Chapter 58

A sharp thwack hit the side of Atlas’s leg, straightening her foot while another went to her arm, raising it higher. The Black winced, holding back her yelp as Fleur sought to fix and perfect any other faults in the girl’s form with a long and thin stick she’d found on their way to the Black Lake. After the fiasco a couple of weeks prior when Minerva had given the Gryffindors four hours of dance instructing, Atlas had gotten absolutely nowhere, she had still been as naff at dancing walking out as she had been when walking into the entrance hall that torturous day. 

It was all thanks to her partner switch. When the music had started up again, she’d been paired with Neville rather than Hermione and as the two were both generally hopeless at dancing, it went as well as anyone would have expected. Which wasn’t well at all. Hermione had been forced to dance with a guy named ‘something’ McLaggen and Ginny tried her best to help Harry who was just as hopeless as his fellow Gryffindor champion.

Which was why Atlas was down by the Lake at the crack of the dawn with Fleur Delacour, a renowned dancer among the Beauxbatons lot. They’d been working on Atlas’s dancing since her first practice and Atlas still wasn’t sure she was going to be able to do the opening dance of the Yule Ball. All she could think about was potentially falling over herself as she had done with Hermione and every time she did, she would trip and land hard on her front.

“Your mind is clouded!” Fleur scolded when Atlas misstepped for the nth time that morning. The Hogwarts champion took a moment, breathing heavily as her chest raised and settled erratically. There were beads of wetness dripping down the side of her face, her bare abdomen slick with sweat as she swiped a hand through her hair and quickly reassumed her dancing position. “Zis will get nowhere if you do not trust yourself!”

“I’m worried I’ll mess up!”

“Don’t! Zat is ze reason you are fumbling! You are zinking too ‘ard!” She chastised, waving her stick around in the air as she momentarily tossed it to the side and moved into a perfected stance, with her arms out in front of her, chin raised and entire form confident. Strong but flexible, steady but free. Atlas watched her silently, wiping an arm across her face and placing her hands at her own hips as she eyed each movement the Veela made. “See ‘ow I move! Delicately. And now–” She switched, taking the form of the lead, the change seamless and expertly done. “I am ze guide! Ze foundation! I am communicating my intent to my partner! It is ‘armony!”

Atlas circled her, brows furrowed as she took in heavy breaths and tried her hardest to mimic those movements to herself. Fleur turned to her and beckoned her closer, the younger girl obeying and immediately placing her hand on Fleur’s hip when she was instructed. Her eyes immediately darted to her feet but Fleur slapped her cheek lightly, hiking her gaze to meet hers.

“Eyes on me. We communicate through our eyes, zat is ‘ow our intent and connection is made. You need to be able to signal your next move while remaining sturdy. Remember, do not zink,” Fleur warned and Atlas gulped, nodding nervously. “Now begin.”

They moved, dancing across the rocks of the bank as music played at the back of their minds. Atlas’s movements steadily became more and more rhythmic as she became less and less anxious, her mind clearing and her form and obligation as their foundation becoming stronger. She lifted Fleur into the air, staggering only slightly when her healing arm pinched with blinding pain but she kept her composure and ended the dance, almost stumbling at the last moment. She covered it up by falling to her knee and kissing Fleur’s knuckle.

“Yes!” Fleur cheered, clapping heartily as Atlas stood with a weary smile. “Yes! Yes! Zat was good! Very good! You are getting zere, but you still ‘ave many improvements to come. ‘Owever, you did fantastically. Very well done! Very well!”

“Getting there? I thought that was expert level…” Atlas sighed and Fleur chuckled, taking the remark as a joke. It hadn’t been. They both took that moment to have a break and Atlas slumped to the floor, Fleur doing the same with much more grace than the Gryffindor had. They remained silent for a moment before Atlas groaned and shouted to the sky, startling a few nesting owls in the area.

“What is it?”

“I’m thinking of how I should ask Hermione to the ball.”

