𝒯𝒾𝓂ℯ 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒯𝒾𝓂ℯ 𝒜ℊ𝒶𝒾𝓃

ℐ𝓃𝓉𝓇ℴ

                               Hello Hello everyone, its me again

                                yours truly the Void. I've come from

                                the Abyss once more for the Tri-

                               wizard Tournament and sub-                                                                                                 

                                sequently the Yule ball. Due to that

                               today I bring you a story of love.

                               Enjoy Reading.

                               The Void

𝒯𝒾𝓂ℯ 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒯𝒾𝓂ℯ 𝒜ℊ𝒶𝒾𝓃

The Great Hall of Hogwarts was decorated in frosty white and icy blue. The walls were enchanted in a way that made them seem as if sculpted of ice, to match the fragile centerpieces sitting in the middle of each table decked out in white satin clothes.

At the front, where usually the table of the professors was found, now three gigantic conifers stood decorated by filigree fairy lights and little snowcrystal ornaments. The enchanted ceiling showed the dark night sky dotted with glittering stars, and even as the shown sky was clear, small snowflakes were tinkling down.

Matching the walls and decorations, the floor too seemed to be made from ice. As polished and slippery as it looked, it was charmed to prevent slipping and stumbling of any kind.

This was all overshadowed by the mass of students at Hogwarts itself and the visiting students from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang. Where the students of both guest schools were easy to identify in their red robes and silvery-blue dresses, the students of Hogwarts seemed like a mismatched mix.

It hadn't come as a surprise that Albus had asked her to a dance once the ball had started up fully and the dance of the champions had been held.

Watching the children as they awkwardly moved back and forth had been as charming as it had been exasperating. However, it had at least shown that her dancing lessons had achieved something. Clumsy, but the good will and concentration had been there, Minerva mused inwardly as she moved in tandem with Albus.

Seeing as the Transfiguration professor was a quite good dancer, it didn't take her as much concentration as it took the students around them to follow both rhythm and partner in a fluid motion. This allowed her to keep the surrounding area in her view, which was for one thing to keep the students under her watch but also for another, more personal reason.

The amused chuckle from her current dance partner made the woman turn her attention back towards her once-professor, now-old friend. She lifted one of her eyebrows in a piercingly challenging look that would have sent most scurrying off, but not Albus. No, instead, a familiar, good-humored twinkle filled his eyes.

"Is there something you'd like to say, Albus?" She asked in a tone that showed clearly that she didn't want to hear his actual opinion. Nonetheless, she still received it from him anyway. Only fondness and an old friendship made her listen to the words at all.

Back and forth they moved to the music as they circled slowly. "You see, it is always quite amusing to see how much or how little the difference is between the student that once was and the professor that now actually is. I a quite similar setting where you danced with someone else. Why, I'm most curious to see if this will happen again," the heaster mused with a warm tone.

Albus did indeed a Yule ball quite a few years ago with a similar icy and frosty decoration, where the Transfiguration professor, then still a girl, had drawn more than one look with her dance partner.

As the music started to slow and the current song came to an end, the two dancers stepped away from each other. Sharing a long look, Minerva was the first to turn away and make her way through the masses of students in long, purposeful strides until she reached the far left wall. Overcome by the moment, she grabbed one of the glasses on the tray offered on any table.

Looking around with keen eyes Minerva had almost the entire hall in her view. And while it might have looked to some like she was simply keeping an eye on the students, everyone who knew her well enough would be able to see that she was in reality searching for something.

"May I juzt zay, sat you look wery beautiful in green." A voice suddenly rang out on her left, the heavy Russian accent and tone all too familiar to her, just like the scent of tree sap and snow that seemed to accompany the person who had managed to sneak up on her.

She turned to look at her new companion, and silence stretched on for a moment that could have been seconds or hours in which she took in the familiar red and black uniform, golden hair, and at least settled her gaze on icy blue eyes that were starring back just as intensely.

A rare smile wormed its way onto her face as she looked at the woman standing in front of her. "Thank you, Ariane. I had almost assumed you wouldn't be able to make it after all. You look quite handsome yourself, I must say. Though, the uniform did always fit you well." Minerva returned the compliment with one of her own, a bit of mischief sneaking itself into her tone.

The Russian shook her head vehemently as she replied. "I would newer. It iz no good mannerz to, vat waz se word; ah yez-ditsch a date." The short pause in which the other woman had to think of the right word gave Minerva just enough time to notice how very long it had really been since the last time they had been in just this same situation.

Overcome by memory, she placed her glass down and held out her hand for the other woman as she asked, "In that case, would you care to dance?"

There was no hesitation as Ariane took her hand, and after placing a quick kiss on the top of it, she replied happily, "Of courze. It would be my honor." Strengthening her hold, their fingers slotted together as the two women made their way back onto the dance floor.

Once in a good position, they seamlessly fell into the correct position. Ariane took the lead, and just as the orchestra began to play a new song, the two started to dance with each other.

Back and forth, side to side, moving in a circle, they didn't talk for a while, both simply lost in the action and the memory it brought with it.

The Great Hall was decked out in a similar manner as it was now, and the same event was the cause of the ball. Just as it was now, back then Hogwarts students, Beauxbaton students, and Durmstrang students had mingled together, and in the midst of them all had been a pair of girls. A raven-haired sixth year in a dark green dress with her hair braided back dancing with a golden-haired girl in a red uniform, her almost glittering locks jumping back and forth with each movement and each twirl.

More than one student turned to look at them as they waltzed across the dance floor, and the whispers traded between students all said the same names: 'Minerva McGonagall' and 'Ariane Orion', a Hogwarts and Durmstrang one.

Less energetic but equally graceful, the two now once more waltzed across the dance floor. It was Minerva who broke the silence this time. "How have you been? We did not talk much beyond the agreement to accompany each other tonight." A thoughtful look crossed Ariane's face, but it was quickly replaced by one of fondness. "I hawe a chusband now. Leon, he iz ... my ewerysing. You would like him. We alzo hawe zon. Little Ivan, I wisch you could meet sem. Wat about you?"

Happiness for Ariane filled Minerva, even as she couldn't bring much good news of her own. "I had someone I wanted to marry. A muggle. It didn't work out, but I'm happy for you. I'd love to meet your husband and son. " Ariane nodded and noted inwardly that she would invite Minerva at some point once this tournament was over.

The music slowed once more as the song ended, but neither of the two slowed at all and instead danced to their own rhythm until the next song started to play. In a similar manner, they continued to dance for a couple of other songs until both decided it was time for a break.

They left the dance floor walking next to each other, hands still intertwined as they walked, and after a considering glace that they both threw over their shoulders, they left the Great Hall behind and slowly but surely walked towards the castle grounds.

Once outside, they did not come to a stop, but instead they simply continued to walk with each other under the starlight of the night sky. "I mized you. It waz fun to danze again." Ariane broke the silence at the end, and Minerva could only nod in agreement.

Neither was sure how long they both stood there, outside in the starlight, before they turned around and walked back into the castle and into the Great Hall. They shared another couple of songs in a dance until even the last students had cleared out and the only people left were the staff. Wishing each other a good night, they both went their ways.

Neither knew, but it would be the last time they'd ever see each other again. However, the night would always remain a treasured memory.

𝒯𝒽ℯ ℰ𝓃𝒹

𝒪𝓊𝓉𝓇ℴ

                                And that was that. For getting

                               someone I don't really care about

                               I really churned this out. Huh. Alas

                               I hope yall enjoyed reading.

                                Peace out, The Void

                                #YuleFanfic

𝒮𝒸𝓇ℯℯ𝓃𝓈𝒽ℴ𝓉