The climax of the story, the perfect summit of the tale. Thank you for your patience, for in this chapter I lift some of the veil, that which shelters Atara's mystery. To all those who reviewed, thank you, and I hope you find this one interesting.
oOo
Chapter 7- The Halloween Ball
Draco hummed quietly to himself, watching people dressed in strange costumes pass by him. He had left the common room quarter to seven, and he must have been waiting for twenty minutes at least. He wondered when Lilith was coming, and thought, with a smug grin, what is she wearing?
He lifted up the thin hood of his costume and put it over his head. He marveled at seeing that it fell over his forehead just so much that his eyes seemed covered, though he could see quite clearly. Too bad I can't do a permanent levitation spell on this robe, he thought. That would really make me look like a Dementor. Interesting if I could float down on Potter and curse him without him knowing...
He examined the Entrance Hall carefully. Giant pumpkins were placed here and there, strewn with thick strands of ivy. The staircase had been draped with real dusty webs, and once in a while a large spider would scuttle around them, much to the horror of many female students.
Suddenly Draco saw Granger come into sight. He snickered loudly, as he inspected her supposedly 'ghostly' appearance. She was wearing a white lace dress, and she had painted her skin a deathly white. She had let her hair down, and her face had several bruises here and there which looked obviously like make-up. She had even bewitched herself to give out a radiant white glow. Not to his surprise, she didn't seem to have any partner.
'I don't think a Mudblood impersonating a ghost is very popular, Granger,' he sneered at her. 'But in any case, you are complimenting the fact that you'd do well being dead!'
She chose to ignore him, though, and she continued her way towards the Great Hall.
Still chuckling, Draco reached out and touched one of the webs nearby, then heard someone exhale softly behind him. There she is. He grinned and turned around, and his mouth dropped open in surprise.
Lilith was wearing a beautiful, low-neck gown of a deep red that just barely touched the ground. The sleeves were slightly ruffled, and they ended in a golden ring that she wore around her index fingers. A black cape, fastened around her bare chest with a sparkling ruby brooch, fell about her shoulders gracefully. Her hair was tied with a braid into a ponytail, and she had curled the ends so that it fell lusciously about her neck. A few strands hung down her pale cheeks, and her mouth was painted a blood-red colour, giving her appearance a more gothic effect.
Draco was at a loss for words, but regained his posture with a small cough. He lifted his hood back, took Lilith's hand and slowly kissed it. He looked up at her, but her expression was unreadable.
'You look...' Draco frowned, his mind racing for the proper word, '...stunning.'
Lilith raised her eyebrows in mild surprise. 'Oh,' she said softly, her eyes seeming bluer against her white face. 'Thank you. You look... interesting. Are you a Dementor?'
As she spoke, Draco noticed sharp fangs protruding slightly from her upper lip. 'Yes, I'm supposed to be a Dementor, but I don't think it's any good. If I may ask, are you a vampire?'
Lilith gave him a small smile. 'Yes,' she said simply.
'Well then, shall we go?' Draco lifted up her hand. She nodded, and the two of them began walking towards the oak doors of the Great Hall.
When they entered, they were met by loud haunting music. Draco looked around, quite impressed with the Hall's appearance. Black, silk curtains hung from the gigantic windows, which glittered every now and then with the soft flickering light of the floating candles above. Dusty suits of armor stood against the walls, and some even had real skeletons draped around them. The bats that had been present in the Halloween feasts were now fluttering below the enchanted ceiling, which was at the moment portraying a mist-covered starry night. As like the Yule Ball in the previous year, the four house tables had been removed, replaced by numerous circular tables, seating about six people, each lit with a Jack-o-lantern and covered with a sleek black cloth. These tables had been placed near the walls, though, leaving a vast space in the middle, where a stand was placed, upon which stood hairy figures carrying instruments who Draco realized with a groan were The Weird Sisters. They were playing a slow, mournful tune that reminded Draco as the theme song of a funeral. He turned to look at Lilith, who was staring at the surrounding with awe, and he grinned with satisfaction.
There were several people already seated at the tables, each chatting animatedly and complimenting on each other's costumes. Draco rolled his eyes at Longbottom, who was wearing a furry costume of a rabbit and talking to an embarrassed-looking girl in a ballerina outfit. At the far end of the Hall Draco could see the teachers' table, which had also been covered with a black cloth, but there were tall candlesticks upon them instead. The entire staff was there, except for Professor Dumbledore. They were the only ones not wearing any particular costume.
