The Baby Project

The Ball

The boys were all standing at the top of the stairs with frowns on their faces. Scorpius and Hyperion thought it was going to be the first year that their mother and grandmother would let them wear suits like their father to the ball, but to their disappointment, they were wearing dress robes like every year prior. Even their father was wearing dress robes. 

"Both of you should wipe those looks off of your faces. Mother is going to be upset if you are mad all night. She is the Minister now, there are many more important people here tonight, of course, you will have to wear dress robes. Plus, you match dad anyway since he has to wear them too." Ara was smiling brightly in her dress that Mary had helped her pick out. 

"You all look so wonderful," Cissy had come from around the corner and admired her three grandchildren. They looked so grown up, and she even happier that she would be a grandparent again. She selfishly missed taking care of babies, and watching them grow made her so happy. 

"Well, we should be getting down to mother, don't you think, boys?" Ara took their hands, and they walked down the stairs and into the ballroom where their parents were starting to greet guests. 

"Oh, look how wonderful the three of you look," Hermione hugged her three little ones close. 

"Hey guys," James walked in, holding Lily's hand and Albus coming in slightly behind them, "How are you three?" Ara thought how James was looking unlike himself. Almost like there was something different about him.

"Great James," Hyperion answered, oblivious to the difference his sister was picking up on. Their other brother hadn't noticed it either. 

"Yeah, except for these dress robes." Scorpius looked down at what he was wearing again and frowned. 

"At least everyone is wearing them," James shrugged. He didn't much mind the dress robes. He was too preoccupied with how different Ara looked. He couldn't take his eyes off her. It was like a light was shining on her, a spotlight that only shone on her. 

"James, will you please take me to mommy, please?" 

"Yes, of course, Lily, then I am going to come back to my friends, alright. Is that okay?" James smiled at his little sister. 

"Yes," She smiled back at him, and they left through the crowd. By the time that he returned, Ara had forgotten about what she was thinking about the boy earlier. She was too busy discussing the news of her mother having a baby with Mary. Ara was so excited to tell her she could barely wait a whole minute after she walked in to tell her. 

"Mate, what is going on with you?" Hugo was looking at his cousin with curious eyes. James seemed like he was preoccupied with his own mind. Normally he was so in the moment. 

"Nothing," James looked at his cousin and hoped that no one was noticing how much he was looking at Ara. He didn't mean to be staring. She was just so beautiful, and he didn't think he had ever thought that about a girl before, let alone Ara. Someone he saw all the time. Knew really well. They were good friends, after all. 

"Well, you are acting weird," Hugo looked at what James was staring at and couldn't figure anything out. 

The adults had started dancing, and Ara was particularly thrilled when her father came over to dance with her. James didn't know if he was brave enough to ask Ara to dance. What would everyone think? What would she think?

"Hyperion," Mary was fiddling with her dress. The only reason she was doing it was that Ara had talked her into it. She kept saying that he would no matter what. Grandmother had drilled edict into the boys, and they wouldn't deny a lady a dance if she asked, "I was wondering if you wanted to dance with me?" She held her breath, waiting for his answer.