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The Great Hall had been decorated beautifully. The stone walls and columns had been changed to look like they were sculpted from ice. Vast trees dusted in snow were at the end of the halls whilst white-clothed tables lined the room to create a dance space for students, teachers and chaperones to enjoy simultaneously.
Professor (L/N) watched her students danced with the Hogwarts and Durmstrang pupils. She had always enjoyed the balls that were thrown at Beauxbatons but even she had to admit that Hogwarts had done an outstanding job.
She was almost envious of her colleagues who would be staying for the entire duration of the tournament. She was leaving to go back home to France in the morning as she had only come to Scotland to substitute for Monsieur Laurent as he had fallen ill in just days before the students had left for the tournament.
(Y/N) was so distracted thinking about her home, she barely noticed a man move to stand beside her.
"What ever has you so distracted?"
She jumped slightly, before turning to the man, "I was thinking about my home."
"Your home?"
"Oui."
The man laughed slightly at her bluntness before extending his hand to take hers, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I'm Lucius; it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
(Y/N) smiled. "A pleasure indeed."
"May I have this dance?" Lucius asked. After (Y/N) nodded in agreement, he retook her hand and led her to the centre of the room.
Stepping back, Lucius bowed slightly before starting to spin (Y/N) around, each step gracefully planned and executed. As the dance continued, (Y/N) found in easier and easier to lose herself in Lucius' rhythmic movements and the music playing softly in the background.
The song couldn't have lasted for more than four minutes, but (Y/N) was so lost in her little world that she didn't notice how the symphony had changed from Beethoven to one of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
"I must say," Lucius murmured, duding his head down so he could whisper in (Y/N)'s ear, "that you, make a truly extraordinary dance partner."
(Y/N) laughed slightly as she allowed Lucius to spin her around again. It had been a while since she had danced with a man, and she had never felt this special whilst doing so. She looked up to met Lucius' gaze, and as she started into his eyes, she couldn't help but wonder what if she was falling in love with a stranger?
She couldn't allow herself to think like that. She had a job; a life back in France and she couldn't let her potential feelings for a stranger interfere with that life she loved so much.
(Y/N) jerked back, pulling herself away from Lucius' grasp before running towards the door. She had always been rash when to came to following her feelings. She couldn't allow herself to get hurt again: the last time she had allowed herself to start to fall for someone, it had nearly ruined her. She had a good life, she couldn't risk it on Lucius.
All that she allowed herself was a final look back at Lucius as he watched her run away from him.