"And in the heat/clothed only in obscenity/opened our reality" Good Lust- Keaton Henson

Rabastan and Andromeda twirled together on the dance floor. Her hair crackled around her in a display of vibrant power, and he looked at her with undisguised lust in his gaze. She smirked back at him, and they continued to whirl their way between the other couples. Andromeda saw her mother watching them with obvious approval in her eyes, and the way that the other guests watched their display of youth and elegance and power and beauty but she ignored everything round her, and focused only on Rabastan, and the steady weight of his hands on her waist. She could feel every place where he touched her, and the exact distance he was from her body. She let out a slight gasp as he let go momentarily, to twirl her around, before the heat of his hands rested against the delicate fabric of her dress once more. He raised a single eyebrow in question, and she smiled in reassurance. They knew by now, how to communicate without words, and the dance of their lithe young bodies, their hands feeling the soft and hard edges of the other, spoke volumes.

They danced with each other for what felt like hours. It was the convention, when an agreement had been arranged, that those involved only danced with their prospective partner for the entirety of the next season. No other man dared ask to cut in, and Andromeda was glad. She wanted only Rabastan tonight, not the cold boys of her childhood, and men with eyes as dark as their heavy robes. When the orchestra struck up another fast tune, Rabastan took her hand, and led her to a dark corner of the ballroom.

"Want a drink?" he asked, panting slightly for breath.

"No," she said. "Just you."

"You have to stop doing this to me, princess," sighed Rabastan

"I know," she said. "Can we escape somewhere? And bring the firewhisky with you," she whispered into his ear. Rabastan picked up an unopened bottle from a nearby table, and they discreetly made their way out into the gardens, his arm wrapped around her waist. The Avery Eyrie had extensive grounds to complement its towers, and they made their way through several small gardens, until the music from the house faded, and they couldn't hear anyone else. They found a small bench tucked into an arbour twined with orange roses, and sat together, glad to be alone at last.

Rabastan reached out a hand, and brushed a strand of Andromeda's hair behind her ear.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said. Andromeda smiled at him, then reached across to take the bottle of firewhisky, before gulping down as much as she could manage. She sighed in contentment at the familiar burn, before passing Rabastan the bottle. They sat quietly together, passing the bottle until Andromeda started to feel her senses blurring together slightly, and she leaned into Rabastan, resting her head onto his shoulder. He turned to face her, and the familiar desire was back in his eyes. They leant forwards together, and their mouths met. Andromeda felt a surge of lust through her slight dizziness. She deepened the kiss, her hands roaming across Rabastan's chest, desperate for the feel of his skin. He stroked a hand down her back, before breaking their kiss, and reaching for his wand. He cast a notice-me-not and a silencing charm, before turning back to Andromeda. It wouldn't do for a prowling guest to happen across their tryst. Andromeda's mouth was open slightly, as she remembered how much she liked seeing Rabastan use magic. His graceful arms, the elegance with which he swept his wand.

She sighed back into his arms, and they resumed their passionate kiss. Rabastan reached around Andromeda's back and started to undo the clasps holding the red fabric together. She gasped when she felt the heat of his skin against hers, as Rabastan managed to undo the top half of the dress.

"Don't bother doing the rest," she murmured against his mouth. "You won't need to. I'm traditional tonight." The desire was written ever more plainly on Rabastan's face.

"Me too, princess," he smirked, before he shrugged off his own outer robes quickly, and they pressed their bodies together, lost in the feeling of each other's skin. Rabastan reached down and unbuttoned his inner robe. Andromeda smirked back when she found nothing underneath.

"You too," she laughed, as she reached down to pull up the large skirt of her dress.

"Are you sure about this? Here?" asked Rabastan.

"Of course," said Andromeda. "I want you, Rab." She grabbed one of his hands and guided it under the layers of her skirt to where her desire throbbed. Rabastan's eyes clouded over, and he took control, moving his hand in ways that made Andromeda moan. She was glad of the silencing charm. Rabastan moved closer to her, and lifted up her skirt, pressing her against the back of the arbour. The rose thorns dug into the back of Andromeda's neck, but she didn't care. Rabastan thrust into her suddenly, without warning, and she moaned in satisfaction. He looked into her eyes as she moaned at him to continue, and in his hazy state, he hadn't enough control to stop even if she wanted to. He continued to thrust hard into her, their breaths mingling as their mouths joined once more.

Andromeda felt a whirlwind of feeling control her, the dizziness from the firewhisky exacerbating the pleasure that Rabastan was causing, and the way their skin touched. They moaned together as they reached their climax. Andromeda panted and fell back, his body heavy on top of hers. Rabastan looked at her in evident satisfaction, before shifting sideways to sit next to her. He leaned into her, wrapping an arm around her bare shoulder.

"You okay?" he asked, when he noticed the way her eyes glazed over.

"Fine, just fine," she slurred slightly. "Definitely fine, after that." She looked at him significantly, and he smirked.

"Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?" he asked.

"Of course I do," murmured Andromeda. "Fourth year, when you saw me with Harry."

He laughed.

"Of course you do."

"You've never been good at hiding your desires," she retorted, before leaning her head back against his body, wanting the dizziness to go away. "Can we wait here a while?" she asked quietly.

"I don't think either of us is in the state for going back just yet," said Rabastan. "We have an hour or so before our disappearance is noticed."

"They won't care anyway," muttered Andromeda. "Didn't you see the way my mother was looking at you? She thinks we're a foregone conclusion."

"And aren't we?" asked Rabastan with a serious note in his voice. Andromeda nodded at him in attempted reassurance, her breath slowing slightly. As they sat in their usual comfortable silence, she drifted away, her eyelids dropping shut.

Rabastan stroked her wild brown hair, as he looked down at the face of the girl that he loved. He struggled to control his breathing at the thought that she was finally with him, in his arms, after all these years. No more Harry, or Tonks, or anyone else. Only him.

"I love you," he whispered, breathing in her bittersweet scent.