Dancing lesson, 4 & 5 years.

[Baile Forro]

Arms stretched high above her head as he finished her dance with a flowing pirouette and a graceful pose with her right leg reached out. Panting tiredly as she finished her morning practice routine, Baile rose to stand up. Drinking her fill of a water bottle she ran up the staircase to her apartment to have a quick breakfast. She didn’t want to leave, as inspiration had just hit her and if she allowed herself to compose the dances she would be stuck in the basement in her mirrored hall for hours. But she had a dance-class to lead for the 4 and 5 years of Hogwarts. It wasn’t her dream job. But it paid some and money was always scarce. And now and then is was true joy to meet someone among the students who knew how to dance with their heart, not their feet.

But first she’d need to shower and then hurry over to Hogwarts. She had graduated when Dumbledore was the headmaster. But there were enough of her own old professors there for Baile not to fancy being late. She showered quickly and dressed simply. Black tights, black tight top, pink ballet shoes and a pink skirt. A pink rubber band to pile her blond hair on top of her head before she applied some light black and pink make-up. Hurrying out of her place she headed towards the nearest apparation point, greeting a neighbour on the way. Houses in muggle neighborhoods were cheaper, mainly due to this precise inconveniency.

Reappearing with a small pop in Hogsmeade, Baile headed down the road towards the impressive castle. She kept her pace slow and steady. It wouldn’t do to appear in class disheveled and sweaty. Even if she was used to running every morning to stay in shape. But she drudged directly towards the hall that was set aside for her classes. It was smaller than the entrance and great halls of course. But it was still a large hall and suitable for dancing. Two flicks of her wand sent a row of chairs to both sides of the ballroom. “Girls to the right, boys to the left,” she called out when she heard the door opening, directing the students to appropriate sides as they entered, even as she mentally revised the plan she had for this lesson.

[Jared Graas R4]

Dancing lesson. He’d have to waste a completely fine day in a dancing lesson. Seriously, it should be a voluntary course for those blumbering idiots who weren’t even aware on how they managed to walk without breaking some bones. Not to the people like him, who knew how to dance. For that matter, nearly every higher society pureblood could. It was a must, considering the amount of balls, parties, and general outings. Jared himself just as all his brothers and sisters, had learned to dance by testing, trying and after watching their parents twirl around, being tutored under their parents own hands. And it fit them. Some of them danced more, some less, but they all had enough of an musical ear to hear the beat, stick to it, and look in their element on the dance-floor. And it wasn’t even that much of the fact that he would have to dance, but that he would most likely have his toes trod on, and that he would have to leave his guitar for now.

But he better get going anyway. Who could wait to have a girl stomp on his feet. Besides his over-exited dorm-mates. Sighing, Jared packed his guitar in his case and fished out a simple pair of black pants and a blue button up blouse, even finding a better pair of black shoes to go with them. Dressing quickly, Jared pulled a comb through his hair before leaving the dormitory and the common room. Rolling his sleeves up to the elbows as he went, Jared headed towards the hall he recalled as the location for the class, still mentally grumbling over the fact he would have to go. But at least he could laugh about it with his brothers attending the class as well later on.

Throwing the door open, Jared peered around. He wasn’t the first one over, neither was he last. There were a dozen or so people already in the hall, as well as the professor. Hearing the dividing that sent boys to the left, Jared wandered over and took a seat in relative distance from the others. Mainly Gryffindors, 6 Hufflepuffs huddled together, and a fifth year Ravenclaw Jared didn’t really know. “Talk about gender discrimination,” Jared mumbled moodily as he glanced indifferently at the blushing and chattering girls over the hall. Were he anyone but a Graas he would have slouched in a moody display of dissatisfaction.

