In The Moonlight

As I made my way out of the manor, I passed Bella and Rodolphus both looking very harassed.

Serves those fools right! I thought bitterly. I sent a frosty glare their way causing Bellatrix to chew her lip nervously. I snorted in disbelief. What on earth did she have to be nervous about; she did not have a chorus of wizards lusting after her? Maybe, a small voice in my head piped up, she fears the hexes she will receive from me after her blatant disregard for my secrecy. I smiled to myself as I stepped out into the night. However when I returned to the Albanian forest, my thoughts slipped straight to Voldemort. I was anxious, wondering if he had made any progress in finding Lysha Drevei. I knew all too well the mood he would be in if his two-month journey had been in vain. Thinking about the vampiric sorceress called to mind the image of Malfoy licking my blood off his lips. I paused and steadied myself against a tree, the thought of his lips against my neck too much for me to handle.

"What is it, my Blair?" the familiar cold voice asked. "You seem… distracted."

"My Lord! You have returned. I trust that your journey went well?" I enquired, pleased to see him.

"It did. I tracked Lysha Drevei down to Romania." He appeared satisfied.

"You have made substantial progress." I stated. He inclined his head imperiously.

"Was there any disturbance during my absence?"

"Nothing I was not able to handle, those who attempted to make outrageous claims about your desertion were severely punished." I laughed coldly. Voldemort peered intently at me for a few moments.

"Blair, you still haven't answered my question. What has made you so… uncomfortable?" I shook my head and turned away as I vainly tried to get the image of Malfoy out of my head. My attempts at occluding my mind failed as Voldemort asked,

"Whose blood is that, Blair?"

"I- uh – don't know" I finished lamely. Voldemort seemed amused by my obvious discomfort,

"It looks like Malfoy got into a fight – or was attacked. Which is it? Did you punish him again? How I wish I could have been there for that." He laughed coldly. Feigning his ignorance proved to be a far more effective torture method than any amount of Cruciatus.

Just thinking about our ravenous kisses, colour rose in my cheeks, "Uh-I-um not really my lord. If you will excuse me, I've had an exhausting night." I turned to walk away as I heard Voldemort reply,

"Yes I know Blair." His cold laughter echoed around the clearing, as I walked towards my tent. I stopped and leant against a tree, shaking my head in spite of myself and laughed. My reputation would soon be in tatters, I thought, annoyed with myself. I slid down the tree and sat on the ground and was soon deep in thought over the night's events. I was suddenly disturbed by a loud crack. I looked up at Bella and Rodolphus, still irritated by what they had done.

"What do you two want?" I hissed, "Come to give away more secrets?" I added sarcastically. Bella and Rodolphus glanced at each other,

"Blair, we are honestly sorry for breaking your trust. We just couldn't keep it to ourselves." Bella said.

"Yes Blair, besides Malfoy seemed to handle Avery alright" Rodolphus added.

I sighed deeply, remembering Malfoy rushing to my defence.

"You are trying my patience, next time I will not be so readily accepting apologies." Bella smiled whereas Rodolphus just shook his head disbelievingly,

"Since when do you forgive us straight away? Malfoy's turning you soft Blair, love can do that to some people." He grinned wickedly. I picked up a rock and threw it at him, who ducked just in time to feel it skim the top of his head.

"Yes well…shut up!" I finished lamely.

"Goodnight, Blair," Rodolphus said, looking knowingly at me. It seemed everyone could read my mind these days. He waited for Bella who had made no signs of moving,

"Bella, my dear, are you coming?" Bella glanced at me and then at Rodolphus,

"No darling, not at the moment. But I intend to join you soon." she winked seductively towards him. He grinned and disapparated with a loud crack.

Bella sat down next to me and sighed contentedly.

"It's been a great night Blair, don't you think?" I looked over to her and smiled,

"Yes it was Bella." I paused. "I had a great time." Bella looked surprised up at me,

"You never have a great time. What has made this one so different?" Comprehension dawned on her face, "Oh I know, this time you had Malfoy to keep you company." I glanced up at her triumphant smile and I could hold back my feelings and thoughts no longer.

"Oh Bella, you know me well enough to know that I never divulge my feelings and thoughts to anyone, but I'm going tell you. Only because I need to get it off my chest and I cannot tell Malfoy." Bella grasped my hand and looked me in my eyes,

"You are in love with him, aren't you?" she asked bluntly. My face registered shock at the revelation that what she said may be true. "I don't know if it's that far yet but I do know that I can't help myself when I'm around him, I tease and taunt him to make him chase after me. I never do that, I usually focus my energy on repelling people, or the Dark Lord does it for me." I smirked as I remembered the unfortunate incident with Crabbe. "It is entrancing, just being in his presence. I feel drawn to him. The passion that stirs behind his cool grey eyes entices me."

"Blair, you've nothing to lose by showing that you like someone. Everyone falls in love, even the mighty Blair Gaunt. I saw you two kiss tonight and I think it is safe to assume that the feeling is mutual." Bella leant back against the tree and smiled.

I looked at her exasperated,

"That's just the thing Bella, I know that, but I'm having too much fun playing these games." I laughed out loud as the image of Malfoy attacking Avery surfaced in my mind. "You should have seen him tonight Bella, when he attacked Avery for dancing with me. I loved the jealous fire in his eyes. I loved knowing that he would lose his cool over me." I sighed contentedly.

