Disclaimer: STILL DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER!

Ahem.

Carmi felt Draco's arms drop away from her in shock. That was the moment she had been waiting for. She ran to the entrance of the training room, stopped, looked back at him, and mouthed, "I'm sorry", then continued in.

"Well finally. What took you so long to pull you two away from your lovers, Granger, Lei?" Darcy grumbled.

"They're overprotective idiots with their hearts in the right places", Mina explained.

"Right. Will you tell them that they have to sit with the parents in the viewing area, Thomas?" Darcy said, referring to Morgan.

"Sure, Darc. HEY! Idiots who are dating Mina and Carmi", the mentioned girls blushed, "you've gotta sit in the viewing area with the parents. Just turn right over by the fountain!" Morgan bellowed from where she was sitting.

"Thanks, Thomas." Darcy said dryly. "Because I couldn't have done that myself. All right, girls! Stretches! Granger, Thomas, you're on beam. Lei, Lovell, spot them." As the rest of the team went through their own routines on floor, vault, and bars, Darcy squatted down by the group of four. "You girls are our top performers, the whole team knows it. Let's give them something to be proud of, hey? Granger, Thomas – the two of you are unbeatable on beam. Lei, Lovell – no one can touch you two on bars. I want you four to learn these routines for the invitational next week. It's not much time, I know, but I have faith you can do it. Split the time equally between the two routines. I want you to have a basic understanding of the routines by the time practice is over."

Morgan hoisted herself onto the beam. Carmi shook her head. "That's not the proper way to get on beam, Morgie."

Morgan stuck her tongue out. "Just read me the routine." (I don't know all that many terms for routines, so if I say any that are too easy for the girls' level or not possible on beam, just let me know, okay? I may also throw in a couple cheerleading moves. If I do – sorry. :/) "Double twist layout… back handspring twist… back tuck…" (and more, but no Internet at the moment, so you'll have to make do.)

Behind Carmi, Carter was reading out the routine for Mina. (Same as Morgan's.)

Every time Mina's feet left the beam, Blaise's hands clenched. He was pretty sure his nails had left markings on his palms by now. Draco was a bit more relaxed as his mate was on the floor at the moment, but he knew she would be on bars soon.

"Lei, Lovell, Granger, Thomas! Switch to bars now. Full back tuck dismount to get off beam, girls! And don't think I didn't notice your mount, Thomas!"

Blaise felt his heart lodge in his throat as Mina ran along the length of the bar, and fearlessly threw her body into the air, twisting and whirling until she landed straight on her feet, arms up in a salute.

(Don't know how to describe bars, so skipping to end of practice.)

"Well done, girls." Darcy greeted them. "Do you feel you have a basic understanding of the routines down?"

Each girl nodded her agreement. "Darcy? Do you think if Carmi and I added more height to our final swing we could extend the routine? Swing back down to the low bar?"

"I won't say no, Lovell. How about the two of you work on it, then show me? You'd better be on your way to dance now as it is."

"Sweet", Carter and Carmi high fived the other.

The four girls grabbed their backpacks and gym bags and headed over to the viewing area where their dance partners were waiting for them. Mina looked over at Carter. "Don't forget your bag today, Cartie", she teased.

"Shut up, Mina. Or shall I tell Blaise about what happens when we give you chocolate?" Carter threatened.

Overhearing his name, Blaise looked at Carter and Mina curiously. "What's that you two are talking about that involves me?"

"Nothing!" Mina said quickly. "Right, Carter?" she asked through gritted teeth. Or does James need to know what he does when he gets drunk?"

"No, that's not necessary. We weren't talking about anything at all."

"HEY!" Darcy bellowed. "All of Mark's girls! He just called; you're late! Again."

Morgan swore then grabbed her boyfriend, dragging him after her in a hurry. He grabbed James' arm to save him from his crazy girlfriend who grabbed Carter who grabbed Mina who grabbed Carmi who grabbed Draco who finally grabbed Blaise. The conga like train lead the way to Mark's studio. The boys were jerked roughly to a stop and shoved into the boys' locker room. A pair of gym shorts and a muscle tee were thrown in their faces. The girls grabbed their Soffee shorts from their gym bags and slipped them on over their leos. They ran to drop their stuff off in the girls' part of the studio, and grabbed their dancing shoes from the bag.

