Belladonna

The Yule Ball: Part II

Belladonna 39

The Yule Ball: Part II

After the food had been consumed, laughs had been shared, and the spark of new friendships had been kindled, Dumbledore stood from his place at the champion's table. He said a few words of thanks over the food, then he asked everyone else to stand as well. With a flick of his wrist, the tables lined up against the walls and a small stage appeared; the instruments were already on it.

"Wait! That's Myron, lead vocalist for The Weird Sisters!" Ana said as the band stood up. "I heard that Dumbledore booked them, but I didn't believe it."

"Are you a fan?" Fred asked.

"Yeah, I am! Sev won't let me listen to them at home, though. He says he can't stand the wailing."

"My dad says the same thing," Katie said. "So I just play it louder." She laughed.

"Hey, is that...Hermione Granger dancing with Viktor Krum?" Alicia asked as the champions swirled by them.

Ana smiled. "Good girl, Granger. But, who's that with Harry?"

"That's Parvati Patil; I saw her sister with Ron earlier, I think," Fred said.

Ana looked up at him as he smiled down at her. Then, in a manner very reminiscent of what he did earlier that evening, he held out his hand to her.

"Are you ready to turn a few more heads?"

"If you promise not to drop me, or step on my toes."

"Ye of little faith." He grinned.

Ana took his hand and allowed him to lead her on to the dance floor. The song was that of a simple waltz, much like the one she and Adrian had danced to for Sev. And like that dance, Fred showed surprising skill.

"You know how to waltz?" Ana couldn't keep the surprise from her voice.

"It's a standard part of every pure-blood tutoring," he answered smugly before leading her into a spin.

Ana studied his face carefully. "You charmed your shoes, didn't you?"

Fred chuckled. "Me?" he asked innocently. "Why I... I should have thought of that first; it would have been much easier."

Ana laughed. "What did you do?"

"We, ah, created a little something to help our fellow blokes charm the girls."

Ana looked to where Fred discreetly pointed and she saw a Ravenclaw quickly down a small vile before asking a girl to dance.

"It doesn't taste very well, does it?" Ana asked noticing the boy's twisted face.

"Eh, it could use a little work still. What about you? What's your secret?"

"I wish I could say I charmed my shoes or drank a potion, but I actually was subjected to that standard pure-blood tutoring."

"Sounds awful."

"It was."

Fred spun Ana one last time before the song ended, and as he did, Ana noticed that the couples around them weren't paying them any attention at all. No one seemed to care anymore; they were having too much fun themselves.