CHAPTER 18: DANCING WITH HIM
Oliver's now deep blue eyes scanned the hall for a hint of the vibrant blonde hair of the pianist. He spotted the unique blue of her dress and moved to go speak with her.
By the time he had moved to rise from his seat, the captivating girl was surrounded by guys. Her companion was in the same predicament, the Keeper noted. Something in the back of his mind told him that he knew the pair quite well, but Oliver couldn't place the unfamiliar faces. He questioned himself to think of who didn't have blonde hair. But there were far too many girls at Hogwarts to figure this beauty's identity without more information.
Oliver was pulled out of his reverie by a caramel-smooth voice.
"Do you mind if we join you?" the kind blonde asked him. "We're a little tired and would like a place to rest."
Oliver was stunned silent and was only able to respond with a mere nod towards the blonde who occupied his thoughts and the brunette beside her.
The twins and Oliver had made sure to know what each of them looked like with their masks on so it would be easier to get through the dreadful night. The three had sat down at a table to enjoy dinner. Not the dancing kind of guys, the three remained seated as the two student musicians performed.
George had noticed a lovely lady in green, and stood up when he saw the unknown beauties begin to approach.
Contrary to popular belief, George was not as oblivious as he seemed to be. He had recognized the fact that his own friends had not been able to move since their eyes had landed on the talented girls. George gave his brother and good friend an opportunity to talk to the masked musicians. He left to take a chance on the brunette in green he had spotted earlier.
"Excuse me," the girl dressed in green spoke first, "but would you care to join me for a dance?"
"Yes, I was just about to ask you the same thing." George grinned, he had always liked a girl who was forward and blunt.
Fred's attention was captured by the violinist sitting beside him. His plan to find Ella that night forgotten, he focused entirely on the blue-eyed brunette. Her ocean tinted orbs studied him intently before she flashed a heart-wrenching smile in his direction.
Her attention was captured by her friend, the promise of a whispered secret. The unknown words were apparently disappointing as the dazzling smile fell from her lovely features.
Two guys then approached the pair of mysterious beauties.
"We were wondering if you would settle a bet for us." the black-haired boy spoke first, addressing the brunette sitting beside Fred.
"Oh, what is it that must be settled?" her voice was silky-smooth and just as musical as he had expected.
"Who here would get your first dance of course, babe." the blonde's voice had cracked a few times, revealing his age of at the most fourteen.
"What? Do you believe it would honestly be one of you narcissistic jerks?" Fred's hopes in having her first dance soared through the enchanted roof as the gorgeous blue eyes flickered to his own.
"Well, then who's it gonna be? This gawking idiot?" the dark-haired boy stated, gesturing to the only Weasley still sitting at the table.
"Could be," the hint of hope in her voice, though unnoticed by the unwelcome new-comers, didn't surpass Fred's ears. "Just know it won't be you self-assured gits."
The two shrimp-y guys stalked away at these words, sending death glares in Fred's direction and muttering under their breath. This gave Fred the perfect chance.
"Well, my lady," Fred stood and bowed before the brunette in red and black. "Would you kindly grant me the honor of the first dance of the evening?"
"Why, of course, good sir," she rose as well, curtseying in return. "But the honor will be all mine."
With those few words exchanged between the two, they began to expertly waltz to 'HIM' song now playing. Despite the fast pace and strange looks, their steps never faltered, nor did their expressions.
Oliver chuckled at his friend's antics and watched the pair get acquainted. The strangely matching couple happened to pass directly in front of George Weasley and his capture in green. A soft laugh beside him caught his attention, dragging him back to his nearly empty table.
"Are you going to finish that?" the blonde pointed to the half-eaten brownie before Oliver.
"No, I don't think so." he passed it over and was surprised by the fact that she wanted it. Most girls he knew, except for Analese and Ella, would take one bite of an apple and be full.
