Going to the ball (chapter 63)

Chapter 63

Gray remained unfazed, correcting errors in his notes. "You already danced with the professor. Why not dance with girls your age?" Rachel asked, amused. "Because I don't like girls my age; I prefer older women," Gray replied matter-of-factly, making Rachel grin. "Why not ask McGonagall?" she quipped, causing Gray to snap his head toward her in horror. "Hardy har. Wait—why don't you come to the ball with me?" he suggested, catching Rachel off guard. "I don't go to Hogwarts, remember? Plus, if I'm with you, people will notice. Are you sure you want that?" she countered. Gray shrugged. "To others, you'll just look like a student."

Rachel sighed as Gray's mind raced. "You want to knock someone out and have me transform into her?" she guessed. Gray nodded eagerly. "And you're not shy about dancing with me?" she asked. "Why would I be?" Gray replied, leaving Rachel oddly disappointed. She sighed again. "Whatever," she muttered, turning into her cane form. Gray scratched his head, confused. "Wait, does she like me? Or is it the elixir messing with my head?" he wondered before shaking it off and returning to work. Hours later, stepping out of his suitcase, Gray stumbled into an awkward scene.

Ron stumbled into the common room, pale and unsteady, with someone helping him inside. Harry rushed over. "What happened?" he asked. A nearby girl answered before Ron could speak. "He asked Fleur Delacour out." Hermione's head shot up. "What?" she exclaimed. "What did she say?" Harry asked, intrigued. "No, of course," Hermione assumed. But Ron weakly shook his head. "She said yes?" Hermione asked, incredulous. "Don't be silly," Harry dismissed. Finally, Ron confessed, "I screamed at her. It just slipped out." The girl added, "He practically scared her." Harry laughed. "What did you do then?" he asked. "Ran for it," Ron admitted, embarrassed. Just then, the Patil twins strolled by, saying, "Hi, Harry," before turning their attention to Gray.

"Who did you ask, Gray?" Seamus inquired. "More like who asked him," Jamal corrected. "Raven," Gray replied nonchalantly. "You mean that goth girl in Ravenclaw?" Hermione asked. "Yeah, she asked first," Gray explained, leaving everyone stunned. "All we had to do was ask first?" the girls muttered collectively. Gray, feeling awkward, backed away. "Well, yes. Anyway, I've got a ball to get ready for," he said, walking off as a trail of broken hearts lingered behind.

-scene change-

It was the time for the ball and Harry and Ron descended into the bustling dance hall. Ron tugged at his robes nervously. "Leave it alone," Harry muttered. Ron sighed, glancing around. "Bet she's alone, crying her eyes out," he said. "Who?" Harry asked. "Hermione. Nobody asked her. I would've taken her myself if she weren't so proud," Ron admitted. Harry smirked knowingly. "Or because we'd tease her if she told us." Ron frowned but didn't argue as the music began.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the Patil twins approached them. Parvati greeted them with a smile. "Hello, boys. Don't you look..." She paused, glancing at Ron. "...dashing." Before Ron could respond, she took off. The hall seemed to hold its breath as Hermione entered, dressed elegantly, her transformation leaving everyone speechless. Parvati leaned toward Harry. "She looks beautiful." Harry couldn't take his eyes off her. "Yeah, she does," he murmured. Viktor Krum stepped forward, offering his hand to Hermione, who accepted it gracefully.

They descended together. Padma nudged Ron. "Is that Hermione Granger? With Viktor Krum?" Ron's face turned red. "No. Absolutely not." 

That was when everyone suddenly stopped dancing—everyone. Their gazes turned toward the staircase, where Gray appeared, descending with confidence. He was dressed in modern attire: a sleek black suit and tie, a choice Rachel had insisted on. Speaking of Rachel, she wasn't far from him. In fact, she was interlocking her hand with Gray's as they descended together. Rachel was clad in a stunning black dress, complemented by black lipstick and matching accessories. The only pop of color was the blood-red gem on her forehead. The height difference between them became evident, as Gray towered over her, his muscular frame making Rachel appear petite by comparison.

The quiet hall soon filled with murmurs. "Look at that smug look on her face," one girl whispered bitterly. "I wish I could use one of the Unforgivable Curses on her," muttered another. Jamal, overhearing them, interjected, "Why not use a love potion on Gray? Then you'd have him without harming some innocent girl." Some of the girls seemed intrigued by this suggestion, but Jamal's friend quickly shot it down.

"Use a love potion on a potioneering genius? That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard," he retorted, earning a smack on the head from Jamal. "Don't ever call me dumb, you hear me? otherwise i will kidnapp your parent. And I know where they live. Should I say the address?" Jamal threatened, making his friend plead, "Please don't." Jamal then declared, "Children, you know, back in ancient times—" but was swiftly interrupted. "Here he goes again. Can you stop talking about ancient times like you were there with Merlin and Arthur Pendragon?" another student groaned.

Meanwhile, Gray and Raven—or rather, Rachel now appearing as Raven—captivated everyone. Their descent down the stairs was mesmerizing, each step synchronized as though rehearsed. The way Gray's confidence radiated and Rachel's striking appearance complemented his presence made them the center of attention. Murmurs faded to silence as the pair joined the dancers, commanding the hall's gaze with an almost magnetic allure.

Gray and Rachel proceeded to the Great Hall, walking briskly as if the world around them did not exist. The crowd naturally parted for them, their presence commanding attention. While many girls and boys looked on with jealousy or discontent, neither Gray nor Rachel seemed to care. Gray caught sight of Professor McGonagall nodding at him, a gesture that made him think, "This professor is really getting on my nerves, threatening me. Me." Rachel, sensing his inner turmoil, elbowed him gently to get him to straighten up. Her silent encouragement snapped him out of his thoughts as they walked on.

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A/N yes, there is a girl called raven in ravenclaw, and yes, she is goth, is she important, no.