The dance floor glowed golden beneath their feet, shining bright beneath each step. Regulus led her into the middle of the floor, into a small clearing at the center. He smiled at her as they stood facing one another.

"Your hair is turning teal," he whispered.

"Oh dear," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. Instead of going back to mint as she'd had it, though, it turned a deep caramel brown and Regulus smiled - he wondered whether this might be her natural shade for it looked so pretty on her.

He bowed to her gently, his arm flowing out from his side like a flare off a comet. She bit her lips and watched, cheeks pink, and energy palpable as he stood upright once more. "Come closer," he instructed, and she did. "Closer still," he said, and when she'd stepped right up, Regulus held up one palm at about shoulder height and slid the other over her waist, pulling her even closer to him, so that their bodies nearly touched - a mere hand's breadth apart. "Now.. give me your hand," he said lowly. She slide her hand up against his palm and he closed his fingers around hers, his eyes staring directly into hers. "Relax yourself and follow my lead, don't worry, I won't let you fall or anything, alright?"

"Alright," she said quietly, staring up into his eyes.

Regulus paused, waiting for the right beat in the music, then with a strong hand against her back, he pulled her into him and began the steps. It only took a couple before he realized she, too, knew what she was doing and he laughed as she spun her gently. She executed the spin perfectly, landing back in his arms with a sparkle to her eyes.

"You know how to waltz, too," he commented.

"Your most noble house is not the only house which teaches their children proper manners and etiquette, Mr. Black," she said in a mock-scolding tone.

Regulus smirked.

They were fluid, moving across the dance floor in perfect sync so that their movements were graceful and flowery. The Waltz of the Flowers, this particular version was called, and Regulus was as impressed with Maryrose's knowledge of the dance as she was with his, their movements always perfectly timed with one another so that they broke apart and came back together again and again, weaving between the other dancers who moved with less precision. Some of the others on the dance floor were glancing at them - including Annalee Mackinnon, who was on the arm of some Ravenclaw boy that was barely moving his hips to the beat of the music. Maryrose smiled at Annalee as they passed and Annalee stared longingly after them. Maryrose looked up into Regulus's face and laughed, her cheeks flushing the longer they moved. She twirled and her skirt fluttered and Regulus was always there, true to his word, catching her as she dipped and moved along, his arms holding her steady as the room spun about them.

Maryrose was breathless when the song's pace changed and Regulus slowed and pulled her into him, looping both his arms around her. She could feel his hands shake ever so slightly, could sense his nervousness. His reflected her own so exactly that it was almost hard to tell where hers ended and his began. Which was fine. She rather enjoyed being all tangled up in Regulus Black.

His hair hung over his forehead as he stared into her eyes. He was breathing harder than usual, his chest rising and falling. She loved the way the pink lay across his nose and high cheekbones. "Your eyes are dancing," she whispered.

Regulus laughed.

The music was much gentler now, the notes falling over them setting a slower pace. She loved the way his hand felt on the small of her back. She stared up at him.

Suddenly, they were crashed into by Peter Pettigrew. Sirius grinned, having just spun Peter rather like a top from where he stood a foot away, his eyes shining with mischief. "Watch out, little brother," he said jovially. "Can't be hogging the best part of the dance floor for yourself. There are other couples who want to waltz, too."

Peter was flustered, even as Sirius grabbed his wrist and pulled him back into the start position. "We aren't a couple --" he stammered.

"Of course we aren't, Wormtail," Sirius said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes, "Everyone who has eyeholes knows I'm with Moony." He shook his head and looked at Maryrose. "Men, am I right?"

Maryrose laughed.

"What happened to Lily Evans?" Regulus asked, raising an eyebrow as Peter's face turned red. "Weren't you dancing with her?"

"James Potter stole my date," Sirius said with a smirk that said he had no regrets about Potter's thievery. "Lily Evans has cheated on me, and Wormy here has stepped up to mend a poor lad's broken heart."

Peter said, "I just wanted to finish my gingerbread."

"You and that damn gingerbread," Sirius murmured, shaking his head. He spun Peter out the other direction, then looked to Maryrose again. "Is the ickle sodcake treating you properly?" he asked her.

Regulus spluttered an answer indignantly but Maryrose smiled, glowing, and said, "Regulus has been the picture of a gentleman, thank you."

"Good, he best be. If not, let me know and I'll see to it he smartens up." Sirius winked at her, then raised an eyebrow at Regulus as he collected Peter up in his arms. "Au revoir, petit frère." And with that, they were off - headed back to the table, which looked like quite a relief to poor Peter.

"Sorry, he's such an --" Regulus cut himself off, remembering that proper boys don't use dirty words.

Maryrose laughed and said, "I think he's sweet."

"Sweet!" Regulus guffawed, "He hates me."

"Nah," Maryrose replied, "He doesn't."

Regulus shrugged halfheartedly as they danced, stepping back into time with the music.

They danced for a bit more, finishing out the song, but when the next came on and it was a faster number, they silently agreed they wanted more quiet and privacy and Regulus followed as Maryrose led him out the high entrance hall doors to the castle grounds. It was cold outside and they found that the snow tumbling from the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall was mirroring very real snow flurries outside. The ground was dusted with white like a confection, and Regulus shrugged off his long green outer robe and slid the shoulders over Maryrose's to keep her warm. They walked along a fairy-light strewn path, the music from inside only just barely audible from where they were, walking along a cobblestone path that was lined with dark green bushes, neatly trimmed.

