Romance Festival - Hogwarts Mystery

The Ambassadors

When Sarah and Barnaby arrived at the quidditch pitch, the dance was in full swing. Sarah spotted several of her friends attempting goofy dance moves as The Bent-Winged Snitches blared on the magically magnified gramophone. Diego was spinning Rowan around like a top, his enthusiasm unmarred by Rowan's lack of rhythm. 

"Hard to believe Snape didn't see you transfigure that gobstone," said Barnaby as they watched the dancers. "He was standing right there."

"You'll find this hard to believe, but I think Snape let me off the hook as a reward for getting rid of Lockhart," said Sarah.

"I'll believe anything," said Barnaby with a laugh. 

As they approached the dance floor, they kept getting stopped by people congratulating Sarah on defeating Lockhart. 

"I'm glad I won, but I can't believe how easy it was," Sarah remarked to Barnaby at one point. "Either he's not as great of a dueler as he thinks he is--"

"Or you're just the best dueler who ever lived!" he said. "And I'm the guy who gets to date you. Sarah Spellman, savior of the festival!"

Sarah laughed. "We saved it together. Don't forget, the duel was your great idea."

"I've got another great idea," he said, holding out his hand to her. "Let's dance."

He led her to the dance floor, spinning her around so she was pulled in close to him. 

"Nice moves," she said. 

"Thanks. I have been told I'm a good dancer."

"By whom?"

"A very beautiful girl I was lucky enough to take to the Celestial Ball. Though I think she was just being nice."

"She was," Sarah said with a smile. "But she'd love to dance with you again anyway."

Sarah loved school dances. She laughed as she sang and danced along to all her favorite songs with Barnaby and the rest of her friends, making up terrible dance moves and forgetting everything else. She frowned in disappointment when the music stopped. 

"I don't want it to end," she said. 

"It's not over yet," said Barnaby, pointing ahead to McNully, as he began to speak into his microphone. 

"Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a good time at this Outdoor Celebration of Magic!" He paused as the students cheered. "It's now time for the moment you've all been waiting for. The votes have been counted, and the ambassadors have been chosen!"

"I voted for you," Barnaby whispered in her ear as more applause broke out. 

She glanced up at him, embarrassed. "I promised Penny I'd vote for her."

"Maybe you'll both get it," he said. 

"Wizards and witches," said McNully. "You're festival ambassadors are...Sarah Spellman and Barnaby Lee!"

"Huh?" Sarah heard Barnaby say as everyone cheered. 

"If the ambassadors would step forward, please," McNully announced. 

Sarah and Barnaby did. Professor Sprout reached up and placed crowns made of colorful, woven flowers around their heads and Professor Sinistra posed them in order to take photographs. 

"Everyone give another round of applause for your festival ambassadors as they make a celebratory lap around the pitch."

Madam Hooch presented them with a broom. "One lap, level with the stands, then land here. Understand?"

They nodded and she handed it over. Sarah mounted it, pausing so Barnaby could climb on behind her, choosing to hold onto her hips instead of the broom handle. 

"Ready?" she asked. 

"Ready," he said, and they kicked off from the ground. 

Sarah thought her chest might actually explode from the combined elation that always came from flying on a broom and the feel of Barnaby's body pressed against hers. As they soared around the pitch, she glanced back at him and he leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek, sending another wave of electricity through her. 

They landed back in front of Hooch and handed her the broom. 

"Congratulations to Barnaby and Sarah," said McNully. "Now, enjoy the rest of the dance everyone!"

Students cluttered the dance floor once more as The Hobgoblins sounded from the gramophone. 

"I can't believe this," said Sarah. 

"I know!" said Barnaby. "This is the best date I've ever been on! Though I think the flower crown might be damaging my tough-guy reputation." He blew at a stray leaf that had dangled down over his eye. 

She giggled and reached up to arrange the leaf out of his face. "Now, you're perfect," she said, repeating his words back to him, "just the way you are."

Their moment was soon interrupted by people offering their congratulations and asking for them to pose in pictures with them. 

"I'm so happy for you two," Penny told them, giving them both a hug. "I wanted it to be Sarah and me, but this is just as good. You two are excellent together!"

"Thanks, Penny," said Sarah. "So are you and Talbott."

Penny collected all their friends and got Sinistra to take a group photo of them, promising to give each of them a copy. They danced to a few more songs before McNully's voice interrupted the music once more. 

"I'm afraid this next song shall be our last. I know, I know," he said, due to the audience's collective moan, "but let's make sure to show our teachers some appreciation for letting us have this festival, especially Hagrid, for all his hard work decorating the pitch." 

After everyone clapped and cheered for the teachers, McNully added, "And one final cheer for the Festival Ambassadors, Barnaby Lee and Sarah Spellman." After the applause,  McNully said "You two get the honor of starting us off on the last dance of the night. Everyone else  grab somebody special, and join in after the first verse."

Everyone cleared the dance floor except for Sarah and Barnaby as a slow song began to play. Sarah felt rather self-conscious as Barnaby led her to the center of the dance floor. Her knees shook as he pulled her in close to sway in time with the music. 

"Well, this is awkward," he muttered, making her laugh. "Good thing you and Merula didn't win, or I guess you'd be up here dancing with her."

"That would sure be something to see," she chuckled. 

Barnaby gave her a twirl and a little dip, causing several people in the audience to go, "Awwwee!"

He chuckled as he lifted her back up. "I think they like us."

She gazed into his eyes, determined not to look at the staring crowd of the flash of Sinistra's camera. "I think I like you."

"I think I like you, too."

They both sighed with relief when the chorus started and Diego pulled Rowan eagerly to the dance floor to join them. Soon, the floor was crowded again and Sarah felt much less conspicuous. She stepped in closer and rested her head on Barnaby's shoulder, closing her eyes to take everything in with her other senses. The smell of his clothes, the sound of the music, the feel of his heartbeat. It was much faster than their motion called for. 

The song ended and they broke apart. McNully announced the end of the festival, telling them all to proceed to dinner. Sarah and Barnaby found their friends and they all headed up to the castle together, everyone talking at once about their favorite parts of the festival. Halfway up the hill, Barnaby slipped his hand into Sarah's and she didn't let go. The others soon noticed this, and Tonks and Tulip teased them, but Sarah didn't care. 

Barnaby was right. This had been their best date ever.