Malfoy's desires
Chapter nine: A little dancing perhaps?
All names and places associated to Harry Potter belong to JKRowling and associates. I'm just borrowing its world for fun… no money is to be made from this.
Mary had vanished a moment ago within the fire grate and Katherine stood there during long minutes, uncertain if she wanted to read the letter she had just gotten.
She stifled a sigh as she turned around to go back to her sofa. Taking the letter out of her pocket, she read it slowly until a small grin touched her lips. She read it again just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
'... I do realize that I'm asking you this favor at the last moment, but it would really be my pleasure to take you out this evening. Send back the owl with your reply. If you can't come, well, so be it.' The letter said, written in large and even script.
Katherine wondered what she could possibly lose if she did go. Summoning a quill and some ink, she wrote her reply on the bottom of the parchment and tied it to the owl's leg.
"No wonder you were so impatient. Your master seems to be in a right state, isn't he?' she said calmly while going to the window. 'Come on now, go!' she motioned the bird to the window she had just opened.
With a few flaps of its wings, the bird had gone out into the awaiting darkness. Katherine went to her bedroom and quickly got dressed. He said something elegant but not too formal. No robes either.
She settled on a black leather skirt that fell just above the knee, a ruby red silk blouse and a matching leather blazer. A pair of black high-heels completed the look nicely. She left her hair loose, brushing it vigorously to make it shine and fall straight down her back. A touch of make-up with a pass of her wand and she was ready to go.
She heard a loud crack from the living room and went to meet her date for the evening.
A loud whistle greeted her, 'Goodness, love! You are going to kill them with that look.' Bill came to her, bending his head down to kiss her cheek. 'I knew I could count on you. You are the best! Have I ever told you that?' He smiled broadly at her.
"No, I don't recall you ever saying that. But I'll take the compliment since it comes from you, Bill.' She gave him a hug. 'Let's get going and maybe you will tell me what I'm supposed to be doing there as we go along? Hmm?'
'Just one word... Mom!' Bill sighed dramatically. 'She wants me married in the worst way, so she organized this little rendezvous with some prominent un-married ladies. She said it was an impromptu get-together for singles in the region... HA!'
Katherine knew the Weasley matriarch and her well-meaning ways. She'd rather die than having one of her sons live life un-attached. To her, all her children should get married as soon as possible... making children so she could become a proud grand-mother!
'Very well, Bill. Just give the sign when you get into trouble over there. You know I won't be looking for myself anyway...' Katherine grinned maliciously at her beau for the evening. He was a handsome devil and she would have given him a serious go if he weren't such a flirt. He wasn't ready to settle down yet or so he had said on numerous occasions.
They had gone out once, but they soon realized that the chemistry wasn't there. So they stayed friends nonetheless, helping each other whenever they could. And this evening was one of these occasions. She'd serve as a physical buffer between Bill and any over-zealous female on the prowl. They would pretend to be lovers and get whomever off their backs. Bill had served Katherine in that capacity a few times as well.
They apparated to the restaurant/bar where they were to meet the rest of the guests. It was a well-to-do place called 'The Green Emerald'. It was tastefully decorated and the music wasn't too loud so conversations could be held without too much strain on one's vocal chords.
Bill led her to a group of twenty-something and thirty-ish wizards and witches, his hand slung casually around Katherine's waist. That's how they had settled on the routine; leave people guessing about their relationship.
They started to mingle, staying close to each other and exchanging smiles with the other participants. Soon, Bill spotted a girl that suited his tastes and left Katherine's side. If he needed help, he'd give her the signal.
The evening was going well for Katherine, chatting with a few people about their respective career's and whatnot, when she suddenly felt Bill's signal. She excused herself from the small group she had been talking with and started to look for the redhead.
Spotting him quickly, she saw the clingy female that had attached herself to his neck. Katherine thought she looked desperate and/or drunk. Putting on her sultriest smile, she went to Bill's side.
'Bill...' she purred, 'you've been neglecting me, my pet!' She gave him a come hither look that would make any wizard melt. 'Introduce us, love?' she said as she eyed the buxom blond that was trying to wash his ear with her tongue a few seconds earlier.
Bill reached up to remove the girl's arms around his neck, 'this is Penelope Madden. Penelope... this is Katherine Cardiff, a very dear friend of mine.'
Penelope was quite irritated by the interruption. Her little show to forcefully woo the handsome wizard, had just been properly squelched at the wrong moment.
