we're so close to reaching that famous happy ending [hugo]

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Xan smiled when Hugo did. He had been wanting her to believe in her own future as much as he did since she had gotten sick, and admitting it…was kind of like a weight off Xan’s shoulders, really. Gone were the days of half-heartedly thinking about what would happen if she survived. She was going to, and she was going to live her life, and she was going to live it with Hugo – her best friend. “I really do think it’s true.” Xan said softly. The music that was playing swelled, and Xan began leading them into a more complicated sequence of movements, using Hugo’s arms to twirl herself around. Her dress robes flared out around her as she spun, and even though it did throw her a little off balance, Xan didn’t really care. This was the first night of the rest of her life, and she wasn’t going to let dizziness ruin it.

@hugo

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It was finally time for the Yule Ball to start and Hugo was excited for the opportunity to spend more time with Xan. He didn't care that they couldn't go to the actual Yule Ball, the fact that he was allowed to spend the evening with her in the Hospital Wing was enough for him. However, Hugo was pretty sure that Xan wasn't happy about the situation. Why would she be? Everyone else was in the Great Hall, having the experience of a lifetime and she was too sick to go. Which was why he was on his way to her. His goal was to make this the best night possible, under the circumstances. He didn't want her to be longing for something she couldn't have, if he could help with it at all. He walked into the Hospital Wing, smiling at the sight of her. "Hey Xan," he said as he leaned close and kissed her cheek gently. "You ready to have some fun?" Hugo leaned back and grinned at her, ready for whatever was about to happen. He actually didn't have a plan, so whatever it was going to be was spontaneous and he was going to enjoy it.

@xanthippe

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Hugo entered the room, and Xan smiled at him when he smiled at her. Even having him in the same room made her feel a little bit better. Today wasn’t one of her worst days, either, so when Hugo asked if she wanted to have fun, Xan had enough energy to perk up a little, and enough energy that she believed whatever fun thing Hugo had planned, she would be able to do it – or at least give it the effort that it deserved. “I’m ready for anything, Hugo.” She told him honestly. She had been reclined on the bed, but Xan sat up, and even threw her legs over so she was sitting on the side of the bed. It, surprisingly, didn’t make her the slightest bit dizzy, and Xan felt confident in standing up on her own. She knew she had been dubious about Christmas miracles when Winnie had asked about them, but Xanthippe believed in Hugo miracles, and those were just as good, if not better, than anything Father Christmas could give her.

@hugo

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She moved to sit and stand and Hugo smiled. He was glad. It would be sad if today was one of those days when Xan couldn't seem to get herself out of her bed. He didn't know how well she would react to something like that. It would probably ruin her Christmas, which was definitely not something he wanted to do. "Good!" He answered cheerfully. "Do you have anything in mind?" Really, Hugo wanted to make sure her Christmas was one to remember, and if she had anything she wanted to happen, his goal was to make sure it did. However, if she didn't have any plans, he was sure he could come up with something she would enjoy. They seemed to like lots of the same things, after all, and the biggest one was spending time together. That was going to happen, no matter what.

@xanthippe

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Hugo asked if she had anything in mind for the night, and Xan knew exactly what she wanted to do. “Well, it’s the Yule Ball, isn’t it?” She asked. Even if she couldn’t be down in the Great Hall with everyone else, there was one thing that Xan did want to do. “I think we should dance.” They had danced together before, of course, when he had taken her out to see the first snow fall of that winter, but it would be different now, when they hadn’t needed to sneak away to do what they wanted to do, and when they were all dressed in their dress robes. There wasn’t any music, but really, did they need music? No, they didn’t. Xan could just hum something, or Hugo could. Even if they were dancing in the quiet, it was better than not dancing at all.

@hugo

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Xan mentioned that it was the Yule Ball and Hugo smiled and nodded in answer, though she already knew it. The entire school knew it. She mentioned that they should dance and Hugo moved forward to dance with her, deciding that he wanted to hug her first. He pulled her into his arms and whispered. "Now the nice thing about us dancing here is that there aren't a ton of people to watch. Just us." Sure, the healers were around somewhere, but they knew Hugo was coming here to spend his Yule Ball with Xan. They wouldn't interrupt unless it was necessary. He pulled back from her and moved until he was in dancing position. "My lady," he teased, a wide smile on his face as he got ready to dance to imaginary music. He started dancing, pausing when he heard music floating through the hospital wing. The healers. They must have figured something out to help Hugo make this a special night for Xan. He was going to have to thank them for this later, but he simply smiled down at Xan as though he knew all along that this was going to happen.

@xanthippe

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Xan was ready to start dancing immediately, but apparently Hugo had other ideas. He wrapped her in a hug, and Xan found herself surprisingly content just to stay there in his arms, breathing in his scent and relishing the feeling of being safe. The fact that he could hug her like this without having a vision still never ceased to amaze her, and Xan took a moment to appreciate that, too. She smiled when Hugo said that there weren’t any people there to watch them. It wasn’t like either of them were shy, and she was perfectly fine with the entire world knowing that she loved Hugo Weasley, but sometimes, it was nice to be alone, instead of just feeling like she was alone with him. Hugo withdrew from her in order to move into the dancing position, and Xan grinned up at him. “My lord.” She teased back. Hugo began to dance, but then paused, and Xan knew why. They had both been prepared to just dance in the silence, but the nurses appeared to have different plans. Xan looked around to see if she could see any of them, but they were like ghosts, disappearing as soon as they appeared. Hugo smiled at her again, and Xan smiled right back again, listening to the music spill around the hospital wing. You’re in my arms…

