With the Yule Ball officially underway and so many young men and women eager to dance with their chosen partners, the energy levels quickly rose several degrees.
The energy in the Hall burst through the roof altogether after the Weird Sisters came on stage and started rocking out.
The band is actually managed by the WWN, but we bought that at the same time we started other types of properly encrypted radio channels. This meant we had a well concealed wizard radio network, an increase of activity in the music and news industry, and that I actually owned the band in front of me. So I might have given them a few ideas on music from the future and the muggle music I helped introduce through the Toybox caused quite the musical revolution on its own.
The result was a blood pumping good time as they started rocking the Great Hall and pretty much everyone started going wild.
Harry and Ron were a bit annoyed at Hermione, but some Ginny intervention, Christian bluntness, a bit of Luna-cy, and some senpai advice from yours truly resolved it, letting everyone just cut loose.
Tory and I decided to dance around during the fun as well, dancing with some friends in and out of our group.
I danced with only a handful of people since I am considered to be a bit too popular among the females of the castle. Started with one Fleur who was trying to escape the mindless drones trying to get to her, a bit of inter-school exchange if you will. She actually stayed close to James after she also danced once with Viktor, Harry, Christian and her little sister.
Then I danced with the dates of the other champions, meaning Hermione and Ginny. I like James, but not like that.
The latter was happy enough with how I energetically guided her through some more fun dances, enjoying this tempo a lot more than the formal ones due to her nature. Although we didn't interact much in general, she still knew I was one of her saviors, the guy helping Ron turn a completely new leaf, and I'm also the one who taught her how to duel since last year, so everything was good on that front.
The former was very stiff and nervous as she danced with me. That was mostly due to me being an idol of hers because of my academic achievements and personality. My Grades were her dreams basically. It also helped that I saved her from a troll, handled the Buckbeak thing, am constantly helping her improve in the Exchange and always offer advice. It took some gentle and calm guidance to get her to loosen up while dancing, but I am a properly raised gentleman and I am more than capable to lead a young lady.
I then danced with Cho as the first customer of the Exchange, my little successors girlfriend and someone I knew well enough. Followed with Luna since she is a unique and kind girl, who Christian and I made very clear that bullying her was not tolerated, and a person who was interesting to teach. Gabrielle was very persistant in her efforts to dance with me as well, something which I didn't mind since she was just a cute little sister type. And my tour finished up with having a dance with Susan as her older brother before returning to Victoria.
The rest of the evening was spent together as we alternated from enjoying ourselves as a group and as a couple. Many people realized that something was going on between the two of us, but we simply didn't care at that point for a very good reason: her treatment methods where green-lighted for trial. Meaning that after the holiday, the Longbottom couple would be undergoing extensive therapy and if successful her name would become firmly established as a healer and researcher. She was even preparing a book about her studies and new paths for healing, which I am more than willing to sell through my channels.
On a side note, it appears all of my friends are planning on a releasing a book by the time they graduate. Tory is doing hers on trauma's of the mind and body, whilst also delving into my new holy magic. James is creating a new way to create complex and powerful enchantments by combing some of his goblin knowledge, traditional enchanting and my own binary language. And Christian was preparing a new book on Creature ecosystems, proper management of reserves and wild territories.
They also each had they're own projects. The three were managing and creating them from scratch basically, with financial assistance from their good friend of course. Even if it took some convincing, all I had to say was that I knew their genius and had no doubts that their projects would pay themselves back and then some.
Tory was basically going to cause a stir in the medical field through her own original potions, her learning of my holy path and solutions to age old problems, meaning a lot of money from the sales of potions and books. James was designing his own brand of protective gear against spells, beasts, beings and weapons, using some of what he learned to start his own branch to fund his passion and help protect people. And Christian was basically designing a magical Jurassic park in an effort to help dwindling species recover in a safe location, funding itself by selling materials which could be harvested from the creatures while alive or taken once dead. This was the most ambitious project amongst my friends, but I got my people from Natural Cultivation to help since we had experience in a very similar project.
Anyway, back to the ball.
The rest of our time that night was just fun. Good food, drinks, music and company will make any person have a good time.
We danced and sang along with the band. Took our time slow dancing under the magical lights of the hall when the right songs came on. Enjoyed mingling with students of all ages and origins as the place became a neutral area for all.
But all good things must come to an end as well.
Students began to leave slowly but surely. If one looked at who left carefully, you could see couples and soon-to-be couples leaving together, and everyone could tell they weren't done with their evening.
My friends also started to call it a night, with Christian being the first to do so since Luna was one of the youngest among us. So he simply escorted her back to our dorm. Fleur was tired of constantly having to fight off suitors with James, so he suggested showing her some of Hogwarts beauty at night to cap off their evening. Hermione was very tired and Viktor was acting like a proper man as he escorted her back to the Gryffindor Dorm. After a hint from yours truly, Ron also figured out that he should escort his own date back even if they aren't actually dating. Harry and Ginny decided to take a walk outside before turning it in as well. Leaving Victoria and I to decide to find a peaceful place to relax together.
We walked through the quiet corridors arm-in-arm, with gentle smiles on both of our faces while I guided us to the grounds, which were very well decorated.
As we walked through the rose garden, by the statues, saw the couples sitting on the benches and found the fountain at the center of it all. I also felt various interesting little bits like a certain bugs presence, two little traitors of Voldymoldy together, a hidden Harry, and a pair of half-giants standing near the fountain. And knowing how pretty much everything here would go, I just decided to take Victoria somewhere more private.
'If that cockroach writes that racist article in real life I'm going to officially bury the women. It would basically be the honor of anyone who likes the Harry Potter series to ruin her. Especially since I need to wait until next year to end one of the most hated characters of all time.' I thought as I guided my lovely lady.
