It was perhaps the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for her. Every one that she knew, now looked at her differently- all because she messed up one potential relationship. She didn't even see the reality in it. They were all so young, only fourteen or fifteen years old, why would anybody be so utterly head over heels about anyone? They were at the age of experience and having fun. It did not make any sense to her at why anybody would take anything serious.
As the last slow song was blaring, Lavender stood against the stone wall of the Great Hall, watching her date, Seamus Finnigan dance with another girl. He was Lavender's date, it was not right for him to be dancing with someone else, no matter how much he liked that other girl! Her blue eyes filled with tears, she knew that her reputation was ruined. She could still hear Seamus yelling at her, "You lied to me! You manipulated me and made me look like a bloody fool! I should have never, EVER believed you in the first place!"
Seamus was the first boy that Lavender ever fancied and apparently, she was not his first. It was a girl from Ravenclaw, a really pretty girl too. And she fancied him as well. When Lavender spread the rumor's that someone else had asked Miss. Pretty Pants to the Ball and she agreed to go, her wish came true. Seamus agreed to go with Lavender. Someone else inevitably ended up taking his crush and she hoped and dreamed that Seamus would forget about her- but that did not happen once the trust was spread.
And he appeared so happy and so in love. They were too young to fall in love! As Lavender stood against the cold wall, she felt a tapping on her shoulder. Behind her stood Dean Thomas, with a sad smile on his face. "You know, when Seamus told me he asked you to go instead of her, I was flabbergasted. I knew that something wasn't right, because all he ever did was talk about her. In fact, I was hurt because he knew that I fancied you."
Lavender stopped crying as she watched the slowly dancing reflection in Dean's dark eyes. He appeared sad and confused. "I didn't understand the concept of it, until tonight," he went onto say. Dean shook his head and turned to face Lavender. With a small smile on his face, he pulled out his wand and whispered a spell that she could not hear over the music. Romantically, he conjured a handkerchief from the end of his wand and handed it to her, "Even when you are crying, you are still beautiful," he muttered to her. Lavender blushed. Nobody had ever spoke to her like this before. And it confused her; she had no absolute clue that Dean fancied her. She had never thought about it- he was always talking with Seamus and Neville, never anybody else.
"Thank you," she whispered, giving him a sweet smile. "I feel like I messed everything up, and you aren't mad at me?" she questioned. She figured out of all people to be mad at her, other than Seamus, would be Seamus's best mate. But obviously not.
Dean shook his head, "How could I?" he questioned, letting out a deep breath, "I'm mad at Seamus if anything. He was angry when I brought it up to him, saying that you liked him anyway and not me. But I've learned that you can't stay mad at your best mate for too long. I had to forgive at some point."
Lavender nodded at Dean, rethinking everything in her mind. She could not help but notice that he looked extremely cute in his striped robes. They sure were different from the typical style that everyone was wearing, besides Ron's of course. But they fit Dean and looked great on him. Dean and Lavender stood quietly for a few moments, leaving the wanted spoken thoughts behind. And suddenly, Dean piped up, "Err, would you care for a dance?" he asked her.
Lavender stood staring at him for a moment, wondering if it would be best as Seamus was standing a mere few meters away, but after contemplating it, she nodded. "Yes, yes, I would love to." She grinned as Dean nodded and took her arm, leading her on the dance floor, away from Seamus and his new dance partner. Dean placed his left arm on Lavender's waist and took her right hand in his left, and slowly they began dancing away. With Dean, the dancing came as if it were natural as opposed to when she was with Seamus, which was awkward and clumsy. It was as if they knew what was coming next, they were in sync together. Lavender smiled as the song neared an end and her and Dean separated from each other.
For a few moments, they stared into each other's eyes. And then, before she knew it Dean leaned in and kissed her. Lavender kissed back with all she had. It was romantic, spontaneous, and charming, What more could she ask for? When the pulled away, everyone was beginning to empty out of the Great Hall, but Lavender and Dean stood facing each other, grinning.
"That was-" Dean began to say before Lavender cut him off, "amazing," she finished. And it was the honest truth. She was grateful that Dean made the move and made her feel respected and wanted. Not only was her very first boyfriend, but he was her first kiss and her start onto more, unexpected things. There would never be a moment that she forgot the tall boy that wore the unique striped robes to the Yule Ball and made her feel special.