NOVEL NEXT Chapter 321: Dibs.
The door opened and Professor McGonagall walked first, moving through the crowd of students who stood on both sides of the hall waiting for the champions to begin the event of the night they'd all been waiting for.
The champions followed behind her with silent steps and because of a few flicks from Dumbledore's wand became the centre of attention of the entire hall when a voluminous spotlight shone on them.
Bending over a little, Loki whispered into Daphne's ears, "You see that? They're all looking at how handsome I am."
Daphne rolled her eyes goodnaturedly while making sure to step on Loki's feet as she walked under the pretence of a stumble.
Arriving at the centre of the hall, the spotlight stopped moving and caused the champions and their partners to stop along with it.
That was when a piece of soft instrumental music began to play and all the men straightened their backs and with a polite bow, or a kneel in Loki's case, extended their hands for their partners to grasp.
Loki got up holding Daphne's gloved hands and with a smile slipped his other hand around her waist.
"Did you stuff books into your dress?" Loki asked Daphne as he felt something hard on her back.
Daphne responded by stepping on his toes again while looking at him with a smile as she whispered, "It's a corset you fool.", making Loki give out a strained smile as he bore the pain of what was probably a broken nail.
Daphne and Loki danced under the gazes of everyone around them, their steps in complete sync thanks to their superhuman capabilities, making it seem to everyone that they had danced together before since none of the other participants were as in sync as them.
"Something's worrying you?" Daphne asked as she noticed Loki occasionally looking off into the distance while dancing with her.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to get lost in thoughts, don't worry about it."
"Eh…it's awkward to remain silent, never danced with anyone before, I thought all your focus would have to be on the dance, but this is easy. I feel like I'm out in a cage in a zoo. Talk to me." Daphne said gripping Loki's shoulder a little tighter.
Loki looked into Daphne's eyes for a few seconds after which he *sighed* and explained his reason for looking away from the pretty lady in front of him.
"There's something I have to do."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Well, probably?"
"But you have to do it?"
"Oh my! How are you reading my mind so well?! It's almost as if we're real partners." Loki teased but Daphne's eyes were firm.
"I always thought you were of the troublesome sort, you know.", Daphne said lowering her gaze and looking at Harry who was stumbling around with Parvati Patil on the dance floor. "But I seem to have underestimated your knack for getting into trouble."
"Trouble? Me? Pfft. Good joke."
"With your mysterious persona, I know you're hiding something strange from everyone." Daphne said looking back at Loki, "I don't know what it is. And I don't want you to tell me about it since I'd rather not spend time listening to you ramble on narcissistically about your troubles-"
"Weren't you the one that just as-"
"-But what I want you to know is that I've never seen you do something wrong, at least in the traditional sense…and…well, I can give you another one of those paper crane charms I gave you in your first year if you need any." Daphne mumbled out.
Loki's eyes widened slightly and then he smiled and with a nod, he fell back into rhythm with the song as he and Daphne danced for a few more minutes before everyone else walked onto the floor with Dumbledore leading a dance with Madam Maxime.
Soon Loki left the crowd with Daphne as they escaped the dance floor that was becoming rowdy with all the students entering it.
They walked out into the corridor and initially hoped to go to the gardens but spotting several other 'couples' doing the same, they changed their destination to the Astronomy tower.
Once atop the tower Daphne and Loki fell into a strangely comfortable silence, they gazed at the moon, the forest, the small fireflies glowing near the gardens and the giant squid lazing about in the lake.
"Today was nice.", Daphne said with a serene look in her eyes and Loki just nodded in silence.
Suddenly both Loki and Daphne turned towards each other at the same time, "Daphne-" "Loki-"
"Ah…"
Daphne blushed a little but the darkness of the night hid her expression and helped her maintain the always calm and princely aura around herself.
Loki rubbed his neck a little before speaking, "You go first."
Daphne nodded, took a deep breath and released it to cool herself much like a yawn as she gained a confident glimmer in her eyes before she spoke, "I just never told you thanks for Astoria before...but I guess better late than never?"
Loki's eyes widened but his shoulders relaxed as he nodded, "I mean…I can understand you, a little. I'm sure you were worried that if you did that, I would've become Astoria's favourite sibling weren't you? I mean I can't blame you, I'm pretty awesome after all!"
Daphne rolled her eyes before settling on Loki's as she asked him-
"What did you want to say?"
"Erm…it's not that important…but I was wondering if there were any future dances, I'd like to call dibs on you as my partner in the future?...well you know since Mione was already taken away this time since I was late, I thought why not ask you right now for the future too?", Loki said with a smile that made the blush on Daphne's face deepen.
Daphne only nodded and then turned away quickly.
Things became a little awkward after that as Daphne began to curse Loki.
'Way to go!!!'
'But who says I'd like to call dibs on your future!!!'
'Arggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!'
'I want to bury my head…I hope Astoria never hears a word about this!! She'd never let this go!!!'
'Just kill me already.'
Speaking in a slightly high-pitched voice, Daphne faked a yawn and said, "I'm a little tired Loki. I'd like to go back to my room. I feel quite stuffy with the corset on me."
"Yeah, me too."
"..."
'Me too? Are you wearing a corset!! $&*%#@^!!!!!'
"Let me take you back…" Loki said and escorted Daphne back to the Slytherin common room under an awkward silence in which Loki kept smiling while Daphne was trying to hold back her laughs.
But before Daphne left she turned to Loki and wished him a soft, "Good night. Today was wonderful."
*thud*
Daphne vanished into the girl's part of the dormitory with a little rush, leaving Loki behind as he looked at everyone else in the common room which included Astoria who was giving him a knowing look.
Loki just smiled and nodded at her, "Daph told me she'd partner with me in all future dances too!" Loki shouted for Astoria to hear causing several girls in the common room to *squeal* while Astoria herself was left a little stunned.
'Sis said that!?'
'OMG!!!!!!!!!'
'Sissss!!!!!!!!!'
Loki then walked away randomly but as his adrenaline wore out he found himself on the seventh floor of the castle.
It was deep into the night and Loki's eyes turned firm as he spotted the grey lady floating in front of a window.
"You're here.", Helena said without even turning back.
Loki nodded but then thought that perhaps Helena might not be able to see him with her back turned so he spoke out instead, "Yes. And I've come decided."
"I see.", Helena said and turned around slowly. "And your choice is?"
"I'll do it.", Loki said with a brave smile and a sharp look.
Helena's gaze sharpened as she evaluated Loki for a few seconds before breaking out into a happy smile. She nodded and spoke, "That's good. Wait for me here in a couple of days and prepare everything you want to prepare for yourself. The mission will be tough."
Loki nodded and Helena floated away.
'This will probably cause me to reveal a few of my abilities, but at this point, I think I need to get as much help as I can get from anyone strong to protect me as I advance further.'
'I think it's time I seriously start cultivating everyone else around me on my path to Goodhood too, they should all be decent help…should I start with the Tarot Club?'
'And Daph? I should probably help her increase her sequence too…although Sequence 5 isn't bad…it isn't too strong either.'
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