A true vision ((Ashley))

[ryan]

Ryan still coulnd’t completely believe his luck. Sometimes he wondered if this was all just a dream from where he would wake up soon by someone yelling that he’s already late for Potions. Ryan shuddered at the idea. Considering his lack of talent in potions Snape would most likely kill him! But yet as he was now standing near the main staircase waiting for Ashley to come Ryan slowly started to believe that perhaps it was still true. He didn’t go as far as pinching himself – you didn’t want to try your luck anyway, right? – but he shifted a bit nervously from one leg to an other.

He was dressed fittingly to match Ashley’s outfit. Or more likely create a suitable background for Ashley’s outfit. A pair of wide white pants and boat-shoes, a nice blue-white striped blouse tucked neatly into his pants with a belt that had an anchor for the closing around his waist. All the cuffs and lines in his clothing were impeccably straight. Ryan even had put on the white cap with dark-blue ribbon surrounding it that finished the outfit. Not a very outstanding outfit, but it worked. Hopefully Ashley would like it too. Under no circumstances did Ryan want to shame Ashley by wearing a not so nice outfit.

Shifting form one feet ot an other Ryan twirled the white waterlily bloom he brought for Ashley in his hand. He had thougth for a long time, but other flowers didn’t seem to fit with the occasion. Getting hold of the waterlily at this time hadn’t been exactly easy, so he had sent a beg of help to his sister. Maria had responded quickly and sent the bloom to Ryan this morning with a keeping spell o n it, so it would look fresh and beautiful the whole evening. Hoping Ashley would like the flower too Ryan stood patiently waiting for the Hufflepuff girl.

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley took a deep breath as she hugged Lenora good-bye. Her best friend left the classroom and the sound of the Halloween music ended. Ashley couldn't believe that it was time to go to the ball already. Just a couple hours ago she was getting ready with Lenora giggling and singing along to the WWW. Sighing Ashley looked at the window next to her where her reflection stared back. Ashley didn't even look like herself. The long strapless dress flowed to the ground where what looked like clear fins stuck out at the bottom. The bottom of the dress was almost the color of the rainbow while the top was a dark pink color with blue ruffles at the top. The dress seemed to fit her body perfectly. Ashley's long blond hair was charmed to her waist and looked stringy like almost as if she had just gone swimming. A shell headband was at the top of her head that gave it an ocean look. Her blue eyes looked softer and brighter than ever as the glitter sparkled on her face. Ashley truly felt like a mermaid.

Inhaling another deep breath deep within her stomach Ashley finally left the classroom. Ryan and Ashley were suppose meet at the end of the main staircase. The knot in Ashley's stomach kept on tightening with each steep she took. Students around her were heading the same direction and were wearing so many different costumes. Ashley felt out of place for some strange reason. Never in her life had she worn anything like this. It was always jeans and a long sleeved tee shirt with jeans. The whole tomboy look, not a strapless dress. Why wont the knot in her stomach go away? Ryan was only her friend and nothing more. What was so special about him that made Ashley lose her breath? He was just another guy who asked her to go to a social event with him.

Stopping at the top of the staircase Ashley stood frozen in her place. Her blue eyes stared down the stairs. This was it no turning back. Taking another deep breath Ashley took the first couple of the steps trying to calm herself. "Just keep calm Ash you can get through the night just fine." she whispered under her breath before she steeped over the last step. Turning around toward Ryan Ashley smiled and eyed his outfit. He was dressed as a sailor so they could match. Bur to Ashley Ryan looked like Popeye the Sailor man. "Would you like some spinach Popeye?" Ashley asked with a huge smile and a giggle. He looked quite cute in that blue hat with a ribbon on top.

[ryan]

Ryan smiled and waved to a friend who passed him on the way towards the Great Hall with his own date by his arm. Both were Ravenclaws so they most likely met up in the common room. Feeling slightly nervous Ryan was staring at the big clock when Ashley spoke to him, making Ryan almost jump. Grinning at the girl as he whirled around Ryan felt himself go speechless. He had always liked Ashley in what she usually wore but today she was a true… vision! There was no other word about it, so Ryan had to swallow before he could grin back at Ashley.

“Well, perhaps I should take you on about the spinach. I’ll need all the help I can get the survive the hoards of boys angry at me for having snatched the prettiest girl from the whole ball away from under their noses,” Ryan told Ashley with a wide grin splitting his features the dimple he so often found himself cursing once again coming to view. Taking a step forward Ryan let out a low whistle as he took hold of Ashley’s hand and twirled the girl admiring the dress wholly, “You look simply breath-taking! I don’t really feel worthy next to such a beauty! Honestly, you look better than any words could ever describe!”
Smiling Ryan offered the white water lily for Ashley only now noticing that he was still holding it in his hand. Handing the bloom to Ashley Ryan offered his arm to the girl making a sweeping bow after grabbing the hat off form his head: “May I escort you to the Great Hall my dear lady?” Placing the silly hat back on his head Ryan grumbled as the hat almost fell off and he had to spend a moment to make sure it would stay fit on his head. Grinning sheepishly at Ashley Ryan offered his arm once again so they could head over to the Great Hall from where notes of music sounded already.

