BlossomFest The Learning of an Art

Dancing with Matilda was an exceptional moment. It was magical. Ackerley could not find another word to explain how he felt at that moment. Only his smile could show how much he really appreciated that moment. Briefly, he unlocked his eyes from Matilda beautiful ones and looked over at the children. They were all trying to dance. Some were really great, other struggled more. After a while of dancing, Acherley stopped, bowing in front of Matilda and turned his attention toward the students. He decided to walk around the room looking at their gesture and technique so that they could improve for that actual ball that was coming pretty much soon.  In that sense, he started going toward Anatole Evans and Rosie Parker at first.

- Mister Evans, please stop joking around and start focusing more on ms. Parker. She is your partner after all. However, both of you have nice footstep! Continue to practice more and you might do excellent when the actual ball is up! 

Once he was done commenting their dancing, the deputy headmaster went toward another student. The young ms. Menstil was currently trying the dance position and footstep without an actual partner. She was doing great. 

- Great job, ms. Menstil! Even without an actual dance partner, you manage to bring out the best in your dancing. 

After he saw that Mariah had found a partner and smiled. If was really nice to see everyone coming along and dancing together. Ackerley turned around to find another individual.  Adam and Serena were dancing in a side of the ballroom. He slowly walked toward them, a smile on his face. Serena was a great dancer and it was clear that it was not her first time seeing individual dances or practices dancing herself and Adam would be excellent too with a little more practice. It was clear to the man that he had listened closely to his explanation has he could see him execute the footstep movement graciously without too much trouble. 

- Excellent you both! I must say you are a great pair of dancers. Continue like that and you will shine in the actual ball! 

More students were starting to get partners and were starting to dance together. It was really nice to see that much students coming together in their lesson and actually doing it. He was really proud of everyone. While thinking that, the man saw a young Ravenclaw girl, Celynne Flores, walk away from the crowd with a stressed look on her face. He slowly walked toward her to try and help her. Maybe she could not find a partner? He could easily recognize symptoms of anxiety or phobia when he saw them. In that sense, approached her. 

- Ms. Flores, are you alright? If you still need a partner for the dance, don't hesitate to ask me. I can help you with that. 

Once again, he returned to the crowd hoping that she might join them again, at least at the entrance of the room so that they can dance to the music. He wanted to be fair and letting someone in trouble was not something he would do. Once again, he saw Mariah Menstil with her partner, Amadea Campbell.

- You are both doing great!

Once again the young man wandered the ballroom looking at each pair of dancer and stopping by a few of them to give some comments. A few dancers could improve a lot and he gave them a few pieces of advice on their steps. The young man walked toward two others dancer, ready to comment on their performance. Marissa North and James Lachoneus were dancing together. 

- There is a place for improvement, but you are still doing a great job. Perhaps trying to focus more on your footstep would help you! 

Aurelia Bezuidenhout and Emmett Park where dancing around and in all honestly were doing great even if they lacked some sort of grace in their movement. However, practicing would make it better and they would be able to do becomes great dancers. The man simply smiled at them and told them to continue like that as they were already great. 

- Great job! 

Ackerley was extremely pleased with each and everyone performance. There were still one couple of partners that he needed to see before he could actually finish the lesson. In a new corner of the location, he could see Eris Fawley and Max Avery. 

- Hello, ms. Fawley and mister Avery. I am very pleased to see you both dance. This is an excellent work. 

After the man finished commenting each group, he returned to the front and announced the end of the lunch break. This period of time had passed really fast, but most students had improved greatly during this lesson. Not especially because of his pieces of advice and what he taught, but because of their practices. 

- The lunch break is almost done. In that sense, the lesson is finished. You can keep practicing a little if you want to be certain that you learned everything. Otherwise, I wish you a great afternoon! 

