Kat wandered back to the hall to find Marvo. She hoped he wasn't too upset that she had helped Anders. When Nimue had turned up she hadn't the heart to tell her that it really had appeared like Anders had let the demon out. If that was true it would come out soon enough. She also didn't want to tell Marvo where Nimue had gone. Kat suspected that Nimue would not have told him where she had really gone.

She walked back in the hall and looked around to see if she could spot him.

"Yes, good idea." Morticia walks to one of the tables and sits down with Marvo. "But I don't like them hanging out together," she starts again, "I don't think they're up to any good... I wish I knew what Nat's up to. He's been behaving strangely lately, and now this message from Belle over the forest... I wonder whether he told Arcadia what it means."

Marvo takes a seat next to Morticia. "Message from Belle? Oh, those glowing letter? what do they mean?"

Morticia chuckles. "They mean Nathan would get into trouble if Arcadia could understand any French... It says something like "To the sweetest boy in whole England, I wish you could be here with me, my love. I feel lost without you. You are forever in my heart. B.R. - That's Belle Racine, quite obvious. How many other French people would send a French Valentine message to a boy at Hogwarts?" She grins broadly.

"Oh, and Marvo, please feel free to tell EVERYBODY what that message means, will you?"

Marvo Laughs out load at this and sips some punch, starting to once more relax. It was nice to have someone to just 'talk' to.

" Oh you know me. I'm not one for gossip... But I may make an exception in this case. Anyway Tell me about G..." He cuts off as he sees Kat enter the room and waves to her " Kat! Over here!"

Kat come and sits down beside Marvo smiling. " Well, what have you two been chatting about?" She asks

Morticia repeats her translation of Nat's secret Valentine message and bursts into another fit of sniggers. "I can't wait to tell Arcadia!"

" You be careful with her. I don't doubt you can look after yourself. But she is very sneaky, and she may try and take it out on you. And she believes revenge is a dish best served cold. That's why she was..." He stops talking, realizing he may be about to give more information that he should. " That's why she was expelled from her last school." Under the table he takes Kat's hand and gives it a squeeze.

Morticia bursts into laughter. "She got expelled?" She gasps for breath. "Wow! What a terrific couple the two make! You do know that Nathan didn't leave Beauxbatons to look after me, don't you? He got into trouble..." She giggles.

" Oh? really? what sort of trouble?" inquires Marvo.

Morticia gets very serious. "I'm not supposed to tell... sorry... Papa would murder me, and Nathan..."

Marvo smiles. " That's okay. I can always look it up at the Ministry. But that's a secret too" He gives a little laugh. Trying to re-lighten the mood

Morticia gives him a very Slytherinian smirk. "At the Ministry? Ah, but my dearest Marvo D., how come you have access to secret files of the French Ministry of Magic?"

Kat grinned, "So you'll get to find out, what about me?" She turned to Morticia, "It seems obvious enough from what you've not said that he was expelled for some reason. I bet Marvo never wrote to you did he? I did tell him to you know..."

Morticia shrugs. "No, I never got a line from him..." she glances at Marvo. "But then boys don't seem to like to write to me. I didn't even get so much as a Valentine's card from Egreen."

Marvo goes very red. " Didn't know what to say. I mean....." Marvo D Ward was embarrassed and out numbered.

Kat grinned, "That's not what you told me! You said that you couldn't believe that Morticia was missing you as all you two ever did was argue!" She turned back to Morticia. "I suspect he just didn't know what you'd want to argue about using owls!" She grinned.

"Anyway, Morticia do you mind if we desert you?" asked Kat, "Only, I still have not had one dance with Marvo. You know we didn't even get a dance at the first ball because first he danced with Joss and then with Nimue, and then I found out about the ...." She let the sentence fall. "Well then things happened and I got kidnapped!"

