The Winter Ball
The Winter Ball was held on the last Saturday in January. After an early dinner, everyone retreated to their dormitories to get ready. Liam put on his cleanest shirt and slacks. Because he didn’t have a girlfriend that year, it didn’t seem to matter what tie he wore. He wasn’t trying to match anyone’s dress. So, he wore his red Arsenal tie with the cannon logo in white at the bottom.
Michael and Fortney also got ready quickly. Michael’s shirt wasn’t even properly pressed. Both wore black school ties. Philip, meanwhile, was taking his time behind his curtain. “What’s going on in there?” asked Michael. “You aren’t sitting and reading, are you?”
The boys could see from the movements of the curtain that Philip was obviously getting dressed. Michael was trying to get a rise out of Philip, and Philip promptly obliged. “Of course, I’m not reading!” he huffed.
Philip drew back the curtain. His pants were jet black, with a satin bar running down the leg. His white shirt was pleated and had tiny black metal buttons. The cufflinks were of the same silver and black. Philip had the left cufflink in place, but he was struggling to get the right one through all the slots in the sleeve.
“Isn’t there a spell for that?” remarked Michael.
“Muggles don’t use spells to put their cufflinks in,” said Philip. “I should be able to manage a task as simple as this.”
Liam walked up to him. “In the interest of time, let me help you.” Liam had no experience at all with cufflinks, but he had two hands at his disposal to Philip’s one, which gave him an advantage. After reviewing the left cuff, Liam set the right one in place.
“There you go.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re putting us to shame in that thing, Hark.”
Philip pulled on his coat and the slipped his formal robe over his shoulder. He looked like a young duke. “You could have rented a tux,” said Philip. “They were very reasonable.”
“Well, the economy being as it is, and since none of us have girlfriends, we decided to forgo the expense,” said Liam.
“It’s not like you have a girlfriend, Hark,” said Fortney. “Why did you get so dressed up?”
“He’s got to impress all those Slytherin girls,” said Michael.
“Not all of them,” said Liam. “Just one in particular.”
“Who?” asked Fortney, with honest surprise. “Not Vanessa!”
Philip glared back at him. “Of course, not Ables. I shan’t tell you who, though. If you don’t know by now, you’ll know by the end of the night.”
The boys went out to the common room. Bell and her friends, as well as the First and Second Year girls, were hanging about too, waiting for the older girls to come out in their dresses.
The first to emerge was Stacy. Her hair was curled in waves and piled high on her head. She wore gold post earrings with tiny ruby stones. Her gown was burgundy satin with lace sleeves. The dress was asymmetrical, shorter in the front and floor length in the back.
Monique was next. Her black hair was braided and hung down her back. Her gown was satin and tulle, floor length, the color of daffodils.
Lara and Stephanie came out together. Stephanie’s dress was light blue and full of sequins. It was a mermaid dress, though the witches laughed to hear it called thus. She wore silver earrings with blue stones with a matching necklace. Lara’s dress was simpler, a knee length gown of chiffon and appliques lace, mauve, with a scoop neck. Over her bare arms, she wore a matching mauve drape.
Liam looked to Michael and Fortney and said, “Next year, we’re going to have to pick up our games. Hark’ll have to take us to his tuxedo place.”
“It’s not hard to find,” said Philip. “It’s right in Hogsmeade, just down the street from the Three Broomsticks.”
The boys went out into the hallway and waited as the girls made their way carefully through the barrels in their dresses and heels. Liam offered his arm to Lara. “Shall we?”
She gazed solemnly up at him. She spoke softly to him, so the others would not overhear: “Our time has not come, but I accept this as your fellow prefect.” She set her hand softly on Liam’s arm, and the two walked up the stairs together.
Behind them came Philip with Stacy, Fortney with Monique, and Michael with Stephanie. Stephanie’s dress was tight, which made it difficult to walk, and she was unsteady on her high heels. She leaned heavily on Mike’s arm as she walked.
The younger girls followed, eager to catch a glimpse of the other girls in their gowns before they all went into the Great Hall for the dance.
As the Hufflepuffs arrived in the Entrance Hall, the Slytherins were coming up the straight stairs. The first to emerge were a group of boys in tuxes, looking both hostile and bored. Next came Q, wearing a knee length black dress with white trim and cap sleeves. She slipped past the boys and went straight to Stacy.
The two girls embraced and then stood back to admire each other’s gowns. Holding hands, they stood to watch the rest of the promenade.
Out of the doorway came Morwena, dressed in a dark green satin gown. Her bodice was scoop-necked and beaded. Around her bare shoulders she wore a shimmering silver shawl.
Beside her was Pauline, also dressed in green. Her skirt was tulle. It floated like a cloud just above her knee.
Tess wore another creation from Andromeda’s. This one was ice blue. White crystal snowflakes fell from her bodice down the long shimmering skirt.
All three girls wore their hair curled and magically suspended above their heads, and each wore earrings and a necklace with pendants. Morwena’s pendant was a diamond, small but brilliant. It sparkled brightly in the torchlight. Pauline’s pendant was emerald and Tess’, sapphire.
