Waltzing

Ginny stared at herself in Hermione's mirror again. Her hair had stayed put since her appointment earlier that day, and for that she was glad. But her skin wasn't glowing, and her nails seemed unrefined, and her makeup didn't seem right. Her eyes peeked out from her mask, which was silky and soft against her powdered skin, but they didn't sparkle like she wanted them to.

"Are you sure I look all right?" She called to Hermione again, who was putting on a pair of earrings that Lavender had given her. She slipped the rubber stopper on and sighed as she gazed at her soft pink mask, which matched her stunning ballroom gown. Her legs seemed to be lost in folds of fluffy pink clouds, and she was caressed by the daintiest of pink rosebud-shaped petals that enveloped her upper body.

"For the last time, yes! You are beautiful, and you will knock the socks off of every guy there." Hermione sprayed a bit of perfume in the air and walked through it. "Ready?"

"No."

"Too bad," Harry called from the door. Both girls turned around to look at him. He was handsome, even to Ginny, who hadn't liked him since second year. He wore a long, high collared black jacket over a white tux shirt with a long, silken black tie. His black pants were straight and pressed, and fit snugly around his crisp black and white tap-styled shoes. His hair was combed lazily over to one side and gelled slightly, which gave him a sassy, almost jazzy look to him. The top half of his face was covered in a mask, but if you knew him well enough you would know it was he under it. He clutched a fedora in his hands, and twirled it effortlessly as if he waited for something to happen.

"Well, well, well… " Hermione purred. "Look how well the cat cleans up… very interesting indeed… " She smiled and pressed herself close to him, and he smothered her in a warm kiss.

Ginny turned away sharply. She felt as if she was a peeping tom, almost, with the way they were snogging. She coughed a little, to try and clear them up, but Hermione only giggled. She gazed around the far side of the room, desperately, trying to find something that would make them go and now, not snog and later. Her eyes came to rest on the clock. It was 6:45.

"Oh my gosh!" she breathed as she turned around, scaring Hermione and Harry into breaking apart. "It's 6:45! We have to get going or we are going to be late!"

"She's right," Harry boomed. "Let's go." He took Hermione's hand, and she reached for Ginny's gloved hand. Ginny took Hermione's own gloved hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. In a flash, the three were standing outside of a beautiful castle. It was surrounded by little twinkling lights, and there were fireflies about, which made the air look like the stars had come to the party too. Ginny gazed about at a fountain almost hidden by the castle. It was alight with a bright, toasty glow of its own, and she longed to see it more, but Hermione tugged on her hand and she was taken into the castle.

"Right this way," a servant said to them as he showed them a parlor full of people. Hermione clung to Harry, who put his arm through hers, and Ginny walked along side them.

"Now, whatever you do," Hermione warned. "Don't tell anyone who you are. In fact, try not to speak to anyone without a mask on. If they have a mask on, they are young enough to date. If they don't; don't bother." She smiled and waved goodbye to Ginny as Harry drug her toward the piano. Ginny sighed as she walked toward the empty fireplace. It was so boring, and nothing had even happened yet.

A soft, melodic piano began playing. It was very mellow, and very quiet. Ginny glanced over at the elegant black piano, and saw Harry sitting at the bench. He had learned how to play from the pianist from the Twisted Sisters, and now he played whenever he could show off. Now was definitely one of those times. Ginny laughed a little and brushed the strand of hair hanging in her face away from her eyes and sighed a little. She would never meet someone like Harry.

Just at that moment, someone else walked into the room, looking very dignified in an all-black suit; from head to foot, from shirt to jacket to pants to tie, he was wearing all black. And from the looks of it, it was all very expensive and soft. Ginny's heart quickened and she smiled faintly… all of the blood was rushing from her head and she felt faint. Who was this masked stranger?

Draco gazed around the room, rather disgusted at the whole idea of him even being there, but Snape had shoved him into the room and told him to mingle, that he needed to find "Callista." The dumb red-head he was supposed to marry. Yeah right. Maybe if he talked to her, he could convince her that she was making a mistake of marrying him. There was a melodic jazz piano flowing from the room… strange, he didn't think they had hired a piano player for the foyer.

