Chapter 172: Yule Ball: Dancing Begins (2/2)
Then the pair heard a cheerful voice call out, ”Harry, my boy.”
Both looked to see Quinn walking towards them with a jolly look on his face. ”You two look utterly dashing.”
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. ”Thank you. You too as well,” said Harry.
”Thank you, Harry. Now I would like to ask your very lovely date to a dance,' said Quinn, then turning to Hermione, ”May I have a dance, my fair lady.”
”Huh, what?” said Harry, confused.
Quinn glanced back at Harry and reached out his hand. ”Here, take this.”
Harry instinctively raised his hand to receive and found a familiar wrapped chocolate cube in his palm. ”Chocolate?”
”You know what? Give that back,” smiled Quinn and took back the cube, then pointed with chin towards Harry's back, ”you're about to get something much sweeter.”
Harry turned and saw Fleur Delacour standing behind with a charming smile on her face, ”Good evening Harry, you clean up well.”
The boy turned back just to see Quinn leading his equally surprised date away with his hand on her back.
”Don't worry, you'll get her back after a dance,” he heard Fleur say, ”until then, let's have some fun.”
”Huh?”
.. .
”Ms. Granger, I must admit, even though I think Fleur is unquestionably eye-catching, but you're the one who made the most impact today,” said Quinn dancing with a still reeling Hermione, ”I mean look at you — you look spectacular tonight.”
Hermione looked the taller Quinn; he wasn't as tall as Ron, but taller than Harry. Both Ron and Harry had lean physiques, but with Quinn's much wider arms holding her, she couldn't help but compare — Quinn West definitely worked out.
'What am I thinking?!' Hermione lowered her face to hide the blush on her cheeks; her face was betraying her embarrassing thoughts.
”T-Thank you.”
”Any progress on the golden egg?”
Hermione sighed, hearing the question, ”He's taking it slow. I don't think he has even been to the library to research on the golden egg.. .. What about Fleur Delacour, how much progress has she made?”
”Ms. Granger, why do you assume that I know how's Fleur doing on her egg?”
”Are you not her date?”
”While that might be true, I only get to talk to Fleur during meals. Other time, I'm busy with the tournament and my usual commitments.”
”About that.. .. I have to ask, what are those commitments? I believe it's just not me who's curious about it. Everyone in the school wants to know.”
”Oh, you know, this and that. But mostly, it's learning magic.”
”How are you so good at magic? You're only one year above me,” asked the girl who had fallen in love with magic.
Quinn observed the girl in his arms and thought about his answer. ”It's not a fair comparison, Mr. Granger. I'm from a magical household, who have been surrounded by magic ever since I can remember.. .. Tell me, do you have a computer at home, Ms. Granger.”
Hermione tilted her head in confusion, ”Yes, we do. My mum uses it for work. Why do you ask?”
”Do you know how to use it?”
”Yes, mum taught me how to use it since I was five. I like it; it's fun.”
”Then between you, who had been using it since childhood, and me, who uses it a couple times during summer break, who do you think can work a computer better?”
”I suppose me. I'd be better than you.”
”And I've no doubt about it,” agreed Quinn; he knew how to use a computer from his memories, but he was grossly out of touch with the machine, ”just like that, it's natural for me to be better at magic that you're. I've been in contact with it for a time much longer than you have been.”
”But so have Ivy, Harry, and Ron.”
”Not many children learn magic before schooling. It's a hassle for parents to manage magic-enabled children. Only a few learn things like potions and.. .. has Ivy started you on occlumency?”
”Eh? Ah, yes, she did. It's a fascinating form of magic.”
”It is,” he could feel her in-progress occlumency shields, ”my family allowed to me study magic without restraints. I could study magic as much I wanted, and unlike many children, I liked to read.. . you can understand that, don't you?”
”.. . .yes, I can,” nodded Hermione, she knew precisely what Quinn meant, ”you mean, you had a wand?”
”Oh no, my family wasn't that permitting. I just studied.”
Hermione nodded and shook her mind of the thought about how children could be very mean and changed the subject, ”What did you use a computer for?”
”.. . .for games.”
”Of course, you're a boy.”
”That I am, and don't pretend you didn't play as well,” beamed Quinn, ”speaking of games, did you have the chance to open my Christmas present?”
”Ah, yes! I saw it, the wooden box?” she talked excitedly, ”what is it? I wasn't able to open it. I know it can be opened — is it a trick box? It's a trick box, isn't it? Is there something in the box, or is the box itself a gift? No! — Don't tell me! I want to see it on my own.”
Quinn chuckled as he twirled Hermione, ”Alright then, I'll leave it to you. A sense of reward is a strong motivator.”
”.. . .It's not a jump scare, right?”
A peal of free laughter escaped Quinn without restraint.
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- (Scene Break) -
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Ivy Potter had been watching her friends the entire time she had been at the Yule Ball. Sitting near the side, watching them dance and having fun, while she sat without a date.
'I know I rejected a lot, but that doesn't mean I don't want to dance,' she thought while sighing.
She took a sip of the punch she had fetched herself and watched the people without a thought in her mind. As she did that, she saw a Quinn walk towards her in a grey suit and a smile on her face.
”Ivy Potter.. .. I'm here for my promised dance.”
The Potter twin stared up at Quinn, and she to admit, he looked quite fetching.
”I don't know if I should be flattered or worried about your appraising gaze, Ivy,” smiled Quinn, ”well, I'm trying to look good, so I will take that glint of approval in your eyes as a compliment.”
Ivy sighed and placed a hand into Quinn's as she got up. ”You're lucky you're looking good right now.”
”Thank you,” smiled Quinn as he led the redhead to the dance floor, ”you look gorgeous as well.”
”Of course, I do.”
”.. . .hmm, she was right; people should accept compliments.”
”What are you talking about?”
”Hmm, oh nothing, just something I learned.”
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Quinn West - MC - Dance baby, dance~.
Fleur Delacour - Veela - Allue is a mysterious magic.
Hermione Granger - Transformed Beauty - Got a puzzle box from Quinn.
Ivy Potter - Wants To Dance - Sees what she sees, can't be helped.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - To be continued.. .
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