Behind the three girls, a tall boy loomed protectively. The hood of his formal robe was over his head, casting a shadow over his face. Liam watched him carefully. Though Liam didn’t know any of the older Slytherin boys by name, he knew them all by sight. It put him on edge not to have recognized this boy immediately.
“Who is that, next to Langlet?” whispered Liam to Michael.
“Dunno.”
Then, the hood came down, revealing a freckled face and short, wiry orange hair. “Should have known,” said Liam. “It’s Mac! She’s got a tux just like Hark’s.” Liam went straight to Rhiannon, and the two shook hands.
Lara approached Morwena; the two girls admired each other’s dresses. Philip went to greet Rhiannon and Pauline.
Out from the stairs came Vanessa and her new boyfriend, Arnold Brent. Vanessa’s dress was red satin. It plunged in the front and required magic to keep it in place. Though the skirt was floor length, there were long slits in it, showing off her long white thighs.
Michael tutted his tongue. “If those slits were any higher up, she’d be flashing her knickers with every step she took!”
“Not my problem,” said Liam.
“You’d think, on a night like this, they’d look a bit happier.”
Indeed, Arnold and Vanessa looked miserable. Vanessa’s aura was like a vortex, jealously pulling Arnold’s attention away from all the other girls. Arnold in turn was trying to keep other boys from leering at Vanessa. Together, they were a black hole, collapsing upon itself. Liam shook his head and looked away.
From the stairs came Gillian and Sadie. Their dresses were similar – A-line, scoop neck. Sadie’s was cabernet with cap sleeves, while Gillian’s was royal blue and sleeveless, showing off her smooth, athletic arms and generous quantities of freckles.
Liam greeted them. “Hullo. You two look nice.”
“Thanks!” said Sadie.
She wants you to ask her to dance, said Gillian’s voice into Liam’s ear.
It must have gone out to Sadie as well, for she blushed and cried out, “Jill!” Gazing up at Liam with her big coffee brown eyes, she said, “You won’t mind, will you? We can still just be friends. I just don’t want to be leaning against the wall the whole night.”
“Sure, I’ll dance with you for a bit,” said Liam. “And with you, too,” he added, to Gillian.
“Of course!” responded Gillian, verbally this time.
In the Great Hall, the music started. “No band this time?” asked Gillian. Liam and Sadie both shrugged. “You prefects are supposed to be on top of stuff like this!”
“Sorry,” said Liam. “We’re not on the social committee.”
“Must have been a budget issue,” added Sadie. “They can’t do a fancy band every year.”
The three walked into the Great Hall. The four long tables were removed. The DJ had set up where the staff table would have been. He was dressed in a white suit – white shirt, jacket, pants and shoes – which contrasted nicely with his dark brown skin and long black dreadlocks. He wore thick black sunglasses and danced and swayed as he switched seamlessly from song to song.
“At least we got a cool DJ,” said Gillian.
The three of them found a corner away from the door and the refreshment table and began to dance. Alma joined them, wearing a pearl pink dress sequins and a short tulle skirt. This quickly drew the attention of the Gryffindor boys. Paul swept up Gillian and Dave took Alma, leaving Liam with Sadie.
When it was just the two of them, Sadie asked, “Who else are you going to dance with? Do you have a plan?”
“Not a formal plan, no, but I have some ideas. After I dance with my Hufflepuff sisters, I think I’ll try my hand at a Slytherin girl not named Vanessa Ables.”
“Like who? Morwena?”
“We’ll see,” said Liam.
True to his word, Liam danced with Stephanie and Monique. They were like sisters to him – he felt no desire at all towards them. He enjoyed their company and was happy to bring them out onto the dance floor to show off their dresses.
Stacy was dancing with Q, and Liam did not wish to cut in on them. When he asked Lara to dance, she politely declined. Instead, Liam found Carol Kilgress, the Seeker for the Badgers, and asked her to dance. They kept to the edge of the crowd, away from the DJ, where the music wasn’t so loud.
“You’re doing a great job with the Second Team, Liam,” said Carol. “They’re really coming along.”
“Thanks. I wish the First Team was doing better. Mike and I have our roles down, but every time I look over at Remington and them, they’re just talking.”
“They get their work in,” said Carol, loyally. “They’ll pull it together before the first game.”
Liam nodded. He would have said the same if someone had pressed him. Deep down, however, he had his misgivings.
After dancing with Carol for a few songs, Liam went back amongst the Gryffindors to dance with Gillian and Alma. The boys tried to act as if they were too cool for dancing, but seeing Liam with their girls spurred them to get off the wall. They regularly cut in on Liam, and he in turn cut in on them. Gillian danced tirelessly, with a happy smile. Her freckled skin glowed.
After an hour of dancing, Liam made his way to refreshment table. The House Elf poured him a paper cup of lemon-lime soda. As he took a sip, he saw Tess Covenshire. She had come over for a drink as well. Her face was flushed, and strands of her brown hair clung to her cheeks.
