CHAPTER SIXTEEN
❛We should slow dance more often.❜
Winter came quickly, coating Hogwarts in powdery white snow, and what came with it was the magical holiday of Christmas. And Hope Lupin-Black adored the holiday more than any other, loving the snow and the gift giving of the holidays more than anyone else.
"Happy Christmas, Ronald!" exclaimed Hope, popping out from behind the red common room couch. "Isn't this day the best?"
Ron Weasley narrowed his blue eyes at his friend. "I guess. What's got you so chipper?"
"Nev, bring it here!"
Neville Longbottom came running down the stairs, three other boys following. A white jumper in his hands with scarlett red lettering. The expression on Seamus' face made Ron's suspicion go up even higher.
"What's this?" he questioned, reading the words on the back.
"We got matching jumpers!" yelled Seamus, the excitement clear in his voice. "Neville's Gran got them made, aren't they awesome?"
Dean Thomas nodded along. "And look, they have our names on them! Well, sort of."
"And they say dormmates forever! Cause, you know, that's how it will be!" exclaimed the Finnegan boy, looking over to the Weasley boy. "Don't you like it?"
"Yeah, and we all have one?"
"Yeah, look!" said Hope, looking back to her godbrother who stood on the stairs. "Get over here, Potter, before I drag you over here."
Harry Potter slowly walked over, his emerald eyes narrowed at his friends. "They spelt Potter wrong."
Ron's eyebrows furrowed. "How--"
"Pottah!" yelled Seamus, doubling over as he laughed. "Like Malfoy used to say? Pottah this, Pottah that."
Hope only smiled. "Isn't it funny?"
"Yeah, and look, Hope's says Blupin." pointed out the Finnegan boy, pointing at all of the jumpers. "Neville's says Neville Longestbottom cause he's so tall. And Dean's says Dean Tall-mas, cause he's a giant--"
The Weasley boy glanced down at his jumper and smiled. "Ronald Weasel?"
"Another brilliant nickname from my cousin."
"What's yours say, Seamus?"
Neville began to laugh as Seamus glared his eyes. "Seamus Explos-again. Are there any guesses why?"
"It only happened like one time--"
"A week."
The six of them only laughed loudly, not caring if anyone could hear them. It wasn't long before George Weasley walked down the stairs, eyebrows slightly furrowed at the six of them laughing and making fun of each other.
"May I steal my girlfriend for a minute?" asked George, smiling sweetly at his girlfriend. "Not to interrupt your laughing."
Ron narrowed his eyes at his older brother. "In what world would it actually be a minute?"
"Since you asked so nicely, George," said Seamus, meeting the brown eyes of George Weasley. "No. She's ours. Get your own."
George only looked from Seamus to Hope many times before the latter shrugged. "You heard him, George."
"I was just being polite." he laughed, before grabbing Hope's hand. "Come on, we should go up to my dorm. The boys are gone."
"Use protection!"
"Shut up, Seamus."
"Fine, be an uncle Harry. You too, Ron."
Once Hope Lupin-Black and George Weasley were alone in his silent dorm, he began to laugh. Hope wasn't sure whether it was at her, her friends, or her jumper. But by the look on his face, it was her friends.
"Merry Christmas, love." he smiled, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"And to you." she replied, before turning around. "Did you see my jumper? The boys and I got matching ones. They're amazing."
"Hope Blupin?"
Hope only nodded, smiling wide. "Binns has never called me Hope Lupin, only Hope Blupin. Which is a form of my last name."
"I love you."
"I love you, too." said Hope, before reaching into Lee Jordan's trunk to pull out a wrapped present. "I can't wrap presents for shit, but Lee can. Do you want to see what I got you?"
George only raised an eyebrow. "You didn't have to get me anything--"
"Nonsense. Here."
Inside the perfectly wrapped box was a scrapbook, much like the muggle ones from the movies. And inside were dozens of inside jokes between the two, ideas for Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, and photos from the years that they knew each other.
"Woah." he managed to say, admiring every inch of it. "Is this an idea for a hard candy that makes you vomit?"
