Chapter 10; King of Hearts, Queen of Spades
Not too sure yet if I like this chapter, it didn't turn out how I wanted it but I'm too fed up with it at this point to put more effort into it. Next chapter will hopefully make up for my lack of care in this one.
Big thanks to my #1 fan who finally got me to post.
I only own my own characters, J. K. Rowling owns her peeps.
00—00—00
On my own
My thoughts you can't decode
"Nothing."
"Whose side are you on?"
"My own."
"And which one might that be?"
Draco hesitated, his face, despite the struggle in his voice and the shaking in his hands, was much like a mask of no particular emotion.
"Like I said my own."
Jessi's hands were clenched at her sides and her eyes stared unblinking at the boy radiating in the moonlight.
"Whose side are you on Jessi?"
She smiled, despite herself.
"Mine."
Draco smirked too.
"Will I ever know what's really beneath it all?"
"No."
They stared at each other for some time, each trying to read what the other was thinking. Every once in a while they would glance at where the door had disappeared. Draco was sure that she had no idea how to activate the room, and finding the particular version he used would be near to impossible.
"What is your reason?" she asked softly, "why are you doing all of this?"
"Do you have those who are precious to you?" asked Draco as he watched the red-haired girl carefully. "Are there those who you would do anything to protect?"
Jessi's brown eyes met his with a mute fascination. A shock really, that Draco Malfoy of all people would be doing something important for somebody else. But then, did she really even know him? Did he know her?
"Of course…" she whispered.
"I'm doing it for them, and me," he answered, his eyes glittering despite the dark ringed sockets they were placed in. The weary and worry creasing his face and slouching his shoulders. All of his fears were circulating around him like ghosts, whispering for him to do better, strive harder, the consequences for failure were devastating. And real.
Jessi could meet his eyes no longer, she looked away, half ashamed that she was using him and half afraid he would look right through her into her deepest desires and fears.
"So noble," he whispered, his voice cracked and then it seemed as though he was screaming though his voice was almost silent, "Draco Malfoy, the Slitherin Prince, doing the only things he knows how to because he doesn't want to see his mummy and daddy die because they stood up for what they believed. Poor stupid Draco."
Jessi reached out, closing the distance between them with a few steps. Standing so close she could see the tears shining in his eyes and feel the hopelessness encompassing him.
"Stop it," she whispered, staring down at her shoes,"stop saying stuff like that."
He looked down on the crown of her head, how beautiful her red hair was, like a fiery halo about her head. Framing her pale face in gossamer curls and waves. Her frame looked so light and fragile, but he knew better, she was a demon in a girl's skin.
"Why?" he croaked, "It's the truth; you yourself said you'd know it in the end. The truth."
"Stop it." She commanded as she clenched her fists, but refused to look at him. This made him even more upset than before snarling he grabbed her chin, "what? Can't you look at me?!"
His anger died in his throat when he saw her face, saw the eyes covered in tears, saw the trails of moisture that ran down her soft cheeks.
"Shut up and stop making me feel horrible about hating you."
00—00—00
The room blared loud and throbbing music. It was dark save for the iridescent lights and the strobes the let streamed light dance all around the walls. The people appeared to be moving in jerky, un-fluid movements, even though their moves were carefully coordinated and defined.
Lounging in a corner in a leather chair, long legs crossed and an expensive drink in her hand Chia watched the scene from behind her dark sunglasses. Across from her another young woman sat, no older than twenty and looking rather apprehensive.
"Merrick tells me Jessi hasn't been very active lately," said Chia softly to the girl. The girl turned, her cropped blonde hair catching a blue light, her eyes were the same sapphire, burning bright beneath her much darker lashes.
"He's right, she went back to that God-awful school," said the younger girl, crossing and uncrossing her legs under the small round table. There was a murky drink set before her but it didn't appear touched. "I don't understand how she can stand being around those…sloths."
Chia sent the girl a startling smile of bright white teeth, her own white blonde hair glowing like embers. Her eyes hidden but her carefully styled eyebrows peaked in interest.
"Still upset about the rivalry? Or is it now just a demotion?" asked Chia, her voice lashed out and was sharp. The girl gave the older woman an accosted look and clenched her hands inside her fingerless leather gloves.
