The evening of the Halloween Ball had finally arrived. After taking a long bubble bath, Kyra stepped out of the tub and performed a drying spell on it and on herself. Checking the watch, he realized she better hurry; she had less than an hour left and she didn't want to keep Johnny waiting.
He was her date for the night and Kyra was glad she could spend her last Halloween Ball with him. She had turned down a few offers and he hadn't wanted to invite anyone else... they just wanted to be together. Sometimes it amazed her how close they were; they shared a bond that went far beyond attraction, friendship and even love. That was why none of them had ever tried to get romantically involved with the other. What they had was special and they were both proud of it, so, why change it?
Not many people understood, however, and almost everyone at Hogwarts thought they were 'shagging like rabbits' or at least secretly involved. She reflected on that while she went through her toiletries and dressing. Forty-five minutes later, she was done. Kyra looked at her reflection on the mirror and smiled brightly. Mirror Kyra smiled back and she left her chambers John was waiting outside.
The first thing he noticed was that she had charmed her hair, so now it hung down her waist in a mass of black glossy ringlets. Secondly, his eyes fell on her full lips, polished in an intense shade of red. And then, he took her entire outfit in.
" Dear Merlin, Kyra, you look... breathtaking!" He managed to whisper, noticing he had been holding his breath.
Indeed, her gypsy outfit made her look exquisite. She was wearing a white blouse with elastics at the elbows and long, wide sleeves; its bodice was fully lined with lacing up the front and back. It highlighted her still-tanned skin, especially at the deep cleavage. There hung a beautiful necklace with an antique brass tone medallion highlighted by carnelian beads. The skirt was of a rich coral tone, mid-calf, with little gypsy bells at the end of the drawstrings that adjusted it to her narrow waist. A belt of antique silver coins, a silk shawl adorned with glass beads and macrame fringe and leather sandals with tiny bells on their straps completed her look.
" Thanks, Johnny," she said, blushing a little at his intense scrutiny. " You don't look too bad yourself."
He was obviously dressed as the Phantom of the Opera. Kyra smiled, they had seen the play together during one of the many holidays he had spent with her. He had the full outfit on: black boots and loose-fitting pants the same color, a white shirt with full collar and billowing sleeves. Its neck and gauntlet-style cuffs had nickel-plated grommets with lacing. On top of that, he wore a black cape with a delicate loop closure to hold the collar closed. His mask fitted nicely over the right side of his face, while the fedora hat added to his mysterious look.
He gallantly offered her his arm and after she took it, they headed towards the Great Hall. The ball had just started and John led her inside; everything looked perfect. Dumbledore had really done it this time... The decorations were unlike anything she had seen before, the food looked incredible and the music flowed softly, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
She looked around, relishing on every little detail. And then, her eyes fell on Professor Snape. He was watching her intently, his obsidian eyes fixed on her figure. As she met them, he quickly looked away, but Kyra suddenly felt weak. He looked... imposing in his heavy brocade dress robes and she wondered why was he there. He attended very few balls... not that it bothered her, the exact opposite, she felt almost a childish excitement from seeing him there.
' Oh, stop it!' She admonished herself. ' It's not like he's gonna come and ask you to dance.' Question was, did she want him to? Fearing her own answer to that, she did her best to put him out of her mind. Kyra focused her attention back on Johnny, as they drew near Marianne and Jeremy.
Her friend made a lovely Guinevere with her magnificent Renaissance gown made of royal purple velvet. Slightly curved across the front of the waist and straight across the back, the bodice was fully embroidered with glass beads. A 4-yard flowing skirt was hand pleated to the bodice. The 'wing' styled sleeves were open at the shoulders and hung down to almost the knee. She was wearing matching satin pumps and a beaded purse, with glass and silver-colored metal drops and silk lining. It had an also beaded shoulder chain.
" God, Marianne, you look lovely!" She exclaimed.
" Thanks Ky, so do you! You're Esmeralda, from 'The hunchback of Notre Dame', right?"
