Chapter 14 – The Millennial Ball
Phenix and Jack made it back to their common room after dinner with not even a second glance from any girls in Jack's direction. Phenix didn't know if this was because the potion hadn't kicked in yet or maybe that Amelia hadn't brewed it right so it didn't even work. Phenix was hoping for the latter as he hated to think about what effect drinking the whole vial of it would have on Jack.
Phenix showered and put on his best dress robes and Jack did the same but his friend was still feeling hesitant about going to the ball.
"Do you really want to go?" Jack asked as he struggled with his bowtie. "It's just going to be loads of couples dancing and making out. Maybe we should both stay here tonight."
Phenix was thinking maybe that would actually be a good idea now and was about to say so but their dormmates, who were also getting ready in the bedroom with them, had other ideas.
"Come on you two just because you don't have dates doesn't mean you won't have fun tonight," Gus noted after finishing perfecting his hair in the mirror.
"Yeah there's going to be food and drink and a live band. It will be fun," Zain added, trying to cheer them both up. "You've got to come."
"Well maybe we can go for a bit. We can always leave early if we're not having a good time," Jack suggested and looked over to Phenix to see if he agreed.
"You won't regret it," Gus added but Phenix already was.
Just before seven o'clock the boys headed down to the common room where a lot of the students were gathering before heading to the ball together. Everyone looked so elegant and stunning in their best dresses and robes, especially the girls.
Gus went over to his date Tonks, who was dressed in a sparkling purple gown and was sporting white hair this evening and presented her with a white corsage he had just conjured up. Zain headed over to Emily who was dressed in a stunning red dress and told her how beautiful she looked before giving her a kiss on her cheek. Jack was already feeling very left out.
"Come on lets head down to the hall now," Jack said, not wanting to witness any more public displays of affections as he knew he'd probably be witnessing them all night.
When they got to the Great Hall it looked magical. The enchanted ceiling had been extended down the walls and showed twinkling stars all around the hall. In the centre of the room, floating up high was a huge golden star that shone brightly. On the right of the hall was a long table filled with scrumptious looking foods and all kinds of drinks as well as a fountain that seemed to have Butterbeer cascading from it. At the far end where the teacher's table usually stood a small stage had been erected. Currently on the stage were an assortment of musical instruments that were playing romantic music by themselves as students started to enter.
"Did you do it?" Amelia whispered to Phenix as she walked past, arm in arm with her date Aidan.
"Sort of," Phenix replied but Aidan was already leading Amelia to the dance floor so Phenix didn't get chance to explain more.
Phenix turned to Jack who didn't look like he was enjoying himself at all as couples kept walking past them and making their way to the dance floor.
"Let's get a drink," Phenix suggested, hoping they wouldn't look as awkward and it would be less obvious that they didn't have dates if they were milling around the buffet table and talking to people.
Phenix filled up two mugs of Butterbeer from the fountain and handed one to Jack.
"Maybe we should just go back to our room," Jack said, not even bothering to take a sip of his beer.
"We're here now. Let's give it a bit longer," Phenix suggested just as he caught sight of his sister entering the hall with Kyle by her side and suddenly thought leaving might actually be a good idea.
A couple walked up beside them and started filling up mugs of Butterbeer too. As they turned to leave again the girl looked Jack up and down and gave him a smile before her date dragged her away.
"Did you see that?" Jack asked.
"See what?" Phenix said, not really paying attention as he was watching his sister and Kyle having a slow dance.
"I think that girl was checking me out," Jack said, smiling for the first time that evening as two girls came over to get drinks.
"Look the boys are arriving just now," one of the girls said and waved over to two boys by the door as her friend filled two glasses with fruit punch.
They were about to go meet their dates when they both spotted Jack.
"Hello there," one of the girls said.
"You look handsome tonight," the other girl remarked.
"Er… thank you," Jack said a little taken aback.
"That colour suits you," commented the first girl, referring to Jack's dark maroon dress robes.
"It really brings out your eyes. They're so dazzling. I could get lost in them," the second girl said, unable to take her eyes off Jack.
Phenix finally diverted his attention from his sister and back to Jack and the scene that was unfolded in front of him. The potion was clearly finally taking effect.
