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It's the night of the Yule Ball as many students are in attendance. The Quidditch players are dressed for the evening. For Natalie Scatorccio, she's never cared for these types of events. However, since the rest of her team are going, she figures it wouldn't hurt to attend as well.
The brunette is wearing a dress robe. A black tailcoat with a white buttoned shirt, a navy blue waistcoat, black pants and black dress shoes. She has a silver chain attached to the collar of her dress shirt and a navy blue handkerchief tucked in her breast pocket. She checks herself in the mirror and feels satisfied with her look.
Her roommate and best friend, Van, is dressed up as well. They are wearing a black tailcoat with a white buttoned shirt, a red waistcoat, a black tie, black pants and shoes. They finished their attire with a red and black patterned handkerchief.
"Looking sharp, Bratalie." Van whistled as Nat playfully rolls her eyes
"You don't look so bad yourself." Nat replied back
The two childhood friends left their dorm room from House Gryffindor as they head to the Yule Ball.
Meanwhile, Natalie and Van are waiting downstairs outside the ballroom. They can hear the music playing. They look around and see many students walking by with their dates. A moment later, Van turns around and spots Tai coming down the stairs wearing a gorgeous red ball gown. Their heart reacts at the sight of their girlfriend.
Like a gentleman, Van helps Tai as they extend their hand as the curly haired brunette step down to the bottom of the stairs. The couple stare at one another as Van spoke.
"You look incredible."
The top student from House Slytherin holds back a grin, yet it proves futile. "I know."
The two share a laugh. Tai then returns the compliment.
"And you're looking sharp in your suit."
Van grins widely as their face heats up. Nat witnesses their exchange and Van's cheeks redden like that of their hair. The dark haired teen smirks. Before Van walks off with Tai, they turn to Nat as the red head whispered to their best friend with a grin.
"I'm so getting lucky tonight."
Nat playfully pats Van on the back before shoving them lightly as the two share a laugh. She watches them walk off with Tai. She waits for a while until she crosses paths with Lottie.
"Hey, Nat." She greets her
"Hey, Lot. You look terrific." She compliments sincerely
Lottie is wearing a royal purple ball gown.
"Thank you. And you look great. I'm surprised to see you wearing a dress robe."
"Yeah..." Nat replied somewhat bashfully. "I guess it's a first time for everything. This isn't exactly my scene."
"Yeah, I figured. You've never been one for fancy gatherings."
"No. Definitely not."
Lottie chuckles seeing her friend's expression as Nat looks like she wants to crawl under a rock.
"Well, I hope you at least have a good time."
"I'll try."
They then turn as they look up and spot Laura Lee coming down the stairs. Lottie's expression changes as her eyes fill with awe and affection. Laura Lee is wearing a crystal light blue ball gown. The brunette can't keep her eyes off of her as if she's the only one in the room. Her heart bursts with warmth and another emotion that rises to the surface. A feeling so strong and intense that it leaves her shaken.
When Laura Lee comes down the stairs, she greets Lottie with a smile.
"Hey, Lottie."
"Hey, Laura Lee." Lottie smiles back
However, before Lottie could compliment on how beautiful she looks, her mood changes instantly as Laura Lee's date approached her. A fellow senior from House Ravenclaw named Thomas. He's tall, has black hair and brown eyes.
"You look wonderful." He compliments
"Thank you." Laura Lee forces a smile
Lottie looks on with a frown, which Nat noticed. The tall brunette feels another emotion that rise to the surface: jealousy. She witnesses Laura Lee being courted by Thomas as she helplessly watches them walk off together.
Nat looks at Lottie with sympathy. "For what it's worth, I don't have a date either."
Lottie turns to look at her.
"If you want, we could go together. As friends." Nat suggested
Lottie contemplates for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I would like that. It should be fun."
Nat simply nodded. "Cool."
Before Nat could offer her arm to Lottie as a gentleman, she sensed someone coming down the stairs. She turns around as did Lottie as they look up. Natalie's eyes widen as she sees Misty making her grand entrance. The blonde slowly walks down the stairs, donning a satin blue ball gown. Her natural frizzy hair is styled elegantly in curls.
Natalie is left speechless as she continues to gaze at her. Her breath is stolen as she is filled with different emotions. Her heart reacts without meaning to as she takes in Misty's appearance. When the quirky blonde came to the bottom of the stairs, Misty stares at Natalie as her eyes lit up at the sight of her.
"Hey, Nat." She greets her with a warm smile
Natalie is at a loss for words for a moment as Lottie watches on with an amused expression.
"Wow... you look pretty."
She was thinking of saying beautiful but held herself back. Instead, Nat settled on pretty, which seemed safe enough. Yet she meant it truly.
Misty, the most exceptional student from House Ravenclaw, blushes as she adjusts her glasses in a bashful manner. Her smile widens as she then holds eye contact once more. Before she can respond back, her date showed up. Nat recognizes him as a student from House Hufflepuff. He has brown hair and green eyes.
"Misty... wow, you look radiant." Alex compliments before kissing her hand
Natalie watches on as she finds herself staring daggers at the back of Alex's head.
"Thank you, Alex. And you look really nice." Misty replied in return
Alex ducks his head bashfully with a smile before holding his arm out. Misty accepts as they walk off together. Natalie stares at them as she is left feeling confused and conflicted. Unsure what to make of how she's feeling seeing Misty on a date with someone else.
Lottie notices her expression and looks at her with sympathy as she can relate. Although Nat may not want to admit it or fully grasp her feelings for Misty, Lottie can see it clearly written all over her face.
