Prompt 038. Touch

Word Count: 734

"Here." A glass was pressed into her hands. Without question, she drank the free alcohol.

"Thank you," she said without looking up at him.

"I thought you might need it. Although, I must say, you look ravishing tonight."

She blushed faintly. "Thank you again." Her voice was light and airy.

"Don't you want to know who I am?" he asked, mildly surprised.

"Not really. Is it important?" she wondered, mystified by her own nonchalance.

"Not really."

They stood in companionable silence for a few minutes.

"Would you care to dance?" He held out a hand.

After a few moments, she looked up at him and stared.

"Mont - Montague?" she asked, wide eyes blinking rapidly.

"The one and only."

If her skin had been fairer, she would definitely have paled. As it was, she merely looked surprised.

"Um, I dunno," she whispered. Shame and embarrassment took over her countenance.

"Come on, no one will notice." He touched her elbow gently, as if afraid she would disappear.

"All right then," she decided, drinking the rest of her spiked punch in one gulp. "Let's."

They danced and she marveled at his elegance. She was surprised by how well he seemed to belong on the dance floor. She looked down and could only wish she was half as good a partner. He made dancing look easy!

"Don't worry," he whispered, breath tickling her skin as he leaned in. "You're doing just fine. Relax and have fun - it will come naturally enough. Besides, with a marvelous partner like me, you can't fail." He winked at her and she laughed, throwing her head back.

The dance ended and he twirled her around, catching her in his arms. She exhaled loudly, feeling a bit out of breath.

"Need another drink?" he asked, worried he had made her dizzy.

"I'm all right, I think. I just need a breather."

He nodded and led her to a bench.

After some time, she carefully studied his figure. He finally noticed and looked back at her, questioningly.

"Don't you have a partner?" she asked at length.

He nodded. "Well, I did. But it seems she was taken by Nott. So I didn't until you arrived."

She frowned but accepted his story.

He fidgeted and finally asked, "Are you here with someone?"

"No," she said quickly.

"So your dance card is free?" he inquired.

She smirked. "Quite free."

"Oh, that's too bad," he teased.

"Why do you ask?"

"I was going to ask you for another dance, but if you're not inclined to, I fully understand."

"I never said no," she replied bravely.

"I wondered where that Gryffindor courage had got to. Would you honor me, my fair lady, with another dance?"

He mockingly curtseyed while waggling his eyebrows at her. She giggled and accepted his hand once again.

"Why, yes, good sir, I believe I may be able to dance again."

They teased each other as they spun around the room. Their light banter brightened her mood and made her glad that she had decided to attend her last Yule Ball at Hogwarts castle.

At midnight, the Great Hall was cleared and Montague led Angelina outside. The pair stood under the moonlight and he wrapped his arms around her so she wouldn't feel the chill.

"I hope you had a good evening."

"And here I thought only the Gryffs were sentimental," she smirked.

"Well, a gentleman must make sure his lady is satisfied."

"The night went well, she says," Angelina teased.

He pretended to be affronted. "Is there something more that he could have done to please her?"

"The lady would appreciate a goodnight kiss from her knight in white armor."

"Is that all?" he mused, turned on by her words.

"And the lady wonders who her savior is, for she did not think he was like this before." Her voice was honest and soft, all playfulness gone.

Montague leaned down and kissed her. He felt like he was kissing a bubble.

"This is the man who has sought out his lady for many years," he confessed as he pulled back.

"And this lady would like to say that she longs for another kiss," she admitted, wrapping her arms around him to bring him closer to her.

Their lips met again and this time they felt a flood of emotion as skin met skin.

I made some changes because I felt like it and this piece became shorter. Sometimes, less is more. Hopefully this piece didn't undergo a change in soul as well as body since I basically did the equivalent of a face lift. Most of the changes were cosmetic: personal preference. But some were purely grammatical.

Here's to hoping others will celebrate this lovely pair, too. (: