Spellbind

33. Says Snape

Niyla POV:

Getting into the rhythm of attending classes, while brushing off the snide comments of the nonbelievers, — the ones who still were convinced I was some poor girl who longed for a few spots of Galleons — making sure I was never scarce of company when with Krum; and my scattered lessons with Snape, was easy. Finding out I — we students; especially, the Champions — had to take dancing lessons, was worse than the realization of knowing the war our parents couldn't finish would undoubtedly be ours one day.

At least the universe had mercy on me when it was decided Gryffindor would gather with Ravenclaw to be taught by Professor McGonagall. And Slytherin with Hufflepuff. I can glide off rocks and leave dirt untouched when I race in the Forest, while a wolf. But stick me in a room with people and tell me to dance...hell, Neville would look far more graceful than me.

The Yule-Freaking-Ball. The respite event before the second task in February. I planned to return home for Christmas, to see if I could find anything out about the whereabouts of my father. But the Champions were told early on that we must stay that week of December. But honestly, I'd rather go live in the muggle world and have my wand snapped in two than go to a formal ball on the twenty-fifth of December.

Snape makes it a point to bark at us when we can't get a stance right. Why would we ever have been taught how to dance? My growing wonder is, how the hell does Snape know formal dances? Draco was my partner for a while but found refuge with Daphne Greengrass. I slouched my shoulders as much as I could, maneuvering behind people's backs and away from the sharp eyes of Professor Snape.

We were all in a usually abandoned classroom in the dungeons, the warm yellow candlelight somehow had me remembering what George had told me about his brother Charlie's dragon. — Hylerion. Perhaps it was that the light was almost similar to the glowing yellow that ran down the dragon's scales.

She was taken by the Department for the Regulation of Control of Magical Creatures. She will be put on trial, during which her life will be debated. Charlie Weasley wasn't allowed to be informed of anything involving the matter, as the Ministry decided his opinions would be biased. The coming sentence of the beast isn't hard to guess. Charlie returned to Romania, hardly able to accept the coming death of his dragon. It is also just as unlucky for us that Angelina Johnson and her family only got a slap on the wrist, and won't be allowed to attend the Ball; but has already returned to school, just a week into the month.

I nestled into the curve of the stone wall; Snape was at the opposite end of the sizable room. Angrily informing a pair of Hufflepuffs the indecency they were displaying, by having their hands a bit too low and not at the upper waists.

"If any of you," Snape turned toward the crowd of Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. "Disgrace this school, by getting a bit too familiar with one another; I promise you, I will not hesitate to take two hundred House points from each one of the apprehended."

No one said a word, only stared back at him with very flushed faces.

"Your friend, gave up on you," Cedric Diggory came up to me.

This boy was taller than any of the Weasleys; prettier than some of the girls at school. And has gray eyes like me and Draco, but they promise a warmer welcome. They seem almost too kind... Yet one can't help but trust the humility behind the way he looks at people like he is the embodiment of benevolence.

"He's just tired of me stepping on his toes," I said, returning his smile.

"Maybe if you would stop trying to lead," Diggory shifted his body so we were shoulder to shoulder, watching the other students practice. "You and your partner would be better dancers."