[Gabriel Graas S4]

Gabriel yawned and swatting the curtains around his bad aside sat up. He had an interesting relationship with sleeping. He had no problems rising early if he had to – unlike Damon. And he didn’t mind the least bit sleeping in late when he had the chance – unlike Rister. In general? He enjoyed sleeping when he could, and didn’t mind that much when he couldn’t. The most reasonable stand anyone could take in the matter in Gabriel’s opinion. Besides his date the previous night had ran a bit late. Stifling a yawn, Gabriel peeked at the clock on the wall before climbing out of the bed. He might not be a fan of school, especially not so a fan of a dancing class as he could dance, but that didn’t really mean he could skip. Besides hopefully it wouldn’t be too bad. He’d just have to secure some level-headed Slytherin who knew how to dance as his partner. Somehow. He’d deal with the problem once he was in the hall and the class was starting.

Sharing a couple of random words with a dorm-mate reading a book in the room, Gabriel sauntered to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and taking a quick shower he felt more awake and ready to tackle the day. Perhaps he would even go and enjoy a nice picnic out by the lake with some of his family later on even. The enchanted windows of the Slytherin common room showed that the weather seemed to be pleasant enough after all. Hopefully it would stay this way. But for now he had a class to go to. Gabriel crawled into a pair of hand-stitched jeans, with silver embroidery on the pockets, that fit him very snugly as well as a sleeveless top. Leaving his hair dripping wet as it was, Gabriel merely tugged it out from under the collar of his shirt and left the room, his dorm-mates having obviously already headed towards the hall set aside for the dance class.

Sauntering through the hallways himself as well, Gabriel arched a sardonic eye-brow at the dividing of guys and girls, before making his way over to Jared. Dropping to sit on his left, Gabriel, leaned on the backrest of his chair, resting the ankle of one foot on the knee of the other as he greeted his brother absent-mindedly and letting his eyes skim the girls already present at the other side of the hall.

[Damon Graas R5]

Damon slowed down to a walk and raised a bottle of water to his mouth. He usually ran in the evenings – seeing that mornings weren’t his time – but seeing that he had ended up missing the trip the previous evening, he had decided to take an extra tour this morning. Even if it had been shorter than his regular 2 and half miles. Slowing his pace gradually as he took a couple of sips, Damon headed towards the castle door, letting himself cool down. Ignoring a smile or two from random girls to his body clad in simple grey sweat-pants and a black T-shirt, Damon took the most direct route towards the Ravenclaw common room and headed up to his dormitory. Throwing his clothes carelessly at the foot of his bed, undressing as he went, Damon headed straight for the showers, letting the warm water finish relaxing his muscles from the tension after the jogging trip.

After exiting the showers, Damon set about to looking for a proper outfit for the dance class. He wasn’t a big supporter of the class, being full able to move gracefully on the dance floor himself. But, last year he had seen just how incompetent some others were, so he suffered through it. Besides it was an easy enough way to earn some bonus house points. Especially now that Jared would be in the class as well, and Damon knew fully well that his little brothers knew how to dance as well. Dancing was an important form of art in his family. Not nearly enough for anyone to keep up to date with the world of professional dancers. But enough for all of them to be taught to dance properly when they were young. A simple pair of black silk trousers and a button up blue shirt and he was ready ago.

Pausing to glance into the Ravenclaw fourth year boys dorm – Jared had been more disgruntled about the dance class than the rest of them. Damon didn’t want to know what would happen when Morgana and Leandra would be expected to take the class – Damon decided that Jared had probably already headed to the class and took on the same path. Stepping into the hall, a quick glance showed Damon that Ashlyn hadn’t arrived yet before he moved over to his brothers. A polite command and the Hufflepuff sitting on the right of Jared left to find another seat. Shrugging at curious glances from his brothers as there had been a free seat next to Gabriel, Damon sat down and settled in comfortably enough: “It’s a dance class. I do not want to sit next to Gabriel once the girls start fights over who gets to dance with him. It might be dangerous for my health.”

[Ashlyn Swallow G5]

A waste of time. A complete and utter waste of time. There were so many other things that Ashlyn would rather be doing right now. She could be playing her violin, finishing off that Transfiguration homework that she had put off until the last minute or practicing the spells and charms that she had learnt in class earlier that week. Even listening to her dorm-mates gossip about which guy was interested in which girl was marginally preferable to the torture that Ashlyn was heading for. But no. The dance class was compulsory and no matter how often she complained to McGonagall that she already knew how to dance and should therefore do something better with her time, there was no way of escaping. McGonagall had simply pursed her lips and explained stiffly that compulsory meant compulsory and no one from fourth or fifth year would be able to skip the class without severe punishment unless they suffered some tragic accident and even then it was debatable as to whether they could miss the class.