Mark stood pacing in front of the mirrors when the gymnastics team tumbled through the doors together. They stood up straight and smoothed down their hair and leos. Mark stopped pacing, and turned slowly to stare the girls down. The entire team winced. They'd been on the receiving end of that stare too many times. Mark opened his mouth, and his voice was quiet, "Ladies, I understand that you all have a three hour practice right before you come to dance. I also understand that dance is ten minutes after gymnastics and you would need a five-minute cooling down period. I am additionally aware that the dance studio is on the other side of the campus than the girls' gymnastics training area. However, I would appreciate it if you would try to be no more than two minutes late each time. You have been late to almost every rehearsal the entire three years you have all been on the varsity team. And as for you two", he switched his gaze to Carter and Carmi who were currently trying to fade into the back of the group, "you two are the captains. I understand that you have your responsibilities to your gymnastics, but you also have your responsibilities for dance. Now", he clapped, "with that said, please hurry over to that pile right there", indicating a pile of skirts in the far corner, " and slip one on. You cannot dance the tango in Soffee shorts. Hip hop, yes. Freestyle – yes. You could probably even learn to dance ballet in just the leo! However, you cannot dance the tango in Soffee shorts."

The team did as told, glad to have gotten lightly compared to some of his other lectures. Each girl grabbed her partner and waited for Mark to adjust their positioning, or tell them if they would need to switch and dance with another as their current partner was not suited for them. Mark tsk-ed and switched Gracie out with Carter. Carter grinned. She'd brought James as her partner but Gracie had claimed him instead, shoving Carter off with her partner. Now Mark switched the two girls, saying to Gracie as he did so, "Stick with the partner you brought. The two of you have always danced well together." Gracie pouted, but soon brightened as Drew whispered something in her ear to make her laugh.

Mina herself was partnered with Will. She'd been surprised when Morgan had shoved her into him. Though looking at Morgan and Carmi whispering to each other, she thought she was beginning to understand. Morgan had claimed Draco, and Carmi chose Blaise as her partner.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Mina brought her attention back to Will.

"Sorry, what?"

"The tall Italian. He's your boyfriend, isn't he? Would you rather switch with Carmi?" Will was a sweet guy, tall, athletic, smart, and observant. Mina could understand why he and Morgan had been dating for two years.

"No, that's alright. Thanks for offering though, Will. So what's it like dating Morgan?"

Will lit up. "She's amazing. She's so sweet, but insane, you know?"

Mina laughed. "Oh, I know. We've been friends since we were born. Has she told you about the pickle incident?"

Will was about to reply when Mark came by and looked over the two of them critically. He nodded, satisfied. "You two should dance well together. We'll see about different partners in about an hour." Mark swept on to Carmi and Blaise, and then Morgan and Draco. He was pleased with all the pairings, and declared them fit to start dancing. The music started, and Will and Mina started to move. "You're not bad at this", Mina noted, a bit surprised.

"No need to sound so shocked." Will laughed.

Mina blushed at being caught. "I'm sorry. It's just that every guy I've danced with has always stepped on my toes, and never known what to do."

Will leaned forward. "Don't tell, but my mother is a dance instructor. She made sure I knew how to dance as I grew up. Now, about that pickle incident…"

"…and ever since she's never been able to look at pickles the same way." Mina finished the story with tears of laughter running down her face.

Will's face was torn between laughter and disgust. "How old was she?"

"It was four years ago, Will. She was twelve. Old enough to understand what she was seeing."

Will shook his head. "That's disgusting, Mina. And oh so like Morgan to naively walk in without expecting anything."

Mina nodded. "Mmm. She has the dirtiest mind out of all of us – who do you think influenced our minds? – but she's so innocent at the same time."

