Chapter 8 – Dancing Queen
The Doctor took the Master by the hand, and for a moment, just a moment, it stayed that way. And then the Master snatched his hand away and they continued without saying a word, as if nothing had ever happened. Martha was dancing with the man she had been with before.
/Who is he?/ asked the Doctor. /You being Mr. Smarty Pants and all that/
/He's one of Karkaroff's students/
/Part of your plan?/
/No/
/I'm simply trying to start a conversation here/
/I know/ said the Master smugly. /And you're failing/
"Martha?" called the Doctor, and Martha lifted her head from the man's shoulder.
"Doctor," she said with a smile, and led the man off the dance floor. She pointedly ignored the Master. "This is Viktor Krum."
"It is good to meet you, Mr.…"
"Doctor," said the Doctor. "Just Doctor."
"Ok, Mr. Doctor. And you?" Krum asked, looking at the Master, who just glared at him.
"Lord Saxon," he said. The Doctor rolled his eyes in despair.
"Ah," said Krum. "Professor Karkaroff has mentioned you maybe once. You are Lord of where?" The Master glared at him again, and the Doctor saw Krum reach for his wand.
/Stop/ he said to the Master. The music changed from the fast song that had just been playing to a slow one, and the Doctor took a chance.
"May I have this dance?" he asked. The Master was going to say no, he really was, but something stopped him. He paused.
"You may," he replied, and amazingly he wasn't even frowning. Martha shrugged.
"Another dance?" she asked Krum, who nodded, and let himself be led away by the older woman.
/He's really fallen for her/ said the Doctor, watching.
/He's a bit young for her/
/True… but she's happy. Isn't that enough?/
/I don't know. Is it? Is it enough just to be happy?/
/You're not happy. You've never been happy. You wouldn't know, Master, what it's like, how fulfilling it is, just to be happy/
/Shut up and dance/ The Doctor placed his hands on the Master's waist and they began to sway in time to the music.
/As you wish, Master… Although, I didn't really think that dancing was your thing?/
/Neither did I/ The Doctor could see, over the Master's shoulder, Martha and Krum dancing, Martha leading.
/She's really something, that girl/
/Are you in love with her?/ It was a blunt question, even by the Master's standards.
/No I'm not/ the Doctor shot back. /Whatever makes you come to that conclusion?/ The Master thought for a moment.
/Nothing/ he admitted.
/You're just jealous/ teased the Doctor. /You want more of my attention/
/Why would I want more of your attention? You're in my head twenty four seven!/ They danced some more, and the Master laid his head on the Doctor's shoulder. The Doctor didn't comment; the moment was too good to spoil. Over the top of the Master's head he could see Harry and Ron swaying, dancing the same way as he was with the Master. With his Koschei.
/Don't call me Koschei/ But he didn't sound angry, just slightly annoyed, which was progress in itself. The Doctor laughed out loud and, after a moment's pause, the Master joined in. They stumbled across the dance floor and over to the tables, arms round each other, still laughing.
/What are we laughing about?/ giggled the Master, as the Doctor collapsed into a chair.
/I don't know/ laughed the Doctor as the Master collapsed down onto his lap.
/Doctor?/ said the Master, suddenly serious.
/Yes?/
/I do believe that I am happy…/ They both burst out into hysterical giggles again.
They sat, and laughed, and chatted about mundane things, like Earth sport and the like. The Doctor explained the rules of cricket.
/It's really quite simple. Someone throws a ball at you and you hit it as hard and far as you can with a large wooden stick/ The Master looked completely confused.
/And that's supposed to be fun?/ And then just to get into the spirit of things, he explained quidditch. /Four balls, two teams of seven players and all played on broomsticks…/ he began. He finished with /and the game ends when the snitch is caught/ And then he burst out laughing at the Doctor's expression of utter confusion.
/You're pulling my leg/ said the Doctor. /They can't really fly. They're human! Human, in the nineties!/
/You forget, Doctor, that they're magical/
/Ah yes. That/ The Doctor picked up one of the menus on the table. It had changed from main course to deserts and drinks. /Do you want anything?/
/Yeah, go on, I'll have a desert/ The Doctor showed him the menu.
/What would you like?/
/Hmmm… I'm pretty hungry. I think I'll have the sticky toffee pudding/
/If you're sure…/ The Doctor thought about the way that the Master hadn't eaten his soup.
"Sticky toffee pudding. And… chocolate tart," he said. The dishes appeared in front of him.
/Do you want your own seat?/ he asked the Master, who was still perched on his knee.
/I'm perfectly comfortable here, thank you very much/ They ate, rather awkwardly because the Doctor persistently elbowed the Master in the face, but eventually the Doctor had finished his tart, and was eyeing up the Master's pudding.
/Are you going to eat that ?/ The Master was prodding it with his fork.
