CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI

"Shelter me from this again
Dedicated to the end
Help me break my conscience in
To free us from our innocence"

(BREAKING BENJAMIN - "Break My Fall")

The long-time awaited night finally arrived. The Yule Ball celebration was about to start at any moment. Giggles, murmurs and even exited shouts of the enthusiastic girls and boys echoed inside the castle's walls.

A pair of judging eyes examined the elegant, tall and slender teenager standing at the foot of the stairs. He was dressed in a two-piece single-breasted suit. His blond curls fashioned with hair gel like he used when he was younger. His image was surreal; Draco Malfoy was the embodiment of elegance and style.

"Why the blue necktie?" Blaise stared dully at Draco's face for a few seconds.

"I hate bow ties". The blond shrugged with disgust.

"I meant why that colour and I thought you were going to use a black tuxedo, like me". Blaise accused pointing at the penguin dull style he was wearing.

"I chose to wear this black suit instead, I feel more comfortable in it". Then clearing his throat the blond added "And the tie matches the colour of her dress."

"What!? You two have dressed up with matching colours?" The black jet haired teenager threw a sceptical stabbing stare at Draco.

"Amazing power of deduction!" He celebrated with mild coldness.

"You'll probably be the only one dressed in suit, did you realize that?" Blaise crossed his arms looking very angry.

"So? Who cares…besides you?" The blond raised and eyebrow looking suspiciously at his partner. "You're acting really annoying…more than usual". He caressed his chin looking rather intrigued.

"No more than Pansy! Did you know that the Head Girl had to lock her up after two and a half hours of girlish hysteria in front of everybody at the common room?" He said with eyes wide open, tongue out and a funny scary face mimicking Pansy's outburst.

"Her dysfunctional spoiled hormones are old news." Draco added with complete lack of interest.

"There's more to it, the reason of her breakdown was because she found out with whom you were going to the ball. She went mad, literally!" Blaise said throwing an accusing stare at the blond.

"She's desperately calling for attention, any excuse will do. Why don't they lock her up at St Mungo's mental wing for good?" Draco asked looking rather annoyed.

"Anyway, I just hate this whole ball thing". Blaise threw a fist into the wall looking frustrated.

"Me too, but now that we're here, let's take advantage of the situation as much as possible." Draco snorted while stretching his back.

"You don't understand…" Blaise clenched his teeth with evident impotence.

"Oh, you're pissed because some prick stole the girl you wanted before you even had the chance to ask her out?" He asked, walking towards him, hands in his pockets, showing the most sympathetic face possible. "If I were you, I would get even with the guy". The blond smirked.

"I might do that". The black jet haired boy replied swallowing any further signs of annoyance.

Draco kept staring at the top of the stairs waiting for Luna to show up. Patience wasn't exactly one of his virtues, but he knew well that Luna put it on trial almost every time they met. He was finding hard to cope with the idea of extending his settled limits of tolerance, but so far, he was pulling a good performance.

"Why women take so long to get ready?" Muttered under his breath as he turned his face again to check up the spot where she was expected to appear.

A girl dressed in blue came into view; she was wearing a two-piece dress: an embroidery corset top over a plain long lace skirt. Her dirty blond hair was pulled back, not very tight, in a bun, leaving some loose curls resting over her shoulders.

"There she is…" Draco held his tongue but still kept his mouth opened, like he was about to add a comment or say something else, but no word came out of his mouth. He just kept staring at Luna in silence.

"Hey you, phoenix!" Blaise called out, slowly rocking his body in a nasty obscene way.

Draco caught the joke as it emerged from his partner lips and rolled his eyes feeling sorry for Blaise's lack of decency in public.

"Oh mighty sparking bird on fireeee!"Blaise was singing with acracking laughter.

But Draco wasn't listening anymore; in fact everything around him, all the sounds seemed to shut down. The fast rhythm of his heartbeat was numbing his ears.

"Qualem muleirculam!(i)" Draco measured every inch of Luna's body as she went downstairs and offered his hand with dashing gallantry.

"Ne feceris ut rideam(ii)" She accepted with an approving smile.

Blaise's date, a Slytherin girl from 5th year arrived after Luna. Both couples walked towards the Great Hall.

"Ready people? Let's step inside." Called out Blaise.

The room was filled with the humming sound of mixed conversations and laughs coming from the students and schools staff as well, everybody was already there. The moment Draco and Luna stepped inside, the room fell into an expectant silence, the sound of people's talking ceased. All eyes stared at the new arrivals, all eyes focused on Draco Malfoy and the girl next to him. He looked so relaxed and comfortable, like he was enjoying every second of it, but that was part of a greatest façade, Malfoy style. Luna tighten nervously the grip on Draco's hand, he turned to her with a reassuring look. For the first time she experienced in the flesh the other side of the sad truth. She was used to be left out and underestimated by everybody. Right there she realized how difficult was for Draco too for he had to put up with the daily gossiping about his whereabouts, background and uncertain future. They were the opposite ends of a same cruel reality: he was in the spotlight and everybody knew, or wished to know, his every move while she walked through the mob as an invisible entity, like she didn't even exist. Luna came out of her thoughts as the first chords of a waltz started to play.

"Luna, will you give me the pleasure of dancing with you?" Draco asked with a humble politeness like the gentleman he was.

She nodded and let Draco lead her to the dancing floor. He placed his right hand beneath her left arm with his left arm extended so he could grasp Luna's right hand in his. Luna placed nervously her left hand on his shoulder. Draco's natural ability combined with Luna's perfect synchronicity to follow him made them stand out from the rest of the couples dancing.

