Chapter 52: The Founder's Ball
The heels of her black satin shoes clicked the stone floor in a quick rhythm as she rushed through the corridors of Hogwarts. The train of the black silk gown caught the soft breeze as she passed the open courtyard. She could feel the heavy necklace pound against her bare skin. Moonlight filtered through catching the colors within the black silk, making her dress shine. It was as if Emily was the one who produced the light, a light in the darkness of the night.
As she approached the Great Hall, her pace slowed into a brisk walk, she tried to catch her breath. The flickering torch flames lit her way, the music suddenly drifting over her, a lively melody of celebration.
"I thought you had stood me up." She heard Draco's voice mutter from behind one of the stone columns.
"I thought about it." She spoke breathlessly.
"Really?" Draco said slyly as he appeared from his hiding place.
Even in the dimming light, Emily could see how handsome he looked. His elaborate dress robe looked like it had been hand crafted just for this one night, which given the reputation of the Malfoy family was probably true. The black dress trousers and pure white undershirt were trimmed with a delicate silver threading that caught the flickering light. His silver, tailored tunic held the crest of Slytherin. His pure emerald cloak was fastened with a large emerald pin to the top of his right shoulder, letting the fabric drape across his other. Draco slowly approached her, his heavy black boots causing a sound to reverberate through the darkness. Yet, it was his face that stunned her. He looked shocked as if he had nothing to say.
"What?" She asked curiously.
"Umm…nothing. Sorry." Draco mumbled as his pale cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, embarrassed that he had been staring. He brushed his hand through his blonde hair.
"Is it that bad? I didn't have a dress so I had to—" Draco suddenly put his hand over her mouth.
"You look amazing." He stated simply his blue eyes penetrating hers.
"Thank you, Draco." She spoke as she removed his hand from her mouth. "I must say, that you look rather handsome yourself." Draco just shrugged at her compliment.
"Ready?" He asked as he extended his hand in a bow.
Emily gave a soft laugh. She took it willingly, as they made their way to the entrance of the Great Hall. Emily could feel her heart beat heavily in her chest.
"Breath." Draco said noticing that she had been holding her breath.
Emily exhaled and took a deep breath. She squeezed Draco's hand, then placed her other one on his steady arm for comfort. He simply looked down and smiled, squeezing her hand as well.
In one movement, Emily was forced into the light of the Great Hall, the music filtering over her more powerfully than before. Yet, it was what she saw that filled her with awe. Draco and her stood alone on a terrace, high above the room. The Great Hall that she had known, the stone floor, the glass ceiling, the long wooden benches were no more and in its place was an overly elaborate decorated ballroom.
Round tables ordained with the four house colors lined the outskirts of the room. The band played in a corner, while couples in marvelous dress robes of all colors had already begun dancing in the center. Huge tapestries depicting each house and founder hung from the ceiling. Light radiated from the center chandelier that hung above the crowd of people, its artistry could not be matched, as the light filtered through red, yellow, blue, and green crystals.
Emily searched for her friends through the couples that danced about, the ones that mingled by the refreshments, yet was unable to do so for Draco was pulling on her arm as if begging her to follow him.
"We have to be announced." He whispered into her ear as he led her to the grand staircase that descended before them.
"What?" Emily suddenly felt nervous. Announced? Draco stopped them in front of a rather plump man dressed in a dress robe that had not fit him five years ago, let alone now.
"Mr. Draco Malfoy, Representative of Slytherin. I shall be escorting Ms. Emily Black." He stated plainly.
"It would seem fashionably late was a half hour ago, Represntative Malfoy. You are the last Representatives to be announded." The man's face was obviously aghast at the indecendcy of the two of them. "Please descend the stairs upon hearing your names called."
"I have done this before old man." Draco spoke flatly as he led Emily to the top of the stairs.
"Draco!" Emily muttered rather desperately upon noticing the amount of people below them.
"Just breathe." He said with a sly smile. "Nobody is going to be able to take their eyes off you." Emily took a deep breath as the rather plump man placed his wand to his throat.
"Introducing the Representatives from the House of Slytherin, Mr. Draco Malfoy escorting Ms. Emily Black."
Harry with everyone else in the ballroom turned his head at the mention of their names. Draco?! It reverberated through his mind; she is here with Draco. Yet as his eyes found her on top of the stairs he couldn't help but smile.
His heart was captivated by her every movement as she descended the stairs. He had seemed to forget how to breathe. She was stunningly beautiful, her black silk gown hugged every inch of her figure. Her wavy mahogany hair was loosely twisted back to the nape of her neck, parts of it cascading down past her shoulders, something she had never done before. Harry watched on as her skin shone in the light that filtered from the overhead chandelier.
Yet it was the look on her face that made him smile. Everyone else would be fooled by the simple smile that played on her lips, everyone else might be mesmerized by her grace and ease, yet Harry knew her too well. She was nervous, and yet it seemed to make her even more radiant to him.