Marvo wants to DIE! He goes extremely red and cannot believe that Kat said that! " Erm. yes.. Dance!" He very quickly pulls Kat up to the dance floor

********

Winifred, though slightly shaken up from the fire demon experience, still feels very 'festive.' She wraps her arm around the fourth year boy waiting for some sort of response. He grins and they both go get some punch. It definitely does not taste the same and Winifred is a bit disappointed. The boy whispers something in Winifred's ear, she giggles, and they head outside.

Likewise Katia and Unnamed retreat into the halls, finding a secluded corner. Anyone passing by would see that they are engaged in the time-honored Muggle sport of tonsil hockey, and are oblivious to anything short of a nuclear explosion.

*******

Yvette hopped over with a wobbly grin, and immediately attached herself to Madison's side. "Heyas, Maddie! Who's your friend?" She turned to the empty space next to her. "I'm Yvette Monclere. You look just like...er..." Once again, she forgot to mention a name. By then, her double vision was screwing with her mind, too.

Confused, Madison turned, then shrugged when she saw nobody there. "Hi, Yvette...Why aren't you out dancing?" She looked around. "Hmm...looks like most of them got over that fire demon pretty quickly...Wasn't that exciting? Oh, but I'm starting to feel tired...what about you?"

"My eyes hurt." Yvette beamed, silver eyes slightly clouded. "And so do my feet...after dancing with that Ravenclaw, my feet are maimed!"

Madison smiled sympathetically, ignoring the faint throb in her head. "Okay then...I want to get up and dance, or walk around...I don't know, do something. I don't feel like sitting still...You can come with me, or rest here, if you like." She got up again, ignoring the wave of dizziness that came with the sudden motion, and took about three steps before the room seemed to whirl around her. After her vision cleared, it took her a few moments to realize that she was lying on the ground.

"So...tired," she barely whispered as her vision blurred again. "Don't want to...fight...anymore..."

Yvette hiccuped through a giggle. "Yer'n th' ground, silly! Geddup *hiccup* or yu'll fall..." A gigantic yawn contorted her face.

Madison got up and turned to Yvette, a strange glint in her eye. "I'm up...c'mon Yvette...let's go find some dancing partners," she said with a wink. "You can rest those feet later...Party's not over yet..."

Yvette grinned cattily, giggling. "Aye aye!" She wobbled her way over to a group of Ravenclaws, dragging Madison by one arm. "Any of you like dancing?" She winked, then hiccuped.

Madison led one of the 5th years to the dance floor. "Pick one," she said to Yvette with a wink. She turned to see another girl glare at her, then stalk off. "Tough luck." She shrugged.

"Hmm..." Yvette was still seeing double, but managed to focus on one. She didn't give him a choice, just dragged him on the dance floor with her. Fortunately, he was also 'tipsy,' so he just laughed and began dancing.

After dancing a bit, the boy whispered something to Madison, who giggled. "Yvette!" she called. "Hey, I'll be right back okay?" She winked then headed out to the hall with the boy...bumping into Katia.

"Yuh huh!" Yvette giggled and turned to her fifth year. "D'ya know how'ta *hiccup* square-dance?" The boy grinned and nodded, and both of them broke into something that looked like chickens running away from a fire.

Marvo looks over to see Yvette and a not to attractive fifth year making some very strange movements on the dance floor " What ARE they doing??"

"Well, what have we here?" Madison said with a smirk as she approached Katia. "So is this your third or fourth tonight?"

Katia comes up for air long enough to snap, "Leave me alone, you *filthy* little Mudblood!" then returns to her more pressing task.

Madison glared. "At least I'm not a...how did Dylan put it? Oh, yes...a *whore*." She turned to head off with the Ravenclaw boy.

***********

Arcadia and Nathan stroll around on the grounds a bit with Nathan carefully determining their way so that they hardly ever have a look at the Forest and the message hovering over it, which seems to be very reluctant to go. "So, Miss Fudge... how did you like this calm and well-planned feast till now?"

Arcadia smiles and holds Nathan's hand tight. " It was fun. Until old 'The magnificent' turned up."

She looks over the tress and chats glimpse of the glowing letters, but hasn't a clue what they say. "So...." Pantalaimon rubs slightly against Nathan.