“Well, what is ‘Ermione like?”

“What do you mean?”

“‘Ow do you zink she would like to be asked? Privately? Largely? Or just simply, in passing conversation?” Fleur asked and Atlas glanced over at her, holding her wand to her mouth to gulp down a round of water as she thought. Hermione was the private type, she’s more about the romantic simple gestures rather than the large and bold celebratory ones. She liked the simple, domestic and secret moments. 

Though even if that was the case, perhaps she’d like something big, something that told her Atlas didn’t care what anyone thought, something that told her Atlas was more than happy to let the school know she’d asked her to be her date. That pureblood Atlas Black would date a muggle-born nobody, like her. Even though to Atlas, Hermione wasn’t a nobody, she was somebody, in fact, to Atlas, she was everything. Her person.

“You are zinking, sappy zoughts?” Fleur grinned and Atlas redirected some of her water stream in the girl’s direction, smiling smugly as she tucked her wand back in her belt and Fleur groaned, flicking her hands around. “I am only teasing.”

“I know,” Atlas sighed and then she smiled, leaning her cheek against her knee, “You were right anyway. I mean…it sucks that I’m crushing. Hard. On my best friend and I wish it wasn’t the case but at the same time…I’m so — so happy? That it’s her, you know? Like, there’s no one I’d rather it be.”

“Never took you for ze romantic type. You were always ze flirtatious type, no strings attached,” Fleur remarked and Atlas nodded with a light laugh.

“Yeah well, that’s what it was in the beginning with Mi and then I became a sap.”

“You love ‘er?”

“You know I can’t say that, Delacour,” Atlas huffed.

“Even if it’s ‘er?”

“…even if it’s her. You know me…that’s just the way I am, emotions are…hard. Doesn’t matter if I actually…” Atlas grimaced, feeling the word on her tongue but tasting that familiar restraint holding the declaration back, “…actually…like-like her. I don’t think I’ll be able to say it straight away. I’ve never even reciprocated to Cedric’s declarations and that’s light-hearted.”

“I see…” Fleur murmured and then smiled, standing up quickly and kicking Atlas’s hip lightly. “Come! We must practice, zen you can go and ask ‘Ermione to ze Ball!”

“Can’t we just go back? I am suddenly fatigued beyond belief,” Atlas sighed. Fleur regarded her a moment before shrugging with a nod. She figured Atlas had done quite a bit already and she certainly deserved a break. They both spent a few respective moments, grabbing their things before they took off in the direction of the castle. Atlas pulled up her school trousers over her joggers and buckled up her belt, taking her shirt from Fleur and putting it on.

“‘Ave you been receiving many invites to ze Ball?”

“You have no idea,” Atlas nodded but then rethought her words as Fleur simply grinned. “Nevermind, you probably have every idea.”

“You would be correct. I’ve ‘ad many proposals but ze boy I ‘ave ‘ad my eye on zis entire stay ‘as yet to ask me,” Fleur muttered dejectedly and Atlas smiled, nudging her lightly as she did up her buttons. It was a gesture that said ‘chin up!’ and made Fleur smile thankfully. “Perhaps I should ask ‘im.”

“I’m sure it would bloat his pride,” Atlas mused, pulling her jumper on and flicking her hair out from the confines of the clothing. “Who is he?”

“A boy in Ravenclaw, ‘is name is Roger Davies.”

“Seriously? Him?”

“Do not judge my taste.”

“He’s a jerk.”

“‘E is not! ‘E treats me kindly.”

“Sure sure.”

She waved at a few passersby as they made it into the heart of Hogwarts, kindly excusing herself when someone asked if they could talk to her in private while Fleur did the same. Though there were many that just shouted their date proposals, no doubt caught by the Veela’s charm. Each time Atlas would burst out laughing, wiping tears from her eyes as she continued in vain to attempt to tie her tie. Fleur eventually had enough of watching her fumbling with the cloth and decided to reach out and do it for her, scolding her like an older sister would their incompetent sibling.