"Came up with it in the first year." she spoke softly, staring directly into his eyes. "I know you and Fred will make something great out of my ideas. Something better than I could ever."
George only continued to flip through the pages. "These are brilliant, Hope."
"I told you, I used to be really big on pranks." she explained, looking at the pages with him. "I would spend hours coming up with stuff, even if I never did anything with them."
"It's amazing. I mean, really."
Hope only shrugged her shoulders, her cheeks turning pink. "Thank you, I know you'll do great things with it."
"Me next."
George Weasley pulled a small box from his pocket, and inside was a beautiful necklace with three charms on the chain, one being a small heart and the other two being a snowflake and broomstick.
"This is beautiful, George." she spoke in awe as George put it around her neck. "Thank you."
"The snowflake is kind of how I asked you out, in the snow. And we bonded over Quidditch which is why the broomstick." he explained, smiling softly. "The cold was awful last year."
Hope nodded, chuckling beneath her breath. "But the snow was beautiful."
The Weasley boy glanced at his watch. "Don't you have to get ready? I overheard some girls talking about it earlier--"
"I need to see Cedric first." she interrupted, jumping up from the bed. "But then get ready, yes. If I don't hurry Lettie and Ginny might hurt me."
"Then go."
Hope Lupin-Black wasn't sure how she made it down to the library within five minutes, but she did. And when she entered, Cedric Diggory sat at the table nearest to the Dragons books, a wrapped package in front of him.
"Ced!" exclaimed Hope, pulling her best friend into a hug. "Happy Christmas!"
"Did you see the snow?" he gushed, unable to contain his happiness. "Perfect weather for a snowball fight."
The Lupin-Black girl nodded, taking the seat across from him. "Did you find a date, yet?"
"Technically, no. But that's only because Cho wouldn't stop begging." groaned Cedric, putting his face in his hands. "It's pathetic. She's pathetic."
"Don't you have that dance?"
Cedric Diggory groaned once more, only nodding. "You know, I don't need a date. I could always have someone dance with me. Like a best friend. Say, I only have one of those--"
"Are you asking me to do the Champion's Dance with you?"
He quickly nodded his head. "Please? For me? You're bestest friend?"
"You know I will, Ced." she replied, chuckling beneath her breath. "You should've known that by now."
"Now, your gift." he said, unable to keep a smile off his face. "Since your gift game two days ago. Which I loved by the way."
Hope slowly removed the wrapping paper to reveal one of the newest books on Dragons, a travel guide to the lovely country of Romania, and something that she couldn't quite understand. There were two offers for interning at the Dragon Sanctuary.
"What's this?"
"I got a job offer, J. For when I graduate Hogwarts." he said, grinning from ear to ear. "And you know who else they offered one for?"
The Lupin-Black girl's jaw dropped. "Wait, are you serious?"
"Technically, no. That's your father."
Hope's grey eyes began to fill with joyful tears. "Are you telling me that we can work with Dragons? Every day of our lives?"
"That's what I'm telling you!" exclaimed Cedric, grabbing the hands of his best friend. "They even said we can intern this summer when we visit. Mum got us offers."
"Oh my Merlin."
Cedric looked into his best friend's grey eyes. "Isn't this amazing?"
"This is what we've dreamed of, Ced. What we've always dreamed of." she gushed, unable to contain her excitement. "This is your dream."
"Our dream. I wouldn't be able to do this without my best friend." he spoke softly, looking at the pampfelt. "It's been three years, isn't that crazy?"
Hope only nodded, looking over the internship papers. "All of this over one of your jackets. Which I still have, by the way."
The Diggory boy only shrugged his shoulders. "You rocked it better than I ever could."
"This makes my present look like absolute shit."
"I don't know what you expected, J." he laughed, raising his eyebrows. "I'm the best gift giver, ever."
The Lupin-Black girl nodded, knowing he was right. "You need to teach me your ways. Because I can't even wrap a present, let alone think of something great."
"I don't know, what if you start giving better gifts than me? I can't have that."
