A large box on the bed was waiting for Elvein to be discovered. Girls sharing the room with her looked at it with interest and envy.

"It's also from Demian. Isn't it?"

Elvein ignored them, trembling fingers already reaching to unfold the package. The first thing to come into view was the card, which held not the Designer's nor shop's name, but simple words "Sagano Morning." Opening packaging papers revealed a gift, which was a beautiful dress, as green as Elvein's emerald eyes. Silk was so delicate that it flew between her fingers like water. Losing the last strands of patience, she quickly discarded her clothes, putting on the tenderest piece of clothing she had ever seen. It was something between the Japanese Kimono and modern European dress. The gown was much more closed than the simple silver dress she was planning to wear. Emerald silks revealed only her hands and neck, leaving everything else, as secret, hidden in its many folds. Elvein hid that detail at the back of her mind, promising herself to analyze it later.

The gown must have been magical since it laced itself up, hugging her waits with as much delicacy as a lover's arms. Even the belt tied itself up. Belt and long trapeze sleeves, which almost reached the floor, had golden threads intertwining, creating intricately embroidered bamboo shots. Studying elegant dress folds did remind her of the path between Sagano bamboo groves. The realization made her eyes tear. There was peace on earth, which created dresses worth naming, and one of them was gifted to Elvein by an enigma with the name Ekrizdis.

Fast clicking on the stone floor brought Elvein closer to the grand hall. Stepping foot in it, she did not notice stunned Dean Thomas' face but went looking for Demian, who was nowhere to be seen. Only after making a complete circle around guests, did she notice that Dean was hurrying by her side, telling her something:

"I'm sorry, Dean. What did you say?"

"Um.. here." He reached his hand with a glass of punch. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Actually, yes. I am."

Demian stepped inside Grand hall at that exact moment, and her breath hitched. He wore dressing robes, similar to emerald as her dress, collar gilded with golden threads. Clear message to everyone. He was so handsome; her knees felt weak. He strode right to Elvein and kissed her hand:

"You are breathtaking." Then he eyed the young man, standing by her side, and gave him a significant greeting. "Hello, Dean."

He gave Elvein one more smile and went to the Professors.

Most of Ball's first part went in glances between those two. However, she tried her best to give Dean a pleasant time. She danced with him several times and even chatted with his friends from Gryffindor.

Ball's second part was much less formal. Guests were roaming around, so Elvein found time to sit away in a more obscure corner.

"Did you wear green, especially for me?" A young man from Slytherin gave Elvein a sneaky grin.

"Happy new year, Theo." The girl took an unconscious step back.

"My name sounds fantastic on those lips of yours. Care to dance?"

"I'm sorry, I've already promised someone else." There was a wall behind Elvein's back.

"Then let's leave this place. I always wondered-"

Nott interrupted his speech with a grimace on his face. Demian stood behind him, grabbing his shoulder. Huddled by pain, the Slytherin student was pushed away by Ekrizdis, who smiled at Elvein, taking her for a dance.

"You are an amazing dancer," Demian whispered in her ear.

"You too." Admitted Elvein, who followed a demanding partner in an intoxicating dance. Her reed-like waist was bowing in which way Demian directed. Seeing her would have thought that girl didn't have a single bone in her.

Elvein caught director Dumbletore's almost amused smile, then eyed everyone else and shrunk in Demian's arms:

"Everyone's looking at us." She whispered, a little intimidated.

"If anyone tells you anything, send them to me." Lightning sparked in Ekrizdis' eyes.

Demian took her into his arms, spinning her in the air, in music's tact. That made Elvein's dress wave, revealing her slender legs. Demian's face, in seconds, changed from loving into wolfish. His vicious glare was boring at everyone like a hunter, daring them to look at her. The dance continued, though the young man did not notice how hurt, fear, and panic crossed Elvein's face, how she slowed down, stopping before the music ended. He managed to catch only a glimpse of her disappearing dress when she snatched her hands out, running out of the grand hall.