“You are fifteen, yet you do not know ‘ow to do a tie?”

“Hermione does it for me, so I don’t need to,” Atlas smiled and then went wide-eyed, spotting a particular nuisance advancing on their position. Luckily the annoyance hadn’t noticed them yet so, panicked, Atlas grabbed Fleur’s arm and pulled her into one of Filch’s closets, earning a startled yelp from the French woman. She pushed the girl further inwards and placed her eye to the keyhole, watching as Romilda Vane walked by with a skip in her step and a whistled tune on her lips.

“What was zat about?” Fleur hissed, seeking to sort out her tousled hair.

“Sorry,” Atlas sighed out, placing her hand on the doorknob and clicking it downwards, “She’s not left me alone, she thinks because I know her name I’m obligated to date her, it’s tiring honestly–” she pushed the door open, gaze still back to Fleur who had reached out to brush her hair with her fingers, “–I’ve never known a girl to be as clingy as that one. I’m sure she’s really nice but–“

“Atlas?” 

Her words stopped and Atlas turned with a smile to see Hermione stood on the other side of the door. “Oh, hi Hermione.”

The girl stopped and stared between the champions, eyes trailing across their dishevelled states. Her gaze went to Fleur’s hand nestled in Atlas’s hair, the loosely and unfinished tie around her neck, the crinkles in their uniforms and the surprised flush on Fleur’s cheeks. The champions stepped out of the closet and shut it behind them, resuming their missions to sort themselves out, unperturbed as Hermione steadily grew paler and paler, her entire demeanour drooping to something crestfallen.

“What — what were you doing…in there?”

“Hiding,” Atlas grinned, catching a breath and rubbing a hand through her still sweaty locks, “prying eyes, you know? What are you up to?”

“I…” Hermione looked as if she might cry. “Library…”

“Mi? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m — I’m gonna go,” Hermione breathed, hugging the books she had in her arms to her chest.

“Yeah, alright. I’d come with you but Fleur’s helping me with something…I’ll hopefully tell you about it later,” Atlas smiled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. Hermione simply nodded and Atlas frowned, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder only to recoil when she flinched. “Hermione? Are you sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine. I need to go,” Hermione sped off before Atlas had even the chance to reply, recklessly bumping into moving bodies and turning a sharp corner with her chin to her chest. Atlas itched her head, looking after her quizzically as she then turned to Fleur who shrugged slowly, joining the Hogwarts champion in gazing after the bookworm.

“She seemed upset,” Fleur voiced and Atlas nodded hesitantly. “So ‘ave you decided ‘ow you’d like to ask ‘er to ze Ball? You need to ‘urry, ze Ball is in a few days.”

“I know…and I’ve decided I’ll do it privately, I don’t think she looks up to putting up with any of my grand gestures,” Atlas decided and Fleur hummed in agreement, the two of them resuming their walk to the Great Hall. Though there was a pit in Atlas’s stomach, telling her to go after her best friend. Telling her to not let her go alone. Telling her she needed to check on her. She ignored it, however, they’d see each other later, and waved a hello to Cedric and Cho, the two of them stood blushing bashfully at one another. Looked like one of them had asked the other to the Ball.

As she watched them, Atlas suddenly realised how much she wanted to go to the Ball with Hermione.

***

“Hey!”

Atlas stopped just as she was about to climb through the Fat Lady’s portrait turning with a straight face only to smile widely when she saw Harry running over to her. Though it quickly dropped when she saw how restless and red the boy was. He didn’t say anything as he stopped in front of her, simply grabbed her shirt arm and pulled her into Gryffindor Tower. She eyed him silently, letting him drag her along and subsequently not fighting back when he pushed her into the chair by the fireside and mirrored the action by slumping down onto the ottoman in front of her.