"Fuck it. Let's go in there and have a good time." Nat suggested as she offers her arm while Lottie accepts
"Lead the way." Lottie smiles
They walk off together as they enter the ballroom. The place is crowded with many students as well as professors. Classical music is playing as some people are dancing with their dates while others are mingling with their friends while chatting at their respective tables.
Natalie noticed Tai and Van dancing while Shauna and Jackie are doing the same. She then spots Laura Lee slow dancing with her date. Lottie stops short as she sees them as well. The brunette is filled with jealousy and longing as she continues to gaze at Laura Lee from afar. She silently wishes she is the one dancing with her.
Nat is aware of Lottie's feelings for Laura Lee. They have talked about it a couple of times. Lottie first admitted her feelings for Laura Lee last year to Nat as the rebellious teen listened without judgment and offered her advice.
However, Lottie still hasn't made her move yet for fear of rejection.
"Hey... maybe you should tell her how you feel." Nat says offering her support
"I want to but ---" Lottie is held back by fear and doubt
"I know. It's complicated. That's the excuse you gave me last time. And before that, your fear of rejection."
"But you'll never know unless you try." Nat replied insightfully
Lottie's expression changes as she feels hopeful. She ponders over Nat's advice.
"There's nothing worse than having regrets. At least you can say you put yourself out there than not having tried at all."
"You're right. Thanks, Nat." Lottie smiles genuinely
Natalie nodded with a soft smile of her own.
"Before the night is over, I'll just ask her to dance." Lottie says
As the night went on, Shauna went to grab some punch for Jackie as Tai came over to the table as well. The two friends and roommates poured some punch into the cups.
"So, how is your night with Jackie so far?" Tai asked
"Great. What about yours with Van?"
"Same here."
They shared a smile at one another.
"So, what gave you the courage to finally ask Jackie out?"
Shauna blushes slightly as Tai looks at her with slight amusement.
"Honestly? I would say you gave me the courage."
"Me? What did I do?" Tai asked in surprise
"Well, for one, seeing you with Van is kind of... inspiring. Seeing you so happy together."
"And after Jackie broke up with Jeff... for the first time, I felt hopeful. As scared as I was of rejection, I knew I couldn't deny my feelings anymore."
"So, I decided to ask her to be my date for the Yule Ball."
"It took you long enough." Tai joked lightly as they share a laugh before Shauna turns serious for a moment
"You've been very supportive. You've been a true friend." Shauna says sincerely
"Well, no matter what, I'll always have your back." Tai spoke in a genuine tone
"I know. And I want you to know I have yours. I'm really happy for you, Tai. For you and Van."
"That means a lot." Tai whispers. "And the feeling is mutual. I'm glad things worked out for you and Jackie."
"Thanks." Shauna whispers back
They shared a smile at one another. After their conversation, Shauna and Tai went back to their dates to sit at a table to relax.
Upbeat music is playing as The Weird Sisters perform "Do the Hippogriff" on stage. Many students are dancing including Misty with Alex. Nat is standing on the sidelines watching from afar with a hardened expression while Lottie, who is gazing at Laura Lee dancing with her date wistfully.
Both teens look rather miserable. Eventually, Lottie has had enough as she asks Nat to dance with her. However, Nat declines.
"No way." She replied while standing with her arms crossed
"Oh, come on."
"I don't dance."
"Now I know you're lying."
Nat rolls her eyes yet cracks a slight grin despite herself.
"Just one dance. It's better than standing here moping all night. And besides, you've said we should have a good time."
Natalie realizes Lottie has a point.
"Fine. Just one dance."
The two friends made it to the dance floor as they began to cut loose and have fun. Mostly everyone is rocking out including Nat as she and Lottie laugh while dancing.
Eventually, Jackie is ready to dance again seeing the rest of their teammates on the dance floor. She stood up and grabs Shauna by the hand.
"Come on, Shipman. Let's do this!" She yells excitedly
"Whoa." Shauna yelps slightly as Jackie tugs her by the hand as she staggers
They made their way to the dance floor. The captain of the Quidditch team from House Gryffindor and the Chaser from House Slytherin began dancing to upbeat music as Shauna laughs while Jackie's enthusiasm and charismatic nature is infectious.
Tai and Van got on the dance floor as well and join the others.
Eventually, Nat sat down at the table with Van as they drink their punch while talking. The two best friends relax for a bit. Van sees their girlfriend, Tai, hanging out with Shauna at another table nearby.
The curly haired brunette senses their lingering gaze and stares at Van. The couple smile at one another before looking away. Tai goes back to talking with Shauna while Van shifts their focus back to their conversation with Nat.
"Some night, huh?"
"Yeah." Nat murmured as she takes a sip of her drink
Fuck, she could use something stronger right now.
The sound of Harry Waltz by Patrick Doyle is playing
"So... you and Lottie?" Van asked somewhat surprised yet intrigued
Natalie stares at Van as her expression changes to puzzlement.
"No, it's not what you think. We decided to go together as friends. It was a last minute thing."
"Right..." Van says in a tone like they don't believe it
Nat playfully rolls her eyes.
"Believe what you want." Nat says before continuing.
"Besides, Lottie is interested in Laura Lee."
Van's expression changed as clarity sinks in.
"You know what? I believe that. Lottie is not exactly subtle when it comes to Laura Lee." The red-head chuckled as Nat cracks a light grin
"Fuck, she gives Mr. Darcy and Anthony Bridgerton a run for their money in the art of pining." Van replied before whistling as they turn their attention to Lottie staring at Laura from afar with a look of longing
"Really?" Nat questions with slight amusement in her tone but knows Van makes a strong point
I mean she's never cared for watching movies or shows centering on romance. That's more of Misty's thing. But Van is not lying when they brought up Lottie pining for Laura Lee.
Van turn their attention back to Natalie.
"Have you seen the way she looks at her?" They point out
Natalie doesn't respond or make an argument against that as it's true. She's witnessed firsthand the amount of times of Lottie gazing at Laura Lee with longing and affection.
Eventually, the topic changed as Nat holds back a groan when Van brings up the prospect of any love interests for her.
"So, what about you? Anyone catch your eye?"
"No." Nat says in a flat tone
That's a lie obviously but she's not ready to admit or acknowledge her unexpected interest in Misty. Then again, she wonders if it's unexpected after all. The two have a long history.
Going back to Misty first greeting her on the train during their first year when they were 11 years old. Nat was sitting alone when the quirky blonde chose to sit across from her on the train. They weren't exactly friends yet but Misty was eager to get to know her after making introductions.
Nat found her peculiar yet thought to herself that Misty seemed nice and admittedly very intelligent and book smart.
By second year, a 12-year-old Nat, found herself crossing paths with Misty again aboard the train. It is then that it became a regular occurrence when Misty offered to sit across from Nat in her compartment in the passenger seats. It is also that same year when Nat stood up for Misty for the first time against Becky, whose been bullying her.
By the third year, it was the start of their friendship as they grew closer at Hogwarts. They bonded over their complicated relationship with their respective parents. It is also when Misty expressed of her love for mystery novels. That same year was the beginning of Misty's crazy antics and Nat often getting talked into tagging along as they would get themselves into some trouble while lurking around the castle and discovering some hidden secrets from the past. Despite their differences and being polar opposites, they balance each other out and surprisingly are a lot alike in ways she never imagined. Natalie, as much, as she didn't want to admit it, came to enjoy Misty's company and grew to appreciate her friendship.
It is during the fourth year when Nat joined the Quidditch team. Misty often cheered for her on the sidelines. Their friendship deepened as they went through their share of hardships and had each other's backs. She remembers Misty treating her injury during a big game after accidentally falling off her broom when Tai, the top player from House Slytherin, crashed into her. The landing was brutal as she injured her shoulder severely. Tai surprisingly was apologetic and felt bad. Fortunately, Misty rushed to her side and used a healing charm on her shoulder to treat her injury successfully.
During the fifth year, things began to change as she and Misty's friendship became strained as Nat distanced herself. Nat was struggling with guilt over her father's death. Her father may have been an asshole and obviously abusive towards her and her mother, but she was left traumatized over his death. She blamed herself for what happened.
Misty did her best to be there for her during that difficult period in her life. Natalie was haunted by nightmares and barely slept at night. Even when she pushed Misty away, the blonde never wavered in her support and loyalty. She still had her back.
Last year, at the age of 16, Nat began dating Travis. Her friendship with Misty was still tense yet they reconciled. However, it was during that time when she felt things between her and Misty shift. There was this tension between them. She tried to ignore it but often caught the way Misty looked at her. Even now. But it was during their sixth year at Hogwarts where they dealt with teenage angst, growing hormones and finding their purpose.
Now, during their final year at Hogwarts, her relationship with Misty has deepened. Their bond is stronger than ever. Misty has been her constant after her breakup with Travis over the summer as well as being there for her whenever she has an argument with her mother. She often hung out at Misty's house and spent the whole summer with her.
It is during that period when they grew closer and her feelings for Misty began to shift into something more. She was confused and conflicted at first as she didn't know what to make of it. But after coming back to Hogwarts, she slowly began to see Misty in a new light. Misty's confidence grew. Many students took notice including her. She's still the brightest witch of her age and has come to her rescue many times. But it is her social life that's improved somewhat. She began to notice the quirky blonde receiving attention from a few guys, including Alex. Misty has also been spending time with Jackie, whose taken her under her wing.
Natalie has tried to ignore these feelings but it's proving to be hard. Seeing Misty tonight at the Yule Ball, looking beautiful, has broken down every wall that she has put up. And seeing Misty on a date with Alex has her feeling some kind of way. It bothers her more than she liked to admit. Somehow along the way, Misty has become something more to her than just her best friend.
The brunette comes back to the present when Van speaks.
"Really? You mean to tell me there's no one who strikes your interest and caught your eye?" They question in disbelief
Like an irresistible pull, Nat finds her gaze shift to Misty on the dance floor. She stares at her from afar for a lingering moment. Her heart aches in her chest seeing Misty waltzing with her date. She then swallows thickly and feels her breath stolen seeing her laugh.
Van's eyes furrow in confusion. Out of curiosity, they turn their head in the direction of the person Natalie is looking at. The red head, confused for a moment, did a double take as they look at Nat briefly before shifting their gaze back to Misty. Clarity sinks in, as they put two and two together, seeing who's the object of Nat's sole attention.
"Wait a second... Misty Quigley? You like Misty fucking Quigley?!"
Nat glares at Van, who holds their hands up in defense.
"I'm just saying."
The rebellious teen doesn't respond as she looks away. She casually leans back in her chair.
"Seriously though, I never would've imagined. I mean not gonna lie, she actually looks... really good tonight. Surprisingly so." Van replied a bit taken aback
Nat senses a but coming from Van.
"But it still doesn't change the fact that Quigley is fucking weird."
"Hey, will you knock it off? I know Misty can be a bit much and yes, she's weird, but she's a fucking person with real feelings."
Van is at a loss for words though it shouldn't surprise them as Nat has always defended Misty to anyone. She's always been protective of her.
"You may not understand why we're friends but she is important to me. I know you and Misty don't get along but you're just going to have to accept that she's in my life."
"Okay, okay. Chill." Van holds their hands up in defense. "I get the memo." They say somewhat jokingly to ease the tension
The silence is uncomfortable for a while until Van breaks it.
"So, you and Misty, huh?"
Nat turns to look at Van who surprisingly doesn't show judgment but curious.
The brunette doesn't form a response for a moment before looking away again. Seeing Nat struggle, Van broke the silence once more.
"Look at me," They spoke as Natalie turns to looks at her.
"I know I tend to give Quigley shit. And I may not understand your friendship with her or what you see in her."
Before Nat could reply coming to Misty's defense, Van beats her to it.
"But I can see how much she matters to you." Van pauses before their expression softens somewhat
"You're my best friend. And no matter what happens, I want you to know I have your back."
Natalie's expression softens a bit as well.
"Thanks." She whispers
"So, we're good?" Van asked in a hopeful tone
"Yeah, we're good." Nat replied as the two made up
After a moment of silence, Van decided to lighten up the mood.
"If you and Quigley get married, be sure to send me an invite through an owl post." They playfully teased
Nat flips them off as the two best friends share a laugh.
"Bratalie... as flattered as I am, you're not my type." Van says with a smirk as Nat shook her head amusingly
"Dude, in your fucking dreams." Nat quips as Van laughs
It is sometime later during the night as it's close to the end of the Yule Ball when many pairs are slow dancing as The Weird Sisters perform "This Magic Works". Tai and Van are slow dancing as they gaze into each other's eyes. After a moment, Van breaks the silence.
"Do you want to get out of here? As much as I love slow dancing with you, I would rather have some alone time with you."
"What do you have in mind?" Tai asked in a seductive tone
"Oh, I'm sure you can use your imagination." Van says in a playful yet seductive tone
They lock eyes intensely before Tai gives in.
"Let's get the fuck out of here."
Van grins at their girlfriend's response as they walked off the dance floor. Once they left, they snuck off somewhere more private as they rush down the hallways while laughing quietly.
"Shh, shh."
Once they're alone as they found a private corridor, Van backs Tai against the wall and began kissing her passionately as the brunette returns it. They continue to kiss slowly yet intimately before Van deepens it. Tai moans softly as she pulls Van closer.
"I want you so much." Van whispers in between kissing
"I want you too." Tai whispers back
The couple grins at one another before proceeding with their heavy make out session. Van keeps Tai pressed against the wall as they continue to kiss one another with fervor. Eventually, they hear someone coming down the hallway as they abruptly cut the heated make out session short.
Tai and Van hide behind a wall as they peek around the corner. They notice Professor Scott walking down the hallway. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to notice them. Unbeknownst to the couple, he has spotted them before embracing in an intimate moment.
After he left and the coast is clear, Tai and Van turn to one another before laughing quietly.
"Fuck, that was a close call." The curly haired brunette whispers
"Tell me about it." Van agreed before grinning. "Now where were we?"
Tai pretends to ponder before speaking in a playful, flirty tone. "I don't know. My memory is a little rusty. You might have to refresh it for me."
"I can think of a way." The red head spoke in a husky tone
The two lovers shared a grin before picking up where they left off. They began to kiss one another slowly yet intimately. Van deepens the kiss as Tai moans softly. The red head grins against her lips before pressing her further against the wall.
"Fuck, you're so beautiful." Van whispers before kissing her again passionately
Tai smiles at her girlfriend before pulling them closer as she kisses them back deeply. Van moans in response as Tai smirked. They continue to make out as they're locked in an intimate embrace. Soft moans and light panting fill the silence as things get pretty heated between them.
When breathing became a factor, they reluctantly pull away.
"The Yule Ball is almost over but the night is still young." Van spoke while holding their girlfriend's hands
"You want to come over to my dorm room?" They suggested
"Wouldn't we get in trouble?" Tai questions obviously yet have a smirk on her face
"Isn't that the fun of it? The thrill of sneaking around and possibly getting caught." Van grins at her
Tai shook her head amusingly. Her expression then changes to a serious one as she is reminded of what she's been going through lately.
The red head notices as their expression changes. "What's wrong?"
The brunette hesitates for a moment before Van gently caresses her hands, silently letting her know they're here for her. Tai finds strength in Van's presence.
"I've been having trouble sleeping." Tai opens up as Van is already aware of this. "And whenever I do fall asleep..." She trails off
Van sees her internal struggle as they offer support.
"Hey, look at me."
Tai looks at them as Van holds her gaze.
"You know you can lean on me, right? Whenever you're scared to go to sleep, I'll be your anchor." Van says with heartfelt conviction
"I know." Tai whispers. "I know I can always count on you."
"Shauna has also been there for me. She's been a true friend." The brunette says honestly as Van nodded
"I'm glad you have her to confide in and lean on for support as well." Van says sincerely. "Just know I'm always here for you."
Tai smiles with a hint of tears. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Van whispers back
They shared a smile at one another before kissing each other chastely.
"Maybe we should head back to the ball before we get caught." Van says somewhat reluctantly
"Yeah..." Tai sounds a bit hesitant as well
Eventually, Van decided to lighten the mood by making jokes as they walk with Tai back to the ball. The couple share a laugh.
Meanwhile, Shauna and Jackie are slow dancing as the blonde has her arms wrapped around her neck while the brunette holds Jackie close by the waist. They gazed into each other's eyes as if no one else is around. The shorter teen noticed Shauna gazing at her with a look that takes her breath away.
"W-What?" Jackie asked in a tone she hopes is playful but instead her voice trembled slightly
"Nothing, it's just... you look beautiful." She whispers
The blonde is wearing a green ball gown, matching Shauna's attire. While Shauna is wearing a green velvet tailcoat with a white buttoned shirt, a black patterned waistcoat, a black satin tie, black dress pants and shoes. And lastly, a black and green satin handkerchief tucked in her breast pocket.
Jackie blushed as her cheeks redden. Shauna feels a burst of confidence seeing the effect her words have on her. The blonde then smirks.
"You're looking very dapper yourself, Shipman."
Immediately, Shauna's face heats up as she turns scarlet red. Jackie smiles in amusement yet endearment while Shauna grins madly as her blush deepens.
They continue to slow dance as their mood brightens.
"So, out of curiosity... what made you ask me out?" Jackie asked
Shauna smiles somewhat bashfully before gathering her courage.
"I wanted to be with you for a very long time." She confesses as Jackie feels her heart skip a beat
"And I was afraid of telling you how I feel." Shauna admits before pausing for a moment
"But after you broke up with Jeff... I couldn't let another moment pass by."
Jackie stares into her eyes as she let's Shauna continue opening up to her.
"I just didn't think I had a chance with you." Shauna says honestly given their complicated history
"Of course, you do." The blonde spoke with conviction. "I know I haven't given you reasons to think so. And for that... I'm sorry."
Shauna looks surprised by her apology. She stays silent.
"But you've always had my heart. You have it. Even when I couldn't admit it out loud." Jackie confesses as Shauna's heart swells
"You're a part of me, Shipman. You always will be."
Shauna smiles with a hint of tears of her own. Jackie smiled back as she then leans her head against her shoulder while Shauna smiles to herself. They continued to slow dance.
While everyone is dancing, Lottie gazes at Laura Lee from afar. She swallows thickly before finally gathering her courage. She walks through the crowd. Lottie stood in front of Laura Lee, who is sitting by herself at the table. Her date nowhere to be found.
The blonde looks up at her as the tall brunette held her hand out to her.
"May I have this dance?"
Laura Lee looks surprised for a moment before smiling genuinely. "I would love to."
Lottie smiles back as Laura Lee placed her hand in hers as the latter stood up. They made their way to the middle of the dance floor before stopping. Laura Lee turns to Lottie, who placed her hands on her waist while the blonde wraps her arms around her neck.
Laura Lee ducks her head somewhat bashfully with a smile as her cheeks redden. Lottie smiles at her as her heart swells with warmth. She's always found Laura Lee to be very cute when she blushes.
Soft, instrumental music is playing as the two teenagers held each other's gaze again. Lottie gazes at Laura Lee with a look of affection, yearning and love. She looks at her as if she hung the stars in the sky.
"So, what happened to the guy you came here with?" Lottie asked
She knew his name of course but didn't care enough to mention it. She certainly didn't want to refer to him as Laura Lee's date. Although she hates to bring him up, she is a bit curious why Laura Lee was sitting alone. The brunette saw them slow dancing and then the blonde said something to him before he walked off upset.
Laura Lee tensed up slightly which Lottie noticed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean --" She quickly tries to backtrack not wanting to make the blonde uncomfortable
"No, it's okay." Laura Lee spoke as she pauses for a moment. "I um, well, it didn't work out."
Lottie stares at her. She decided not to push further in case Laura Lee doesn't want to talk about it. It turns out she didn't have to.
"Truthfully, it wasn't ever going to work."
Lottie looks at her curiously. She then notices Laura Lee turn bashful for a moment.
"I... I don't like him... in that way." She admits
The tall brunette looks taken aback as she processes this revelation. "Then how come you came here tonight with him?"
"I... I don't know."
Lottie stays silent as she listens without judgment. She looks at her with caring, patient eyes as Laura Lee finds strength in her to open up further to her best friend and roommate from House Hufflepuff.
"I guess I... I felt like I had to." Laura Lee struggles to put it into words. "Like it was something I was supposed to do."
Lottie's look of confusion shifts into clarity as she began to understand what Laura Lee is saying.
"I didn't feel what I was supposed to feel, you know? Sparks. Passion." Laura Lee confesses. "Someone who makes your heart..."
"Race..." Lottie finished her sentence
"Yeah..." Laura Lee whispers before biting her bottom lip
"The truth is... I never felt that way about anyone... except one person."
The taller teen feels her heart racing now as she gazes down at her. Laura Lee turns bashful again as she lowers her gaze briefly.
"Who do you... feel that way about?" Lottie asked before swallowing thickly
Laura Lee gazes up at her as silence fills the air. The only sound that can be heard is the instrumental music playing at the Yule Ball. Lottie feels her heart pounding as she waits with bated breath. The blonde's next reply robs her of speech.
"You."
Lottie is stunned as she feels like time has stopped. Her breath is stolen as she stares at her. Laura Lee looks at her with hopeful eyes before her expression changes to fear and doubt by Lottie's silence.
"I--I'm sorry. I s-should've have..."
As Laura Lee turns to leave and rushes off, Lottie finally snaps out of her stunned daze.
"Laura Lee, wait."
The brunette soon chases after her as she makes her way through the crowd. As the blonde rushes out, she runs down the hallways. Laura Lee can hear loud footsteps from a distance and Lottie calling out to her.
"Laura Lee! Laura Lee, wait!"
The blonde eventually stopped in the middle of the empty hallway. By the windows, she has a clear view of the snow falling outside. Her back is turned while Lottie stares at her longingly as her chest rises and falls.
"Please don't go." Lottie pleads
Laura Lee turns around to face her. She gets nervous as she quickly tries to explain herself.
"I'm so sorry. You are my best friend and I--I would never intentionally jeopardize that."
"No, don't. Don't ever apologize for how you feel." Lottie says as she approaches her
Laura Lee looks up at her as she feels her heart racing by their close proximity and noticeable height difference. She feels her breath taken away by how stunning Lottie looks. She always has that effect on her.
She gazes into Lottie's soulful brown eyes which she could get lost in. Lottie slowly lifts her hand to caress Laura Lee's cheek as the blonde's blue eyes widen slightly. Her eyes filled with awe. Her earlier doubts slowly diminish and replaced with hope as she sees the look of love in Lottie's eyes.
"I feel the same way."
"You do?" Laura Lee asked
"Yeah, I do." Lottie whispers
The blonde smiles genuinely as the brunette smiles back. Their smiles quickly fade as Lottie's eyes shifted to Laura Lee's lips, which has the shorter teen's heart racing fast. When Lottie held her gaze once more, she then spoke in a soft tone.
"Can I kiss you?" She asks for consent
"Yes." Laura Lee whispers
Lottie slowly leans down as Laura Lee meets her halfway. The brunette paused for a moment before smiling gently. She then closes the gap as her lips came in contact with the blonde's. Laura Lee stood on her tiptoes as she kisses her back. She placed her hands around Lottie's neck while the brunette placed hers around Laura Lee's waist.
They kissed one another slowly yet intimately in the middle of the empty hallway as it continues snowing outside the castle. When they pull away, they gazed into each other's eyes before smiling widely. The second kiss is more passionate as Lottie pressed Laura Lee's body against hers, while the blonde sighs with pleasure.
It was sometime by the end of the night when Natalie found Misty alone, silently crying at the bottom of the steps. The brunette feels her heart ache in her chest. She wonders what happened.
"Misty?"
The curly haired blonde looks up at her in surprise before smiling, which Natalie can tell it's forced. Misty puts on a facade as she tries to appear like she wasn't crying a moment ago.
"N-Natalie... what are you doing here? I thought you were with Lottie."
"I was. But she took after Laura Lee."
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that."
Natalie stares at her intently as if reading her. Misty stood up as she pushes her glasses up out of habit. The curly haired blonde doesn't hold her gaze.
"Don't be." Nat replied as Misty looks up at her. "I'm not."
Misty looks confused as her eyebrows furrow. "But... I thought you like her."
"I do..."
At that, Misty's face changes to a look of sorrow once more before quickly covering it up. Natalie watches her silently as she carefully reads her expression. Her heart began to race without meaning to.
"But only as a friend." Natalie clarifies
Misty stares at her as her eyes widen slightly.
"Lot and I are just friends. Besides, she has feelings for someone else." Nat admits but doesn't give away any further details
She figures Misty will eventually find out anyway. Hopefully, Lottie told Laura Lee how she feels about her.
"I uh... I came to check on you." Nat admits
"Really?"
"Yeah... but then I found you here crying."
Misty lowers her gaze for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Nat asked with concern
"It's complicated."
"Look who you are talking to. I can handle complicated." Nat grins slightly as Misty cracks a light smile
"Do you want to talk? No pressure." The brunette asked in a patient tone
Misty contemplated before nodding.
"Come on. Let's go somewhere private." Nat whispers
As they left to go somewhere private, they walked through the castle. Nat took Misty to the Gryffindor Common Room. Misty looks around as it's her first time being in here. Since she's from House Ravenclaw, she uses the common room from Ravenclaw Tower. As she observes the one Natalie goes to, she stares in awe and wonder.
"Are you sure, it's okay for me to be here?"
"I don't care about the rules. Besides, if we get caught, I'll accept the punishment."
"They'll take away points from your House." Misty cautions
"Trust me, I'm aware of that." Nat quipped before sitting on the couch by the fireplace
Misty sits next to her. They sat in silence for a while before Misty broke it.
"Maybe someday, I'll let you visit the Ravenclaw Common Room."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yeah, silly." Misty waves it off with a smile. "I don't mind losing some points from my House. Even though Ravenclaw hasn't won the House Cup in a long time."
Natalie looks surprised as she knows how much winning the House Cup means to her.
"But you've always wanted to win the House Cup."
"Yeah. I still do but..." Misty trails off as Natalie stays silent
The quirky blonde shrugs before continuing in a genuine tone. "You mean more to me."
Natalie feels her heart skip a beat at her words. Misty smiles bashfully before pushing up her glasses. After a moment of silence, the brunette clears her throat.
"So, what was bothering you earlier?" She changes the subject
Misty's expression changes as Nat inwardly scolds herself for the frown on her face.
"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Nat says sincerely
"No, it's okay." The curly haired blonde says audibly before deciding to open up
"I was crying because... the person I want to be with... doesn't want me back."
Natalie's expression transforms from concern to anger instantly. She jumps to the wrong conclusion.
"Did he hurt you?" She questions upset
Misty's eyes widen as she realizes Natalie misinterpreted what she meant.
"He did, didn't he? I swear I'll fucking kill him." The brunette stood up as she gets into protective mode
"Nat, stop." Misty grabs her arm as she stood up as well. "It's not-- it's not what you think."
Natalie stares at her in confusion.
"He's not the one I want to be with."
The taller teen feels her heart stop for a moment. "Who do you want to be with?"
The silence fills the air as Misty stares at Natalie with a look of longing. The kind rebel gazes back as she feels her heart began to race again. The shorter teen loses her courage and breaks eye contact.
Natalie continues to stare at Misty, feeling like they were sharing a moment.
"It um, it doesn't matter."
"Of course, it matters. Your feelings matter." Nat spoke with heartfelt conviction
Misty stares up at her with unshed tears.
"Whatever it is you're afraid to say, nothing will make me think of you any less."
The quirky blonde feels her heart fill with hope at Natalie's words.
"You really mean that?" Misty asked
"Of course, I do." Nat says instantly.
She would almost take offense to Misty doubting her, but she knows about her insecurities. She knows that Misty has felt invisible and never properly received love from her parents. She's an outcast at Hogwarts. A victim of bullying. She knows about Misty's loneliness and wanting to feel seen.
She understands because she gets it. She's never received love from her parents either. Especially from her father before he died. She knows what it's like to feel lonely and to be an outcast. The difference is she doesn't care what others think of her.
In many ways, she and Misty are like two sides of the same coin. Despite their differences and being polar opposites, they are more alike than she realizes.
"You're not just my best friend. You've been my constant." The brunette spoke earnestly as the blonde smiles tearfully
"You're someone whose always had my back. Someone whose seen me at my worst and yet..." Natalie trails off as she smiles with a hint of tears of her own
"...You never gave up on me." She says in awe
"I'm always here for you, Nat." Misty whispers
"I know." Nat whispers in return. "And I want you to know I'm here for you as well."
The rebellious yet kind-hearted teen reaches out to hold Misty's hands in hers. The preppy geek stares down at the contact which feels intimate as Natalie caresses her knuckles tenderly. Misty looks up into Natalie's caring yet intense green eyes once more.
"Anyone would be lucky to be with you, Misty."
"You're incredibly brilliant. You're fiercely loyal. You're funny."
Misty feels her heart swell at Natalie's words.
"You're beautiful." Nat whispers sincerely
"You... you think I'm beautiful?"
The brunette stares at her. "Yeah..."
Misty feels hope rising within her as she stares into Natalie's eyes.
"Someday, you'll find someone who will like you for who you are."
The curly haired blonde feels her heart racing as a burst of courage and confidence took over her. She reaches up to pull Natalie's head down and impulsively kisses her. Natalie gasps in surprise and froze for a moment.
Misty quickly pulls away in fear before Natalie could respond back. They stare at one another with wide eyes. The blonde stutters over her words.
"I--I d-don't know why I..." She trails off as she looks like a deer in headlights
That's a lie. She knows why she kissed Nat. She wanted to for so long. But now she fears she may have ruined things. Ruined their friendship. As much as it hurts that Nat may not return her feelings, it would hurt more to lose her. She would be devastated.
"I--I should go." Misty says panicking as she turns to leave
However, she doesn't get a chance to as Nat quickly grabs her arm. Before Misty could react, she is spun back around to face Nat. What happens next completely robs her of speech and takes her breath away as Natalie grabs her and kisses her.
Misty gasps in surprise before immediately coming to her senses as she kisses Natalie back. The brunette holds Misty's face with both hands as she kisses her deeply. The curly haired blonde moans softly.
While Misty is standing on her tiptoes, her body is pressed close against Natalie's. The kiss turns passionate as their lips locked in an intimate embrace full of yearning and heartfelt emotion.
Eventually, Natalie slowly pulls away due to a lack of air. Misty has her eyes closed for a moment. Her heart is pounding from that breathtaking kiss. When she opens her eyes and gazed into Natalie's, she is speechless for the first time.
Natalie stares back at her, deeply affected by the kiss as well. Before she could respond, Misty beats her to it.
"Why did you do that?" She asked in a whisper clearly shaken
"Because I wanted to." Nat whispers back before swallowing thickly
Misty's eyes shine with hope as Natalie gently tucks strand of her curls behind her ear. Her breath hitches when Natalie caresses her cheek.
"For the longest time, you've been my best friend. But somewhere along the way, you became so much more to me." She confessed
Misty stays silent as Nat surprisingly opens up which is rare.
"Misty..." She trails off before finally revealing how she truly feels. "I have feelings for you."
The curly haired blonde is stunned speechless. Her eyes tear up once more.
"I have strong feelings for you. And I... I can't imagine my life without you." She says honestly
Misty closed her eyes before opening them as she smiles tearfully. "I've waited a long time to hear you say that."
Natalie gazes back at her as her heart tugs painfully, realizing Misty kept her feelings hidden for years. She smiles gently with tears of her own.
"I'm sorry it took me so long."
"That's okay. I would've waited for you forever." Misty says earnestly
The brunette swallows once more over her revelation. She then leans down and kisses Misty slowly and intimately. The blonde stood on her tiptoes as she kisses her back.
After pulling away, they kept their foreheads pressed against each other's. Misty broke the silence after a moment.
"Can we go back to the Yule Ball?"
"Isn't it over by now?"
"Probably. But I want to go back just in case it isn't."
Natalie is hesitant for a moment which Misty noticed.
"But if you don't want to --"
"It's okay." The brunette interrupts. "We can go back."
Misty smiles widely as Natalie's expression softens seeing the look of sheer joy on her face.
They left the Gryffindor Common Room as they snuck out together. As they discreetly roam through the hallways, they quietly laugh as they made their way through the castle. When they eventually made it back to the ball room, surprisingly there's still some students slow dancing. Including Shauna with Jackie, Tai with Van and Lottie with Laura Lee. Most people have left.
"Ice Dance" by Danny Elfman begins playing.
Misty smiles as she turns to Natalie. "Dance with me."
"Seriously?" The brunette questions as she makes a face while pretending to act annoyed
"Yes." The preppy geek giggled. "Come on."
Misty grins at her before tugging her hand. "I believe you owe me a dance."
Misty's persistence and infectious smile win her over as Nat cracks a smile.