Before Bella could respond, I threw my hands to my head,

"Oh great! What have I done?"

Bella looked confused. "What's wrong Blair?"

I stood abruptly, pointing at myself. "This is what's wrong!" I shouted, "Me, explaining my feelings" I spat contemptuously. "This is all Malfoy's doing! Rodolphus was right, he's turning me soft." Then it dawned on me that I had spilled my innermost secret to someone, unworthy of my trust. I slowly turned to Bella who was looking genuinely concerned for me.

"Bella," I started, speaking with deathly calm. "There is no chance you could disregard what I told you about Malfoy, is there?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Oh Blair!" she got up and placed her hand comfortingly on my arm. "There's no need to worry, nobody is going to care about this. Like I said, it's only natural that you feel this way." I shot her a disgusted look.

"No it is not! It is not normal for me! I am supposed to scare people into submission as I have for over fifteen years, not find them irresistible!" I sat down under the tree once more with my head buried in my hands. "Not a word, Bella, okay?" I warned. "There is no telling anyone! If you cross me, there will be dire consequences. Understand?" I glared at Bella, who nodded reverently.

"Yes Blair, my lips are sealed. Goodnight." She chuckled lightly before disapparating. I cursed to the night, wondering how long it would take before everyone knew.

I mulled over the harsh words I spoke to Bella.

"I don't mind her knowing," I said out loud to the darkness. "Or even Rodolphus, but there's no way I will ever tell Malfoy." I cringed at the thought, pounding the dry leaves with my fist in frustration.

"What won't you tell me, Blair?" a crisp cold voice sounded from the shadows. I jumped in surprise, not realising Malfoy had followed me.

"Nothing Malfoy," I said wearily, the night's events had worn me out considerably. "I was talking to myself. Next time, I'll keep my thoughts in my head." I valiantly tried to keep up the cold hard wall around me, which kept my emotions unreadable. Nearly twenty years of being able to do so meant nothing since I met Lucius Malfoy. He strode over to me and we sat together in silence just looking up at the moon. It was a beautiful night with an icy breeze beginning to blow. Despite the cool evening, I felt flushed and heady. My breath seemed to constrict in my chest when I realised how close we were. Our shoulders were pressed together and every now and again, our fingers would brush inadvertently as if by their own volition. A few strands of his silver hair had fallen loose and swept across the skin of my exposed shoulder as if to caress it. It was intoxicating. I shivered in delight, a shiver which Malfoy mistook for being cold.

"Here Blair, wear my cloak. You must be freezing" he pulled his cloak off, revealing the handsome dress robes he had worn at the ball. I swallowed down the urge to express how good I thought he looked and I pushed his cloak away,

"No Malfoy, I'm fine." I turned away from him, looking up at the moon once more.

To my surprise, he leaned forward and skimmed his hand over my bare shoulder. I looked up, noticing the hint of a satisfied smirk.

"I do not care what you say, you are freezing. And if you think that you can collapse from the cold just so I can carry you to your bed, you have another thing coming." He berated. "Unless of course, I was with you." He added as an after thought and winked, his eyes twinkling with passion. I raised my eyebrow,

"In your dreams, Malfoy." I whispered seductively.

"Exactly." He drew me into his arms, allowing my head to rest on his chest. It felt so comfortable. I breathed in deep, and allowed my senses to be overrun by his enticing scent. Ironically, my thoughts shifted to Voldemort's request. I knew that the time would come when I would have to fulfil it. I smiled to myself as I nestled deeper into his chest, things were moving along nicely between Malfoy and myself, I only hoped that Voldemort would not need an heir yet. I shook my head of that thought, knowing that I would deal with it when the time came. I returned my thoughts to the present and was startled to realise that Malfoy had been watching me.

"Thinking about me, Blair?" he questioned.

"Yes, I suppose I was." I answered truthfully, smiling at him. He didn't waste any time responding to my statement with words. Before I knew it his lips had crashed onto mine, pulling them up in a bruising kiss. I thought about pulling away, not wanting to give him any satisfaction but the thought struck me; I wanted to be in his arms. I was tired of holding back for the sake of what other people would think. Bella was right; there was nothing wrong with being in love.

He pulled away, brushing a strand of raven hair from my face while he gazed longingly into my eyes. I licked my lips, savouring his taste. I sat up, turning completely to him and studied the fiery passion that was lighting up his icy eyes. Hungrily I grabbed the front of his robes and pulled him to me. Our lips connected as sparks of passion flew through me. His hands cupped my cheeks as we overbalanced and I fell backwards. Malfoy landed on top of me, his weight sent a fire through my veins. He sat up, breaking our passionate embrace to study my slender form lying beneath him. His coy smile told me I had let him go too far. Catching him off-guard, I rolled him over, swapping our positions. I smiled seductively as I sat on his chest and ran my fingers though his hair.

"Blair I…"

"Now, now Malfoy, we've only just become properly acquainted." I whispered huskily as my lips met his once more. I pushed myself from his chest and stood over him. He grabbed my wrist but I only smacked his hand away playfully.

"Good night, Lucius." I smiled, turning my back on him. I felt his eyes follow me until I left his sight. Malfoy sat up and watched mesmerized, until he collapsed back onto the ground, staring through the tree branches to the star studded sky.

"How does she always manage to stay one step ahead of me?" he asked the darkness, yet received no reply.