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CHAPTER 6
I was five minutes late downstairs to meet Felix Smythwick. Mathilda insisted on being fashionably late to meet Adrian and I wasn't keen on going down alone so there was no choice but to stand next to her impatiently as she lazily looked at the clock till it was time to go. When we finally did get at the Entrance Hall we saw Adrian first. He was standing with his back to us though, talking to his friends and Mathilda waited with walking down the stairs until Warrington elbowed his friend into turning around so he could observe her walking down. He looked over his shoulder and then turned around completely, a big smirk on his face. Mathilda took that as her cue to gracefully walk down.
Mathilda did look really pretty. The shiny, soft pink dress fell down elegantly, the spaghetti straps holding it up over her bare shoulders. She wore a black satin ribbon choker around her neck and my mum's present to her, the black headband. She looked like a magazine cover
I had taken a quick last look in the mirror before we left the dormitory and I had decided that I didn't look half bad. The powder blue dress had always looked good on me, it had been a present from my aunt Tamora for her wedding and she always was good with fashion. Marietta had done a great job at curling my normally quite boring sleek hair and Mathilda had concerned herself over my make up although I had washed some of it off because I felt like it was far too strong looking for me.
I walked down behind her, looking around the crowd. Felix should already be here, but I couldn't spot him amongst the dozens of people. 'You look ravishing.' Adrien said to Mathilda, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. Mathilda looked pleased but put on a snooty face. 'Who in Merlin's name says ravishing? You aren't trying to impress me with that vocabulary, are you?' She asked. I rolled my eyes but blushed when I saw Warrington make a face at me right after. Ricidulous, eh? – the face told me. I nodded, my cheeks still red. 'You clean up well, Wiggleswade.' He said with a shrug. 'You too.' I muttered back, intimidated by the older Slytherin boy.
Right at that moment someone tapped on my shoulder. I spun around and saw Felix Smythwick standing in front of me. He was wearing a dark orange pair of dress robes and his curly blonde hair was neatly parted. He wasn't looking half bad either actually. 'Hi Felix, I'm a bit late I believe, I'm sorry.' I said and he just shook his head, waving his hands in front of him. 'Please, don't worry about it, I wasn't waiting long, you look really nice.' He said all in one breath practically. I tried not to blush again (although I probably failed at that task). 'Thank you, you look nice too.' I answered.
I didn't really know what to say after that and an awkward silence settled on us. I looked back to see Mathilda and Adrian standing together and Warrington had met up with his date, another girl from Slytherin as well. Adrian looked my way. 'Your date's a Hufflepuff?' He asked but before I could formulate any kind of reply, Mathilda had hit him in the side. 'She's a smart girl, she can pick dates without your criticism.' She hissed. Adrian obviously didn't see the point of arguing but I gave Mathilda a grateful smile. She just shrugged, smiling back. 'Come on, let's go into the Great Hall, you snobbish Slytherin prick.' She muttered and Adrian laughed and I heard them bicker as they walked into the Hall.
I turned back to Felix. 'Should we perhaps..?' He wondered and I quickly agreed. I was about to walk into the Hall as well but Felix offered his arm and after a moment of hesitance I took his arm and he led me inside. The silence between us was crushing and I couldn't wait till I could politely excuse myself and go find Mathilda or Aurora. I spotted Mathilda across the Hall, whispering something in her date's ear as he had his arm around her waist. I couldn't see Aurora and Robin yet.
The Great Hall was decorated beautifully though. The house tables had gone and made way for about a hundred smaller round tables, all lit with cosy lanterns and every table had room for about a dozen people. The ceiling was sporting hundreds of garlands made out of ivy and mistletoe and luckily it was a nice night out because the ceiling was black as night with millions of twinkling stars. The walls were all a frosted, icy blue.
'You do look really pretty though.' Felix said beside me and I looked at him again. 'Thanks Felix, you said so a minute ago.' I answered. He shrugged sheepishly. 'Yeah, well, I felt a bit hurried then. I just wanted to repeat it so you know that I wasn't just being nice.' He said shyly and I couldn't help but smile at that. 'Thanks.' I said and I meant it.
We sat down at one of the countless of round tables and once I spotted Aurora coming in and I waved her over. She dragged Robin along who wore dress robes in a similar colour to mine. 'You are wearing the Beauxbatons representative colour.' He told me as he sat down next to Aurora who had sat down next to me. 'I'm Robin, nice to meet you.' He said, leaning across from me, shaking Felix's had, who also introduced himself.