“You can’t just hover outside forever, you know.” Ashlyn turned curiously as she heard a voice address her, recognising the brown-haired girl from the forced breakfast at the Ravenclaw table. Lita something-or-other with the hatred of breakfast. “I already know how to dance,” Ashlyn explained simply, frowning at the girl’s quiet laughter. “So do Damon, Jared and Gabriel. And probably half the students in there. Just take the chance to get some house points. Ask to dance with Damon as your partner if you want someone familiar. Now go. It looks like you stand on the right side of the hall. Have fun!” Lita pushed her into the hall, pausing to wave to the three Graas boys on the left side cheerfully before grinning at Ashlyn and disappearing before the professor could scold her for interrupting the peace.

This was going to be a disaster, a tragedy of monumental calamity. Ashlyn just knew it. With so many hormone-driven people in the same room, there was no way it could end differently. And what was worse, she couldn’t even blame it on Damon unless he was the intellectually challenged person who had thought that dance lessons would be a good idea. Since Lita had informed her that Damon could dance – and she rather guessed that Lita would know since she seemed to know the Graas family quite well – Ashlyn guessed that he probably had better things to do with his time and therefore was not the person she could blame for the dance lessons. That was okay. She’d find the person who suggested them eventually.

[Sadie Leila Rivers H4]

Late Again, what has gotten into me? Sadie thought reprimanding herself for not getting to class on time again. She wasn't sure what was causing her to be late all the time. It was as if her mind was in a different world. Her thoughts, especially since finding her mother's diary, were never where they were supposed to be. At least it wasn't early morning and she wasn't having to try to get to the showers and class within the five minutes that she had left to get to class.

Running through the halls seemed to have quickly become Sadie's new passed time, and it usually got her into a delimma. Sadie wasn't going to think of the last time she ran through the halls. It was a meeting worth a million thoughts, and right now she didn't have time for those thoughts. Class was bound to start without her, and she would start off with yet another detention. That wasn't how Sadie had determined to be this year. Why wasn't anything going the way that she had planned. Seeing the classroom as she rounded the corner, she hoped that class had not started yet. Sliding quickly into the room and noticing that the girls were on one side, the boys on the other, Sadie moved over to the right side of the room and glanced around. She knew very few in the room, and wasn't really shocked at all since she had stayed to herself for the last few years. That was bound to change this year. Hoping the class wouldn't last long, Sadie waited patiently for the class to begin.[/i][/i]

[Baile Forro]

Students started gathering soon after she did. Some looked disgruntled and sober. But Baile was pleased to see that most looked exited and a bit giddy. They would all be smiling happily by the end of the class. No doubt ‘bout it. Dancing was the hidden language of the soul. It was what let your spirit soar free. To dance meant to live! Baile tapped her toes on the floor. And hummed a merry tune. Watching the students pile into class she felt her own spirits raising. Dancing was a noble art. It would make her proud to be able to teach it. The students should be proud to learn it too. It might improve their life. One day at least. “There’s always room for more, if you want to shape up your skills.” Bailed called out over the hall. Having seen the older girl peek in from the door. Obviously too shy to enter by herself. Youngsters. It was heartwarming to see them so eager to dance.

But it was time to start the class. Baile pointed her wand towards the door and muttered an appropriate incantation to close it. Skipping forward Baile went to stand in the middle of the hall. Twirling in a circle she bowed to every side. Straightening up again she smiled. Clearing her throat Baile quoted. “On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing hours with flying feet. As our dear lord Byron said. Good day. Dear students. We are here to grace the dance floor. With flying feet. And youth. And grace. And pleasure. We will be dancing today. I am your teacher. Baile Forro. The ballroom champion of Britain two years ago. The Latin dances champion of Ireland last year. You may call me Forro.”