[Ashley Hill]

A warm sensation flowed through Ashley's checks as they got brighter in color. The large knot in her stomach seemed to untangle slowly as Ryan's charm started to take over. Her blues eyes shinned with laughter as Ryan stepped forward taking her hand indicating for her to spin around. Turning around slowly Ashley felt her check radiating more heat. She giggled as Ryan started to whistle. Once the full circle was completed Ashley stopped and stared at Ryan for a while. Her blue eyes seemed to come more to life by the second. "Um....You truly do look like a handsome sailor." Ashley said smiling rather shyly before she realized that she called him handsome. "Sorry I’ve just never been complimented like that before…Bare with me please...But I did mean it by when I said handsome." she continued wishing she could slap herself right there and then.

Ashley watched as Ryan held out a picturesque flower that looked like a white water lily. Its white beauty was captivating and looked liked it had just bloomed. Accepting the Lily Ashley brought the flower to her nose and took in its sweet aroma. The fresh smell tickled the inside of her nose making it wrinkle up. "Thank you!" she said with a big smile her insides melting. Ashley giggled as Ryan tried to put his back on after gracefully completing a bow, but it fell to the flour. Bending over to pick it up Ashley tried to snatch it up but Ryan seemed to have got it before her. Standing up straight Ashley watched as he tried to put the cap on nice and snug before he stuck out his arm for her to take. Staring for a couple of moments at the arm Ryan held out. This was it. She couldn't turn back now. Looking Ryan in the eye Ashley nooded her head and linked her arm inside his and walked on forward.

The sound of loud rock music filled the air as Ashley entered the Great Hall holding onto Ryan's arm. Ashley didn’t know much about wizarding music only muggle but maybe Ryan knew. There were all kinds of different costumes everyone was wearing, but nobody seemed to be dressed as the same. Some students were in groups talking and dancing with their friends while others had a date. A cloud of mist surrounded the dance floor and looked almost like a cloud. Rows of tables lay out on the sides filled with all kind of different food. This was so much better than trick-or-treating back at home or going on a scary hay ride when she was younger. Turning around Ashley stared at Ryan who seemed to be amazed with how the Great Hall changed over time. "So Ryan tell me, can you dance?" Ashley asked with a playful smile. She was beginning to feel more like herself around him.

[ryan]

Ryan grinned feeling a bit less nervous upon discovering that Ashley actually liked the flower. He had bene worried about it. He hadn’t even been sure if Ashley owuld have a place where to put the flower. But she seemed comletely satisfied with the flowers. Ryan made amental note to send a ’thank you’ note to his sister for owling the white bloom to him.
They entered the Great Hall and Ryan watched with amusement all the different costumes floating aorund. He had to take a double-take at Peeves however as he told a first year Slytherin ’Poor Woobie’ before dumping a bucket-ful of water on the first year. Lettting out a chuckle Ryan turned back to Ashley as she asked if he could dance.

„No that is a tricky question you kow. I have learned to dance. With my sisters toes paying the price of my clumsiness while she and my mom were trying to teach me. I think I more or less got the hang of it,“ taking hold of Ashley’s hands Ryan walked backwards towards the dancing floor while winking at Ashley, „But I honestly don’ tknow now. How do you talk to an angel? Or a mermaid at your case. And how do you compete with the grace of a goddess? I’m afraid that you have mesmerised me so I can’t give you any guarantees that I won’t stumble or trod on your toes when your beauty takes away the last pieces of my ability to think.“ Grinnign boyishly at Ashley Ryan tiwrled her around beofre pulling her closer and taking proper hold of Ashley as they started to dance. Smiling at Ashley Ryan tiwrled her out before pulling her back at himself.
„You really are a true vision today. Well you always are but it’s just... see, what you are doing to me? I’m stumbling over my own words in your vicinity!“

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley looked in the direction where rolls of laughter from students came from. Her eyes set upon a little boy who looked to be a first year drenched in water. Above him was Peeves laughing hysterically flying away. Ashley could have sworn she could have had a look of satisfaction on his face. Shaking her head from side to side Ashley sighed. She remembered her first year at Hogwarts and how she was Peeves target for stink bombs. So Ashley went around almost all day smelling like she had been caught by a skunk. But lucky for her that Elina knew a great charm how to get rid of the smell. Ashley wouldn't know what to do if she didn't have an older sister.