" I'm glad you remembered the book I lent you."
" How could I not? It was delightful."
As John complimented Marianne, Kyra turned to greet Jer, her friend's personal Lancelot.
He was dressed in a hunter green shirt with full-cut body, billowing sleeves and lacing at the neck and cuffs, a black doublet of waist length, slightly pointed in front, brass grommets with black lacing on its front and basic black trousers of relaxed fit with slightly tapered legs. He was obviously very proud of his Knight's belt in sturdy black leather, where he carried a sword, since he kept throwing quick glances at it and smiling brightly. As he also smiled at the woman next to him.
" I love your costume, Jeremy!"
" Thank you, Kyra, I love yours too. And you," he said, patting John on the back, " have to explain me yours..." As John and Jeremy talked, Kyra and Marianne did the same.
" Where's Hélène?" Asked Ky, after a while, looking at the crowd, trying to find her friend among it.
As to answer her question, Hélène and Frederic entered the ballroom. Kyra simply couldn't believe her eyes.
" Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" She asked John. As she didn't get an answer, she turned to look at her friend and found him staring at the couple with his mouth hanging open. " Yeah... apparently you are."
The source of their shock was dressed in a perfect cheerleading uniform in navy blue. The cropped top had a silver sequin trim, as well as the lovely pleated skirt. Pom-poms of the same color as the outfit and silver sneakers accessorized her, while the indigo cap that read: 'Go team!' added the finishing touch.
It was an appropriate costume, since the two garments met at her waist without exposing any skin and the skirt was the same length her uniform's was, but still, her friends were astounded. Hélène dressed as a cheerleader? Now that was something you didn't see everyday. Still, she looked great. The clothes flattered her figure and, as she removed her cap, her short dark hair made a striking contrast against the fairness of her skin.
To match his date's costume, Frederic was dressed as an American football player, with its full gear: blue sneakers, silver titanium helmet with face mask, chinstrap, navy blue stretch polyester pants. Pretty stretchy, actually. A silver jersey with his name and 00 written on the back in elegant blue, tons of padding in his arms, hips, shoulders and knees, the ever-present foot ball and... Presto! A football player to die for.
Kyra smiled, she had heard from Hélène that Frederic was quite obsessed with muggle sports and that was the proof. Being such a prankster, he was probably the one who had talked Hél into wearing her cheerleading outfit to match his clothes and not the other way round. Despite her initial shock, she had to admit they looked great together.
Since her grand entrance, Hélène had never stopped observing her friends. Smiling placidly at the shock she had stirred in them, she approached the group.
" Hey mates, how's the party so far?" Asked the cheery cheerleader.
" Definitely more entertaining since you arrived," was John's comeback.
They all laughed, Hélène included. " So, like my outfit?"
" Yeah, it's lovely. Thing is... well, not the kind of outfit you would usually wear..." said Marianne, trying to sound as diplomatic as she could.
" I know. But Frederic bought his football uniform at muggle London during the holidays and he told me it would be darn funny if he appeared dressed as a jock. Well, I agreed and then he tried to convince me to wear this... thing. To 'double the fun'," explained Hélène.
" Can't argue with that," said Kyra, eyeing her with a lopsided grin.
" Yeah, well, I wasn't very fond of the idea, but what the hell! I saw a cheerleader in one of those muggle magazines you have, Ky. I think it was on 'Seventeen'. I imprinted it on my memory, then drew a sketch and took it to Madam Malkin's to have it confectioned. Bet you weren't expecting this..."
" You can say that again!" Exclaimed John.
" I can't imagine Madame Malkin sewing it!!!" Said Kyra between laughs.
" It cost me a small fortune but seeing your faces... it was totally worth it!" Hélène replied laughing as well.
" I like Frederic's outfit too," commented Marianne.
" By the way, where the hell did he go?" Asked Hélène, looking around.