"I don't care," growled out Merr, "None of it matters much anymore. Voldemort, Dumbledore. Their all old news. Old magic that deserves to be buried away. I can't even withstand the thought of even picking up a wand anymore."
Chia chuckled and placed her drink down beside Merr's untouched one. Her dark nails, long like sickles, ran over the polished wood of the table with an eerie silence. Pulling back Chia removed the long heavy fur-lined coat she had been wearing, her bare shoulders and almost equally bare chest was a soft cream and smooth as glass. She took of her sunglasses for the first time, her champagne eyes glistening inside dark makeup. Her warm dark lips smiled. To the untrained eye, they would never see the shape of the blade hidden in the lower back of her loose blouse.
"That's why you can't be my heir Merr," said Chia with her deadly gorgeous smile, "You have to know how to manipulate those old bastards, and to do that you have to know more magic than just knifing them. Jessi understands that, that's why I chose her over you."
Chia disappeared into the thronging crowds; there wasn't even a trace of her left. Merr clenched her fist and knocked over the drinks, the ice cubes rattling onto the floor in a misplaced staccato.
"Damn that bitch. Jessi you don't have any idea what this world is. There is no more day, just the Night of the Hunter. And you've never had the guts to be a hunter."
00—00—00
Jessi hated how he made her feel horrible inside, hated how he made her feel so much inside. A swirling of emotions, emotions that made her weak to him, weak to everything that was going on inside. She was messing with people's lives whenever she helped him, something that was an utter taboo, something she'd been raised to do the opposite. She was the protector, the unseen judgment. How many of her ancestors had killed for the Magical nation to be hidden?
And here she was messing everything up.
Draco was going to be the downfall of everything, this one boy, who she was inexplicitly and completely…
In love with.
"Why? Why does it always have to be hatred? Why does all of this come from that," she asked him rather hysterically.
Draco gritted his teeth and looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "Like I know, stop asking me stupid questions!"
"Then give me a straight answer!"
"I did!"
Now they were angrier at each other than anything. Jessi whipped away her tears and ran a hand back through her hair, trying to find a way to vent her anger in a way that wasn't going to land either of them in the Hospital wing again.
"Time," he whispered, "Give me some time."
"How much?"
"Christmas break…" he began, "I won't be going home, you can…"
He trailed off as his eyes came back to rest on her, his words froze in his throat. Her eyes burned almost golden in the moonlight, strange and captivating.
"What if we don't have to do what they want us to?" she whispered so softly it appeared as if earlier they'd been shouting, "what if we just…"
Draco looked amazed she dared even mention the disorder. He licked his lips and was about to form a retort to tell her just how blasphemous that statement was when she went on.
"We're both in a situation where we don't really know what to do, we have to do things we don't want to," said Jessi, and eerie feeling of being watched coming over her, the realization that her instinct of neither the Rands nor Mischief had been speaking to her.
"What can we do though?" he whispered, "I can't stop being…"
Jessi shook her head of dark red curls and pursed her lips, "I know and I can't stop being…me. But there has to be a way for each of us to win."
"You know there is no way for me to win unless I complete what…what…what he has put before me."
They looked at each other shocked at the treason they were both committing with simply uttering words in the middle of a corridor in the middle of the night. Jessi recovered first her hands flying to rake through her hair again, searching for a plausible explanation.
"What if…someone could protect you from him?" she asked weakly. Draco gave a dry horse chuckle that sounded slightly maniacal.
"I'd rather go through with my task then run for cover. I am a Malfoy, I will not hide like some rat, my family name is-"
"And do you think mine isn't?" snarled Jessi, "I'm trying to find a way out of this where neither of us is hurt. Is that such a big deal?"
Draco peered down at her keenly, his grey eyes searching her, off in the distance a scuffling was heard and he quickly grabbed her arm and dashed behind a large outcropping of rock. Jessi immediately went on the defensive mode, her footsteps were silent and her breathing silent, more so than Draco who had no formal training on the art of being unseen.
"Why is it such a big deal to you that we both make this out alive?" he whispered in her ear as she peered out around their defense. She wanted to punch him not only for the question, but for the potential of giving away their location due to his incessant need to be a know it all jack ass.
"I just…don't want to see you hurt, is it that big a deal?"
"Well now Davis, we're getting somewhere."
