The time for the Great Yule Ball of Hogwarts finally was officially here. While younger students could enjoy a full evening and night free, last year students had gotten themselves ready for their first ball.
The ballroom was filled with students and their dates with the boys wearing nice suits and the girls having chosen different lavishing gowns. Some even wore something more traditional to them, honouring their roots and giving this night a chance for diversity.
Albus waited close to the doors, at his right was one of the stable staircases. He wore a nice suit and he had a bright red bowtie with a matching handkerchief that was in his bread pocket.
His good friend Elphias Doge was standing by his side with no date. He had attended on his own and for that, chose a simple suit with a black bowtie. He didn't truly mind and he simply came for his teachers pressured him too.
Plus, Albus did reassure him that maybe he would also find someone to dance with. If not, he knew that Roxanne would gladly share a dance or two with him as friends, having taken a friendly liking to him since the first day they had met at Hogwarts.
Elphias did enjoy her company as well, along with her tutoring lessons on Potions but sometimes he was a little tired of her bright aura and energy that she seemed to carry around. He accepted her, though, for whom she was and he would not lie but there had been times her presence made things better.
The two of them waited and it was Elphias that spotted her first. With a smirk on his face, he motioned with his head so Albus could turn his attention to the stairway.
What he saw next, caught his breath before it even left his throat and he gawked at her a little more than he intended, similarly to a fish trying to breathe out of water. Even Elphias did not expect such a reaction but it was clear by now, that his dear friend was not fully honest about how he saw Roxanne; at least not when he had been asked about their relationship.
If he was being honest back then, Elphias knew that Albus would change his words after that Ball. He would be a fool and a big liar if he didn't, because currently he was exposing himself to everyone; most likely to her as well.
Roxanne walked the steps down carefully, one hand on the railing for support. Her bright red dress made her stand out and at that moment, Albus thought she looked radiant in that colour. She did wear shades of red sometimes that specific deep red was just the perfect hue, he could feel it and even enjoy seeing it on her without getting tired.
Her hair was braided and it wrapped around her head, leading to an elegant bun; decorated with red and white flowers. Her lips had a lighter shade of red and there was the faintest of makeup on her skin; something she never did. All a proof that she had given her best self to be presentable and her hard work was not going unnoticed by either the other students but also Albus himself.
She smiled upon seeing him waiting for her at the end of the stairs and she continued descending, her cheeks ever so faintly blushing from the way he was looking at her; feeling self-conscious. She then remembered what Gellert had told her and with new confidence, she lifted her chin and kept climbing down the steps.
Albus met her by the end and he extended his hand to her, letting him help her take the last step safely. She gratefully took his offer, her hand cupping his so perfectly as they were made to complete one another.
"You look...absolutely radiant, Roxie" Albus said, using the Nickname that only he ever did.
The way his blue eyes looked at her and that sweet charming smile he possessed, made her feel her heart flatter as they continued to stand outside the ballroom, for a moment forgetting where they were or the other Gryffindor boy standing not that far away.
"You look exquisite as well, Albus" she complimented back, gracing him with one of her usual smiles.
"Come, let us join the others," he said with new pride and guided her towards the ballroom, their hands not once separating.
The ballroom had been decorated with flowers and festive decorations, offering a bright and joyful mood to anyone entering it.
There were tables and chairs for those wishing to sit down but the majority were drinking butterbeer or were busy dancing. A few did take the risk to sneak out, wishing to be a little more time alone; now that they had the chance.
Music was played by elves and even the teachers dressed formally while supervising the room. Yet, their guards had been dropped and their usual stern looks were gone; getting carried away by the festive mood existing all around them.
Albus and Roxanne danced from the moment they entered, drawing the eye of many with their matching outfits and energy that they shared; being almost impossible not to steal the spotlight.
Roxanne danced with newfound confidence and grace, letting Albus lead her just like how Gellert did. Gratefully she felt like flying as she moved across the dance floor and she started to forget everyone around her, the world a quiet blur that didn't matter at all.
Her attention was only on the smiling Albus in front of her and on his hand that was resting on her waist. His grip was careful and gentle, even when he lifted her up and twirled them. His whole body gave the feeling of trust and she trusted that man with her eyes closed; with her own life even.
Her smile even turned to faint giggles, the music carrying them away as they danced. In those few hours, it was just the two of them and no one else.
At that moment, they didn't feel like two friends dancing with one another; they felt as if they were more. Truly noticing how comfortable they were with one another, how much trust they had between them and how complementary they were for one another.
Eventually, the butterbeer and the mood started to carry them away. The boldest of the two, ironically or not being Albus; grabbed a chance that everyone was busy to gently hold her hand and lead her sneakily out of the ballroom.
Elphias, either way, had found a girl that her date got sick and was busy dancing with her; in a simple mutual agreement. And since he was busy and quite happy, they didn't mind getting some more private time of their own; now that they were still confident with their new plans in their minds.
He guided her out of the room, passing by students that left or stayed outside; even some roaming in secret as they did. Roxanne giggled, letting him guide her although she was not sure where they were going.
Eventually, he pulled her beneath a more isolated staircase and gently pushed her so they were out of sight. She giggled at the small adventure and she quickly found her back pressed against the wall, their hands still interconnected.
She gently pulled his arm, bringing him closer to her as she lifted her head faintly to look at him. Once they were close enough, she took a moment to memorize every detail of his beautiful face, her smile never disappearing as her heart started to beat faster and faster.
Their gazes met and for a moment, his blue eyes for a moment glanced down at her lips; different thoughts passed through his mind.
Drunk by the adrenaline of the moment, Roxanne did something she would have never expected. She grabbed his suit and pulled him towards her, placing her lips on his. The very next second she had closed her eyes, she started to think that she did a wrong move but all disappeared when he returned the action.
His lips moved to deepen the kiss, being forever gentle and sweet in their every move. She gladly welcomed them as she leaned slightly more back, pulling him along and forcing him to place a hand against the wall for support.
Her heart was caught up in her throat, flattering there as each second her mind was consumed by emotions that suddenly flared up, like a fire that had been held timid for far too long. She wanted more and she found the courage to ask for it by tilting her head more to the side.
He complied, his head going in the opposite direction as he gave in to desires he sometimes tried to ignore because of how close he and Roxanne had been all those years.
But at that moment, she was the one asking him to take the next step and it was then he knew, that she also, most likely, wanted more. He purged his mind of any thoughts and focused on the sweet sensation of their kiss, his other hand cupping the base of her jaw as he pushed her head and body more against the wall.
Yet, unlike Gellert, he was always careful and gentle. He let her say what she wished and what she wanted, take the lead and he would follow. Each move was caring and soft, careful not to harm her by losing control.
His kiss was sweet and addicting, taking his time to enjoy each moment and cherish everything they shared. It had sweet passion behind it that was burning steadily, not once getting out of control.
And the rest of the dance was spent like that. With sweet kisses and later embraces, smiles and jokes the two of them took separate ways only when he dropped her in front of her common room.
They never took the step past the point of no return, taking their time to make sure this was what they wanted and when Roxanne truly was ready for it.
Albus would never push her to do something she did not want to and he would always, patiently wait for her.