Nathan tries to shake Pan off and keep his smile at the same time, and he succeeds. "So? What do you mean, so?" He bends over and kisses her. "Like this, maybe...?"

" mmmmm yes. Exactly like that" She puts her arms around him and returns the kiss. Pantalaimon whimpers a little and nudges Nathan closer, rubbing against him.

Nathan breaks lose with a curse and stares at the writing over the forest which he could see while kissing Arcadia. He takes out his wand. "Nox!" he commands, but the words won't vanish. "Come on, pet, let's go to a more comfortable place inside. It's cold."

Arcadia is shocked by this and Pantalaimon even lets out a little yelp. " What? What is it? what?" She looks a little flushed.

"Nothing." He takes her hand to drag her back inside. "How about a dance?"

Arcadia pouts. " But I like it here... I like... What we were doing." She puts out her hand to pull Nathan Closer. Pantalaimon tentatively licks his hand.

Nathan puts his hand around her shoulder and impatiently drags her back inside, avoiding to look at the forest.

Arcadia 'stumbles' after Nathan, Stilettos not being the best shoes for walking the ground in and Pantalaimon pads behind, looking as confused as Arcadia.

Nathan drags her back to the ballroom and urges her to dance, secretly kicking slightly at Pan to get rid off him.

"OW!" Arcadia cries out. She steps back from Nathan looking upset. " What was that for?" She says, rubbing her side.

"Well, keep it off my leg, I don't like animals," Nathan grunts.

Arcadia rubs her side. " I'm not an animal!" She pats Pan on the head. " And if you want me you've got to accept Pan too. " She dose look like she is getting a little upset.

"Arcy, could you just explain to me what it is with you and this... dog?"

" He is NOT a dog. He's a wolf" Then she looks rather shy. " And it's not something you talk about... in public"

Nathan chuckles. "I thought so. Later, then... in private..."

" If you're a good boy" Arcadia grins wickedly.

********

Niki took Dylan's hand, feeling, with satisfaction, that is was no longer freezing cold. On their way in she had seen Katia and Unnamed kissing down the corridor, but decided that it was probably not a very good idea to point it out.

She wondered idly as they began to dance again whether she suddenly liked dancing, or whether she suddenly liked dancing with Dylan... Possibly both, she decided.

Time seemed to slip away as they danced. Dylan liked the feel of her in his arms, the gentle press of her body against his. It was almost intoxicating. He looked down at her, his own expression content, his eyes a soft blue once more. "Happy?" he asked her quietly.

Niki smiled, replying in an equally soft voice. "Very."

There was nothing to say to that, Dylan realized. It was enough, in and of itself. He smiled, one of those rare, genuine smiles that made his eyes shimmer like the sea and seemed to lighten the burden that always pressed on his shoulders. He was happy, too.

"You know," Niki says after a moment, looking up at Dylan, "you have very nice eyes." She smiles. "When you're happy, they're blue, like the ocean on a sunny day, but when you aren't, they're grey... Like a wall of ice." She looks very odd, smiling bemusedly up at him, her eyes shining. The punch has obviously taken its toll more than Niki knows.

"My Mum told me they shifted like th' sea, tha's where m' name comes from. Dylan was th' god of th' sea...an' ruler o' emotions." Before he quite knew what he was doing, Dylan lowered his lips to hers, claiming them in a gentle, hesitant kiss.

Although quite startled, Niki found that, like dancing, kissing was something which depended on who you kissed. Yes, said the tiny, rational part of her brain, there *was* something in the punch, but it was soon covered in the tidal wave of emotions sweeping Niki's thoughts.

Dylan was somewhat startled himself, at his own boldness. He pulled away at a moment, still holding her close to him. He felt like he ought to apologies or something, but he couldn't find the English words for what he wanted to say. Realizing that he'd only confuse her, and probably himself, if he spoke, Dylan remained silent, still dancing, his cheeks beginning to flush red.

