Despite the very heavy load of homework that fourth years had been given for the holidays, Estella was in no mood to do extra work once term had ended, and spent the week leading up to Christmas enjoying herself and spending loads of time with Harry.
Snow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Drumstrang ship's portholes were glazed in ice, the rigging white with frost. The house-elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews and savory puddings.
On Christmas Day, the four sat in front of the mini Christmas tree in Harry's dorm, exchanging gifts and laughs.
She'd gifted Ron a ton of sweets, a Chudley Cannons jumper, and a fancy pin to wear with his dress robes. For Hermione, she'd gotten the book of Merlin which included loads of unknown and powerful spells, a new set of quills, and a poster of her favorite muggle actor, Luke Perry. For Sienna, she'd gotten a jokester survival kit, a guide to healing since her intended career after Hogwarts was a St. Mungo's healer, and a pair of muggle Vans that Estella and Sienna had fallen in love with. She'd gotten Mrs. Weasley a charmed cleaning device which would diminish the number of household tasks she was subjected to each day and Mr. Weasley, a muggle book depicting plumbing, for she'd previously heard him raving about it earlier. While she'd gotten her father a picture of him and her mother, which she'd gotten from Sirius and took a copy of and his favorite cologne. Lastly, for her grandfather, she'd gotten him a set of colorful socks and a new set of robes.
For Harry, she'd gotten him a scrapbook of memories throughout their four years with special letters on each page, a gag gift of a survival kit for surviving the Dursleys with muggle money hidden in the pockets so he wouldn't starve, and a jar of little notes consisting of 'remember when, quotes & lyrics, quidditch, reasons why you put up with me, and to do ideas when bored or for potential date ideas.'
Needless to say, Harry absolutely loved his gift and smothered her in kisses as she laughed.
"Harry!" she yelled as he tickled her sides, "I'm going to hit you!"
Within two hours, the two went separate ways as Hermione and Estella set off to get ready for the ball.
Estella was in charge of makeup, while Hermione was in charge of hair. The two took turns, firstly doing their makeup; Hermione wore a warm pink eyeshadow and pale pink lipstick, Estella wore baby pink shadow and matte lipstick, and black mascara. Estella's typically straight hair was now curled and parted on the side. Hermione's hair was half up, half down, and skillfully curled.
Once the top half was completed, Estella began to put on her dress.
"Merlin, Estella, your gown is beautiful," said Lavender as she walked into the shared bathroom to see Hermione zipping it up behind her.
Estella smiled, "Thank you, Lavender. You look absolutely gorgeous!" She wore a tight pink dress with a v-cut down the center. It perfectly suited her.
"Harry's waiting for you in the entrance hall," she said.
"Ok, I'll be right down." And with that, Lavender left.
Hermione moved next to Estella, looking radiant.
"Viktor isn't going to know what hit him!" she squealed.
The two set off down the stairs, Hermione going down the stairs first, shortly followed by Estella, who paused for a dramatic entrance. The previously crowded entrance hall was cleared as students made way for Hermione, shocking them with her appearance, despite the fact she'd always been pretty. It became silent as Estella walked down.
Emerald eyes drank in the sight of Estella as she walked down the stairs leading to the Great Hall, staring at her as if she was the most beautiful thing in the world. It was one of the first times where Harry was speechless, and it appeared he wasn't the only one. He was sure his heart was beating out of his chest. Estella was beautiful when wearing sweats and oversized hoodies; her in a ball gown certainly elevated her to the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts, in Harry's opinion.
"Wow," Cho gasped as she looked between her and Harry.
A wide smile graced her face as she neared Harry. He felt almost like he was dreaming. Harry felt his face heat up as he approached her at the bottom of the stairs.
Estella's eyes scanned Harry. They'd matched without even knowing. Mrs. Weasley must've predicted the two of them attending together. He looked incredibly handsome in his black dress robes; he even had a dark grey bow tie, the color of her dress. He resembled a prince from the Disney movies she'd watched as a child. His green eyes glimmered at the sight of her, making them appear brighter than ever. He'd even done his normally untamed hair.
Estella never wanted to kiss him more, despite the gigantic crowd surrounding them.
"You look-you look absolutely stunning," Harry breathed out as she stopped in front of him.
Estella grinned, "Well, you clean up quite nice."
"Truly enchanting," Harry murmured as he twirled for him.
"Harry," she laughed, "look how it spins!"
Not caring about peering eyes, she spun again. The smile on Harry's face couldn't get any wider, or it'd burst. He pulled her closer and spun her again. A giggle escaped her mouth while Harry laughed. He loved this girl; he truly did.
"Everyone's staring," Estella hissed as she looked around to see the eyes of her classmates, either envious, shocked, or smiling.
Harry leaned down next to her ear, "I hate to break it to you, but it's because of how gorgeous you look."
A rose-tinted blush definitely spread across her face with that sentence.
"Blimey, Estella, you look amazing!" exclaimed Ron as he left Padam's side and walked to the two of them.
"Thank you, Ron. I see the robes work well," said Estella. Ron's robes looked much better than his previous ones and didn't make him a laughingstock in front of the entire school.
"I'll have to letter your dad again and thank him. Did you know Hermione was attending with Viktor?" asked Ron as he scratched the back of his neck.
Estella tilted her head; he was most certainly jealous, "Of course, I knew. I was there when he asked."
"And-and you didn't tell me!" Ron sputtered.
"You chose not to ask her. You made her seem like a backup, and in no way, shape, or form is Hermione a backup. She is a first choice," Estella said.
Then Professor McGonagall's voice called, "Champions over here, please!"
Hand-in-hand, Estella, and Harry got into line and followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall, where everyone applauded as soon as they entered.
The walls of the Hall had been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.
There was no food yet on the glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Estella picked up hers and scanned the list.
"They have chicken tenders," whispered Estella happily.
Harry laughed, "Your favorite."
"Ah, you know me so well," she laughed.
Dumbledore looked carefully down at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"
Estella wrinkled her nose; she would never understand how her grandfather willingly ate that or beef stew. Memories of being forced to sit and eat beef stew as her father watched appeared, causing her to shudder.
And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their borders with their plates too.
"Can I have one?" asked Harry as Estella scuffed down a fry.
"Only if I can have a bite of your steak," bargained Estella and boom, a trade was made.
The dinner went on without a hitch; only Estella almost lost it when she heard Hermione teach Viktor to say her name.
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a flute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause. Estella almost had a heart attack; she'd never been able to see them in concert since the last time they toured, she was eleven.
"Harry, come one!" Estella grabbed his hand and pulled him to the front dance floor.
Their two bodies moved together, Harry surprisingly understanding what he was supposed to do. He also took Estella's advice to ignore his nerves and just dance with her.
Estella didn't think she'd ever danced so hard before, and Harry had to force her off the floor. The two arrived next to Ron in time to catch the end of Ron's sentence.
"I suppose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library."
"Yes, he did," said Hermione, pink patches on her cheeks glowing brightly. "So what?"
"What happened, trying to get him to join spew, were you?"
"No, I wasn't! Estella and I went to do work there. And if you really want to know, he-he and Killian had been coming down to the library every day to try and talk to us, but Viktor hadn't been able to pluck up the courage! Killian didn't want to pressure him, either!"
"Yeah, well, that's his story," said Ron nastily.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Ron, you better watch your next words," Estella threatened.
"But out. It's oblivious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hand around with...He's just trying to get closer to Harry-to get inside information on him-"
Hermione looked as though Ron had slapped her. When she spoke, her voice quivered.
"For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one-"
Ron changed track at the speed of light.
"Then, he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means. I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions-"
"I'd never help him work out that egg! Estella's always with me; ask her!" said Hermione, looking outraged. "Never. How could you say something like that-I want Harry to win the tournament."
"You've got a funny way of showing it," sneered Ron.
"This whole tournament is supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!" said Hermione hotly.
"No, it isn't!" shouted Ron. "It's about winning!"
People were starting to stare at them.
"Ron," said Harry quietly, "I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum-"
Hermione jumped to her feet and stormed off across the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd. Estella immediately left and chased after her, only to find her on the entrance hall stairs, crying.
Estella quietly sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and rubbing soothing circles.
"He's such an idiot," Hermione cried. "I'd never do something like that to Harry!"
"I know, Mione, I know," Estella whispered.
"Viktor's been so nice, and he's interesting. He doesn't see me as a second choice, you know?"
"Of course I do; I've seen the way he looks at you, Mione. He genuinely likes you." It wasn't a lie or a reassurance to make Hermione feel better; it was the truth.
The girl with blotched, red eyes looked up at her as she wiped her face, "You should be with Harry; I'm not ruining your night. I refuse," said Hermione.
