~*~ Midwinter Land ~*~
Snow was falling in soft, fat flakes, coating the landscape in a frosting of crystallized water. Ice encased the trees outside the barrier, lending the barren branches a translucent beauty. In the pool it was warm though, with gentle jets of water bubbling all around us. The first time I had come up here I was struck by how similar yet different it was from my own little garden. There was something precious about relaxing here in comfort as the world outside was cocooned in the grip of winter.
Draco sat across from me, laying in the embrace of the sloping sides of the pool, his head back against the rim and his lips slightly parted, his silvery blonde hair spread around him like an angel's halo. Sometimes I couldn't breathe properly when I looked at him. I think over the past months we've become closer, much closer, though we've never touched more than like what had happened at the start of all this. Casual, like my somewhat impersonal affection laid upon him as though he was the same as Ron and Hermione.
We'd been circling each other, warily, neither of us quite willing or able to make the first move. Even so, this was satisfying in its own way. Its hard being so close and yet not. I think Hermione is impatient with me, but although I'm the first person to step forward into danger I perceive is mine for the handling, I'm probably far too cautious when it comes to things more personal. Still, I think she understands my confliction.
The sun is setting, making the trees come aglow with heaven's fire as the sky slowly turns through a kaleidoscope of pinks and reds shading out into deepest blues and dusky purples. I can't come up with better names for these colours. It's almost like dying, in a way, only to be reborn in the gentler hues of sunrise the next day. It's painful, masochistic, the agony of being so close, the indecision and uncertainty, but right now I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't dance quite the same anymore. I can lose myself, but I'm much more aware now of what happens around me. I can feel it now when he's watching and I find myself getting a little wilder when he is sitting there. He's been drawing me out, inexorably, almost against my will. I can use it to escape, but only if he's somewhere else.
The sun has set, and his eyes opened at the change in the quality of light, lifting his head to grace me with a slow smile and half-lidded eyes. I felt like I was being seduced by that look and I fought hard not to tremble in response. I watched as he stood and left the pool, watched as the water streamed down his perfect body then slowed to trickles and he brushed them away with a towel. Then he spoke, shaking me from my silent immobility.
"It's time. We should get going before we arrive so late as to hear a lecture, don't you think?" His expression was of affectionate amusement tinged with annoyance, so I smiled and felt myself standing.
~*~
I was a bit drunk and so was he. Perhaps more than a little. But we were able to successfully apparate to Grey's flat from the Christmas Eve party at the Weasley's. I'd never heard him giggle before, but he was now, like a child on holiday. I led him to his room, gripping his arm tightly when he stumbled. I needed to get him to his bed at least. It wouldn't do to have him waking up on the floor because we were both a little too far gone.
But we got there and I watched as he stripped down to a pair of silk boxers, unsteady on his feet. So I guided him again, pushing gently as I steered him to his bed and onto to it, watching as he flopped down gracelessly, still giggling madly. I brushed the hair that fought to obscure my vision away from my face and started to turn. I must have tripped, or gotten dizzy, because then it was just velvety blackness.