Regency in Diagon Alley [Theodore Nott | Harry Potter AU]

Chapter Seven

Ottery St. Catchpole was located Southwest England – Devon to be exact – and one of the beauties of it was its placement, giving it a view of the northern part of the English Channel. With its mild and oceanic climate, it invites many witches and wizards to come and enjoy the warmth and the sea breeze, which was why Lady Charity Goldstein hosted her ball at one of their family villas by the beach instead. The Goldstein Villa was an old Roman structure that the family fixed and redecorated, though there have been modifications in some parts of the walls and the exterior, the layout of the villa was the same at it was. A large courtyard in the middle where a Roman bath was previously seen, the pillars were retained but were now covered with magical plats for aesthetic and showing the Lady Goldstein's love for plants. The walls were given a new coat of paint of cream, while some walls, where most of the plants are located, were made from glass.

They say that the Black family had a knack for coming in the perfect time, where everyone is already present but are not considered late. Coming through the glass doors, Carina felt like stepping through a portal that brought her to the time when she was little, running around the villa, playing with Maisie and Harry and the Weasleys. She loved the openness of the home, the windows that showed the ocean, and the plants that grew around them. And though there was about half of the ton in the hall dancing and mingling, and blood thirsty mamas and wary papas, Carina would imagine the blurry image of her grandparents emerging from the corner to greet her. Ned and Louise. But it was not them who came to welcome her, rather, it was Tom and Charity.

"Uncle Tom, Aunt Charity!" Carina greeted.

"Carina," Charity kissed her at the cheeks. "You look wonderful, my dear." She then turned her attention to Regulus and Walburga. "Your Graces." She curtsied.

"Please, Lady Goldstein, you are the host," said Regulus.

Carina was about to open her mouth to say something but a sudden tug at the arm pulled her away from the conversation. Literally. Before she could question who it was, Carina noticed the familiar bushy brown hair that was styled to a coiffeur with small floral accessories and ribbons, and a beautiful blue ball gown. She turned to her uncles and aunt and gestured that she would be fine and lets the person drag her to the dance floor.

"Dance with me," Hermione said.

"I beg your pardon?" Carina blinked.

"I know it isn't allowed to have two women dance together without permission, but I need your help."

As an answer, Carina took the role of the male partner and bowed. They received many looks from the people around them as soon as Carina took Hermione's hand and started to dance, the steps involved a lot of quick movement as it was a country dance, they would make a small hop inside and then out before spinning, and then another. Though she could not see, she could already feel her grandmother's glare burning through her head.

"So, who is it that you are running from?" Carina asked.

"McLaggen. He has tentacles for hands." Hermione replied, though she kept her smile and an eye out for the said man. "Good, he's not going to step in, but I doubt he would just let go."

"Won't Ron ask you to dance?" Carina nodded to the direction of the youngest Weasley boy standing there watching them while Harry danced with Ginny beside them.

Hermione scoffed. "I already asked him, but he says that he does not dance."

The dance has ended, and Carina and Hermione curtsied to one another, they did not leave each other's side, though, not wanting McLaggen to take hold of Hermione again. As much as she would want to dance with her again, Carina knew that it was already a huge risk to do so in the first place, one word from Rita Skeeters and it would be a scandal she would need fixing... and maybe, all of her hard work with Cedric would be gone. If only Roman was around, he would gladly dance with Hermione, she would just have to stay at her friend's side until she finds someone.