What I did was rather simple; i took out my personal broom, scooped up my Tory into a princess carry as she did a little surprised yelp, activated the brooms enchantments to make it float, jumped on and surfed it with my girl in my arms as she looked at me with a bit of a pout.
"Sorry sorry. But I want to just relax and be alone with you, so I thought finding somewhere else would be better. Plus it would be a bit hard for you to ride a broom with your dress." I said with a cheeky smile on my face.
"Hmph. I'm going to get you back for that surprise you know?" She simply responded with a tiny glare.
"And I'll accept my punishment later, but I think this will be good." I answered back as I felt the wind on my face.
Since I created the thing, I can play with this broom in almost anyway I wish. Meaning I lowered the wind blocking enchantment's strength temporarily and kicked the heating ones up to basically give us a mild summer breeze feeling while we fly through the Christmas sky.
I then decided to take us above the few clouds in the sky, taking us closer to the half-lit moon hanging in the sky and letting us see the castle and its grounds as we also gaze at the moon.
"You really know how to romance a girl don't you my Raven." Victoria whispered as she laid her head on my chest.
"I have to try to be the best fiancé I can when I have the chance don't I?" I say as I turn to look at the woman being caressed by the moon as she lay in my arms.
"That dirt bag of a sperm donor still didn't agree about that, but honestly who cares? At this point I can't see myself with anyone else and if he tries I'll castrate him." She replied with a bit of a sad smile.
"Hey. How about we just make a little place in Hogsmeade after we graduate?" I asked her as I change the subject away from her family.
"Why there? As far as I know, you have a few mansions under your other name, plenty of properties under your actual one and you rebuilt the Bones family manor, even if you and aunty have no desire to actually live there." She curiously asked this time.
"Well i prefer to have a smaller and cozier place than a big empty mansion. I'd just properly set the place up. But the real reason is that if everything goes according to what I predict, I'll most likely be coming back to Hogwarts next year." I answered honestly as she looked into my eyes.
"Come back? Like an advisor or something? You didn't tell us about that." Tory said as she tried to understand.
"No, not an advisor. I think there's just a high chance of me being the next DADA Professor if everything happens like I think it will." I clarified with a smile on my face.
"But how? Even if it's you, it would be pretty hard to convince the board to hire a fresh graduate. What makes you so sure?" The girl asked as she dug into the possibility.
"Things are happening in the shadows and great change is coming. I just want everything to be ready for it. But about the fresh graduate thing, I'm actually planing on fixing that bit." I answered with a bit of a devils smile this time.
"And how's that?" She asked with a great curiosity this time.
"Well you remember when i got my OWL results and they said I could test for my NEWT's in the subjects I'd gotten O++?" I asked her this time.
"Yeah, no need to rub it in." She answered with a roll of her eyes. "I'm totally getting that grade on my NEWT's though, just watch me. James and Christian are aiming for it too."
"I wholeheartedly believe in you guys, but back to the reason I'm bringing it up. It's because when we all go to get registered for our animagi forms, I'll also do my NEWT's at the ministry itself. I already booked the appointment. And after I finish creating enough Holy spells and my second original, I'll publish the first and go test for my Master certificate in a few disciplines." I explain quickly as Victoria stares at me with slightly narrowed eyes.
"I knew you were going to do something ridiculous again." She sighed as she shook her head. "What's a few certificates then?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms, DADA, Dueling, Healing, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration and Warding." I answered proudly.
"Of course you are. And all at once?" She asked exasperatedly.
"Well, I have been preparing for it gradually. My books for Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Herbology and potions. Original spells and Holy ones for Charms and DADA. I developed new wards for the mastery of it. Mastered the animagus transformation since I only know about thirteen other ones in the century. Created the closest thing possible to a lycanthropy vaccine and reinforced healing spells for that category. And I reintroduced dueling to Hogwarts and managed to surpass a famed dueling champion in pure skill for the last one. Almost everything is ready and only the actual tests are left." I answered seriously as I explained how everything fitted together.
"Wait you said 13 other animagus outside of us, but only 9 are registered. Who are the other four?" She suddenly asked in a bit of a surprise.
"Well Peter Pettigrew And Sirius Black for starters. Then their former best friend and Harry's father, James was one as well. And lastly, Rita Skeeter." I answered truthfully.
"Rita Skeeter? The gossip mongering insect who will fill an article with anything as long as it gets read and makes people upset? She succeeded in becoming an animagus and didn't register herself?" She questioned in surprise.
"Funny you would call her an insect when we're talking about this subject." I say with a chuckle.
"No. You don't mean she is actually?" She asked in realization.
"Yup, an actual bug. A beetle to be precise. And she uses it to spy on people and get there dirty secrets. Even after the Headmaster banned her from the grounds she still uses that to sneak in. She was actually in the gardens not long ago." I answered with a smile.
"And why aren't you taking advantage of this? She would be in the palm of your hands if you used this properly?" She asked as her voice grew a bit louder.
"Because I have plans on how to handle such a woman. No worries about her. But you still didn't answer my question from earlier: would you be ok with us having a place in Hogsmeade next year love?" I answered and asked the green-eyes beauty.
"Of course I would be ok with it. As long as it's with you I'd be ok pretty much anywhere." She answered after exhaling a long breath to move on from Rita.
"So would I. Now how about we make use of this situation and enjoy ourselves a bit?" I asked with a warm heart and happy smile.
"I thought you'd never ask." Victoria answered as she pressed her soft lips on mine and began kissing me.
This started a make out session in the sky, as we simply enjoyed ourselves under the moon and stars.