Disclaimer-The only characters in this fic that I actually own are Anya
Draca, Essie, and Loki. Otherwise, I would be J.K. Rowling and you would
be begging for my autograph. But I'm not, and you're not, so wouldn't it
be best, if we let things be? Err, yeah. Soap opera moment there. But
anyways . . .
~Fic Starts Here~
The whole gang was in their Care of Magical Creatures class, trying to learn the properties of fire crabs without getting fired at. Hermione, of course, was the only one who was in total control. Loki had several singe marks on her robe, Ron was busy cursing because his bit him, Harry couldn't see anything because his fire crab had melted his glasses, and Essie's had just stuck itself inside it's shell and wasn't budging. Essie's eyes were getting a crimson glow and her pupils were getting gold. Harry was glancing at her, worried, when she suddenly shouted, "REVEAL YOURSELF, DAMMIT!" The fire crab popped out of his shell with a grudging sigh and let Essie poke him.
Meanwhile, Ron had stopped cussing and was 'studying' Hermione's fire crab with her. To Essie, it looked like he was trying to smell her hair.
"So. . ." began Ron, his voice shaking a bit. How was he going to do this? He had liked Hermione forever, but it was just recently that he had LIKED, liked her. She was really gorgeous.
"So. . . have you been asked to the ball yet?" Olympian gods, he sounded like a true idiot.
"Err, yeah. By lots of guys-you know, since my whole makeup thing. . . why?" Did she sound like a cheerleader? It was her greatest fear that she would sound like a cheerleader. Especially to Ron. Ron was not really the type to like cheerleaders. Well, actually he WAS, but SHE wasn't the type that liked cheerleaders.
"Well, err," began Ron, "err, would you, um, wouyougobalwitme?"
"Say what?"
"Do you want to go to the ball with me?"
Hermione just gaped. RON? Ron had asked her? RON?! He, he liked HER?
Ron was getting rather nervous with her staring. "You-you know, you really don't have to go with me if you don't want to. I mean, I understand if some totally great guy asked you; that's fine-"
"Yes."
"-and I totally understand. Why go with me if someone like Oliver Wood asked you-"
"Ron, I said yes."
"-because I know how girls think about him. Hehe, why go with me right? When you can go with hi-"
Hermione cut him off with a kiss. Loki was right. Sometimes it WAS the only way to shut a guy up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Saturday, Essie, Loki, Ginny, and Hermione were trying to convince Draco on the benefits of a muggle suit. Draco was, of course, staunchly refusing.
"Why in Ptolemy's name would I want to dress like a muggle?"
"Draco, you HAVE to."
"Because if you don't, we won't match."
"Why?"
"I've already seen my dress. If I'm dressed as a muggle, you have to be too."
"Why?"
"Honestly, is that the only thing you can say?"
"Why?"
"ARGH!" suddenly, Loki had an inspirational idea. She looped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer.
"Please, Draco?" she whispered in a voice that sounded remarkably like Marilyn Monroe, "PLEEEASE?" she fluttered her eyelashes into his neck and tilted her head upwards, "It would make us look sooooo much better you know," she traced a finger on his chest, "if, you know, we could look better." She lightly pressed her lips against his. She leaned back and surveyed her handiwork. "So, is that a yes?"
"Ah, err, dah, errr, ah. . ."
"Good. Let's go look for your suit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of days later, Essie and Loki were busy getting ready for the ball. They had each found the perfect dress. Hermione and Ginny were coming any minute, and Harry, Ron, Oliver, and Draco were meeting near the Great Hall in a couple of hours. Loki was trying to re-apply her mascara (Essie had made her laugh so hard, it had run) she looked into the mirror to check if she had any more streaks. But what she was definitely NOT her reflection.
. . . Two men talking. A tall, thin one. A short, fat one. A snake. A knife. A cauldron. A column of flames. Fiery deaths. A hand, reaching to her. Choking her, chaining her. Loki screamed in terror and fell backwards. She could feel the hand. It was still on her neck. She could see the flames. Fire. Burning. She couldn't breath. The hand. The burning. There was only one way to get rid of it. She grabbed her want and gasped, "Expendio!" just when she was going to pass out. The mirror exploded with a furious scream. She could feel its power, even in its destruction.