/No. I don't know. I feel hungry, but I just can't eat/
/Can I have it then?/
/You really are insensitive, Doctor/ But he let him have it anyway.
There were less people dancing now, and more people just sitting and talking. The music was slower now, more sentimental, and the couples that were still dancing were just that: couples. Harry and Ron had given up already and were sitting at a table with Hermione and Ginny, but Neville and the dark haired girl were still dancing.
/Kiss me/
/What?/ The Doctor was shocked. He had never expected this, hadn't even let himself hope for it.
/Go on Doctor, make a scene, cause a stir. Do something worth doing, not because it's right, not because it's noble, but because it's fun/
/Are you… are you serious?/
/Of course/ This time it was the Master who took the Doctor's hand, and he led him away from the tables and into the middle of the still dancing couples. The Doctor's face was flushed red.
/Are you- I mean… What are we-/
/Shhh…/ said the Master, placing his hands on the Doctor's hips. /Now shut up and let me kiss you/ He brushed his lips over the Doctor's, who shivered. /You like that?/ He pushed the kiss further. /Be daring, Doctor. Do something that you want to, for a change/
They stood silently, watching each other. They could hear the sounds of the ball, the music and talking, as if through a thick pane of glass, or as if they were underwater. Everything was muffled, and the world spun around them as they stood still.
/Master…/
/Shhh… You liked that, didn't you/ It was a statement, not a question.
/I… yeah… I mean…/
/Good/ The Master looked him right in the eye, his hands still holding the Doctor's waist. /Because I certainly did/ There wasn't much else to say after that. Oh, sure the Doctor could have analyzed it, but that would have spoiled it, so he left it be. It was something to talk about another day. The Master slipped his hand into the Doctor's. /Come on, let's go outside/ He led the Doctor away from the dancing and out of the large doors. Outside, the moon shone brightly, and there was a faint scattering of stars across the pitch black sky. The paths were lined with rose bushes filled with- the Doctor looked closer- live fairies sitting on the branches.
/Fairy lights- literally/ he said. They explored further, until they came to what looked like a grotto. At the entrance, Harry and Ron were crouched behind a rose bush.
"Shhh," said Harry, turning to face them. They crouched behind the boys and looked around.
"What are we doing?" asked the Doctor.
"Listening to Hagrid and Madam Maxime," Harry answered. Ron shoved him, and they both went back to listening.
"Another half-giant, o' course!" they heard the large man say.
"'Ow dare you!" shrieked the woman, who was even larger than the man. Both of them seemed too big to be real. "I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf giant? Moi? I 'ave – I 'ave big bones!" She stormed away. Ron stood up.
"Come on, let's go," he said to the Time Lords.
"What's wrong? What was that all about?" the Doctor asked him, and Ron looked at Harry. There was a pause, and the Doctor heard:
/Giants… Harry/
/What?... Problem?/ He attempted to tune them out. Ron turned back to the Doctor.
"He's a giant. You wouldn't understand, muggles don't, but if that ever got out to the governors, well, he wouldn't be allowed to stay here anymore, like Lupin last year." He looked worried.
"Let's just hope no one else heard," said Harry.
They wandered around the garden, following windy paths this way and that, just the two of them. The Doctor swung his hand by his side, brushing the Master's, who pulled it away as if it had been branded by a hot iron, but then moved it back and clasped the Doctor's. They walked like that for a while longer, until they found themselves back at the great entrance doors. They entered, and found that most people were leaving now.
/What time is it?/ asked the Doctor, yawning.
/Not sure. Early morning, I guess/
/Wanna go back to the TARDIS?/
/Only if you don't fly off somewhere. I have unfinished business here/
/No fear. I'm too curious, and we can't leave these people to the mercy of the Daleks/
"Excuse me?" The Master turned. "Lord Saxon?"
"Yes?" he said to Karkaroff, who had snuck up behind them.
"I was wondering, just when will stage two begin?" The Doctor pricked up his ears.
"When stage one wasn't completed correctly?"asked the Master coldly. "It seems never."
"Wasn't completed… correctly," Karkaroff repeated, his face going pale. "I… I don't think I quite understand."
"What did you do with Mad-Eye?"
"Kidnapped him, Lord. He is in my ship on the lake if you wish to see."
"Then how is he teaching classes? Where is my replacement Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher?"
"I don't know, Lord."
"I don't know, Lord," mocked the Master. Then he turned to the Doctor.
/Davros isn't supposed to be here. It isn't my fault/
/Of course not/ replied the Doctor. /But it is your problem/ The Master glared at him.
"We'll have to do without Mr. Lotjenon," he said to Karkaroff. "Stage two will be implemented as soon as the last contestant finishes the second task. Be ready."
"Ready and waiting," said Karkaroff, and then he scurried off.
/I'm even more curious now/ said the Doctor. The Master smirked.
/I don't blame you, I would be if I was in your position. Now, are we going back to the TARDIS?/
/That we are/ And off they went.