Jessi promptly executed a very precise elbow jab with optimum results and smirked as Draco wheezed for breath.
Around the bend Mrs. Norris, with her ghastly red eyes, emerged. Jessi quickly planted a hand over Draco's mouth, which was warm to the touch and stared at him, trying to send a telepathic message to "shut the hell up."
A few moments passed and the cat moved on, but Jessi didn't remove her hand until she was utterly sure she was gone. Peering around the bend she slowly removed her hand, paying only half attention to Draco as she listened in for the tell-tell signs of Filch.
"Why did you elbow me?" moaned Draco as he nursed his abdomen, Jessi rolled her eyes.
"Get over it, it wasn't that hard a hit," she said as she straightened up from her crouched position. Her nerves were wired now; she desperately did not want to be caught out of bed at this time of night. Especially not with Draco Malfoy.
Said boy was now glowering down at her smugly. She gave him a puzzled look which he retorted only by saying, "Well now that we know where we stand…"
"What?" groaned Jessi, "We don't know where anyone stands! You didn't even listen to me did you? You pompous ass!"
Draco feigned a hurt heart and leaned against the rock, his earlier demeanor almost gone and Jessi was wondering if she missed his stomach and hit his head instead.
"So Davis, why don't you want to see me hurt?" he asked devilishly. Jessi conclude that it was rather sad that just one mention of deeper feelings and all emo affects he'd been giving off had dried up like nothing.
"Because I want to be the one to kill you, and I can't if someone else did," Jessi said with a rather monotone voice. She looked him flat in the eye and savored his rather unhappy look.
"Right," he mumbled.
"I guess Zabini was right. I have loads of evidence to prove it anyway," said Jessi as she started away and towards the dormitories, she glanced once back over her shoulder to the boy who stood in the moonlight.
"What are you talking about?" hissed Draco, instantly put off at any mention of his dark skinned friend. Jessi smiled, enjoying his unhappiness a little more that what was probably healthy.
"Why are you taking me to the ball?" asked Jessi with a smart smirk and a tap of her foot.
Draco squared his jaw and strutted by her with an air of self importance. His misery well hidden behind his expressive ego. "I thought it would be appropriate."
"Appropriate?" asked Jessi.
"Yes, I can't show up toting around someone who is ugly and can't dance Jessi," he said.
00—00—00
Chia smiled as she read over the letter her precious Jessi had sent her. Pulling her legs out from under the sleek satin sheets she emerged from her bed in a swish of silk and lace. Her companion still asleep. Walking over to the large French doors that lead out onto her veranda she smiled at the sunset.
"Of course I will help you my love, always and forever."
00—00—00
ONE DAY LATER
It would be a lie to say Jessi was not apprehensive about the upcoming dance. She had received her aunt's reply almost as quickly as she had sent the first owl. Dangling from its dainty claws was a scrap of paper that smelled like French perfume.
'Look for my hawk'
Which meant only one thing, Chia Rands was coming to visit, in person, Hogwarts.
A cold lump of stone had formed in her gut at the realization of her aunt's imminent arrival. It was not that she was embarrassed, per say, about her aunt, it was the looming fact that she was going to cast out a great net and rake in whatever could go wrong, to go wrong.
No one was safe from Chia.
Bev and Coralline were chattering continuously about it. They were huge fans of the witch; each had a stack of magazines that Chia had starred in. Jessi wanted to drown in her potion every time one of them asked which one they should ask to get signed.
"Why the long face Davis? Realize that you don't have a date to the ball?" snapped Pansy, who apparently didn't have a clue who Jessi was going with. Ignoring the other girl Jessi continued dreading the day when her aunt in her signature Spanish sunglasses and Italian heels would arrive.
Of course it had to happen when everyone would see her. She couldn't just show up silently and mingle in with the crowd. That would be "nonproductive" as she would have said.
During lunch Jessi watched the windows and doors with an obsessed fervor that made her friends glance repeatedly over their pudding and even had Draco sending her strange looks. Jessi was too worked up to eat, she just knew, a few more minutes…
A second year girl with long braids dashed into the hall, her round cheeks flushed and her eyes livid. Much of the hall turned to look at her, Jessi's neck snapped to the side and her breath caught in her throat.
"Chia de Lioncourt is here!"