Mathilda and Adrian sat a few tables away with Adrian's Slytherin friends and a couple of Durmstrang students. Marietta and her Gryffindor date sat down across from me and a friend of Felix from Hufflepuff called Peter Hollywood and his date, a girl from Durmstrang called Sofia Gyldensted sat down next to Felix. Eddie Charmichael and Marcus Belby and their dates, two fourth years, hastily sat down with us just before the ceremony was about to start.
When everyone was inside the Hall and seated, it was time for the champions to make their entrance. Roger Davies looked extremely pleased to be Fleur Delacour's date and Cho was beaming with joy as she held Cedric Diggory's arm. They sat at the big round table at the end together with the teachers and the ministry representatives. As we all sat down again after applauding the champions in, we all looked at Dumbledore who took the menu that was put in front of every plate and said in a clear voice "Pork chops!" and just like that his plate was filled.
Everyone quickly got the idea and went on to order their own food and commenced eating. I took a look around and found it odd to see all the people I saw every day in this kind of setting with fancy clothes and nicely done hair. At the top table I saw Roger Davies staring at Fleur Delacour with glazed over eyes. I tapped on Aurora's shoulder and pointed him out to her. 'Maybe it's a good thing you were too late with him. Besides, Robin seems really nice.' I whispered to her and she giggled. Roger kept missing his mouth with his fork as he looked at the stunning girl beside him. 'He really is.' She agreed after a couple of seconds, looking back to her date as he was talking to Marietta's date. 'I didn't want to tell you with Mathilda there because you know how she is, but I think I might actually really like him. Like, like him.' She said and I grinned at her. 'That's great news! I'm sure he feels the same.' I told her. 'Who feels the same way?' Robin asked, interjecting with his soft German drawl.
'Adrian! Mathilda really likes him, but she just won't admit it.' Aurora lied smoothly. Robin nodded. 'Yes, they have a very interesting dynamic going on but it's undeniable that they somehow get on really well.' Said Robin. 'Adrian Pucey?' Felix's friend Peter asked. We all nodded. 'I don't mean to speak ill, but he's a bit of a bully. He's always picking on others.' He said. We were hesitant to answer. We couldn't very well say it wasn't true but we didn't want to talk behind his back either as Mathilda did really like him.
'He's never been anything but a complete gentleman to me.' Aurora said after a couple of seconds. 'That's because he's trying to get into your friend's pants.' Marietta's Gryffindor said. I wish I wasn't so awkward to ask someone's name if I didn't quite catch it. I always hoped someone else would mention it so I wouldn't have to ask. 'Well, we don't know anything for sure.' Felix said but the Gryffindor boy shook his head. 'Slytherins are bastards.' He said. 'Ben, don't be such a twat.' Marietta hissed. He was called Ben?
Conversation went onto more peaceful subjects after that.
When everyone was done eating, Dumbledore stood up and asked everyone else to do the same, waving his wand to make all tables and chairs zoof their way to the wall and leaving an open space in the middle. A stage also rose and instruments were summoned and as I saw the instruments I started to realize that the rumours that I'd been hearing over the last weeks were true. For the past weeks there had been many a speculation about what musical act would be invited to play but I had dismissed most of it because it seemed unlikely but really… What other band had a lute and a cello and a pair of bagpipes?
'Please welcome the Weird Sisters!' Dumbledore called and under loud cheering from all the teenagers in the room and a polite applause from the adults at the front (with the exception of the very enthusiastic Ludo Bagman who was wearing a purple pair of dress robes with brightly sparkling golden stars sewed onto it) the freaking Weird Sisters walked on stage. I screamed along with everyone else and I looked to my left to see Felix shouting with such vigour that I concluded that he must've been a fan for a long time.
The Weird Sisters started out with a slow, formal sounding waltz that the champions opened the ball with. Cho looked very happy dancing with Cedric and I was happy for her. Halfway into the song teachers joined in and everyone took that as a cue to go onto the dance floor as well. I smiled at the sight until Felix tapped my shoulder, holding his hand out to me questioningly. 'You aren't expecting me to dance, are you?' I asked and he laughed. 'Well, it is a dance we're at.' He said. I was about to protest but he took my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor.
'Dancing is very easy.' He told me as he stood before me, right in between all the dancing couples. 'Here, put your hand on my shoulder.' He said, taking the hand he was holding and putting it on his own shoulder. 'And your other hand' he said, taking my other hand 'that one I hold.' He finished, putting his own hand on my waist, keeping a respectful distance. 'Now we just shuffle around for a bit on the rhythm of the music.' He said with a chuckle.