Forro peered around the hall. Waving her wand in the air she started some musing. Her introduction had surely been enough. Who could not know the art of ballroom dance. And those honouring it. “To show we are all equal. Hm-hm. Equity. Hm-hm-hm. Yes. Hm. It will be lady’s choice. Girls. Go over the hall. And graciously allow the man of your choice to lead you to the dance floor. Take the dance position. One hand holding the other. No locked fingers. No sweaty palms. Her other hand resting on his shoulder. His on his waist. Not bum. Rejoice. Find your partner!” Baile clapped her hands. Just to make the girls make their choice. Just a tiny bit faster. Sweet shy youth.

[Lita Hollows R6]

((I'm intruding because I was invited by Forro. *points to Forro's last post as proof* See? Thank you, Professor.))

Heh. Ashlyn was quite amusing. Lita giggled to herself quietly as she ushered the blonde girl into the hall. Not that she would ever verbally admit that to anyone else because, after all, she was a Gryffindor and therefore a representation of the only thing Lita truly hated. She had only made an effort with the girl for Damon. If she had been one of Gabriel’s or Rister’s girls then Lita wouldn’t have even spared her a glance because those two boys had probably had more dates than Jared, Damon, Lita and Adrian combined. Which was quite a lot of dates, really, since both Lita and her brother had gone through a serial dating phase at different times before settling into the single lifestyle.

Lita heard the professor’s offer and tilted her head thoughtfully, seriously considering it. On one hand, she already knew how to dance so it would be a waste of time that she could better spend doing something more useful. Then again, the only thing she would probably do with that time was study or be pestered by Rister since the sixth years had a free period. And she did quite want to see how Ashlyn and Damon reacted to each other without the girl being tense because she was being watched. With a shrug, Lita headed back into the hall just in time to hear the next instructions. Wonderful. The girl’s choice. Or rather, in this case, Lita slinging an arm around Ashlyn’s shoulders and steering her over toward the three Graas boys without leaving her another option.

“Well, it’s pretty much expected that Ashlyn will partner our darling Damon, but which one of you two will be the first to leap at the chance to partner me?” Lita grinned at Jared and Gabriel cheerfully, ignoring Ashlyn’s glare with the ease that came from living and associating with Slytherins. In the morning, Adrian was more likely to glare blearily than offer her a smile. Her brother just wasted the best part of the day by sleeping. Much like Damon. Lita pretended to look offended when neither fourth year immediately volunteered, pointing at the crowd of girls waiting for their chance to snag one of the boys as their partner with a mockingly hurt frown. “Would you really rather dance with one of them than me? Fine. Ashlyn, I’ll partner Damon. You can take your pick of these two ungrateful boys. I know where I’m not wanted.”

[Ashlyn Swallow G5]

She really wasn’t very fond of Lita right now, Ashlyn decided moodily when the Ravenclaw made her entrance again and pulled her to the opposite end of the hall. Who would willingly enter this torture anyway? Ashlyn had to ask herself, sending suspicious glances toward the brunette. There was no way that this girl was entirely sane. She had obviously spent too much time in the company of some bizarre people who actually enjoyed dancing lessons and their insanity had been transmitted to Lita. It was really quite a shame. The girl might have been intelligent and good company at one time, before the dancing-loving insane people corrupted her.

“What do you mean it’s expected that I’m going to choose Damon as my partner?” Ashlyn asked suspiciously, rolling her eyes when the other girl just ignored her merrily. People had no right to be so happy when they were just about to undergo the torture that was a dance lesson for the people in the hall who already knew how to dance. Like herself. Not that she would really partner either of the other brothers, Ashlyn admitted sullenly. She hated the feeling of being touched enough without having to dance with someone she didn’t really know.

“No,” Ashlyn stated firmly, arching an eyebrow at Lita sternly. “You’ve already volunteered me as Damon’s partner and you’re not even meant to be here anyway. Don’t add to the torture by making me partner one of them just because they didn’t want to dance with you. It’s bad enough that I have to attend a dance lesson at all.” It shouldn’t be compulsory for people who already knew how to dance, Ashlyn protested again. “Are you sure she’s entirely sane?” Ashlyn asked Damon quietly, eyeing Lita warily. “She doesn’t even have to be here and yet she still came in.”

