Author's Note: Photos of... certain outfits can be found on the AO3 copy of this chapter. Enjoy!
Monday December 19th, 1994
A team of four owls swooped into the Great Hall at breakfast carrying a small, ornate chest. People watched with curiosity as the owls landed at the Slytherin table in front of an eager pair of sixth-years.
"Is that it?" Rusalka whispered excitedly.
"It's gotta be," Melissa said, eyeing the gold-and-purple chest with interest. "Here, sweethearts, you four must be hungry after such a busy task."
"HOO!" cried the owls, and all descended eagerly upon a plate of sausages.
A small batch of madness and feathers erupted from the display. While others were distracted by the chaos, Melissa untied a roll of parchment that was attached on top of the chest.
Dear Melissa,
I'm delighted to hear from you, and with such a stupendous request, no less! Your devotion to my work is a pleasure, as always. In fact, I'm so taken by this grand request that I've enclosed a generous discount along with the order.
Be sure to tell your friends all about where you got these from!
With love,
Gilderoy Lockhart
The letter was signed with a flourishing signature and a spray of cologne. The scent, and his words, elicited a huff through her nose. Remus and Tonks did the work, not you. Still, the request came with a discount, so who was she to argue? Plus, more orders to Lockhart will lead to more money to the Lupins, at the end of the day, so all the better that she plays along.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Rusalka asked.
"Not here," Melissa answered. "We'll meet up with the others after breakfast. Lots of commotion from the people leaving on the Express will keep us obscured."
Rusalka nodded with a smile. "Good idea. Best we do this away from prying eyes."
Wednesday December 21st, 1994
Harry paced nervously at the bottom of Ravenclaw Tower, waiting for Cho to make her way down.
"You need to relax, Harry," said Wayne. "You're making the rest of us anxious."
Harry looked about the area, finding that several blokes were shifting nervously or with impatience as they waited, with several averting their gazes as he caught them.
"Right- sorry-" Harry ducked his head. He moved to stand beside Wayne. Then, after a few moments of silence, started fidgeting with his robes. "Do I look alright?"
"You look fine, mate," Wayne said without so much as a glance.
"You're not even looking!"
That got the boy to move. He gave Harry a once-over, gave a quiet expulsion of, "Ah," and then adjusted the collar of Harry's dress robes, "there, that's better. The sleekeazy's holding up. I'm surprised."
"It's an extra-strength variety," Harry explained. It actually came from his experiments with his grandfather's notes. Snape had even given it a seal of approval back in September, which is a lot coming from the dour potions master! Harry had relished in that praise for a whole week!
"Knowing your mop, I'm not surprised you need it," Wayne said with a laugh. Then a sight from over Harry's shoulder caught Wayne's eye. "Wow! Mandy, you look amazing!"
Harry turned to find Wayne's date, Mandy Brocklehurst, dressed in pale red dress robes. She flashed Wayne with a brilliant smile. "Thanks, Wayne. You're looking dapper, yourself."
"Only the best for you, my lady," Wayne gave her a cheeky bow. "Speaking of which," he revealed from his robes a corsage of pale red carnations, "this is for you, as a token of my admiration."
If she was happy before, Mandy was downright ecstatic now. "These are beautiful, Wayne! Thank you!"
"My pleasure!" Wayne helped her add the corsage to her wrist. Then, presenting his arm to her, he said, "Shall we go to the ball, my lady?"
"Yes, let's head over, good sir," she took his arm with playful gusto, and the two headed off (with Wayne giving Harry a wink as he walked away.)
It was at that moment that Harry began to spiral.
Should I have gotten Cho a corsage? Is that a tradition? Oh god, did I fuck up?! Did I bring the wrong thing?! Shit! Do I have time to get some flowers? She'll be here any minute!
"Harry?"
Fuck!
Harry stilled. Taking a deep breath, he turned around to face Cho. His eyes widened, taking in her stylized hair, makeup, and silver dress robes. The dress robes were decorated with pink and red flowers, and were styled in a modest but very elegant way that he found suited her well.
Come on, Harry, say something!
"You -er- look nice."
Look nice?! Wayne's words to Mandy suddenly repeated in his head, and he knew immediately that his own words had come up short.
Cho gave him a small smile, to his relief. "Thanks, Harry,"
"Oh! Uh-," he scrambled into the pocket of his dress robes, finding the box he was searching for, "here! I got you something!"
Cho took the box, and opened it to reveal a bracelet of precious stones. At the centre were three opals- with the largest nestled between the other two, and the rest of the bracelet was decorated with circles of red quartz.
"It matches your dress," he said simply. He gave her arm a glance, and sputtered on seeing her long, draping sleeves. "Though, uh, you don't have to wear it if you don't want to. You're probably already wearing something, or don't want one at all, so-"
"No," Cho said quickly, "I love it, and I'd love to wear it."
"Really?!"
"Mhmm," Cho gave him a happy nod. She took the bracelet out of the box and put the box away. "Can you help me put it on?"
"Sure!" Harry took the bracelet, and Cho presented a bare wrist to him. He struggled a little out of nervousness, but he's had experience with helping girls put on jewellery, so it didn't take as long as he feared. When he finished, Cho thanked him graciously, and then admired the stones on her wrist.
From the back of his mind, Wayne's words echoed, and Harry mustered up the courage to try some charm. "Alright, my lady, shall we go to the ball?"
Cho giggled, a sound musical to his ears, and said, "Yes, let's." She took his arm- making his face grow red- and the two headed down to the entrance hall.
They were a few minutes away from the doors opening into the ball. Harry had been busy talking with his fellow Champions and, to Harry's shock, Hermione- who was Viktor's date to the ball. She looked entirely different, with her hair smoothed and her person dressed to the nines for tonight's event. He was happy to see her own happiness, and congratulated both Hermione and Viktor on their new relationship. Their talks continued until voices fell all around him. He looked to find the source of everyone's silence, and the sight before him left him mute.
A pair of teens had entered from the Durmstrang contingent. Arm in arm with the wizard was a witch whose hair shimmered with an array of colours. Aqua green and teal, indigo and purple, all entwine within flowing streaks of pure white. Her dress robes, though mainly a dark royal blue, showcased these colours as well, with the hems of the dress shifting as an aurora borealis breezed with snow. Snowflakes also adorned the buttons of the dress robes, a pure brightness against the dark and colourful night. Whoever this girl was, she was a strange and wild sight, like some sort of frosty wood nymph came to life.
Voices whispered as the pair passed by. Yet they didn't stop to speak with anyone until they reached someplace beyond the crowd.
From the entrance came gasps of other onlookers, and Harry couldn't help but turn to seek out the latest commotion. Another couple had walked inside; and, at the sight of the witch, Harry's jaw dropped to the floor.
Bedecked in a flowing dress of red and black fire was one of the most beautiful witches Harry has ever seen! Her face was statuesque and fierce, with ice blue eyes that contrasted against fiery makeup. Her hair, too, was an array of colours, but in a fiery ombre from the deep purple coals to the blazing reds down to the enticing yellows. Even the way she moved seemed to invoke fire, the dress robes blazing and flickering as she walked with regal confidence.
If the former girl was a frosty wood nymph, this woman is a goddess of fire!
She, however, did not move quickly as the wood nymph did. She took her time, with a surety of every eye falling on her. Yet no attention was paid to the lowly peasants around them. Instead, she and her black-haired beau continued on at their leisure, making their way to the doors of the great hall.
"Who are they?" Cho asked, the first to break the silence of their circle.
"No idea," Harry murmured.
"Zey are friends of mine," Fleur said smugly.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Fleur. "Friends of yours?"
"Yes. Zey are gorgeous, are zey not?"
"I'll say!" Cedric blurted out. On hearing this, Fleur's eyes flickered through an odd mix of emotions, and Cedric started to sweat. "I mean, that trick with their hair is pretty incredible. That's all."
"Yes," Fleur seemed amused by his sputtering, "among other things."
Harry wasn't sure what Fleur meant by other things, and wanted to ask about it. However, before he could, he heard Professor McGonagall call out, "Champions, over here please!"
The six teens walked over to the professor, who succinctly informed them to wait by the doors until everyone else gets seated inside. After that, they will enter in a procession behind the professor. Fleur and Cedric opted to walk in first, as they made up half of the tournament. Harry offered the next spot to Viktor, stating the logic of him being an intended champion for the tournament (rather than the truth of Harry feeling nervous about the whole procession thing.)
The doors to the great hall opened, and soon all of the casual attendees made their way through the doors. He gave quick waves as his friends walked through. Hannah and Justin; Oliver and Megan; Draco and Lily; Kevin, Sally, Ron, and Dean -all four of whom had asked third or second years to the ball, to his surprise; this surprise continued when he saw Neville walk in with Ginny at his arm; meanwhile Parvati and her sister, Padma, were accompanied by boys from the other schools. Many of them waved back as they passed, but a near equal amount gaped upon seeing Hermione, with her new look, standing with Viktor.
