Chapter 227: Dancing in the Starlight
When Oleandra returned to the Great Hall with Madam Pomfrey, she immediately disabled Daphne's Age Line before any other unfortunate incidents occurred. She quickly guided the Healer to the teacher's table, elbowing dancers out of the way as they made their way to the back of the hall. It seemed that Ron's near-death experience hadn't had much of an effect on the ambience; everyone but the Gryffindor Trio were still making merry.
"He'll make a full recovery," Madam Pomfrey declared after a short examination. "There's nothing that Phoenix tears can't cure, really. I understand that the headmaster can't exactly milk his Phoenix, but still! He could stand to give me more than a small bottle every year!"
Harry and Hermione blew a sigh of relief, and even Professor Snape looked happy. Well, relatively speaking; and Oleandra was fairly sure that he was smiling not because Ron would be all right, but because he had obtained a new type of poison to play around with. Still, Madam Pomfrey took Ron with her back to the Hospital Wing, just to be safe.
"Oleandra!" a voice called out. "It looks like a Weasley owes you their life once again."
Turning around, Oleandra saw Percy bustling over to her. A wave of guilt washed over her; that poison had probably been meant for her. Ron had been unfortunate enough to drink from her glass first.
"It certainly looks that way," Oleandra said, smiling weakly.
"Rest assured that I will do my utmost to figure out the culprit," Percy said with determination. "No doubt the culprit is from one of the rival schools— I'll ask Mr. Crouch for advice. He used to be Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, you know. Brilliant man— shame he's taken sick; overwork, no doubt, and he's not getting any younger."
Oleandra didn't want to hear any of this, or how finding out the culprit might help him advance his career, but she still smiled and nodded, listening to Percy's boring stories. In desperation, Oleandra looked at Harry, who wore a strained expression on his face, but it seemed like he had no intention of leaving, or of asking her to dance. And to make matters worse, at some point, Mr. Bagman joined the conversation.
When the conversation turned from the importation of non-standard thickness cauldron bottoms to the ban on flying carpets, Oleandra had had enough, so she walked out of the Great Hall, past Astoria, who was dancing with a Ravenclaw boy, and past Tracey, who was sitting all alone on a bench in the Entrance Hall.
"Oleandra!" Tracey said as she jumped up from her seat. "You disappeared halfway through the Ball! I was worried—"
"It's a long story," Oleandra said wearily. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
Oleandra and Tracey stood there in silence for a few moments. Music and excited voices could still be heard through the heavy double doors that led to the Great Hall.
"Would you like— may I have a dance?" Tracey finally said, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"What happened to your dance partner?" Oleandra asked.
"It didn't work out," Tracey said vaguely. "So…?"
Oleandra didn't want to lead her best friend on, but Tracey had done so much for her these past few years; she at least deserved one dance…
"Why not," Oleandra finally agreed.
Tracey took her by the hand and led her outside, to the courtyard. Instantly, the Fairies there flocked around Oleandra. Couples who had been snogging in the bushes were suddenly plunged in semi-darkness as their light sources formed a spotlight over Oleandra and Tracey.
"I was afraid of this," Oleandra said with a frown, shooing the Fairies away. "They seem to really like me."
"Leave them!" Tracey giggled.
Tracey took the lead, placing her right hand around Oleandra's waist and taking Oleandra's right hand into her left. Oleandra placed her free hand on Tracey's shoulder, and they began slowly dancing under the gentle glow of the floating Fairies.
"Tracey, I—" Oleandra began, as they looked into each other's eyes.
"Shh," Tracey said quietly. "I know. Just— just enjoy the moment."
If it hadn't been for all the couples angrily looking at them for taking away their light and interrupting their fun, it would have been a really romantic moment. It was perfectly quiet, outside of the sounds of breathing and the snow crunching under their footsteps. Oleandra could see the tip of Tracey's nose and her cheeks turn red due to the cold, and her breath condensing into vapour from her moist lips.
'Round and 'round they went, twirling and trading places, leaving imprints in the snow wherever they went. Even the stars seemed to watch over them, twinkling gently. Moments seemed to stretch into infinity, but after a few silent minutes, the dance came to an end. They each let go of the other's hands, and Tracey bowed deeply to her; Oleandra responded to the bow with a curtsy. It was at this moment that Oleandra suddenly realized that Tracey must have learned both the man's and the woman's dance steps.
When they both raised their heads again, Tracey was smiling, though Oleandra noted that a single tear had run down her cheek, leaving a wet, glistening trail, shining in the Fairies' light.
"I know you don't feel that way about me," Tracey simply said, wiping away the tear with one finger. "But I'll always be your best friend, Oleandra, and I'll always be there for you."
And that was that; Tracey turned on her heel and walked back inside the Entrance Hall, leaving Oleandra shivering in the cold outside.
"What are you waiting for?" a boy's voice said from the bushes. "Go after her!"
And just like that, the magic was broken.
"Why don't you mind your own business!" Oleandra shouted angrily back at the bush.
"We were, until you took all the lights for yourself!" a girl's voice rang out from the same bush.
A chorus of approval rang out from the various bushes the couples and lovers had taken refuge in to be intimate with each other. Now, Oleandra was getting a bit miffed. It had taken all of Tracey's courage to reveal her feelings for her, even though she knew they wouldn't be reciprocated. How dare these people comment on her love life?
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Oleandra shot back. "You look much better in the dark, anyway. Don't think I can't see you in there, Eloise Midgen!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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