Pirate Blood

Chapter 32

Charity Event

That evening, Kaylee was playing with Rachel in Rachel's room. It was yellow with bumble bees on a border across the ceiling. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Narcissa came in along with Draco saying "Mother, don't."

"No, Draco." Narcissa told him.

"What's going on?" Kaylee asked.

"Well, I donated money to a charity. There is a ball being held to thank all the people who donated. I was going to have Draco go on behalf of me. Hermione is going to be there as her family gave money, as did Blaise and Pansy's families. I think you should go." Narcissa said.

"I said that you should spend time with Rachel." Draco said.

"Kaylee, you know that you can spend all the time you want with her. Just go tomorrow night. It's only from eight to eleven." Narcissa said.

"Narcissa, I don't know. I don't have a dress or anything. And I–"

"I happened to have some dresses in your size in your room. You can go as this Chris Turner. It will be good for you. You must come. You simply must." Narcissa insisted.

"I guess I could go." Kaylee said.

"Wonderful!" Narcissa exclaimed.

The next night, Kaylee, as Chris, had come out of her room ready to go. She had chosen an emerald green dress that went to her knees. It had cap sleeves, and the bodice was beaded with sparkling green beads. The skirt seemed to flow perfectly. She wore matching green t-strap heels. Her hair was in loose curls. She wore only eyeliner and mascara with a clear lip gloss. She wanted to keep it low key tonight. It was amazing that low-key could be so stunning. Draco was at the bottom of the stairs in a tuxedo. "Wow, you look...wonderful." he said to her.

"Thanks. You look quite handsome yourself." Chris replied.

"The limo outside just pulled up. Blaise insisted we share a limo with everyone, with the exception of parents. They'll be going separately." Draco said.

"Cool with me."

They entered the black stretch hummer limo to find Hermione, Pansy, Blaise, and Jesse. The guys were in tuxedos, though Jesse didn't wear a tie and had his shirt untucked with the top two buttons undone. Jesse was one of the guys who could make sloppy turn into sexy. Hermione was wearing a lavender halter dress with a matching shawl. She wore dark purple open toe pumps with a dark purple clutch bag. Two pieces of hair were pulled back with clips. Pansy wore a black spaghetti strap dress with black heels and purse. Her shoulder length hair was braided.

Everyone said hello. "Jesse, what are you doing here?" Chris asked.

"I could ask the same to you." he said.

"Narcissa pushed."

"Hermione asked."

"Are you two back together?" Chris asked, noticing his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

"Yeah, we are." Hermione answered.

"About damn time." Draco said.

"That's why she has the hickey." Pansy said.

"You aren't always the brightest person, Pansy, are you?" Blaise asked.

They entered the ball. It was a room in all red and white. There was a string quartet on the stage at the end of the hall opposite from the entrance. There was a large staircase at the entrance. Christmas trees adorned the sides of the staircase and stage. Some reporters from various magazines and newspapers were there. "Dance with me." Jesse whispered, as his lips brushed against her ear. He took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor.

Draco and Chris went to their table. "I want to talk to you." he said.

"What about?"

"About the dreams."

"Draco, I'm sorry. I know I probably shouldn't have, but I missed you and you missed me."

"So making me think I was crazy was the solution?"

"No, Draco. I was going crazy without seeing you and Isabel said you were having the same nightmares that Blaise was having. You would see me in some horrible situation where I would get killed painfully at the end. Honestly, I think you would have gone mad if you kept having those dreams."

"Couldn't you just feel bad and say you're sorry like other girls would? No, you have to go and give some smart answer that will make me feel stupid for saying anything to begin with."

"Draco, I'm not other girls. I'll always be the pain in your ass." she smiled as she put a hand over his.

Blaise was on the other side of the ballroom at the bar, sipping a beer. Then he saw her. The girl. The brunette from his dream. She wore a turquoise dress with black spaghetti straps that stopped about three quarters of the way down her thigh. She had black strappy heels. Her auburn hair was wavy and pulled up into a high pony tail while her side swept bangs slightly covered her right eye. They locked eyes for a moment. He saw her purple eyes. She quickly looked back to her friend that was talking to her. Blaise recognized the friend as Megan Jones. Then Blaise saw the girl put her hand over her right wrist and shut her eyes tightly for a moment. She took her hand off her wrist. There were only some black rubber bracelets. Blaise walked over. "Do I know you?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, I think you go to Hogwarts. Your name is Blaise Zabini, right?"

