Impossible Love

Chapter Thirteen – The Halloween Ball Part 1

Lara fixed her black crystal earrings in place and took in her reflection. She felt incredible. The dress, a frothy tulle and lace confection, was as breath-taking as it had been a week ago when she'd tried it on at Gaspard Sigaut's London boutique. It was a good job that she'd got changed in her old dormitory as she'd needed Hestia and Emily to help fasten the corset bustier tightly. The effect meant that her breasts were pushed up with an exaggerated cleavage (only enhanced by the sweetheart neckline) and a cinched waistline hid the plentiful desserts Lara had consumed since being back at Hogwarts.

Alone in the dormitory, she took a deep breath and thought over the order of events for the evening. She needed to head to McGonagall's office in a few minutes to meet the Headmistress and Jamie. They would then enter the Great Hall, where the student body and guests had already gathered, to officially open the ball. Jamie and Lara were to be seated on the top table, with staff and honoured guests, for the feast. Following the feast, McGonagall would address the Hall and then invite Lara and Jamie to take to the floor for the first dance. Lara had tried to block this part from her mind as she knew heart palpitations would ensue if she dwelled on the formal dancing aspect of her role tonight. After that, the night was hers to do with as she pleased. Finding Hestia for the top of that list, closely followed by sneaking surreptitious glances at Neville. Interestingly, those glances were precisely what she'd avoid doing when sat near Jamie at the top table. She didn't need to add any more fuel to the fire given their last conversation on the subject of Lara's relationship with her mentor.

Tucking her wand into a conveniently deep pocket hidden amongst the volume of the skirt, she left the dormitory and made her way to meet McGonagall and Jamie. The skirt swished as she walked, and she had to press it down slightly to fit through the doorway and exit the Hufflepuff common room.

Reaching the stone gargoyle, Lara clearly enunciated the password 'Devon Rex' and watched as the gargoyle stepped aside, revealing Professor McGonagall, in satin black dress robes, and Jamie Burke.

Of course he looks that suave.

Dressed in a black tuxedo, with a dark green bow tie and matching pocket square, Jamie cocked his head as he appraised Lara's appearance. His eyes lingered slightly longer than necessary on her chest and he grinned.

"Miss Hepworth, punctual to the second," said McGonagall. "We'll be going now, if you're ready?"

"Of course," replied Lara.

Setting quite the pace, McGonagall strode off towards the Great Hall. Jamie proffered his arm, which Lara took gratefully, and they followed the illustrious headmistress towards the feast.

"You look … utterly bewitching," said Jamie.

His eyes burned into hers and she thought his remark sounded sincere.

"Oh, thanks," she said, blushing. "You look very handsome too."

Lara thought her response sounded a little lame in comparison, but Jamie chuckled regardless.

"Plus, your limp has vanished. Madam Pomfrey worked her magic."

Jamie playfully nudged Lara, "Just in time to take you for a spin round the dance floor."

Raising her eyes to the heavens, Lara appeared to seek the help of any divine being who had a gift for footwork.

Steering the conversation to a less stressful topic, Jamie said, "I'm please you agreed to go with my mother. She might not be the friendliest woman to Hufflepuffs but dresses she does know."

"I don't recall having a choice in the matter, but you're right. I couldn't have asked for a nicer dress."

Lara gave a half twirl to illustrate her point and spun back towards Jamie.

"I think she slightly warmed to me by the end of the afternoon though."

With the doors to the Great Hall in sight, Lara tightened her grip on Jamie's arm and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"It's fortunate the doors are so wide, otherwise you might not fit through in that dress."

Lara laughed disbelievingly at Jamie's insult.

"I could say the same about your ego," she quipped.

Rolling his eyes at the remark, he said, "I call that a draw, as usual."

The doors to the Great Hall opened in front of them, exposing a magnificent Halloween extravaganza. McGonagall strode down the centre of the hall; Lara and Jamie, still arm in arm, followed.

Amidst pumpkins and enchanted skulls, the sea of faces smiled approvingly at the appearance of their Head Boy and Head Girl. Jamie added a slight swagger to his walk which Lara inwardly groaned at. Managing to make eye contact with Hestia, who'd given her a wink, Lara focused on the table at the end of the hall. The usual staff were present, but extra seats had been added for the Ministry officials and Lara and Jamie.

