Part II

She turned again, and then walked down the aisle of other dancers, weaving in and out, the dance an intricate design, the dancer a contrast of everything Draco loved and hated. She had lovely dark hair, held up by what appeared to be a string of pearls. Several long curls framed her face, falling gently on her neck and shoulders. Her dress was a dark emerald, and her body looked lush and delightful swathed in the dark green silk.

Draco made his way down the outside of dancers, then stole his way into the line farther down from the woman and her partner. Soon, it would be his turn to take her hand, guide her into a twirl, move beside her. Instead of her smiling at Potter… batting her eyes at Potter… she would be forced to give all her attention to Draco. What began as a vague thought of 'I want that' became a loud declaration deep in his soul of 'I WANT HER'. He decided not to heed the warning bells clanging in his heart. He waited. The dance was designed so that each couple would dance a pattern through the crowd of other dancers, then they would switch partners. It wouldn't be long before it was his turn to take her hand, walk beside her, gaze into her eyes.

Potter would be incensed when he discovered that Draco was dancing with his best friend. Draco could hardly contain his smile. Then finally, it was time to take her hand in his.

The first touch of her hand in his sent a jolt straight to his groin. He gazed into her eyes, gave her a lazy smile, even as her smile slipped from her face, being replaced with a frown. Even though they each wore gloves, it was as if they held hands skin-on-skin. Her eyes grew wide as her frown deepened.

He had never once noticed her eyes. They were a deep brown, with flecks of gold. They seemed to hold secrets that Draco wanted to know. Pulling her to his side, they walked up and then back again. Turning, he released her hand and placed one of his low on her back.

As they made another series of turns, this one away from each other, she turned her head, looked over her shoulder at him, and stared deeply into his eyes. He could seriously get lost in her eyes.

The dancers parted again, and now she was promenading with another man. Draco looked down the row of dancers; spied Potter (who looked furious) and he nodded his head and smiled at the man. He longed to say, "yes, yes, Potter, I'm about to steal your best friend. I'm about to cause the biggest scene anyone has dared to make in ten years. Just wait and see." Of course, he didn't say a word. He merely glanced from Potter, back to Granger (turning in a circle in front of them) and then he smiled again at Potter.

He almost wanted to laugh, but he didn't.

Glancing back toward Granger, he saw her smile another perfect smile at the man she had just parted from, before she came to stand two places down from Draco. Even if he had wanted to speak to her, he found that he couldn't. His chest felt tight, his breath short. She was smiling at another bloody fool and Draco realized that he wanted her to smile that way at him. He desired it above all things, even more than he desired his wish for revenge.

It was time for Draco and his partner to come together. They grasped hands and wove through the rest of them. When they parted, his partner went around the outside of one line of dancers and Draco went around the outside of the other line – the line containing Granger. When he passed behind her, he let his finger move lightly across the bare skin of her back even as he said, "You look lovely tonight. Did you realize…"

That was all he had time to say. But she heard him. She craned her neck to look his way. He crossed in front of another woman, moved back toward her, and when he was close enough he finished his thought. Moving around her he whispered, "… that Green is my favourite colour?"