One of the benefits that came along with the Yule Ball was that girls got to come together, helping each other put makeup on and putting their hair up into gorgeous styles. All while talking about their dates and bonding with each other.
"'Ope, 'ave you ever picked up a 'airbrush?" laughed Fleur Delacour, attempting to style her friend's hair. "Your 'air is natted."
"I have before, but just not today." replied Hope, laughing as she shrugged her pale shoulders. "It's Christmas, my lazy day."
Fleur only raised an eyebrow. "Don't you know 'ow easy braids are?"
"I have two fathers and a brother." she simply stated, looking at the different makeup brushes. "I'm the only female in my household."
Ginny quickly looked over from across the room. "You have me, idiot. Practically sisters, yeah?"
Violette Bisset laughed as she put a braid in her hair. "I'm glad I have two mothers. I've known how to do my hair, makeup, everything since I could walk."
"I live with my mémé." said Celine, applying her red lipstick. "A traditional French woman."
Fleur finished the curl in Hope's hair when she let out a chuckle. "My Grand-mère was a Veela, dare I say more?"
"Couldn't even imagine."
"You're done 'Ope." called out the Delacour girl, turning Hope around to face her. "You look amazing, really."
Hope smiled sweetly, looking over to her friend of many years. "What do you think, Gin?"
Ginny's jaw dropped and she looked the Lupin-Black girl up and down. "I've never seen you with makeup on, J."
"You look hot, Black." called out Violette who was also done getting ready. "That boyfriend of yours, Gregory, Gustavo, Gabriel--"
"George."
The Bisset girl smirked and nodded. "Yes, him. He's going to agree."
Celine narrowed her brown eyes at her friend, looking slightly confused. "Lettie, who are you going to the Ball with?"
"That friend of Hope's." she replied, smiling ever so slightly. "Henry Hammond, he's very good looking."
"In what universe?"
All of the girls burst into laughter as Fleur continued. "I'm going with ze Roger Davies, 'e's from zat bird 'ouse. 'E seemed nice and very interested."
Celine looked down at her shoes, which were nothing less than gorgeous. "Pierre invited me, and I couldn't turn 'im away. 'E's my best friend. But, 'e's been strange recently."
"What do you mean?"
"'Is family is very into ze Dark Arts." she explained, looking down sadly. "One of ze only French families."
Hope's grey eyes narrowed instantly, remembering Milo's words day after day. "Do you think that has to do with it?"
"Probably not, and it's none of our business." answered Violette, glaring her eyes at her friend. "Right, Celine?"
Celine shrugged her shoulders, still looking bothered. "I guess. I'm just overthink zat's all. 'Opefully anyway."
The five girls all stood up, looking dazzled from head to toe. Hope was dressed in a fair blue dress that almost matched the shade of her eyes, while Violette's red dress made her look fierce and confident. Celine wore a poofy black dress, which she claimed to have been made by a high-end French woman. Fleur's French style was simple and fitted, and Ginny wore a long emerald dress that fitted her in every way.
"Did Draco talk you into wearing green, Gin?"
Ginny's eyes widened instantly. "What? No, I just wanted to color coordinate with his tie. He's wearing a green one, you know."
"The Americans do it." stated Violette, laughing at the girl's frantic answers. "They say it makes for better pictures."
"See?" she laughed, looking at herself in the mirror. "I want to remember this day."
"Trust me. I know we will."
A knock on the door interrupted the girls from their gossiping, and Ginny opened it to reveal all five of the boys dressed in their dress robes. Their eyes not leaving their dates who stood in front of them.
"Woah."
Hope smiled, her cheeks turning more pink. "Do I look okay?"
"You look amazing." said George, kissing her cheek softly. "I don't think I've ever seen someone so beautiful."
"Vomit, in my mouth." Draco spoke, looking to his date as the girls giggled. "Ginny, will you get your brother? He's making me sick."
Ginny only shook her head, a wide smile on her face. "Don't worry, Draco, you get used to it."
