The Yule Ball finally arrived and with it, snow. Evanna grinned as her dormmates assisted her with her hair and makeup. They braided one side of her hair away from her face, leaving the rest to drape artfully down one shoulder.
"Don't go over board with the makeup, Eva," she warned. The half-blood grinned.
"I would never."
Evanna should have known better, but she found she didn't quit mind. Her eyeliner flared dramatically and her dark red lipstick was just this side of purple. Finally, they were ready to dress her.
Her dress robes were really two distinct pieces. She was wearing a black velvet jumpsuit that hugged her legs, while overtop was a dramatic satin ballgown skirt that was open in the front to reveal the jumpsuit. Both the skirt and the bodice were opalescent-colors like green and purple and blue shimmering in the black fabric. Per Ginny's encouragement, Evanna had decided on some three-inch black dragon-skin pumps. To finish the look, Evanna had transfigured the bracelet her mother had given her at the beginning of her time at Hogwarts into an arm armband shaped like a snake. Looking in the mirror, she gave an experimental little twirl. Eva groaned behind her.
"Just stop it, we're already jealous enough," she said. Evanna laughed and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Now to meet my handsome date," she teased.
The other two girls shook their heads, but followed her out to the Common Room, if only to see the older students all dressed up and paired off. Given that it was Slytherin House, the Common Room was full of impeccably dressed teenagers, with tailored dress robes and couture gowns. Evanna easily picked out her brother and his date, Pansy Parkinson. Draco was wearing stately silver robes, but Pansy had a short pink dress that was almost reminiscent of a ballerina, but not altogether in a pleasant way. Draco gaped at her.
"What are you wearing?" he demanded as she joined him.
"Oh, just some old dress robes." She flipped her hair, imitating the old Wizard radio dramas she and her mother used to listen to when Lucius and Draco were out of the Manor.
"But-but-those are trousers!"
"Very astute observation, Draco," she teased.
"Where did you find that?" Pansy finally interrupted, sounding rather jealous. Evanna smiled.
"Oh, just a little boutique-she hadn't actually released the design to the public, yet." Evanna smoothed her overskirt, though she knew that there wasn't actually any wrinkles to smooth. Being an object of envy was rather enjoyable. "You know businesses are always vying to have a Malfoy representing them-does that not happen for you, Pansy?"
Who does the little brat think she is?
Evanna couldn't help herself; the girl was so certain that Draco would one day marry her when Evanna knew her brother was only humoring their father by taking the girl to the Yule Ball. She had heard too many of Pansy's thoughts to ever be content to allow her to become her sister-in-law.
"And your heels-Merlin, Ev!" Draco exclaimed.
"You look nice too, Draco, dear. I'm glad you lost your hair gel."
"Oi, listen here-"
It was then that Evanna felt someone tap her gently on the shoulder. She spun on her heel, relishing the feel of her large skirt swishing against her ankles. She smiled softly when she saw him.
Blaise Zabini had not quite hit his own growth spurt, but he was still undeniably handsome. His robes were deep violet, matching Evanna's eyes perfectly and offsetting his deep skin tone. His dark eyes sparkled as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. She giggled while Draco rolled his eyes.
"Milady," he said giving her a charming wink. "You look lovely this evening. You shall be the belle of the ball."
"I do believe we will make quite the striking couple tonight." She emphasized the last word. Though she might have a little fun in vexing Lucius with a slightly less-than-proper date, she knew better than to begin a relationship with anyone that her father did not approve of. Blaise Zabini was rich, yes, but his mother had quite the reputation in pureblood circles; there were many whispers as to just who had been Blaise's father. The rumors ranged from a muggle African prince to a male succubus of some sort.
Blaise pretended to pout. "If that is all you wish, Mistress Malfoy, cruelest of women."
Evanna laughed and Draco scowled.
"If you are done flirting with my little sister, Zabini, we have a Ball to get to," he snapped. Blaise snickered and Evanna did the same as Draco all but drug Pansy by the hand to Common Room exit.
"You truly are as good a time as they all say, Blaise," she said with a smile. Blaise shrugged.
"What can I say? It's good for your brother to relax every now and then," he replied, then gave her a look. "It's good for you, too. You Malfoys are much too tightly wound."
Evanna continued to smile, but it had become rather forced. The gossip mills had only just begun to tame in the wake of Narcissa Malfoy's disappearance, but Lucius Malfoy's ire had not. Both of the children had become ever more watchful of what they did and said in public just to be able to survive. No one was supposed to notice that.
"C'mon, let's go watch Draco get his knickers in a twist over Potter opening the Ball," Blaise said, taking hold of her arm as he escorted her out.
The Great Hall was always impressive during the holidays, but it was even moreso tonight. The four long House tables had been replaced by smaller round tables and the entire room sparkled. Fairy lights hung from every surface and fake snow drifted from the ceiling and there were no less than two dozen tinseled Christmas trees. Students from all three schools filed in, crowding to the sides as they waited for the Champions to enter and officially begin the ball. Their excitement and energy was enough to make Evanna dizzy, even with the bracelet, but she was determined to have a good time. Her Gift would not stop this one night of normalcy she had been granted by the Fates. Evanna caught a glimpse of Ginny walking in on the opposite side of the room and gave her a little wave. The redhead winked and blew Evanna a kiss, reminding her of their bet (not that Evanna would have forgotten it).
"Is that the Weird Sisters?" Pansy muttered to Draco, pointing at the small stage in the corner of the room.