I looked down at our feet, watching carefully how we swayed from side to side. 'We look ridiculous.' I finally concluded. He laughed and the sound made me look up. 'Maybe a bit, but you have to start learning somewhere, right?' He said logically and I had no counter argument for that.
When the slow song was over and replaced with a more upbeat, fast paced number after a fix applause, I let go of his hand and shoulder and turned to walk back to our seats but he stopped me. 'You don't want to dance anymore?' He asked and I just stared at him. 'You do?' I asked. I looked around as if I was disclosing some kind of grand secret. 'I can't dance!' I told him and he laughed. 'Neither can I. But I promise you, fast numbers are much easier because you don't actually have to be able to dance; just flail your arms and legs and it's good enough.' He said. I didn't agree with him but I didn't want to ruin his night either so after a moment of consideration I groaned and walked back onto the dance floor with him.
He took the lead by showing me a silly dance that was hardly in synch with the rhythm of the song, making a goofy face all the way through and I couldn't help but laugh, despite my embarrassment. I hesitantly joined him, timidly shaking my arms and hips and he smiled to me in encouragement. I felt myself become looser as I noticed how many others had no clue about dancing either and I almost felt like I was actually enjoying myself when I suddenly saw Fred and Angelina Johnson dancing in a wild manner (people were moving out of the way to avoid getting accidentally hit). I felt myself stiffen and my movement stilled. At first Felix didn't notice but when he did, he looked worried. 'Are you okay, what's wrong?' He asked. 'Nothing.' I muttered. 'I just want to sit for a bit.'
I had hoped that he'd go along with dancing but I should've known better with a Hufflepuff and he sat down next to me with a concerned look on his face. 'Can I get you something to drink perhaps?' He asked. I nodded, just to be rid of him for a moment.
A couple of minutes later I had been able to take a couple of good breaths and he came back with two cups of punch, handing me one. 'We can sit down too, I didn't mean to pressure you.' He said and I suddenly felt guilty towards the kind hearted boy next to me. 'It wasn't your fault, don't worry about it.' I told him. He didn't seem convinced.
It was silent for a bit and neither of us seemed to know what to say. 'Do you like the Weird Sisters a lot?' I asked him eventually, not wanting to talk myself too much. He brightened up immediately. 'Are you kidding me?' He beamed. 'They're probably the best magical band out there at the moment.' He told me and looked at him surprised. 'The best magical band?' I asked curiously. He shrugged sheepishly. 'I'm muggleborn, my parents are muggles.' He told me and I didn't quite know how to react. It wasn't weird or anything, but I just didn't have many muggleborns around me that much. Dad's shop assistant Julia was muggleborn and Aurora's mum was muggleborn but I didn't really know anyone else at the top of my hat. Not well anyway. I decided not to comment.
Felix and I turned out to have a pretty fun time anyway. I couldn't help myself keep throwing glances in Fred's direction but Felix kept my attention to himself most of the night. He was a bit shy at first but he really came out of his shell once the conversation came to the Weird Sisters; he obviously really liked music. As we talked he mentioned to me that he was in a band. 'We don't get to practise very often obviously, with me being at boarding school and them being muggles.' He said. 'But in the holidays we rehearse a lot in the first week and then play gigs almost every night for the rest of the summer.' He boasted proudly. 'What do you play?' I asked him. 'Drums.' He answered. 'And I sing too.' He added.
I was sufficiently impressed. 'Do your friends know that you're a wizard?' I asked him. Although my grandmother on mother's side had a muggleborn father, she died when I was still very young and we didn't really keep in contact with the rest of that side of the family so I didn't know anything about muggles really, except for what we learned at Muggle Studies.
He shrugged. 'They have an idea. I can't really outright tell them because of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy but they're not clueless. It's a bit complicated.' He admitted. I nodded. 'Clause 73 is very strict.' I said with a little smile. He chuckled. 'I'll trust you on your word that it's indeed clause 73.' He told me and that made me laugh.
'It's great though that you can somehow still be friends with them. It must be difficult. For them too I imagine.' I said after a moment. He nodded. 'It is sometimes. But we're close, we've known each other since we were about five years old already, so we stick together no matter what.' He said. 'Very Hufflepuff of you!' I complimented him and he let out another laugh. 'It was a bit hard to explain why an owl was delivering them letters from me all year round though.' He said with a joyful chuckle and I nodded thoughtfully. 'I suppose that is very peculiar to muggles, yes.' I said in wonder. 'You don't know half how peculiar!' Felix answered.