Using secret paths discovered during her long strides inside Hogwarts, she reached her room in mere seconds, she sat on a bed, crying in desperation. In a minute or two, there was a knock on her door:

"Elvein, may I come in?"

She did not answer, just sat on the bed, closing curtains, erecting the last unfortified barrier between them.

Door squeaked. Footsteps were heard, and she felt how Demian was set on a chair by her bed. She did not sob anymore, but tears still streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Demian's sad, shamed voice was heard.

She just wiped her tears.

"Forgive me." Continued Demian.

"You don't trust me." She whispered.

"Don't say that."

"Demian, I can't be responsible for others' actions. I can only swear to you my loyalty. If it's not enough for you, I don't see a future in our relationship."

"Elvein…"

"No! It's true! I accepted you the way you are. If you can't accept my Veela half, why are you torturing me? Or yourself? I can not control this. This happened despite my desires. You can't change it either. You can accept it or leave me." On those words, another stream of tears followed.

Demian set quiet; then he started in low voice:

"There's something I want you to know about me. From the age of twelve, I was raised by the school since I had no one alive, nor did I have anything but a small amount of money in the bank and a half-destroyed family castle. I didn't have friends, since I was Sui generis, intelligent and willful, which made me not so pleasant companion. I learned manipulation dissimulation when I grew up, though I've never been a swindler. Building my authority, making a fortune, and nets of powerful connections were very easy for me, but I stayed poor when it came to people, friends, and family. There were many willing to be with me for my money, for power, even for being as dangerous as I am. Still, I had no one, nor had I purpose for living. I bought everything money can give you. I searched, uncovered, and possessed artifacts humanity has yet to discover. I got to know every pleasure and every single danger this world has to offer. I lived as if there was no tomorrow, till it became impossible to oversee the fact that everything was pointless. Many might not believe it, but a person without purpose in life but pleasure is miserable. The world was a dark, selfish, nefarious, and peccable place for me, and I couldn't care less if it would have succumbed in a day. Then I met you, and it felt like everything went back to its place."

Elvein slightly moved the curtain to look at his face. Demian sat on the chair, head hanging between his shoulders, staring at his shoes.

"Now, do you understand why I can't share you?'' He continued.

The girl's fingers touched his chin to look into his eyes. Demian's crimson gaze has watered.

"Elvein, I try. I really try hard!" He turned his face away, smiling bitterly. "If you had any idea, what thoughts are sometimes nagging me, you would have run away, without a single glance back. I think of who is around you? What kind of dirty thoughts are they thinking? Are they hurting you? Are they scaring you? I am ready to bolt and run to you, but then I see your writings in a notebook and calm down. I am dangerous, Elvein. Dangerous, erratic, unpredictable. I know that you know that; Dumbledore knows that. But I try, I do try hard." He swallowed, looked in her eyes with a stern, promising gaze, and continued. "I will try harder, I promise you. But that does not mean I'll succeed on the first try."

Elvein tugged on his body, hugging him and in some time, finally admitted:

"Demian, I think I love you."

"Since the very first day!" Demian answered, hugging her body with all his strength. His face was hidden in the crook of her neck, not moving for a very long time. Then, he met her eyes and said: "Know it, if you ever regret loving me, I will not live."

"Demian, please!" What was she pleading for? Not to scare her like that? Not to disappoint her? Not to make her regret giving up the whole world for him? Maybe everything.

Demian's face was getting closer to her. When only millimeters separated them, he said:

"Elvein, I'll follow you to the end of the world, but you must take the last step to me."

Girl's inexperienced lips touched Demian. Butterfly light, unaccustomed movements were driving her closer to the bliss till Ekrizdis had not wasted the remaining drops of his patience, deepening the kiss. Last tears left twin emeralds, bedewing Demian's face, while Elvein blessed the world for existing.