"Lettie," called out Hope, her grey eyes meeting her friend's brown. "You got the drinks?"
"That's a stupid question, of course I do." she laughed, pulling the bedazzled flask from her pocket. "Henry helped me cast a charm on it so it refills every time it gets empty."
Hope looked to Henry with a wide smile. "That's brilliant, Henry. Will you teach me how?"
"Uh--"
All eyes turned to the Davies boy, who was a known Prefect. Celine only cocked a brow. "Come on, Davies, 'ave you ever tried vodka?"
"No, I'm only seventeen, I don't drink."
Violette looked from Fleur to her date with a smirk. "Maybe you should. It'd make your attitude a bit better. Here, want a drink?"
"Yes, please."
The Delacour girl giggled looking to the Lupin-Black girl. "Is zat what you said when I carried you to Diggory's dorm? You were passed out, 'Ope."
"Don't expose me like that, Delacour."
Fleur, Roger, and Hope left the group sooner than expected, as they had to meet with the other champion's to prepare for the Champion's Dance. Which they needed to be at the doors of the Great Hall for.
Cedric Diggory stood at the door, his dress robes nice and fancy. When his grey-blue eyes met his best friend's grey, his face turned into one of pure happiness.
"You look amazing, J." said Cedric, kissing the cheek of his best friend. "Thank you, for doing this with me."
Hope smiled, looking down at her dress. "Thank you, Ced. I wouldn't want anyone else to share this dance with you."
Roger Davies grabbed his date by the hand, leading her over to the pair of best friends. A smile on the quarter-Veela's face as she greeted them "Bonjour Cedric, 'Ope."
"Hello, Fleur, Davies." greeted the Diggory boy, smiling wide. "Have you seen inside the Great Hall, yet?"
"Not yet, Diggory." Roger answered for Fleur, who raised a brow. "We planned on seeing it for the first time when we walked in together."
Fleur only rolled her blue eyes. "No, you planned that. I could care less. Don't put words in my mouth."
Viktor Krum held his hand around another stunning girl, whose hair was sleek and straight, not even Hope knew who it was until they turned around. In the darling periwinkle colored dress was Hermione Granger, which caused many jaws to drop.
"Hope, I was looking for you." exclaimed Viktor, his voice naturally loud. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine." she replied, her eyes not leaving her former friend. "I hope Draco hasn't bothered you too much. He's a big fan."
"Not at all."
Hermione smiled, her smile looking almost perfect. "You look very nice, Hope."
Hope looked taken aback for a second before returning the smile. "As do you, Hermione. Have you seen Harry? I wanted to wish him luck on his dancing."
"He's with Parvati somewhere--"
"Gross." she interrupted, faking gagging. "I'll just talk to him later then."
The big oak doors opened to reveal the Great Hall, icicles hung from the ceiling with christmas trees in every corner. Classical music echoed throughout the hall as students gaped at the champions and their dates.
In front of the stage was a dance floor, the floor looked to be covered in a form of ice. And as Cedric led Hope there, she couldn't help but wonder how she didn't slip and fall. Once the two best friends reached the floor, they began to slow dance to the music.
"Have you been practicing?" questioned Cedric, noticing Hope to be dancing quite well. "Usually you fall flat on your face."
"I had Fleur teach me while we got ready. Just for it to be perfect."
The Diggory boy smiled, chuckling slightly. "How did I manage to find a best friend like you?"
Hope shrugged her pale shoulders. "By cheering me up on my birthday. Besides, I wasn't going to embarrass you by falling flat on my face."
"Thank you for doing this dance with me."
"Of course, Ced, I'd do anything for you."
The dance finished and everyone in the Great Hall clapped loudly, and Hope Lupin-Black gave her best friend a hug before running over to her friends who crowded around a table.
"Since when do you know how to dance?" laughed Seamus, poking fun at his friend. "I owe Dean a whole galleon now."
Hope narrowed her grey eyes, taking the flask from his hands. "You bet on me?"
"Yeah, and I lost. What a rip off."