Her attention was brought back on Ryan as he took her hands while stepping back wards toward the dance flour. Ashley stared at him for a moment as Ryan talked about learning how to dance from his sister and mother. Almost the excat same way she learned to dance but with her father. The corners of her lips turned into a smile as he winked at her before continuing his flirting. Ashley stared at Ryan her very own eyes growing larger by the second. Did he really mean what he said? Ashley laughed and airy laugh, "I think your flirting has gotten in the way of how you see things. I'm neither beautiful nor pretty. But tell me, how do I talk to somebody as handsome as you are?" Ashley said to as she felt her body twirl around than brought closer as they began to dance.

The tempo of the music was fast. Ashley tried to keep up as fast as she could like a race. But the tempo seemed to be winning. Ashley hadn't danced in a long time because she rarely saw Elina anymore and Ashley wasn't going to dance without her sister. The only dances she did were modern and some ballroom, which her mom made her take. Ashley than was twirled out wards from Ryan than brought back in as he began to compliment again. He was calling her a true vision and how she made him stumble on his own words. A blush rose on Ashley's face as she stared into Ryan's eyes. Turning her head away Ashley began to say more, "I seem to be doing the same when ever I'm around you....What does that mean? Because I can't think straight at the moment."

[ryan]

Ryan grinned happily as Ashley laughed. At least he had succeeded in making her laugh. Perhaps there was still some hope left for him? „Of cours eyou are gorgeous? How can you even think the other way? Don’t forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I see a really amazing person in front of me dancing with me right now. As you don’t see yourself you are in no position to argue with me exactly how gorgeous you are. No mirrors around here either.“ Ryan smiled victoriously at Ashley dipping her in the end of the rather quick-paced dance.
Ryan shook his head having to shift his sailor’s hat on his head again after the motion. Giving a rather boyish grin at Ashley Ryan argue easily while smoothing back a strand of the blond silky hair from Ashley’s cheek: „I’m not handsome. You are just flattering me. And if I am acceptable, then it’s because your beauty is reflected on me.“

The music changed to a slow long and Ryan gathered Ashley in his arm, one hand curved around her waist, the other holding her arm. „Well, let’s not think straight then. Why think at all? This is a ball after all... Halloween ball. Nothing is supposed to make sense tonight. I’m just glad I don’t see Snape dressed as a Fairy... or McGonagall as an angel. I think that would scar me for life. I would see nightmares the rest of my life after that... or Hagrid in a pink care-bare costume. So we can return to logical thinking tomorrow.’

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley's blue eyes stared at the flour watching the clouds of mist flow along. She couldn’t bring herself to look up and felt foolish for what she had said. Ryan was arguing with her over if she was beautiful or not. Looking up Ashley smiled as she could tell he really meant it. He had that glint in his eyes that her father normally got when he told her mom that she was beautiful. Ashley laughed at that thought. Why was she comparing somebody she barely knew to her father? Maybe because they both were alike or just really meant something to her. "You know what Ryan, you flirt too much, but that’s what I like about you. And you were always handsome to start off with." Ashley said with a smile as the fast paced song ended and he dipped her.

The once fast tempo had ended it was replaced by a rather slow song. Ashley heart started to skip a couple of beats as she stepped closer to Ryan. Ashley placed her right hand on Ryan's shoulder. A shiver rose on her body as Ryan put his hand around her waist. Stepping a little bit closer Ashley laughed as Ryan began to talk bout seeing Snape as a Fairy. Ashley tried to picture the professor all dressed in pink holding a plastic stick. Ashley felt like gagging at the image pictured in her mind. "I think I'm already scared for life. Just the image of Professor Snape in a pink fairy costume just did the trick." Ashley said laughing while resting her head on Ryan's shoulder. "No more flirting or compliments. We need to actually get to know each other. Four years at Hogwarts and this is the first time I really ever noticed you. So first question, what is you family like?" Ashley said with her head still lying on Ryan's shoulder.

