The Yule Ball was in full swing. The Great Hall was transformed with a sky full of stars and lanterns twinkling like fireflies. The students and staff were dancing with unabashed excitement.
Harry Potter was standing in the corner alone, watching the festivities from afar. He'd come solo as usual, not wanting to date anyone, or involve himself in any kind of relationship. In addition, he was aroace.
He spotted Snape and Dumbledore sitting side by side at one of the tables, deep in conversation. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company in their own way.
Ron was at the ball too, he came with Harry, but they eventually split up because Ron was intent on finding the courage to ask Victor Krum for a dance. He now was surreptitiously watching Harry from across the room, torn as usual between his crush on Harry and his desire for Krum. It's not like he wasn't content with staying in the friend-zone with Harry, knowing his absence of interest in relationships, he just couldn't help his feelings.
Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy were fooling around, their technique switching from dignified to close to making out, following the harmonies of the ever-changing music.
Professor Trelawney was thoroughly vibing in the middle of the Hall, dancing by herself, her eyes half-closed, her head up in the clouds.
Karkaroff, the Durmstrang Headmaster, was walking around the dance floor asking people to dance. It was a tradition of his school and he was determined to keep it alive. When his eye fell on the long festive table, he approached Professor Dumbledore and asked them for a dance.
Professor Dumbledore politely declined, and noticing that Karkaroff asked everyone of his social status, gestured towards professor Snape. Snape's horrified expression did nothing to decrease Dumbledore's mischievous smile. In the end Dumbledore agreed to the dance, thus saving Snape from the terrible feat of socializing that they would readily avoid themself.
Ron finally elbowed his way through the crowded dance floor and talked to Harry.
"Wanna go outside and get some air?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded and they headed out of the Great Hall.
They walked silently for some time taking in the literal magic around them and the beauty of the landscape.
Suddenly they heard voices coming from the nearby gallery. It was Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. They talked about their plans for the upcoming holidays and how they intended to spend the first class-free day in bed together having sex and then going about their business as usual.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances to make sure that either of them was equally dumbstruck, then, quietly sneaked up inside, leaving the night to its magical beauty.
They found a quet corner by the drink fountain and settled to mull over what they had overheard.
Suddenly, when Ron was saying something along the lines of :
"Blimey, I didn't know Snape and the Headmaster were in a romantic relationship!"
a third condescending voice joined them - it belonged to Draco Malfoy, who looked impossibly smug:
"Well, Weasley, it's a small wonder you know nothing whatsoever about queer-platonic relationships."
Taking a moment to appreciate the confused look on others' faces Draco continued: "Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore aren't romantically involved. And they are both aroace!"
"And what the hell is that? How can they be platonic if they set up a whole day just for shagging?" - said Ron mockingly.
"Time to grow up, Weasley, and accept people's differences. All types of consensual relationships are valid."
"How come you know all that?" couldn't help but ask Harry.
"Some of us know how to gain the confidence of important people, Potter" with that he turned around and was gone.
"Bet he just knows what all those signs on the Headmaster's Pride Wall mean." Ron snorted with a hint of envy.
Once rid of other's boastful presence, Ron said that it might be his chance and dashed after Krum, who appeared to be alone for the first time this evening.
The Yule Ball continued late into the night. As the music played and students danced, Harry Potter watched it all from his corner, content to stay there alone.