"Say cheese!" The annoying mouse-like voice of Colin Creevey called out.

"FLEE!" Draco warned as he got closer and grabbed him by the collar. "You better owl me those photos!" He muttered to him.

The terrified boy nodded and continued to take photos of the other couples.

"Why do they keep staring at us?" Luna asked with discomfort in her emerald blue eyes.

"Well, I can't blame them. You look…you are beautiful" He whispered in her ear trying to soothe her. But meant every word; he wanted so badly to kiss the soft line of her neck.

At the end of the series of waltz, the music stopped and food plates pop up at every table. He conducted Luna to their table. Blaise was already munching some of the delicious starters making several stops half way through the treaties to tell some jokes about mudbloods and muggles, his date found them quite hilarious.

"This is good! Come on you two, dig in!" The merry Slytherin invited as he caught sight of Draco and Luna approaching to the table.

"Nice dress." Blaise's date praised looking enviously at Luna.

"Thanks, it was my mother's, she made it herself". She replied blushing a little.

"Would she make me one for me too? Money is no problem, I'll pay her well." The girl said showing off her snobbish nature.

"She's…dead". Luna replied as she tried to swallow the sour taste of not having her mother with her anymore.

Draco looked at Luna, she was at the point of bursting into tears. He reached for her hand behind the table and caressed it tenderly. She looked back at him with those tearful amethyst gems of her. He wanted to hold her tight and bury his face in those blond curls of her; he wanted to ease her pain in everyway possible.

Interrupting right in the middle of the dinner, a band of musicians stepped into the main stage and, after they aligned the instruments, the first song started to play hard and loud.

"Come on Draco, dance with us!" Shouted Blaise intoxicated with euphoria

"Just check on those dancing, see how utterly stupid they look. Doesn't that give you a clue about yourself dancing?" Draco pointed out with sarcasm.

"Partypooper!" Shot back the black haired boy as he jumped like a maniac dragging her date with him.

"Go and make a fool of yourself, I won't." The blond frowned.

He turned to check out on Luna, she was rocking in the chair with her arms crossed tight against her stomach.

"Not even Harry came to say hi, they hate me, they all turned their faces and refused to look at me, my friends hate me…." Muttered Luna while cursing herself.

"Want to catch up some fresh air?" Draco asked pointing the large balcony in front of them.

"Yes…" She said with a thread of voice.

"Come on, let's get away from this madness". He grabbed Luna's hand, got up and walked her to the balcony.

Snowflakes slipped over the crystal glass panel roof of the balcony provided for the occasion since it was freezing cold outside. Despite the protection a cold breeze leaked inside, the view was breath-taking. It was an ink black night with no stars; the untamed wind forced the snowflakes to create dancing silhouettes in the air.

"Here, take my jacket". Draco offered to Luna as he wrapped her from behind with his overprotecting arms.

"Thanks Draco". She blushed shrugging inside the jacket.

Luna's dreamy eyes wondered on the stunning snowing landscape. Draco leaned his head, caressing her silky skin with his cheek.

"Is this happening? Is this real?" She glanced about, a look of worry on her face.

"This is not a dream, we are awake now. The air we breathe, the way you're bathed in the moon light, having you in my arms, this is real". He turned to look at her and placed his arms around her waist bringing her closer to him.

"It feels…so good…" She shrugged feeling cosy in his arms.

"It's 100 per cent Draco's body heat". He sneered enjoying every second of it.

"Let's…go back inside". She recoiled, refusing to look directly into his eyes.

"But you've just said you feel fine here…with me". Draco cupped her chin in his palm and leaned closer.

"I…" She chocked.

"Then why go back, you weren't enjoying yourself back there". He said placing one of her untamed dirty blond curls behind her ear with tenderness.

"It's just that I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with your being so close to me". A tear rolled down her cheek.

"I've been looking at you, waiting patiently and I can take it any longer". He pulled her towards him, caressing her curls against his chin. "You smell so sweet…so pure…I'm becoming addicted to you". Draco whispered in between deep breaths.

"Draco…please…don't…" She rubbed her sore eyes.

"Luna, don't lie to me and say you're better off without me, don't push me away". Draco's pearl grey eyes never looked so determined.

"You…want to be with me?" She blushed, she felt overwhelmed and shocked at the same time.

"I have all the time in the world to make you mine. Tell me, would you like that?" He smirked and lifted her chin looking straight into her eyes.

She nodded as she became tongue-tied and nervous.

"I won't let you get away from me, ever again. Why are you fighting me?" He asked, honestly curious.

"Because…I love you…and it hurts…" She sobbed, tears falling again from her cheeks.

"It's understood…" He was swept away by her abrupt confession. Luna looked so fragile and helpless.

Draco put his hands around her neck kissing softly her rosy cheeks, wetting his mouth with her tears. Then he placed a small, very gentle kiss on her soft lips. He intensified the kiss slightly opening his lips encouraging Luna to follow him. He slowly slided the tip of his tongue inside her mouth, darting in and out teasingly but then he deepen the kiss circling her tongue with his own with aroused passion. If eyes are known to be the windows to the soul, then lips are the servants of the consciousness: they are able to convey what no words can, by kissing.

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A/N

(i)Qualem muleirculam! (Latin)- What a bimbo!

(ii)Ne feceris ut rideam (Latin) - Don't make me laugh.