"Looks like it," Blaise said. "They were Slytherin alum-their lead singer is my mother's brother-in-law."
"For now," Pansy sneered. Evanna wished her wand was in easier reach so that she could hex the little upstart. Draco gave her a warning look just as the music started up. The doors opened to admit the TriWizard Champions and their dates. The first in were Fleur Delacour and some Ravenclaw boy. The second, however, had Evanna agreeing with Pansy for a moment.
"Is that Granger with Viktor Krum?" the other girl demanded.
"You've got to be kidding me," Evanna muttered. What was worse was that Granger looked absolutely stunning in her blue dress robes.
She's gorgeous.
Evanna glared at the back of her brother's head as she heard the thought clear as day. It was bad enough that Ginny was friendly with the girl, and of course Potter was all but inseparable from his two lackeys, but-
Harry Potter had just stepped into the room with his date, one of the Patil twins. He seemed rather nervous as his date placed on of his hands on her waist and took the other as they started into a waltz. For some reason, seeing him acting so awkward and uncomfortable when she knew how brave and noble he could be made her smile, cheeks warming.
After the first song, everyone clapped and one by one, all of the couples made their way to the dance floor to start up the next song.
"Shall we?" Blaise said gallantly.
"We shall," Evanna said with a smile.
Throughout the night, Evanna danced with many of the boys from Slytherin, including her brother, at least once. At some point, Blaise and Draco got tired of dancing and went to one of the tables in order to eat, but Evanna was too exhilarated by the entire atmosphere of the place. She was thankful for the little bit of time she had been able to learn from her mother to manage her Gift for she knew that she would not have been able to stay in the Great Hall so long without that training or the strengthening spells she had added to her bracelet.
Even with that, she was beginning to feel a little light on her feet as she made her way to the punch table. The world was starting to spin as she tried to pour herself some punch. Someone caught her wrist.
"Here, let me," a low voice said in her ear. Her wrist tingled.
"Harry," she said evenly, stepping back a little. "Thank you."
He nodded, face flushed as he handed her a cup.
"You looked a little overwhelmed," he said. "Are you alright? Where's your date?"
"Oh, he's off flirting with some French girls I suspect," she said airily waving her hand. The movement caused her to stumble a little bit. Harry reached out a hand to steady her. "And where is your date?"
"Dunno-are you okay?" he asked. "Let's go somewhere else. I can't hear in here."
Evanna giggled at the play on words, all of the excitement in the air like a drug to her. Harry frowned in concern and pulled her outside to the gardens that were somehow snow-laden but warm at the same time. Almost immediately, Evanna felt more herself as she sipped some punch.
"Thank you," she said, still linked arms with him. They walked slowly along the paths.
"You never seem fully comfortable in crowds," he said. "I mean, I know I'm not and you always look how I feel. Not that you look bad. You look-you look-"
She's radiant.
Evanna knew she should be blushing or pushing him away or something. But she felt almost drunk on the heightened emotion of the evening and so not fully in control of herself as she reached up and brushed back a lock of his hair so that she could better see his emerald eyes in the twinkling lights.
"You're so kind, Harry," she whispered. "I never told you, but you did marvelously in the First Task. It was terrifying-but you did so well."
Harry was completely red, his adam's apple bobbing as he gulped looking at her.
"I haven't always been kind to you," he said. "And it really wasn't much-just some flying around on a broomstick."
Evanna opened her mouth to say something more, but then she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Get out of here, Davies, before I make it two months' detention!" Professor Snape was saying. And like that, the spell was broken and the hangover had come. Evanna winced as she came back into herself, no longer riding the high of hundreds of hormonal teenagers. Harry quickly let go of her arm. She missed the warmth.
"Potter! What are you doing out here away from your adoring fans?" Professor Snape swept up the garden path, his sneer deepening with each step. His eyes narrowed when he saw Evanna, massaging her temples against the oncoming ache. "What have you done to my student?"
Evanna winced at the sense of anger and injustice that rushed through Harry.
"He didn't do anything, sir," she said. "He was helping me. I was feeling rather lightheaded."
She could feel the disappointment that her professor felt in not having a legitimate reason to dock points even as worry for her invaded.
"Well, Potter, I have it from here. Go join your fans and I will see to it that Ms. Malfoy's date escorts her back to the Common Room," he said. Harry didn't immediately go, however, seeming torn.
Just tell her, you coward. You faced a dragon, you should be able to tell a girl she's pretty.
"Erm-yeah," he said. "Erm-you, you feel better, Malfoy."
Harry took another look at Professor Snape and then at Evanna before turning in to go back to the Yule Ball. Evanna did her best to hide her disappointment as he did so, turning to Professor Snape.
"Do you remember the discussion we had at the end of your first year?" he asked. She tensed.
"Yes, sir," she said. "And I still have no desire to choose a side."
His right hand twitched as though he was reaching for his left arm. "Soon none of us will have that luxury, Ms. Malfoy."
A/N: Alright, so there will likely be at least a week before the next update, but I wanted to do the Yule Ball before moving. But tomorrow we're renting the truck, then Tuesday we're headed up and then orientation is Thursday and Friday and I'm really not sure what to expect after that. I'll try and get in another chapter before the first day of classes but no promises. I'll try and post updates on my posting availability on my bio page, so you can check there for when to expect new chapters.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing! I hope you're enjoying everything thus far!