[ryan]

Ryan laughed and tugged lightly on Ashley’s blond hair while grinning down at the bit shorter hair. “Flirt too much? I’m just nervous. I’m in the company of an angel. I have to say something lest I’d be completely tonguetied and appear a complete idot after panicking for at least a week before gathering the courage to ask you to come to the ball with me.“ Smiling softly at Ashley and sharing her laughter at the idea of Snape in pink tutu not really trying to imagine. Actually Ryan was trying hard NOT to imagine such a site. Next thing Snape would be jumping on the floor and dance salsa while making colour bubbles to fly around the Potions classroom. „You are wicked girl. Simply wicked. And I have to admit that I like this side of you.“

Turning his head slightly as Ashley leaned her head on his shoulder Ryan smoothed her long her for a moment trying to think what to tell. „Well, my dad is a quidditch player. Plays professional and he’s playing today actually in Rumenia. Mom used to be a mediwitch but after I came to Hogwarts she didn’t like to stay at home alone for most of the year so she quit her job and now travels with dad to whereever he is playing. My parents met when my father dislocated his shoudler in one game and mother located it for him in St.Mungos. And then there is Marie – my older sister. She graduated from Hogwarts 3 years ago and was a Ravenclaw as well. Right now she is learning the job – curse-breaking – in Greece,“ Ryan smiled touching the lily bloom he had given to Ashley early at the beginning of the evening, „She’s the one who sent me the bloom this morning so I could give it to the prettiest girl in the whole wide world.“

Ryan smiled thoughtfully over Ashley’s head as he thought about his family. He loved them all. „I suppose I don’t have to tell you that I’m like cat and dog with my sister. We always seem to argue about everything from the amount of spice in a meal to quidditch and politics. But I really do love her really. Wouldn’t trade her for anything else.“
Ryan lowered his eyes back to Ashley grinning at her happily: „And now I’ve told you all there is to know about my family. What about you? Hords of borhters protecting their treasure who will be coming after me with rifles for daring to admire and dance this closely with their sister?“

[Ashley Hill]

With her head still resting on Ryan’s shoulder, Ashley shifted her body from one side to the other with the music. She listened carefully to Ryan as he talked about his family. Right off the bat Ashley could tell Ryan was a pureblood, but she didn't care about what kind of blood he was. His dad was a professional Quidditch player and his mother went along to the matches. Watching as Ryan touched the water lily saying that his sister sent it over. "That’s really sweet of her. Your family sounds nice. I take it that you’re a Quidditch fanatic, with your father playing professional and all. What position does he play?" Ashley asked, lifting her head off from Ryan's shoulder. They could probably talk about Quidditch all night.

Ashley stuck out her tongue at Ryan, about his comment on brothers going after him with riffles. "Well you don't have to worry about that, I don't have any brothers, just an older sister. Elina Hill, she’s in Ravenclaw also and in her seventh year. I'm really going to miss her after she leaves. Things really won’t be the same without her. Sometimes we do fight like cats and dogs like you and Marie, but don’t all siblings? “Ashley said continuing on telling Ryan about her family. “Um...Well...My mom's a witch and my dads a muggle....so that makes me a half-blood. My parents own a restaurant called, Along the Vine Hill in London. Moms head chef and my dads the manager. I don’t really have such an exciting life filled with drama or action. Though, I do sometimes dream of being a superhero called Wonder Ashley. I would fight crime and save the world from evil people wanting to rule,” Ashley said laughing at her childhood dream as a little girl.

Once Ashley was finished laughing she glanced back at Ryan as a thought crossed her mind. Taking a couple steps back from him, Ashley took the hat off from Ryan’s head and put her shell headband in it place. Setting the head on her head Ashley smiled and stuck out her tongue at him. “I like this hat a lot. How does it look?” she asked moving out of the way from a couple that danced by.

[ryan]

„Dad’s a chaser. Marie plays best as a keeper, I’m a Chaser for Ravenclaw and mom refuses to play. I’ve learned a lot from dad actually,“ Ryan replied simply whil listening attentively as Ashley talked about her own family, „Sister eh? Ravenclaw 7th year? You know,s he could probably hex me a lot worse than any brothers could deal damage with their rifles. But your family sounds great. Along the Vine Hill. Must remember that. Must come to eat there once. I’m sure it’s great. And your mother is the cook? Sounds amazing. He foods of Hogwarts must not be as gamazing to you as for the rest of us then, as you have lived with a professional chef all your life.“

Ryan threw his head back and laughed out loud. „Superhero? Well, I have only one thing to say about that. Would you please save me? I would much rather have someone as gorgeous as you own my soul and flesh than someone – as nice chap as he might be – who works as an auror or Harry Potter. Perhaps I can even someday aid you in some way. Wonder-Ashley. May I inquire what your super-hero suit looks like?“

Ryan glanced a bit awkwardly towards the top of his head. Though not having much luck in actually seeing there. „Now, you most ceratinly make the hat look gorgeous. Much better than I could ever dream of. However I’m afriad I do not do honours to the head-shell. I’m sure it just over-shines my... ah.. natural locks and eyes and... umm... I think it just overrules me. I’m afraid I’m not worthy after your royal and angelic head has warn this crown of youth and beauty?“ Ryan flashed Ashley a quirk grin that showed the dimple in his right cheek once again while his eyes laughed back at her.