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“Ralph? Fucking Ralph Bohner asked her out? What the actual fuck?” Rio grumbled pacing back and forth. Oh she’s going to murder that snotty, pathetic, no good Ravenclaw. She is going to actually slit his throat just deep enough to let him die a slow, painful death. Or she can bound him and throw him into the Black Lake and let him drown. Or she can drug him with love potion so he falls in love with the janitor instead.
“Yes Rio, Ralph Bohner asked Agatha to be his date to the Yule Ball,” Jen replied, flipping through her potions notes getting ready for her test tomorrow. Unlike everyone else, she had already gotten her date secured, as sitting next to her is Alice Wu Gulliver, her girlfriend. “Get over it,” she added, clearly annoyed at her pathetic excuse of a friend, who could be asking her crush out instead of pacing around a desk in the Library freaking out about someone else stealing her away.
“Ralph Bohner,” Rio repeated, fuming with jealousy.
“Yes, but she said no, so it’s alright,” Alice added, fiddling with her wand as she peeked over at Jen’s notes, admiring her handwriting.
God who does he even think he is to deserve to ask her out? This is honestly ridiculous. There is no way Agatha would like a useless thing that falls asleep in class, Agatha deserves better than that slug. He should feel sorry that he is even breathing the same air as her.
“Can’t you just ask her out? This is getting tedious,” Jen muttered as she scribbled through the ingredients list of Skele-gro.
“She’s not going to say yes!” Rio wailed, as she finally sat down and buried her face into the piles of homework in front of her.
“That’s not true,” Alice consoled. “You haven’t even seen the way she looks at you across the Great Hall.”
“She literally tries to start an argument every time she talks to me.”
“That’s just the way she is!”
Rio groaned and her head hurt from thinking about the lack of possibility that she could ever go out with the Hogwarts champion. It’s not even because she’s a Hufflepuff and Agatha’s a Slytherin, or that she’s a halfblood and the Harknesses have a reputation to always keep pure bloods in the family line, or even that because she is a girl. (because clearly everyone could tell how gay Agatha is) It’s just that Agatha doesn’t like her.
The idea of Agatha going to the ball, holding their hand as they walked down for the Champion’s Waltz made Rio feel physically ill with want. She’s getting so desperate that she even thought about asking Jen to make her a love potion, even though she knows Jen would never agree to that.
The next time Rio saw the hot headed, earth shatteringly gorgeous Agatha Harkness, she was walking down the corridors and bumped into her as she was so lost in her thoughts.
“Fucking hell Vidal,” Agatha spat. “Do you even watch where you’re going?”
She looked like she was sculpted by the gods, her long hair tied back into a messy bun, light blue eyes shining despite the dull, lightless weather of England, she was wearing her signature necklace, an heirloom of the Harkness Family, and a prominent sign of old money. She sneered as she looked at Rio, but the pride she holds on her face only made Rio more attracted to her.
“Mind your own fucking business, gorgeous,” Rio retorted.
“Feisty today are we? Are you too upset because you still haven’t found a date to the Yule Ball?” Agatha asked scornfully, and Rio doesn’t even know if Agatha genuinely despises her, or if she’s acting like this because the Harknesses never liked the Vidals.
“You say that as if you have a date, asshole. The all mighty Slytherin Queen, Hogwarts Champion Agatha Harkness still doesn’t have a date to the ball.”
Agatha straightened her tie, trying to look calm and superior, “I have high standards, Vidal. I need someone who fits my criteria.”
“And what, pray tell, is your criteria exactly?” Rio teased.
“Well she has to be doing well academically, from a well respected family, has long dark hair, does Quidditch, dark brown eyes, and someone my mother would never agree with.”
“If I didn’t know better I would even think you’re describing me,” Rio laughed mockingly.
Sweet Merlin could she be more dense.
“You’re getting a bit cocky there, Rio Vidal,” Agatha replied, a mischievous grin on her face. “Or are you secretly in love with me, because it doesn’t seem so secret anymore."
Heat rose up to Rio’s face. No, she is not in love with Agatha fucking Harkness. Okay maybe she is, but Agatha doesn’t need to know that. She doesn’t need to know how many sleepless nights she spent pining over her, the way she used to time leaving classrooms perfectly just so she could catch a glimpse of her. She doesn’t need to know that. “I mean if I clearly fit your criteria, you should just ask me,” she smirked, trying to keep her cool.
“I mean, going to the yule ball with a Vidal would piss my mother off,” Agatha dragged on. “And you are, dare I say, drop dead gorgeous.”