"Loki? Are you OK? Asked Essie, walking over the glass shards. "Whoa. What happened? Are you hurt? What-"
Loki grabbed Essie and pulled her down. "they're coming tonight."
"Who?"
"They crave power and death."
"WHAT?!"
"And they hope we shall give them both."
"How?"
"They will feed off of fear."
"Why?"
Suddenly, Loki grabbed a glass shard and cut her palm. She slit Essie's too. Essie was too shocked to say anything.
Loki pressed her hand against Essie's and whispered, "If we ever come out alive tonight, we must do it together. Combined, our powers will defeat them. Only then. When our blood courses through eachother's veins, we will conquer."
She held their hands together for another second before letting go. When she did, there was only a scar. A star-shaped scar in the center of their hands. Loki looked at Essie, and whispered, shocked, "He is no kin of yours." Before going into a dead faint.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of hours later, they were all ready. Essie and Loki hadn't told Hermione and Ginny about Loki's vision. They had both tried to concentrate on getting ready for the ball.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At 8:00, everyone was ready. They tripped out of their dormitory to meet their men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry's mouth dropped open. Wide. Like almost dislocating it. HOLY SHIT and HOT DAMN. Essie was wearing a slinky, black, sleeveless, strapless, floor length dress that was VERY clingy. She had a thin, gauzy shawl with a thin sheen of black glitter over it. Her only decoration was a cker with a crystal in the center. She had put a growing charm on her hair, so it was long enough to have been put up in ringlets. Her only makeup was a thin layer of metallic blue eye shadow and dark burgundy lipstick.
She glanced at Harry. Ooh. Black on black on black. She liked it. A LOT. His shirt and his tie were black silk. She had a thing for black silk. She went over, pressed his mouth shut, and kissed him. When she turned around to take his arm, Harry noticed that her dress was QUITE backless.
Draco was busy looking at Loki. He very much approved. She was wearing a dress made of crinkly gold silk. The straps were triangular shaped, with the points attaching to the dress itself. The material clung to Loki's body, showing off her figure. But the thing that made Draco's eyes REALLY go speechless was the way Loki seemed to be walking in a cloud. Literally. From mid-calf down, she was surrounded by white mist infused with gold sparks.
Loki looked at Draco. And looked. And looked. Bloody hell! How had he known what color her dress was, so he could match? Oh yeah, she had told him. But HOT DAMN. With an emphasis on HOT. He was wearing black on black on black with a shimmer gold tie. She felt weak at the knees. His hair and THAT TIE matched PERFECTLY.
Ron looked like he had swallowed his tongue. This was HERMIONE? He was going to have to DANCE with her? He couldn't even WALK. She had her sleek hair up in a long braid that wrapped around her head several times, like a crown. He dress was a dark, satiny, cobalt blue. Her eyes were particularly brown under her mascara, and her lips were a shimmery pink. When she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, he almost collapsed.
Hermione smiled wickedly. He looked GOOD in that MIB suit. Despite his paleness, Ron was quite a hottie. She loved the way his hair fell into his face. Plus, he had a nice chest.
Suddenly, Ron glanced at Ginny. And kept on glancing. And he wasn't the only one.
"Ginny!" gasped Oliver. He STILL couldn't get over how beautiful little Ginny Weasley had become. And this REALLY blew him over the edge. She was, there was no other word for it, gorgeous.
Her dress was a pure, emerald green. It had a very renaissance look to it, with cinched bell sleeves, a square neckline, and its hem hit the floor. He was having VERY improper thoughts right now.
Ginny looked seductively at Oliver. He was in an MIB suit too. She walked up to him and hissed him lightly on the cheek. She couldn't resist whispering "Hellooooooo Mr. Wood," while she patted his lower back. Oliver turned bright red and turned Ginny to hiss her on the lips.
"OY!" yelped Ron, "We can all do without the sight of someone named, of all things, WOOD, kissing my baby sister!"
Hermione sighed as she shut Ron up with her mouth again. Looks like I'll be doing THIS a LOT, she thought. Oh Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anya Draca burst into Snape's chambers, severely pissed. "You'd THINK that SOME people would be more APPRECIATIVE of someone and actually SHOW UP after they asked a person to a BALL, Severus."
Snape turned around slowly. "Oh? We were meeting at YOUR chambers? I thought we were meeting at the Great Hall."