Callista, Callista, Callista… Ah! There, by the fireplace. She had red hair, at least, from behind. She turned and around, and Draco's heart fluttered. Surely, she wasn't the one. She was much to beautiful – even with a mask on – for what his father described. Her hair was curled ever so slightly, and it was pinned with flowers in the back of her head. Her skin was so radiant it glowed in the candlelight, and even sparkled when she breathed. Her dress in itself was the most amazing thing Draco had ever seen. Firstly, the entire thing was black, save the enchanted silver waterfall flowing from the top down to her waist and the flowers swayed when she walked… and what were those? Were those butterflies flying around in her skirt? They would land on a flower, only to be upset when she moved. It was ingenious.

"Dinner is served," a servant called from the door. The piano stopped and everyone began chatting.

"Did you hear?" someone said behind Ginny as she made her way with everyone else. "It is a spilt ball. You can dance and then eat, or eat and then dance. Isn't that marvelous?"

"Yes, it is," a man replied.

Ginny walked a bit slower. Dance and eat, or eat and dance? Sounded like a good plan. She might have a bite first, considering she had only had a coffee and a margarita during the day. She was very famished indeed. Ginny picked up the hem of her skirt and walked a little faster; the promise of food made her a little happier.

"Hello," a man in a mask nodded to her as she entered the ballroom. He was tall, and a little pudgy around the middle, but other than that he looked okay. She nodded back, but only to turn her head quickly at the wonderful sight before her.

Firstly, the room was enormous. Secondly, not a square centimeter went without want. There was a full orchestra, with romantic violinists and sweet cellists and a handsome harp player. There were little candles everywhere, which gave the painted ceiling and floor atmosphere. The paintings… goodness. Ginny couldn't even begin to see the grand design on the floor, but if it was anything like the ceiling – cherubs, olive leaves, clouds, lights, Merlin and King Arthur – then it must be equally grand. There was a table stretched out along the far wall, covered in all kinds of different foods and elegant, fine china; spread out along the rows of tables were house elves, wearing fine silken pillowcases with dishcloths over their arms.

"Have you ever seen anything so splendid?" Ginny breathed as she walked across the dance floor.

"No," a voice came from behind her. Ginny turned around to see who was there, but there was no one. She turned back around, captivated by all of the wonderful things before her.

"Attention! Attention!" A man wearing red robes stood and clinked a glass. The orchestra's soft sound stopped and the room fell quiet. "I'd like to be the first to welcome you to the start of a new beginning!" Several people around Ginny clapped. "And thank you, thank you all for coming. It means so much to us. But! Let me not keep you from meeting new friends! Enjoy! Eat, dance, or dance, eat. Whatever fits you best!" The man laughed heartily and sat back down. Ginny couldn't see exactly who he was, but he had dark hair and a pale face. She didn't know him.

"You there!" A woman was calling to Ginny. She whirled around, and saw Hermione and Harry holding hands. "Let's go eat! Yeah?" They all walked in a line to three chairs, which had been reserved for them. They sat very grandly and each took what they liked from the bowls and plates before them. Ginny took mostly fruit, Harry took a lot of meat, and Hermione filled her plate with an equal amount of fruit, meat, bread, and vegetables.

"So," Harry began, a mouth half filled with a roll, proving that he was still Harry even though he was dressed up. "Have you seen anyone worth dancing with?" He took a drink of whatever it was before him to clear the bread out of his throat.

"Yes, but he disappeared as soon as they called for dinner. Where he is right now… " She gazed down the table, but he wasn't there. "I don't know."

"That's all right," Hermione buzzed from the other side of Harry as she munched on a carrot. "Your Prince Charming will come. The night is young! Give it time." She smiled and winked, although Ginny didn't see it. She sighed and ate more of her fruit. So far, the evening was rather uneventful.

Draco waltzed with several of the other masked women, but his eyes kept wandering to her red hair. There she was, talking and laughing, not even knowing he existed. Not knowing this was the last night she would get to talk and laugh with other men. She would have fun, but he would be upheld, by tradition, to not. He wouldn't even meet her until she was ready. It was disgusting. But he focused back on his partner, trying to keep her out of sight. He needed to forget.