"Okay. But just one dance."
Misty beams with happiness as Natalie's expression is filled with fondness. The taller teen pulls her closer as she holds her by the waist while Misty wraps her arms around her neck. While they're slow dancing, they gaze into each other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Shauna and Jackie are slow dancing as the latter smiles at her.
"What?" Shauna asks with a playful grin
"Nothing." The blonde says as Shauna looks like she doesn't believe her
Jackie playfully rolls her eyes before smiling. "It's just... I have been planning for the Yule Ball for months."
"Yeah, I know. It's all you talked about." Shauna replied in a humorous tone
The blonde glares at her but couldn't stay mad for long as Shauna teases her a bit more. They share a laugh.
"I'm sorry. Go on." The brunette replied
"What I'm trying to say is... I didn't think this night could be any more perfect." Jackie whispers while gazing into her eyes
Shauna feels her heart swell as she smiles at her. She leans down and kisses her as Jackie returns it as she pulls her closer. They feel immediate sparks the moment their lips met for the first time. Shauna deepens the kiss as Jackie sighs softly with pleasure.
The brunette grins against her lips as she holds her closely by the waist. The two long-time best friends are lost in the moment as if no one else is in the room, as they finally give into their true feelings after so long.
Tai and Van are slow dancing as the latter shifts their gaze and notices Laura Lee with Lottie. They smile as they're happy for their close friends.
"Looks like Lottie finally made her move." Van mentioned
Tai turns to look at Lottie and Laura slow dancing. The two teens are all smiles, looking happy.
"Yeah, it appears so."
The curly haired brunette shifts her gaze to another couple, and this one takes her by surprise.
"Holy shit. Is that Nat dancing with Quigley?"
Van quickly turns their head and indeed spots them slow dancing. Tai would've laughed at her girlfriend's reaction if she isn't stunned by seeing Misty and Natalie together.
"Fuck... she actually went there."
"Wait... you knew that something was going on between them?" Tai questions as she turns to look at Van
"It's a long story. Believe me, I was just as surprised as you are." Van admits before continuing. "But I saw the way Nat looked at Misty tonight, and I put the pieces together."
"They weren't even together yet. But Natalie admitted how she feels about Quigley."
Tai's eyebrow raised as Van chuckles in amusement.
"Trust me. It's fucking strange to me too." The red head says honestly before turning serious
"But I can tell Natalie really cares about Misty. I may not understand it but she's my best friend. And I have her back no matter what."
Tai has a playful gleam in her eyes. "That's surprisingly mature of you. Considering you don't like, Quigley."
Van laughs. "You can say that."
"Natalie always has my back as well. We've been through a lot together. She's pretty much the family I never had but could count on." The red head says honestly
"I'm lucky to have her in my life. And I'm lucky to have you." Van means sincerely
"If anything, I'm the lucky one." Tai spoke in a rare, soft tone
The couple share a tender, heartfelt kiss. After pulling away, they held each other close while slow dancing.
Lottie and Laura Lee are slow dancing as well. They smile at one another as the brunette eventually breaks the silence.
"I want to take you out sometime."
"You mean like a date?" Laura Lee asked but already knew
"Yeah... I want to take you somewhere nice. Just the two of us."
"We could go to Hogsmeade. Or anywhere you want to go." Lottie suggested
The blonde bites her bottom lip to hold back a wide grin but it proves futile. Her heart is buzzing with excitement.
"It doesn't matter where we go. Being with you makes it special."
Lottie's heart swells over her words. "So, does that mean...?"
"Yes. I would love to go out with you."
They shared a smile at one another. Lottie pressed her forehead against hers, while Laura Lee kept her arms around her neck. They pull away slightly yet held each other close as they continue to slow dance while gazing into each other's eyes with affection.
Misty and Natalie held each other close while slow dancing. The curly haired blonde spoke up.
"I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier..." She trails off as her cheeks redden slightly
Natalie finds her to be very cute whenever she blushes. She waits for Misty to say what she wants to say.
"You look handsome." Misty compliments with a warm look in her eyes
The brunette feels her face heat up. Misty smirks seeing Nat blushing. The taller teen recovers after a moment.
"Is that so?"
Misty nodded before checking her out as she looks at her up and down.
That freaky, little pervert.
Natalie smirks seeing the look on her face. Misty is definitely not hiding how much she wants her, judging by the deep blush on her cheeks and biting her bottom lip. She decides to tease her a bit. The rebellious teen leans in closer as she whispers in her ear.
"Well... you've seen nothing yet."
Misty closes her eyes as she trembles slightly. Natalie pulls away with a proud smirk seeing the effect she has on her. The blonde opens her eyes as she blushes further as Natalie chuckles with amusement.
They continue to slow dance as they gaze at one another. After a long moment, Misty broke the silence once more.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Nat asked curiously with a slight grin
"For everything." She answered as Natalie held her gaze
"For making this night memorable. For your years of friendship. For always been there."
"You don't have to thank me."
"I do." Misty replied
Natalie stays silent for a moment.
"I can't imagine my life without you either." The curly haired blonde whispers
"You'll never have to know." The brunette says. "No matter what, I'm always here for you."
Misty smiles at her. Her heart swells as Nat leans to kiss her forehead tenderly with affection. The quirky blonde sighs in contentment with her eyes closed. After pulling away, Natalie gazes into her eyes while holding her close.
"Merry Christmas, Misty."
"Merry Christmas, Natalie."
Misty then leans against Natalie's shoulder, feeling safe in her arms. They continued to slow dance until the Yule Ball eventually comes to a close. For many of the couples, it's surely been a night to remember...
THE END