'The teachers suggested this ball, yet they make no attempt to actually dress up and be a part of it. They probably wanted to make fools out of us,' Draco whispered to Lilith, who chuckled softly.
They walked up to one of the circular tables and sat down. There were orange, gilded menus laid neatly in between the cutlery, and in front of each one stood an orange napkin folded into a bat. Lilith picked up one and examined it with interest.
'You know, Durmstrang never had events like these,' she said, tilting her head slightly.
Draco leaned back against the black velvet chair. 'By the way, were you there last year? I mean, for the Triwizard Tournament?' he asked after a moment's thought.
Lilith shook her head. 'No. The three of us, Maria, Dawn and I were unable to. We had... problems to sort out. More like a family crisis. See, the two of them are distant cousins of mine, but Maria wanted to attend the Tournament more than anything, because she's a blood relative of Viktor Krum.'
Draco stared at her in shock. 'She's related to Krum? No wonder you're all good at flying...'
Moments later they were joined by Montague, dressed in a pirate costume, together with a surly-faced girl whose surname Draco knew as Cadwell, dressed as something he couldn't quite figure out.
The Hall became slowly crowded as people began entering. Some people even began dancing in the middle to the music of The Weird Sisters, which had changed yet again to an even slower tune. Suddenly, Draco spotted Potter, wearing –he snorted in disgust- Muggle clothes.
'HEY SCARHEAD!' yelled Draco, when Potter was near enough, 'What are you wearing? Miss your Muggle folks, do you? Trying to please all the Mudbloods, are you?'
He laughed, avoiding Lilith's contemptuous stare, with Montage sniggering next to him. Potter turned slowly, and Draco noticed that Cho Chang was holding his arm. He smirked at her traditional Chinese costume.
'Leave him alone, Malfoy!' she said angrily. Potter glanced at her gratefully.
'Oh, I see you've got yourself yet another girlfriend, Potter,' sneered Draco. 'What, Weasley wasn't enough for you? Not satisfied with everyone drooling at your feet? Why didn't you invite Weasley to the ball? Oh, I see, you can't bear breaking her heart!'
He laughed even harder when he saw Chang give Potter a confused stare, then turn away from him. Potter glared at Malfoy, then ran after her. Draco, shoulders still shaking with laughter, faced Lilith. He stopped chortling when he saw her gazing at him with an expression of obvious hatred, and he stood up.
'Care to talk about your anger over a little dance?' He held out his hand to her.
Lilith's eyes remained fixed on his own. She didn't say anything, but took his hand and stood up slowly. Draco grinned, and he led her to the midst of several dancing couples, ignoring the envious glares shot at him from many male students. He held her right hand tightly, and placed his other hand around her slim waist. With her left hand she held up the hem of her satin dress, and Draco began to move his feet slowly.
'So, tell me what's eating your pretty head,' he whispered with a smug grin, leaning his face closer to hers.
'I just hate the way you treat certain people, Malfoy,' Lilith answered angrily. 'You just can't the resist the opportunity to criticize someone and pick fights. One of the reasons I didn't want to go with you in the first place.'
'Then why did you?' asked Draco calmly.
Lilith opened her mouth, but no words came. Draco gazed at her expectantly, and he grinned more broadly on seeing her bite her red lips.
'I...' she began, then paused. 'I guess I just wanted to see if you were a good person or not, as you said you're not all bad. Turns out I was wrong...'
'But I'm not so bad, and it's not my fault Potter goes and wears filthy Muggle clothes-'
'That's what I hate about you!' snapped Lilith. 'I hate your discrimination towards Muggles and Muggle-borns! We're all humans after all. It's like you have a permanent stereotype on Muggles, thinking that all of them are mere dirt on your shoes!'
Draco stared at her in surprise. 'How in the world did you get into Slytherin with that attitude?' he asked with amusement.
'I don't know,' she muttered. She gazed down at the Prefect badge Draco had pinned to his chest. Then she mumbled something out of the corners of her mouth that sounded oddly like 'secret'.
Draco shrugged, and the two of them danced in silence.
oOo
Atara's heart thudded faster than she expected. This is stupid, she thought aloud in her mind, looking up into Malfoy's neutral eyes. This is so stupid. I can't believe I'm actually starting to like him enough as to notice my own heartbeat! And what's with that question of me being in Slytherin? It's not like I can just tell him why... I mustn't tell him...
She swallowed hard, trying to empty her head of any thoughts. She needn't have bothered to, though, for at that moment a tall, hard-featured boy came striding up to her, and her mind was distracted completely. He was wearing a Dementor costume as well, only it was more neatly trimmed than Malfoy's ragged one.