More people passed through the doors until the entrance hall was nearly empty. The last to leave, however, were the colourful witches and their beaus. The fire witch walked through, first, her once-stoic face flashed a grin at Fleur- a look which Fleur gave in return. The second pair looked their way, as well; but not towards Fleur. No. The aurora witch gave a wink towards Harry, of all people, flicking back her wild hair and a fluorite earring, and casually called out, "See you inside, Houdini!" before passing through the doors completely.
The words jarred him at once with comprehension. MELODY?!
"HAHAHA! You should have seen Wystan's face!" Amy cackled. "He was gaping like a stunned troll!" She raised her hand, getting a high-five from a preening Rusalka. "This- was- genius!"
"Thank you, thank you," Melissa said teasingly.
Lev rolled his eyes with a smile. "Sooo humble."
"I am the epitome of humility!" she cried, hand to her heart.
Garrick gave a lazy smirk towards Astrid, "Says the girl who's dressed like a peacock made love with a firefox."
Astrid burst into giggles. "Herregud! En tulikettu, that's exactly what she looks like!"
"Yeah, but you love it," Melissa purred. She glanced across the room, catching a glare from across the room. "Ooo, Wystan's staring!"
Rusalka reacted at once, leaning closer to her date, Yaroslav, to speak softly and affectionately in words Melissa couldn't catch. Glancing back at the other table, she found Jacinth practically red with fury. Ha! Eat that, sucker!
The moment ended as the procession was announced. They all applauded as the Champions walked in. Melissa grinned and whistled as the group walked passed towards the head table. Soon after, everyone settled down and took a look at their menus.
"Ehh," a quiet voice from Rurik's date, Ornella, spoke up, "how do we choose our dinner?"
"I zink ve must tell ze elves," Rurik answered. He then put down his menu and looked expectantly. "I vill have goulash."
And, like that, a plate of goulash appeared.
The others all made their orders, and soon everyone was tucking in to their meals. Conversations were fun and lighthearted, and in no time at all the dinner seemed to fly to the finish. When all plates cleared, the Headmaster had everyone stand so that he could move the tables aside and summon a platform for the band.
"Vot?!" Lev gasped as the band entered the room. "Is zat ze Veerd Sisters?!"
"Yep!" Melissa said with a grin.
"What?" Then Amy gasped, "Oh- my- god! Merton's here! We should say hi!"
Melissa broke into laughter, "Maybe after the dance."
The three couples of Champions took to the centre of the dance floor. When the applause died down, the Weird Sisters started to play a slow, gentle waltz, and the Champions thus opened the dance.
"Moye polyarnoye siyaniye," Lev held out an open palm towards her. "You vish to dance?"
She beamed with a smile, "Gladly." She took his hand, and walked with him onto the dance floor. Others came to fill the dance floor, though Melissa kept her attention to Lev as they waltzed. "You're a good dancer."
"Zank you. I must dance best to impress beautiful vitch."
Melissa broke down into giggles, "I'm beautiful, am I?"
He almost seemed offended by the question. "Vot? Look at you!" He gave her a twirl, releasing another set of giggles from her, before taking both of her hands again. "You are magic! Glorious! Vot fool vood see you and say different?"
"I was called a peacock not too long ago," she deflected.
"Friends do vot friends must for fun," he said dismissively. "But, here, I am a lucky vizard."
Lucky, eh? "And what does that make me?"
"You… also lucky," he said with a teasing shrug, "but handsome instead of beautiful."
"Oh!" Melissa laughed, then did a callback of, "Sooo humble!"
"Yes. Is vy ve're perfect."
"For each other, or perfect because we're both so humble?"
"Both, and also being good-looking."
"Oh, of course, how could I forget!"
The two laughed as the dance continued. They stayed arm-in-arm into the next two songs as well. After the third they took a drink break. The act seemed to open hidden floodgates, as several witches soon flocked to Melissa, admiring her style and asking after her methods. She gave away her secrets easily enough. After all, it did come with a discount. Once the flock dispersed, Lev returned to her side with a laugh.
"Zey see you like motyl'ki fly to fire."
"Well, what can I say, I'm very luminescent today," she flicked her hair for emphasis, admiring the aurora's movement along the hem of her sleeve.