'How about that, you really did have a date then!' A voice said in front of us and both me and Felix looked up to see Fred Weasley towering over us, two drinks in his hands. I flushed bright red immediately and the high I was on a second before, caused by the dancing earlier and the up-tempo music, was ruined by the fluttering nerves that took me over, my sweat pores working over hours as my eyes tried to find a place to rest as I was too frightened to look him right in the eyes.
'Where is Angelina?' I asked with a high pitched voice. 'Somewhere.' Fred answered blasé. 'I got us drinks but I saw you sitting here on my way back and decided to say hi to you. And your date.' He said, nodding at Felix.
I looked at Felix in a panic but Felix didn't seem to notice as he smiled pleasantly. I didn't say anything and after a moment Fred rolled his eyes and said; 'Well, it was great to talk to you and all, but I got to go.' I stood up swiftly before he turned around. 'Wait! How are you enjoying yourself?' I asked. Fred was taller than me, quite a bit too, but at least I didn't have to crane my neck anymore to look at him.
Fred seemed amused by my antics and that made me want to crawl back into bed, safely in the Ravenclaw tower. 'I'm enjoying myself greatly, I've got a lovely dance partner.' He said. I was so hot. My entire body was burning with embarrassment but I felt like it would be worse if I abandoned the mission entirely so I bravely pushed through.
'Yeah, she is very lovely.' I agreed half-heartedly. 'Not as lovely as mine though!' Felix suddenly said. I looked sideways to see that Felix had stood up with me. I had forgotten about him completely. 'Oh really?' Questioned Fred with a chuckle. 'Maybe I can claim a dance later on to see for myself.' He said and the thought alone made my heart trample itself in both excitement and mortification.
He left us to ourselves with a smile and disappeared into the crowd with his drink for Angelina. Nothing Felix said that night after that moment made any impression. I could only think of Fred. Mathilda came to check up on me, dragging me away a bit and leaving Adrian to throw condescending glances at Felix and I quickly told her what happened. 'You have to go find him and ask for that dance!' She hissed at me. 'How pathetic do you want me to come across?' I asked her and she groaned. 'Okay, I wish I could sugar coat this sweetie but the truth is that you are not on his map whatsoever. He come over to be nice, nothing more. If you want him to view you as a woman rather than just a girl, you have to be more assertive and put yourself out there a bit more.' Mathilda said. Part of me wanted to be upset with her but I knew she was right so I just sighed. 'How are things with Adrian?' I asked instead. She narrowed her eyes at my diversion but eventually crumbled under the need to talk about herself.
'Things are going wonderful!' She said. 'He's in the palm of my hand. He's tried a couple of times already but I think I'm going to go outside with him and let him kiss me underneath the fairy lights. Although I've heard fairies can be quite the interrupting trolls in these situations so maybe we'll just look up an empty carriage somewhere!' She said and I laughed. 'You overthink these things.' I told her and she threw me a sceptical look. 'You are telling me I overthink things?' She asked and I smiled. 'Touché.' I gave in.
Aurora and Robin were having perhaps an even greater time than Mathilda and Adrian. 'Cecil!' She called out from the dance floor. 'Join us!' I really didn't want to, I wanted to wallow in my insecurities like I usually did after being faced with difficult situations but she was looking so happy that I wouldn't want to put a damper on that and I begrudgingly stood up, accompanied by Felix. Felix looked happy to be back out there. I saw that he was indeed just being silly to appease me earlier because now he was dancing more to himself as he enjoyed the music and his rhythm was on point. He did say he was a drummer.
The front man of the Weird Sisters, Myron Wagtail, screamed something at the audience while Orsino Thruston and Heathcote Barbary on drums and rhythm guitar kept a beat going. I couldn't really hear over the screaming of the Hogwarts students but once he started singing I realized it was one of my favourite songs of theirs Do the Hippogriff. But still I wasn't into it.
After a couple of songs I quietly slipped away when no one was looking and walked into Entrance Hall to get some fresh air. I felt alone, no doubt due to my own fault, but I just didn't feel like I could even realistically ever feel as happy and carefree as my friends and all the other people in that room were feeling right then. I walked outside. It was still snowy but heating charms were applied to the courtyards and the immediate gardens so it was a comfortable temperature even with my bare arms. The fairies were fluttering around in the bushes, giving off a pleasant light. It looked enchanting and I wish I could enjoy it as much as others seemed to do.
I sat down at an empty bench, hearing the giggling of couples scattered around in the distance, making me feel just that bit more down. 'Are you okay?' A voice asked.
I turned around so fast that my neck made a worrying cracking sound and saw Felix standing, an apologetic smile on his face. 'If you'd rather be alone, I can go as well.' He added but I quickly moved over a bit. 'No, it's fine, I'm sorry I walked out without saying anything.' I said. I felt like a massive oaf. I hadn't exactly been a dream date.
