A/N- The first song mentioned in this chapter is the Mummer's Dance which
is a beautiful song belonging to Loreena Mckinnett and is on the Book of
Secrets Album. The second song is Only if by Enya on her Paint the Sky
album
Chapter 10- May I have this dance?
The Great Hall had been emptied of all the tables except one at the end when there were snacks and the head table where all the teachers still sat. Haunting melodies were playing, echoing off the walls and surrounding the candlelit hall in a rather other-worldly feel. Students of all four houses stood along the walls, the girls staring wistfully at the empty dance floor and the boys staring fearfully between their dates and the floor. Off to one side, hidden in the darkness, but as close to the head table as they could get stood Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. Across the hall from them, on the other side of the head table were Draco and Davina. "Maybe.maybe we should start the dancing up. Then maybe, I don't know, something would happen." Hermione suggested.
"No!" Ron and Harry yelped together. "I mean... uh.well, then we'd have to move away from the head table and.you know, we might miss something." Ron choked out.
Harry gave him a look that clearly thanked him for thinking quickly, as both Ginny and Hermione relaxed from trying to dive toward the dance floor with their dates in tow.
Across the floor, Draco was straining to hear conversations at the head table and his date, despite knowing what was going on, was getting rather impatient. "Draco, we can watch them from the dance floor." She hissed softly.
"I can't hear them from the dance floor, besides there isn't anyone else out there." He told her calmly.
Davina sighed and turned him to face her. "Draco, when you asked me to go with you I was aware there was a reason that was going to distract you for some of the night, but I didn't wear this dress to blend in. I wore it for you. AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SAID ANYTHING!" At least he had the decency to turn a bit red.
Up at the head table, Snape was watching the two Slytherin students. Malfoy appeared to be groveling to his date. Plying her with an evenings worth of neglected compliments. Snape chuckled softly. At his side Isis turned from her conversation with Professor Flitwick to see what was so funny. In response to her question, Snape pointed to the two figures in the shadowed corner. "Draco, it appears, could use a few lessons in courting a lady. He has apparently been rather inattentive this evening, and now is trying far too hard to make it up to her."
Isis watched for a minute until Draco started lowering his head to Davina's face and then she leapt to her feet. A gentle, but restraining hand against her waist kept her from going far however. She turned and stared into the eyes of her best friend. He was close to her, his arm still around her waist, his face mere inches from her. "Try to remember what it was like to be his age." He whispered huskily to her. "Try to remember sneaking off late at night to darkened corners to nuzzle and kiss." His eyes found her lips and stared hungrily. Isis's body responded instantly, she moved just a bit closer and her heart began pounding so hard she thought for sure it would burst from her chest. Oh she remembered those days alright. "Come to think of it, I was sixteen then, which made you how old Isis?" He was teasing her. He knew very well how old she'd been. Still.
"Eleven." She gasped out.
"Eleven." He repeated. "So maybe you're over reacting a bit?"
She sighed and nodded, the ability to speak lost to her. He pulled back and sat down, appearing none the worse for wear, although she knew better. She'd seen the look in his midnight eyes, heard his breath quicken, seen all the signs he'd shown right before he'd attacked her with passion in their school days. It did appear that his self control was stronger than it used to be. "Then sit down girl, and stop being such a ruddy grown-up."
She sat next to him and shot him a dark look. "I'll get you back for that Severus." She muttered, humiliation and hurt making her voice icy.
For a minute she was sure he hadn't heard her, then he leaned over and his breath was on her ear. "I'll look forward to it."
At the other end of the Head table, Dumbledore had noticed the lack of students on the floor. He also realized this night could very well be one of the last he spent with one of his dearest friends. And after all, someone had to start the dancing. "Minerva, my dear. Would you join me for a dance? Perhaps we can get the students out there."
It took a moment for his words to register. She was in bittersweet agony. She wanted nothing better than to pass the evening in his arms, but if she did, it could very well be the last time she was in his arms. Minerva McGonagall needed courage, and for that she needed time. "Perhaps we could teach some of the students some of the older dances. The Mummer's dance?" She suggested.
Dumbledore smiled kindly. "A wonderful idea. Why don't you lead Isis and Severus to the floor and I will go talk to The Weird Sisters."
McGonagall did as she was told, and the three professors also pulled in Hermione, Ginny, Davina, Ron, Draco and Harry. Much to the boy's regret and the girl's relief. Soon they formed a circle, Dumbledore across from McGonagall, Snape across from Isis, Draco across from Davina, and so on.
