Wizarding World one-shots

Forever (Perctoria)

Victoria Macmillan leaned against the balcony railing of her family's ballroom, watching the guests of the Christmas Gala dance below. She was glad they were having fun, just as she was grateful that her perch wasn't in view of everyone else below.

Normally when she attended these events, she wore neutrals or colors that blended into the decorations. This time, however, Augustine had convinced her to wear a bright and vibrant red ballgown with matching elbow-length gloves. There would be no blending into the walls in this.

As the partygoers spun around down below, her hands clasped and unclasped behind her back in time to the music. She wanted to join the festivities and dancing, but that would be putting her directly in the spotlight. And being in the spotlight brought questions...

The dress she wore covered the four lines on her back from her encounter with Dolores Umbridge, but no amount of makeup could cover up the scar on her face Pius Thicknesse gave her during the Battle of Hogwarts. People would stare, as they always did, and would talk. Never to her, of course. Pureblood society was too "proper" to talk directly. No, it was all hushed whispers amongst themselves.

Same as it always has been, same as it always will be.

"I could make a comment about how you would be prettier if you smile." Percy Weasley put an arm around Victoria's waist, drawing her close to him. "But I'm no imbecile."

Victoria leaned against his touch, her body relaxing slightly against his. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Ernie would disagree."

"Yeah, well, you brother is his own... special kind of breed."

His comment drew an undignified snort from Victoria. She rested her head on his shoulder, her cheek bushing against the smooth fabric of his navy colored dress robes. Percy moved his thumb, rubbing a small circle on her side.

"You're looking tense," said Percy, softly. "Is everything alright?"

Victoria closed her eyes, letting the world fade to just her and him. It was a fantasy she quite liked and one she thought of more often than she should. The world was bigger than the two of them, and it always would be.

"There's just a lot of people," Victoria admitted. "And I know that as soon as we step down they'll stare at this—" she pointed at the scar on her face "—and I don't want to deal with that right now."

If her eyes were open, she would have seen Percy's blue eyes darken slightly with regret and rage, only a fraction of what they were during the battle. His grip tightened ever so slightly and he drew her closer, as if worried he would lose her if she wasn't right against his body.

"We don't have to," he said after a moment.

Victoria opened her eyes to look at him. "What?"

"We don't have to go down." Percy took one of her hands into his own, pressing a gentle kiss on the back of the glove. "We don't even have to stay in the ballroom." His lips trailed higher up. "We could go wherever you want, Vic."

"They'll notice," she started to argue, but it sounded weak, even to her.

"They've all had their fair share of brews and fire whisky, I can guarantee no one is sober." Percy stopped his kissing right by her shoulder. He leaned in closer to whisper into her ear, "And we'll be alone."

Victoria didn't even pretend to put up a fight. Without saying anything, she grabbed onto his hand and began to lead him out of the loud ballroom. They briskly walked past partygoers as they went down the stairs, not stopping to talk to anyone. No one seemed to mind, and they exited without any issues.