Niki felt disappointed, and, as the tides of excitement drained away, the little island of reason in her mind grew. The punch was obviously spiked. No one was acting like they would under normal circumstances. Dylan would not have kissed her if he hadn't had any of the spiked punch. She wouldn't have enjoyed it if she hadn't had any of the spiked punch. But... Niki thought, even if she hadn't had any of the punch, she still might have liked it quite a lot.

She tried to ignore his blush, looking away. She could feel the heat rising in her own cheeks. Not paying attention to what she was doing, she stepped, quite hard on Dylan's foot. "Excusez-moi! I mean, I'm sorry, Dylan. I'm so clumsy." Positively mortified, Niki was willing to bet that her cheeks were on fire.

After Niki accidentally stepped on his foot, Dylan responded: "You're all upset now," he observed softly. "I did tha', didn't I? Too bold fer m' own good. I'm sorry...should I be sorry?" There was something incredibly boyish and innocent about that question, in his questioning gaze. "I...I won't be sorry if'n I don't have t' be."

Niki felt a tremendous wave of relief. "No, you shouldn't be," she said with a radiant smile up at him. "I quite liked that, actually..." She feels her cheeks get even redder, if that was possible.

The radiant smile took him by surprise, the way it lit up her face. "Did you?" he murmured, and, with a little bit more confidence this time, kissed her again, still clutching her close to him with gentle hands as they danced.

Niki lost herself in that kiss, thinking of nothing but the dance and Dylan. This was, without a doubt, the most wonderful evening of her life. Not even Peeves or, worse, Katia, could ruin it now.

Though it was sorely tempting for Dylan to loose himself in that kiss as well, he remained quite aware of her, of what was going on around them. He wanted to just let go, but despite everything, he was still the gentleman he was raised to be. He raised his hand and smoothed her hair as he pulled his lips from hers. "I think I'll be rememberin' this dance fer a long time," Dylan whispered to her gently.

"I know I will," Niki whispered back, a little breathlessly. She knew that at least two first-years and a second-year were staring at them, whether shocked or intrigued it was hard to tell, but at that moment she felt like she would happily have braved Peeves, Snape, Katia, *and* Arcadia for that kiss to continue.

He chuckled a little, the tenor sound sweet and rich as it reverberated in his chest. "People are starin'...d'you care? 'Cause if'n you do, we'll have t'go somewhere or sommat," he told her quietly, his eyes leaving hers only long enough to glance around the hall, surveying the scene like a hunted stag.

"At the moment, I wouldn't care if everyone else stopped dancing to stare. Tomorrow morning may be a different story, though." She smiled ruefully. "I don't care if you don't, but some of those older Gryffindors look a bit... well... angry."

It was true. Several of them, the ones who had laughed the hardest at Niki's Howlers, were glaring at them and muttering amongst themselves. "They're not in my House," Niki continues quietly, "so there's not much they can do to upset me, but..." She let her voice trail off, not sure of what to say. Snape and Katia weren't the only ones who had something to say about inter-House dancing and kissing.

Dylan glanced at the group indicated, and scowled a little. "Bunch o' cowards, they are. Could take 'em, if'n came down t' it. I think I've licked th' scrawny one b'fore." Still, he didn't want to take the chance of someone making this more difficult than it had all ready been made. "Let's take a walk, then, hmm?"

Niki nodded. "A walk sounds fine," she said, smiling a little. She wondered, as they moved towards the doors, whether smiles were more valuable when given infrequently, like Dylan's, or all the time.

*********

Kat whispers, "Oooo, did I embarrass you? Next time you'll write won't you? Just in case I make fun of you again." She grinned at him, glad to finally get a dance with Marvo.

" Yes that was really embarrassing thank you" Marvo danced quite well and gave Kat a 'spin' or two

" But what exactly am I supposed to say to her in an Owl? I've apparently already put my foot in it asking about Egreen, and well. I didn't think she liked me that much. I sent an owl to you and Nimue, and Andy because well, he's a mate, but if I go sending owls to another girl, well.... people might get the wrong idea.. you know?"