The Last Dance

The Last Dance.

She watched as they twirled around the dancefloor together. Her periwinkle dress billowed around her ankles and she laughed when he made some joke. Such a sweet and beautiful sound. Her hands rested on his broad shoulders and they looked into each others eyes.

Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger.

When they had shown up at the ball together, they had shocked everyone. Who would have thought it? Bookish Hermione snagging the most talked about bloke going! Many girls gave her dirty looks as she danced with Krum, their eyes following her every move.

And they weren’t alone.

Ginny Weasley glared at the happy couple, her expression so sour it could curdle milk and turn it to cheese. She snorted and muttered under her breath as Krum made Hermione giggle again

She frowned deeply and watched Hermione kiss Krum on the cheek. He looked pretty damn pleased with himself and placed a hand on her lower back, which made her look suddenly uncomfortable. She whispered something in his ear and they broke apart. He wandered off over to a table and she straightened her hair before heading over to where Ginny was sitting.

“You alright?”

“Fine.”

“Why aren’t you dancing?”

“Neville just about broke my toes.”

Hermione smiled and fanned herself with her hand. “Where is he now?”

“Talking to McGonagall. I just hope he doesn’t ask her to dance next.”

Ginny felt a sudden leap in her chest as Hermione laughed. The noise was like the sweetest music to her ears and she smiled, forgetting that she was supposed to be angry with her fellow Gryffindor.

No, she thought suddenly. How can I be mad at her? She didn’t ask Krum out. He asked her. If I’d just told her how I felt beforehand, things could have been so different…

“Hermy?”

Ginny snorted and Krum looked at her. Then he averted his eyes back to Hermione, looking her up and down. The expression on his face made Ginny want to smack him upside the head, but she managed to hold herself back. Hermione gave her a small wave and let Krum lead her back out onto the dancefloor as the Weird Sisters began to play a slow tune.

Hermione let Krum put his arms around her waist. He spun her slowly on the spot and they smiled at each other. Ginny felt herself go red as she struggled to stay in her seat…

“Ginny Weasley?”

A girl with blonde hair and silver robes had taken a seat next to Ginny. The youngest Weasley groaned inwardly. Great! Just what she needed. Loony Lovegood tormenting her with her crazy theories on the Ministry and her made-up magical creatures.

“Hello, Luna.”

“Why are you all alone?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Ginny replied rather spitefully. Luna just smiled and hummed under her breath, watching the dancers. She turned her large, blue eyes upon Ginny and her dreamy smile widened slightly.

“Didn’t you come with that Longbottom boy?”

“Hmm.”

“Where is he?”

Ginny shrugged, irritated. Did this girl ever stop asking questions? Ginny followed Hermione with her eyes, tracing the curves of her body and wishing she was out there with her, holding her and making her laugh, just like Krum was…

“He must be an idiot.”

It took Ginny a few seconds to realize what Luna had just said. The Ravenclaw toyed with one of her radish earrings and smiled as Ginny.

“What?”

“I said he must be an idiot.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well,” Luna said in that annoying sing-song voice. “He must be pretty stupid, leaving you alone like this. You are really wonderful, Ginny Weasley.”

A moment of awkward silence passed. Ginny watched Hermione again for a minute before turning back to Luna and saying in a much kinder voice, “Well, where’s the bloke you came with?”

Luna made a dreamy gesture towards a dark-haired boy in the far corner of the dancefloor. Ginny felt her mouth drop when she realized the boy had his arms wrapped tightly around another girl and they looked like they were very busy indeed.

“But…he…”

“I know.”

Luna chuckled softly and Ginny felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

“Don’t you care?”

“I know he doesn’t like me,” Luna said knowledgeably. “I actually paid him to bring me.”

Hermione and Krum had moved a lot closer to each other. Ginny seethed silently but kept her eyes fixed firmly on Luna, who was humming and smiling to herself again. Ginny suddenly felt a stab of pity towards her. She really was rather nice, Luna.

“Why did you have to pay him?”

“Because I really wanted to come. I knew the person I wanted to ask already had a date. So I couldn’t ask them.”

“Oh.”

“But not to worry,” Luna said happily. “I don’t like that boy much anyway. He’s been rather rude to me all night.”

Ginny reached out a hand and patted Luna on the shoulder. The blonde went a slight shade of pink, or at least Ginny thought she did. Maybe it had something to do with the flashing lights.

The Weird Sisters finished their song and everyone applauded. They soon began to play something else, a song just as slow as the one before it. Ginny could feel Luna staring at her and she suddenly felt hot all over.

“Would you like to dance?”

“What?”

“Would you like to dance?”

Luna stood up and smiled at Ginny, holding out her hand. Ginny looked uncertain, but took hold of it and felt a sudden jolt. At least she was actually dancing with someone and not sitting and brooding over Hermione.

Ginny grinned and let Luna take her onto the dancefloor. Many of the couples around them were taller than them and they looked a lot better at dancing that she was.

“Don’t worry.”

Luna put her hands on Ginny’s waist and gave her an encouraging smile.

“Worry about what?”

“Dancing. I can’t do it very good either.”

Ginny felt like a knot in her chest had been loosened. She wrapped her arms loosely around the Ravenclaw’s midriff and slowly, they began to sway together.

And Ginny wasn’t sure what it was, the punch she drank or the lights. But she suddenly felt rather dizzy. She looked into Luna’s eyes and they stared back at her steadily. Her smile was intoxicating and Ginny grinned.

“This is lovely.”

Luna nodded. “I’ve never danced with anyone before. Well…except my dad.”

“Me too. I wouldn’t call what we and Neville did dancing.”

A breathy sigh escaped Luna’s lips and she let her head loll on Ginny’s shoulder. The redhead was slightly taken aback, but her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own. They stroked at Luna’s blonde hair and toyed with it softly.

“That’s nice.”

Luna smelt like strawberries and butterbeer, a combination of scents that made Ginny feel ever giddier. The Weasley mentally scolded herself. How could she think such things of Luna? After all, this dance was nothing. She was just doing it so she didn’t look sad.

Then why was she so dizzy?

And why was her hand cupping Luna’s face?

Hermione and Krum were locked together in a rather passionate kiss.

But Ginny didn’t care.

Because she was too.