After Lyov slowed to a more reasonable pace, which she wasn't sure was as much for her sake as his own, the rest of the dance was uneventful and silent. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that this uncomfortable silence and pointed lack of eye contact was going to be a normal occurrence in their relationship. When they finally parted, she felt relieved but also a tad forlorn. As much as she didn't want to, she was more than likely going to end up marrying Lyov and she didn't want to be one of those couples that pretended each other didn't exist. Her family did that to her enough as it was.

Her sister was still dancing and she couldn't find Corey in the crowd, so Cecile resigned herself to waiting for either of them on the sidelines. She knew she looked awkward standing there alone, but she really didn't mind. Being in the background was the norm for her and honestly she felt some solace in it. Despite this fact, she couldn't help but feel thankful when a Durmstrang that wasn't Lyov appeared and offered her a dance. She enjoyed melting into the background normally, but wearing a big floofy dress and attempting to do the same thing wasn't the same.

"Bonsoir ma belle demoiselle. Seriez-vous m'honorer en me permettant de danser avec vous?"

"Um..." She did a quick glance towards the dance floor before answering. It wasn't that she had an issue with the handsome champion offering her his hand. It was just that she was hoping to share the next dance... and the next several after that... with Corey. When he didn't appear, she figured that there was no harm in sharing a dance with... Heinrich? At least that is what she thought his name was. "...Oui."

Accepting the proffered hand, she allowed him to glide her towards the dance floor. Glancing towards him, she gave him a quick, thin lipped smile before searching out his date in the crowd. Giving his date an apologetic look, she turned back to him and said softly in French, <"Are you sure your date is alright with this? I do not wish to come between you and someone you care for.">

With the Champions slowly beginning to part from their dates to take up dancing with others, Corey released Gabriella to the arms of some Hogwarts student. He was then free to meander off in search of a new partner himself.

His first thought was to see if Cecile was free to dance, but he quickly saw that she was dancing with someone else. So his blue eyes moved around some more until they came to rest on another familiar and comforting face in the crowd.

Practically gliding his frame over to where one Vladlena Savitskya was standing looking very prickly, he managed to move to a place behind her without making much noise. Leaning close he whispered, "Are you plotting someone's demise or would you actually like to dance with someone else?"

Heinrich smiled.  It was warm and rich and full of humour.  <"Do not worry,"> he replied, continuing to speak in French. <"Chloe will soon be on the arm of one of the Hogwart's Champions.  As much as I would like to, I cann0t lay claim to all of her time.  But what of you?  I suspect there is someone you would much prefer to be dancing with.  Perhaps if we find him, he will want to cut in.">

It was the only explanation for Cecile hesitation and quick survey of the dance floor before accepting his invitation.  He wasn't her Mr Right.  He was only her Mr Right Now.  He didn't mind.  Dancing with the other Champions was a pleasant necessity.  If Cecile wanted to dance with someone else, Heinrich would try and find him and would graciously bow out and cut in, leaving Cecile to dance with her chosen partner.

<"Do not worry, Chloe will soon be on the arm of one of the Hogwart's Champions.  As much as I would like to, I cann0t lay claim to all of her time.  But what of you?  I suspect there is someone you would much prefer to be dancing with.  Perhaps if we find him, he will want to cut in.">

Cecile was surprised how kind his smile was. She had come to expect the crimson clothed Durmstrangers to be either full of themselves or cruel or both. Heinrich was challenging that idea, however, with his warm smile and smooth, slow dance pace, as though he knew she was not the healthiest young woman there. <"This Chloe must be pleased that she has managed to find such a gentleman."> She said kindly, trying to make small talk as best as she could. Social events like these were Elodie's forte, not her own.

<"As for the one I wish to dance with..."> She added suddenly as a turn revealed Corey cuddling up to a beautiful Russian <"... I think he is happy where he is..."> ... and perhaps that is for the best, she added mentally. True, she wanted nothing more than to dance with him and no one else, but the truth was that as long as her mother and her sisters fate rested on her wedding Lyov, there was little hope for much more than a slowly dwindling relationship with Corey.

Then her eyes tore themselves forcibly from the pair and found her sister in the crowd, where she was dancing with an effortless grace that her date could barely compete with. It didn't matter where she was or what music was playing, Elodie never looked happier than when she was dancing. If only their father could see her. One look at Elodie dancing and he would regret ever abandoning them.

Suddenly, a thought dawned on her and she broke the comfortable silence between them with what seemed like a random questions <"Heinrich... What do you know about the Russian ballet?"> It was a shot in the dark, but there was a chance. A tiny, almost nonexistent, chance, but a chance nontheless.

<"Not a great deal,"> Heinrich confessed.  He'd noticed the direction of Cecile's glace and could almost feel her disappointment.  <"I've been to one or two performances.  They are the world's best, after all.  I wouldn't be able to tell you their season's schedule or who their current prima ballerina is but I could likely name one or two of the company.">

It was an odd question but Heinrich answered honestly.  <"My brother Wilhelm is the family expert.  He has season's tickets and follows them with gay abandon.  He could probably tell you the name of their costume designer."> 

Odd choice of words, 'gay abandon'.  Appropriate for Wilhelm though.

<"Was there anything in particular you wanted to know?">

"My brother Wilhelm is the family expert.  He has season's tickets and follows them with gay abandon.  He could probably tell you the name of their costume designer."

A tiny light of hope sparked at this comment, only to be quickly snuffed out. Even if his brother did know who her father was, she had little to give him as way of clues. According to her mother, he was Russian, wore black all the time, had a 'smarmy' complexion and was an egotistical ass. That was about the clearest picture of her father that she had had her entire life. It seemed a pretty poor picture to paint for someone she hardly knew. In fact, it was kinda depressing her just imagining it to herself. Did she really want to find this man? What if he was all that Manon said he was?

There was also the matter that she didn't know Heinrich all that well. He seemed to be an intelligent, friendly and polite young man, but all three of those could be dangerous in combination. She wasn't in the habit of trusting others, especially purebloods, because more often than not they were the ones who informed Manon of her activities. He could be friends with Lyov for all she knew and she couldn't have that, could she? Perhaps if she knew more about him.

"Was there anything in particular you wanted to know?"

<"Mmm... no. I was just curious. I am a fan of ballet, thats all">Her reply made little sense considering she had asked about it him so randomly. Perhaps it was for the best that he thought she was simple and a bit senseless. At least until she knew she could trust him. <"Your date..."> She said, abruptly switching gears, <"She is an arranged marriage, yes?"> She had no clue as to his dates name, much less her blood purity, but hoped that he would accidentally divulge that information. Knowing whether or not he was a purist was integral to her trusting him.

<"I met Chloe here,"> Heinrich replied.  <"She's a student at Hogwart's.  We hit it off rather well."> 


Cecile's interest in the ballet and subsequent deflection was unusual.  It meant an interest that was personal but without details Cecile was clearly unwilling to divulge, he didn't have much to go on.  <"I'll be meeting her parents over Christmas and she'll be meeting mine for New Year.  I'm not sure how well it will go over.  She's the first witch of her line and the men of my family have a tradition of marrying Muggles.  Bringing home a witch might be looked on a little askance.">

It was a boldly honest statement.  There were many among the Pureblood community who didn't consider the Fausts to be truly Purebloods.  Few had the fortitude to say that directly to them, however.