He already knew Daphne Greengrass must be a strong woman. She had a composure about herself that allowed him to know that she was proud and hated letting anyone see any weakness. And she was gourgeous. Her looks were like nothing Zacharias could remember seeing before. She had an innocent, beautiful face, but her eyes. Her eyes held a secret; they were mysterious and devious. Daphne reminded him of royalty, of a queen.
She started to look at funny when he laughed. He thought it was obvious why he was laughing, but apparrently, she didn't realize. She didn't realize how beautiful she really was. She was raised to show a composure of dignity, but never truly realized her own selfworth. She just stared at him while he laughed. He laughed at her innocence, ignorance, and geniune sweetness. She may remind him of a queen, but she had the sweetness of a princess. Zacharias liked the complexity of the girl.
"What do you mean you already know I am?" she asked with an air of annoyance.
"I already know you are high maintance," he confirmed, nodding. He hadn't meant to insult her, but the look on her face told him he had. "What?"
"You already think I'm high maintance... You've only known me for a few minutes!" she exclaimed with frustration.
"Well," he started, trying to be sly. "I happen to like high maintance women."
Her annoyed frown quite miraculously turned into a very sweet smile. She shook her head at him, turning away from him as if trying to hide her amusement.
"So, Queenie, are you ready to go back in there and maybe dance with me?" His voice was meant to be cool, calm, and sauve.
After a breif moment she turned back towards him, her smile still in place but different. "Yes," she said with all the dignity of a queen. She held out her slender white hand, slightly bent at the wrist. Knowing what she expected, he gently lifted her hand to his mouth and gently brushed his mouth against it. Then he placed her hand on his arm and started to lead her back into the party.
Once they entered the room the familar voice rang out, "Daphne! Daphne, are you okay?" Ginny rushed over to her. The concern was evident on her face and Zarcharias noticed that Daphne's hand squeezed his arm more tightly and stiffened. But as quickly as it happened, she went back to her practiced relaxed state.
"I'm fine," Daphne assured Ginny.
Ginny smiled her a very sweet smile and turned slightly, calling, "Draco! Get over here!" Her normally sweet demeanor apparently didn't include her husband.
Draco sauntered over. When he reached his wife, he put his arm around her, gently pulling her to his side. "What is it, love?" he asked, kissing her sweetly on the cheek.
"Daphne is okay," she stated, nodding her head to show she was serious.
Draco shrugged, "I never doubted Daphne wouldn't be okay," he started, smiling patronizingly at his wife. He turned his smile to his friend and shrugged again, "My wife, she worries too much."
Zacharias turned to see that Daphne looked genuinely assumed. Her eyes shined with assumement and she was relaxed with her hand still on his arm. "Of course, Draco," she said sweetly, "Ginny has always worried slightly too much, but that is part of the reason you love her."
Draco grinned and kissed his wife on the cheek again. "I need to go mingle." He nodded to Daphne and Zacharias. "Maybe I'll talk to you later tonight."
Zacharias gave a sideways look at Daphne to see her smiling at Draco and nodding. "If not, then you know how to get ahold of me."
Draco lifted Daphne's other hand and kissed it gently. Zacharias felt a twingle of jealousy that he didn't understand at the sight of someone else, Draco Malfoy at that, showing any sign of affection to Daphne. With one last nod towards Zacharias, Draco left the two, pulling a reluctant Ginny after him. Ginny waved gaily at them.
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment as the other guests milled around them. Men kept looking towards Daphne with looks of lust on their faces, and for some reason, that drove Zacharias crazy. He knew, realisticly, that he shouldn't be jealous of the men's lust for Daphne, but he already felt affection and possessiveness towards this complex, beautiful young woman on his arm. Daphne looked as though she didn't even notice the men's looks. Zacharias supposed it was because she was used to the attention. One man was so bold to even gawk at the woman in plain view, and staring mostly at her breasts.
Zacharias moved his arm from under her hand and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her towards his side possessively. Daphne shot him an annoyed looked and moved away from him purposely. Trying to get back on her good side, he quickly held out his hand and asked, "Would you like to dance?"
Daphne gave him a small smile and nodded.
With experience he guided her onto the dance floor. She felt perfect in his arms. Her body melted perfectly into his. Daphne was the perfect blend of innocence, dignity, compossure, and even hidden friendship. Her face was so innocent, but her body and dress shouted experience. She danced elegantly, as if trained or practiced.
She rested her face gently on his shoulder, and he pulled her closer against him. Her green silk dress felt so smooth against his hand that was resting on the small of her back, pressing her to him gently. On impulse, he leaned down and gave her a gentle, featherlight kiss on the top of her head.
She just slightly in his arms when she felt his lips touch her hair, but to his delight, only a moment later, she relaxed against him. Perfectly at ease in his arms.