"Where you could escape? I mean really Severus," ranted Anya, "I expected you-OOOOOH." She just noticed. He was wearing dress robes. Of course, they were black. But SILK black. And his hair was very NOT greasy.
"Yes, Draca?"
"Err, you look pretty."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I-I mean, in a very MASCULINE sort of way."
Snape started to smirk.
"Oh, don't you start, Mr. I Take Everything Sarcastically!"
"I wasn't."
"What?"
"I was attempting to smile."
"Oh."
Snape started to walk in a full circle around Draca. She was dressed gorgeously in a sparkly black, sleeveless dress with a shiny, blue corset on top. He suddenly froze when he spotted her necklace. A sleek, sterling silver dragon with green, emerald eyes, complete with golden, ruby inlaid fire. He touched the dragon, petting it, and it sighed. Snape's fingers froze.
"What is it Severus?"
"N-nothing." It couldn't be. He had given one exactly to-but it couldn't be. No. There must be two of a kind. There had to be.
"Allow me?" he took her hand and placed it on his arm as they started walking to the Great Hall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the Hall, Essie, Loki, Hermione, Ginny, and their respective dates all grabbed on table, near the high table. Essie was seeing who was with who. Cho wasn't there. After Cedric, she got rather depressed by the Ball. Hagrid, to her amusement, was with Madam Hooch. Dumbledore was sitting with McGonagall. Snape had just walked in with Draca. Wait, who was the wizard Snape was all scowly faced at? He looked so familiar.
OH MY GOD.
"Hello cousin," hissed Snape.
Essie squealed/gasped. "LOKI! IT'S ALAN RICKMAN!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alan Rickman turned around. Did someone mention his name? Who was this? A pretty, Asian witch in a sexy black dress was staring at him with eyes as round as saucers, along with another witch-this one with violet eyes and auburn hair. He motion to them and Dumbledore nodded. He stepped down from the high table and started walking towards them, Snape trailing him.
Alan Rickman was walking towards her. Oh, she knew he was in muggle movies. She had seen them all. And she knew he was a wizard. He appeared on the wizarding stage often. But, SNAPE'S COUSIN?
"Ah, yes," sighed Snape, "these are our AMERICAN exchange students- Lokara Thompson-"
Loki just shook his hand wordlessly, her mouth in a serious goldfish shape.
"-And Essence Lei." Essie had had enough with Snape's condescending manner with Americans. Well, time to shove some of his own shit up his nose.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rickman," she replied, in a faultless British accent.
Alan's eyes were laughing. THIS girl, a yank? Heavens, no. she sounded like an English born, English bred, if he ever heard one. Best treat her like one.
"A pleasure." He bent down and kissed her hand.
Essie smirked at Snape. Take that, Mr. Cantankerous Conk!
Snape rolled his eyes. Sure, her sounded quite authentic, but he had just SAID she was American.
Alan straightened back up. "Did my cousin just call you an American?"
Essie sighed rolling her eyes. "Yes," she sighed again, "He gets me confused with my American twin. We've got a rather interesting situation. Have you seen that muggle film, The Parent Trap?"
"I have."
"Well, think that, but a bit more complicated."
He laughed. "Indeed. And where IS this American twin of yours?"
"She's not feeling well. A spot of a cold, I believe."
Harry cleared his throat.
"Oh! Yes! Mr. Rickman, may I introduce my date, Harry Potter?"
Alan Rickman did the slightest double take at the scar, before bowing slightly, and saying, "An honor, Mr. Potter, indeed" and headed back to the high table, with Snape alternating a scowl between Alan and Essie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a decidedly sumptuous dinner, Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands. A floating platform suddenly appeared, with a small curtain, covering whatever, or more appropriately, whoever was on it.
"Ah, yes. May I present the musical guest of the evening-No Doubt."
There was a collective gasp as the curtains pulled. No Doubt was a musical rarity-being popular with muggles as well as magical folk.
The band immediately struck up "Hey Baby" as the tables were pushed against the wall and people started to dance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of hours later, No Doubt was taking a small break. Magical instruments were playing some light music. WITHOUT people playing them. Essie was sitting alone (poor Harry was swept up by an extremely jealous Parvati Patil). She had waved away all of the boys who had asked her to dance, and was just sitting by herself, delicately sipping some punch.
"May I sit down?"
"Of course, Mr. Rickman."