Agatha placed a finger on Rio’s chin, and it sent shivers down her spine; she could’ve sworn the shock could light up the whole school.
Rio grinned, “See you do want me.”
Agatha scoffed, “I’m taking that back.”
“No!” Rio yelped, she could feel how red her cheeks were getting and she cleared her throat to recompose herself. “I meant, yes, I will go to the ball with you. Let’s piss Evanora Harkness off.”
“You almost sound desperate, Vidal. It’s cute.”
“Darling you’re the one who asked me to be your date to the Yule ball,” Rio replied, feeling so bold as to take a step closer to Agatha, the tip of their noses a mere inch apart.
Agatha touched Rio’s yellow tie, twirled her fingers around it and smiled as she looked up at Rio, “my mother is coming in tomorrow. Meet me by the cauldron cupboard after lunch, hopefully her heart doesn’t survive this one.” She gave her tie a gentle tug, and walked away, back to the Slytherin dorm without looking back, her robes flowing majestically behind her.
Who the fuck even cares if Evanora’s heart can survive it? Rio’s heart could not survive it either. Her eyes widened as she realised what actually just happened. Rio couldn’t breathe, the one thing she’s been dreaming of, the one wish she spent on all angel numbers and dandelions, all the shooting stars and four leaf clovers had just came true. And it sounded almost like a spur of moment dare.
Rio tried to convince herself this is a good thing. At least Agatha won’t be going with some randos that don’t deserve her time. At least she gets to dance with her. At least she gets to have maximum time spent with her that night. This is good. This is good, right?
Lost in her spiral of drowning thoughts, Rio ran away banging on the doors of the Gryffindor dormitory. (More like screaming at the fat lady to get Alice so she can console her, but it’s basically the same thing.)
Agatha stood leaning against the concrete column as she checked her watch, fucking Rio Vidal and her tendency to show up late to everything that is not a lesson. She prayed to the gods that Rio would show up before her mother, there is no way in hell that she is facing that woman alone.
Speak of the devil, Rio comes running towards her, a pile of herbology extra reading contents cradled in her arms. Her hair is in a bit of a mess and her cheeks flushed from running up the moving staircases, Agatha made a conscious effort to push away the thought of how devastatingly beautiful she is.
“Aren’t you early,” she said sarcastically, fighting to keep the smile off her face as she looked at the flustered girl in front of her. She’s Agatha Harkness, the Hogwarts champion for the triwizard tournament, she has a reputation to uphold, and she doesn’t smile because she is excited to see a girl.
“Sorry,” Rio said genuinely, panting. “I was held up after Herbology for extra content in preparation for my summer internship.”
Agatha scrunched up her nose, who in their right mind would work and study more during the summer holidays? She knows Rio is a scholar but Merlin is that a bit extreme. “Nerd,” she muttered.
“I am sorry I’m late though,” Rio said. “Is your mother here yet?”
“Very unfortunately for me, yes.”
“What’s the plan?”
Agatha held a hand out to Rio, which she accepted. She tried to ignore the warmth she felt in her heart and they interlinked their fingers. No matter if this date situation is real or not, when Agatha looks at Rio, she just wants to kiss her.
‘You wanna kiss her? Why?” Wanda, her childhood best friend, had asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Agatha had admitted. ‘I just do.”
She did then threatened Wanda with a knife to never reveal any parts of their conversation to anyone, not that she thought Wanda would, but she’d much rather not let the world know how hard she is pining over Rio fucking Vidal.
“She’ll ask me about my preparations for the next task, berate me, ask me about the yule ball, and throw a tantrum,” Agatha shrugged as they walked side by side.
“What do I do?” Rio questioned. Agatha looked over at her, one hand holding hers and the other clutching her books, and she shines. Rio is like that chilly breeze you feel on a summer night, as you lean against the railings of the astronomy tower, she is like the million stars that light up her darkness, she is beauty reincarnated.
“Surprise me,” Agatha smirked as they reached the bottom of the staircase.
Evanora Harkness’ stern and stone hearted face greeted them as they turned the corner. Agatha held her breath as her face turned cold, not a single interaction she had with this woman brought her joy. “Mother,” she said. Merlin does she hate the triwizard tournament, being in school used to mean that she is safe from that woman but guess not this year!
“Agatha,” her mother replied, her sharp voice ringing through her ears. “How are the preparations going along? I am expecting a trophy by the end of this year, girl. Maybe this time a disgrace like you could finally do something good to our family name.”
