The Hunt
Chapter 4- The Ball
Harry spun his partner around; she came back and rested in his arms again. He reflected on how entertaining the night had been so far.
When he arrived with the Malfoy's he quickly found his date. A gorgeous woman a few years older than him, but he didn't complain. He bowed to her, taking her hand and kissing it. She gave him an appraising look before smiling, with a certain light in her eye that excited him. He gave her his arm before starting in with small talk.
At the entrance to the ballroom, a portly figure announced them. A few people looked at them then continued onto their own business, except one. Mr. Fudge came over face beaming.
"Good evening, young Mr. Acerbus, Madam Constrat. I thank you both for attending my ball. A fine chance for up and coming wizards to meet new people." He winked in Harry's direction, Harry forced a smile onto his face, Emily (his date) seemed to notice and smirked, but Fudge was obvious. "I'll leave you, I have to meet a Greek Ministry official, great gods I hope the man speaks English…" he sighed shaking Harry's hand, and nodding to Emily.
"Not a fan of Fudge's?" she asked, smiling.
"You could say that," he grimaced, causing her rather high-pitched laughter to sound, "How about we dance before another pompous person has the urge to talk to us?" She nodded her agreement.
Leading the way to the floor, they danced to the waltz that was playing. He led her flawlessly through it, which seemed to cause attention to the young couple as they moved across the floor, seemingly skating instead of dancing. When the song ended both breathlessly headed to a table where there appeared two glasses of wine.
They sat sipping the wine, as she talked about herself. She had grown up in England and moved to France to attend Beauxbatons. Her brother it seemed was still there and was one of those chosen to go to Hogwarts for the Tri-wizard tournament.
She would have continued as Harry nodded and made the right comments in the right places as he stared into her eyes, and roaming to other places. Until they noticed a line of people waiting to talk. Harry motioned for the men standing to sit.
"Good evening, my word both of you are fantastic dancers, where did you learn?" his Yorkshire accent heavy, "Oh I'm terribly sorry I'm Deedwill Fortantank." He extended his hand.
"Pleasure, Anima Acerbus. I learned by a fabulous dance instructor. She guided me to where I am. If you would like the name, you should talk to Mr. Malfoy, he set me up with her. Wonderful teacher." Harry told them, this was truth, Lucius had found a beautiful and incredibly talented woman.
"I have been dancing since I was old enough to walk, it is my one true love." Emily answered. Smiling blissfully.
They kept answering questions of curious people, until a faster song came up. They smiled at each other. They rose at the same time, moving to the floor gracefully. Many were watching as the two spun and twirled to the fast pace that many could not keep up with. Her dark hair spun and whirled around her face as she moved. Harry's, where it escaped the ponytail, also curled around his face.
Her white robes contrasted well with her black hair. Harry's white blond hair also contrasting with his dark robes. They moved fast, giving off a little blur that none could decide whether was from their movements or magic that seeped from them to give an unearthly display.
A dark haired beauty surrounded by a white aura. A light haired figure engulfed with a black aura. They moved and it seemed that the auras mixed, swirling, and combining. The music slowed, they slowed at perfect match to it, finally stopping, she rested her head on his shoulder.
The auras gone, it seemed to be just their robes. Lucius was watching and knew that it was not, but also knew that it only happened only with emotionally charged individuals that shared in an emotion-releasing event.
The cheering was thunderous for the two dancers. They smiled in appreciation at the crowd that had gathered around them. Slow music started now filling the hall. Emily wrapped her arms around his neck leaning in and resting her head against his chest, looking up into the sky blue eyes, while he stared into her wild violet ones, his arms around her waist, his hands moving in slow soft circles, across her lower back, causing shivers to run up her spine. Her own hands drifting around his head, moving his blonde hair, and tracing the veins of his neck, making blood rush to his head.
The night went as so, for hours. They seemed to spark a lustful connection. Taking pleasure in seeing the reaction of the other. They seemed content to just move in slow rhythms, working the others libido. As they shared a passionate kiss, an explosion rocked the Manor. Screams rebounded around the hall. Harry looked for the source and saw dark robes and white masks. "Whatever happens stay with me." He quickly told her, she nodded, dumbfounded, clutching at his arm. Harry saw several Aurors grab Fudge and lead him through a hallway to his freedom.
The Death eaters quickly barred all chances of escape. They moved through the crowd picking out important figures. He saw Lucius right before he tapped his shoulder. "Take this, if a Death Eater asks any questions of you, just show it to him." Tossing a small bracelet to Harry, he looked at the girl, "Stay with him, or you could very well die this night." He finished.
Harry put the bracelet on, examining it. It was silver, he could tell, with several snakes forming it, with their eyes sparkling, he looked closer; each snake had diamonds for eyes. Emily was staring in awe at the jewelry.
