Up and Down

Dance and Dalliance

Chapter Six - Audiobook version:

Anna jumps at a sharp snap of fingers near her ear.

"Enough fidgeting, you look beautiful."

Natty looks at her nervously wringing hands and puts her own palm on top of them, stopping the frantic movements.

"You are beautiful. Sebastian is a lucky man," she says firmly, and with the tip of her pinky, untucks a small strand of her immaculately done-up hair. It falls down to frame her face, curling softly at the end.

"Natty!"

"That looks even better," the other girl smiles and pats her on the bare shoulder, "you are too uptight when all the little hairs are put away."

Uptight might be the word she is thinking of most tonight. Despite her better judgement, she asked Samantha to help her lace down her corset. Just a bit. And a bit more.

Usually, she avoids doing so, it's just not comfortable. Instead of a secure and warm hug moulded around her torso, it is causing her to stand very straight, very properly and breathe only through the top of her lungs.

But it's only for a few hours. She can handle a bit of discomfort for a short time. All in the name of fashion and beauty.

"Ladies."

Both of them spin around to find Sebastian Sallow, Hogwarts' resident chief troublemaker, the most detained student of the year and one of her closest friends and confidants.

He flashes a charming smile and bows. He is dressed in a fitted, immaculate three-piece suit of deep green, almost black wool in a houndstooth pattern, his usually unruly hair is smoothed and combed into place - probably with the help of whatever pomade or potion Ominis is using on his own hair - and he looks every bit a gentleman she knows he can be.

"I'm going to find my own partner," Natty winks at her, causing Anna to once again fidget with her gloved hands, "don't get into too much trouble."

"Don't worry Natsai," Sebastian straightens and offers Anna an elbow, "only Ministry-approved levels of trouble tonight, I promise."

Natty flutters away, brilliant in her white and red gown. She heard professor Onai wanted her daughter to dress in a more traditionally Ugandan attire, but Natty had put her foot down. She didn't want to stand out too much from her peers, she said.

Anna thought someone as bright as Natty always stands out, no matter the choice of clothes.

Her own gown is of royal blue silk, the skirt fashionably smooth over her hips and flaring out into a full bell shape in the back. It isn't adorned with anything but delicate embroidery of various constellations. Anna had to actually kick Amit away to stop him from stepping on her train. Her Ravenclaw friend was too enamoured with deciphering various star clusters, depicted with stunning accuracy on the silk.

Modest jewellery and sprigs of fresh flowers from the greenhouse in her hair - professor Garlick didn't mind her request at all - complete the ensemble.

Sebastian covers her gloved hand on his elbow with his. Looking up at him, she can't stop her heart from beating high and hard in her throat.

He looks at her like she hung the stars and the moon in the sky.

Beside them, Imelda Reyes makes a gagging noise.

"Oh, grow up Imelda," Sebastian snaps at her, his lip curling in a haughty sneer.