Adam felt his face begin to turn red as Professor Blackburn made his rounds and complimented both him and Serena, trying to hide his slight embarrassment from the other girl by smiling down at her. "Did you hear that? We're going to shine at the ball!' Laughing, he tried to keep up his step, knowing that he couldn't fail after having just been congratulated on their efforts. Adam was beyond relieved that he'd found someone to practice his dancing with, especially someone as nice and as adept at it as Serena was. Adam loved all of his friends -- that was why they were his friends, right? -- but sometimes it was nice to engage with other people in the castle, people he didn't know as well.

Adam kept moving through the steps of the dance being taught to them until Professor Blackburn returned to his place at the front of the room and announced the end of the lesson. Had lunch passed by that quickly already? Breaking away from the pattern of the dance and giving Serena a final friendly smile, he addressed her again. "Thanks again for practicing with me, Serena. I don't think I would've been ready for the actual ball if I didn't have this lesson!" Looking around the room at all of the other finishing couples, Adam was surprised at how many students had actually arrived to learn the steps. Most of his friends were there, and nearly a dozen first-years that he still didn't know.

Returning his attention to the Hufflepuff girl in front of him, Adam realized that he should probably let her go before the situation got awkward. "So, I'll see you around, then?" he asked, and wondered if he actually would. Serena was a sweet girl, and though he'd only met her twice before, she was definitely someone that he'd like to get to know better. Giving her a little wave goodbye, Adam set off for the door and rushed down the hallway to collect his materials for his next class. It had been a fun lesson, but it was time to return to everyday life.

At least, until the BlossomFest Ball came around.

Rosie was always, no, usually good at keeping Anatole in check. She watched out on prying eyes when Anatole was too entranced in the Art of the Waltz. Clearly, she must have taken the hint from outside sources, such as the expressions of other couples, when she directed him to the edge of the dance floor. He hit the wall, his "tail" cushioning him. She spun him around as she removed the ponytail she had donated earlier.

Anatole couldn't help laughing once he felt his tail disappear and looked down to see his robes gliding right near his feet. "You done yet? I want to get back to dancing!" He sounded excited about something for once, and it wasn't fake or acted out for once. Sometimes, he wished this class could have been a real curriculum class. Ackerley should teach this all seven years...

Speaking of prying eyes, this whole commotion obviously sucked in a couple eleven-year-old eyes from the floor, distracting their dancing. Most likely, the silliness spread like a foreign disease as some might have begun laughing. "There, all better." Anatole turned around, finding a better solution had been tacked onto his back.

"Now, shall we dance?"

Rosie's reply was perfect as she took his hands, only to be stopped by a noble voice with the slightest hint of a French accent.

"Mister Evans--" Anatole's head perked up, looking over Rosie's shoulder as he met eyes with the Deputy Headmaster. He gulped, his face growing a little red. He wasn't dancing wrong, was he? "--please stop joking around and start focusing more on Ms. Parker." Anatole almost broke out laughing, but stopped once he saw Ackerley's chiseled face again. "Continue to practice more and you might do excellent once the actual ball is up!"

He breathed a sigh of relief, smirking at Rosie as they carried each other across the floor. After Ackerley had finished his rounds (and maybe cast a few more sly looks at the giggling couple), some couples seemed to disappear once he said that the class was over. A tinge of sadness hit Anatole right in the heart. He wished it had stayed longer, wished that it had stayed for a few moments longer. "Wait one second, hope you don't hate me for this..." With a deep breath, he let go of Rosie's hands, racing towards the well-dressed Deputy Headmaster. "Deputy Headmaster Blackburn?" He reached up, tapping the man on the back. "Will there be any more classes before the ball? I really liked this one..."

The longer he looked into the intimidating Deputy Headmaster's eyes, the more scared he became of a wary answer.

He also considered it plausible that Rosie was still there, facepalming at the boy's bold action.

