As December arrived, snow covered the Hogwarts grounds and frost clung to the castle windows each morning.
With the Yule Ball drawing closer, excitement spread throughout the school as students made their final preparations.
One afternoon, the fourth-year Gryffindors gathered in the Hall for dance lessons.
Professor McGonagall had insisted that, as champions and their classmates would be attending a formal ball, they should at least know the basics.
The lesson began smoothly enough.
Then Professor McGonagall looked around the group. "Mr. Weasley."
Ron looked up in alarm. "Y-Yes, Professor?"
"You will assist me with the demonstration."
The entire class turned toward him. "Me?"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. Unless you believe you are incapable of standing upright for five minutes."
A few snickers echoed through the hall.
Looking as though he wished the floor would open beneath him, Ron reluctantly stepped forward while McGonagall took her position opposite him.
"Place your right hand here. Your left hand holds your partner's. Keep your back straight, and do try not to look as though you're being led to your execution."
The laughter grew louder. Harry bit the inside of his cheek trying not to join in, while Seamus and Dean had already given up entirely, shaking with amusement.
Ron, meanwhile, looked thoroughly mortified as McGonagall led him through the first few steps with every pair of eyes in the hall fixed firmly upon him.
***
"Brother, I heard you and Fleur from Beauxbatons have something going on."
Draco nudged Victor with his elbow as they walked through one of the corridors.
Victor didn't even look at him. "...Where the hell did you hear that?"
Draco shrugged. "If it were just one person saying it, I'd tell you who. But it's all over the castle."
Victor let out a tired sigh.
It hadn't even been a day. He genuinely wanted to find whoever had started the rumor, lock them in the Malfoy Manor basement, and make them explain exactly how a five-minute conversation had turned into a romance.
"Ignore it," he said flatly, changing the subject. "More importantly, have you found a partner for the Yule Ball yet, or are you still going alone?"
Draco gave a proud snort. "Several Slytherin girls have already asked me."
Victor nodded solemnly. "Wow. It seems, Draco, this is finally your time to shine."
Draco's grin widened. "Naturally."
After a few more steps, Draco remembered something. "Oh, I also heard that the red-haired Weasley asked Fleur to the Ball."
"He did."
"And she rejected him."
"She did."
Draco chuckled. "They said he almost dropped to his knees afterward. Shame I missed it."
Victor's deadpan expression remained unchanged. "It was actually quite impressive. For a moment, he genuinely resembled a corpse."
Draco burst into laughter. "I can't believe I missed that."
They rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
Silence returned.
A few seconds later, a nearby classroom door slowly creaked open.
Alastor Moody stepped out, his scarred face devoid of warmth. His magical eye continued spinning as his normal eye remained fixed on the direction the two Malfoys had gone. He had been standing inside the empty classroom the entire time, listening.
"Hmph..." His grip tightened around his walking stick. "That brat. He doesn't even understand the greatness of the Dark Lord."
His magical eye whirled once more. "...He'll learn soon enough."
With a heavy thump... clunk... thump, Moody limped away into the castle's shadows.
As Victor and Draco rounded the corner, they spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione coming from the opposite direction.
Victor's gaze immediately settled on Ron. The redhead's shoulders were slumped, wearing the particular expression of someone who had just endured a public humiliation they would carry for years.
"...Is it just me, or have you seemed rather down lately, Ron?"
Ron let out a long sigh but didn't answer. Hermione pressed her lips together, doing her best to suppress a smile.
Victor glanced between the three of them. "So... did something interesting happen?"
Ron looked away. "...Nothing."
"Come on. What happened?"
Hermione couldn't hold it anymore. A quiet laugh escaped her.
Ron immediately shot her a wounded look. "Hermione!"
She coughed into her hand. "I'm sorry..." She clearly wasn't.
Draco looked between them with growing curiosity. "What's so funny?"
Harry scratched the back of his head. "Professor McGonagall was teaching us ballroom dancing today." He glanced at Ron. "She picked Ron to be her demonstration partner."
Brief silence.
Victor blinked once. "I see." Another pause. "So the entire class watched you dance with Professor McGonagall."
Ron slowly nodded, looking utterly defeated. "...Yes."
Victor remained silent for several seconds. Then he looked Ron straight in the eye and patted his shoulder.
"That must have been unforgettable."
Ron froze.
Draco burst into laughter.
Hermione completely lost her composure, laughing openly this time, while Harry couldn't help smiling as Ron buried his face in his hands and wished he could disappear into the castle floor.
*****
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