After an hour or so of off and on again eating, Harry wiped his hands on a napkin and bowed to Ginny clumsily. "May I?" he asked as he held out his hand. She giggled and took it, waving goodbye to Hermione as he tugged her out on the floor. She laughed as he twirled her about, quite unlike the other couples, who knew what they were doing. He dipped her and spun her around, and she laughed and laughed, unsure why. But he was having a good time, and the feeling was contagious. She pressed her cheek to his, and noticed a black clad figure almost storm off the dance floor to a chair. She stopped having fun for a moment and wondered who would be so angry at a place like this, but she turned back to Harry, who was smiling and about to twirl her again.

"Harry," She said after a minute or so of twirling. "If you don't stop twirling me I am going to be sick all over you, and then you'll be sorry." Harry stopped immediately.

"Sorry, dreadful sorry. Didn't, you know, mean to make you sick. Let's just dance normal, all right?" She nodded dizzily, the room still spinning a bit. He took her hand in his and wrapped his arm around her waist, as the proper gentlemen were doing. She delicately placed her hand on his shoulders and they were off at a nice waltz.

Hermione watched from a distance and smiled at her fiancée. He was just so kind and gentle, so unlike what he made himself out to be. She leaned against the back of her chair and watched the pair dance for another 30 minutes or so. Finally, when the twirling seemed like it was never going to end, she rose and softly approached them as they twirled around and around and around.

"Hello," Harry began, but he turned around and he couldn't see her so he didn't talk. "I was just… " He turned around again. "Talking about you."

"May I?" Hermione tapped the girl on the shoulder. Ginny, of course, obliged, just a tad nauseous.

"Good luck," she called over her shoulder as she made her way back to a chair. Unfortunately, the seat she had first sat in had been filled, so she wound her way down the table, looking for a place to rest. There was one chair, next to the head of the table. Ginny sat in it quickly, hoping that it didn't belong to anyone else. There was not much conversation happening… but something rather interesting was being discussed down a few chairs, with the host and a guest.

"You let anyone into your balls nowadays," a man was saying. Though Ginny couldn't see him, it was really Crabbe who spoke the words, and he was speaking to Lucius, who she also couldn't see.

"I do not," Lucius argued quietly. "If they had an invitation, they were accepted into the party, and my servants knew what invitations I sent."

"That has nothing to do with the fact that people that you despise are coming to your functions."

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you see her? The skinny girl in the gaudy black dress? You know, the red head, the pale, skinny girl." A sigh of recognition went up from the second man. "She can't be anyone other than that Weasley girl." His voice fell to a near whisper, but Ginny still heard every cruel word. "Their whole family is a lot of rubbish. You know it as well as I do; they are traitors to their own blood-kind. That kind of act is treacherous even to Muggles, and they would never dream of betraying their own kind."

By this point, Ginny had been so hurt by this unknown man's words that she was brought to tears. She stood and ran to the doors that led outside. Her makeup was running, or so she thought. She could feel it dripping, anyway, and she needed to wipe it away, which required taking off her mask. She couldn't bear to be in the same company anymore. It was hurtful.

As Ginny ran past Lucius and Crabbe, words were spoken that she was deaf to. Lucius developed a very solemn look on his face and he grumbled. "She would not have been here if she hadn't been invited. And besides, I have direct orders from Fudge not to lay a hand (or wand) on anyone from the Weasley family. You are a dolt if you do not know that."

"Yes sir, I was faulty."

"Good. It is nice to hear you know you are wrong."

However, by the time much of this was said, our dear Ginny was crying her eyes out on the balcony. It was nearly 9:15, and the stars were out. Ginny's hot, naked eyes – for she had taken off her mask – wandered to the cool night sky and she felt somewhat more at peace. Her tears had begun to ebb when a man spoke to her. Somehow, the voice was familiar, and when she turned around to see who it might be, she was shocked out of her skin.

"Do you need a tissue?" he was asking. The black-clad man was no one else but her Potions teacher and the Head of Slytherin house, Severus Snape. "Oh!" he exclaimed when he saw her better. She sniffed and wiped her tears away; her makeup was magical and wouldn't come off until she had fallen asleep.

"Professor!" Ginny exclaimed as she turned around, trying to fit her mask over her head once again. "What a surprise to find you here."