Agatha gripped onto Rio’s hand as the other girl rubbed circles onto the back of her hand. It's soothing her, she didn’t know why Rio was doing this, but it was working. She took a deep breath, “I have been doing my research, mother,” she said, spitting every word out. “Who do you think I am? I mean a disgrace, of course, but at least I do something with my time instead of having tea with death eaters.”
Rio stood at the side, looking at Evanora intensely. At that moment, the hatred towards that woman did not come from the times Evanora Harkness unjustly reprimanded her father in the Ministry of Magic; but as someone who, unfortunately, cares deeply about Agatha, and Rio could clearly see how horrible of a mother she is.
“And a date to the ball? I hope it is someone respectful, the whole world would be watching.”
“You’re looking right at her,” Rio smirked as she opened her mouth for the first, and Evanora snapped her gaze towards her, finally having to acknowledge her presence despite trying so hard to ignore it.
“Rio Vidal. Agatha, dear, I have been oh so kind as to indulge you with the whole childish stunt of ‘I want to bring a girl’. But a Vidal? Do you have no shame? Could you imagine what this would do to our family name? The Vidals?” Evanora went on and on, fuming as she said each word, her eyes burning with rage.
“You said a respectable family, mother,” Agatha said calmly, as if it was a matter of fact.
“They are anything but respectable,” Evanora snapped. “She is not even a pureblood! It’s dirty, how her father was frolicking around muggleborns.”
“Pureblood, halfblood, muggleborns,” Rio started, rolling her eyes. “They can all do magic with their wands, lady. And before you offend me even more don’t even get me started on how you bribed the minister of magic to get you on the board. It’s embarrassing.”
“Little girl, you don’t know who you’re messing with,” Evanora growled, sounding prepared for a rain of empty threats.
“In fact, I do,” Rio continued. “You’re just an insufferable old hag who thinks the money you have being passed down from your daddy is going to get you everything you want. News flash, even your own husband doesn’t want you. At least Agatha works hard to get what she wants in life, I bet you can’t say the same.”
“You-”
“On the topic of things,” Agatha interjected, flustered at how passionately Rio defended her and how attractive she found it, “I have a Quidditch practice right now, so I’ll have to talk to you the next time I see you, Mother. You coming to watch, darling?” she smiled at Rio, earning a harsh glare from her mother.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Rio replied, honey lacing her words. Agatha swore her heart skipped a beat.
“Stop stepping on my fucking foot Vidal,” Agatha said as she held onto Rio’s waist, struggling to keep her feet at the right place as they danced around the Astronomy tower.
“I’m not a dancer, Agatha. You know that,” Rio stated. The stars are shining at the night sky, their brightness reflected on Rio’s glossy lips. Her eyes fluttered as she looked at Agatha, and if Agatha lacked a bit more dignity she would have crumbled then and there.
“Literally just- right foot first take a step forward, and then a step to the side,” Agatha guided Rio as they flowed to the music, the serenity of the night would have let Agatha’s heart slow down if the girl in front of her doesn’t drive her mind insane. “I don’t want you embarrassing me in front of everyone, okay?”
“Such a professional. Is this all the lessons you were forced to take as a child?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Cute.”
They went around in circles for a while, Agatha holding Rio’s hand up and letting her twirl, watching her beautiful hair flow in the air.
“Uhm. I appreciated how you fought against my mum by the way,” Agatha muttered, barely audible.
“Oh it’s all good. It was fun. I’m sorry she’s such a horrible person though, your childhood must’ve been tough.”
Agatha hummed, looking at a distance, trying not to think too deeply into the things she said.
“What are you wearing to the ball?” Rio asked, as Agatha dipped her down in the waltz. “I’m your date so it would look better if we were to match. I’m going to Hogsmede on the weekends.”
“I’m wearing an emerald velvet dress, silver chains as straps. I would’ve gotten purple but my mother wouldn’t let me.”
“Shame, you would’ve looked good in purple.”
“Darling everything would look good on me,” Agatha replied, as they slowly stopped their dance, their feet getting tired.
“That is true,” Rio flashed Agatha a flirtatious smile. “I’ll see what I can find to match you dress.”
“It is late,” Agatha said, even though she wished the night could last forever, so she could always be dancing around holding Rio, and letting the rest of the world and her responsibilities fall away just to be herself.
“I’ll walk you back to your dorm,” Rio responded, reaching to hold Agatha’s hand.
“Such a gentleman, Vidal,” Agatha laughed, not daring to mention how her hand is being held, too proud to speak up about it, too infatuated to let go.
“Only for you, sweetheart.”
Agatha is not going to survive til the Yule Ball.
