Deal-Breaker [Ron Weasley]

7. The After Party

"You okay?" Ron asked me, laughing softly as I snapped back to reality. The song had ended, and a fast one played now, students everywhere ending their waltz and now jumping up and down recklessly.

"Yeah!" I shouted over the bass in the song booming, pretending I didn't just realize what I did. "The music just changed quickly."

Ron's hands were still on my waist and my arms were still slung around his neck as he grinned back at me sheepishly.

"Ron! Come on!" came a high-pitched voice from beside us. Celeste gripped Ron's arm firmly and tore him away from me, smiling at me innocently. "Sorry to interrupt, but the song ended," she spat condescendingly.

"Sorry, my bad," I replied, backing away from the two of them. Ron gave me a sympathetic glance before I turned around to join Dean at the food table, who was engaged in a lively conversation with Seamus.

I feel horrible for Dean. He goes and asks me to the dance, and all I've done is half-listen to his stories and danced with someone else.

I am a horrible date.

"Dean!" I exclaimed, causing him and Seamus to both turn their heads.

"Hey! Teach Ron to dance better I hope?" Dean laughed, standing up from leaning on the table casually.

"Think so. Celeste took him back though," I remarked, turning around for a split second to look at the two of them. Ron was dancing by himself (like an idiot) and Celeste still seemed slightly annoyed.

"That's good," Dean grinned, causing Seamus to roll his eyes.

"We were in the middle of a conversation," Seamus complained, glaring at me.

"Sorry," I apologized, but Dean dismissed Seamus' comments with a wave of his hand.

"You going to that after party?" Dean asked, leaning back on the table and crossing one ankle over the other leniently.

"Yeah, are you?" I asked, deciding to gather some food on a plate for myself.

"We both are," Dean shrugged, stealing a look at Seamus.

"Great," I smiled back, catching another glimpse of Ron and Celeste as I began piling the food on to my plate.

Now they were both laughing. What could they be laughing at?

"Hungry?" Seamus asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I dropped my head to look down at the plate of food I'd prepared, a massive and laughable amount stacked up on it.

"Oops," I chuckled softly. "I was distracted."

The dance went on as any dance would, mostly upbeat songs with a few slow ones mixed in. I danced with Dean for most of the time, with Seamus alongside us of course. Seamus didn't leave Dean's side the whole time.

Eventually, the professors called it a night, and sent everyone back to their common rooms. Naturally, every house was having a little gathering of their own, so no one was too upset about the first dance ending.

Dean, Seamus, and I headed back to the common room, all of us excited about what lay ahead.

Immediately after whispering the password, the three of us were met with loud music and the strong scent of firewhisky. People had already begun partying, and I was more than thrilled to join them.