Since the discussion of Magnus's past and about Alec, Sofi found it more uncomfortable around Magnus in the days afterwards. It was like she had re-opened a jar of pain and sorrow, she could tell Magnus understood that she understood his pain and how much he missed Alec, but she couldn't forgive herself for prying in on his life. After finding the photographs, she had argued that she would rather sleep on the couch rather than his room, until arrangements could be made. Magnus had still told her she would be staying in the apartment, but it would be a few days until her room was set up, so all there was left to do in the mean time was get ready for this party at the Institute. Numerous times she had pulled the dress in and out of the hall closet, remembering in the shop how nice it looked and how nice Magnus seemed to think it looked, but she only knew of Clary and Jace. Who else was going to be at this party? She thought. It was the day of the party and she hadn't moved from the dining room table all day, just staring at the wood surface, daydreaming in a world of her own.

"Sofi? Why aren't you ready? We have to leave soon, I refuse to be late to a party at the Institute. I'm the High Warlock after all." Sofi had heard him just barely, so she just made a noise in reply, somewhere between a grumble and a sigh. She wasn't ready for new people just yet, she'd met Magnus sure, but he was like a dozen people rolled into one.

"Sorry Magnus... I don't think I want to go anymore. You can go still, I just don't feel up to it, not with everything that has happened." she picked at the fibres of a cloth on the table, never looking up at Magnus. Quiet quick footfalls made there way towards her, as well as the chair opposite being pulled out and becoming occupied.

"You have to go, I don't want to go without you. Clary and Jace are expecting you too, along with a couple of other new people. You have nothing to worry about you-" Magnus stopped abruptly and raised his eyebrows. "Sofi, this isn't about what happened the other day is it? I told you I wasn't mad that you found those photographs." She sighed and stood up, pushing the chair back.

"Magnus, it's not that simple and he was the love of your lives. I feel like I stumbled upon something very very private. I'm not not going just to be a pain in the ass, I just.. well they are your friends they have been for years. It's like the first day of school all over again." Magnus laughed.

"Come here you silly girl! It is not going to be like the first day of school. Sure the Institute is big and intimidating, along with Jace Herondale, but that's something that grows on you. Please come. I don't mind that you found those photos; like we agreed, we'll put him on show so he's never put in the darkness again." Sofi smiled a little and nodded.

"You promise not to leave me alone to fend for myself with the scary shadowhunters." She was trying not to laugh, but he did.

"I promise. Now go get ready!"

The institute stood tall between the buildings of New York, it's gothic steeples and stone looming over the city. Its windows arched up and all the lights inside were on, except they were normal coloured, they were reds, oranges, greens and purple. She felt a hand on her arm, tugging her forward down the path to the huge oak doors of the institute, which Magnus knocked on very hard and loud, she wouldn't be surprised if the sound reverberated throughout the whole building. Suddenly the door swung open and on the other side stood a very pretty girl with long raven hair, pale white skin, with markings on her arms. She wore a short red and black tight dress, with a red cape. Magnus introduced us,

"Isabelle, don't you just look lovely. How's Simon taking your clothing choice?" The girl scowled back at him.

"Watch it Bane, you're just jealous that someone may look more sexy than you here!" Magnus held back a laugh,

"Well this is Sofiya Ravenwood. Sofi this is Isabelle Lightwood." Both she and Isabelle exchanged short smiles as she entered the building and was led down to the library, with Magnus at her elbow.

The library was decked out completely with lights, as they wrapped around the steel runners that caged the spiral staircases and banisters running along the balconies. Along the back wall below the windows stood a large stage, decked out with a music system. The rest of the room was filled with tables on either side and a dance-floor in the centre, everything was Halloween like. Skeletons hung from the balconies, spider webs hung from the corner, not to mention the other guests costumes were amazing. There was women with actual flowers for hair, others had pale skin with bright red lips, while others wore very revealing clothing. It was absolutely beautiful and completely out of this world.

