Fae Dancing
Ginny watches a red-faced Ron exit the Great Hall with Hermione and Krum, somehow both surprised and supremely not surprised at all. She looks back up to her dance partner when he makes a questioning noise.
“Something interesting?” Neville queries quietly, being his adorable self and still managing to sweep her through the waltz as they’d been doing for several hours now. Before tonight, she would not have guessed Neville to be quite so athletic- however he was obviously enjoying himself immensely. Being asked to the Yule Ball by the shy boy had been unexpected but welcome- he was sweet and Ginny had been ecstatic to be able to go to such a once-in-her-school-lifetime event.
“Nothing really,” Ginny gave an overly sweet smile, “hopefully just my toe-rag of a brother pulling his head out of his arse for once.” The words, though spoken with a sweet tone, obviously startle Neville, causing him to blush and turn his head around wildly trying to spot said toe-rag brother. Ginny laughs brightly as the song they were dancing to comes to a close, “Never mind that! We should head over to get some drinks now. I don’t know about you but I’m parched!”
Neville gathers himself and gallantly offers his arm to her, ever the noble gentleman, and leads her across the room to the table filled with punch- unlikely to have been spiked yet due to the constant surveillance by one lurking Dungeon Bat. Once there, he passes Ginny a cup and they wander off to the side to take a brief respite at one of the many tables dotting the room, settling to watch the dancers who remained on the floor.
Ginny hears quiet choking next to her and turns to Neville, raising a brow. “Is that Harry?!” Neville exclaims, somehow just now noticing what no doubt the majority of the room had noted as soon as the striking pair entered the crowd of dancers.
Ginny muffles a laugh with her hand, eyes twinkling as she replies, “They’ve been waltzing circles around us for two songs Neville!”
Neville looks at her, obviously having been completely unaware of that, then turns back to watch the couple raptly. Ginny joins him, taking in the way Blaise towers almost a full head over Harry- dear, awkward, completely red-faced Harry- and expertly leads one of McGonagall’s most Bumbling Buffoon (™ by McGonagall obviously) Gryfindors through the other couples. As arresting as they are to watch, Ginny can’t really blame Neville for not noticing. Ginny and Neville both practiced for hours to smoothly fit with each other while dancing prior to the ball, with Ginny’s best friend Luna joining them often during their practice. Ginny was also certain that Neville had practiced for yet more hours on top of that- especially considering that their sessions typically devolved into a giggling mess when Luna managed to get them to dance their wrackspurts away.
Dear, sweet Neville had not been prepared for the utter chaos that is Luna Lovegood dancing.
Ginny continues to watch the couples with a grin, eyes idling over the attendees to see if anyone else from her year was here. Most were fourth years or older- she didn’t see one single-
Ginny blinks.
Then blinks again.
“Luna?”
Neville startles once again next to her- honestly, the boy plays fast and loose with his nerves. If he weren’t such a chivalrous knight-in-training she might join those who questioned why he'd be placed in Gryffindor. Ginny, though, had no doubts that Neville would grow into a fine, worthy Gryfindor in time. He was so good- so brave to face his fears.
But that’s not the point at the moment because, why is Luna here?
Ginny grabs Neville by the wrist and tugs him towards the exit of the room, where Luna stands resplendent in her silver-white dress robes over a lovely blue-lace skirt, accentuating her glowing blue eyes with their eerie, knowing gaze.
“Hullo Ginny, hullo Neville,” Luna says as they reach her, smiling blithely at her friends, “I see the wrackspurts have mostly left you be this evening.” With her smile still dreamily in place, Luna lets her gaze wander while simultaneously reaching to hold Ginny’s unoccupied hand, humming softly when she finds her target. “What a lovely party.”
Ginny lightly squeezes her best friend’s hand, grinning widely at this new development. She looks up at Neville to see a bemused but friendly smile on his face- he’s always kind to Luna, though like most he’s not sure just what to make of her… observations.
“Hi Luna,” Neville ventures, “what brings you to the Ball?”
“I wanted to see the fruits of your labor. You both were dashing out there, truly beautiful to watch,” her serene smile in place, she begins to swing Ginny’s hand with her own to the time of the music, swaying gently to the rhythm. “Would you like to dance with me? I believe our dancing would truly enliven the others!” With that spoken, she turns her gaze to Neville and Ginny, causing Ginny to smile ever wider at a mildly panicked looking Neville.
“Oh!” Neville says quickly, eyes darting around, “well I’m not sure- that is with all the others here- I mean-” Neville flounders for a moment, clearly trying to politely say he was too nervous to dance Luna’s way in front of so many of their peers. Ginny feels a small pang in her heart, knowing how much this dance means to Neville.
“Maybe we could have a dance together on another day, Luna,” Ginny says, simultaneously squeezing Luna’s hand and Neville’s arm. “We still haven’t managed to pull off more than two lifts tonight!”
“Oh, no, that’s alright!” Neville turns his eyes to both of them, fondly looking between Ginny and Luna but clearly seeing that Ginny was speaking up in his favor. “I was going to catch up with Hannah and Susan anyways. Hannah asked me to save her a dance- we’ve gotten on quite well in Herbology this year.”
Still Ginny hesitated, “Are you sure?”
Neville smiles reassuringly then moves to untangle their arms, “Yes it’s alright! I also was thinking maybe to get one of those biscuits at some point this evening. Harry mentioned that Dobby was the one in charge of making sure the frosting was perfect.” With that, Neville tilts his head toward Luna, who latches onto his side briefly for a small sort of hug, “You two have fun! I’ll try to catch up with you later!”
When Neville turns to go find her year-mates, Ginny turns back to look at Luna, truly soaking her in. With her silver, white and blue attire, she looks like a winter fairy, long blond tresses loosely hanging in front of both shoulders, framing sparkling icicle earrings that shone in the glow of the Great Hall candles. Luna’s otherworldly appearance was only magnified by the lighting of the room, she looked so beautiful, and Ginny-
Well, Ginny starts as she feels heat flood her face. Here she was, standing there holding her best friend’s hand, looking into her best friend’s beaming face, beginning to sway in time with her as Ginny thinks about how it might feel to… kiss my best friend?
Well shite.
Ginny didn’t really have time to gather her thoughts, as she was swiftly pulled along by a surprisingly strong Luna onto the edge of the dancefloor, and Luna began the mad twirls, swirls, and flowing gestures of her very own style of dance. Laughing breathlessly at the odd looks, especially Harry’s swift grin after catching her eye while in the arms of his oh-so-steamy Slytherin, Ginny gives in and dances away with Luna.
Luna spins away then into Ginny’s body, then twirls around with her hands making odd grasping yet fluid gestures into the air around them, serenely but happily making the most sincere and precious spectacle of herself- as Luna does. Ginny just grins fiercely at those who give Luna disgruntled or vicious looks, making note of anyone who may have one- or several- bat bogey hexes coming their way in the future. Ginny just tries to keep up, remaining in Luna’s orbit as they dance for once song, two songs… five songs before slowing to accommodate a slow, more intimate melody.
Luna, for her part, doesn’t hesitate to place her arms up around Ginny’s neck, pulling them close to each other and resting her glowing-blond head against the redhead’s shoulder as she speaks. “What a lovely night. Thank you for dancing with me, Ginny.”
Ginny, for her part, is sure that her face is matching her hair as she holds Luna’s waist, holding her dearest friend to her, no longer conflicted about the kissing-business as she lightly kisses the crown of Luna’s head. Smiling softly, Ginny replies, “It will always be my pleasure, Luna.”