"Mione, Harry's not going to mind, and I want to be there for you. I know you would for me," replied Estella, but Hermione shook her head.
"Go; I promise I'm okay. I'll get over it. I just need some time to cool off," reassured Hermione as she practically pushed Estella off the steps.
Estella walked back into the Great Hall to see it'd cleared up, and Ron sat with Harry at the same table. Completely ignoring Ron, Estella walked up to Harry and grabbed his hands, pulling him onto the dance floor.
"Is Hermione okay?" asked Harry.
"Not yet, but she will be."
Estella laughed as they began to waltz to an alternate-rock song; ignoring the strange looks they were probably receiving from the staff, Harry spun Estella around.
"You're quite magical, you know?" Harry asked as they swayed to the now slow song being played.
"Hmm, I don't think I've been called that before. I have been called annoyingly amazing," Estella laughed.
"That you definitely are," Harry chuckled.
Estella lifted a hand up and ran it to his untamed hair that no longer sat neatly on his head after the almost two hours of dancing they'd done.
"You adore me, Dumbledore."
"I've said a lot of things, but I don't remember saying that."
"Okay, maybe I adore you," Harry grinned.
"I think we can say we adore each other," Estella said. It may have been cringe, but it was true.
"Let's go outside," Harry murmured in her ear. Estella lifted her head from his chest and followed him into the abandoned corridor and outside to the magically heated gazebo.
"Harry, what are we doing?" asked Estella as she sat down on the bench, careful not to wrinkle her dress.
"I wanted to give you something away from prying eyes," said Harry, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a square black box. He watched Estella's expression light up as she opened the box and skimmed a finger over an engraving. Flashes of light, similar to a hologram, lit the gazebo.
Images of Estella and Harry appeared in the air. Moments ranging from their first conversation to her helping Harry defeat Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, to casting an identical Patronus's, to her telling him they were soulmates, to him asking her out, to the moment she walked down the Great Hall entrance stairs, ending with a message that said: "I love you."
Estella's eyes snapped to Harry's.
"For real?" the words were almost caught in her throat. The boy she loved, loved her back.
Harry gazed at her, "Es, I think I've loved you from the moment I saw you. I knew I loved your second year when you yelled at anyone who dared look in my direction when everyone thought I was the heir of Slytherin. Of course, this feeling was reinforced with every little interaction--"
"Ah, I live for your rambling," said Estella.
"That's coming from you? If there was an actual queen or rambling or random phrase, you'd be-"
Harry's words were cut off as she flung herself into his lap and caught his lips with a passionate kiss. As much as her dress would let her, Estella straddled his lap, Harry's hands pulling her impossibly close as they began snogging in the middle of the gazebo.
The feeling of their lips together was always euphoric; Harry didn't know why they didn't do this more. Estella's fingers found the back of Harry's head, playing mindlessly with his overgrown hair yet again. Estella grinned as Harry's lips disconnected from hers and trailed heavenly kisses down her jaw and to her neck.
"I-kiss-am-kiss-so-kiss-in-kiss-love-kiss-with-kiss-you," Harry murmured. Estella's grip tightened on his hair as he met the base of her neck and let out a soft involuntary moan.
Gazing back at one another, Estella smiled before leaning down next to his ear. Her lips softly skimmed over it, "I love you too," she whispered.
Harry hadn't ever been happier than at this moment; happy wasn't even a strong enough word to describe what he felt. It was like before her; there was this fog in his life, one he could never escape, but with Estella, there was nothing but clarity and feelings he'd never gotten to feel. With her, he felt what it was like to be loved unconditionally, to be supported no matter what, and to never be truly alone; feelings he'd rather die than lose.
"You love me?"
Estella laughed at Harry's awe-struck face, "I guess you could even say...I'm in love with you."
Without hesitation, Harry rushed to his feet, carrying Estella, and spun her around.
"Harry!" laughed Estella.
"Estella!" said Harry.
"Oh, one question; Did Hermione help you with that?"
Harry grinned, "Yeah, but this one has memories added to them as I live them."
"Harry, has anyone ever told you you're a romantic?"
Harry's head tilted, "I think that's reserved for you-"
"Harry! Where are you?" Ron yelled at a distance, ending Harry's.
"The dance is over!" yelled Ginny.
Harry set Estella down and turned toward the Great Hall doors, which were now open.
"Goodnight, Harry," whispered Estella.
"Goodnight, Es."
During this, I imagined Line Without a Hook playing. Lol. Hope you liked the chapter! Remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed!