Draco could feel Harry's breath, warm and slightly hurried, against his neck. The space between them grew charged, intimate, and for a fleeting moment, the rest of the Great Hall ceased to exist. Both of them leaned into the enchantment of the moment, enjoying the sensation.
Then the music died, and the overhead lights flared back to life.
They snapped back to reality, springing apart. A flush crept up both their necks.
Draco cleared his throat awkwardly. "The Great Hall is stifling, Potter. Shall we... get some air?"
Harry looked down, his ears turning pink. "Okay."
The words were barely a whisper, but Draco caught them. They slipped away from the tables, heading for the massive oak doors. Erwin watched them go, a pained expression on his face.
He sighed heavily. Dear Lucius, you're still relatively young. Perhaps you should consider having another child? For the sake of the family line, if nothing else.
Erwin made a mental note to send an owl to Malfoy Manor as soon as the festivities ended. He bore no ill will toward Draco, of course, but British society had its... complexities.
A short distance away, Grindelwald and Dumbledore emerged from the dancers. They watched Harry and Draco's retreating backs with knowing smiles.
"Look, Albus," Grindelwald chuckled softly. "They are exactly as we were in our youth."
Dumbledore adjusted his half-moon spectacles. "I suspect they will be happier than we were. At the very least, they won't have to wait decades to find their way back to one another."
Grindelwald turned to the Headmaster. He reached out, gently taking Dumbledore's hand in his. "It is all in the past now, isn't it?"
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of melancholy and relief. The two shared a lingering look before turning to leave the Great Hall together.
Erwin took Sunny Finch's hand, leading her back to where Hermione and the others were gathered. Then, he turned to seek out his third partner for the evening.
"Penelope," Erwin said, offering his hand with a charming smile. "Would you do me the honor?"
Penelope stood immediately, her eyes sparkling as she took his hand. "Of course, Erwin. I've been waiting an eternity."
Erwin grabbed a glass of water, took a quick sip for stamina, and led her back to the center of the floor. The third song of the evening began to play. Erwin placed a polite hand on Penelope's waist, but she had other ideas.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "I prefer dancing like this."
Erwin coughed lightly. "Penelope, isn't this a bit... forward? Everyone is watching."
Penelope laughed, unbothered. "Are you worried your little admirers will be upset? Don't worry, I'm just giving them a lesson in confidence. The music is playing, Erwin. You wouldn't dare waste a second of my time, would you?"
Erwin sighed but placed his hands firmly on her waist, and they swayed to the rhythm.
For the fourth song, Erwin invited Pansy. After four consecutive dances, even Erwin's enhanced stamina was beginning to wane. He drained his glass and approached Cassandra before the next song began.
Cassandra tried to mimic Penelope's bold move, but she ran into a physical obstacle: she couldn't quite reach his neck. The realization that she still had growing to do made her pout, but she settled for holding his hands tightly.
Next was Cho Chang. Her Qipao highlighted her elegance, making her stand out effortlessly. While waiting, many young wizards had approached her, including Cedric Diggory. Yet, Erwin's presence was overwhelming; in his radiance, other prospects dimmed. Cho politely declined them all.
By the time she finally stepped onto the floor with Erwin, the ball was well past its midpoint. Cho was trembling, her palms damp with nervous perspiration. Erwin could feel it.
He chuckled softly. "Why are you so nervous, Cho? I don't breathe fire."
The joke eased her tension, and she giggled. "I just... I never thought I'd actually be your partner. It feels like I've won something extraordinary."
Erwin squeezed her hand gently. "Can you feel it? We're really here. I'm holding your hand. Let's make this dance perfect, alright?"
Looking into his eyes, Cho felt her anxiety vanish. She nodded vigorously.
Then came Fleur. The glares from the other students were particularly sharp this time, but Erwin was immune to envy.
Fleur followed him gracefully. "What a pity. I'm the seventh partner! You really are in tremendous demand, Erwin."
"I didn't plan it this way," Erwin laughed.
"You're terrible at feigning modesty," she teased. "Tell me, do you even have the energy left to dance with me properly?"
"I'm a wizard, Fleur," Erwin said, slipping his arm around her waist. "And I started physical conditioning much earlier than the rest of you."
Fleur smiled sweetly, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Prove it."
The music swelled. Fleur's Veela allure was potent, and even Erwin felt somewhat overwhelmed, but the song passed quickly enough.
Finally, it was Hermione's turn. She had been practically vibrating with impatience. The Great Hall was warm, and she was terrified her hair might frizz if she waited another moment. Seeing the previous dance end, she didn't wait for an invitation. She stood, grabbed Erwin's hand, and practically dragged him onto the floor.
For Hermione, propriety could wait. She had one objective: dancing with Erwin.
As the music started, she finally relaxed. She subtly wiped a bead of perspiration from Erwin's forehead. "Are you tired?"
"I can manage," Erwin promised. "I'll survive this dance with you."
"If this happens again," Hermione said, her voice fierce with possessiveness, "I'm claiming you earlier."
"I'll be waiting," Erwin replied with a smile.
Hermione beamed, though she was reluctant to let go when the music finally faded. As they stepped off the floor, she considered asking for one more turn, but she remembered how much energy Erwin had already expended. She decided to be merciful.
Erwin breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally over. He just wanted a moment to rest, to find a quiet corner and sit down.
But as he turned, a petite figure stepped directly into his path, blocking him.