He sent her a look that almost made her melt (think Harry, think Harry) (an: the little triangle thingies are for showing thoughts. This is Essie's) and sat down, rather comfortably in the chair next to her.
"Mmm, thank you, miss Lei."
She flashed a smile at him. "Oh, do call me Essie. Only your cousin calls me miss Lei, and only when he's extremely fed up, at that."
He smiled. "Call me Alan then."
"All right."
Alan's eyes scanned the crowd briefly before- "Are you really a Yank, as Severus keeps on insisting?"
Essie smiled secretively. "If I was, I would have one of their appalling accents, wouldn't I?"
Alan grinned. "Many Yanks have been known to cast off their accents in favor of a more, shall we say, British form of speech."
She smiled again.
Alan threw up his hands in exasperation. "Olympian GODS woman! You are either one HELL of an actress or extremely excellent at lying. Have you ever considered working as a spy? Severus never lies about such things, but your accent and demeanor throw me. Will you not tell me what you ARE?"
Essie laughed. "I don't know, Alan. A slight-of-hand artist never reveals his tricks, just as an actress never reveals what her true self is, lest the audience distinguish what is an act, and what is true life."
He growled again.
Essie giggled. Time to pull out her bargain. "oh, all right. I'll show you which story is true-"
Alan jumped was she REALLY going to give in that easy?
"-If you teach me how to tango, like you did in the muggle music video, In Demand."
Apparently not. It had been ages since he had tangoed. But- "Deal."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alan Rickman grabbed Essie's hand (Harry was still being held captive by a vengeful Parvati) and pulled her to the dance floor. When he was showing her the steps, he noticed how quickly she caught on. When she knew it completely, he turned to the spelled instruments, pulled out his want, muttered a spell, and whirled back to Essie. Instantly, the song "in Demand" filled the room, along with the disembodied voice of the lead singer of Texas.
". . .you made me feel in demand. . ."
They were tangoing. Exactly like the music video. Essie felt giddy. She had dreamed of this so many times.
". . .in demand. . ."
As the song came to a final crescendo, he pulled her into a dip so deep, it looked like she was doing a back bend with her arms around his neck. She laughed, delightedly, before he eased her back up.
"Well?" he asked
"Well what?"
"Gods dammit, woman! Are you a Yank or a Brit?"
"I honestly don't see why it matters so very much to you-"
He growled.
She reverted back to her normal voice, "-But I am QUITE American, thank you. And of course, I have absolutely no twin whatsoever." She gave him a devilish wink before heading off towards Harry.
"Wait!"
She turned. "What?"
He had found her. The exact girl he needed for an opposite in his next film. "Can you sing?"
"Yes."
"Well, then I'm offering you a part opposite of me in my next film."
She gaped. "You're, bloody kidding!" She yelled in her British accent.
He grinned and shook his head. This girl never missed a beat.
"Well the, OF COURSE I'll do it! I'll never have another bloody chance!"
HE nodded. "Talk with me later. Next week, preferably. I'll still be here."
She nodded before heading off to rescue Harry from the unmerciful Patil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professor Draca looked absent-mindedly at her date, who was busy glaring at his unbearably dashing cousin.
"You know, Snapie, it's physically impossible to set him aflame with your eyes."
"I know. But there's no harm in trying, is there?"
She sighed. "Are you JEALOUS, Severus?"
"Maybe."
She growled in mock frustration. "Oh, you stubborn types."
"I am NOT stubborn."
She gave him a look.
"Well, OK, maybe a little."
She gave him another look.
"Maybe a lot."
She sighed and handed him a glass of wine. "Here. Drink this. It'll help you relax."
He obediently took the glass, but just as he was about to take a sip, he felt an all to familiar sensation. A sensation that felt incredibly like a hook jerking him behind his navel.
"What the bloody, fucking, hell?" he exclaimed as he vanished in a flash.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Essie! Loki! Harry! Draco! There you are! I've been looking all over for you! Here, I've got to give you these." Anya held up a sheath of parchment. "I forgot to give back your tests in the last class. . ."
They took their test with a curious stare. Who gave back test during a ball?
Then they all felt the tugging behind their belly-button.
"Bon Voyage," snickered Draca, right before they vanished from sight.
