Chapter 63
The Great Hall was stunningly decorated, its splendor accentuated by intricate ice sculptures that shimmered in the magical lighting. Gray couldn't help but think, "I could put up a better decoration with my ice ability." Despite his critique, he found himself genuinely enjoying the atmosphere. With Rachel by his side, his heart felt lighter than ever, and an uncharacteristically genuine smile graced his face. This was no sinister grin to terrify children but a true smile, one that caused a few girls to swoon, much to the annoyance of their male partners. Rachel, ever the empath, noticed his happiness, which only added to her own joy.
The other three champions followed behind Gray and Rachel as they made their way to the center of the hall. The evening soon transformed into a symphony of movement as everyone began dancing. Viktor Krum led Hermione with a firm yet graceful stance, while Cedric partnered with Fleur Delacour, their movements elegant and poised. Each couple moved in time with the enchanting music, their steps deliberate and synchronized. Gray and Rachel, however, danced with an energy that seemed almost otherworldly, their connection so seamless it drew the attention of everyone in the hall.
As the dance progressed, the other three champions gradually stopped, yielding the floor entirely to Gray and Rachel. The pair, utterly engrossed in each other, moved with a fluidity and grace that bordered on the ethereal. Ron, who was dancing with Parvati, leaned over to Harry and whispered, "I didn't know he could smile like that." Meanwhile, Jamal, whose partner was one of Fleur's friends, began his usual commentary. "You know, back in Camelot, during Merlin's time, they would have events like this—" But his words faded into the background as everyone else became captivated by the duo.
Gray and Rachel performed not just a dance but an artful display of movement. Gray's hands rested gently yet firmly on Rachel's waist, while her hands occasionally trailed his shoulders before returning to his. Their footwork was precise, every step measured, their bodies moving as though they were extensions of each other. Twirls, dips, and synchronized turns created a mesmerizing spectacle. The way Rachel leaned into Gray during the slower parts of the music and how he effortlessly guided her through each move spoke volumes of their chemistry.
By the end, the hall erupted in applause, though Gray and Rachel seemed unaware of anything but each other. There was supposed to be a party after the dance, but they weren't going. In fact, as soon as the formal dance was over, they were about to be swarmed, only for Gray and Rachel to disappear into the crowd. Outside Hogwarts, on the towering building rooftop, sat Gray and Rachel, who had just escaped from the crowd. They looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
"That was something," Gray said as he sighed before sitting down on the edge of the rooftop. Rachel joined him, saying, "I don't usually do this." Gray chuckled as he replied, "Dance?" to which Rachel responded, "Yeah. Every time I start to enjoy myself, somehow, in some way, either someone else ruins it, or Dad finds a way to ruin it." Gray sighed, then sported a wide grin as he said, "Well, there was no your dad today or someone else to ruin it, so I guess it was a success." Rachel faintly smiled, which was rare, and said, "Yeah, I guess."
They both looked up into the night sky, where the moon lit the darkness, but clouds covered the beautiful stars. Gray smiled slightly as he used his star powers to their maximum—not to create a large explosion, but to make the stars shine brightly just for Rachel. The stars responded by shining so brightly that even the clouds couldn't hinder their blinding light. Rachel smiled genuinely, allowing Gray to achieve his goal.
Despite the stars and the moon shining brightly and doing their best, they couldn't take Gray's mind off Rachel.
-scene change
The next day, in the Ravenclaw common room, Raven, an ordinary girl studying at hogwart, not rachel roth, awoke with a start, her mind clouded with confusion. She blinked at the unfamiliar sensation of being tucked into her bed, her memory hazy. "How did I even get here? What happened at the ball?" she muttered, sitting up and looking around. The room seemed unusually quiet, and as she stood and began to make her way toward the main area, she noticed something strange. Every girl she passed gave her icy glares, their hostility palpable. Whispered words reached her ears, laced with venom.
"She thinks she's better than us now," one girl hissed to her friend.
"Look at her—acting all innocent," another spat, her arms crossed tightly. "I bet she used the makeup potion to look like that," sneered another voice, loud enough for Raven to hear.
Raven's confusion deepened as she quickened her pace, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She finally spotted her best friend, Kary, sitting by the window. Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. Kary looked up, her expression stormy. "Raven! There you are," she said sharply, closing the book she'd been reading with a snap.
"Good morning to you too," Raven replied nervously, sensing the anger in her friend's tone. Kary stood and crossed her arms. "You better tell me everything, Raven," she demanded. "How in Merlin's name did you get Gray Knight of all people to go to the ball with you?!"
Raven blinked, stunned. "Wait...what? Gray Knight? The ball? Kary, I have no idea what you're talking about. I just woke up, and I don't remember anything after arriving at the ball last night."
Kary raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Oh, really? You had such a good time that you forgot the whole thing, huh?" she teased, though her irritation still lingered. Raven shook her head, her voice firm. "I'm serious, Kary. I have no memory of what happened. I swear!"
The rest of the day only compounded Raven's confusion. Everywhere she went, the other girls treated her with hostility, whispering behind her back or outright avoiding her. "She thinks she's so special now," one muttered. "Did you see her last night? She looked perfect," another said bitterly. "It's like she found some secret, upgraded makeup potion, i bet gray gave her one given how ugly she was"
The boys, on the other hand, couldn't stop staring. Many of them approached her with wide-eyed fascination, though their admiration was tinged with disappointment. "You looked amazing last night," one boy said shyly, scratching the back of his neck. "But, uh...what happened? You're still pretty, but it's not the same as last night." Another added, "I thought you were, like, magical or something last night. Now it just feels...normal."
Raven couldn't escape the attention, good or bad, and by the end of the day, her patience wore thin. She sat down at dinner with Kary, her expression fraught with frustration. "Kary, I can't take this anymore," she said, her voice low. "I need to figure out what happened last night. It's like I've been caught in some bizarre dream, and no one will let me wake up." while the culprit was busy with time, this was the biggest project he had since well, ever.
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A/N yes, i know, i feel bad for raven too, and i realised what i did was dirty,