"Would you like to dance with me?" the first girl asked with a sweet smile.
"No would you like to dance with me?" the second girl also asked, pushing in front of her friend.
"I saw him first."
"No you didn't. I did," her friend replied and the two girls began to argue about who should get to dance with Jack first as their actual dates arrived.
"What's going on?" one of the boys asked.
"No idea," Phenix said quickly before grabbing his friend. "Come on Jack lets go."
Normally Jack would have been thrilled of the attention but the fact that two girls were now fighting over him and their dates were having to drag them apart made him feel very awkward and he was glad to get away from them.
"What was that all about?" Jack asked, still watching the boys struggle to tear the feuding girls apart.
"No idea," Phenix lied, realising he might have created a very big problem.
"Are you having a good time boys?" Professor McGonagall said as she approached them. "And Jack you look so grown up and smart tonight," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Sorry professor we've got to go," Phenix said panicking and dragging his friend off yet again, leaving the professor looking a bit disappointed.
"What are you doing?" Jack said as Phenix kept dragging him through the crowds and all the girls seemed to be looking at Jack and smiling at him. One even tried to grab him and Phenix ended up having a mini tug of war with her to get Jack away from her.
"What's going on?" Jack asked as Phenix finally stopped pulling him and they were now tucked away in the corner by the stage where no one else was. "Everyone seems to be acting so strange tonight."
"Look there's something I need to tell you and don't hate me but…" Phenix started to say but Jack turned around when someone tapped him on his shoulder.
"Can I have this dance?" Phenix's sister asked as the magical instruments started playing a new song and she looked longingly into Jack's eyes.
"OK," Jack replied immediately in shock and Phia began leading him to the centre of the dancefloor.
Phenix was about to stop them but then decided not to. Jack looked happy so why not let him enjoy the attention for a bit even if it was a bit strong. It wouldn't last all night after all. Plus he knew it would annoy Kyle to see his date dancing with someone else so that was a bonus.
Phenix headed back to the buffet table and got himself a canape as he watched Jack and Phia dance. And he wasn't the only one. It seemed all the girls in the room were watching on, rather jealous of Phia.
"Jack looks rather dashing tonight," Amelia said to Phenix as she came up beside him and picked up some food too before turning back to watch Jack. "He moves so gracefully. Do you think he'd dance with me next?"
"I think there might be a queue," Phenix joked as he watched a girl try and cut in and push Phia out the way but Phia was having none of it and held on to Jack tightly.
"Wait what am I saying?" Amelia said, snapping out of her daze. "How much of the potion did you give him?" she said heatedly, looking at Phenix.
"I accidentally gave him the whole bottle."
"You did what?" Amelia snapped back.
"I said it was an accident," Phenix said apologetically as he saw what looked like a mass brawl about to break out on the dancefloor as now multiple girls had descended on to it and were trying to pull Jack away from Phia. Phenix was worried Jack would be pulled to pieces if this carried on.
Just then Dumbledore stood up from his chair where he was sitting at the side of the room and looked over to the commotion. He retrieved his wand from his robes and flicked it in the direction of Jack and a haze of light shot out. Suddenly the girls who were tugging at Jack let go and he fell to the floor. None of the girls offered him a hand up as they all looked around at each other, not sure what was going on.
Dumbledore walked over to the dance floor as the girls started to disperse and headed back to their real dates, who were looking rather annoyed.
Dumbledore reached down to Jack and helped him up.
"Thanks," Jack said appreciatively as he dusted down his robes and looked over to Phia who was still standing near but was looking rather shellshocked.
Jack was about to ask her if she wanted to continue with her dance when she quickly turned and fled, leaving Jack with a bewildered expression on his face.
"I have found girls to be rather mysterious beings. One never truly knows how their minds work and it's probably best to not try to decipher them," Dumbledore said, giving Jack a pat on his back and Phenix rushed over.
Dumbledore gave Phenix a disapproving frown as if he knew exactly what had happened and Phenix mouthed 'sorry' to the headmaster, looking rather sorry for himself as he did.
"Well no harm done," Dumbledore noted and smiled again. "I suggest you both go and enjoy the rest of your evening."
