Another's note: My deepest apologies for those that have been waiting for an update. I know it has been a year and then some since I have last posted. This story is not abandoned. A lot has happened in my personal life, much of which took my attention away from writing pursuits. This story became something else I had to place on the backburner. I hope you enjoy this chapter. As always, I do not own this magical world. I simply play in it.
Ginny stood in the corner of what she could only assume was a replica of Slytherin's common room, as the after party of the Yule Ball was being hosted by the Slytherin seventh years. As it was, no one except members of the house could, or would dare, enter the dungeon common room. The Room of Requirement then was the perfect place to hold a party for those who did not belong to what was considered an exclusive and wealthy house.
A huge Christmas tree claimed much of the back, adorned with glowing candles charmed so that no wax dripped and that they never snuffed out; speakers were set up in strategic corners that surrounded a dance floor where a few of the most gorgeous Hufflepuff girls were dancing, their dates standing at one of the many tables set up with refreshments and snacks.
Normally a lousy third year would never dream to come to a Slytherin hosted party. This was not a normal school year, and the Slytherins were not foolish enough to deny entry to those who were the dates of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons guests, regardless of age and house. Thus, at Ben Montague's side, Ginny was granted access to a world she did not usually experience while at Hogwarts.
Next to her, sipping from a pure silver goblet, and immersed in what sounded like an intense conversation in Italian, Ben watched the room with a friend of his, introduced as Stefano. Rude for sure, but Ginny's attention was elsewhere anyways. Her eyes followed unwillingly a particular silver haired blonde across the room. Draco still hadn't said hello all evening, despite having very obviously been watching her all night. His own eyes flittered in her direction like clockwork; a light sneer at whatever Pansy said, a sip of from the crystal champagne flute in his hand, a look in her direction, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Ginny refused to go over to him and say hello first. He was, after all, the reason why they had a tense relationship currently. Their friendship apparently did not mean much in scheme of Hogwarts politics. He could watch her all night. Ginny focused her attention on Ben, her very handsome, sophisticated date. Where Draco was pale and slight, not yet grown, Ben Montague was dark and confident, sturdy and tall.
"Enjoying yourself?" His voice cut through her thoughts, and just as she spotted Draco glancing over again, she turned fully so that he couldn't see her face. She noticed that Stefano Something-Italiano was nowhere to be seen.
"Yes; where did your friend go?"
"Probably to find his date.." Ben took another sip from his goblet before setting it down on the closest table. "I've neglected you too long, I fear. One more dance for the night?" Ginny nodded, placing her hand in his and allowing him to guide them through the throng of students already on the dance floor.
"I must apologize. My conversation with Stefano took precedence over you." They whirled around to the beat of the music, a slower tempo than previously played.
"It's alright, is everything okay? It sounded rather intense."
Ben grimaced, pulling her closer. "Ah, just the usual family politics that those who bear our last name endure. Stefano is my cousin."
"Do you have a large family?" Ginny wondered if they had that in common. She didn't really know much about Ben.
"We're Italian. Of course we have a large family." He smiled, twirling her around before pulling her back closer.
"I know a lot about big families myself. I have six older brothers."
"Six older brothers? They're not all here right now are they?" He looked cautiously around as they danced over to a more secluded corner away from the crowded middle section.
Ginny laughed. "No!"
"Good, so I can do this?" Ben leaned closer, his lips brushing against hers lightly before deepening it.
Her first kiss. Ginny gradually matched him in the pressure of their lips. When he pulled back, looking in her eyes, she was pretty sure her cheeks matched the color of her hair. He grinned, and pointed above them. "Mistletoe."
"Oh," was all she could elegantly reply.
"Can I walk you back to your dormitory? It's getting rather late."
They exited the Room of Requirement, trading loud laughter and music for the quiet of the abandoned hallways of the school. Carefully, slowly, they walked to Gryffindor Tower.