"I believe that I am the luckiest man tonight." Draco muttered under his smile, as he noticed the expression on everyone's face. She had truly captured the attention of everyone in the ballroom that night.
"If I were Ginny, you might be." Emily looked into his eyes and saw his smile vanish.
He could not fool her. He could play this part, the part of the charmer, yet she knew that his heart secretly desired to be exactly where hers wanted to be as well, a few feet away where Harry and Ginny stood. The band took up a different tune, forcing Emily from her own thoughts; it was a slower song perfect for a waltz.
"May I have this dance, then." Draco bent to whisper in her ear, as they approached the middle of the great room it seemed couples backed out of the way allowing them to take their position in the middle of the dance floor.
Draco extended his hand that had hers clasped in it, and swirled her out from him, quickly bringing her back into his chest. Emily placed her hand upon his arm to keep her balance.
"Are you sure you will be able to keep up?" His eyes dared. Emily, with a sly smile, accepted his challenge.
Together they danced in unison, flowing across the room in one solid movement. Emily felt her heart flutter as she noticed Harry from the corner of her eye, holding Ginny as they too glided across the floor. He looked so regal in his crimson and golden dress robe. He truly did look like an heir of Gryffindor. The band struck up various numbers, some slow, others quick; by the fourth Emily was ready to take a break. Draco, she could tell felt the same way.
"I'll admit you're better than I thought Black." He said with a slight smile as he led her to the refreshment table.
Yet before they could get there a herd of reporters surrounded them, their flash-quick cameras snapping photos, a throng of questions being thrown there way.
"Ms. Black is it true that your recent romance with the boy-who-lived ended with a fist-fight on the courtyard of Hogwarts?"
"Is it true that you Mr. Malfoy were the one who Harry Potter punched?"
"Is it hate turned love for the two of you!?"
"Look this way Ms. Black, Mr. Malfoy!
"Look this way!"
Emily didn't know what to do or where to look as the cameras bright lights flashed all around her. The last time this happened Harry had ended up pulling her out of the room. Yet she knew it wouldn't be that way this time around, Harry was probably still waltzing with Ginny. She was glad however that Draco was by her side, he put his arm around her holding her tightly to him.
"Please, that is enough. Ms. Black and I make no official comment about any of the past events that have occurred. We are simply here to enjoy a festive night with our fellow students and esteemed members of the Ministry. Now if you will excuse us." Draco spoke calmly and confidently. He then smiled and with a nod steered the two of them through the crowd of reporters.
"Thank you Draco! I thought we were going to be trampled by pen and quick-quillers." She said with a slight laugh as she placed her hand on his arm gently. "You handled that beautifully."
"Maybe politics is in my near future." He winked at her as he reached for a couple of glasses for the two of them.
Emily remained by his side as they talked to some of his fellow Slytherins, mingled around the refreshment table. Yet upon seeing Hermione approach she excused herself.
"Finally, someone I actually want to talk to." Emily whispered as she released herself from Hermione's hug.
"You look absolutely stunning, Em." Hermione whispered with a smile.
"Not compared to you." Emily replied as she turned to face her friend. Hermione looked radiant in her blue gown, her hair it seemed had fallend from her bun, and she naturally had pinned it to one side.
"Pish posh, Ron was the only one who glanced at me that way."
"I thought he was supposed to be wearing those old robes?" Emily commented as she noticed Ron's shiny new, black dress robes through the crowd.
"Harry bought them for him, he told him that it was an early birthday present. I think Harry just wanted to help him out." Hermione stated. "You and Draco were the topic of conversation throughout the whole room tonight. I couldn't believe those reporters! I saw you and Draco in the sea of them. Are you okay?"
"Draco took care of it. They were just being nosey. Wanting to know what happened between me and Harry, hoping to get an inside scoop on my and Draco's sordid affair." Emily said with a laugh before she took another sip of her drink.
"Well, you two do know how to make an entrance. Forget telling you about Cinderella."
"Why?" She spoke perplexed.
"You sort of just topped it. Cinderella didn't enter the ballroom with the man who exposed her of being a Death Eater." At that Emily couldn't help but laugh, if only she knew how absolutely terrifed she had been. Hermione placed a gentle hand upon her wrist. "Everyone couldn't take their eyes off you."
"Not everyone." Emily mumbled underneath her breath.
"Then you weren't looking." Hermione eyes shinned, her mouth twisted into a delicate smiled as she glanced from Emily across the ballroom. Emily followed Hermione gaze until it fell upon Harry.
Their eyes met for the first time that night and it seemed that in that single moment the ballroom blurred around her. The lavish colorful dress-robes all blended together and all she saw was Harry. She felt like a fool for her stomach still fluttered, her breath still became heavy, her heart still beat heavily when his piercing emerald eyes found her through the crowd.