Things were steadily going from bad to hell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: YES! I did it! I wrote it! I'm probably going to work on this and finish it before I go on with my other fics. Seeing as I'm working to tie them in. but yeah. REVIEW ME!!!!!!
~Fic Starts Here~
The whole gang was in their Care of Magical Creatures class, trying to learn the properties of fire crabs without getting fired at. Hermione, of course, was the only one who was in total control. Loki had several singe marks on her robe, Ron was busy cursing because his bit him, Harry couldn't see anything because his fire crab had melted his glasses, and Essie's had just stuck itself inside it's shell and wasn't budging. Essie's eyes were getting a crimson glow and her pupils were getting gold. Harry was glancing at her, worried, when she suddenly shouted, "REVEAL YOURSELF, DAMMIT!" The fire crab popped out of his shell with a grudging sigh and let Essie poke him.
Meanwhile, Ron had stopped cussing and was 'studying' Hermione's fire crab with her. To Essie, it looked like he was trying to smell her hair.
"So. . ." began Ron, his voice shaking a bit. How was he going to do this? He had liked Hermione forever, but it was just recently that he had LIKED, liked her. She was really gorgeous.
"So. . . have you been asked to the ball yet?" Olympian gods, he sounded like a true idiot.
"Err, yeah. By lots of guys-you know, since my whole makeup thing. . . why?" Did she sound like a cheerleader? It was her greatest fear that she would sound like a cheerleader. Especially to Ron. Ron was not really the type to like cheerleaders. Well, actually he WAS, but SHE wasn't the type that liked cheerleaders.
"Well, err," began Ron, "err, would you, um, wouyougobalwitme?"
"Say what?"
"Do you want to go to the ball with me?"
Hermione just gaped. RON? Ron had asked her? RON?! He, he liked HER?
Ron was getting rather nervous with her staring. "You-you know, you really don't have to go with me if you don't want to. I mean, I understand if some totally great guy asked you; that's fine-"
"Yes."
"-and I totally understand. Why go with me if someone like Oliver Wood asked you-"
"Ron, I said yes."
"-because I know how girls think about him. Hehe, why go with me right? When you can go with hi-"
Hermione cut him off with a kiss. Loki was right. Sometimes it WAS the only way to shut a guy up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Saturday, Essie, Loki, Ginny, and Hermione were trying to convince Draco on the benefits of a muggle suit. Draco was, of course, staunchly refusing.
"Why in Ptolemy's name would I want to dress like a muggle?"
"Draco, you HAVE to."
"Because if you don't, we won't match."
"Why?"
"I've already seen my dress. If I'm dressed as a muggle, you have to be too."
"Why?"
"Honestly, is that the only thing you can say?"
"Why?"
"ARGH!" suddenly, Loki had an inspirational idea. She looped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer.
"Please, Draco?" she whispered in a voice that sounded remarkably like Marilyn Monroe, "PLEEEASE?" she fluttered her eyelashes into his neck and tilted her head upwards, "It would make us look sooooo much better you know," she traced a finger on his chest, "if, you know, we could look better." She lightly pressed her lips against his. She leaned back and surveyed her handiwork. "So, is that a yes?"
"Ah, err, dah, errr, ah. . ."
"Good. Let's go look for your suit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of days later, Essie and Loki were busy getting ready for the ball. They had each found the perfect dress. Hermione and Ginny were coming any minute, and Harry, Ron, Oliver, and Draco were meeting near the Great Hall in a couple of hours. Loki was trying to re-apply her mascara (Essie had made her laugh so hard, it had run) she looked into the mirror to check if she had any more streaks. But what she was definitely NOT her reflection.
. . . Two men talking. A tall, thin one. A short, fat one. A snake. A knife. A cauldron. A column of flames. Fiery deaths. A hand, reaching to her. Choking her, chaining her. Loki screamed in terror and fell backwards. She could feel the hand. It was still on her neck. She could see the flames. Fire. Burning. She couldn't breath. The hand. The burning. There was only one way to get rid of it. She grabbed her want and gasped, "Expendio!" just when she was going to pass out. The mirror exploded with a furious scream. She could feel its power, even in its destruction.
"Loki? Are you OK? Asked Essie, walking over the glass shards. "Whoa. What happened? Are you hurt? What-"
Loki grabbed Essie and pulled her down. "they're coming tonight."
"Who?"
"They crave power and death."
"WHAT?!"
"And they hope we shall give them both."
