The whole concept was rather corny, but the idea was rubbing off on me. Since I had been going out with James I was becoming increasingly romantic and the ball filled the gap.
The Great Hall had been transformed; the sky had been charmed so that it showed a clear starry night sky (it was overcast outside), small trimmed shrubs had been places at the bottom of the supporting pillars. At one end a stage had been erected and decorated tastefully with white drapes. The usual House tables had been replaced with small round tables; each was decorated with a centre piece of a pink rose and several jars of this waterproof blue fire which Rose had shown me how to conjure. Each of the tables were set with silver and the menus were placed on top of the plates. The team Captains and their dates had been placed together with reserved placed on the centre of the table. The teachers had five tables reserved for them and the rest of the team had space as well.
The team Captains and their dates was a charming idea, but it caused too much trouble. For a start everyone from fourth year upwards was attending and so they all had to have dates (apparently). The biggest problem was caused by Sam when he threw a huge tantrum after being told that Shia had been asked to the Ball by Alfie and she had said yes. There were other spats across the school and in the end there were a lot of annoyed people.
In the days before the dance all anyone could talk about was who was going with who and what people were wearing. So much so that there were an inordinate number of students in detention on the day after the ball.
In the end I hadn’t really bought dress robes, I had opted for a vintage dress. It was ankle length and navy blue with sequins on the body. I had some plain navy stilettos to match and stockings with the seam up the back.
I decided that, for the first time in my life, I would take a long time getting ready. First of all I had a shower in the communal bathroom that the three teams shared in the dormitories. I spent for ever magically removing the hair from my legs and armpits. It was an arduous task. Then I shampooed and conditioned my hair so that it shone in the light when I had magically dried it. I then rubbed my whole body with lotion to make me all smooth and slippery; it was a nice feeling but it gave a shock to one of the Durmstrang boys who walked in just as I bent over to rub my ankles and my towel fell open. All he wanted was to go to the toilet; instead I either gave him the thrill of his life or the shock of his life.
After that I wrapped my towel tighter round myself and moved to the mirrors. I covered my face in a small amount of foundation then some powder over that. To make me look more alive I added some blusher to my cheeks and smoothed it in. Checking that I had no lines that needed blending I applied the navy eye shadow I had bought from my local chemist back in the muggle world. After securing this with some makeup fixer I lined my eyes with the usual black eyeliner and then applied my new mascara. It was magical mascara which extended you lashes for twelve hours at a time. I smiled at my face in the mirror and then applied the tomato red lipstick.
I slipped into my dress and looked at my body in the mirror. The floaty over layer of the dress made me look slim and the heals which I had slipped onto my feet made me look taller. The puffy see-through sleeves also evened out my shoulder to hip ratio. My hair was fixed in loose waves which were natural but never looked this good. I smiled, I looked presentable and so I was happy.
Picking up my bag I slipped out of the dormitories and out into the corridor.
“You are looking very beautiful today Rachael.” Said the portrait of Anne Boleyn, she smiled and watched my back as I walked away.
The stairs were a lot harder to negotiate now that I was five inches higher. In the end I slipped off the stilettos and walked in my stockings down the two flights of stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs I met James, he was smiling and was dressed in what looked like an elongated suite. It was navy blue, just like my dress (this was an absolute coincidence as Ginny bought his dress robes for him without even asking me).
“You're on time.” I said, smiling and slipping on my shoes.
“You said half eight, and its half eight.” He said, holding onto my arm as I balanced on one foot, trying to put my other shoe on.
I lead James into the room that we had met the other teams in two weeks ago; in the room waited five other people.
Professor Longbottom stood by the fire smiling and the other four occupants were either seated or stood chatting to their partner.
“Ah Mr Potter and Miss Edgley, don’t you two look lovely.” Longbottom said, smiling and turning away from the fire.
“As I am sure that you are aware that you three will lead the dancing. You will enter the hall last and then take up your position in the middle of the dance floor. Are there any questions?”
The six pairs of eyes looked between each other and then back at Professor Longbottom.
“I take that as no, I will return when you are expected to start.” He said, before leaving the room.
I smiled nervously. The Durmstrang captain; Kowalski had asked a Slytherin girl named Scarlet Dent. She was living up to her name by wearing a bright red and very tight fitting dress. She looked very pleased with her date. Kowalski himself was dressed in what looked like regimental dress meets dress robes.
Fitzroy was dressed in a set of black, very nice looking, dress robes. He was with one of his beaters; Amelé Dunne. She was wearing a pale yellow dress which looked like a princesses, it had a wispy layer over the top which flicked out; hers reached the floor and looked a lot better than Scarlet Dent’s dress.
But I was being judgemental there; I hadn’t ever really spoken to Scarlet, she was after all a year below me and in the opposing house. But I had shouted at her at the beginning of the year after the Cormack incident as she was the Slytherin sixth year prefect. From the lack of evil glairs I was getting I meant that she didn’t bear a grudge.
I smiled at Scarlet. She smiled back.
A few seconds later she had moved over to talk to me.
“Hi,” she said, smiling slightly.
“Hi, look I’m sorry for shouting at you earlier on in the year.” I said trying to make a mends.
“Oh don’t worry about that I heard what Cormack did to Potter, I can understand why you went crazy on us.” She smiled sweetly.
