“Have you found a date yet?” Ron asked Dazai, the day of the Yule ball.
“To what?” Dazai played dumb.
“Don’t give me that! For the Yule ball! The one we are literally getting ready for right now.”
“Ugh dancing is so boring! Why do people even care about this stupid thing?”
Dazai did indeed have a date for the ball, he wasn’t going to share that with the others however. He recalled a conversation he shared with Blaise a few days prior.
“This ball is so dumb! Why are they forcing us to pick a date anyways? Can’t we just ditch?”
“Professor Snape said not to skip. He told everyone during dance practice that he would make us regret it if we did. All of the professors are very adamant that we need to form a good relationship with the other schools.”
“Ugh I guess.” Dazai sighed. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you just be my date?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean that we are probably going to be hanging out there anyways, so why not just go together?”
“How would that work?”
“I happen to know both the male and female steps to the Waltz!” Dazai smiled. He wasn’t about to tell Blaise that he had plenty of practice doing the female’s part with Mori. Blaise raised a suspicious brow before Dazai waved him off. “So what do you say?”
“I guess. Why not?” Blaise shrugged, indifferent. He opened a textbook and started on his homework.
“That’s the spirit!” Dazai cheered.
The door to the Hounds’ office opened and Hermione stepped in.
“Hey!” She beamed.
“Someone looks happy!” Dazai commented.
“Of course I am! I got asked to the ball!”
“By who? Ron?” He guessed.
“What? No! Why would he?” She blushed. “Anyways, I was asked by Viktor Krum!”
“The dude from Durmstrang?”
“Yep. I’m so excited! I even have my dress picked out and everything.” She squealed.
‘I wonder what will happen with Ron?’ He thought to himself.
“Speaking of dates, did you guys find one yet? The ball is in a few days.”
Blaise and Dazai shared a look before a mischievous smile worked its way on Dazai’s face. Blaise knew that face and it caused him to sigh. Dazai was planning something.
The odd exchange made Hermione confused.
“You’ll just have to wait and see.” Dazai beamed.
“Ah, well you could’ve just said that you didn’t have one yet. No need to feel ashamed.”
“Who says I don’t have one?” Dazai scoffed offendedly. “I am very charming, you know, and persuasive.”
“More like manipulative.” Ron only caught the tail end of what Dazai said as he walked in, but he felt like what he heard needed correcting.
“That’s also a part of my charm.” He smirked.
“Right… anyways, have you found a date yet?” Ron asked.
“Nope!”
“I have!” Hermione excitedly chimed in.
“What? With who?” Ron’s smile dropped.
“With Viktor Krum! Now if you can excuse me, I have to figure out how I’m going to do my hair.” She stomped out of the room.
“What’s wrong with her?” Dazai made a face.
“No idea.” Blaise chimed in, sounding bored.
-
Later, when Blaise and Dazai found themselves alone again…
“So I’m assuming we aren’t telling the others that we are going together?” Blaise asked.
“Nope! Not just yet.”
“I can tell you’re planning something. Mind letting me in on it?”
“Sure! I figured that we could surprise everyone when we start dancing.”
“Hmm… why?”
“You know me, Blaise! I’m always full of surprises! A dramatic Yule dance is totally up my alley.”
“That does seem like something you’d do. Ok fine, I’m in.”
Dazai beamed at how easy Blaise was convinced. He felt a flutter in his heart before immediately stomping the thought out. ‘This isn’t the time for feelings! How gross!’ He thought to himself.
-
“You’re right, Dazai! This whole thing is boring!” Ron sulked. He seemed to still be devastated that he didn’t ask Hermione in time. He straightened out his bow tie and sighed. “And this suit is awful! Why in the world did mom send this to me?”
“Parents can be pretty awful sometimes!” Dazai agreed. Mori had sent him a dress with his suit- a dress that he threw into the fireplace as soon as he opened the package. The suit was decent though: black pants, white collared button down, a black vest, and a black bow tie. All complemented by a black blazer and a black eye patch for his missing eye.
“Well I guess I’m ready if you are.”
“Yep, we should get going then.”
Dazai and Ron stepped out of the Hounds’ office and headed to the Yule ball. Ron didn’t want to be alone today with how sad he was feeling, so he had asked Dazai to get ready with him. Dazai definitely wasn’t allowed into the Gryffindor common rooms anymore, so the office was the safest bet.
“Hey, you’re still going with that one girl, right?” Dazai asked as they walked down the stairs.
“Yeah I guess.” Ron sighed.
Dazai sympathized with whoever the unfortunate girl was. If she wasn’t Hermione and if she didn’t look good from behind (according to Ron’s standards), there was a safe bet that tonight would be miserable for her.
“You still haven’t mentioned who you’re-“
“Oh look, we’re here!” Dazai deflected, cutting Ron off.
There was a crowd of lively people chattering amongst themselves in excitement.
Ron met up with his date and the 3 of them walked in together.
They found a table to sit at and watched as the others danced.
“You're not dancing, Ron?” Dazai asked.
“I don’t really feel like it.” He sighed and his date scoffed.
“Aww, is Ron too embarrassed?”
“What? No! I just don’t feel like dancing!”
“Yeah I’m sure that’s what it is.” Dazai teased some more.
“I’m serious, Dazai.”
“You’re an open book my friend.” He leaned in to whisper into Ron’s ear. “You might make Hermione regret coming here with Muscles if she sees you dancing and having a good time.”
Ron considered it for a moment before jolting onto his feet. “Let’s go dance.” He said to his date with his hand stretched out to her.
“Finally!” She rolled her eyes and took his hand.
They walked over to the dance floor together and danced.
“Too easy!” Dazai giggled.
“Sorry I’m late.” Blaise said when he walked over. He was wearing a black suit with a white undershirt and a green tie.
“It’s fine. Besides, this thing only started a few minutes ago.” He smiled.
“Well then, shall we dance?” Blaise held a hand out to Dazai who gladly took it. They walked to the dance floor while eyes started landing on them.
Blaise put a hand on Dazai’s upper waist and Dazai set his arm on top of it with his hand on Blaise’s shoulder. They interlocked the fingers of their other hands and started dancing. Everyone in the room stared at them with wide, unbelieving eyes.
‘What on earth are they doing?’ Snape thought to himself while staring at his problem child doing something completely unexpected. Part of him felt that by now, he shouldn’t be surprised by Dazai’s antics, but another part of him felt too exhausted to do anything about it. He let out a loud sigh and continued with his dancing.
All of the Hounds were surprised at what they saw but quickly brushed it off as Dazai being his typical self and Blaise going along with his schemes- as usual.
As Blaise and Dazai danced, they chatted and laughed together. ‘Maybe this dance isn’t so bad after all…’ Dazai thought to himself. At that moment, when he noticed his heart beating rapidly in his chest, he was almost convinced that he might sort of be human after all…