Hidden Talent

Chapter: 19

Jack loved the snow, and the crystallized rain that blanketed the whole of the Scottish highlands was much more beautiful than what normally settled near his home in China. The way it lay undisturbed across the rolling plains was almost unearthly.

The Goth had always preferred snow to any other weather, probably because snow meant it was winter and winter meant less sunlight. As an albino less sun was always preferred, it let him spend more time outside with out fearing getting sun-burnt so much. Another reason was because it was when he got the most attention from his parents, due to all the competitions he used to enter and win. Skiing, Figure-Skating and Snowboarding to name a few. The only physical activities he was ever good at, the only times he felt graceful and in control while growing up.

True, his mother had made him take Ballet and Gymnastics to try and improve his coordination, but winter sports were the only things he'd mastered.

"This is crazy, Jackie" Fleur giggled as her and a group of her friends followed the Goth out of the castle, each of them carrying a pair of Ice Skates.

"Why? The lakes been frozen over for nearly a week!" Jack grinned "I've been testing it everyday, its in perfect condition for skating. Safe as any Ice Rink!"

" 'ow exciting!" Gabrielle giggled, skipping happily "Skating over a lake with a giant squid in it!"

"Exactly! Non of my friends wanted to join us; too scared" Jack scoffed "You'd think they'd jump at the chance! I've only been here since September and I've been dying to try this out!"

"What about Cedric? 'e's a Champion, 'e shouldn't be scared after facing a Dragon!"

"That's probably why he doesn't want to face a giant squid to" he shrugged casually before changing the subject "Anyway, have you worked out that egg yet? Cedric's really getting frustrated about his"

"No, but we 'ave plenty of time-"

"Will You Go To The Ball With Me?!" a ginger haired teen screamed at Fleur randomly as they walked past, scaring the daylights out of the group.

"Eeek!" Jack squeaked in surprise, dropping his ice-skates as he raised his hands to 'defend' himself while the French girls merely gave the ginger kid a 'really?' look.

After a moment, the boy who Jack finally recognized from the Quidditch World Cup, seemed to realize what he had done, loosing all colour in his face, before sprinting away like the hounds of hell were on his heels. A bunch of Gryffindor girls hurrying after him in concern.

"Okay..." Jack muttered, raising an eyebrow skeptically "That was random"

"Totally!" A sudden voice from behind him agreed, causing Jack to jump in surprise and spun around to find to find a grinning Hikaru.

"Don't do that!"

"You're a very vocal person, aren't you Jack?" Ling asked suggestively as he and Johnny came up behind Hikaru, who's excited grin never wavered.

Bending down to pick-up his skates, Jack chose to ignore Ling's innuendo and raised his eyebrow at the Japanese boys creepy grin "Fine. I'll bite; what's with that face?"

"I'm going with Cho to the Ball!" Hikaru blurted out, pumping his fist in the air.

"Cho? She must have been really impressed with your dance moves"

"I know, right!?"

"Jackie" Gabrielle butted-in to the conversation, looking up at her cousin with a 'kicked-puppy' look "Aren't we going skating?" she asked in a manipulatively sweet voice causing Jack to easily cave into her demands.

"Yes, of course! Have you guys changed your minds about coming with?"

"No way! I don't wanna get eaten by the squid!" Hikaru waved him off "I'm to gorgeous to die that way, besides, I have a date to be alive for!"

"We'll see ya' at lunch, right? We gotta pack for the Holiday tonight so we decided to get together for a 'goodbye' lunch" Johnny asked as Gabrielle began to drag Jack away.

"Sounds cool! I'll invite some other friends and we'll make a party out of it!"

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After a couple hours on the ice, Jack was exhausted. His cheeks stained a flustered pink from all the exercise and cold wind, but in the end Fleur still had to drag him away from the Lake since he didn't want to leave.

Surprisingly, their little outing had managed to inspire some of the other students to join them on the ice, even some of the Hogwarts students.

Falling onto the bench at the Ravenclaw table, Jack began stripping himself out of his winter-wear "Bloody freezing out there" he grumbled, dumping his scarf on the table "I think I have frostbite!"

"It's your own fault" Johnny shrugged, not looking up from his dancing cutlery, clutching his wand tightly in concentration "You were out there for hours after all"

"Time flies when having fun" Ling grinned as Jack nodded, removing his gloves "So... Who'd you invite?" he asked the Goth.

"Huh? Oh, I invited Cedric when he was hanging out around the lake earlier, but he's hanging out with his friends; his House is having a party in their common-room. He asked me to come, but I'm spending tonight with you guys" he shrugged "I also asked Neville. I don't know if he'll come though"

"Longbottom?" Hikaru asked as he arrived late, followed shortly by Fleur and Gabrielle.

"Neville is very shy" Gabrielle explained, smoothing-down her freshly changed dress, having gotten the one she was wearing earlier wet from the snow.

"Where you been?" Jack asked Hikaru, who was watching Johnny practice the dancing-charm.

"What?"

"Why are you late?"

"Oh, I was walking Cho to the Owlery" he shrugged "She wanted my contact info"

"Why?" Johnny asked with a jealous pout, still ticked off that he still hadn't found a date to the Ball "To co-ordinate your outfits, or something?"

"No" Hikaru scoffed good-naturedly "I'm gonna wear plain dress-robes. If she wants to get me a corsage that matches her dress, that's her responsibility"

"Be happy you can wear a normal dress-robe" Jack sulked, tapping his fork against his plate, resting his head in his other hand "My mom's going to drag me all over Paris for mine"

"Don't sulk, Jackie" Fleur smiled excitedly " 'omosexual men are meant to love shopping. You can 'elp me find 'ze perfect dress!"

"Stereotyping, much?" Jack questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow "I don't like shopping. It's boring and exhausting"

"Your mom one of those over enthusiastic shopper types?" Ling asked with a knowing look "My sister is like that too. She thinks just because I like guys I have some infinity for fashion or something!"

"I know right!?" Jack groaned, throwing his arms up before dropping his head down onto the table in defeat.

"Don't worry, Jackie" Gabrielle whispered, patting his arm to try and comfort him "I'll be 'zere with you. I 'ate dress shopping too"

"But you're a French girl!" Hikaru stated in disbelief.

"Stereotyping, much?" the 11 year old stated bluntly.