Scarlet then lent closer to me and whispered.
“You might have found the only Slytherin who doesn’t bear grudges...just saying.” She whispered before taking a step back.
The door opened and we all looked round, it was Professor Longbottom.
“Come on then.” He said patting down his own dress robes, which were a lovely dark brown.
We filed silently out of the room and into the entrance hall.
“Now, when I open the doors you must all file in, in your pairs and then take up your place on the dance floor. After the first dance the food will be served and you must take your seat on the reserved table.” He said in hushed tones.
I nodded nervously, a lump rising in my throat.
“Sir could you take my bag and put it on my seat?” I asked, realising that it would be illogical to dance with my bag.
“Yes,” Longbottom said, he then opened the doors and I threw my bag at him.
The sea of faces looked round at us and my heart hammered. James looked down at me reassuringly and then started to walk down the centre gap in the tables. When we reached half way the string quartet started playing a lovely piece of music (this calmed me down slightly).
When we reached the middle of the dance floor James stopped and turned to take my hands. I was shaking all over, James notices and lent into my ear.
“Just imagine we are in the orchard at the Burrow.” He whispered.
I closed my eyes and remembered what it was like, the cold air and the lights in the trees and the fake snow. I smiled and then opened my eyes again and we were slowly turning.
James smiled at me, and then slowly the floor began to fill with the other students. After I had relaxed a bit I noticed that Albus and Fenna were dancing very nicely with each other and that Shia was bright red in the face as she was so close to ‘Alfie’. It was hard not to miss her bright red face; especially when she was wearing a white dress...
The dance was over much faster than I wanted it to be; after all my nerves at the start I had actually enjoyed it.
We then returned to our seats, I found my bag on my seat just as I had asked. The other two captain couples were chatting between themselves, James and I just sat there taking it all in. He hadn’t let go of my hand since we had started dancing.
James lent forward, “Congratulations on the Ball.” He said smiling cheekily.
I was just about to reply when Professor Sprout stood up and walked over to the stage; she was dressed in a deep green set of robes with her usual hat perched onto of her hair.
“I welcome all of you young Wizards and Witches from across the continent to our opening Ball, and in the spirit of good will would you please raise you glasses to Durmstrang, Beauxbatton and finally Hogwarts.” There was a mummer of confusion as people looked at their empty glasses.
But this was one of my ideas so it would go well.
I picked up my glass and it filled with punch, James and the rest of the table did the same. The wave carried on across the hall until everyone was holding up their glasses.
“To Durmstrang, Beauxbatton and Hogwarts.” Sprout prompted
“To Durmstrang, Beauxbatton and Hogwarts!” replied the crowd, and there was the lovely sound of class clinking against glass.
“Now you may eat.” Sprout said before sitting down.
The eating arrangement was not my idea, no they had used the ordering system before at the Tri-Wizard Tournament Yule Ball. But I had decided that the same concept would work.
I lifted the menu off my plate scanned down it.
~ Menu ~
*
~ Starter ~
Prawn Cocktail
Stuffed Mushrooms
Warm Brea and Bred with salad
~ Main Course ~
Steak and kidney pie
Chicken in white wine
Duck-orange
Lentil and Chickpea Lasagne
All served with chips or boiled potatoes and salad
~ Pudding ~
Trifle
Chocolate cake
Banana cream pie
All served with either ice cream or cream
I instantly chose Prawn Cocktail as I didn’t like any of the others.
“Prawn Cocktail.” I said loudly and clearly. The teachers had done the same and were waiting for their food to appear.
Then my Prawn Cocktail appeared on my plate.
“Stuffed Mushrooms,” James said next to me cottoning-on to how you ordered your food.
“You better have a mint at the end or I’m not going near you.” I said jokily,
I was waiting for the rest of the table to receive their food.
-≈-
When I had polished off the last of my chocolate cake Professor Sprout stood up again.
“Now we will have some more modern music.” Then the Zombie Twins appeared on stage and several of the fourth and fifth years screamed.
James got up and lead me onto the dance floor again and the rest of the people followed suit.
It was nearly midnight when the party started to wind down.
“This will be out last song of the night and it goes out to all you loved up couples out there, it is Valentine’s day after all.” Shouted one of the Zombie Twins.
It was a slow song about love and some strange potion and something, but I wasn’t paying much attention. After all James had pulled me close and I was now resting my head on his chest.
-≈-
James and I had to be the last to leave as we were Head Boy and Girl and we had to make sure that everyone had vacated the Hall. It was nearly half one by the time everyone had left the Hall and the elves popped out of nowhere and started cleaning.
“James carry me I can’t walk.” I complained as I tried to get up out of my chair. The stilettos had caused a lot of pain in my feet.
James rolled his eyes and turned round so I could get on his back and be given a piggyback back to the dormitories.
“Grab my bag,” I said almost forgetting my bag which was on the table covered in confetti.
James carried me back all the way to the dormitory, but had to put me down to get in through the portrait hole.
“Night.” I whispered, giving him a peck on the cheek.
“Night.” he replied, kissing me full on the lips.
Smiling I slipped in through the bedroom door and tried to find my bed.
Write a Review My Boyfriend: James Potter: The Valentine’s Ball
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