Heads swiveled to hear; even Dumbledore who rarely spent lunch with the students looked up curiously. His eyes twinkled but his lined face was grim.
The hall hushed and Jessi swore she could hear her heart stop as the staccato of stilettos on stone echoed through the castle. Whispers erupted as the doors creaked open slowly and deliberately.
The collected crowd stared at Chia as if they had never seen a woman before in their entire lives. Jessi bet they hadn't, at least not one like her.
She wore all white, which was customary for traveling Rands during winter months. Her bodice had lace and ties going up the middle, bunching and gathering at the chest, her pants were tight, probably too tight and were an off white. Her shoes were white as well, stilettos with zippers; God knows how much she paid for them.
She had her dark sunglasses on and her long white blonde hair tied back away from her face in a primed fashion, not one hair was out of place and the soft pink gloss applied to her lips was utterly perfect. If there ever was a more gorgeous and self centered witch, Chia probably killed her to take her place.
She walked a few feet in; her face betrayed no emotion and her lips were a smooth line. She scanned the room, Jessi knew that was just for show, she knew where her niece was the moment she set foot inside of Hogwarts. The dark sunglasses rested on her finally and she stood up to recognize her as not only her superior, but also to show she knew she was there.
But hell everyone knew she was there.
"Jessikah, it's been a long time," said Chia as she walked, each hip swaying in synch, her long white fur coat billowing behind her. Jessi tried a small smile and looked up at her aunt.
"Yeah, I'm…glad you could make it on such short notice," said Jessi weakly.
"Of course dear," chimed Chia as she smiled up towards Dumbledore who excused himself from the faculty table to join them. Looking back towards her niece a frown came over her face. "I can't believe these uniforms, they must be stifling. My dear Dumbledore you must have a reform on these horrid uniforms, we live in the twenty first century for goodness sakes, no one actually wears cloaks anymore!"
"Well we try to keep the traditions alive here at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore as he took her hand and kissed it. Chia smirked and put her other hand on Jessi's shoulder. Jessi had to bite the inside of her cheek not to shiver, Rands did not touch one another without being hostile, and her aunt usually didn't touch her.
"Yes I can tell, regardless of how ridiculous and offensive they are," said Chia with a bright smile, she reached up and removed her sunglasses, something she didn't usually do, and stared down at the older man with a bright malevolence. Dumbledore, with his wise years met her look, and didn't flinch.
"I trust that your things have been searched by the Aurors stationed around the school, I hope everything went just fine," said Dumbledore and Chia smiled despite her radiating anger.
"it took them quite some time, you know how it is when you try to bring your entire traveling wear wardrobe with you, there's a lot to go through," chatted Chia, she promptly turned to Jessi who had been watching the display of power with a chilled fascination, and ignored but did not forget about the old wizard right in front of her.
"So who is the lucky boy who is going with you to this Ball?" she asked, the entire Slytherin table, who had been stunned silent suddenly broke out in chatter as the patrons looked about for who would go. Jessi turned to the table, swallowed, and met the eyes of a very surprised Draco Malfoy.
She was kind of happy he was stunned into silence.
Jessi smiled and he stood up to the sudden hush of the table. They both felt as if a thousand eyes were staring on them. Chia snapped her fingers and the sudden trance was broken.
"Draco Malfoy?" she said with an alluring charm, he looked to the tall woman who gracefully sauntered over to him, "well Jessi, aren't you just a rebel."
"Does Brass know?"
Chia turned back to her niece, her face suddenly plain and her gold eyes like polished topaz. "I did not tell him if that is what you are talking about. He mentioned about the letter you sent so I suppose he'd be a little shocked but he'd see your motive."
Jessi felt a little drained once she heard her aunt's words, but hid it inside. Instead focusing on the stunned look of Draco who had suddenly been grabbed at the chin by Chia and was being inspected, in front of the whole school.
"Not bad, I suppose, but I've met cuter boys in Italy and France then what this place dishes out," said Chia as she let him go and walked back to Jessi and Dumbledore, smiling at both she turned to Dumbledore.
"Care to show me to where I will be staying for the next two days mousier?" she asked sweetly as she crossed her arms over her large bosom. The tiny threadlike tattoos on her arms becoming apparent as she did so, Jessi looked to Dumbledore quickly, to see if he'd noticed.