'May I cut in?' he drawled. Atara stared at him in curiosity, and noticed Malfoy glare at him.
'Flint, she's dancing with me,' said Malfoy coolly.
The boy called Flint gave out a sarcastic groan. 'Oh, I'm so sorry, Malfoy. You never told me you were such a charmer with the ladies. Why don't you ju-'
Atara pushed Malfoy away from her just in time for Flint to go flying in between them. He landed with a painful bump onto the stone ground a few feet away.
'What-' began Malfoy, staring at Flint, sprawled with his face down.
Atara breathed in heavily, silently thanking her senses. Then she heard loud giggles, and she turned angrily.
'Dammit, Dawn! Maria!' she moaned, glaring at the two laughing girls to the side of her facing Flint. They hastily pocketed the wands they had obviously used to curse him.
'You know,' said Dawn in mock seriousness, 'Flint has an awful way of running into us all the time. It's not good for his health.'
The music stopped, and everyone began looking at the sudden commotion. Atara folded her arms in frustration.'Why must you always take pleasure in throwing people into the air for no particular reason? Honestly you two, why did you just do that?'
Maria gave her a small shrug. She, like Harry, was wearing Muggle clothing: a plain black shirt and faded jeans. She had let her hair loose, and some of it was dusted with orange glitter. She was holding the arm of a person hidden inside a shiny suit of armor. 'It's not our fault he's such a disgusting weirdo!'
'Shouldn't you be thanking us for getting rid of this pervert?' demanded Dawn, placing her hands on her hips in a childish manner. Just as Atara had expected, she was wearing a costume that greatly resembled a princess of Old England. Her dress was ocean-blue velvet and highly decorated with intricate golden designs. A bejeweled tiara was placed in her loosely curled hair. She nodded at a boy next to her, whom Atara didn't know and who was wearing a similar costume of that of a prince. 'He is a pervert, you know,' Dawn continued. 'He asked every girl he finds pretty in the whole school to dance with him, and those who said yes, managed to get themselves a certain touch in certain places... you know! Anyway, he is also a little rude... You see him bully poor innocent people, but my goodness, he is worse when he eats! I mean, yesterday I saw him gulp down an entire turkey and some food was all dribbling...'
'Okay Dawn!' cut in Atara hastily. Malfoy sniggered loudly as Flint got up with a red face.
'WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?' he bellowed, glaring at the four of them. Then his eyes travelled to somewhere behind Atara, who felt a hard tap on her shoulders. Atara whirled around and immediately ducked, barely missing Pansy Parkinson's slap.
'I HATE YOU!' screamed Parkinson, shaking her head in fury. The bruise on her forehead Atara had given her was completely gone. Much to her disgust Parkinson was wearing a black and white tight-fitting cat costume that revealed too much of her chest. A long tail and small cat ears made the whole appearance look incredibly obscene. Several people surrounding them began whistling loudly.
'Hey!' said Dawn indignantly. 'Your costume looks like my cat! That's an insult to my cat! That's even worse than Ron Weasley dressing up as Viktor Krum, and that was utter blasphemy!'
'Wow, Parkinson,' said Atara, frowning at her. 'I didn't think you could be this... desperate.' Then she noticed a few of the teachers getting up from their table to see what was happening. 'Good thing you didn't hit me, though, or you would have been facing detention. The teachers are coming this way.'
Parkinson's eyes reduced to slits. She fingered the Prefect badge she had hung from a chain around her neck. 'Thank your perfect stars that I have a reputation to maintain,' she snarled.
She flung her head around dramatically and walked off to a table far away. Flint glared at Atara, then followed with a loud 'humph!'
'What reputation? As if she has one! That is one strange girl...' moaned Maria dramatically. The knight next to her nodded in agreement, his helmet rattling noisily.
'Let's eat already!' cried Dawn, lifting up her dress and running towards a table with her prince partner. 'Come on you guys! Atara, better let me remove those sharp teeth before you eat your mouth instead of your food!' She laughed loudly. Maria and her knight ran after them. Atara watched them go and gave out a long sigh.
'You seem tired,' said a quiet voice in her ear. She felt warm breath on her neck, and she turned around to find Draco's face very close to hers. He smiled slowly. Atara felt her heartbeat quicken again.