Looking up he saw the Death Eaters separating the crowd into two sections, as they moved towards the back, where he and Emily were. When they were upon them, a short one stood before him, wand ready. "What is your name, boy?" he asked, monotonously. Harry lifted his arm to show the bracelet to the man. His eyes glittered behind the mask, "Move to the front with our lord." He commanded, "Take the woman with you." He said eyeing her.
She seemed apprehensive of doing anything, but followed Harry, who led her, by the hand, to the front where Voldemort stood in all his dark glory, "Do not speak unless spoken to." He warned her. She nodded fearfully. A few Death Eaters stood at Voldemort's side.
"Who are you, young one?" his high-pitched voice, directed at him. Voldemort looked directly at him, most likely trying to use Legilimens, but Harry kept his eyes averted from the figure. He bowed, fully, showing no apprehension.
"Anima Denuo Acerbus, milord." Voldemort seemed to smile, almost appreciating his manners. Harry cleared his mind, his face blank. "And may I present Emily Lisa Constrat, my lord?" She bowed deeply to Voldemort, before returning to Harry's side.
"Welcome Anima, your presence will be most enjoyable. Constrat, I haven't heard from that family for years, welcome also. Both of you stand at my side." He ordered, waving away two others. "Are both of you in training, or just one?" He asked keeping an eye on the hostages as well.
"I am, sir. She is my escort. I have been training for nearly six months, milord. I am eager to enter your service." He bowed again. Voldemort looked intrigued by something.
"You have no interest in joining me, Emily?" he asked of her. Fear passed through her eyes at the weighted question. But responded tactfully.
"I have nothing to offer you, milord, I am a professional dancer." She told him meekly. Her whole presence seemed sub-missive.
"Well you never know what is there to offer, until you search the depths of your soul." The Dark Lord replied, he pushed her chin up gently, looking into her eyes. She stiffened at his intrusion, but settled into a trance-like calm. He broke the connection, "You do have potential to be great, and it is there inside, waiting." He then stepped forward, halting further conversation. The room silenced seeing the motion from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
He motioned to a Death Eater; he had the group of sympathizers move away from the others. The other group consisted of ministry officials, some of the foreign nationals, and light supporters. "You," he spread his arms encompassing the group of light wizards, "are those unfortunate enough to not support me. You are wizards that believe yourselves to be good, with your ways set out for you. I am here to tell you that you are nothing, and that good will not win. For right now I have some of the leading political leaders of the European wizarding nations. They will die, as will those who stand by them." He spun around leading away his followers, leaving his Death Eaters to take care of those he left, he was sure that the savagery bestowed upon the light this night would be remembered for a long time.
He turned to those that merely supported him, but were not his. "You are still safe, your identities will not be known to the light, for none of them will survive, and the guest list has been destroyed. You were not here to the world. Leave, go your ways, and keep safe from those that oppose you." With that strange blessing they all left, apperated away. Almost all left, Acerbus, though, stayed by his Lord.
"My Lord, I have something of which you should be pleased to know." Voldemort appeared curious. He nodded his approval. "I have a certain affinity to snakes." He hissed. The Dark Lord raised his eyebrows, in slight surprise.
"This is good, I haven't had another Parsel since before my first downfall. He was my right-hand, I hope to see you succeed to that level." Voldemort hissed back. He laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. Then he was gone.
Harry turned to Emily, "I am so sorry that you were exposed to this. I should have known something like this…."
He was cut off, "It's alright. My family was planning to pledge allegiance to the Dark Lord this year, anyway. I would never have guessed that you, though, was a dark supporter."
"Well, you know the saying, whichever way the wind blows. I take advantage of this situation. So then what were your plans before the party was interrupted?" his hand had found a way behind her and pulled her to him quickly. She smiled lustily.
"I had planned on going home and to bed. My plans have yet to change." Harry seemed confused and down for a moment, before catching on.
"Not alone I hope?" he breathed.
"Where did you get that idea?" She said into his lips as she parted them and moved her tongue along his. His hand wound into her hair, before he thought of something, he pulled back.
"Well, lead on to your home, I believe that soon enough Aurors should be here and we should not." She looked slightly frightened, held him and apperated to her bedroom. "I see we're a little anxious." But he didn't let her answer as he kissed her again. He flicked his hand, and the heavy robes found their way to the floor. He began unbuttoning her blouse, trailing his mouth across her neck, suckling here and there, and nipping at pulse points, eliciting moans from her.
Soon enough they found the bed and clothes had disappeared. They were so caught up in the passion of the moment that they didn't hear the door close and a shadow chuckle as he disapperated.