"Of course Miss de Lioncourt," he said curtly and smiled ruefully, "I hope you don't mind your accommodations."
The two left without another word, Jessi sunk back into her seat and Pansy Parkinson almost died of a heart attack.
00—00—00
As they left their last class of the day the whole castle had been reformed. Mistletoe hung from all the arches and glittering trees with enchanted candles were found around every turn. The students were smiling more now than they had been in some time. Some more than others.
"I can't believe she's your aunt, I had no idea," said Zabini to Jessi as they walked away from the library, Jessi gave a groan, that was not the first time today she'd heard that.
"I know, nobody can apparently," she said exasperated.
"But you're going to the Ball with Malfoy?" asked Zabini, as if he couldn't believe it himself. Jessi turned to him, her brown eyes glaring into his.
"Jealous Zabini?" she said sourly.
"Well…yeah kind of."
Jessi deadpanned and rolled her eyes, and walked a little faster. Blaise smirked and dashed to catch up with her.
"Well you know what happens at those dances and stuff right?" asked Blaise as he winked at a second year that dashed away. Jessi shook her head, just about having enough of him for the day.
"Well let's just say dancing isn't the only thing going on. And if Draco gets more than I do I'll be upset," he said ruefully.
Jessi stopped midstride and stared at him, he grinned back and she cracked him over the head with her books and then continued on. Vowing to never talk to him again, at least for the day.
00—00—00
Jessi gasped for breath as her aunt tightened the back of her dress even more. She grabbed onto the bed post and sucked in breath.
"Now you understand why we don't wear things like this often," said Chia as she tied the strings in place and went to making sure it all looked right. Her own hair was pulled up in long curls that flowed down her back like thick white waves. She wore a suit of deep purple and had a pair of small opera glasses dangling from a pocket.
"I hate these things," wheezed Jessi, "I was blackmailed into this one."
"Blackmailed?" asked Chia as she opened her makeup cabinet with a snap of her fingers.
"You know the Duel that's tomorrow night? I challenged Draco to it and he said the only way he would compete is if I went to the dance with him," said Jessi, the conversation was relaxed, Chia had a way of doing that to some people, making them uncomfortable when she wanted and relaxed when she desired.
Holding up a variety of colors to Jessi's skin Chia inquired further, "I see, and you agreed. Is he any good at dueling?"
"Our first practice match was a tie, our second I won," said Jessi, "He hit me with a Crusciartus curse and I almost ripped his arm off."
Chia swore beneath her breath and smiled at her niece, "Well I can't say you don't have style. What else does this Draco Malfoy do?"
A big fluorescent red flag went off in Jessi's mind. She thought quickly or else her aunt would catch her in a lie.
"He's getting information somehow," she said slowly, "I don't know from who yet. As far as I know he isn't up to anything too suspicious, a girl was hexed but that's about it, and there's no proof to even point to him."
Chia, apparently satisfied with that changed the subject, "heard anything about the Order?"
Jessi smirked as her aunt put on her blush, "half of the Aurors stationed here are Order members, you had to have known that from the beginning."
"Of course, but what about Harry Potter?" asked Chia as she painstakingly applied eye shadow, her gold eyes narrowing and soft lines appearing in the corners of her eyes.
"He's suspicious of everything as you know," said Jessi, "But I haven't seen him approach anyone about anything. He doesn't like Draco at all, and for good measure."
"I see."
"Yes."
"You know if Voldemort shows up here, and you can knife him, you'll go down in history, ours and theirs."
Jessi and Chia looked at each other and broke out laughing.
"If he's stupid enough to come here while not only Dumbledore is here, but us two as well, he's good enough as crucified," said Jessi with a smirk. Chia matched it with one of her dazzling smiles and patted the girl on the shoulder.
"Time to meet the music."
00—00—00
All the right friends in all the right places,
So yeah we're going down.
They got all the right moves in all the right faces,
So yeah, we're going down…
Jessi took the steps slowly her trailing train glittering behind her as she descended the stairs. Below much of the Slytherin house stood, ready to be escorted by their dates out. At her appearance a great deal of silence took over the crowd. Beneath her neatly combed bangs and heavy dark red curls she could not find Draco, but as she continued down he appeared, flanked on either side by an uncomfortable but regal looking Goyle and Crabbe. But it was the Slytherin prince, in his smooth dark robes and fashionable silver buttons that stole the heart of the crowd.