[Damon Graas R5]

Damon eyed professor Forro quite critically, but decided against commenting. Even though the short childish sentences of the woman made him itch to comment on mental maturity. Jared already was muttering something that probably didn’t show Forro in a too favourable light anyway. But the class had started, music was playing, and girls were coming over. Leaning back in his chair lightly Damon calmly observed Ashlyn and Lita who were coming there way, Lita apparently deciding to take Forro to her words about joining the class. Lita ignored Ashlyn merrily, even as Damon chuckled as the irritated glare the blonde Gryffindor sent to Lita. Expected for Ashlyn to ask him to dance? Why, the statement was bound to have grated Ashlyn’s nerves. Which only served to entertain Damon further.

“Aren’t I popular today?” Damon asked with some amusement as he stood and reached his hand out to Ashlyn, “Sorry, Lita, I do believe I was claimed already. You’ll have to make do with the twerps who call themselves my baby-brothers.” Dodging the half-hearted kick Jared aimed towards him, Damon twirled Ashlyn through under his arm and led him to a free spot on the dance-floor, smiling lightly at the ease with which Ahslyn finished the manoeuvre. Not that he was surprised over it. Ashlyn was a pureblooded, meaning that dancing had most likely been a childhood must. And she also liked music, so she most evidently had the ear for the rhythm as well.

“Lita?” Damon murmured, as he laid his hand on Ashlyn’s waste and pulled her slightly closer. Turning them around as they slowly started moving to the music, Damon threw a pondering glance at Lita. “Well, to be quite honest – no, she’s not. She and Rister are best friends so do you really think they would be on so friendly terms if both of them were perfectly sane? Or if either one of them even showed any hints of sanity? For that matter, did anyone - besides me, of course - in my family seem completely normal? And if we take out the professor from the equation, dancing isn’t too bad anyway, if you get a tolerable partner. So why not join and dance for a moment. Lita’s smart though. He’s had to handle Gabriel’s and Rister’s admirers for a long while, so feel free to ask for opinions over some more innovative hex ideas from her.” Damon dipped Ashlyn lowly, before pulling her up again and smiling at the girl: “They like you though, so you’ll have to get used to them anyway. Besides you could be sane. But being mad is far more fun. You’ll get to hear stuff and see things. Sanity is ok but madness is more intriguing.”

[Gabriel Graas S4]

“Afraid I’ll be so popular, you won’t have any girl left to dance with you?” Gabriel retorted to Damon as he appeared, even as he lazily turned his eyes over to the girls. There were the females from every class and every character. A couple of loners, some sitting alone as a sing of protest, some out of insecurity or lack of friends, a lot chattering and giggling together, some in smaller groups, some exited, some looking as if they were rather anywhere else. Ashlyn belonging to the latest group, Gabriel noted with some amusement. But before he could let his mind go wondering the professor spoke up. Grimacing slightly at the words girl’s choice – that did not bode well – Gabriel sighed and straightened himself up, a smile flickering over his face as Lita and Ashyln stepped before them.

“Why do you think being our partner would be torture?” Gabriel asked as he stood up and offered his hand to Lita, even as he bowed, “Lita, if I may?” Lita was one of the few girls Gabriel always referred to by her name. He generally called everyone darling. It was sweet, innocent, and harmless in the sense that he wouldn’t call the girl by the wrong name. In reality, only family and close friends with who he had never had nor ever would have any romantic feelings got the title that defined them – their own name. “What can I say. I love girls but not in hoards that would probably rip me to pieces. You’re a life-saver and a pretty one at that,” Gabriel told Lita with a wide grin as they headed to an empty spot in the hall, before settling into the dancing position.

“Those two look good together,” Gabriel mentioned calmly, turning them around so that Lita could see Damon and Ashlyn over his shoulder, while saying quietly enough for no one but Lita to hear, “And despite her strict glares and glances at the male gender in general, I think the bond might actually do some good to both of them. No matter how accidental it was.” Following the change in music without a moment of hesitation, Gabriel raised his hand, touching the ear-rings Lita was wearing: “These seem new. What made you decide for the class instead of library or a tutoring session? Forro seems… quite unique so I’m sure I won’t be back here when I have a chance not to be.”

