SPOV

I was already utterly exhausted from the day of dancing and singing practice by the time I arrived in the grand ballroom. As I peered around the lavish hall done up for the closing ceremony, I realized all I really wanted to do was nibble on a few amuse bouches and sneak a glass of champagne from the veelish servers who wandered about. It was bad enough I'd have to be at the center of everyones attention again in another hour. To think I would have to schmooze and scheme right up until the aria. Not only that but after the performance the Jade Rabbit had scheduled an induction ceremony and late night mission too...

How do I get roped into these things when I'm around Al?

As I turned my gaze towards the front, I realized to my horror I'd nearly collided with a young woman who also had not been paying attention to where she was going. I dropped my champagne glass and thanked Ashera that the creature had had the wherewithal and reflexes to grab the object by its stem before it could crash to the floor.

"Careful Scor. You almost broke this." She whispered nervously, tucking several strands of dark hair behind her left ear.

The ravishing beauty placed the glass onto a nearby tray as I observed her stupidly, my mouth agape. Her eyes had been darkened by eyeliner but otherwise she had needed no makeup. The brunettes skin was flawless but for the faintest dusting of ghost-light summer freckles that were almost invisible in the muted glow of the ballroom.

"You're staring Scor." she noted awkwardly, blushing red.

I continued to observe her speechlessly while the soft music played in the background. I noted the beautiful stemwork of emeralds on gold flowers that were arranged in her hair. The green gems were set to match those perfect eyes which now had trouble meeting mine. At the back, her long hair had been artfully fastened by Ella's golden comb.

The black gown the woman wore was sleeveless, descending in a narrow V from her neck to leave an extraordinary amount of skin revealed on her shoulders and back. Likewise the piece traced at her form so delicately as to reveal the curves of her waist. Still it was an extraordinarily elegant design that didn't drape overly long. There was a collar of smooth fabric that met at her neck and several glittering diamonds sparkled where they'd been sown into the dress. Her arms were adorned with simple black silk gloves that came almost to her elbows. A diamond and emerald bracelet was fastened on her left wrist…

'At least she'll be able to dance with me easily for our roles later tonight' I remarked to myself as I took in her attire.

"Say something you idiot. People are starting to stare at us." She whispered shyly, the red tinge on her cheeks deepening out of embarrassment.

"Staring at you maybe. Al… you're…" I whispered, not knowing what to say.

I stepped closer to her and seized her by the hand. It was as if i'd moved on my own accord, without conscious thought or consideration. I shifted her towards the empty center of the room where nobody had yet started to dance. I began by spinning her delicate frame ever so slowly. She bent for me like a tree branch in the wind, allowing me to lead with the lightest of touches.

"Its not time yet Scor." Al whispered again. This time her eyes were actually able to meet mine.

I could feel my heart racing as my head emptied itself like the top of an hourglass might of its sand. Everything was quiet except for the music and this woman in my arms. It wasn't the dance we would later perform. It was just a simple improvisation I was making in response to Cyril's flowery piece of music.

"Again… they're all looking at us."

"Don't look at them then Al. Just look at me." I replied, moving us closer together before I bent her backwards for a bow.

Another twirl and I picked her up by the waist for a half raise. She elegantly played the feminine role and I was shocked at how easily she could adopt the graceful movements. At this point I was aware that half the audience was fixated on us. As the song came nearer its crescendo I intertwined our fingers and extended her outwards before pulling her back towards me again. She twirled gracefully for two rotations as she returned my way. As she did i wrapped her in my arms from behind just as the song faded to a close.

The room grew quiet as we observed each other heatedly, panting slightly in excitement. She had to look up and slightly backwards to glimpse my expression since I held her firmly where she was. Her back swelled and contracted against my chest as our lungs worked heavily against the deep breaths of excitement, nervousness and exertion.

It was only with a dread reluctance that I was finally able to release her. She had had to gently pull herself free from my embrace with the faintest of nudges.

Nobody had noticed it but me. I had been the one not willing to let go...

It felt as she withdrew, like something deep inside of me was being wrenched away. I wanted to extend my arm out and grab her but she had stepped just far enough out of reach that I could not. Al turned back to face me finally, a light flush painted on her cheeks.

"You're uncharacteristically quiet Scor. Is everything alright?" Al asked me, leading me off the dance floor to a room full of hushed whispers.

'I'm bewitched' I almost replied.

A few male wizards, both adolescent and adult, walked up to Al to ask for a dance. They put themselves forward as if I were a ghost. They couldn't have cared less if I was even there.

The Al creature politely declined, touching my arm for refuge as she smiled them off one by one. I was so enchanted with her that it felt like the room around me was a movie scene in which I was but an observer. That she had clung to me for protection had brought a crooked smile to my lips.

"Its just that you're so unbelievably beautiful. I've never seen anything like it before." I countered in a daze.

"Come off it Scor. You don't need to have a go at me. I'm nervous enough as it is right now."

I raised a hand to her hair to mirror the motion of tucking the loose strands behind her ear. "I feel drunk just looking at you right now Al. I'm not having a go at you." I answered honestly as I continued transfixed.

"Allie! Ashera preserve us! Look at you!" Aurora, Melody, Rose and Lily shouted excitedly, coming up to Al to grab her by the hands.

She elatedly hugged her sister and cousin, then the others as though bolstered by their encouragement. They all giggled and again I was surprised by how feminine she was as they all began gushing over her dress, hair and eyeliner. Her girlish smile shocking and delighting me.

Aurora paused in thought. "Do you have a female name Al? What do we call you like this?"

"Athena. Its what my parents would name the next girl in our family. Minerva's greek name." The brunette replied confidently.

Max, Markus and Louis came up to us next from amongst the crowd. They ignored me completely and merely moved to hug Al one by one, lingering a little longer than the girls had done.

"Boss" Markus joked, whistling suggestively the brunette's way.

Louis had to swat Max to get him to close his mouth.

"You look… unreal Albus." Max commented in shock. "Is it weird that I'm trying to figure out what you look like underneath your clothes?" Max asked.

"Yes!" Aurora and his cousin Melody shot, swatting him again with their evening bags.

"We've changed together for quidditch before, no? Haven't you already seen what I look like without clothes on?" Al teased, locking her beautiful eyes flirtatiously with Max's. A pang of something sharp grabbed at my chest as I had the sudden urge to move between Max and the beauty.

"Decidedly not the same thing at all mate." Macmillan replied.

"Well. Will you settle for a dance? I'll even let you lead." Al joked again, extending a hand for Max's.

I almost reached out to stop them but Aurora caught my hand and led me onto the dance floor before I could do or say anything stupid. I spied Markus bowing to Lily, and Melody was tapped herself on the shoulder from behind by Izanagi Muramasa. Louis was surprised by Raven who pulled him onto the dance floor as well.

Aurora and I waltzed playfully but I had trouble taking my eyes off of Al. My dancing suffered for my inattentiveness and I almost stepped on Auroras foot.

"Somethings wrong." I whispered to her, finally breaking off my hawkish stare at the fey like Athena.

My oldest friend squinted at me skeptically, clearly annoyed by the whole distraction.

"You mean because you didn't ask me to join your little crew yourself? Yeah, I'm a little miffed at that to be honest."

"No that's… Oh… so Louis told you."

"You approved my invite into the Jade Rabbits… so yes he tendered the offer. I'm going to be sworn in the next time you all meet for membership it would seem. I guess that's tonight right? Rose, Max and Melody are being sworn in then too. You should have been the one to tell me this Scor." She chastised, hurt by my neglect.

"I was a little distracted you know."

"You're back in with Al so you forget all about me? Me who's been your confidant and had your back this entire summer while you moped in your depression?" She continued, voicing her annoyance. I gave her a peck on the cheek and shook my head.

"You know i'm always there for you. I just had to make sure he forgave me properly. Its not been two days yet since we started talking again. You saw what happened to us yesterday didn't you? We almost died for Merlin's sake."

"You two are always almost geting yourselves killed!"

"Rory..."

"Fine. I just have a bad feeling you're going to ditch me for him" She complained honestly.

"How could you ever think that? After your brother went off on his special assignment, father practically took you in. You're like a sister to me Rory. Don't ever think I'd abandon you."

She smiled and I smiled back.

"Alright alright. I'm not used to mushy Scor. Especially now that you're handsome and aged up. Now tell me what you meant by something's wrong?"

"Oh… well its just… How can he possibly look so…"

"Beautiful?"

"Yeah…" I admitted.

"He's always beautiful though." She countered. I spun her around one last time and led her from the dance floor as my feet began to tire from the long day. I had to keep up my form for the final dance.

"Actually yeah… I guess that's true." I was surprised i'd admitted to it out loud. "So are you, you know." I added to my oldest friend after Al.

She smiled at the compliment. It was the only time i'd ever given her one.

APOV

My dance with Max ended and I decided to bring a glass of champagne over to the young Cyril.

"Cheers Cyr. Don't tell your father I brought you alcohol though." I whispered as we clinked glasses. A veela servant took over the young boys role of conducting the musicians as soon as I'd appeared with the drink in hand.

"You forget we're french. We start drinking much younger here. Wine and champagne are acceptable in the evening, especially on special occasions. Cheers Al."