He carefully sat down. 'It's alright. We can sit out here.' He said. Felix really was a nice guy and all I could blame him for was asking me out to the ball to begin with. 'How did you explain the owl to your muggle friends?' I asked after a few moments, trying to break the uncomfortable silence. 'Owl?' He answered confused but then his eyes cleared. 'Oh yes, the owl! It was surprisingly easy actually. I just explained to them that there was nothing reasonable I could say about it so that they'd just have to accept it.' He said. 'And they did?' I asked in amazement. 'They did.' He said, a small smile on his face.
'Are you ready to go back in there?' Felix asked after a little bit but I shook my head. 'Let's just sit for a little bit longer.' I answered. 'Alright then.' Felix said. I wasn't looking at him but from my peripheral vision I could notice him coming closer and it took me a moment to realise what was happening. It was when he put his hand on my cheek and slightly leaned in that I jerked back. 'I don't really..' I started to say awkwardly but he had moved back as well and his face was red enough to pass for a lobster.
'I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking.' He muttered. He stood up from the bench. 'Please come back in when you're feeling like it, the Weird Sisters are acing it tonight. I'm just going to walk off that act of complete embarrassment. I'm so sorry!' He said, afterwards quickly hurrying back into the castle.
I felt a bit bad for him but the thought of sharing something as intimate and personal as my first kiss with someone I had absolutely zero feelings for was more terrible so after that brief moment of consideration I decided to take his advice and go back in to appreciate one of the most famous bands in Wizarding Britain at the moment. Despite it all, Felix had in fact managed to make me feel better.
In the Hall I didn't see Felix and I assumed he was still off by himself trying to overcome his feeling of humiliation but I did see Mathilda dancing with Arian (their bodies pressed together as they swayed along to the sweet melody of Magic Works) and next to them Aurora and Robin dancing close together. The sight didn't make me feel as lonely as it did before.
I hesitantly moved from one foot to the other at the edge of the dance floor until the slightly more upbeat This Is the Night came on and I decided to just go for it and dance along in the crowd. 'Merlin, aren't you enthusiastic!' Mathilda yelled at me but I could barely hear her. I was determined to not have my Yule Ball ruined simply because the boy I liked wasn't interested in me. After fifteen minutes I saw Felix shuffle back into the Hall and although slightly awkward about it all I fought my way out of the dance crowd as I saw that he sat by himself at one of the chairs. 'No need to be embarrassed!' I yelled over the music. 'Let's just forget it happened!' I added. I pulled at his arm, trying to drag him onto the dance floor. 'I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.' Felix told me in return though. I stopped pulling at his arm. He had a shameful look on his face and I could tell it was genuine. 'Well, you did a bit, but I know you really really like the Weird Sisters and I'm not about to let a silly mistake get in the way of you enjoying them to the max!' I said and I once again pulled at his arm and this time he let himself be dragged along, a bashful smile on his lips.
And despite the fact that Fred Weasley never ended up claiming that dance, it was a great night. We danced together with my friends and we parted at midnight with a hug.
'You've got to promise me you'll help me out with Transfiguration.' He said. 'I really want to take it for my NEWT's but there's no way that's going to happen, the way it's going now.' He said and with a careless chuckle I promised him I'd help him out some day. After that he disappeared into the basement where the Hufflepuff common room was.
I didn't know where any of the girls were but I didn't mind walking up to the tower by myself as it gave me some time to reflect in peace. The night hadn't turned out as bad as I initially and even during the dance thought it would. It was rather pleasant even. I had walked out earlier feeling alone and worried, like usual, but at some point after that I had flicked the switch and had decided to let go off all those worries that were always nibbling away at me. Just for one night I didn't want to be concerned about anything or anyone else but me.
I thought back to Fred. He had only been nice by asking me to save him a dance, but I couldn't be too bothered right now. In fact, I felt so good about myself right then, so at peace, that I vowed that I'd ask him about it the next day. Mathilda had said that I needed to be more assertive, hadn't she?
I was the first back into the dormitory and I wasn't surprised. They were probably all saying goodbye to their partners. I was the only one of us who hadn't had any kind of romantic connection with her partner out of the five of us. But I didn't mind as much as I did at the beginning of the evening. Felix was nice and although I felt awkward talking to him, I also felt like I had perhaps gained a friend.
I didn't hear the other girls come back as I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
I drew down the dresses they were wearing: PURE 90's, I'm telling you!
And isn't Felix nice? :)
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