So this is love. (Irina)

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Deep breaths, count to ten.

Dan had gotten ready on the ship, wearing the white dress robes like Ri has suggested. It had been a long, hard month for them. Dan had made them spend more time apart and, even though it killed him, he had to admit that it had done him good. Of course they still had time together, he loved her and he'd always be there for her, but he had more time to work through his feelings. He knew the worst wasn't over yet, but at least he was figuring out how to deal with all of this.

For now, they had tonight. He wanted to let all of that pain go for just one evening in order to make Irina feel like the queen she was to him. He wanted to stay calm, present, and be completely loving. It was going to be hard work, but he could do it with her. He always could.

He waited at the bottom of the stairs outside the Great Hall, waiting for her to arrive. He could fele his heart beating so hard in his chest he was afraid it was just going to burst right through. He looked down, took a deep breath, and then looked up.

There she was.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina had spent the entire afternoon helping her sisters get ready for the ball. Ripley was going with a champion, so of course Rina had made sure her sister looked spectacular. She let her sister go first to meet Emile down at the doors of Great Hall, peeking around the corner to see if Dan was there yet. She felt she looked pretty amazing, if she was being honest with herself; the dress she had wrangled her father into buying for her over the summer fit perfectly, and the hairpiece looked like it was snowing glittering diamonds against her dark curls. She felt beautiful, but there was still a part of her worried about Dan. The past month had been a trial for them, one Irina was more than willing to undertake, but didn’t mean she didn't feel lost and confused sometimes.


Finally, she spotted him, looking handsome as ever in his white dress robes. She had been right; the white brought out the shocking blue of his eyes. A smile spread across her face as she stepped out onto the grand staircase. Slowly, she walked down the steps, her eyes never breaking contact with him. Finally, after what felt like both forever and a millisecond, she was standing in front of him. She didn’t say anything for a few moments, but was still smiling. “You clean up nicely,” she finally said, a shy giggle escaping her lips.

@daniel

One  TWO  THREE

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Dan smiled as she did, unable to resist. She game down the stairs slowly, which was both excruciating and perfect. He could admire her while desperately wanting her in his arms all at the same time, it was fine. He never looked away from her, though, and suddenly it seemed like everyone else was gone. Even emotion wise he was only feeling his own heart beating and his own love bursting. It was like he was just a normal guy.

Soon, but not soon enough, she was standing in front of him. She spoke and he chuckled, a breathy sound. "I do, I guess. But I don't compare," he said, shaking his head slightly. Then he gave her a small bow, tucking one arm behind his back and one across his front. He looked up at her, "I hope this angel can accept a dance with a devil for one evening?" he smirked... well, devilishly.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina giggled and she curtsied as Dan bowed to her. “This angel will always dance with the devil if he asks so nicely,” she retorted back, taking his hand in hers. She squeezed it as they walked into the ballroom, and Irina was temporarily dumbstruck by the beauty of everything. “They really went all out didn’t they?” she said breathlessly. The Great Hall had transformed to look somewhat like an ice palace; ice sculptures everywhere, and the scent of dozens of Christmas trees filled the air.


She could see her sister dancing with Emile to open the Yule Ball, and then watched as Headmaster Longbottom joined in with his wife to signal that everyone else could join in. She turned to look up at Dan with a small smile. “Alright Hoh, now is your time to show me what you’ve got,” she challenged him, eyebrow raised. The waltz sounded familiar; she felt like she had certainly heard the melody before.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan's grin grew even more as she agreed to dance with him, since he asked so nicely. She took his hand and that jolt went through him again, that jolt of how she was feeling mixing with how he was feeling. He had to admit, it was a good mix.