"How are you feeling? I bet its weird suddenly being a girl."

"I'm so nervous about later really. I feel like everyone in the palace is already watching me." I explained with a nervous giggle.

"They absolutely are cherie, however you shouldn't be nervous. You're totally natural like this. Elegant and graceful, you'll knock them dead Al. That's the expression right?"

I nodded, bringing a soft hand to check that Ella's hairpiece was still affixed properly. A strange expression bloomed on the boys eerie face at the sight of the golden trinket. It was the second time today he'd made that face.

"Wow Al, where did you get a piece like that? Its absolutely gorgeous. I'm obsessed with the detail work."

Cyrils eyes locked passionately onto the ornate object, actually moving himself to my rear to better examine it.

"Oh this? Its Scor's actually. Well it was his sister Ella's but I found it for him."

"Didn't she pass away? I heard the story from one of my cousins I believe."

"She fell into the sea yes… they were only eight years old at the time. It was very tragic for the Malfoys."

"Wow… eight is so young. Too young. That's actually around when my mother abandoned me here at the palace." Cyr exclaimed absently, moving towards the windows to stare out at the moon. For a brief moment I thought i'd misheard him.

"Pardon? How do you mean?"

"Well… My father's wife… Charlotte of Anjou… is not my real mother. Father supposedly had an affair with a foreign noblewoman many years ago. She got pregnant and raised me on her country estate until I was eight years old. One day she got me dressed in my finest attire and brought me to the doors of the Louvre without explanation of what was happening."

The strange boy paused, appearing lost in thought as his beautiful blue eyes sparkled vividly.

"I say one day but… well… it was the moment my beauty and ability had blossomed and she could prove my worth to Augustin. The day I was ready to sell basically. I still don't know what she collected from my father for my delivery to the court, but I never saw her again. All I really have left from her is this necklace, which I've ironically never been able to remove since." The boy finished, thumbing the stunning jeweled pendant on his neck.

"So Acelin and Appoline are only half siblings?" I asked, realizing why Cyril was so very different from his brother and sister. "The reason your name breaks with Valois tradition of the alpha prefix? The reason your father favors you so?"

I watched the timid nod and almost sighed sadly to see it. This was a closely guarded secret I realized to my surprise. Very few people if any outside the Valois clan must have been privy to it. I was touched not for the first time by the trust people saw fit to place in me.

'If you weren't a Valois Cyr… I'd invite you to join my little family in a heartbeat…' I thought somberly, placing a soft touch on the sweet boy. The Jade Rabbits would welcome you in a flash if not for the misfortune of your last name.

His head tilted to rest on my shoulder and I couldn't help but smile as we stared out the window together. Muggles strolled obliviously about the courtyard where the iconic glass pyramid lay glistening in the night. As they milled about I wondered if their concerns were any different than ours? Surely they felt the pain of rejection, the sting of betrayal, or the fear of abandonment. They must rejoice the same as we do, cherish the way we do, love the way we do. Is that what Cyril sees?

A few moments after his head found purchase on me I heard the faint beat of music emanating from his ear.

"Is that N∆NØ?" I asked suddenly, recognizing the distinct muggle beat.

"You really do have the best music Al. I follow your spotify religiously." He mused, pulling out a concealed earpiece from his right ear. He handed me the tiny round speaker and I slipped it into my left side to listen along without having to disturb him. I realized as the playlist continued that we were listening to 'Cyril Valois'. If he followed my spotify he must have known this collection was inspired by him. I'd only just finished it the day before the opening ceremony.

We stood there for three whole songs before he finally withdrew himself from me with a half smile.

CPOV

"Thanks for sharing your story with me Cyr." Al remarked as he deposited the gadget back into my waiting palm. I could tell he was genuinely touched by our exchange. His emotions as a girl must have been slightly different, but we could both tell the moment had been something special.

"No. Thank you for spending your time with me before the carnival. They were some of the best weeks of my life. I'll never forget this summer Al. Not the songs or stories you shared, not the kindness you showed me, or the fun we had. I'm only sorry you had to be subject to Aceline and Appoline's vitriol for part of it."

"I survived them well enough. I just hope you know the feeling is mutual my dear. I'm glad I got to spend the time with you too."

I was about to depart when I felt compelled to grab his arm one last time.

"There's one more thing you should know Al. I'm sure with your tradecraft training you must suspect my family of having its own intelligence apparatus. Well… all of the younger generation are required to report every significant detail we learn to our royal intelligence bureau. What I saw the other night with Scor in the corridor… the stories you shared with me of you two… I have said nothing of them… nor will I ever betray your secrets on the subject to my family. I just… thought I'd tell you that." I finished before walking away and back into the crowd of guests.