The haunting strains of the dance started and the dancers began to move slowly. They spun slowly in individual circles at first, then Minerva entered the center of the circle. Albus joined her shortly after and they traced the haunting steps of a dance centuries old as the circle spun around them. After a bit, Snape and Isis also joined the inner circle and copied the movements of the older couple.
The students on the wall moved closer, watching in awe. The music and the dance transported them far away, to a place of rich hues, to a time when wizards practiced in the open, when magical creatures were common place to all, and when druids held dances under the moonlight, in glades filled with unicorns and fairy lights.
Far to quickly, the song faded away and the dancers broke apart. But Dumbledore held onto McGonagall's hand. "The students enjoyed that, I'm sure Minerva." He told her in a low voice. No one else could hear him, even she had to strain, and she was mere inches from being melded to his side. "However, not many of them are out here. So I'm afraid we have yet another dance together. If you can stand me of course." He added lightly.
She sighed again. Caught up in the dance she'd forgotten about everything. But now it was back, and she was trapped. "Oh, Albus, it isn't you. But what if.what if it's the last time?" She asked so quietly he wasn't at all sure she'd spoken at all.
He pulled her into his arms, keeping their hands together, he wrapped his other arm around her waist as the soft strains of another song began. They had danced together before of course, at just about every school function since she'd become a professor. But never before had she wanted to cry. He must have known, because he pulled her closer and guided her head to his shoulder. Her eyes closed, but still salty tears escaped soaking into his crimson robes. "Shh. Minerva, listen to the music. Let the music in, let it sooth you. Just dance with me and forget all about what may or may not be coming."
And so she did as she was told. She concentrated on the feel of being in his arms, the safety and comfort contained therein. She let the soft music wash over her, and let the words guide her thoughts.
When there's a shadow near, reach for the sun.
When there is love in you, go for the one.
And for the promises, there is the sky.
And for the heavens are those who can fly.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
When there's a journey, you follow a star.
When there's an ocean, you sail from afar.
And for the broken heart, there is the sky.
And for tomorrow are those who can fly.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile,
d'aile...
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
Chapter 10- May I have this dance?
The Great Hall had been emptied of all the tables except one at the end when there were snacks and the head table where all the teachers still sat. Haunting melodies were playing, echoing off the walls and surrounding the candlelit hall in a rather other-worldly feel. Students of all four houses stood along the walls, the girls staring wistfully at the empty dance floor and the boys staring fearfully between their dates and the floor. Off to one side, hidden in the darkness, but as close to the head table as they could get stood Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. Across the hall from them, on the other side of the head table were Draco and Davina. "Maybe.maybe we should start the dancing up. Then maybe, I don't know, something would happen." Hermione suggested.
"No!" Ron and Harry yelped together. "I mean... uh.well, then we'd have to move away from the head table and.you know, we might miss something." Ron choked out.
Harry gave him a look that clearly thanked him for thinking quickly, as both Ginny and Hermione relaxed from trying to dive toward the dance floor with their dates in tow.
Across the floor, Draco was straining to hear conversations at the head table and his date, despite knowing what was going on, was getting rather impatient. "Draco, we can watch them from the dance floor." She hissed softly.
"I can't hear them from the dance floor, besides there isn't anyone else out there." He told her calmly.
Davina sighed and turned him to face her. "Draco, when you asked me to go with you I was aware there was a reason that was going to distract you for some of the night, but I didn't wear this dress to blend in. I wore it for you. AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SAID ANYTHING!" At least he had the decency to turn a bit red.
Up at the head table, Snape was watching the two Slytherin students. Malfoy appeared to be groveling to his date. Plying her with an evenings worth of neglected compliments. Snape chuckled softly. At his side Isis turned from her conversation with Professor Flitwick to see what was so funny. In response to her question, Snape pointed to the two figures in the shadowed corner. "Draco, it appears, could use a few lessons in courting a lady. He has apparently been rather inattentive this evening, and now is trying far too hard to make it up to her."