"How?"
"They will feed off of fear."
"Why?"
Suddenly, Loki grabbed a glass shard and cut her palm. She slit Essie's too. Essie was too shocked to say anything.
Loki pressed her hand against Essie's and whispered, "If we ever come out alive tonight, we must do it together. Combined, our powers will defeat them. Only then. When our blood courses through eachother's veins, we will conquer."
She held their hands together for another second before letting go. When she did, there was only a scar. A star-shaped scar in the center of their hands. Loki looked at Essie, and whispered, shocked, "He is no kin of yours." Before going into a dead faint.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of hours later, they were all ready. Essie and Loki hadn't told Hermione and Ginny about Loki's vision. They had both tried to concentrate on getting ready for the ball.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At 8:00, everyone was ready. They tripped out of their dormitory to meet their men.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry's mouth dropped open. Wide. Like almost dislocating it. HOLY SHIT and HOT DAMN. Essie was wearing a slinky, black, sleeveless, strapless, floor length dress that was VERY clingy. She had a thin, gauzy shawl with a thin sheen of black glitter over it. Her only decoration was a cker with a crystal in the center. She had put a growing charm on her hair, so it was long enough to have been put up in ringlets. Her only makeup was a thin layer of metallic blue eye shadow and dark burgundy lipstick.
She glanced at Harry. Ooh. Black on black on black. She liked it. A LOT. His shirt and his tie were black silk. She had a thing for black silk. She went over, pressed his mouth shut, and kissed him. When she turned around to take his arm, Harry noticed that her dress was QUITE backless.
Draco was busy looking at Loki. He very much approved. She was wearing a dress made of crinkly gold silk. The straps were triangular shaped, with the points attaching to the dress itself. The material clung to Loki's body, showing off her figure. But the thing that made Draco's eyes REALLY go speechless was the way Loki seemed to be walking in a cloud. Literally. From mid-calf down, she was surrounded by white mist infused with gold sparks.
Loki looked at Draco. And looked. And looked. Bloody hell! How had he known what color her dress was, so he could match? Oh yeah, she had told him. But HOT DAMN. With an emphasis on HOT. He was wearing black on black on black with a shimmer gold tie. She felt weak at the knees. His hair and THAT TIE matched PERFECTLY.
Ron looked like he had swallowed his tongue. This was HERMIONE? He was going to have to DANCE with her? He couldn't even WALK. She had her sleek hair up in a long braid that wrapped around her head several times, like a crown. He dress was a dark, satiny, cobalt blue. Her eyes were particularly brown under her mascara, and her lips were a shimmery pink. When she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, he almost collapsed.
Hermione smiled wickedly. He looked GOOD in that MIB suit. Despite his paleness, Ron was quite a hottie. She loved the way his hair fell into his face. Plus, he had a nice chest.
Suddenly, Ron glanced at Ginny. And kept on glancing. And he wasn't the only one.
"Ginny!" gasped Oliver. He STILL couldn't get over how beautiful little Ginny Weasley had become. And this REALLY blew him over the edge. She was, there was no other word for it, gorgeous.
Her dress was a pure, emerald green. It had a very renaissance look to it, with cinched bell sleeves, a square neckline, and its hem hit the floor. He was having VERY improper thoughts right now.
Ginny looked seductively at Oliver. He was in an MIB suit too. She walked up to him and hissed him lightly on the cheek. She couldn't resist whispering "Hellooooooo Mr. Wood," while she patted his lower back. Oliver turned bright red and turned Ginny to hiss her on the lips.
"OY!" yelped Ron, "We can all do without the sight of someone named, of all things, WOOD, kissing my baby sister!"
Hermione sighed as she shut Ron up with her mouth again. Looks like I'll be doing THIS a LOT, she thought. Oh Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anya Draca burst into Snape's chambers, severely pissed. "You'd THINK that SOME people would be more APPRECIATIVE of someone and actually SHOW UP after they asked a person to a BALL, Severus."
Snape turned around slowly. "Oh? We were meeting at YOUR chambers? I thought we were meeting at the Great Hall."
"Where you could escape? I mean really Severus," ranted Anya, "I expected you-OOOOOH." She just noticed. He was wearing dress robes. Of course, they were black. But SILK black. And his hair was very NOT greasy.
"Yes, Draca?"