There was a moment of silence, Harry rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses as he silently groaned and muttered words under his breath. His godsister remained quiet, blinking slowly and confusedly as she sent furtive glances to the portrait, waiting for that familiar bushy head of hair to walk inside so she could ask what she had wanted to do all that morning and evening. She was going to ask Hermione to the Ball, which meant, Harry really needed to spit out what he wanted to say.

“Why didn’t you tell me Cho was going to the Ball with Cedric?”

“Uh–“

“I just asked her and I feel like a right numpty!” Harry cried out, face flushed and beaming bright red.

“I–“

“And then, for some reason, I asked him! Not knowing he was the one Cho was going with because I didn’t ask her and he smiled and let me down easily but it was still super embarrassing!” Harry continued and Atlas stared at him, eyes wide and mouth forming into a grin. “What!?”

“You — you asked Cedric?”

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t know you liked guys.”

“Oh…Oh! You didn’t!” He flushed even further as Atlas let out a laugh of disbelief. “I thought you would have caught on by my reaction to finding out liking the same gender was accepted in the wizarding world last year.”

“No…that’s, totally vague. I’m smart but tones are a totally different territory,” Atlas said, in a voice that was a pitch higher than usual. “How have I never known this?”

“I…uh, don’t really talk about it.”

“Well, shit…Harry uh…welcome?” Atlas murmured. She didn’t know what she was expecting when the boy had pulled her aside but it certainly wasn’t this, certainly wasn’t her godbrother suddenly coming out to her. After asking her other brother figure out as well. It was really something and she almost burst out laughing at the thought. “Holy fuck…this is so cool.”

“Yeah…anyway — you still haven’t answered my question.”

Atlas chuckled and smiled. “I didn’t know you liked her — him — them?”

“They’re both just stupidly attractive.”

“Right,” Atlas laughed. And then the portrait swung open, revealing an ashen-faced Ron in the arms of a grimacing Ginny. The god-siblings glanced at one another before standing and going over to them. Atlas immediately reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Ron’s shoulder as he shook and slumped down in a vacant chair. “Ron?”

“Why did I do it?” he said wildly. “I don’t know what made me do it!

“What?” Harry asked as Atlas sat at his feet.

“He – er – just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him,” Ginny said. She looked as though she was fighting back a smile, but she kept patting Ron’s arm sympathetically.

“You what?!” Atlas laughed out of pure shock.

“I don’t know what made me do it!” Ron cried, grasping Atlas’s arm desperately. “What was I playing at? There were people – all around – I’ve gone mad – everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall – she was standing there talking to Davies – and it sort of came over me – and I asked her!” He wailed and put his face in his hands. He kept talking, though the words were barely distinguishable. “She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn’t even answer. And then – I dunno – I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it.”

“It’s not your fault Ron, she’s part Veela, that’s just what happens sometimes,” Atlas offered sympathetically and startled when Ginny suddenly reached out and tugged her away. Ron and Harry engaging in idle chatter. “What’s up?”

“Congrats,” Ginny beamed and Atlas smiled curiously, an eyebrow quirked in question.

“For?”

“Asking Hermione to the Ball. I mean, I knew she’d say yes but I just wanted to–“

“I haven’t asked her.”

“What?” Ginny stopped smiling and so did Atlas, the two of them staring at each other quietly. “Well then…who’s her date?”

“She…she already has a date?”

Ginny slowly nodded and Atlas suddenly felt rather hollow.

“Oh.” She didn’t know how to react so she simply forced a smile, looking like more of a grimace as she rubbed at the back of her neck. “That’s…that’s good.”

The youngest Weasley watched her silently, wincing at her assumption. She now felt terrible, Hermione probably should have been the one to break the news to Atlas but instead, it had been her. It didn’t help that just as Atlas opened her mouth to speak again, the portrait swung open once more and in strolled Hermione Granger, the same books from earlier clutched tightly to her chest accompanied by a bright rose with a tag attached to it. From what Atlas could read, it was an invitation to the Ball. Atlas couldn’t help but think how generic the chosen flower was and had to fight the scowl of animosity that threatened her features. It even had the thorns still attached and there was a pale plaster wrapped around Hermione’s finger that just annoyed her even further.

