Chapter 2
The huge clock at the end of the room had just struck nine (sending out a horde of bats and nine humungous black owls) meaning that it had gone two hours since the party had started. One and a half since he had last talked to the man with the beautiful hair and gorgeous eyes.
He had chatted with en endless stream of ass-kissing wizards wondering how things were "holding up" at the auror department. He had – in vain – tried to fend shameless flirting from women… hm, let's see, five times his age. At least. He had, like the perfect host he was supposed to be, danced with every girl that had asked him to dance (stupid girls, didn't they knew that it was supposed to be the man who did that? If they just had been kind enough to keep that in mind he wouldn't have had to dance with any of them!). After all, you never knew whose services you might be in need of later on.
The Malfoys weren't masters of exploiting people for nothing.
Unfortunately he hadn't even got close to do what he wanted to do – get to know that stranger.
That very man had been tip-toeing in his mind all night, surprising him with his presence when he least expected it. Whole conversations seemed to consist of the black-haired man, until he returned to reality to find it was about last year's dress-fashion. He had quickly agreed with all the sincerity he could manage that pink dresses were dreadfully hideous – after quickly making sure that all the dresses in earshot was either blue, black or forest green. This year's dress-fashion.
He had mentally left the conversation, and returned to the man, as quickly he had entered it. He had sometime during the night given the man a name, just to keep him from calling him things like "The mysterious stranger with the beautiful hair" or "The man with the incredibly gorgeous eyes". Not only were those things long, they were also pathetic. And Malfoys didn't do pathetic.
He had named the man Deus.
He had read it quite recently in some book. It meant God.
"Thank you, Draco, for keeping us company, you have been the most wonderful listener. Most guys just won't listen you us, you know", one of the girls said in a horribly shrill voice that made him want to puke. The others nodded in agreement.
Wonder why.
"I can't understand why not, Astoria. You girls have the most interesting opinions", he said with a perfect smile that made the girls blush.
He turned his back to the annoying women and started making his way through the crowd with mumbled excuses.
He seriously needed to find Deus.
And come up with a better name.
He found him talking to a wizard dressed up to look like a broom. What an utterly pathetic choice of costume.
He took a deep breath and but on a perfect smile that showed off most of his boredom. Showing that he wasn't interested in the man was what was the most important right now.
He put a hand on the man's arm. The fabric the met his fingers was of a quality that was rare even in his closet. Not because lack of money, that you very much. It simply wasn't around to find.
He regained consciousness in a split second.
"Yes?" the man asked, eyebrows partly visible above the black mask.
"Excuse me", he said to the Broom.
"No problem", the Broom answered and flew away.
A flying broom-costume. How even more pathetic.
"That is odd", Deus said beside him, as if confirming his thoughts.
"Yes," he agreed and turned to the man, "I'm afraid that my errand is too", he said and added an apologetic tint to his smile.
"Yes?" Deus said again.
"Yeah, well, my father is a bit confused about your identity, and he asked me to confirm your invitation", he said with a shrug. "Discreetly of course, but I thought it to be such a silly matter that I decided to tell you what it was about",
Deus gave him a sweet smile.
"Well, of course", he said and flicked his wand.
The familiar black piece of parchment that indicated an invitation to the silly party appeared in the air.
"Here you go", Deus said unwrapped the paper.
He noted that the man covered the name on top of the invitation carefully, even though he held the parchment with appeared ease. He did not let disappointment mar his features.
"Thank you", he said and let the smile fall. For some reason he felt like he didn't need to keep up an appearance in front of the man. It was a strange feeling.
Even though he had finally got what he wanted – Deus – the crowd would soon steal the man away from him again.
"Not enjoying yourself?" Deus asked with a smile.
"Not particularly." He answered dryly.
Merlin, he needed to find a new name.
"And why not?" the man wanted to know.
He forced himself not to turn towards the man when he spoke to him. If he did, he'd only get distracted. "The guests are dreadfully dull. Especially the girls about our age", he hoped that the other man would fall for his little trick.
"Well, thank you very much, it's a pleasure to meet you too", Deus said with an amused grin. Ah, he fell for it. The man was as old as he looked. "And besides, I thought the girls around here wore little enough clothes to be of your entertainment…?"
He broke his promise to himself and turned his eyes towards the man. His face, eyes, whole appearance, screamed that the most hurtful thing he would ever do was stepping on an ant. By accident. And then apologize.
"I'm gay", he said shortly and turned away before he could get completely mesmerized.
"Oh", was the man's reply.
He stared of in the distance, giving the man a chance to sneak away.
"Well, of you find the party so dull, maybe you could do me the pleasure of following me outside?"
He was completely taken aback by the fact was still there, let alone talking to him.
"Sure", was all he managed.
Deus gave him a dizzying smile before setting course to the open balcony doors. He followed in the daze the smile had left him in.
