Aquila's heart fluttered as Oliver led her across the floor of the Great Hall, which looked more like a ballroom now than anything else. She had never seen him like this. He was looking his absolute best, and she thought her heart would melt away. To call him a heart throb was an understatement. He was more like a handsome Scottish Prince from a fairy-tale. Professors came up to greet the pair of them, expressing their surprise at seeing Oliver there. Oliver didn't shy away from telling them that he was her significant other. Aquila was surprised by their shock. But she supposed the romantic tristes of students was of little note to the professors. She found herself blushing with pride. She was very glad he was there. She felt he made her look good. She was only a year out of Hogwarts, and she already had an important job, an apartment, and a successful professional Quidditch player for a boyfriend. And he was the most handsome boy at the ball, by far. He was older, that was true enough, but he had put himself together the best. He was an exotic Scotsman. She supposed she was dressed like a lady ought to be, which was always slightly over the top. She would inherit a title one day, and she had to do her grandmother proud. Lord knew word would get back to the woman somehow. She had to be the picture of elegance. But she knew a stellar report of Oliver would be making its way back to her.
McGonogall was particularly delighted to see him. She congratulated him heartily on his placement in Puddlemere United. She said no student deserved it more, for his exceptional hard work. Aquila could see that that touched Oliver deeply. He was very choked up when he thanked her. She congratulated them both, but Aquila wasn't sure for what. Maybe their old head of house was just happy to see them together. She supposed it was always lovely to see two people that she liked ending up together. Oliver and Aquila moved about the ball expertly talking to all their old friends who had come to the Ball. There were Valentine cousins from both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons present, and they presented themselves to Aquila with more respect than she had ever received from a family member. The girl from Beauxbatons even curtsied. News of her inheritance had gotten out then. She felt delightfully smug. It didn't take long form Fred and Angelina to find them. Angelina threw her arms around Aquila unceremoniously. Aquila thought it was one of the best greeting she could have gotten from any friend. It was nice to know that she hadn't intimidated them all out of being her true friends.
"You look gorgeous! You look like a princess! Oliver you look like a princess too." Angelina joked, having finished gushing at Aquila. Oliver never usually joked out in the open, but he delicately plucked up the edges of his kilt and curtsied better than any highborn lady. Aquila laughed along with the rest of them.
"See you're in good spirits, Oliver. Getting a nice breeze under there?" Fred said, pretending to duck down as if to peek up his kilt. Oliver just glared at him, his rare public good humour evaporating.
"Wouldn't you love to know?" Aquila put a hand on his back, and smirked.
"Well I'm glad to see you too are enjoying the ball together." Her own tones were sarcastic, to match Fred Weasley. She watched him squirm uncomfortably.
"It's bloody marvellous, isn't it?" Angelina wasn't the least abashed, which made Aquila happy. Since getting to know Angelina, she had admired her greatly. Come to love her like a younger sister, nearly.
"So we saw Cedric with Cho Chang earlier when the champions had their first dance. What's up with that?" Angelina asked, the tones of gossip coming out in her.
"Please, Angelina. Cedric and Daisy were going to fall apart eventually. It was only a matter of time. She likes somebody else. And Cedric…" Aquila glanced at Oliver briefly. He frowned at her for a second, not quite understanding. "Well… I don't think he'd quite found what he was looking for." Fred and Angelina gaped at her, disbelieving, but said no more on the topic following a stern from her.
"Well… Uh. If you excuse us, we have some punch to drink, and people to prank…" Angelina scolded Fred as he dragged her away, and Aquila grinned after them, a giggle escaping them.
"What was that other thing about Cedric? When you said he hadn't found what he was looking for?" He had those big eyes he got when he didn't quite understand something. Oliver had never been the best at reading social ques. Particularly when it came to the matters of attraction.
"Dance with me." she said, as a new song started to play. They were still playing the traditional waltzes. Oliver had his gentle smile for her, as he took her hand and guided her out to dance. Most people were too shy to take to the dance floor. Oliver took her waist and hand like an expert, and led her in a perfect waltz. Aquila could see people gawping, and hear them chatter about them. But her attention was solely on Oliver. He was smiling gently and staring up into her eyes. As they twirled expertly around the floor together, she thought how best to address the Cedric situation.
"About Cedric…" Oliver took her by surprise, when he placed both hands on her waist, and lifted her, to twirl her once in the air, as was part of this dance. She gasped when her feet were on the floor again. "Since when were you such a good dancer?"
"I live with a future Duchess. You think I wouldn't learn how to dance? Thought it might come in handy." He smirked at her, and she was reminded all over again how devilishly handsome he was. The first time she'd realised it was when they had all come back to their fifth year after what seemed like an impossibly long summer. He had gotten taller, been named Quidditch captain, and he she even caught him smiling every now and then. That was the first time he had made her heart leap, but she hadn't paid attention to it. She hadn't understood it. She felt sympathy for Cedric then, and was reminded of what she was trying to explain to him.
"Cedric doesn't just like girls. At least, that's what I suspect. And… sweetheart. I think he quite likes you." Aquila held her breath, wondering about how he would react, and what the ramifications would be within their relationship from it. If he reacted badly, then she would be incredibly disappointed. Oliver never missed a beat, and their dance continued on seamlessly.
"I had suspected, you know. He felt my arm up a lot. Never mentioned his girlfriend when he saw me. Was more sad that I was leaving Hogwarts than you, who he had worked closely with. He's a lovely boy, and I hope he finds someone who's right for him, but it just isn't me. I have the perfect person already." She stared up at him, a gentle toothy grin on her face.
"Well… That's that matter cleared up then, isn't it?" She had cause to gasp again when he pulled her close to him by the waist.
"There was no matter. Don't worry. You're much prettier than Diggory, and much smarter too. I'd never downgrade like that. I'm smart enough too." he said, his dry humour breaking out in his voice. She whacked his shoulder playfully, but they were all smiles. The dance, which seemed to have no end, ended at last. Gasping slightly for breath, the pair turned and clapped to the live orchestra that was there to serenade the Yule Ball.
"And I'd rather have Cedric fancy me than Percy and baby Malfoy. You're in a worse position, let's be real." He took her hand into his, before planting a quick kiss on her skin. "Both of whom, are staring at you, by the way." Aquila looked up to see Draco Malfoy staring wide-eyed, and sullenly across the room at her. In the opposite direction, Percy sat next to Penelope Clearwater scowling in Aquila's direction. She sighed.
"Thank goodness they won't end up fighting over me. They'd all lose to you. Every time." Oliver kissed her cheek. She saw that he had his own collection of admirers.
"I know." he said. "Because I'm your favourite." She leaned against him, and he put his arm around her shoulders, as they watched people dancing to the next song.