"Yes," he said, looking somewhat confused. Looking back at the dance crowd, he gave a nod in their direction, "Can you introduce me to ze Veerd Sisters?"
"Absolutely," she agreed, counting out the songs played so far, "but first…"
"First?"
"You should see who else wants to meet them. I'll head back and let them know to meet up."
"Okay! Sounds good!" Lev walked off to find his friends, while Melissa moved to the dancefloor.
Twenty seconds left…
The song moved to its final bars.
Ten…
The last chord played a long note.
Five…
Four…
Three…
Two…
One!
"Alright, you cats and kittens," Myron spoke playfully into the mic, "here's a little something new for these magical halls. Though for some of you," he gave a deep chuckle, "well, if you know, you know. Take it away, boys!"
Music began to play, and parts of the crowd bopped to the beat that the instruments started to play. The rest, however, stood absolutely still, with their heads bowed down and arms at their side with splayed fingers. There were enough people in that strange pose, and standing close enough to the centre of the crowd, that others started to still, too. This oddness jarred them, just long enough for the sidelines to catch it, until-
"~EVERYBODY ~DANCE ~NOW!"
The bowed heads suddenly snapped up and moved in unison! Hands and arms moved in stiff precision, and parts of the dance crowd backed away to avoid getting hit by their movements.
"~EVERYBODY ~DANCE ~NOW!"
The group burst into footwork, jumping, stepping, and turning in place.
"~GIVE ME THE MUSIC!"
"~GIVE ME THE MUSIC!"
"~EVERYBODY ~DANCE ~NOW!"
By this point, everyone not involved in the dance had backed off to the sidelines, and all watched on in confusion or awe as the dance continued. The moves were entirely foreign for the audience, as was the song, since it barely had any lyrics at all, aside from, well…
"~YEAH!"
"~YEAH!"
"~YEAH!"
"~EVERYBODY- U CAN'T TOUCH THIS!"
Suddenly the music shifted, with the dancers flowing right along with it! They were jumping more animatedly now, moving side to side and doing fun-looking turns on their heels.
"~Give me a song or rhythm
Making them sweat, that's what I'm giving them
Now, they know
You talk about the Hammer
When you're talkin 'bout a show
That's hyped and tight
Singers are sweatin'
So pass them a wipe or a tape
To learn
What it's gonna take in the 90's to burn
The chart's legit
Either work hard or you might as well quit
That's word, because, you know
You can't touch this
You can't touch this
Break it down!"
The whole group fluttered, as if floating, from one side to another; each side punctuated by spinning jumps. The dance getting wilder and wilder until-
"Stop, Macarena time!"
-and the music shifted again. This time there was no jumping, no fluttering, no spinning. Instead, they all stayed where they stood, instead moving entirely by their arms and swaying hips. The band also changed beyond music, with the vocalists changing the very language from their lips!
"~Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Eh, Macarena, ¡Ay!
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Eh, Macarena, ¡Ay!
Macarena tiene un novio que se llama
Que se llama de apellido Vitorino
Y en la jura de bandera el muchacho
Se la vio con dos amigos!
Macarena tiene un novio que se llama
Que se llama de apellido Vitorino
Y en la jura de bandera el muchacho
Se la vio con dos amigos!
Now you know how to dance the Macarena
Your moves so sharp and cool just like Rowena
Now it's time to clear the dance arena
Eh, Macarena, ¡Ay!
The dance troupe finished with a wide clap above their heads, signalling the end of the song. It took only a heartbeat before the crowd started to applaud and cheer. Those within the troupe waved to the crowd or hugged each other in relief (or secretly took long catch-up breaths). Then, soon after, the sidelines and troupe merged quickly in celebration.
From above, on the stage, Myron waited a few moments before calling loudly, "Now who wants to hear our latest song?!"
Cheers roared from the crowd, and soon everyone was dancing to a whole new tune.
The lights dimmed for the end of the night, and Melissa took the opportunity to approach the stage. Once there, she wrapped Merton into a hug, "You guys were brilliant!"
"You all were brilliant!" Merton claimed back.
Gideon chimed in, "Never seen anything like it! Seeing you all from up here, we can tell the group worked really hard."
"We did," she agreed. "It was so worth it, though! Oh, I want to introduce you all to someone!" She beckoned Lev over, who had been standing at the edge of the stage until now. She hooked her arm into his and gestured to the group, "Everyone, this is Lev! He's from Durmstrang."