" I'm right here," he whispered, appearing from behind her. " I was greeting my friends. I got a lot of compliments on our choice of costume."
The six of them chatted animatedly for a while until they couldn't resist the charm of the music anymore.
" Would you honor me with this dance?" Asked John, bowing lightly. He was such a gentleman...
" Of course," she answered, beaming at him.
He placed his hands on the small of her back, gently pressing Kyra against him, while she put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. They nuzzled against each other and started moving along the music's melodious rhythm.
A pair of cold eyes watched them. Lucius Malfoy was at the ball. Seeing Snape standing apart from the crowd, as usual, he went to stand next to him.
Oblivious to his presence, Severus watched Kyra dance enveloped by John's arms. He tried very hard to quell that wave of jealousy and bitterness that was threatening to flood him, but it was to no avail. At that point, he hated John Reid and wished the earth cracked open and swallowed him.
Unfortunately, that would sadden her... Merlin, was she beautiful... he couldn't stop himself from imagining she was between his arms, dancing with him instead of with that bloody Gryffindor...
' Enough, you old fool! Look at the boy, he is fun, open, clean, of her age, half of Hogwarts' female population is after him... Now look at you, nothing but a dungeon dwelling old bat. Who do you think she'd rather be with, huh?'
Lucius wasn't stupid. He could have sensed Severus' sour mood from a mile distance. He looked in the same direction he was and his eyes fell on Kyra. Well, apparently his fellow death eater had a soft spot.
" My dear Severus," he started and nearly laughed at the scowl he was greeted with. " If you have not yet tried to sink your teeth into that mouth-watering delicacy, your self-control is to be highly praised," he said gesturing towards Kyra with his head.
Snape hadn't liked the interruption. He swallowed hard as unwelcome feelings of possessiveness took hold of him at Lucius' comment. " Unlike you, Lucius, I know what lines not to cross," he replied caustically.
" Ah, well, that's your problem. But it's sad, you don't really know what you're missing..." remarked Lucius with a wily smile.
" You don't, either," said Severus in a tone without any inflections.
" But I don't intend to miss it! I want her and I will act on it." That twitched the Potions Master's stomach.
" Lucius, please, she is only a child!" He snapped. " And comes from a muggle family," he hurried to add.
" That is why I want her for myself alone, even though she would be highly appreciated in a Dark Revel..." hinted the blond man.
" Don't even think about it!" He growled.
Malfoy only smiled and that made Severus want to wipe that smile from his face, even if he had to do it the muggle way: with a clean punch, right on his disgustingly curved mouth.
" What is it, my friend? Is this beauty the apple of your eyes?" He asked in a condescending tone that angered Severus infinitely.
" Don't be ridiculous! It is only that there are plenty of muggles out there you can use without risking our purposes by looking for one here." Snape was proud of his lie. It had been pretty convincing... or so he thought.
" Maybe. Now, if you excuse me…" he said and went to where Kyra was standing, waiting for John who had gone get her a drink.
Even though it is hard to imagine, Severus' face twitched into the fiercest scowl ever when he saw Malfoy leading the girl back to the dance floor.
Kyra had been surprised to see Lucius Malfoy at the ball; but her surprise knew no limits when he had asked her to dance with him. Now, she just felt dizzy. He was a very good dancer... Kyra sighed softly and breathed in his expensive cologne. She was attracted to him, oh yes she was and knew he was off-limits, but that didn't keep her from enjoying his closeness, his touch…
Lucius was amazed at the power he felt radiating from her; he had never been this close to Kyra, but now... all his questions were answered. As he held her between his arms, he had to recognize she was quite desirable, that would simplify his task very much... very much indeed.
Had she not been a mudblood, Lucius had no doubt he would have enjoyed making her his mistress very much. And had she not been who he thought he was, he would have found great pleasure in taking her to a dark revel and, well... But right now, all he could do was seduce her and have a bit of fun with that.
He would wait for a while before letting the Dark Lord know about his discovery. He first had to come up with a plan.