They stepped into the ballroom and admired the general splendor. "Yeah, don't they always?" he teased. Up ahead, Rip was dancing with Emile and Dan chuckled. He'd get a dance with her soon enough. The ball had begun and people were allowed to join the dance floor and Irina challenged gim to a dance. Dan raised an eyebrow. "Prepare yourself, Irina Krum," he said before taking a classical waltz stance in perfect posture, catching her waist and pulling her close, and then leading her to the floor in flawless, fluid motion.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina felt that rushing sense of thrill as Dan caught her waist, she couldn’t help but smile as he pulled her close and waltzed onto the dance floor. He hadn’t been joking, he was a very good dance. Irina was impressed as they spun around. She could see the whirls of color as other people danced around them, but her focus was lasered in on the man in front of her. He seemed happy, a lot happier than he had been the past few weeks, and it made Irina incredibly glad even though she had missed him terribly at times. She had yet to tell him her vision about her roommate Andromeda; it had been dark and downright terrifying, and if she was honest she was glad they had chosen to spend some time apart during that period.


“I must say I am impressed,” Irina told him as she spun out and back in towards him. She caught his hand with a grin. “Though, I don’t know if I want to share you tonight; with these dancing skills I might never get you back,” she teased him with a wink.

@daniel

[Deleted]

It was like they were floating, and no one else was in the room. It was kind of freaking him out, actually, how little he was picking up on anyone elses emotions. He tried to stay focused, though, which was easy when they danced. He spun her out and back when she spoke of being impressed and how she couldn't share him. He laughed, shrugging, "there's only one or two others that I would even consider dancing with. Don't worry," he spun her again, closer this time, and lowered her in a dip, resting on his leg, "I'll always come back to you," he leaned in as if to kiss her but instead gave her a cheeky wink and pretended to drop her. He caught her, though, and stood her back up.

Irina Rose Krum
(cheeky dan)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina gasped with mock indignation as Dan teased he had one or two other people he'd dance with. "I suppose I can allow it then, so long as you can stomach watching me dance with others," she said with faux dramatic. She tilted her head to kiss him as he dipped her but shrieked as he pretended to drop her. "Not funny!" she gasped, even though her shoulders already started to shake with laughter.

As they twirled around the room, Irina caught the flash of green dress that belonged to Andromeda Lestrange. They hadn't spoken much since the night of her vision, but Irina couldn't help but watch as Phil Longbottom switched places with his father. Clearly, it was meant to be a surprise and she couldn't help but smile at Andy's reaction. She hoped that maybe Phil coming back meant her vision wouldn't come to be; the girl deserved happiness. "Aww, Phil's been in Brazil this semester; Andy told me he wasn't getting back until after Christmas. He must have come home early to surprise her." She turned back to Dan, eyes shining happily. "Kiss me," she said softly, her eyes not leaving his. It wasn't a request, or a demand, just two simple words between them.

@daniel

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Dan narrowed his head at her words about dancing with others. but, in reality, he actually wouldn't mind. He wasn't the jealous type plus he didn't really see anyone else as a threat, so, it wasn't a big deal.

She claimed that his 'almost dropping' her wasn't funny and he laughed as he brought her back upright, continuing t dance.

Irina brought up this girl, Andy, and her boyfriend Phil and Dan simply nodded, he didn't really know who hey were and he didn't really care to know. However, their happiness seemed to make Irina need a kiss, and he was happy to oblige. He kissed her, stopping his feet from dancing for a moment in order to do so. Afterward, he pulled back a little and looked into her eyes, "you know, I think most people here are happy tonight. It's nice."

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina closed her eyes as Dan kissed her, arms wrapping around his neck. The room stood still if only just for a moment; right then only the two of them mattered. The rest of the world could have melted away for all Irina cared. She wanted to freeze that moment in time where all their troubles simply didn’t hold any merit and stay there forever. She allowed him to break away though however reluctantly, and smiled at his words. “I think so, I know I am very happy at least,” she agreed.