Maryrose was humming, the last notes of the music they'd left behind stuck in her head as she spun, holding onto his hand. They came to a stop overlooking the grounds, and she turned to him, her hands on his chest, staring up into his eyes,  searching them, as though seeking an answer to a question she'd not yet spoken.

"I don't want the night to end," she said wistfully.

"Nor do I," Regulus answered solemnly.

Maryrose bit her lip, still searching his eyes, and said, "Let's not let it end, shall we?"

Regulus laughed quietly, "Have you a spell for making it go on and on forever, then?"

"The Express leaves tomorrow morning," she pointed out, "Neither of us would be missed until the Express arrives at the Platform in London tomorrow."

Regulus's eyes met hers. Excitement slowly crept up inside of him. He glanced over his shoulder back at the entrance doors of the castle, then back to Maryrose's eyes. "That's true."

"So... we have time..." she murmured.

"We have time," Regulus nodded.

There was a slight pause, the idea hanging between them, and then Maryrose let out a squeal of excitement, her hand closing 'round Regulus's - for they could hear Hagrid walking down the pathway, breaking couples up and sending them back into the castle, just 'round the bend on the path. "C'mon," she giggled and Maryrose turned, running off the path into the snow, Regulus right behind her, tearing off across the grounds. Regulus laughed and turned back only long enough to set a charm for their footprints to disappear behind them so they wouldn't be followed.

Maryrose led the way over the crest of the hill and they slid on the slope a bit as though they were skiing on their shoes, laughing and waving their free arms - their hands still clasped tightly - as they careened 'round the perimeter of the castle toward the green houses. They caught themselves against the wall of the school where the sunflowers usually grew, where they'd first met all that time ago, and Regulus was panting, laughing as they came to a stop, their backs against the cold stone of Hogwarts. Maryrose looked at Regulus, pink-cheeked.

"Kreacher?" Regulus called.

There was a crack and then before them stood the wrinkled house elf, staring up at Regulus with wide, bulbous eyes. "Master calls for his Kreacher?" the elf rumbled.

"Yes, Kreacher. I need you to take Maryrose and I someplace," Regulus answered.

Kreacher's eyes moved to Maryrose, and his ears flattened as he turned back to Regulus, "And where does Master Regulus and Miss Maryrose wish to go?" Kreacher asked, "Kreacher will take his Master anywhere Master wishes for Kreacher to take him."

Regulus turned to Maryrose and asked her, "Where would you be if you could be anywhere in the world right now?"

Maryrose's eyes sparkled like the stars overhead as she thought for a moment, then, "Hyde Park."

Regulus turned to the house elf. "Kreacher, I command you to take Maryrose and I to Hyde Park in London."

"Yes Master, Kreacher will take Master Regulus and Miss Maryrose to Hyde Park." The elf held out his hand, "But Kreacher can only transport one at a time for such a distance."

"Very well." Regulus turned to Maryrose. "After you, love."

Maryrose's eyes sparkled and a grin spread slowly over her lips. "I'm so excited."

Regulus grinned back.

Maryrose turned to Kreacher and held out her hand. Her fingernails, Regulus noticed, were painted a lovely Christmas-red shade and her fingers closed gently around Kreacher's hand. She looked into the eyes of the old house elf and she said warmly, "Thank you very much, Kreacher."

Kreacher's ears flapped and he stared up at her in surprise at her sincerity and glanced at Regulus, then back to Maryrose, "It is Kreacher's most highest honor to please his Master Regulus," Kreacher answered, giving a little bow of his head.

Maryrose said, "What a gentleman you are, Kreacher!"

Kreacher's face was alight and he smiled as he clicked his fingers and they disappeared.

Regulus drew a deep breath as he waited for the elf to return, looking around the grounds surrounding himself. He paused and drew his wand, tapping himself so that the dress robes he had been wearing were changed into a dark grey wool coat he had in his wardrobe in the dormitory. He could feel a pair of mittens in his pocket and his Slytherin Scarf was tucked beneath the collar as he always kept it. He closed his mind, remembering what Maryrose's coat looked like and waved his wand... It was a bit harder, but he managed, and there was Maryrose's white coat - raspberry red with a grey scarf and mittens tucked into the pockets - and he threw them over his arm just as Kreacher reappeared, hand outstretched.

Kreacher's face was bright with excitement. "Master's Maryrose is at Hyde Park," he announced. "Come Master Regulus, Kreacher will bring you to your Maryrose." He held out his hand.

Regulus drew a deep breath, reaching for Kreacher's hand. "Kreacher?" he asked.

"Yes, Master Regulus?"

"Don't tell anyone what we're up to tonight."

"Yes Master Regulus, Kreacher will not tell anyone."

"Thank you, Kreacher."

"Yes Master Regulus." The elf took hold of Regulus's hand and paused. "Master Regulus's Maryrose is kind to Kreacher," he commented.

Regulus nodded, "Maryrose is kind to everyone."

Kreacher smiled, then with a crack, they had gone.