"I'm sorry, you probably think that I'm some pig or something." the honey-sweet voice of the pianist seemed too lovely to be real. "My roommates tell me that my love of food will come back to haunt me. I really should eat less junk food."
"No, you shouldn't." At her questioning gaze, Oliver continued. "I mean, some guys like a girl with a hearty appetite."
"Well," she slipped the chocolate morsel into her mouth and swallowed. "Are you one of those guys?"
"One of what guys?" Oliver had lost his train of thought.
"Do you like a girl with a, as you put it," she chuckled, "'hearty appetite'?"
"Well, er, yes. I do. In fact, I would never consider a girl with a good idea of a meal, as you call it, a 'pig'. I would, in fact, ask her to dance, if she were up for it, of course." Oliver had no idea where this colossal amount of Gryffindor courage had come from. But he sure-as-hell wasn't going to waste this opportunity finding out.
"Rather blunt, there, aren't you, Mr. Charming?" the blonde sent a casual and all-too-familiar smirk his way.
"Mr. Charming?" Oliver asked, bemused, a slight grin crossing his lips.
"As is, Prince Charming." she clarified with a wink of her amazing sapphire eyes.
"Well then," he stood up and extended a hand. "I guess that makes you Cinderella."
The blonde smiled slightly. "I suppose, but doesn't that entail a pair of rather insensible glass slippers?"
"Hopefully, you, unlike the fairy tale, won't make me try a shoe on every girl at Hogwarts." Oliver's hand didn't drop.
"Am I not worth it, Mr. Charming?" the fair-haired beauty feigned an expression of disappointment quite well.
"No, but, I, myself, am willing to pretend you are until we get to know one another." His hand remained offered to the blonde musician.
"Then, perhaps I shall pretend you are worthy of my time." she grasped Oliver's hand gently and stood as well. Both Oliver and his mysterious Cinderella knew that entire conversation had been playful teasing, so neither took offense from the comments. The new dancing couple unintentionally maneuvered over to their previous companions.
Fred had been joking with his partner nonstop when they were interrupted by Malfoy and his trained gorillas.
"I'd like to cut in, if you don't mind." the black hair did nothing to fool either of the masked jokesters.
"Well, I do, so step off." Fred responded.
"What's one dance?" the brunette angel's voice whispered in his ear. "I promise, it won't be half as enjoyably funny as yours."
"Just one," Fred agreed reluctantly.
The soft skin of her hands left his neck. His own hands around her waist were more hesitant to be removed.
"I'll be back, good sir." one of his musical beauty's ocean eyes winked and his arms fell to his sides.
"I'll be waiting, my lady." His smirk was forced.
"Don't hold your breath." Malfoy muttered.
"Did you say something?" the brunette turned to her new dance partner.
"Just admiring your radiant beauty." He lied easily.
RED hadn't missed what Draco had said, but wasn't about to ruin her dance with the Slytherin who had captured her heart. She couldn't help but notice the stiffness in the position of the now dark-haired boy. RED now found herself comparing her two crushes.
She couldn't believe how much more she enjoyed Fred's company than Draco's. her musings were interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. RED realized that the band was taking a short break as she recognized the lead sing of 'HIM', Ville Valo.
Fred had walked up at that time, a small smile playing on his lips. He had recognized his dance partner as she laughed at his jokes. He had finally placed her after taking a moment to put the pieces together. Fred knew she had a once in a lifetime chance to speak to the lead singer of one of her favorite bands.
"Ah, there you are," Ville Valo turned to the approaching teenager.
"Big fan, Mr. Valo." Fred shook hands with the older man. "You are a wonderful musician."
"Well, I hope you don't mind, but this young lady owes me a dance." Valo gave a small grin.
"Of course not, in fact, I believe she should pay her debt as soon as possible." Fred sent a wink toward the masked girl. "Don't forget your promise, 'TERI'." he whispered in her ear. Her magicked blue eyes went wide before the sparkle of admiration returned.