"Err, you look pretty."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I-I mean, in a very MASCULINE sort of way."
Snape started to smirk.
"Oh, don't you start, Mr. I Take Everything Sarcastically!"
"I wasn't."
"What?"
"I was attempting to smile."
"Oh."
Snape started to walk in a full circle around Draca. She was dressed gorgeously in a sparkly black, sleeveless dress with a shiny, blue corset on top. He suddenly froze when he spotted her necklace. A sleek, sterling silver dragon with green, emerald eyes, complete with golden, ruby inlaid fire. He touched the dragon, petting it, and it sighed. Snape's fingers froze.
"What is it Severus?"
"N-nothing." It couldn't be. He had given one exactly to-but it couldn't be. No. There must be two of a kind. There had to be.
"Allow me?" he took her hand and placed it on his arm as they started walking to the Great Hall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the Hall, Essie, Loki, Hermione, Ginny, and their respective dates all grabbed on table, near the high table. Essie was seeing who was with who. Cho wasn't there. After Cedric, she got rather depressed by the Ball. Hagrid, to her amusement, was with Madam Hooch. Dumbledore was sitting with McGonagall. Snape had just walked in with Draca. Wait, who was the wizard Snape was all scowly faced at? He looked so familiar.
OH MY GOD.
"Hello cousin," hissed Snape.
Essie squealed/gasped. "LOKI! IT'S ALAN RICKMAN!"
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Alan Rickman turned around. Did someone mention his name? Who was this? A pretty, Asian witch in a sexy black dress was staring at him with eyes as round as saucers, along with another witch-this one with violet eyes and auburn hair. He motion to them and Dumbledore nodded. He stepped down from the high table and started walking towards them, Snape trailing him.
Alan Rickman was walking towards her. Oh, she knew he was in muggle movies. She had seen them all. And she knew he was a wizard. He appeared on the wizarding stage often. But, SNAPE'S COUSIN?
"Ah, yes," sighed Snape, "these are our AMERICAN exchange students- Lokara Thompson-"
Loki just shook his hand wordlessly, her mouth in a serious goldfish shape.
"-And Essence Lei." Essie had had enough with Snape's condescending manner with Americans. Well, time to shove some of his own shit up his nose.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rickman," she replied, in a faultless British accent.
Alan's eyes were laughing. THIS girl, a yank? Heavens, no. she sounded like an English born, English bred, if he ever heard one. Best treat her like one.
"A pleasure." He bent down and kissed her hand.
Essie smirked at Snape. Take that, Mr. Cantankerous Conk!
Snape rolled his eyes. Sure, her sounded quite authentic, but he had just SAID she was American.
Alan straightened back up. "Did my cousin just call you an American?"
Essie sighed rolling her eyes. "Yes," she sighed again, "He gets me confused with my American twin. We've got a rather interesting situation. Have you seen that muggle film, The Parent Trap?"
"I have."
"Well, think that, but a bit more complicated."
He laughed. "Indeed. And where IS this American twin of yours?"
"She's not feeling well. A spot of a cold, I believe."
Harry cleared his throat.
"Oh! Yes! Mr. Rickman, may I introduce my date, Harry Potter?"
Alan Rickman did the slightest double take at the scar, before bowing slightly, and saying, "An honor, Mr. Potter, indeed" and headed back to the high table, with Snape alternating a scowl between Alan and Essie.
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After a decidedly sumptuous dinner, Dumbledore stood up and clapped his hands. A floating platform suddenly appeared, with a small curtain, covering whatever, or more appropriately, whoever was on it.
"Ah, yes. May I present the musical guest of the evening-No Doubt."
There was a collective gasp as the curtains pulled. No Doubt was a musical rarity-being popular with muggles as well as magical folk.
The band immediately struck up "Hey Baby" as the tables were pushed against the wall and people started to dance.
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A couple of hours later, No Doubt was taking a small break. Magical instruments were playing some light music. WITHOUT people playing them. Essie was sitting alone (poor Harry was swept up by an extremely jealous Parvati Patil). She had waved away all of the boys who had asked her to dance, and was just sitting by herself, delicately sipping some punch.
"May I sit down?"
"Of course, Mr. Rickman."
He sent her a look that almost made her melt (think Harry, think Harry) (an: the little triangle thingies are for showing thoughts. This is Essie's) and sat down, rather comfortably in the chair next to her.