“So,” Atlas began rigidly, turning back to Ginny. “Zasha asked you yet?”

“Ah…” Ginny surveyed the girl in front of her a moment, debating on whether she should indulge the girl’s curiosity and tell her of the romantic gesture Zasha had done. How the Durmstrang had taken her into the sky and asked her as they sat in the clouds. She debated it and decided against it, knowing the blush would be telling enough as Atlas simply smiled and seemed to find some sort of relief in the subtle answer Ginny had offered. “Yeah.”

“I’m happy for you,” Atlas said genuinely, ruffling her hair. “I think I’m gonna go to bed.”

“Oh, before you do. Fleur wanted to see you.”

“She does? I saw her this morning.”

Ginny shrugged. “She caught me just before I brought Ron back, I think that Davies guy rejected her.”

“He — he did?”

“Yeah, I think she wants to rant, she was in the courtyard last time I saw her,” Ginny told and Atlas nodded with a light half-hearted laugh, offering the Weasley a small thanks as she turned, avoided Hermione’s gaze – just for that night – and exited the Tower. 

She didn’t have to go far to find the French girl, spotting her sat by the fountain with – surprisingly – Zasha offering her some sort of comfort. Atlas raised her hand and waved over at them, jogging and immediately plopping beside them. It was only when she sat down did Atlas realise Fleur wasn’t distraught, crying or anything of the like, instead, she looked furious, glaring marks into the floor as Zasha visibly cowered.

“Atlas!”

“Yes!” Atlas yelped, jumping away.

“Please tell me you ‘ave good news, ozerwise I am going to commit arson!”

“Good…news?” Zasha and Atlas exchanged a nervous look.

“Tell me ‘Ermione accepted your invite!”

“Ah…” Atlas grimaced. “She’s going with someone else?” Fleur drew her wand. “B-but Zash has good news about her date! Don’t you Zash!?”

“Yes! Yes! World Holder is correct! The Youngest Weasley has accepted my invitation!”

“She…she did?” Fleur said, slowly lowering her wand as Zasha nodded vigorously. The Beauxbaton sighed out something akin to relief and slumped her shoulders, staring at the floor silently as the other two watched her with clear fear in their eyes. Fleur may look like a fairy princess but she was just as much of one as Professor Moody was when she was mad. “Zat’s good…I’m sorry Atlas.”

“It’s alright. I heard…Roger didn’t accept?” Atlas winced and Fleur simply nodded, she didn’t look as upset as any other person would so Atlas reasoned she wasn’t taking it as hard as any other person who’d suffered rejection. She seemed more unnerved by the prospect of Zasha or Atlas getting rejected in honesty. “Sorry about that.”

“It is fine.”

“Well because neither of you have dates, why don’t you just go with each other?” Zasha offered and the two champions exchanged a look.

“Would you be up for that?”

“I should be asking you zat. Won’t it upset ‘Ermione?”

“I doubt it, she’s got a date already. It’s probably the girl she has a crush on so she shouldn’t get upset. There’s no reason for her to,” Atlas muttered and Fleur eyed her a moment before nodding with a resigned smile.

“Alright, yes. Let’s go togezer.”

“That’s that sorted…all I need is dress robes.”

“I can have that sorted!” Zasha grinned. “I have spares that are too long! They will fit you!”

“Guess I just need to brush up a bit more on my dancing then. Same time tomorrow, Fleur?”

“Yes, zat would be a good idea, ‘owever,” Fleur looked at her, really looked at her, seeing the defeat in her eye. “Are you sure you are ok wiz zis? Why don’t you try and ask ‘Ermione anyway?”

“Nah, I wouldn’t want to put her in that position,” Atlas said, giving them a wobbly smile and looking to the sky. “Besides, she’s probably happy. I’ll get over it.”

Zasha and Fleur glanced at each other, frowning as they both engulfed Atlas in a hug.