Draco bowed to her, and she presented his hand, as if it were some sort of fairytale. He took it and kissed the back of it, his eyes darting up her arm to her face.
"Shall we go?" he asked his voice soft yet firm. Jessi found herself blushing despite the fact he'd done nothing to cause it. She nodded and took his arm, finding it warm but stiff.
The crowd parted as the two headed towards the great hall, not just in the common room, but on the stairs and adjoining hallways. Girls whispered about Draco's esteemed look and boys cast glances at the stripling white dress with soft grey accents Jessi wore.
"No used to the attention Jessi?" asked Draco, his snobbish interior snaking into his voice as he cast her a sidelong look. She snorted and rolled her eyes.
"I don't bask in the glory of others very often so I can't really say I get a lot of attention," said Jessi slyly. Draco sent her a sharp look, but let it go, tonight was to be a night they would not forget.
"Well you're about to get loads more."
Jessi was unable to retort for he had just then pulled her into the opening before the doors of the hall. Many students had already gathered underneath the enchanted snowy ceiling and were waiting to be let inside. Even the ghosts with their own dates had lined up in procession. It appeared they were just in time because Dumbledore, flanked by a very dressed up McGonagall came down the hall, obviously the openers to the night's festivities.
"Welcome everyone!" said Dumbledore to the crowds, his arms opening wide to embrace them all. "from near and far, we come together in peaceful harmony to celebrate not only the holidays, but tomorrow will be a day of great accomplishment, as it will kick of the first of the Annual Hogwarts Duel. So tonight dine with us, and tomorrow show us what you are made of!"
The crowd moved forward as Dumbledore opened the doors, all faces looking towards what lie inside.
"It's beautiful," whispered Jessi as she and Draco moved with the crowd. The entire hall had been painted white and snow lay in great piles about the place, great ice sculptures of all of the founders etched inside of them. The tables and chairs looked to be made out of ice or perhaps crystal, for they were not overly cold when sat in. Jessi smiled gleefully and Draco chuckled besides her, causing her to look away embarrassed.
"Happy Christmas," he whispered to her. His breath warm on her neck. Slowly Jessi turned back to him, her brown eyes meeting with his grey ones. She smiled slowly.
"Happy Christmas to you too Draco."
They found themselves a rather secluded spot beside the statue of Salazar Slytherin after kicking a first year out of it. Draco brushed off his sleeves and sat down across from Jessi, making it clear that no one else was to intrude upon them.
"You look…really good tonight," said Jessi, trying to start up a non conflicting conversation. Draco smirked over his crystal glass of water.
"You look really good to, wonderful in fact. Better than that trampy dress Zabini had you wear," he said as he folded his hands on top of the table and leaned forward. His pale skin didn't look so bad against all of the white. He, for once, didn't look so sickly, for once he looked…content.
Jessi smiled, "You don't really mean that."
"Yes I do," he said with another rare smile, "One might actually even call this a…"
Jessi's mind flew to what Zabini had said earlier, about things that happened after dances like these… fear welled up inside her at what he might suggest. She had come to terms with her infatuation with him…but was she willing to go…that far?
"…date."
Jessi blinked, she had been utterly sure he was going to make some sort of reference to her trying to show off to him or something of the sort. Instead he simply told it how it was, for what appeared to be the first time in his life.
"I don't know Draco, wouldn't that be implying that both sides of this party were interested in one another. Because I think you've been quite clear about your dislike of me," she said with a sly smile as she sipped her water.
Draco looked a bit miffed as he took in her words, his smirk never left but he shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"You are something else Davis…"
Before the two of them could say more waiters emerged and began passing out food as the band stoked up a small tune. Jessi watched him over the Tatar being placed down between them; he didn't seem to be interested in saying anymore on the matter and was concentrating on the food.
The two ate in relative silence, Jessi learned that Draco hated when his food touched on a plate and Draco noticed that Jessi hated anything that was orange on her plate. In the end they ended up sharing a pudding, since Zabini came over and snatched Jessi's since Pansy was drowning her woes in chocolate over at his table.