"Mmm, thank you, miss Lei."
She flashed a smile at him. "Oh, do call me Essie. Only your cousin calls me miss Lei, and only when he's extremely fed up, at that."
He smiled. "Call me Alan then."
"All right."
Alan's eyes scanned the crowd briefly before- "Are you really a Yank, as Severus keeps on insisting?"
Essie smiled secretively. "If I was, I would have one of their appalling accents, wouldn't I?"
Alan grinned. "Many Yanks have been known to cast off their accents in favor of a more, shall we say, British form of speech."
She smiled again.
Alan threw up his hands in exasperation. "Olympian GODS woman! You are either one HELL of an actress or extremely excellent at lying. Have you ever considered working as a spy? Severus never lies about such things, but your accent and demeanor throw me. Will you not tell me what you ARE?"
Essie laughed. "I don't know, Alan. A slight-of-hand artist never reveals his tricks, just as an actress never reveals what her true self is, lest the audience distinguish what is an act, and what is true life."
He growled again.
Essie giggled. Time to pull out her bargain. "oh, all right. I'll show you which story is true-"
Alan jumped was she REALLY going to give in that easy?
"-If you teach me how to tango, like you did in the muggle music video, In Demand."
Apparently not. It had been ages since he had tangoed. But- "Deal."
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Alan Rickman grabbed Essie's hand (Harry was still being held captive by a vengeful Parvati) and pulled her to the dance floor. When he was showing her the steps, he noticed how quickly she caught on. When she knew it completely, he turned to the spelled instruments, pulled out his want, muttered a spell, and whirled back to Essie. Instantly, the song "in Demand" filled the room, along with the disembodied voice of the lead singer of Texas.
". . .you made me feel in demand. . ."
They were tangoing. Exactly like the music video. Essie felt giddy. She had dreamed of this so many times.
". . .in demand. . ."
As the song came to a final crescendo, he pulled her into a dip so deep, it looked like she was doing a back bend with her arms around his neck. She laughed, delightedly, before he eased her back up.
"Well?" he asked
"Well what?"
"Gods dammit, woman! Are you a Yank or a Brit?"
"I honestly don't see why it matters so very much to you-"
He growled.
She reverted back to her normal voice, "-But I am QUITE American, thank you. And of course, I have absolutely no twin whatsoever." She gave him a devilish wink before heading off towards Harry.
"Wait!"
She turned. "What?"
He had found her. The exact girl he needed for an opposite in his next film. "Can you sing?"
"Yes."
"Well, then I'm offering you a part opposite of me in my next film."
She gaped. "You're, bloody kidding!" She yelled in her British accent.
He grinned and shook his head. This girl never missed a beat.
"Well the, OF COURSE I'll do it! I'll never have another bloody chance!"
HE nodded. "Talk with me later. Next week, preferably. I'll still be here."
She nodded before heading off to rescue Harry from the unmerciful Patil.
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Professor Draca looked absent-mindedly at her date, who was busy glaring at his unbearably dashing cousin.
"You know, Snapie, it's physically impossible to set him aflame with your eyes."
"I know. But there's no harm in trying, is there?"
She sighed. "Are you JEALOUS, Severus?"
"Maybe."
She growled in mock frustration. "Oh, you stubborn types."
"I am NOT stubborn."
She gave him a look.
"Well, OK, maybe a little."
She gave him another look.
"Maybe a lot."
She sighed and handed him a glass of wine. "Here. Drink this. It'll help you relax."
He obediently took the glass, but just as he was about to take a sip, he felt an all to familiar sensation. A sensation that felt incredibly like a hook jerking him behind his navel.
"What the bloody, fucking, hell?" he exclaimed as he vanished in a flash.
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"Essie! Loki! Harry! Draco! There you are! I've been looking all over for you! Here, I've got to give you these." Anya held up a sheath of parchment. "I forgot to give back your tests in the last class. . ."
They took their test with a curious stare. Who gave back test during a ball?
Then they all felt the tugging behind their belly-button.
"Bon Voyage," snickered Draca, right before they vanished from sight.
Things were steadily going from bad to hell.
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AN: YES! I did it! I wrote it! I'm probably going to work on this and finish it before I go on with my other fics. Seeing as I'm working to tie them in. but yeah. REVIEW ME!!!!!!