James danced with Marissa, going slowly to allow her room to learn. James was already musically inclined and loved dancing, so following along with the beat and doing the right steps came somewhat easy for him. Marissa was obviously not so confident, but James was determined to help her get better.
Behind James, he suddenly heard another voice. Professor Blackburn had been wandering around, commenting on everyone’s work.
“There is a place for improvement, but you are still doing a great job. Perhaps trying to focus more on your footstep would help you!”
James looked down at his feet, and chuckled, before smiling back at Marissa.
“Thanks.” he said, but the professor had already walked off towards other dancers.
James turned back to Marissa, continuing to dance. Marissa wasn’t doing too bad, James thought. To him, it seemed she was getting better.
Too soon, Professor Blackburn addressed the whole ballroom.
“The lunch break is almost done. In that sense, the lesson is finished. You can keep practicing a little if you want to be certain that you learned everything. Otherwise, I wish you a great afternoon!”
James took his hand off of Marissa’s hip, letting go of her hand and looking at the ground for a moment, before looking again at his surroundings.
He had just remembered what they were all there for. There was a ball coming up, and he would have to ask someone to go with him. Immediately, his mind turned to who he would ask. The problem was, the thought of Marissa was immediately joined by the thought of Ebony. Would either of them want to go with him? He wanted to believe both would, but he wasn’t so sure. And say that both of them did want to go with him, what then?
James looked back up at Marissa, and smiled. “Uh, th-thanks for dancing with me.” Should he ask her to the dance with him now? Should he ask her at all? He wanted to, there was no denying that, but in that moment, he didn’t. Any possible sentence that hinted at his desire to go to the dance with her didn’t have the courage to even reach his throat.

Why was her heart racing in her chest, and her face turning redder than the lights on a Christmas tree? Was that normal reaction to dancing, or was that cooties? What if cooties were real still and she was going to die. Or what if she had a crush on Max! That would be so gross..but would it be bad?Of course it would! Crushes were gross. Teenagers had crushes all the time, and that was why they were so smelly and mean. Right? Right. Feeling confused, and officially mortified by her train of thoughts, Eris watched Max stand up, struggling to contain the blush building on her face that was causing her to look as red as a tomato ready to be picked.

As the two started dancing, Eris was keenly aware of how close she was to the boy. If cooties were real, this was going to be what killed her at the ripe young age of eleven. Eris let out a laugh at Max's words, calming down at the regular words coming out of Max's mouth, even though the situation they were in was not normal, by any standards for either of them. "I hope we're not just kicking hufflepuffs. Ravenclaws deserve kicks too. We need to stand for house equality here. Everyone that annoys us deserves a kick, not just the hufflepuffs"

The two were painfully close now, and Eris lost her train of thought again, contemplating if she was going to die of cooties or shock first. Her face echoed her thoughts, as it stayed a healthy shade of pink as they danced. Cursing her inability to keep a neutral face, Eris suddenly realized just how short she was. Without thinking, she leaned upwards, trying to make herself look taller. The effect was just Eris straining her neck like an idiot, which didn't look all that pleasant . Giving up, the red head scowled up at Max, dropping her head down. "Must you be so tall? It's repulsive, truly. You're a whole world away up there, giant boy. I'm going to have to hop just to look you in the eye."

Then Ackerley talked out to the two of them about their dancing, then mentioned that the lunch break, and now lesson, was over. Not sure if she was sad or relieved, Eris watched as some of the other students dispersed out of the hall. What class was next anyways, and how did you say bye to someone you had just danced with? That was the question of the hour, and one Eris didn't have the answer to.

And just like Anatole guessed, Rosie was internally facepalming. After they had started dancing again, Ackerley had came over and put in his two cents. She grimaced a bit at the comment towards Anatole. Big yikes. But he seemed to shrug it off, but then Anatole got that look. The look when he got an idea, and Rosie couldn't help but let out a small groan when he turned to the professor and started talking.
"Wait one second, hope you don't hate me for this..." He let go of her hands and turned to the professor. Oh no. Anatole why. Why.

Then it got worse.

While Rosie tried to avoid looking at Anatole and the professor's probably awkward conversation, her eyes fell on no one other than Eris Fawley and Max Avery. Why were they so close? Why was Eris letting herself get to close to him? GROSS. She sneered a bit and turned back to her best friend and the professor, lowkey stomping up to them and standing near her friend as he asked Ackerley about a new dance lesson. Personally, Rosie thought they were pretty good. But Anatole didn't seem to think so, but no matter! Rosie was fine, she was happy, even. It had been pretty fun so far, seeing all her friends get together and dance.

But why was someone as good as Eris dancing with someone as bad as Max?

She watched the crowd around the ballroom, dancing their ways across the room. It wasn't the epitome of grace, seeing as the room was filled with inexperienced and slightly awkward students, but she did her best to watch and learn. Eris and Max seemed to be having plenty of fun-- she couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could see their mouths moving animatedly as they passed by. Cel guessed that she had found her Rhys, at least. She could see Anatole, the Gryffindor in the trophy room, dancing with a dirty-blonde haired girl-- what in the world had he done with his robes, Cel wondered what Mariah would make of that-- and Mariah herself had paired up with another girl.

The girl carefully studied the other students' steps, noting the pattern and the placement of each hand on the partner. She wasn't sure if she would remember anything from this lesson, but oh well, who knew if she would even dance at the Ball? Honestly, she didn't really want to.

Cel looked up, startled into focus, as she noticed a pair of feet making their way across the dance floor not following the pattern. Professor Blackburn was approaching! She sat up straighter. Hopefully, this wouldn't be about that time she read under the table during class-- that would be embarrassing, being scolded in front of so many other students. She had been fairly sure he hadn't noticed... but what if?

Oh, thank goodness, she sighed to herself as the Charms professor queried.

"I'm quite all right, thank you, though," she replied, smiling a little as she adopted her formal tone. Perhaps it would be nice to have a partner to practice, but as of now, she was learning plenty just watching everyone else.

As Professor Blackburn announced the termination of the lesson, Cel hopped off of the table, but didn't try to rush toward the door like so many others began to. She waited: often, she knew, it would save a lot of trouble and actually get you out more efficiently just by waiting for everyone else to leave. Besides, she wasn't in much of a hurry at the moment.

Eris and Max still seemed to be dancing. The trophy room guy-- what was his name again, she just had it... something that sounded like anthill? Oh, right, Anatole. He seemed to be talking to Professor Blackburn, wasn't he?

The Ravenclaw had only joined in to see how ballroom dancing actually worked. It wasn't at all like ballet. Each required muscle strength in their own ways but comparing the two was like trying to compare a tap routine to Irish step dancing. Dymphna didn't think that she would be any good at it so she stayed back with a few of the other students who only preferred to watch. Maybe the others were just nervous. That wasn't her exactly her issue - okay, maybe a little - but she felt for them, remembering how nervous she would get the night before a performance. Even if it was only at the school in her hometown. 

At the ball, the blonde didn't know exactly what she would do. Would she find someone to lead her in a dance? Would she be comfortable letting someone else take the reigns? What if she stepped on their toes? There was reason that she found it difficult to dance certain numbers, to let the boys lift her up even if they had trained hard to make the performance phenomenal. Control freak, she frowned but it quickly vanished as she watched the two professors float around the ballroom. They were naturals, seemingly attuned to one another. Could she be like that with another person? It was much too early to be thinking those thoughts. Boys were still foreign to her. The all-girls school probably hadn't helped matters. 

The other girls would giggle and gossip but Dymphna would only turn back to her studies, not having time for such trivial matters. She could understand why they wanted companionship but she had everything she needed already - a loving family, supportive friends and a good education. Once the dance was over and the professors started making their rounds, she slipped out of the room quickly to avoid the chatter. If she decided to go to the ball, she would go for the finger foods and potential friendship making.

[Dymphna Exits]

You?

the boy had asked. Aurelia had been taught how to dance ballet almost as soon as she had learnt to walk, it was what her Mother was passionate and she even personally taugh her. It was always her Mother teaching her she never got enrolled in any dance lessons.

“That’s how barbarians dance. Me? I know ballet, Ma taught me.” The girl stated proudly. She was graceful with her steps when she’s was dancing, but ballroom dancing was something that was totally different. Aurelia had always danced solo while this involved a partner holding your waist and being awfully close. She didn’t like being to close with someone especially a boy, she heard they gave cooties. Aurelia didn’t know what cooties meant, but it was something many first years were afraid of.