Magnus never let go of her walking down the stairs and following Isabelle round to the group of people in the far corner. When she got closer, she realised it was Clary, Jace and another boy with dark hair and glasses. He looked just out of place as she did, but she could tell they would never leave him. Isabelle went over to him and kissed him on the cheek, as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Sofi! You look beautiful!" it was Clary who spoke, she had her hands clasped together, she was dressed in a green and gold dress to the floor, with a tiara. A princess then.
"Hi Clary! I love your dress." she spoke as loud as possible to be heard over the music. Jace just smirked from behind Clary, but she caught him, as did Magnus who scowled.
"Keep your eyes to yourself Herondale, or at least to Clary." Jace snorted and put his hands up innocently, as Clary whacked him round the back of the head. Isabelle introduced her next to the boy with the dark hair and glasses.
"Sofiya, this is Simon. My boyfriend. Simon this is Sofiya." he had his hand held out to shake, so she shook it gently.
"It's nice to meet you Simon. You too Isabelle." she smiled. Well these shadowhunters aren't that scary she thought.

Watching Sofi settle in with everybody, it was nice to see her get along with his friends, but he hadn't been to the institute in such a long time. He didn't want to ruin the night by getting upset, he promised Alec he would move on and be happy and he was going to try. Finally after pulling her away from everybody long enough, he sat down at a empty table just to the side of the dance-floor.

"So what do you think? Still feel like your first day of school? I'm pretty sure school doesn't get decorated like this does it." he mused. She started laughing and shook her head.

"No it's not like school at all, and everyone is absolutely wonderful. They are not scary at all, though I do worry about Jace. He keeps staring at me." Magnus clenched his fist and unclenched it under the table. Jace definitely lived up to his name he thought.

"Don't worry about Jace. I won't let him try anything, not to mention Clary would kick his ass into the next century if he tried." They both started laughing at that. A slowish song began to play, he knew Bat was a DJ, but what was all this about. He smiled inwardly, deciding to take advantage of it.
"Sofi, would you like to dance?" she just gaped and shook her head frantically.
"Oh no. No no. I don't dance. I have two left feet." he shook his head laughing and stood up, leaning down to whisper in her ear, pulling her up.
"I promise I won't let you fall." she gave in and let him lead her to the dance-floor. He placed his hand on her bare shoulder, feeling the heat seep through his palm, then placed her hand on his. Followed by placing his hand in hers, she blushed from under her mask as he did. Magnus began to lead her around the dance-floor in a slow and floating dance. She was a natural he thought. He looked down watching her as she watched her feet, so he placed his hand under her chin and tilted it up so she was eye to eye with him. She blushed again.
"You look beautiful Sofi and you are a natural dancer." she smiled.
"Thank you Magnus, you don't look so bad yourself. You are an excellent dancer."

After dancing, he let Magnus lead her out onto the garden terrace. The moon was enormous hanging in the sky like a large disc, with the little twinkling stars keeping it company lighting up the dark midnight sky. Magnus looked surprisingly exotic under the light of the moon, his gold-green eyes shone brightly and his profile and sharp edges stood out against his tanned skin. She didn't have chance to look away before he turned and smiled.

"What are you looking at?" she blushed and shook her head.

"Nothing. You just look different in the moonlight." he grinned at her.
"Good different or bad different?" she pretended to think about her answer.

"Good different. Though you look perfectly fine without the moonlight." he laughed and ran a hand over her cheek. "Well that's good to know." They stood there staring at each other for a while, just listening to the crickets chirp nearby and the trees rustle in the breeze. It wasn't an awkward silence. Sofi didn't know who moved first, but Magnus had slid his hand into hers, pulling her towards him. She put her hands up before she fell into his chest, as he pushed a stray hair back away from her mask. Then out of nowhere he leant down and kissed her, slowly at first. She didn't know whether to stop him, as he slid one hand around her waist and the other holding against her cheek. In the end she melted into him and kissed him back. It was a strange feeling, especially considering it was her first kiss. When he pulled away, he smiled tentatively at her, she smiled back and blushed.

"What was that for?" she asked quietly.

"Ever since I came across you, you have grown on me. You have got under my skin and you are the only person who understands my ground with the loss of Alec. I've grown to become very fond of you Sofi." she blushed and smiled shyly.

"Thank you Magnus, well I've grown to like you too. Though I should let you know. You were my first kiss." Magnus just seemed to gape back at her. "Seriously?!" She nodded.

"Uh-Huh." He took no time in pulling her back in and crashing his lips to hers.

Review please! :)