The tables were cleaned and drinks were refreshed. Apprehension grew in Jessi's chest as she figured out what was going to take place. Draco appeared to be just fine, not at all anxious about the unfolding events.
The band's soft tunes suddenly spiked, upwards and then back down, catching the audience's attention. A dance floor had appeared before them and the smooth silver floor was untouched by anyone.
"Come on," said Draco as he stood up, putting out a hand to Jessi who stared shocked at it, "Care to dance Jessi? Surely you know how?"
"Of course I do!" she snapped as she took his hand, her seconds of defiance giving her the energy to move. Draco sent her a smug look and guided them, alone to the dance floor.
With every step she took, just like the earlier duel, her heart beat in rhythm. Only this time she was not going to her potential death, she was dancing with it.
Once they took one step onto the smooth floor the snow suddenly started coming down, where it had been stopped during their meal. Jessi took one glance up into the enchanted night sky as the band struck up on cellos and violins all around her.
Draco put a hand on her waist, drawing her eyes away from the people staring at them. She looked back at him, and he could see the fear in her eyes.
"Just follow me."
Let's paint a picture, of the perfect place,
They got it better than what anyone's told ya,
There be the King of Hearts,
And you're the Queen of Spades,
And we'll fight for you like we were your soldiers
"Just trust me."
Jessi moved silently with him, her dress billowing around them in soft curves and sparkling beads. Draco pulled her close, and then with one arm let her go till she held on only by his fingertips, and then drew her back, tracing more steps and the music got heavier and deeper, faster and lighter.
He twirled her and she leaned back onto his arm, one of her legs arcing into the sky. The music stopped for a second and so did they, then with them started moving again, winding in and out of their forms. Till nothing was there but the gliding of bodies and the sound of the music coming over them in waves.
Jessi found herself trapped in his grey eyes as they moved together, no longer alone for more adventurous couples had dared to join them, but she couldn't have cared.
Do you think I'm special?
Do you think I'm nice?
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?
Between the noise you hear, and the sound you like,
Are we just sinking in the ocean of faces?
Draco pressed his left cheek to her right as they glided around the dance floor, his warm flesh against hers; she stiffened at first, but then let herself relax in his arms.
Safety washed over him, for this one night everything was his, everything was alright. There was no death and there was no life, there was just the two of them twirling around on a dance floor. It was simple and that was the way he wanted it.
He could feel her heart beat inside her when he pulled her close, and she could feel his need whenever his fingertips touched her. He found her brown eyes to be soft, gentle, where they were usually twin pools of rage.
He decided then that this Jessi, this small delicate and trusting thing…was his favorite.
00—00—00
Jessi felt punch drunk as Draco led her back towards the common room. She had her shoes in one hand and the other was clutching rather haphazardly to his arm. Almost bowed over in laughter at something he'd said she found the large clip Chia had put in her hair falling out.
"Hold on, I have to adjust this…" she said with a smile as she stopped and dropped her shoes, despite the fact they probably cost more than Draco's entire ensemble. He grinned back at her, high on the moment and the freedom.
Sweeping back towards her he brushed the hair from her face and tickled the sides of her body as she valiantly tried to secure her clip in place. She broke out in laughter and just pulled the clip down in mock furry, she put a hand in her neat locks and rubbed it all around, making them fly in all directions.
"Now I look like that bloody banshee!" she cried as they both laughed, Draco guided her up a few more steps before she leaned and sat down on a window ledge to catch her breath. He tore off his jacket and flung it over one shoulder, his own hair disorderly. As they waited in silence they realized that the hallway was deserted, Draco sat with a great heave beside her.
"Tonight was wonderful," she said with a tired smile, "I didn't think it would go that well."
Draco smirked at her and shrugged.
"Things always go good with you."
Jessi's heart stopped in her chest, her eyes stared and her breathing stilled. Slowly Draco turned to meet her stare.
"You know," he said softly, leaning in to touch the side of her face, "I like when your hair is like that. Wild. Free."
Everything he was not.
She didn't know what to say so instead she simply blushed and smiled up at him through her wild locks. His hand slid from her cheek to her neck, soft yet firmly pulling her forward.
All of her instincts and goals simply flew out the window at the feel of his lips. Unlike the last kiss the two shared this one was not fierce and heavy, but soft chaste and gentle. Something Jessi didn't know he could be.