The head master had stopped by them and told them they were doing great. The girl smiled sweetly at the professor as he strode of to congratulate other dancers. At least she was aware that they were both doing alright and not tripping yet.

After the professor had walked a full round across the room, he had declared the end of the lesson. Aurelia felt a weight immediately being lift of from her shoulders as the professor spoke the words. Her squared shoulders, relaxed a little. She removed her hand from Emmett’s shoulder and stepped back.

Her Mother had taught her how to properly curtsy after a dance although she had never performed infront of anybody yet. Aurelia crossed her right foot behind her left and bent her knees lowering herself before coming up again.

“Thank you for the dance, I might or might not see you during the actual ball, it depends.” Spoke Aurelia. She turned around and scurried towards the door, she certainly didn’t want to be late for the next lesson. She also hoped to get out of the ballroom as soon as possible.

Whilst the pair were dancing, the Deputy Headmaster had come over. Serena had been so focused on dancing and trying to avoid being an embarrassment that she did not actually notice he was near them until she heard his voice. A blush immediately crossed her face at the compliment. She did not think she was any good at this. Perhaps being with Adam helped though. He was making her look good by being so good himself. Yes, that must be it. 

Looking at Adam, she noticed he had turned equally as red. Serena immediately broke into a grin and nodded, “Apparently so!” She replied, still blushing slightly and looking away because of it, “I guess we’re better than we thought!” She continued. It was nice to be complimented once in a while. She did not think she would be any good at this. She thought she would fall flat on her face within seconds or stand on his feet. Luckily, she had managed to avoid stepping on him so far. As she continued to dance, she fell into thought again.

In reality, she was not sure she wanted to shine. Or stand out in any way. Blending in was far better than standing out. This was the way to avoid people watching her, after all. She wanted to hide away from the world right now. Serena glanced around the room and noticed lots of other pairs dancing well too. It helped comfort her a little. Perhaps she could blend in by dancing on the day. Though, secretly, she was hoping there would be enough people in the room that she could stand in the corner and avoid being seen by anyone. With any luck, maybe she could avoid attending it altogether.

Glancing up at Adam as the lesson ended, she smiled softly and nodded in reply to his words. “Thanks for asking me. I think you’re good to go for the ball! You’ll have a great time, I’m sure,” She replied politely. She was sure that Adam and his date would be able to dance the night away without any difficulties. He was great at leading, after all. Serena made a mental note to remember the Ravenclaw who had saved her from the embarrassment and awkwardness of sitting alone in the corner. He seemed really nice from their first meeting, during the snowball fight, and it was a thought that was reinforced in her mind now. 

Serena smiled and nodded again, in reply. She enjoyed nodding, it seemed. “Of course, see you soon,” She would have asked him to save a dance for her at the ball but in all honesty, she was not sure she was going to go. Nor did she think she would be very good company if she did. He ought to save his dances for those who deserved them. As she waved bye, she moved away from him. 

Serena looked around the room. She had lost track of the Gryffindor friends she had been with previously. As she was looking for him, she felt a pain. It was there that she suddenly realised that her chest was hurting a little. The Hufflepuff frowned, rubbing her clenched fist against her chest. It felt like a stinging pain in her lungs. Sighing softly, she knew she had to go to the hospital again. The dance had probably worn her out a bit too much.

Without much further ado, she decided to head back to the hospital wing and take a break now. She needed the rest, it seemed. Serena walked to the door, exiting the room. As she left, she glanced over her shoulder one last time. To her surprise, this event was actually quite fun. It was better than she had expected - perhaps entirely due to her lovely company. Adam was a godsend, in her opinion. She did hope she saw him around again. He was someone she wanted to get to know better. 

She sighed softly as she could not see her friends anymore. Serena would have waited and looked for them but her chest was hurting more and more even second. With a sigh, she turned her head again and left the room. They would understand. In fact, they would be glad that she put her health first and went back to the hospital wing at the first sign of trouble.

[SERENA EXITS]