'Come on, let's go eat.' Draco gently placed a hand on her shoulders. Atara couldn't help smiling, and the two of them went towards their seats, and they spent much of their dinner contradicting Dumbledore's sudden appearance as a skeleton in a flowing bathrobe.
oOo
The front lawn directly facing the doors of the Entrance Hall had been decorated with simple numerous candles placed along the stone paths, and fairy lights twinkled in the rosebushes that followed. The various statues that stood here and there had been polished to a smooth appearance. The whole illumination of the garden gave a serene, yet eerie atmosphere. Other than that, besides the soft music coming from inside the Great Hall, the sounds of crickets and other night creatures filled the cool evening air, and even pouring water was heard. The sky was no longer misty; countless stars shone brightly along with the white light of the small moon. Draco took no notice of these things, however. He didn't even bother to realize that no one else was in sight except for the both of them.
He stole a glance at Lilith, who was breathing in the fresh air deeply. He was vaguely aware of the fact that they were alone, the first time he had ever seen her without her two annoying friends.
'This is so beautiful...' whispered Lilith, gazing at a statue of a unicorn nearby.
Draco's eyes watched the half moss-covered stone they were walking upon as they turned to a leafy archway. They entered a beautiful patio of some sort, where some stone benches were placed in between more rose bushes. A small marble podium stood at the center. They sat down on one of the benches.
'You know, Malfoy,' said Lilith softly, facing him with a small smile, 'you really aren't bad at all.'
Draco looked up at her, fascinated for a split-second by her piercing blue eyes. 'Told you so.'
She chuckled, then tilted her head to stare at the stars overhead. Her sleek hair fell back with a small bounce. Unexpectedly, Draco suddenly felt warmth rush through his body. He gazed at her carefully, her hair, her slim arms, and the folds of her dress. I want you... he thought, and moved slightly nearer to her.
She looked back at him, watching his movement. Draco stared at her for a moment, then decided to tell her, not caring about her reply.
'Lilith,' he began, turning his body to face her directly, 'listen. I want you. I find you very attractive and, let's just say, I want you to be mine.'
Her face remained unchanged. Not even her eyes revealed any expression, and Draco wondered if she had even heard him. It didn't matter; he couldn't fight back the urge anymore. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
The feeling was incredible. He suddenly felt light-headed, though he was surprised to find that she didn't resist. He savored the touch and taste of her soft lips. He decided to be a little bolder, and he snaked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him until their bodies touched. She returned his embrace with the same ardor. Delighted, he increased the pressure of his touch.
The kiss seemed to go on forever. It was a wonder how Draco could feel just the touch of her as a whole; the bench and the entire surrounding had disappeared from his mind completely. Finally, he pulled back, out of breath, his heart pounding madly. He stared into her eyes, which now looked slightly wild. Her cheeks were flushed a bright pink.
'I...' he began, but he was interrupted by a drop of water falling on his head. Another drop followed, and another. He looked up, and groaned at seeing dark clouds above them.
'Come on! The castle's too far for us to reach there in time.' he said, then grasped Lilith's hand and the two of them rushed towards the marble podium, getting under its roof just as rain came pelting down. Draco shook the water drops off his shoulders and head, and Lilith did the same.
'I've never been caught in the rain before,' she said in amusement, breathing hard. She looked at Draco, who could only watch her mouth, still captivated by the kiss. She seemed to be thinking along the same lines; she brought a finger to her lips and kept it there, as if thinking about the sensation.
Draco couldn't hold back any longer. He strode forward and, cupping a hand around her neck, kissed her once more.
In their bliss neither of them noticed that someone was observing them.
oOo
Pansy watched them kiss from behind a wet, thorny rosebush, feeling all the hatred and anger she had ever had in her entire life. She didn't care that she was getting soaked, she didn't care she was freezing to the bone in her thin costume. All she wanted was for that kiss to end.
'I hate you...' she snarled, staring through the pouring rain at her. That girl who had her arms all over her dear Draco. I swear I'll get you for this. I swear on my life you will pay. You think you're everything, don't you. You think you can have everything your little perfect hands can reach. Draco won't be yours forever. I'll make sure he won't ever stay with you!
In her rage, Pansy stomped her foot on the wet ground, splashing more water into the air. She felt like screaming, but she didn't want to be discovered just yet. She forced herself to look up at the pair again.
Suddenly she saw, even though her sight was slightly blurred by the rain, Lilith open her eyes and stare right at her. Much to her disgust and horror, Lilith continued kissing Draco, but her eyes remained locked on Pansy.
Right then Pansy heard a small voice in her head which she distinctively knew wasn't hers:
He's mine, Parkinson.
Surprised and a little terrified, Pansy forgot her anger and she bolted into the rain towards the castle.