The Wolf's Lion ~ Harry Potter (Editing)

Chapter Thirty-Four | Waltzing Under the Stars

Dinner hadn't been as awful as Ariana had originally predicted. Ivan had been a brilliant man to hold a conversation with. They discussed Quidditch, Hogwarts, their likes and dislikes, and Durmstrang, at which point Karkaroff had interrupted.

"Veil," Igor began, "ve have a castle as also, but not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking. Ve just have four floors, and the fires are only lit for magical purposes. But ve have larger grounds than these - though in vinter, ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains -"

"Now, now, Ivan," Karkaroff interjected, smiling a smile that did not reach his cold eyes, "don't go giving anything else away or your charming friend will know where to find us!"

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy, one would think you didn't want visitors."

Ariana had vaguely stopped paying attention to the two men as a sharp pain ran through her head, feeling as if a knife had been run through it. She gasped quietly and ducked her head down, screwing her eyes shut until it passed.

"Are you alright?" Ivan questioned, looking at her, his hazel eyes shining with concern.

"Yes, yes, thank you," Ariana smiled, as the pain faded to nothing. She had no idea why that had happened, so she made sure to monitor the situation.

After dinner, Viktor and Hermione had joined them as The Wierd Sisters (a wizarding band) began to play. They began with a set of rock songs, which Ariana didn't necessarily enjoy, since she preferred jazz, but remained on the floor with Ivan all the same. As the songs slowed down, Ariana let Ivan know she was heading to use the bathroom.

In reality, she was just wanting to get some fresh air, so she slipped of to the Entrance Hall and outside. In the rose garden, fairy lights (which turned out to be real faries upon closer inspection) twinkled like the stars overhead and stone statues were standing around an ornamental path. As she passed, Ariana saw pairs of people sitting in carved benches.

Her heels clicked on the path as the witch walked, admiring a dazzling fountain while she glided by. By the time she realised where she was, her feet seemed to of taken her to the spot where she usually took refuge in.

The quarter moon shone down on her, stars winking in the silky sky. The light caught on her hair and skin, making her shine as if she was glowing. Ariana O'Connor was certainly beautiful, looking like a goddess as she stood in the moonlight.

For a moment she ceased breathing, after a scent hit her nose like a rock being thrown at it. It was a smell she had longed for, one that soothed her very soul.

"This is beginning to become a habit," Ariana mused, turning to see Remus walking towards her. She bit her lip for a moment as her eyes travelled down his face and lean body, but she quickly snapped out of her daze before the man took notice.

"Yes, it is," he chuckled, then his breath hitched in his throat as he took in Ariana's appearance. "Ariana, you look beautiful."

A tinge of pink crept on to the witch's pale cheeks. "Thank you. I must admit that this -" Ariana gestured to her attire "- is unusual, being so dressed up," she said with a laugh.

Remus stopped by her side, smiling down at Ariana. With his six-foot-two body, the witch's eyes were level with his lips in her heels.

"The Yule Ball," Remus hummed. "I never did attend one myself, this being the first Tri-Wizard Tournament that's been held in many years. I assume the champions had to open the ball with a waltz?"

"Unfortunately," Ariana groaned, resting her hands on the curve of her waist as she stood there.

"Like this?" Remus asked. In one swift movement, he clasped Ariana's right hand in his left, other hand on her waist.

Ariana's breathing picked up as she was pulled into a dancing position, subconsciously leaning into the warmth of the werewolf's body. Her skin felt like it had been set on fire where it connected with Remus's, an addictive and euphoric burn dancing across her flesh.

As they waltzed in a circle, Ariana couldn't help but compare the scene to that of a romance novel. Two mates waltzing on the crispy, frosty grass with the moon shining in the sky with the faint music from the ball in the background. The witch was no typical girly girl, but it was difficult to deny that this was one of the best things she had ever experienced.

The connection she felt to Remus was like nothing she hadfelt before; it was inhuman. Of course, neither of them were strictly human. Lycanthropy tainted their blood, rendering them to be discriminated against. Of course, the pitch black cloud that was their curse had one silver lining: they had each other.

Although, Ariana could sense that Remus shared the same worries as she did. It made her fear how long she had until he let his fears control his actions, or how long it would take her to do the same thing.

For now, Ariana figured she should just enjoy herself while she could. The knawing doubt still ate away at the pit of her stomach, but the witch allowed her head to drop to Lupin's shoulder, inhaling a brilliant scent of spices, musk and something she Ariana couldn't quite place... It was just him.

Inside the castle, Hermione, Harry and Ron had begun to get a little concerned. It has been an hour since they last laid eyes on Ariana, even Ivan had no idea where she had gotten off to.

Harry had fetched the Marauder's Map, using it to look for their friend. With Ron and Hermione briefly united in the fear they both felt, they refrained from bickering as the three Gryffindors huddled around a table in the abandoned common room.

"Look, there she is," Harry said, pointing to two red footprints. "Why is she all the way out there?"

"Who's she with?" Ron questioned, brow furrowed.

The trio frowned when they saw Ariana's name banner accompanied by Remus Lupin's.

"Lupin? Professor Lupin? That can't be right," Harry stated, double checking the map.

"There's one way to find out," Ron said, smirking.

"We can't!" Hermione protested. "You wouldn't like it if Ariana spied on you."

"I just want to see if that's who she's with. If you don't want to come with us, why don't you join Viktor," Ron snorted.

While Harry tried to stop Hermione and Ron tearing each other's heads off, Ariana swayed to the music she could hear in the background, listening to Lupin's heart thump rhythmically against his chest. In this moment and time, she didn't want anything to pull her away from Remus.