@hugo

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Dancing with Xan was one of the best experiences of Hugo's life. It still took him by surprise, how much he enjoyed being able to have physical contact with her without seeing visions every time. He hadn't realized how straining that was for him, but it had been. Now, just dancing with her to the music that the nurses somehow were playing, Hugo was perfectly happy. "Xan," he said softly, "This is ... I can't imagine anything else I'd rather be doing right now, or anywhere else I'd rather be." True, the rest of the school was enjoying the Yule Ball, but really Hugo just wanted to be with her, and if that was in a hospital wing, he would enjoy it. Besides, at least they had a little more privacy here. He was sure the nurses weren't really watching. They were trying to help the two have an enjoyable evening.

@xanthippe

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Xan looked up at Hugo when he said her name, meeting his eyes with hers. She loved those eyes. “There’s no place I’d rather be, either, Hu.” She replied softly. She had learned a long time ago that she was her best version of herself when she was with Hugo. He wasn’t a light so much as he was a lens, focusing her own sunshine and happiness into something productive and real. She opened her mouth to say something more when the chorus of the song began to play. We’re so close to reaching that famous happy ending… And she was…crying? Xan wasn’t used to crying so much, but these were happy tears. Maybe she still wasn’t quite sure about the way she was going to end, but the nurses, and Hugo, seemed to think that she would get a happy ending. Xan didn’t believe in Christmas miracles, but she did believe in Hugo miracles, and maybe…maybe this was that.

@hugo

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Hugo smiled, continuing to hold her in his arms and dance with her as Xan told him that she didn't want to be anywhere else. He knew that she'd like to be out of the Hospital Wing, of course, but he understood what she was trying to say: that she wanted to be with him. And she obviously knew that he felt the same way. If he didn't, he wouldn't be here. Then he looked down and realized that she was crying.  As their song ended, Hugo didn't stop dancing. He just kept on swaying and "Xan, are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked in concern, not quite sure what he could do to help her. He wasn't sure why she was crying. 

@xanthippe

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Hugo didn’t stop when the music did, so Xan didn’t, either. Hugo asked her what was wrong, and Xan shook her head, not quite trusting herself to speak quite yet. She took a few more breaths before responding to Hugo’s question. “Nothing’s wrong.” She whispered. She was struggling to put everything that she was thinking into words, especially since it went against everything she had been telling Hugo for the past three months. “I…I think I’m going to get better, Hugo.” Xan said, voice still soft. It was a good thing there wasn’t still music playing, or he probably wouldn’t have been able to hear her. Even though Xan’s voice was still tentative, she believed what she was saying with all her heart. She believed that she was going to get better…now she just had to wait and see whether or not that was going to happen.

@hugo

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It took Xan a while to speak, but Hugo wasn't in any rush. He had all night to convince her to talk with him, but something told him it wouldn't take that long. The two of them were close and didn't really keep things from one another. Once she figured out how to say it, he was sure she'd tell him. Still, thinking that didn't prepare him for the truth when she finally did tell him what was making her cry. Hugo froze, looking down at her with a gentle smile. She thought she was going to get better? Finally! His smile widened, "I'm not just making this up now, am I? Do you really think that?" He didn't want to get all excited that she finally believed if it wasn't quite true. Still, he was about ready to start a party or spinning her or something ... except he didn't want to make her dizzy. That would shorten the time he had to spend with her tonight and Hugo had no intention of doing that.

@xanthippe

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Xan smiled when Hugo did. He had been wanting her to believe in her own future as much as he did since she had gotten sick, and admitting it…was kind of like a weight off Xan’s shoulders, really. Gone were the days of half-heartedly thinking about what would happen if she survived. She was going to, and she was going to live her life, and she was going to live it with Hugo – her best friend. “I really do think it’s true.” Xan said softly. The music that was playing swelled, and Xan began leading them into a more complicated sequence of movements, using Hugo’s arms to twirl herself around. Her dress robes flared out around her as she spun, and even though it did throw her a little off balance, Xan didn’t really care. This was the first night of the rest of her life, and she wasn’t going to let dizziness ruin it.

@hugo

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Xan said she really did believe she was going to make it, but before Hugo could react, she started leading him and twirling herself. Hugo let her, watching her spin and feeling lighter than he'd felt in ages. This was all he wanted and tonight was the perfect night to realize that things were going well. Once she was done spinning, Hugo pulled her in close and put his hands on her waist before lifting her and spinning with her close to him. He couldn't help it. He wanted to hold her, to show her how happy he was. "Tonight is perfect," he told her once he placed her on the ground once more. "Is there anything else you want?" He could do anything for her tonight, anything that would make her happy.

@xanthippe

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Xan let out a soft, bubbly giggle when Hugo lifted her up and spun her around. Normally she would be so surprised that Hugo was able to lift her that she wouldn’t have been able to think of anything else, but she felt so light that it wasn’t a surprise at all. She felt…effervescent. When Hugo said that the night was perfect, Xan nodded and smiled. It really was. They got to go the Yule Ball without exhausting her, she believed that she was going to live, and Hugo was happy. When he asked if there was anything else that she wanted, Xan shook her head softly, and then squeezed Hugo’s hand. “I just want to be with you.” And there wasn’t anything anyone could do to keep that from happening…so yes, the night really was perfect.

@hugo