"I'm glad you agreed to be my date tonight, Ginny. I don't often get to keep company with belle ragazze who are also intelligent and can hold their own."
"Really? But isn't Durmstrang coed?"
"Si, but my parents have set a rigid schedule that I must follow, even while away at school. I am the heir to the Montague estate. I am constantly preparing for the day I inherit."
Ginny thought of Draco, and the tight schedule he followed while at home. At least he was allowed freedom within the walls of Hogwarts to explore his own interests.
"The only reason I was allowed to come here was the slightest off chance I would be picked for the Tournament, and bring longed for glory back to our name."
"Glory?"
Ben nodded, sighing. They stopped a hallway over from the entrance of Ginny's dorm, away from the gossipy Fat Lady.
"My family's name is tarnished from the sins of some rather famous ancestors of ours. Unfortunately for us, we're cemented in Muggle history in a play that refuses to go away."
Ginny merely raised her eyebrows. "What did your family do to earn a bad reputation?"
"It's a long story, but essentially my family and another, the Capulets, were fierce rivals in wizarding Italy for a number of decades. No one really remembers why, but the portraits hung up in my family's home will tell you it was over a broken contract and honor disrespected."
"The Capulet family's fault, right?"
"Exactly. Then, one of my ancestors fell in love with the only daughter of the Capulet family. They devised an ill-fated plan to be together, hastily marrying. It ended tragically and after they died both our families was punished within the Muggle and magical communities. Land was taken away from us by the Muggles, and the magical community enforced the Statue of Secrecy. Duels in the streets with wands were already banned, but both sides hid theirs in swords."
"Your family really has never recovered from that?"
"Our fortune recovered, but our family is the reason much changed in terms of rules and regulations. The fact that Muggles know our story…"
"But what about the Capulet family? Surely they have also suffered too."
"Yes, but they lost a daughter. People were more sympathetic towards them since she was younger than my ancestor. Their family today is considerably smaller than mine. They still live in Verona though. The Capulet daughters attend Beauxbatons traditionally."
"Oh, are they here too?" Ginny decided she would have to get a copy of this famous play and read it. She would bet galleons that Hermione probably had one.
"No, the eldest daughter is already married, and the younger one, Lucrezia, was a year too young to come. Her parents would not have allowed her to attend even if she was of age.."
"For rivals, you know an awful lot about them."
Ben shrugged. "Politics. My father has it in his head that perhaps either I or my cousin Stefano could marry Lucrezia in a few years. Karmic justice or something. I think he just wants to have the Capulet coffers in Montague hands. They're vastly wealthy in comparison to us and own wine vineyards in the countryside."
They began walking again.
"Wait, who are the ones that carried the names if both families lost their heirs?"
Ben's lips quirked up. "Luckily for the families, both still had cousins alive. My direct ancestor who I am named after, Benvolio Montague, was a first cousin. He married and had several children who lived to see adulthood. The Capulet's new heir was a female, Rosaline. They changed their inheritance clause that the females had to keep and carry on the Capulet name in order to inherit."
They reached the Fat Lady, pretending to be asleep.
"And this, fair lady, is where I say goodnight. Though maybe I should say good morning."
"Thank you for tonight," Ginny mocked curtsied.
"No, thank you," Ben kissed her hand. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, but I fear running into that horrid custodian of yours and that damn cat."
"Goodnight then," Ginny said, turning to the now very much awake Fat Lady.
"Goodnight, Ginny." Ben walked away, pausing long enough out of earshot to make sure Ginny made it into the dorm safely before proceeding.
Inside, Ginny made her way up to her room and threw herself onto the bed as soon as she took of her dress. Outside the stars were beginning to fade, the moon still holding a strong presence. Her mind drifted to Draco's jealous look as she left the after party, and the confusing thoughts swirling around about his lack of action, to Ben and his background.
They were not destined to be, but as she fell asleep, she dreamt about another time and place were maybe they could have been more.