets go of her, a damned blush on her cheeks. The three are distracted for a moment as teachers start moving to the dancefloor.
"Miss Leroy, why don't you accompany professor Snape for this dance? We're all very curious to see how your partnering is, considering all the raving reviews I've gotten from both Slytherin and Durmstrang." Dumbledore says subtly before being led to the dancefloor by Minerva, and Severus swears he could kill the old man right now.
"Can't deny an order from the Headmaster, can we?" Alistair says then, shrugging at him. He just looks at her, but is surprised when she smiles at it. Then, she offers her hand.
"Professor Snape, would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" She asks, failing miserably at trying to maintain a stern look on her face. His lips curl up into the faintest of smiles, and he sighs before allowing her to grab his hand, dragging him along to the dancefloor.
Dancing with her once more feels natural, a hand on her waist, the other holding her hand in his, the way her hand is splayed against his chest, and for a moment he's worried about whether others can see how relaxed he is around her. Then, he decides he can at least give himself this and simply enjoy it, even if it's for one dance.
"So, how come you're such a good dancer?" She asks after a while. When she looks up into his eyes, he sees the pure curiosity in hers. She wasn't one who would ask things because of ulterior motives, but because she wanted to know, and he wasn't quite used to it. He thinks of how Narcissa and Lucius had taught him, because it was essential to dance and be able to gain information that way as a spy.
"It's... complicated." He answers, glancing down at her with a blank face before spinning her around.
"You mean that it had to do with You-Know-Who." She states, but there's no judgment in her eyes.
"You know too much." He answers, finding himself unable to be worried about that for some reason.
"Yeah, maybe you're right about that." She mutters, and a dark look flashes across her face briefly. He frowns, not wanting to see her upset on a day like this, so he quickly dips her over his arm, and when he pulls her back up he's glad to see that smile back on her face.
"Let's not think of sad things. Enjoy this evening, it only lasts so long." He finds himself ordering her, and she nods obediently, smiling up at him. They dance in comfortable silence a while longer, until the last note finally plays.
"Thank you for the dance, Professor." She says politely, curtsying for him.
"Have a nice evening, miss Leroy." He answers, a small smile appearing on his face. After that, she walks away, and he walks back to the teacher's table.
-Ali's POV-
I take a deep breath as I walk over to where I see Niklaus standing, already waiting for me. God, that professor could dance.
"Ready? I thought Snape would never let go of you." He says teasingly, making me smack is arm playfully.
"I'm all yours now." I say, making a sweet smile appear on his face.
"You bet. I'm not letting you go now." He says, taking my hand. And he's pretty right about that. I spend almost the entire evening in his arms, on the dancefloor, save for some trips to the bar or a five minute break after a particularly fast song. Hermione is beautiful in her blue (BLUE!) dress, Viktor looking at her like she's the most precious thing he's ever seen as he twirls her around in his arms. Neville is a surprisingly good dancer, and I'm so glad he asked Ginny to be his partner, considering the bright smile that not once leaves her lips. Harry and Ron are brooding, grumpily sitting at a table, their dates having left them, not that I could blame the girls. They were a buzzkill. Ron and Hermione even get into a fight, because Ron is so overly jealous it's even making me annoyed, which ruins the night for Hermione and Vik, who gives me a sad smile.
Nonetheless, I try to have as much fun as I can. After a while, the music changes, and there's even a DJ who plays Muggle songs after the Weird Sisters performed, and Niklaus tries his best to keep up with me and some others, mostly Muggleborns, as we dance the 'Macarena'. When I look over to the teacher's table, in the middle of the dance, Snape is staring at me like he's never seen anything so strange in his life, making me laugh.
"Muggles are weird." Niklaus breathes out when we stumble off the dancefloor. I laugh at that, grabbing his arm to steady myself.
"You did great, for a first time!" I say with a grin, making him scowl playfully.
"Do you want to get some fresh air?" He asks, offering his hand with a smile.
"Sure, it's hot in here." I answer, taking his hand. I follow him through the room, and take a deep breath when we walk outside, into the garden. The place has been decorated beautifully, with fireflies and floating candles lighting up the dark sky, and we walk over to a small gazebo, a white bench placed underneath it.
"Are you enjoying yourself tonight?" Niklaus asks when we sit down on it, flashing me a smile, blue eyes meeting mine.
"It's amazing. Thanks for asking me to be your date." I answer with a smile of my own. When I shiver, the cold air hitting my bare shoulders, he quickly shrugs off his jacket, wrapping me in it before he pulls me closer into his side. I can feel my cheeks turn red at it, my heart skipping a beat. I lean into him, huddling closer for the warmth, and smile up at him. Suddenly, I freeze up when I notice what's hanging above us, making Niklaus follow my gaze.
"Mistletoe." He mutters, and when I look back at him I can tell his cheeks are red now too. I nod, my stomach doing a somersault. He places a hand on my cheek, and I automatically lean in, placing a hand on his shoulder carefully. He moves closer, and I close my eyes, allowing him to cross the distance between us and kiss me. My heart skips a beat as our lips touch, and I'm pretty sure my nerves will kill me soon.
"I'm telling you, Snape, You-Know-Who's returning…!"
We scoot apart as fast as we can, but it's too late. When I turn my head, I find Snape and Karkarov standing there, frozen as they stare at us. Shit. I can feel my cheeks turn bright red, quickly looking down at the ground.
"Ah, young love. You should be getting back inside, before either of you catch a cold." Igor says, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
"Y-Yeah, we-we were about to… to leave. S-Sorry." I stutter, flustered, even getting worse when I see Snape's death stare. Niklaus quickly grabs my hand, dragging me back inside. Only when we're inside again, warmth hitting me welcomingly, I'm able to breathe again.
"We should try that again sometime, without professors lurking about." Niklaus says, giving me a cheeky smile.
"Yeah, for sure." I answer, still slightly breathless, making him pull me into a hug, his chuckles rumbling through his chest.