Attracting the most attention undoubtedly were two thirds of the Golden Trio. Harry Potter wore a black suit and Hermione Granger a high-necked red gown. The other Ministry guests were less familiar to Lara. A senior official from the office of the Minister of Magic, a representative from the Wizengamot and the Assistant Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

McGonagall took her seat at the centre of the table, with Harry and Hermione flanking her. Spaces were left on either side of them for Lara and Jamie. Lara was sat next to Harry and Professor Weasley whilst Jamie took his seat on the other half of the table, next to Hermione and Professor Sinistra. Unfortunately for Lara, Neville was seated at the opposite end of the table.

"Harry, meet Lara Hepworth, our Head Girl," introduced Bill. "Lara is my star student in Ancient Runes and has more than a little talent for Defence Against the Dark Arts as well.

"Lara, this is Harry Potter," he added as an afterthought.

Harry smiled genuinely at Lara and continued the conversation.

"Well I can't say Ancient Runes was my subject, but the Dark Arts I'm familiar with," said Harry with a heavy dose of irony. "Are you considering becoming an Auror?"

"Erm, no," she replied tentatively. "You do a great job, but it's not for me. I'd rather be in a muddy field somewhere."

Picking up her glass, Lara took a sip of the delicious butterbeer within, hoping she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of the saviour of the wizarding world.

"Rather you than me," said Harry.

The meal passed in companionable conversation between the trio with Harry and Bill sharing a few of their own Hogwarts stories with Lara. She felt grateful her own time at Hogwarts had been relatively uneventful in comparison to the upheaval that Harry in particular had faced there.

During dessert, Lara zoned out of the conversation as she picked nervously at the oozing chocolate cake, only managing a few mouthfuls. Her nerves for the impending dance had returned and were making it impossible to continue eating. Forcing herself to return to the present, she realised Harry and Bill were talking across her in hushed tones.

"So is it –"

"No, nothing confirmed. Reported sightings in the south-west, but nothing …" said Harry, trailing off into silence as he realised Lara was looking at him curiously.

"Is there something I should know about?"

Silence.

"Before the dancing begins," said Professor McGonagall, her voice resonating across the Great Hall, "let us take this opportunity to raise our glasses to those who gave their lives so that we could be here today. The First Wizarding War was not the end of the conflict against evil, as we all know, but it marked the start of hope where there had previously been none. Hope for a better tomorrow inspires courage and action today. It was the courage and action of many individuals in this room, and beyond, that have allowed you to enjoy the life you lead today. May their sacrifices never be forgotten. To the fallen."

Every glass across the Great Hall was raised as staff and students alike echoed McGonagall's toast to commemorate the witches and wizards who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

Whilst Lara hadn't lost her father under the same circumstances as Harry lost his parents, she felt for him deeply and didn't miss the lowering of his gaze as he sought to control the clear torrent of emotions within.

"Now, please join me in welcoming your Head Boy and Head Girl, James Burke and Lara Hepworth, to the floor for the first dance."

The Hall burst into applause as Jamie and Lara rose from their seats and walked to the newly emerged dance floor. Concentrating on not tripping up, Lara was almost taken by surprise when she arrived in front of Jamie.

Melodic sounds filled the air as Jamie closed the chasm between them and pulled her into his arms. The weight of his palm pressed into her lower back and he winked encouragingly at her, before starting to lead the dance. His footwork betrayed his experience on the dance floor, and Lara sensed he was dancing very carefully with her. Perhaps her tight grip on his hand and upper arm belied her state of unease. Whatever it was, he provided just enough speed for their first few turns around the floor to be elegant, allowing Lara's dress to swish round in perfect timing to the music. Soon other couples joined them on the floor, relieving the sense of pressure and allowing Lara to loosen her firm hold.

"Relax," he urged. "You're doing great."

Jamie simultaneously navigated the dance floor, started the conversation and held Lara upright.

Do Pure Bloods spend their formative years dancing as oppose to playing with Lego?

As Lara's body became accustomed to the motion of the dance, Jamie pulled closer so that their chests were flush together. Other couples were also moving together as the music continued: Hermione danced with her brother-in-law, Professor Weasley; Harry with a beaming Professor McGonagall; and Hagrid with a flustered Assistant Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, who was practically jogging to keep up.