Rio is panicking. She cannot breathe. Agatha is going to appear any minute now and she actually did not expect things to end up here. She did not expect one shady remark would lead to going to the Yule Ball as the date of her secret crush of two years, who also happens to be Agatha Harkness, and they’re going together to spite Evanora Harkness.
“Rio calm your tits, I don’t think a girl hyperventilating would really turn Agatha on,” Jen stated, as she touched up her lipstick.
“Shut up, what if I mess up, what if she hates me forever?” Rio rambled, breathing heavily.
“Rio, you already secured a date with her to the Yule Ball. Just be yourself. She’ll love you, I promise,” Alice said, trying to calm her friend down.
“Do I look okay?” Rio asked, panicked.
“You look divine,” a voice said from behind Rio, their lips so close to Rio’s ear.
In shock, Rio whipped around, standing face to face with Agatha Harkness.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Jen said, as she took Alice’s hand and dragged her away, the two of them whispering and giggling as the approached the drinks servers.
“Agatha!” Rio exclaimed, looking at her up and down. Her green dress perfectly complimenting her light blue eyes, the most beautiful shade of blue Rio has ever seen. Like waves crashing onto the shore, like the sky on a bright sunny day.
“Vidal, Professor Calderu said that the Champion’s waltz is starting soon, shall we?” a small blush on Agatha’s face as she took Rio’s hand. Rio’s dark green dress looked like it came from a fairytale, vines draping and twirling around her arms and waist, perfectly conveying Rio’s character. She looked like a nymph straight out of a Greek mythology story.
“Right.” Agatha led Rio onto the dance floor and they stood side by side with their fingers gently intertwined and their hearts pounding violently.
The soft piano music started to play, floating around the room as they slowly danced around the room, in time with the music, just like they practiced. Rio allowed herself to get lost in Agatha’s eyes, and Agatha spun her around gently, with an adoring smile on her face.
The clicking of their heels echoed along the beats of the music, Rio felt like she was floating, and swayed around like nobody's watching. It’s as if all the shooting stars landed right into her hands, and every dream she made came true in front of her eyes because in this moment, she is dancing with the most beautiful girl in the world, and she is looking at her.
Rio felt as Agatha placed her hands on her waist, and lifted her up and spun her around. “Rio!” she giggled as Rio stumbled on her feet when she was placed back onto the floor.
There it is. There’s her name. And Rio had never heard a better sound than her name on Agatha’s lips. She’s sure she just slipped up, lost in the moment. But she wanted so desperately to ask her to ‘say it again, say my name again’.
They danced like they were the only people left on Earth, time has stopped for a few spur moments just for them to twirl around without the expectations of winning the tournament or scoring full marks in an exam. Rio was just a girl, looking into the eyes of the angel in front of her, she could almost say that she was in love.
“Be careful of the feet, Rio,” Agatha whispered as she took a step forward, and another step to the side.
“You called me Rio again,” Rio whispered back, drowning in the ocean of Agatha’s eyes, drunk on infatuation.
“I did,” Agatha murmured, and Rio let herself feel the way her hands held her waist.
“Say it again.”
“Rio.”
And if Rio could store the way Agatha says her name in a bottle and get drunk on it, she would.
Agatha’s face is ridiculously close to hers now, the tip of their nose almost touching. Rio’s heart pounded against her chest, almost threatening to jump out of its cage of bones. “I think your mum is really really pissed at me.”
“She is.”
“Did you really only go with me because it would annoy your mum?” Rio asked, with a small voice, embarrassment and nervousness rising up her face.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Agatha smirked, brushing their noses against each other.
“Agatha?”
“You fit my criteria,” she shrugged.
“It sounded like you were describing me.”
Agatha paused for a moment, and her eyes softened as her lips spread into a gentle smile, “I was.”
“Cringe,” Rio murmured, as she closed the gap in between their lips. Her eyes fluttered close as Agatha returned her kiss, kissing as if the murmurs and cheers of the crowd didn’t exist, like the world is ending, and the stars all exploded and everything beautiful was happening all at once. The way Agatha cupped Rio’s cheeks made her feel like she is everything she asked god for, and the way Rio tasted Agatha swore she would drink it down like nectar even if someone told her it was poisonous.
They smiled at each other shyly as they broke apart, and Rio giggled at how she felt like a high school girl in a muggle rom com as she looked into Agatha’s eyes. Her heart is so full, and all she wants to do is to kiss Agatha again, and again, and again.
“This is a dance floor, ladies. Not a bedroom. Keep it in, please,” came Professor Calderu’s voice.