“Hullo Covenshire,” he said. “You always have the nicest dress. That from Andromeda’s?”
“Thank you, Wren! Yes it is from Andromeda’s. I wore it to a New Year’s Eve party a few weeks ago. I just had to wear it again.”
“Care for a dance?”
“I’d love to.”
He took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. “I wish my brother could see this,” he said. “Patty had quite the crush on you when he was a First Year.”
She laughed. “Did he? That’s sweet. I thought he and Shona were so cute together last year. I wonder if they’ll discover one another again when they are older.”
They danced together for a few songs. Tess was beautiful, and Liam felt more attraction towards her than he did towards Monique or Stephanie. Yet, Liam still remembered how manipulative Tess could be, and how she had worked to undermine his relationship with Sadie. Mostly, he was on the rebound from Vanessa, and he had had his full of Slytherin witches.
Tess asked him, “Were you going to ask Morwena to dance?”
“Maybe,” answered Liam.
“You should.” Just then, a Slytherin boy came up, and, at the transition between songs, cut in to dance with Tess. Liam made his way back to the Hufflepuffs.
Philip was standing against the wall, looking lost. When he saw Liam, he said, “You look like you’re having a fine evening. I saw you dancing with Tess.”
“I’m doing alright, I guess,” said Liam. “Covenshire’s fine company for a dance or two. I bet being her boyfriend full time is a lot of work, as much as being Vanessa’s boyfriend was.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“How did you do?”
“Well, I went over there, first thing. I danced with Pauline for a little while, and Morwena was with us, but then Rhiannon took Morwena and another boy took Pauline and I wasn’t dancing with anyone.”
“You need to take another crack at Langlet.”
“I know. I just don’t know how to go about it.”
“This thing will be wrapping up soon. If you cut in now, you may be with her when that last slow song starts.”
“That would be lovely. I just have to keep up my nerve.”
Liam scanned the group of Gryffindors. His mind was on seeking out Gillian for another dance, when Philip said, “Did you dance with Morwena?”
“No, I haven’t, but you’re the third person who’s suggested it.” Liam looked to the group of Slytherins. Morwena was against the wall, watching the crowd of dancers, on the opposite side of the hall from where Liam and Philip were talking. Pauline was nearby, dancing with one of the older Slytherin boys.
“Alright,” said Liam firmly. “Let’s walk over there together. I’ll dance with Felwich and you cut in on Langlet. And this time, hold your ground until that slow song comes up.”
They made their way across the dancefloor to where the Slytherins had clustered. Before they were halfway, however, out of the crowd came Gillian and Alma. “Hey, you two,” said Gillian. “Dance with us!”
Liam happily paired with Gillian, and Philip, the model of politeness, danced with Alma. The song faded out and the next one began, the popular love ballad “The Girl from Beauxbatons” by Hex Road.
Gillian laughed. “I can’t believe they’re still playing this song. It’s so old!” She drew close to Liam and he set his hands on her hips. Philip took a quick look out into the crowd, but he could not see Pauline from where he stood. He focused his attention back to Alma. She stepped close to him, as Gillian had done with Liam. She reached out her arms and rested her hands on Philip’s shoulders as his hands settled on her hips.
The two couples swayed to the slow beat of the song, as faery lights – blue, yellow, red and green – flickered and swirled about them. The music faded and the lights in the Great Hall brightened. The dance was over.
Philip had missed his moment to dance with Pauline, and Morwena, despite her series of overt hints, had not won a dance with Liam. Whether they would each get a shot to fulfill their particular dreams, not even Lara Guishar could tell.
As for the Third Year girls, they did not get their own dance. None of them pursued the matter beyond their first musings. Belle and her Hufflepuff sisters turned their dormitory into a dance floor. They magically shrunk the beds and pushed them all into one corner of the room. Bell had a music player and a set of speakers. It was a Muggle set, battery powered, but no one minded. Bell’s collection was all Muggle music, too, and some of her songs were much more than just one year old. The girls danced with one another and they sang along to the songs that they knew.
In the Halls of the Serpent, Alyssa, Meriko and Freya lay on their beds, talking. Alyssa had them evaluate each of the older boys that they knew, purposefully keeping the subject of Benedict Took off to the side, lest it divide them.
“Who would you pick, Freya, of all the older boys?” asked Alyssa
Freya, still pondering her sister’s secret crush, said, “I like Patrick’s older brother, Liam Wren, the prefect.”
“I like his friend,” said Meriko.
“Who?” probed Alyssa. “Bendrix, Fortney or Hark?”
“I don’t know his name. The boy with dark blond hair.”
“That’s Hark. Philip Harkenborough,” said Alyssa decisively. “I’ve actually spoken to him at a party once. He’s very polite. He’s gotten taller this year, too. I agree, he’s quite handsome now.”
The conversation drifted this way and that, until all three girls drifted into the silence of her own thoughts.