"So who's your date for tonight then?" Jamie said quietly into her ear.

Confused, Lara pulled back to look at the salacious expression on his face.

"You are?"

"Don't play coy, Hepworth. I know you've been asked by a certain Gryffindor."

Lara wasn't playing coy. She wondered whether he could possibly mean Neville, but that would be a bizarre assertion. Jamie misinterpreted her silence.

"I've promised Zara Prendergast a good evening," he said cheekily before whispering. "I can always cancel her though and keep dancing with you. I meant what I said before. You look incredible."

Whilst Lara wasn't surprised Jamie had another date lined up, she was irritated that he brought it up with her and then used it to try to seduce her. She wondered whether he'd been on the Firewhisky during the meal.

"No thank you, Burke. I wouldn't touch you with a barge pole."

Lara willed the song to end, so that she could leave the awkward conversation behind. Searching the crowd on the margins of the dance floor, she sought Hestia or Emily or Neville or anyone she could go to the moment the dance finished. Hestia was chatting closely to Akari by one of the Hufflepuff tables, but before she could make eye contact, Jamie had changed direction once more.

"A tad harsh that time, princess," he said tilting his head back to make eye contact once more.

Unfortunately, at the same moment, Lara's eyes alighted on the figure of Neville by the staff table who was watching her intensely.

"Are you fucking serious?" said Jamie, his anger palpable. "Go on then," he said immediately, releasing her from his hold and walking briskly off the dance floor.

Lara stood alone for a few seconds before the song came to a close. She looked both embarrassed and furious at the humiliation he'd inflicted. Throwing a wary look in the direction of a concerned Neville, as if to say 'not right now', Lara located Hestia and her friends, who'd also noticed Jamie's slight.

As she walked over to the girls, Lara's tumultuous thoughts swirled from one thing to the next.

Did he actually just come on to me? As if I could ever become one of his conquests. And who did he think had asked me to come to the Ball?

The music restarted, but this time the soft orchestral music was replaced by the unmistakable sounds of the Weird Sisters. Slightly aged, and with gruffer vocals than their last performance at Hogwarts, their heavy guitars and drums still drove the crowd into a frenzy.

Lara relayed the highlights of the dance to Hestia and Jamie's insinuation about her having a Gryffindor date.

"Ahh that might be my fault," admitted Hestia. "I told him Christian Jordan was your date – "

"Why would you tell him that?"

Hestia grimaced.

"I'm sorry for not telling you … Reuben told me that apparently Jamie warned the other seventh year lads off asking you. I don't know what he was thinking. When Jamie asked me a few days ago if you had a date, I said the first person who popped into my head. I figured it wouldn't matter because he clearly couldn't do anything to him. I was just so pissed off at him for doing that to you, even though I know you're not interested in any of the boys in our year."

Lara felt rage bubble under the surface. She wished Hestia had told her this sooner, but most of the anger was directed towards Jamie. Controlling, manipulative, lying Jamie. She didn't believe he could do that, but the facts didn't lie. No seventh years had asked her to the ball. An overly optimistic fifth year and a sixth year prefect had and she'd gently rebuffed them both. It wasn't that she felt entitled to a date, but it was unusual that none of her male classmates had offered to be her platonic partner for the evening.

Hestia looked disgustedly over at Jamie who was leading Zara by the hand to the dance floor.

"Are you ok?"

Lara fixed a smile on her face before she replied. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin the night for her friend. Especially when she had been looking forward to spending time with Akari.

"I'll be fine. Seriously, go dance," she said, shooing her towards the dance floor where her date was casting longing glances back in their direction.

"Only if you're sure?"

"Go. I'm getting a drink."

Author's note:

Sorry for having to split the Halloween Ball across two chapters. It felt like this was a nice place to stop for now, so we can all stew about Jamie. I'll try to get Part Two up for next week … I wonder who Lara will meet at the bar? 😉

Reviews are much appreciated. I've not asked for them before, or written an author's note, but thank you to anyone who has spent the time to write one. It's really heartening (and motivating) reading your kind words.

Viola Pearl