"I think it is an even greater surprise to find you here. What are you doing here, by the way?"

"Um… um, I'm just, you know, going to the ball, you know."

"No, in fact, I don't. Why don't you tell me?" Snape took a step toward the frightened girl, who still had her back toward him. However, she heard the noise and turned around quickly, sending her butterflies in all directions.

"I don't know what you're getting at," she warned. "But if you come any closer I'll… I'll scream!"

"And what then? Everyone will come out here and find out you are here, then what will you do?"

"Shit." Ginny slumped, knowing she was beaten.

"Exactly." Snape smiled at his deed well done and began to slink back inside.

"Wait!" Ginny called as she rushed toward him. He turned around, and she stopped just a few centimeters in front of him. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

Snape sighed and looked into her shining green eyes. He wanted to be mean to her and tell everyone, really, he did, but gazing into her innocent emerald eyes, he couldn't do anything but agree. "I won't," he promised.

"You swear by all you hold sacred?"

"I do. Not a soul." Snape turned to leave once more, and as he stepped past the threshold, he heard a very soft "Thank you" come from her direction. He laughed a bit, but frowned as Draco pushed past him to go outside. Before Snape could even utter a word of protest, Draco said quickly;

"It's too hot in here. I'm going out."

Ginny sighed and leaned against the railing. It was too difficult to be her. There were so many things she had to do, like go to school and upkeep her social life and status. Then she went through so many different emotions in the course of one day. It was tiring. Ginny sighed again.

Her sigh was echoed, which was strange. Ginny looked up from the glittering garden and glanced around. Who else was out here? She couldn't see the person very well, but the figure was dressed in a very fancy black suit.

Fancy black suit.

That detail sparked a memory of the man from the foyer, the dark, handsome youth. She turned to face him very slowly, so that he wouldn't notice that she was trying to look at him. He was gazing off in the distance; soft, happy thoughts of solitude were running through his head.

In fact, Draco was thinking of being as far away from the girl on the balcony as possible. It was her. It was Callista. The girl whom he was to marry. The horrible girl who had caused him to storm off of the dance floor in a fit of rage. She had been acting so stupid around that other man, as if she was going to marry him, but no. She wasn't. And as much as Draco wanted to be nice to her, he just couldn't. She was as beautiful as a rose, but twice as dangerous to deal with. She was as graceful as a swan, but without the character. She was… oh God. She was coming his way.

"Hello," Ginny said as she curtsied low. "I don't believe we have met tonight."

"Hello," Draco nodded. "And we haven't."

"May I inquire as to why this might be so?"

"We've just missed each other, so it seems."

"Did you come alone to the party?" Ginny leaned against the rail and tilted her head to the side a little.

"I… Yes, I did."

"I came with my best friend and her boyfriend. You might have seen them; I sat with them at dinner, and I have only danced with Har… " Ginny suddenly remembered what Hermione said. "… Harold tonight, before I came out here." She smiled and averted her calm eyes from his searching ones.

It hit Draco like lightening. This wasn't Callista. She was someone else who fit the bill to the T, but she was not the girl he had thought she was. Suddenly, she was all right by him. He thought of something to prolong his time with her; she had been so nice just now, and she was so beautiful. What could he do? What could he do!

"Would you care for a dance?" He asked her quickly. Her eyes opened very wide and she smiled.

"I'd love to!" Ginny's whole mood brightened as he held out his arm. She took it gingerly, but he was strong and she could feel it. She relaxed into his grip on her hand, and she followed him back inside.

"Do you know how to do the von Liechtenstein?" Draco rushed out onto the floor as the orchestra stopped a song.

"I think so… " Ginny lied. The man she was with dashed off in the direction of the orchestra, and a moment later he was back.

"Do you remember?" He asked as the slow, sweet music from the tell-tale baroque era began. He held out his hand and bowed. Ginny glanced around at all of the other women, who curtsied. She did the same.

"I haven't done this in ages," she told her partner. "What do I do next?"

Draco took her hand in his and walked around her slowly. She stood still as his hands traced her waist and held her breath. In fact, she couldn't breathe at all. Something had to be wrong! Why couldn't she breathe?