The grown musician extended his hand to the violinist.
BLUE smiled at her friend, happy she was enjoying herself. The fast paced music gave her a reason to speak to her entirely familiar yet implacable dance partner.
"Are you parched, my sweet Cinderella?" he read her mind.
"Just a bit, my charming Prince, just a bit." she smiled. His elusive identity was quite distracting, but she had learned to ignore such things.
At the refreshments table, the pair were joined by a trio of girls in over-revealing dresses.
"Everything is so fattening." the Asian looking girl stated. "What can I get here that has no carbs, no sugar, and is fat free?" she asked no one in particular.
BLUE, unable to help herself, got a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, there's a few goblets of water over there." The blonde with a real appetite pointed down the table. Her charismatic counterpart chuckled as a guy with light brown hair walked up to her.
"I was wondering if our blonde masked musician would be interested in a new, not to mention better, escort?" the smooth talker just happened to rival Oliver in one other aspect, Quidditch. Roger Davies himself had 'graced' the fair-haired couple with his self-proclaimed high and mighty presence. The beautiful pianist, however, showed no interest.
She noticed Oliver's grip on her arm tighten, and she grinned. "It's just one dance." her honey-sweet voice whispered in his ear. "Besides, I'll return to my Prince Charming." the blonde winked, then reluctantly turned to Davies. "Not trying too hard to keep your identity secret, are you, Roger?"
Oliver's heart soared when he noticed the smile plastered on his Cinderella's lovely features was forced, unlike the one she wore while with him.
"Well, at least I know a girl with such vibrant beauty pays enough mind to notice me without the mask." his grin was cocky and self-assured, nothing like her mystery partner's.
The entire song was spent with Davies discussing himself while BLUE paid him no mind. She was lost in the musings of her preferred dancing companion's true identity.
As Davies spun her, the blonde musician's line of sight came to include her fellow Muse. She smiled as she watched RED enjoy another dance with the raven-haired guy from their table earlier that evening.
BLUE had never had to endure a chat with Davies this long before, but the few minutes were over sooner than she had expected.
"I quite enjoyed that, Roger." the girl lied through her teeth. "Well, I'll see you around."
Her handsome prince approached her once again and BLUE smiled. "That went quicker than I had anticipated." she commented as a new song started up.
"My sweet Cinderella," he extended a hand. "Shall we journey to the garden for a bit of quiet?"
"A splendid idea, Mr. Charming." BLUE gracefully accepted the proffered hand with a gentle smile that made her sapphire eyes sparkle with delight.
The garden was decorated beautifully for the occasion. It was a clear evening, a surprising change from the stormy clouds that had been hovering above the castle that morning. The half-moon gave off an other-worldly glow, sending shadows across the freshly fallen snow. Despite the bright light of the moon and the hall behind the couple, the stars were twinkling throughout the dark night sky. Hogwarts was the only place that this kind of night sky was visible with all the lights around them, Oliver had found.
"I've always loved winter." the pianist declared quietly, her eyes studying the frozen lake.
"My best mate likes this season as well," Oliver interjected. "I never can understand why exactly."
"Well, I can't say for your friend's reasons," she turned to him, "but I just love the snow. I know this sounds like some cheesy line from a book, but to me, snow and winter make everything seem new and fresh."
"How do you mean?" he was curious.
"Just some kind of silly little girl belief that a fresh layer of snow means a fresh start at life." her masked expression became on of nostalgia as she continued. "And when I was a little girl, a long time ago, my happiest memories of those times were during winter."
Oliver was amazed by how similar this girl and his best mate were. He was hypnotized by her intoxicating personality in just the small span of time he had known her, and he didn't want this night to ever end.
"It's getting a little chilly, perhaps we should go inside." Her melodic voice pulled him from his thoughts once again.
"Shall we?" he offered his arm to the honey-haired beauty.
"We shall." His Cinderella responded with the stunning smile that Oliver knew he had seen before.