All of the Gryffindors stood around two tables plus three Slytherins that many only stared at. The students passed around a suspicious looking flask from Violette that every professor knew contained alcohol, but none cared enough to take it.
"Padma," said Ron, leading his date over to his friends. "You know the guys and Hope, don't you? They're all in our year."
"Sure."
Ron's blue eyes were widened as he looked to Hope, his mouth mouthing 'Help me.' as his eyes went to the direction of Padma Patil, who looked annoyed to be there with the boy.
"Do you hear that? A slow song." she said, before turning around to her boyfriend. "George, do you want to go dance?"
"I'd love to."
Draco Malfoy's arms went perfectly around Ginny Weasley's neck as they danced to a slow song played by the Weird Sisters, not caring about all the eyes on them. The two only danced, looking into each other's eyes and smiling.
"You look beautiful, Ginny."
Ginny smiled awkwardly. "It's the makeup, and the hairspray. My hair won't be moving for many days. It smells awful."
"Are you nervous?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at the girl.
"Is it obvious?" she replied, looking slightly embarassed by her rambling. "I ramble when I'm nervous, and I've never danced with anyone before."
"Don't be nervous." Draco chuckled, placing a kiss to her cheek. "You're dancing wonderfully, you look gorgeous, and I'm with someone I like a lot."
Ginny's cheeks turned a bright shade of red. "Can I kiss you?"
"You don't have to ask, Ginny."
Ginny Weasley leaned in, her lips meeting the Malfoy boy's. The two only stood there, kissing in the middle of the dance floor, not caring about anything else. It was that moment that Draco Malfoy knew he was in love with Ginny Weasley, even if she was everything his family hated.
"Get some, Ginny!"
Henry Hammond looked to his date as if she were crazy. "Lettie, you can't just yell across the hall."
"We support our ladies, Henry." she said, applying more of her red lipstick. "And Ginny is now one of my ladies."
"You're very confident with your words."
Violette shrugged her shoulders, her dark eyebrows raised. "What's the point in hiding what I feel?"
Henry looked taken off guard by her quick response. "I don't know."
"You have to live to take chances, Hammond." Violette said, her brown eyes meeting Henry's. "I mean, look at Hope and George."
"Trust me on this, they're going to last a long time."
Hope Lupin-Black and George Weasley slowly swayed to the music, looking up at the breathtaking decorations. The two were something that many people knew about but didn't seem to ask about but George looked at Hope like she was everything perfect.
"Isn't it amazing how the Great Hall turned out?" said Hope, looking up at the decorated ceiling.
George nodded, smiling wide. "Dumbledore had a few tricks up his sleeve after all."
"Can I tell you something?"
"Of course, you can tell me anything."
"I'm interning in Romania this summer." she explained, smiling wide. "Cedric and I got internships for the Dragon Sanctuary."
The Weasley boy's face turned into one of surprise. "Woah, that's amazing. I might as well start calling you Charlie."
Hope nodded slowly. "I'm telling you, I understand the man's passion. They're brilliant animals."
"I love you, you know that right?" said George, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah, I know. And I love you, too."
The slow dance continued, and George's brown eyes never left Hope's grey. "I cannot get over how gorgeous you look."
"This is the most makeup I've ever worn." Hope told him, putting a piece of hair behind her ear. "Ever."
"You don't need it, but you still look stunning either way."
As the Lupin-Black girl looked around at all of her classmates dancing slowly, she smiled slightly. "We should slow dance like this more often."
"I'd like that."
hey guys! i'm sorry for taking so long to update but i have the dialogue typed out for the next two chapters so it shouldn't take me long to write.
i keep having ideas for other fanfictions. i have two twilights, a fast and furious, a girl meets world, a marvel, a descendants, a walking dead, a pretty little liars, and two more harry potter. i watch the movies, read the books, or television shows and just think what if. it might just be my downfall. but if anyone's interested in knowing plots i can post them and y'all can tell me how they sound. i like hearing other's opinions on my ideas.
also, who had midwestern hurricane for their 2020 bingo? cause that was insane.