[Ashlyn Swallow G5]

Damon chose her to partner him and Ashlyn stuck her tongue out at Lita playfully. “You’re too old for people to want to dance with you,” she informed the older girl cheerfully before letting Damon twirl her under his arm. For some reason, she had actually grown quite fond of Lita – perhaps because she wasn’t a male with impure thoughts, her mind suggested caustically. Lita had openly told her that she had problems with Gryffindors in general so Ashlyn had expected anything but the dark-haired girl to spend more time in her company with the reasoning that she loved Damon like a little brother and that, since Ashlyn was evidently important to him, she couldn’t really just ignore the blonde girl in the hopes that she’d go away.

Damon placed his hand on her waist and Ashlyn tensed unhappily for a second before consciously forcing herself to relax. Her mind knew that she trusted him but her body’s instinctual reaction was still to slap him sharply. She had been taught by the best – Uncle James had enjoyed spoiling her, though whether that came from true affection or guilt from his sister’s actions toward her only child, Ashlyn was never quite sure – and the moves came back to her in a rush when they started to dance. She had spent hours on these dance moves; learning, practicing and perfecting. Not necessarily because she had loved to dance, but because Ashlyn had always felt the need to be perfect in what she did, to prove that she was worth keeping.

“Your brothers like me?” Ashlyn raised an eyebrow doubtfully. She had never got the feeling that they cared about her one way or the other, to be truthful, except for that morning they had all but ordered her to eat breakfast with them. Lita had tried to get used to her but they both regarded each other with a wary sort of friendliness for as long as they both had things to overcome. “The professor seems very...unique. I can now understand why McGonagall seemed rather...dismissive of her when I tried to convince her to let me do anything but have to attend this dance lesson.” Indeed, Professors Forro and McGonagall didn’t seem like two people who would get along well with each other. One was seemingly rather childish and the other stern.

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Because being your partner would be torture for her,” Lita told Gabriel with a laugh, even though she was quite serious. It had almost physically pained her but Lita had forced herself to overlook the Gryffindor crest on Ashlyn’s robes and attempt to get along with her. It was almost a habit to despise the garish red of the Gryffindor crest and the people who wore it but Ashlyn had proved to not be a typical Gryffindor. Naturally, she had some of the qualities that her house was known for but Lita quite suspected a Slytherin or Ravenclaw hand in the blonde girls upbringing though she had never been tactless enough to ask.

Lita curtseyed in return to Gabriel’s bow before accepting his hand and allowing him to lead her to an empty spot. “It’s always a pleasure to dance with you and your brothers. It would be a shame to see you attacked by the girls you love so much just because they wanted to dance with you so much. Though I feel offended at your implication that you only chose to dance with me to save yourself from obsessed girls.” Gabriel turned them and Lita peered at Damon and Ashlyn critically. “She relaxes around him,” she noted with only a little surprise. “She’s always on her guard around everyone and she never seems to just enjoy herself when she’s in good company but, with him, she relaxes just a little bit. I do believe that you’ll have a Gryffindor as a sister in law in a few years.”

“Yes, they’re new. How wonderfully observant of you. Father sent them as a birthday present.” Lita smiled darkly, her expression humourless. “A few months late, but at least he drags himself from his business dealings long enough to recall that I exist.” She lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug, even though she let Gabriel see the smallest flicker of pain in her eyes. Her father loved her and she knew he did – certainly it was a careless and bordering on forgetful love but it was there – but she missed the man he had been when she and Adrian had been children, before Hogwarts and houses had been a reality in their lives. “He’s changed since he kicked Adrian out. It was his decision to make Adrian leave yet he acts like Adrian disowned himself, rather than it being Father’s choice.” With a quick grin, Lita obliterated all traces of unhappiness from her features as she answered Gabriel’s question. “I thought that this would be more fun. Are you going to prove me wrong in my theory or be so thrilling and entertaining that I’ll want to attend the next class as well?”