Will laughed. "That's Morgie, all right. She's told me about you, you know. She said that she thought the two of us would be great friends. I think she was right, what about you?"

Mina agreed. "Morgan's always been good at reading people. Why do you think she's dancing with Draco now? She wants to see if he's good enough for Carmi. She's never thought any of Carmi's other boyfriends were good enough."

Will winced. "I still feel badly about Ty."

Mina shook her head. "Don't. You and Carmi are just friends. She's always thought of you as an older brother. You two are close. You shouldn't have to change that just because one person doesn't like it. And Ty and Carmi were friends first, then dated for a year. He should have known better. He should have trusted her."

The music stopped then, and Mark came over to the pair. He surveyed them with a critical eye. "Very good, but not the best. Mina, if you would switch please with Morgan, and Carmichael with Morgan we'll take it again." (So the pairs would be: Mina/Draco, Morgan/Blaise, and Carmi/Will.)

Mina breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't have to dance with Blaise yet, and hopefully she and Draco would dance well enough together that she wouldn't have to dance with Blaise. With her luck, though… Mina moved to stand with Draco, and Mark started the music, and then turned it right off. All the girls who'd been on the team for years looked around confused – Mark hadn't ever turned on the music and then turned it right back off.

"Ladies, will all of you please gather around? Gentleman, stand across from them. Now, my girls who have been on the team for a year or less, please stand off to the left."

Mina and five other girls went off to the left. "And all those who joined a year and a half to two years ago, off to the right."

About ten girls went to the right. "The rest of you in the center have all been on the team since you started your freshman year here."

There were murmurs of agreement. "Now, ladies, all of you back in one group." The girls all hurried back to the center group. Mina wormed her way back to Carmi, Morgan, and Carter's sides. The entire time she'd been off to the left Blaise hadn't stopped staring at her. It had been nerve-wracking. Mina got that the only way Blaise would have let her do gymnastics was if he had been shocked by something and unable to stop her, but she so regretted letting down her shield.

Mark clapped, grabbing attention back to him. "Now, ladies, if you would please step forward and state how long you've been dancing. Once you have done so, step to the right. Gracie, why don't you start?"

"Five years."

"Two years."

"Four years."

"Seven years."

As the list grew longer, and more and more girls stepped to the right, the four best friends grasped hands and moved closer together. Mark looked at his last four girls and sighed. He had this trouble when it was just been Carter, Morgan, and Carmi during the school year, but whenever he held the summer practices Mina came along, and the four were inseparable. And now Mina was here for two years. Mark was glad because the girl had talent – raw passion just poured out of her, like it did with her cousin, Carter, and Morgan – but he really did grow tired of the foursome never separating.

"Ladies… I understand that the four of you grew up together, and are inseparable everywhere else, but we've talked about this. Please kindly release one another, and separate." When they refused to budge, Mark compromised, "Will you at least split off into pairs?"

Morgan and Carmi moved together, and Carter and Mina did the same.

"Now… how long have you been dancing?"

(Real quick author's note: Mina is 16 turning 17, Carter is 16 turning 17, Morgan is 15 turning 16, and Carmi is 15 turning 16.)

Carter and Mina, "Fourteen years."

Morgan and Carmi, "Thirteen years."

"Excellent! Now gentlemen, how many of you have had formal dance training? Step forward, please."

Blaise, Draco, Will, Drew, James, and a few others stepped forward. Each boy had between 6-9 years of experience. Mark nodded, as if he had expected that. And really, it was Mark Nng. Who were they to say that he hadn't expected it? The dance instructor turned back to his dance team.

"I know I surprised you when I turned the music off, but this partnering up with whomever you brought just isn't working for some of the pairs, so I'll be calling out a female name followed by a male name. That person will be your partner for the rest of the year, and maybe even next year for our freshmen through juniors. Let's get this started!"

"Gracie! … Drew!"

"Carter! … James!"

"Morgan! … Will!"

'Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please.' Carmi and Mina thought, not knowing what they were hoping for, squeezing the other's hands tightly.

And… end. Tell me what you thought in the reviews, please. No flames.

Love!