A jovial atmosphere hung over the great hall. To a muggle, if they were to witness this by chance, special effects would have been their go to. With the numerous illuminating pumpkins, spiders spinning their webs high above, and various other decor, it was all quite overwhelming. However, special effects was hardly the explanation. Magic. To those who were privileged to have magic run in their family, it was through magic that a great many of these things could happen. However, even within the boon of magic, filthy blood still existed.

Detric sat at the Slytherin House table. He picked haphazardly at a piece of half-eaten pumpkin pie. The elves had done an adequate job at preparing the dish, but something didn’t strike him correct. There was a peculiar aftertaste. It left him in a sour mood. 

He stared to his right as Stefan, his close friend, recounted the last Quidditch match between Syltherin and Ravenclaw. “That pretty little Ravenclaw took the bludger hard,” Stefan said. He was one of the Beaters on the team. While the nature of the position was indeed adversarial, Stefan’s vigor as a beater was borderline mad. “Broke the tie then. Shouldn’t have happened against the filthy mudbloods. Keeper held them off. But Detric here kept our winning streak going. Took the snitch right out of the Ravenclaw’s nose. Spectacular.”

Detric nodded to the group of listeners. “I fear Stefan may be exaggerating things a tad” he said. “The seeker certainly had skill. However, it seems I held the upper hand. By the way Stefan, the Captain mentioned extra practice for the beaters. How goes it?”

“Ulric took the bludger to his head. Went straight to the infirmary,” Stefan said. He took a sip from his goblet. “After we got him awake, we continued. Next game is against Gryffindor. We’ll knock ’em down. You just focus on that snitch.”

Before Detric had the chance to respond, the room grew hushed as the grand hall’s door swung open. Emerging from the doors were several dancers dressed in beautiful black dresses. The girl’s swirled in circle’s as the dresses followed their motion. Tiny diamond-like things embroidered into them shimmered from the candle’s light sending a thousand tiny flickers in each direction.

Coming from an affluent pure blood family, dancing was no foreign task to Detric. In fact, each month, a ball including close family friends and strangers alike was thrown. Detric often entertained a dance or two with ladies who showed interest in him. Gathering happenings within his community was also a favorite activity of his. He would converse with Lady Comstock about her dealings with the new and improved Ministry of Magic, Sir Wilhelm Laughlin and his close acquaintances in the reformed Auror program — even Luke Watkins with his booming business in Diagon Alley.

As the sudden dance neared its climax, the dancers suddenly stopped. Detric watched as the diamonds on their dresses floated up towards the ceiling. Each hung there in brilliant light. Spectacular. When the song ended, the whole room was engulfed in ethereal light. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his fellow Slytherin’s shield their eyes from the light. However, he kept looking on, engulfed in all its majesty. Soon his eyes shifted to a girl in particular. A dancer with lush, black hair. 

 Breaking the tranquility, Stefan scoffed indignantly. “Trying to blind us with their stupid light tricks, are they?” he said. Several others from the table agreed as crude remarks were given. “Heard that some of those Hufflepuff girls — the ones dancing — are filthy, blood tainted mudbloods. Defiling this school with their steps. Disgusting. My family wouldn’t stand for this. You listening, Detric?”

“Stefan,” he said quietly. “You’re ruining the moment.”

“What? You actually enjoyed this? I can deal with the ghosts. But this …”

“Stefan,” Detric said again. “Be silent. [I]You’re[/i] ruining the moment.”

The Slytherin took his cue though it was clear there was still more he wanted to say. Instead, he began to pick at his plate with the aura of a whipped dog. Even with all his bravado, Detric could manipulate him so. Just with some vocal inflections and stares.

As the night continued, his mind only remembered one thing. Who was that raven haired girl? Memories itched at the boundaries of his mind, but nothing surfaced. Intrigued, he made a note to find out later.