As Dumbledore headed back to his seat and now all the girls were busy back with their dates and ignoring Jack once more, Jack was feeling rather confused.
"What just happened?"
"I think maybe the Butterbeer went straight to everyone's heads or maybe it's a full moon. People act strange when it's a full moon. Come on let's get some food," Phenix said, changing the subject and was relieved that Jack didn't ask anymore and instead savoured his fleeting moment of popularity and the fact that he had got to dance with Phia.
As they stood by the buffet table watching everyone else having a good time Phenix felt the other glass bottle in his pocket and wondered if it was such a good idea after what had just happened with Jack. If Dumbledore found out he put a potion in someone else's drink he was bound to get in trouble this time. He was about to give up on the idea when he spotted Professor Snape berating a pair of students who had been snogging at the side of the room and they now both looked rather red faced and humiliated at being told off.
Once Snape had finished with the pair and they trudged off feeling rather sorry for themselves, the professor headed over to get a drink.
"I'll be right back," Phenix said to Jack and headed over towards Snape.
Snape had just poured himself a glass of punch and was looking around to see if there were any other students he needed to be having words with.
"Harper what are you doing?!" Snape shouted to a boy who was stood near him at the table and was holding a glass of drink that he had used a spell on to make bubbles rise from it in heart shapes to impress his date who was stood next to him.
The boy almost dropped his drink as he turned around and saw the professor's furious face.
"Just having a bit of fun sir," the boy quickly replied sheepishly.
"This is a school not a playground. Other teachers may feel the need to allow festivities like this ball to go ahead, but if you ask me it's a distraction and a waste of time. Now start acting your age or you'll be in detention," Snape sneered at the boy.
"Yes sir," the boy replied embarrassedly before hastily moving off into the crowd with his date and his ego firmly dented.
The professor had momentarily put his own glass of punch down on the table as he gave a contemptuous glare to another pair of students on his other side who had been watching him and they too quickly scuppered, not wanting to be on the receiving end of his wrath.
As Phenix approached the professor while his back was turned he quickly removed the stopper from the bottle and poured the liquid into Snape's drink.
"What are you doing?" Snape sneered at Phenix.
"Just getting myself a drink," Phenix said, looking all innocent as he poured himself a glass of punch and Snape snatched his drink from the table and headed off, with students moving out his way as he went.
Phenix wasn't sure how long the potion would take to work but he thought it couldn't be quick enough. The professor seriously needed putting in a good mood.
Phenix went back to Jack and was glad to see some of their other Hufflepuff friends talking to him. The magical instruments had now been replaced by a band called The Siren Sisters, who were performing more upbeat songs that everyone was dancing along to energetically.
"Come on let's all go dance," Amelia suggested now Phenix had joined them.
"I'm not sure if I want to get back on that dancefloor after last time," Jack said, remembering the scrabble he had caused.
"I'm sure it will be fine now," Amelia said with a wink to Phenix and the whole group headed over to join some of their other friends on the dancefloor.
As Phenix started to dance he noticed Scott and Zain laughing.
"What's so funny?" Phenix asked, having to shout a little over the music.
"Can you keep a secret?" Scott shouted back and Phenix nodded.
"I put some of the Elixir of Euphoria in Snape's drink," Scott shouted into Phenix's ear. "That should hopefully cheer him up."
Phenix suddenly went white. "You put some in there as well? So did I!" he said sounding worried but Scott and Zain just laughed.
"You guys both put it in his drink?" Gus asked in surprise, having overheard the pair talking. "I put mine in his drink too."
The boys all looked over to Snape who seemed to have a beaming smile on his face and was now strutting over to the dancefloor with a spring in his step. He pulled up the sleeves on his robes as he pushed his way to the centre of the dancefloor amongst all the students and then his legs began to move erratically as he threw his hands up in the air wildly. No one had ever seen dancing like it.
Most of the students were at first surprised to see Snape of all people on the dancefloor. But then some students started cheering the professor on as Snape's dance moves became more energetic and crazier. Now a circle had formed around the professor as he laughed and danced, not even in rhythm with the music, but he didn't even care. He was having the time of his life as the students cheered him on.