"Wow…" the Black haired man said and leaned against the baluster railing.
"Yeah", he agreed, even though his eyes weren't on their surroundings.
But he'd seen it before, and he would admit without hesitation that the garden was far more mesmerizing then the ballroom.
Floating candles helped the stars and the moon illuminate the nearby pond and oak trees, and further away they marked the way of an eerily shining marble stone-path – which he by the way knew led to the Malfoy lake and forest.
But he was so lost in his staring at the still unknown man, that no compass, map, private guide or locating spell could get him out of it right now.
Deus shining green eyes, on the other hand, could.
"You should be keeping the festivities outside instead", Deus said with a smile.
"Yeah, that way, when I got bored, I could just drown myself in the pond", he said dryly.
Someday, he would thank his father for training him in the fine art of keeping appearances up.
The same day when his pride melted away and his dear aunt Bellatrix could go ice-skating in hell.
The don't-be-silly-this-is-a-lovely-party he was expecting for an answer never came.
"Or you can just do it in the punch inside", Deus suggested playfully.
If he had been anything else than a Malfoy, he would have stared openmouthed at Deus for several moments.
"Nah, too crowded."
But he was a Malfoy.
Dues laughed and turned back to admire the stunning vista.
This time he actually stood dumbfounded for a moment. He had heard the man laugh. Twice!
Amazing.
When he finally came to his senses again, a small breeze lifted Deus hair to gently stroke his hand and almost knocked him back into oblivion again. But the breeze became stronger and the hair was lifted higher, away from his hand.
He felt like pouting like a displeased child, when a strand of that jet-black hair lightly tickled his cheek.
Suddenly all of that wondrous hair blew all over his face. The exhilarating smell tickled his nose and the soft strands brushed against his lips. Hell, he probably looked like the most ridiculous person in England right now, with black hair all over his face. But right now he couldn't bring himself to do anything but ignore that very fact.
Just put on an annoyed face when Deus sees it, and you'll be fine.
Unfortunately the man surprised him put pulling his hair away in that very moment. The irritation came completely naturally to him. Even though not for the reason intended.
"Merlin, I'm so sorry! This isn't my usual length so I'm kind of not used to it, I didn't mean for it to blow all over your face." Deus apologized and gathered his hair in a ponytail with his hands. Still a few stands escaped, and were brought up to his face again by a soft breeze.
Deus quickly snatched them back with a blush.
They stared at each other for an awkward moment.
"Give me your name", he suddenly demanded, surprising even himself.
"What? No!" Deus said, almost as if offended.
"Why not?" he persisted.
"Because!"
He made a face before he could control himself and turned away.
"Fine." he muttered sourly.
If Dues would be that way, that was his problem. He just wanted to make sure that this wouldn't be the last time he'd see the man, but no! The stupid, irritating, dimwit just wouldn't…-!
No. He shouldn't get this irritated. Not because a man he hardly knew and never couldn't be with refused to give him his name. That just wasn't…-
"Fine. You can ask three questions, and I promise to answer them truthfully. If you can't get my identity by then, you will have to settle with what you got, understood?"
He turned around with a grin.
"Understood." he confirmed.
He took a step closer and he saw Deus wince a little, obviously already having his regrets.
"Did…-" he stopped himself before he could waste his first question. He'd been about to ask if the man had gone to Hogwarts, but most people he knew and close to everyone at the party had, so maybe…
"What house was you sorted in?" he asked.
The other man smiled weakly.
"I should've known this was a bad idea",
"Yes, you should have, but that isn't an answer", he said.
Deus let out a deep sigh.
"Gryffindor", the green eyed man admitted.
He managed to suppress the shock as quickly as it hit him.
Gryffindor!
"Well then, how old are you?" he asked, noticing and ignoring the pleading look in Deus eyes.
He should have known the man was a Gryffindor, who else would give a promise to tell the truth and then keep it? Well, besides the Hufflepuffs, then, but they were just stupid. And he knew the man wasn't stupid.
Deus sighed again. Even deeper, this time.
"Same age as you."
He couldn't keep his eyes from widening a little as he realized he had come down to five choices.
Or ten possibly.
He shook his head. No. Six, not ten. There was only one Gryffindor girl who could go through with such a successful appearance-changing spell.
"Twenty four then, are we?" he mumbled, mostly to himself.
Deus opened his mouth to reply.
"No! Don't answer that, it was rhetorical." he said with a crooked grin.
He knew.
"How much have you changed your appearance?"
Deus shrugged.
"I've grown my hair with about four feet, but that's it", the man answered miserably.
Deus knew that he knew.
"Well, " he said as he said down at the reeling in front of Deus, "now there's only one last thing I wonder…"
The black haired, green eyed man raised his eyebrows.
"Why in Merlin's name did my father invite you, Potter?"
Hope you enjoyed it! Will try to post the last chapter soon.
Reviews, please? ;)