He came back to face her and bowed slightly. She glanced around her quickly, trying to see what the women were doing. They were doing the same. Without missing a beat, Ginny took his hand and walked around him slowly, making sure she didn't fall over him as she came back.

"And now?" she whispered as she curtsied again, trying to force some air down her lungs.

"Palm to palm," Draco whispered back as he held up his right hand. His breath caught in his throat and he shivered. She pressed her right hand flat against his, and they twirled around each other, looking into the other's masked face with uncertainty. "Switch," he said after a time. Ginny dropped her arm, which was rather heavy, and lifted her left arm. They switched directions too, which threw her off a bit. He dropped his hand and she also dropped her hand. He was a fantastic dancer.

"Now what?" she asked softly as he reached out for both of her hands.

"Sashay toward me, then away," he quickly interrupted. She didn't know what a sashay was, but she figured it might be like a skip so she skipped toward him, then away. "Now let me lead," he whispered as he pulled her close to him. Ginny couldn't protest, so she pressed herself close to him and felt the heat of the dance coming off of him. Her heart was beating faster than she could comprehend and she liked it.

He was fantastic. His feet moved in a three feel, and she couldn't help but move with him. His hands curled around hers and pressed close to his chest. She gazed up into his eyes, and he stared down into hers. It was like some strange kind of magic was happening, but neither knew exactly what it was. Slowly, his feet moved slower and slower with the music, and soon he was barely swaying back and forth. He hadn't taken his eyes off of hers, and she could barely breathe. By the end of the song, no less, they were taken with each other.

The song came to an end and neither knew about it. They were lost in the other's eyes and were unaware of the world around them. On an impulse, Draco leaned in and kissed the girl who had taken his breath away.

Ginny had kissed him back, unknowingly, but yet she felt like it was her fault. "I'm sorry," she whispered as she pulled away. How could she have let herself be kissed, even if he was a complete and total stranger, who had nothing in common with her but a dance. She picked up her skirts and ran toward the open doors, knowing she could hide from him out there.

Draco was left on the dance floor dumbfounded. Something had just happened between him and that girl, whoever she was, and it was spectacular. He looked around for her, but she was gone. He rose on his toes and searched over the head of the crowd. She was heading outside. He bolted off in that direction and dodged several people along the way. He couldn't let her go, not now, not when it was his last night to be free.

He broke through the people and darted for the door. She was reclining against the balcony like an angel without wings, her back arched and her face gazing to the heavens. He began walking once he hit the thresh, as though he thought he could sneak up on her. However, Ginny was more woman than tomboy, and heard him coming. In a split second, she was off running again, holding her skirts an lifting her feet high.

Draco shook his head and sprinted after her, determined to at least learn her name. "Hey!" he called to her outline. "Please!" he begged. He darted around trees and bushes, all alight with the light he had fixed there, but none helping him in his quest. He jumped over a small stone fence and ran a little faster. The gazebo was this way… she would be in his turf, and he knew it well.

Ginny was slowed by the unseen obstacles in her path. There was a gazebo ahead, covered in roses. If she could make it there, then she could have leverage over the person following her. She ran toward the glowing light and darted up the three steps nimbly, but paused. It was beautiful in here… the roses provided a wall, there were benches, and the roof was open in the center, providing a wonderful view of… Orion. A branch snapped and Ginny looked up like a deer caught in headlights, and she searched wildly for the man. She saw him coming closer, and she turned to leave.

"Wait!" he called to her. His voice was so genuine, Ginny paused and let the fabric she was holding go. She turned to face the masker, who was just out of the range of light.

Draco stood on the brink of the light on purpose. She was there, in his gazebo, framed by the sweetest of roses and the tiniest of lights, and she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. The silver in her dress was sparkling in the faint light, and the butterflies were flying all over her dress. Her hair and skin glowed so rosily, she seemed to be the source of the light. Her face was expressionless and she was slightly breathless, but that didn't matter. Draco's heart swelled and he couldn't breathe.

He was in love.

Draco had fallen in love with this nameless beauty from who knows where. She was the begin and end, and he knew it. He knew in his heart that she was the answer to all of his problems. If there ever was, is, or ever would be an "it," she was the poster child. She was everything.

"Well?" Ginny asked the shadow.