As Snape continued to entertain the crowd, Phenix slipped away from the dancefloor, glad that his second attempt at using a potion on someone had been a little more successful, even if most of the teachers were looking on suspiciously at Snape's behaviour. But Dumbledore didn't seem to mind and even got up briefly and joined in the dancing with Snape, much to everyone's delight.
Phenix was feeling rather hot after his dancing and the loud music was starting to give him a headache so he decided to head outside for some fresh air. As he walked through the corridor he saw Charlie heading back from the bathroom.
"Hey, you having a good night?" Charlie asked and Phenix thought he looked rather dashing in his black dress robes.
"Yeah it's actually been fun. How about you? How's your date?" Phenix asked, not actually bothered how Lana was doing but thought it polite to ask.
"Oh I didn't have a date for tonight. I decided to come alone with my friends," Charlie replied to Phenix's surprise.
"I thought you were going with Lana? My sister said you were," Phenix replied.
"No. Lana asked me and I said I'd think about it but in the end I decided it best not to go with her. I didn't want to give her the wrong idea and let her think I liked her as anything more than a friend."
"So you two aren't dating?" Phenix asked awkwardly as he tried to get to the bottom of Charlie's love life.
"No she's not really my type. She's a bit too superficial for my liking if you know what I mean," Charlie said and Phenix knew exactly what he meant. "What about you? Did you have a date?"
"No I didn't have one either," Phenix replied, feeling rather bashful.
"Were there no girls you wanted to ask then?" Charlie asked and the question took Phenix by surprise.
He'd never been secretive about his sexuality and though he'd never come out publicly to the whole school he just presumed that everyone knew he was gay. Did Charlie not know? Was now a good time to tell him?
"Erm… no not really," Phenix replied, not sure what to say and was about to tell Charlie more when someone shouted over to them.
"There you are Charlie," his friend Miles shouted as he peered out the door of the Great Hall. "You need to come see this. Snape is killing it on the dancefloor!"
"What?" Charlie replied sounding surprised. "I've got to see this. Are you coming?" he said turning back to Phenix.
"No I've already seen it," Phenix replied.
"Ok I'll see you later," Charlie said as he quickly headed over to his friend and they disappeared back into the hall.
Phenix felt a little confused. He was happy that Charlie and Lana weren't a thing but did Charlie really not know he was gay? His headache seemed to be getting worse as his brain whirled with thoughts. There had been so much going on that evening that his head felt like it was about to explode as he continued outside into the cold, crisp night and instantly felt refreshed.
It was a clear night out and the stars and the moon looked beautiful above. It almost seemed romantic but it was just a shame he had no one to share it with.
After standing outside for a while Phenix began to finally feel the cold and was about to head back in when he saw a figure emerging from the castle. When he finally saw who it was he thought about hiding but knew the person most likely had spotted him already. It was Kyle Gray.
"Well, well, look who it is. Having a party all by yourself outside?" Kyle taunted as he approached Kyle.
"Just getting some fresh air but I'm heading back now," Phenix replied and tried to duck past but Kyle put an arm out to stop him.
"What's the rush Moon? Need to get back to your non-existent date?" Kyle quipped with a snort of laughter.
"I don't know what my sister sees in you. She's obviously so fooled by your good looks that she hasn't spotted your lack of personality," Phenix snapped back, suddenly feeling brave.
"You think I'm good looking do you?" Kyle asked with a smirk and the remark took Phenix aback.
"Er…," was all Phenix managed to mumble when once again he tried to move past Kyle, who this time grabbed Phenix by the shoulder and pulled him back.
Phenix turned around to face Kyle, their eyes meeting with Kyle still holding on to Phenix's shoulder and not letting him go. Phenix was about to push Kyle's arm off him when suddenly Kyle leaned in towards him. Before Phenix knew what was happening, Kyle's lips were pressed tightly against his. They felt soft against his as Kyle continued to kiss him and then as quickly as it had begun, it was over and Kyle had stepped back, looking almost as shocked as Phenix did as the pair stood there in silence.
Phenix had no words. He had no idea what had just happened. Before he could even think of a sentence to string together Kyle had fled without a word back to the castle and Phenix was left standing their alone and confused. That was not how he thought the evening would go.