She moved her hands back into proper dance format so that they could continue to waltz around the ballroom together. She hadn’t actually thought he’d have been a terrible dancer, but she did have to say she was pleasantly surprised at just how good he was. Louisa really must have been a terrific partner when they were younger. “I hope you’re happy too,” she breathed softly, squeezing the hand that was entwined with hers gently. She knew they had a long way to go for Dan to find true internal peace, but she hoped for just this one night he could enjoy himself.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan grinned when she said she was happy, and they continued dancing. Then she said she hoped he was happy too, and he squeezed her hand right back. "I am," he said with a nod, "because you are, Irina. I mean, that's not the only reason," he started to explain, considering to lead her around the room, his dancing almost flawless, his skill obvious. "I've found some happiness myself too, though. Don't worry," he said softly, "slowly but surely. Hey, slow and steady wins the race, right?" he said, raising an eyebrow at her in hopes that she'd understand what he was trying to say.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina giggled; she was glad that he was happy, and more so that she was not the only reason. She did not want to be solely responsible for any one persons’ happiness; especially someone who could sense every persons’ emotions a lot stronger than anyone else. It wasn’t healthy she’d realized to be so hyperfocused on one person. It was a lot better when you loved someone so much that you felt okay not being with them every minute of every hour of every day, though Irina wouldn’t mind holing up with Dan for a full twenty-four hours, just them two. Completely contradictory to spending time apart, but it was okay to just think it right? “Slow and steady,” she repeated, giving him a soft smile.


The song ended, and Irina curtsied to Dan, trying not to muss it up with a giggle. She rose gracefully, inwardly giving herself a high five. She’d never admit it out loud, but she had practiced with Ripley as she’d always had trouble with the curtsey. “Do you want to go for a walk? It’s quite warm in here,” she suggested, fanning herself with one hand. Though she felt she could dance all night with him, Rina had started to feel a light sheen of sweat develop on her skin, and she was not about to pass out on the dance floor from heat exhaustion.

@daniel

[Deleted]

She repeated his words, and that smile of hers had him convinced that she understood what he was going through, what he was having to do. Then, she song ended and he gave her a little bow before she asked if he wanted to go on a walk. "Sure, nice curtsy, by the way," he complimented, turning on his heel to offer an arm to her. "Plus, it'd be nice to be alone for a while," he admitted. The other emotions in the room were circling around to him, and they were mixed... but mostly positive. Irinas friends Phil and Andy were probably the ones starting to give him a headache, though.

As he led her out of the ballroom, he nodded back toward the dance floor, "those two really love each other, don't they? It's making me nauseous," he admitted, chuckling.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina grinned back and tossed her hair behind her shoulder in a flouncy manner. “Guess it comes naturally I guess,” she said, her tone teasing as she took his proffered arm. She felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the air temperature pass through her stomach when he said it’d be nice to be alone, together. They’d been spending plenty of time alone apart; together would be a nice change. Plus she was sure the emotions of the room, however positive they may be were probably overwhelming him at this point.


Rina glanced back at Andy and Phil with a small smile. “Yeah they do,” she said softly. She had yet to tell Dan of her vision of Andromeda Lestrange, but was still hesitant on talking about it with him. It gave her the shakes when she’d described what she’d seen to Andy; she didn’t want him to feel that. “She’s been in a bad sort of way without him, sort of like she was lost. But now he’s back and it's like she’s found herself again,” she found herself saying out loud, only half realizing she wasn’t just talking about Andy anymore. They walked outside and through to the gardens, where the fairy lights were twinkling merrily. “It looks lovely,” she said with a smile, just taking in the sight of it all.


@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan let out a snort type laugh, "you just said 'guess' twice in the same sentence," he pointed out, chortling again. She took his arm and they were on their way, and he was just happy to have her there, especially so he could make fun of her. Nah, it was all in good fun, she'd know that. Heck, he'd joked about her being 'heavy' once and she didn't crucify him, so that was nice.

Dan looked away from Andromeda and Phil when Irina confirmed that love between them. It was pretty aggressive. Combined with Irina on his arm, it was a bit much. Kinda how he felt when Irina, Lily and Adrian were all together. He nodded as she explained how Andy hadn't been doing well without him... he could understand that, sort of. He had a long hard month and foresaw hard days to come, too. "It is lovely," he agreed once they got outside, not commenting on Andy or Phil again. "The lighting suits you," he said, moving to take her hand and take a step back from her, in order to get a good look at her.

He gave a low whistle, "I honestly don't know how this happened," he starting confessing with a small, wistful smile.

Irina Rose Krum