"Yes. I can't seem to remember your name, though."

"Daniella James. Dani for short."

"Dani, it's a pleasure to meet you. I wanted to know if you would please dance with me?" he held out a hand for her.

"I don't think I should." Dani said looking at her friend.

"Oh no." Megan said shaking her head of curly strawberry blonde hair, "Daniella James, you're not turning down dancing with him because of me. I'll find a way to keep myself occupied. Go. Shoo. Have fun."

"I don't bite." Blaise said. She took Blaise's hand as he led her to the dance floor.

As they started to dance, Dani asked, "You know I'm in Hufflepuff? Not Slytherin."

"I knew you weren't in Slytherin. I would have already known you if you were." he said.

"Don't you hate Hufflepuffs, and everyone who isn't a pure-blooded Slytherin?" Oddly, she almost sounded fake. It seemed as if she knew the answer already.

"It's wonderful to meet someone who doesn't stereotype." Blaise said sarcastically.

"Sorry. It's just–" Dani started.

"I know. It's alright. The way I see it is Hufflepuffs are loyal, fair, patient, and hard working. Why wouldn't I dance with a Hufflepuff? You're also extremely beautiful, which helps quite a lot." Dani blushed at this. "I'm not as bad as everyone thinks I am. I'm friends with Hermione Granger, Chris and Jesse Turner, all of whom are Gryffindors."

"I guess I misjudged you." she said.

"It's alright. So, I happen to see most of the people here at other events. I've never seen you at any of them. So what brought you to this one?"

"My friend's family gave to the charity. She invited me to come along."

"I'm very glad she did." The song stopped. "Thank you for the dance, Miss James." he kissed her hand and walked in the direction of Draco and Chris. Dani walked back to her own table.

"He kissed your hand as if you were a princess. It was so cute." Megan giggled.

"I know." Dani said, blushing. "Why aren't you shocked that a Slytherin was so nice?"

"Blaise Zabini has been nice to people on many occasions this year. It's odd, but I like it. And it looks like he likes you." Megan said, as Dani once again blushed.

Over at Blaise's table, Chris was questioning him. "Who was she?"

"The girl that I saw in my dream. Dani James." Blaise said.

"I want details." Chris demanded.

"She is here with a hufflepuff, Megan Jones. She has the eyes."

"And the tattoo?"

"She saw me coming. I have a feeling that she covered it herself."

"Or it might not be Isabel." Draco said.

"I'll get closer to her. I'll figure out more about her. Then we'll see if I'm right." Blaise said.

On the dance floor, Jesse and Hermione were still dancing. It was a slow symphony. Hermione felt Jesse's hand on her back. His fingers were moving when she remembered his old habit.

"What's the name of the song?" Hermione asked.

"La Bella Vita. It's Italian for 'the beautiful life'." Jesse said. Jesse had been ear trained, meaning he could hear the notes in a song and play them back. He had been tapping the notes on Hermione's back out of habit. He was actually happy that his mother forced him to be trained to perfectly play the piano, violin, cello, viola, flute, clarinet, piccolo, and harp. It had later helped him in training himself to play guitar, bass, and drums.

The song stopped and everyone ate dinner. Afterwards, everyone went home.

(A/N: Alright, not a very exciting ending. I know, however next chapter, rocks! And it may also raise the rating to M. I'm not sure if I'm going to edit it yet. Would you guys like the next chapter to be M or stay at T? The part about Jesse pressing notes into Hermione's back was taken from a movie called Angel Eyes. As always, TELL ME IN A REVIEW! I"M DESPERATE HERE! I need some inspiration and motivation, cause I'm having serious writer's block!I NEED REVIEWS! Give me ideas, support, flames, critism, or whatever! It doesn't matter if it's signed or anonymous! just press the purpleish button and review! THANKS! Nikki)