Her chest was heaving greatly by the end of the kiss, her eyes heavy lidded and her cheeks softly rosy. "I want you to have something," she whispered softly. Draco swallowed thickly and gasped as she began to pull up her dress alongside her leg, her bare flesh becoming visible. His fingers gripped the wall beside him as his arousal grew.
Jessi tried not to feel self conscious as she pulled from the strap around her thigh something she almost always kept close to her. A double actually. Draco leaned in, curious at the small shining object and heady to be closer to her.
"This is called and Unsealing Key," she said softly as she laid the tiny key in the palm of her hand, the small twisted metal glittered in the moonlight, "I can unlock rooms that have been enchanted and most boundary spells as well as just locked doors. I have an extra at home, you can have this one."
Draco was surprised by the gift, unsure why she was giving it to him in the first place. Wouldn't she want to try to find out what he'd been hiding in the room of requirement? Why hadn't she used that already?
"It only works on things that are not permanently warded. If something was created with that spell then it won't open it, but things like…the girl's dormitories, that's a simple detection spell, you can break through it with this."
Draco took it from her hand and suddenly it shifted, the once lacy gold key turned silver and grew larger and thicker in his hands. He supposed that was how it got into different keyholes. Smiling he put it in his breast pocket.
Are you suggesting that I sneak into a certain room?" he asked softly, his voice thick and husky. Jessi leaned up against the wall he'd backed her into. Her lips slightly parted and her eyes watching him, all of him.
"Maybe."
I know we got it good,
But they got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down
Before anybody is knowing our names
00—00—00
Chia smiled sweetly as she descended through the castle with practiced sleek steps. Her long hair glistening in the torchlight and the flickering light shining off her sunglasses. The hallways were empty save for the occasional mouse.
Stopping and exhaling she turned her head slowly, inhaling. Tilting her glasses down she looked over her bare shoulder, her smile fading into a straight, yet, beautiful line. From the shadows behind her a lone figure emerged.
"Serverus Snape."
"Chia de Lioncourt."
When Chia smiled again it was not the sweet innocent one that she'd had before, it wasn't anything she'd done before, even in the presence of her niece. It was something that only resulted in the act of hunting. A bearing of white teeth and marble like lips.
"Wandering the halls? I didn't think you had that authority," he said smoothly, his dark hair hanging in his equally dark eyes. With a flash Chia's sunglasses were in her hand at her side, making him shiver at the pure speed of her movements.
"I have the authority to make my own rules," she said slowly.
"Money doesn't give you that."
"Why don't you tell that to those Malfoy's then?" she hissed slowly, but with no real malice.
Snape flinched; this woman knew the moves before even he did. She stood unafraid and in charge, there was no way to bully her into doing anything. He realized this quickly, but did not give her the leeway to walk all over him.
"As a teacher of this school I must ask you why you are out of your quarters and roaming about this late at night," he said sharply. "Unless given a uniform answer I must insist you allow me to escort you back to your room."
Chia turned slowly to meet his gaze, not surprised at the look of shock when he got a look of the long and rather long strip of flesh that was evident down her front, her navel pierced and a glistening silver charm caught the light whimsically.
"Have you ever met a woman like me?" she asked slowly, a purr of her voice and her eyes were misty as she took a few steps forward. Her glasses dangled on her fingertips.
Snape simply could not believe the rashness of this woman. Her sexual appeal was evident, but to unleash it on an unsuspecting teacher was almost beyond his thought process. He took a step backwards and she stopped.
"Of course you haven't, you keep yourself cooped up here. In this little place, home, to school and home again. Haven't traveled out. Haven't had the money. Sitting all alone and whispering 'why did she have to die…'"
Snape was furious now, his black eyes livid and his hands turned to fists. His anger was only amplified by the blank look of the woman before him. Who appeared to be watching him from the inside, her mouth rather slack and the bottom row of her pearly white teeth visible. Her eyes were, though, just as heated as his.
"Never attack an enemy you know nothing about," whispered Chia as she brushed by him, placing her sunglasses back on her face and licking her glossy lips.
Severus never knew what hit him until he was awoken by squealing Peeves later on. Apparently he'd been knocked unconscious for hours…
00—00—00
Russian roulette isn't the same without a gun