"Hi, Lev," they echoed back, all except for Kirley who gave a devious grin and said, "Lev, Eh? Is he your boyfriend?"
A few more wicked smirks flashed her way, and Melissa bloomed into a blush. "Um-"
She looked up at Lev. The boy in question was also smiling. He leaned into her ear and purred, "I can be, if you vant."
Somehow her blush managed to darken, and she swallowed hard as wild feelings bloomed. Squeezing his arm tighter, she giggled with embarrassment and took the plunge, "Yes. He is."
She felt a kiss at the top of her head, and the Weird Sisters cooed and whistled as they gave their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Giggles!" Herman ruffled her hair playfully, then gave her the nudge. "So, when's the wedding?"
She went crimson and shoved him back. "Oh my GOD, Herman!"
The group laughed loudly, and Heathcote teased back, "At least wait until Donny and Tori get hitched, first."
"What?!" Melissa's head snapped up, locking in on a sheepish looking Donaghan. "The hell do you mean, Donny and Tori? Since when are you two dating?!"
"Well…"
"Uh-oh," Kirley laughed, "hasn't Tori told you?"
"NO!"
Donaghan raised up his palms, "We've only been dating for a few months!"
Heathcote looked at her strangely, "What's the big deal?"
"She's my friend! We're practically the same age!"
"What?" Donaghan blinked. "What do you mean? She just turned nineteen this month."
"I…" The maths started to catch up with her. They were always in school at around the same time. Then again, she did finish her A-Levels this year, so- "Oh, fuck, you're right."
The boys chuckled at the awkward stumble.
"I think you've been cooped up here for too long," Merton teased. "You should've graduated along with me."
Melissa laughed, though Lev replied, "I zink it's a good zing she has not. I vood not have met her, ozzervise."
"D'aww!" Herman cooed at them.
Melissa curled into his arm with a blush. "If I die from blushing, it's your fault."
"Eh," he dismissed playfully, "it vill be vell deserved!"
They spun playfully in their dance down the dungeon hallway, laughing all the while.
She rolled into the wall near the secret entrance, grinning up at him. "This is my stop."
"Ah, too bad." He leaned against the wall beside her. "So, Girlfriend-" the world played along his tongue, "vill I see you before you take ze train tomorrow?"
She gave a definitive nod. "You know it, Boyfriend." She, too, was testing the sound, finding her stomach fluttering at the words.
"Good." He then leaned down until he was hovering just above her.
There were no thoughts, no inner pressures, and his unspoken gesture reeled her own body forward, with their lips meeting in the middle. It was a sweet, gentle act. It lasted for only a moment; yet her heart thrilled within that moment. When they broke apart, her eyes fluttered, and a shiver of delight ran up her body.
They both giggled nervously, grinning sheepishly all the while. From afar, voices carried with approaching Slytherin party-goers. Their presence brought the pair back to their surroundings.
"I should go," Lev said, though he took her hand and squeezed it gently. "You have a good night, Melissa."
"You too, Lev," she returned his squeeze, "and thank you for tonight."
"You're velcome," he gave her hand a kiss, inviting another blush on her face, then he departed for his ship.
She waited in that hall until Lev went around the corner. Afterwards she headed further down, giving the password to the secret entrance, passing through the common room, and made it to her dorm.
The second she closed the bedroom door behind her, Melissa slid against the door, dissolving into giddy giggles. I just had my first kiss! It should have been strange. Her mind, in her old life, she had long had firsts of all kinds. Yet, somehow, none of that seemed to matter anymore. That was all… why, that wasn't even her! THIS is her! And everything's so new and delightful and she just had her first kiss! GAH!
A snicker came from across the room, and all her giggles ceased. Melissa looked up from the floor, finding Rusalka staring at her from her own bed. A slow smirk was widening as she caught Melissa's expression; and Melissa was instantly mortified.
"Shut the fuck up!"
Rusalka snickered again. "I didn't say anything." A brief pause fell before she started up again. "So… how was your night?"
Melissa said nothing.
"Did you two kiss?"
"...I have to use the loo." She bolted to the loo door.
"Why? Was it so good that now you need to-?"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
She slammed the door behind her, hearing Rusalka cackling and calling out teases all the while.
AC: At last, our little reincarnate is starting to truly imerse into her new life!
(...a ball that may or may not have started rolling since Halloween for reasons ;) )
This chapter was a delight to write ^_^ I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!