Isis watched for a minute until Draco started lowering his head to Davina's face and then she leapt to her feet. A gentle, but restraining hand against her waist kept her from going far however. She turned and stared into the eyes of her best friend. He was close to her, his arm still around her waist, his face mere inches from her. "Try to remember what it was like to be his age." He whispered huskily to her. "Try to remember sneaking off late at night to darkened corners to nuzzle and kiss." His eyes found her lips and stared hungrily. Isis's body responded instantly, she moved just a bit closer and her heart began pounding so hard she thought for sure it would burst from her chest. Oh she remembered those days alright. "Come to think of it, I was sixteen then, which made you how old Isis?" He was teasing her. He knew very well how old she'd been. Still.
"Eleven." She gasped out.
"Eleven." He repeated. "So maybe you're over reacting a bit?"
She sighed and nodded, the ability to speak lost to her. He pulled back and sat down, appearing none the worse for wear, although she knew better. She'd seen the look in his midnight eyes, heard his breath quicken, seen all the signs he'd shown right before he'd attacked her with passion in their school days. It did appear that his self control was stronger than it used to be. "Then sit down girl, and stop being such a ruddy grown-up."
She sat next to him and shot him a dark look. "I'll get you back for that Severus." She muttered, humiliation and hurt making her voice icy.
For a minute she was sure he hadn't heard her, then he leaned over and his breath was on her ear. "I'll look forward to it."
At the other end of the Head table, Dumbledore had noticed the lack of students on the floor. He also realized this night could very well be one of the last he spent with one of his dearest friends. And after all, someone had to start the dancing. "Minerva, my dear. Would you join me for a dance? Perhaps we can get the students out there."
It took a moment for his words to register. She was in bittersweet agony. She wanted nothing better than to pass the evening in his arms, but if she did, it could very well be the last time she was in his arms. Minerva McGonagall needed courage, and for that she needed time. "Perhaps we could teach some of the students some of the older dances. The Mummer's dance?" She suggested.
Dumbledore smiled kindly. "A wonderful idea. Why don't you lead Isis and Severus to the floor and I will go talk to The Weird Sisters."
McGonagall did as she was told, and the three professors also pulled in Hermione, Ginny, Davina, Ron, Draco and Harry. Much to the boy's regret and the girl's relief. Soon they formed a circle, Dumbledore across from McGonagall, Snape across from Isis, Draco across from Davina, and so on.
The haunting strains of the dance started and the dancers began to move slowly. They spun slowly in individual circles at first, then Minerva entered the center of the circle. Albus joined her shortly after and they traced the haunting steps of a dance centuries old as the circle spun around them. After a bit, Snape and Isis also joined the inner circle and copied the movements of the older couple.
The students on the wall moved closer, watching in awe. The music and the dance transported them far away, to a place of rich hues, to a time when wizards practiced in the open, when magical creatures were common place to all, and when druids held dances under the moonlight, in glades filled with unicorns and fairy lights.
Far to quickly, the song faded away and the dancers broke apart. But Dumbledore held onto McGonagall's hand. "The students enjoyed that, I'm sure Minerva." He told her in a low voice. No one else could hear him, even she had to strain, and she was mere inches from being melded to his side. "However, not many of them are out here. So I'm afraid we have yet another dance together. If you can stand me of course." He added lightly.
She sighed again. Caught up in the dance she'd forgotten about everything. But now it was back, and she was trapped. "Oh, Albus, it isn't you. But what if.what if it's the last time?" She asked so quietly he wasn't at all sure she'd spoken at all.
He pulled her into his arms, keeping their hands together, he wrapped his other arm around her waist as the soft strains of another song began. They had danced together before of course, at just about every school function since she'd become a professor. But never before had she wanted to cry. He must have known, because he pulled her closer and guided her head to his shoulder. Her eyes closed, but still salty tears escaped soaking into his crimson robes. "Shh. Minerva, listen to the music. Let the music in, let it sooth you. Just dance with me and forget all about what may or may not be coming."
And so she did as she was told. She concentrated on the feel of being in his arms, the safety and comfort contained therein. She let the soft music wash over her, and let the words guide her thoughts.
When there's a shadow near, reach for the sun.
When there is love in you, go for the one.
And for the promises, there is the sky.
And for the heavens are those who can fly.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
When there's a journey, you follow a star.
When there's an ocean, you sail from afar.
And for the broken heart, there is the sky.
And for tomorrow are those who can fly.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile
Ah! Je voudrai voler comme un oiseau d'aile,
d'aile...
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
Ooh go doe bay mwa.
If you really want to, you can hear me say
Only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.
If you really want to you can seize the day.
Only if you want to will you fly away.