"I… I… " Draco could find no words to speak to her. He walked forward slowly, into the hazy light, and held out his arms in an act of begging. What could he say to her to make her stay? "I wanted to know if you wanted to dance."

"A dance?" Ginny laughed a bit. "I danced with you and you kissed me, and I don't know who you are!" She turned her head away, wanting to leave, but there was a rock in her stomach and she couldn't move a muscle.

"Yes." Draco walked up the steps and put one knee to the ground. "One dance, a real dance."

"One?" Ginny asked timidly. She felt her knees shaking, and her arms were shivering. It was bitterly cold outside, even though it was the middle of July.

"Just one," Draco almost whispered as he rose to his feet slowly. He held out his hand to Ginny and she took it lightly. This wasn't happening! Why didn't she run away? How did the butterflies manage to get out of her dress and into her stomach? What was she feeling?

She didn't have much time to contemplate her emotions, because Draco pulled her close to him gently and took her in his arms. He wrapped his hands around her waist and Ginny melted inside. Whoever he was, he knew how to woo her. Her arms hugged his warm shoulders and she pressed her head to his chest. It felt so right to be in his arms like this, even if she had no idea who he was. It was only one dance, how could it be wrong?

When Ginny lifted her head from his chest, it was only for a moment. It was so cold without him… how could she have ever been so alone? Ginny slowly shuffled her feet with his, and she knew something was different about her. There was a new light buzzing inside her, something she thought she had felt what seemed like so long ago, but this was more real than that love.

Love.

Ginny's heart froze as she swayed with this perfect stranger, who had chased after her to apologize. She was in love with him, and she didn't even know his name. He was something that just fit, and it was so perfect. Ginny sighed, and leaned close to him again. If he never knew how she felt, she would always cherish this moment.

A nightingale called softly from one of the trees, and was joined by a second. The noise broke the seemingly still silence. Soon, a few crickets joined in the with the birds, and it added a string-like feel to the song. A frog croaked from the pond, and somewhere in the distance a lone wolf began to howl. Draco and Ginny danced almost motionlessly – enraptured by each other without the other knowing – to the orchestra of the night.

Then the wind began to blow a cool breeze which rustled in the roses overhead. The power of the wind wasn't strong enough to do much other than knock a few rose petals off of each rose, but a few petals off of a few hundred roses is a lot of petals. The colorful cacophony of silken petals floated all around the still pair, who had stopped dancing and didn't realize it. They just stood, staring into the other's eyes, seeing everything, saying nothing.

Without a word, they both closed the distance between the other person and kissed each other deeply and passionately. It was a fantastic kiss, to be sure; the mood and setting and timing were all perfect, and both wanted to live in that moment forever, but there was one small detail that unraveled the whole thing, and it went by the name of Snape.

"Draco! There you are!" The black clad man stepped up the stairs and smiled, but frowned when his pupil pulled away from a girl. And not any girl. Ginny Weasley.

"Oh!" Ginny cried quietly as her hand flew to her mouth. How could this have happened? How could her perfect man end up being Draco Malfoy? She felt the tears and knew they would pour hot and fast if she didn't run. She picked up her heels and darted away from the gazebo, hoping she could find Hermione and Harry and beg them to leave.

"Wait!" Draco called when he heard her footsteps fading. "I don't even know your name!" But his calls where useless. She was gone. "Why did you have to do that?" Draco almost shouted to Snape. "There was something about her that… I don't know… Why did you do that!"

Snape stared at the distraught boy and shook his head. There was so much that he didn't understand. "Your father craves a word with you."

"But I didn't even learn her name." Draco's heart fell as he thought of her sweet lips once more.

"I know her name, but I will only tell you if you come with me."

"Fine." Draco started walking with Snape toward the ballroom. He wanted to know so bad he would deal with his father.

"Her name is Ginny. You know her."

"Ginny?" Draco's heart stopped again when he heard her name. He only knew one Ginny… "Do you mean Ginny Weasley? The short, pale, scrawny kid whose brother I hate and family my father and mother hate?"

"That's the one," Snape said sarcastically as he entered the castle. He shook his head again. There was so much that Draco didn't understand.

"That is bad." Draco stopped at the threshold.

"Why is that?" Snape asked as he turned around.

"I'm in love with her, that's what."