Pink in the Night.

Chapter Thirty-Eight.

"Nice socks, Potter," Moody growled as he passed, his magical eye staring through Harry's suit.

"Oh— yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me," said Harry, grinning. (Y/n)'s mouth fell open.

"He can— He can see through clothes?" (Y/n) whispered, her own arms slowly raising and covering her chest, feeling rather violated.

"Oh— Ew— (Y/n), don't think about that," Cassius grimaced.

"No, no, no. That thought's going to be in my mind for the next twelve years," (Y/n) said.

"...oddly specific."

"Is it?" (Y/n) asked, doing a little dance as the music changed into a much faster song.

"Listen, I'll be back," Cassius said, looking past (Y/n).

"Huh?" (Y/n) asked.

"I'll be back. They look angry. I should go and smooth things over," Cassius explained.

"Wh— I thought tonight was for us!" (Y/n) exclaimed.

"It was! But I promised them I'd find some time to hang out," Cassius said guiltily. "And Lizzie— She doesn't have a date— I promised her I'd save at least one dance."

"Lizzie?" (Y/n) cried. "Who the hell's Lizzie? Cassius Warrington, if you walk away, it's going to take more than my own galaxy for me to forgive you!" But Cassius did not stop and (Y/n), rightfully upset, stomped her foot and stormed off the dancefloor.

"(Y/n)!" Padma shouted, waving her hands wildly. (Y/n) could practically hear her bangles clattering. Padma and Neville were now dancing their own dances but standing together: both Ginny and Luna were gone and neither of them had a clue where they went, but that was their deal, they supposed.
"We're matching," Padma cooed, uncrossing (Y/n)'s arms. "Teal and grey, silver and dark blue. Quite the nice match, no?" (Y/n) tried not to smile.

"I'm still leaving," (Y/n) sighed. "My night's beyond salvageable— Oh, come on!" she cried. Padma followed her stare. (Y/n) spotted Cassius already dancing with whom she assumed to be Lizzie. "Not even five minutes— You know what? I'll be back after a cooldown. I'm not letting a boy ruin my night!"

"You do that, queen!" Padma hyped. "And Neville and I'll be waiting with drinks!" (Y/n) smiled back at her as she slipped out of the Great Hall, out of the entrance, and out the castle doors. 
Fairy lights (actual fairies) (Y/n) had decorated the rose garden with mere hours ago twinkled against the dark area. (Y/n) found herself surrounded by the bushes, winding, ornamental paths, and large stone statues the second she entered the gardens. There was the soft splashing water from the fountain and, so far, the gardens were deserted. Sighing to herself, (Y/n) miserably took a seat on one of the carved benches.
It wasn't long until loud weeping, progressively growing closer, met (Y/n)'s ears. She curiously looked up, watching as Hermione came to an abrupt halt, her knot no longer the perfect shape it was fifteen minutes ago. (Y/n) assumed her face would've been blotchy as well but the fairy lights did not provide enough light to determine whether or not that was true.

"'Mione?" (Y/n) asked softly. Hermione's weeping came to an abrupt halt before she burst into even harder sobs.

"Oh, (Y/n)! It was awful!" she cried, flopping onto the same bench (Y/n) was on before throwing herself into the older girl's arms. "It's Ron! He told me off for going with Kru-uh-uh-um," she sobbed out. "Mocked me! Accused me of going out with 'the enemy'! And said Viktor's only interested in me because I'm smart!" she wept.

"Well! That isn't true!" (Y/n) exclaimed.

"I know!" Hermione wailed. "He said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage! And then he told me Viktor's only interested in getting information about the egg or Harry!"