'Miss Cardiff, pleasure.' she said between her clenched teeth and strained smile.
'Same here, Miss Madden. A pleasure...' Katherine purred back with maliciousness.
Bill stepped in to cut the non-verbal catfight that would probably ensue, grabbing Katherine possessively before giving her a rather invasive kiss. The meaning was not lost on the blond woman and she left their side in a huff.
After a moment, Bill stepped back and Katherine asked him. 'Is the coast clear?'
Bill eyed the blond as she left the restaurant without another look back. 'It's clear. Thanks, love... don't know how I could have persuaded her that I wasn't interested.'
'I know, but you could at least try to avert the situation in the first place.' She eyed him coolly, that disapproving look so reminiscent of his mother, hovering in her dark brown eyes.
'I understand that, but how can I see if she's a good prospect if I don't test her abilities?' he roguishly said while waggling his brows.
'Honestly, Bill! You are truly a menace to the females of this world...' she shook her head in disbelief. 'Let's dance and you can tell me if anyone else suited your fancy.'
Bill led her to the small dance floor, wrapping his arms her waist as she laid her head on his shoulder. They danced quietly for a song or two, until a wizard came to ask for a dance with Katherine.
Katherine got a strong whiff of liquor on the man's breath and quickly signaled Bill to come to her aid. Bill smiled to the man and said the young lady was taken for the night.
The man left with a disappointed look in his eye, but it couldn't be helped. Katherine abhorred drunken men in general. Their hands were usually too busy trying to find a way to feel her up when she wasn't really interested.
Bill took her in his arms again, 'Dance some more? I haven't seen anyone else that could tickle my fancy.'
Katherine nodded and let him lead her through a few more dances. But Bill was feeling a bit more naughty than usual and started to nuzzle her neck for show. Katherine giggled as he blew softly behind her ear, knowing that he was doing it intentionally.
"Bill Weasley! You are playing with fire and you know it too.' She reached up to run her fingers through his hair (for show of course...) and 'accidentally' pulled one of his locks rather sharply.
'Ouch! He breathed in her ear, 'that hurts! Is that your answer to my teasing?' he whispered daringly.
'What do you think, Mr. Hot-shot Code-breaker!' Katherine dared him with a wink as she pulled her head away from his chest.
'Are you daring me, Miss Muggle-defender-of-the-world?' he bit back with fake anger.
'I guess I am, Billy-kins!' she said with a kitten smile.
Bill growled under his breath, 'you will pay for your insolence. En garde!' With that, his mouth swooped down to give her the most provocative kiss imaginable.
For anyone who didn't know the couple and their little arrangement, this seemed like a very hot and involved embrace. But as luck would have, someone had taken it at face value.
The man swaggered elegantly behind Katherine, coughing sharply to gain their attention.
Katherine heard the cough and pulled back from Bill, looking over her shoulder to find out who was being so rude. As she met the pair of brooding gray eyes, her face paled considerably under the man's close scrutiny.
'May I have this dance, Miss Cardiff?' Lucius Malfoy asked dryly, eyeing her dance partner with little else but contempt.
Bill answered before Katherine could even imagine what to say. 'Ah! Mr. Malfoy! So nice to meet you again.' Bill grinned at the older man with much amusement. "But I think we were about to leave. Weren't we, love?' he asked his dance partner.
Katherine could have kissed Bill for real at that very moment, happy for the diversion he was creating.' 'Yes, we were going. At the end of the dance, of course.'
Her feeble attempt to sidestep his invitation to dance was not lost on the senior Malfoy. "But I insist! I never got to dance with you the other night at the Ball.'
A faint blush colored her cheeks, 'that is true, sir. But I am quite tired now and would like to get back home. I need the rest after my day's work.'
"Tut, tut, Miss. Cardiff! Such a young woman as yourself, should have sufficient energy to satisfy my meager wish?' Lucius challenged her face on.
Bill felt the under-current and knew he wasn't privy to certain information about these two. He didn't know if he should take Katherine out of the restaurant without further question. 'I believe the lady is quite tired, sir. And I think...'
'Don't bother thinking young Weasley. This dance was promised to me and I will take the occasion that has been granted to me.' Lucius took hold of Katherine's wrist with little gentleness and then swung her around to his awaiting arms.
Bill watched silently as Malfoy twirled Katherine away from him, taking her to a different corner of the dance floor. 'Blimey!' he thought to himself, 'what happened there?'