Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the preview of my first ever 10th chapter!
We have a very special chapter for you today, I hope you enjoy it!
This is part 2 of chapter 10
Thank you to all who have read and also to: watergoddesskasey and Lady of Blatant Sarcasm. I hope you enjoy!
Warning: there's a part in here with "The Dark Waltz" from Phantom of the Opera. I had a video planned that you could link to, but i forgot that this site is picky with that. So type the song into youtube, and it should be the second one down.
Just incase you haven't heard this song before, here's a youtube video. This song was origianlly created for Phantom of the Opera, by Anderw Lloyd Webber, and in no way do i own it, the video was made by xlemon. it is on youtube, since it won't let me copy and paste the link, type in this ending.
"/watch?v=K5VnBTnI3s4"
Our Time is Running Out
Parchment 10.5.2: The Dark Waltz
A few weeks passed, word spread about the dance. Somehow, everyone, was able to keep the dance a secret. A few first years knew about it, but were quickly told to keep quiet. The day of the dance had finally come. Lixella woke up early that Saturday, and headed to the room of requirement to start decorating. She was going to have Jynx help her, but she was in detention that morning with Snape. Instead, she was meeting everyone else in front of the astronomy tower. She was thinking about if she needed a date or not, she wasn't sure. Lixella hated asking boys to dances, she thought the idea that she had to accompany a boy was very cliché. Since it was her idea in the first place, she figured that she did not need one.
She headed up the stairs, rushing to the top. She wanted to get to the astronomy tower as quickly as possible. Passing down the hallway upstairs, was Draco, who was trying to avoid Pansy. He knew she would ask him first, and he couldn't say no to her. He wanted to ask Lixella, but he knew they both had far too much pride to accept an invitation from one another. Then, she came striding down the hallway.
"Cruxshade…" he said, she stopped suddenly and looked over at him.
"Oh, Hi Draco, you need something?" she half heartedly hoped he was asking her to the masquerade. The other half of her was thinking of clever remarks she could make at the moment.
"umm….I, was going to, wondering actually….if you, had seen Parkinson?" he asked, almost choking on his words.
"oh" she looked down a bit, "she's in the common room, practicing her defensive spells."
"thanks!" he said, turning away towards the stairwell.
"are you going to the dance tonight?" she asked. His heart sank, he knew that the perfect moment had passed.
"Yeah, I'm going….you?"
"Of course I'm going" she chuckled, "It was my idea in the first place!"
"well, I umm…I guess I'll see you there, then?"
"Yeah, guess so…" she said as he turned away. She mentally punched herself. That was her chance to ask him. However, she let her pride get the better of her. Lixella knew that she had to get past this whole, I'm your rival, act. At least, if she ever wanted to actually get to know him. She knew their relationship wasn't as rivals. They were just friends who communicated through bickering.
With the awkward part of the day done, she headed up the tower, to the room of requirement. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Neville, were waiting for her arrival. They spent hours hanging wreaths, and holly. They debated on hanging mistletoe, but decided it was a silly idea. Harry put in that, "if someone really needs it, it'll show up, trust me!". Lixella assumed he knew from past experiences.
Once they were done, they stood back and admired the work. The room was large, with a snowy white ceiling. From every banister and column hung boughs of evergreen, wrapped with holly and red ribbon. Wreaths floated by the walls, holding candles inside of them. The floor was a sparkling white, and so were the several tables and chairs that had been set out. They had set a table with refreshments and a never melting ice sculpture of two swans holding up a snowflake. It was dazzling, down the crimson curtains on the walls.
They all headed out to get ready. The door to the room of requirement was left open once the teachers arrived. Lixella was chatting with Harry on their way out about how terrible Snape was. The two of them had become pretty good friends over the past couple of weeks.
"or, when he does that thing?" Harry threw his imaginary cloak over one arm, "Mister Potter, I suggest…you…get a new…attitude…..towards…everything!" He paused in between almost every word. Lixella was almost on the floor.
"or my favorite" said Lixella as she put her nose in the air, "The Defense Against the…Dark arts. Is not for the …faint…of heart! You must be quick, snooty…and above all….develop my giant…..nooooose!" she elongated 'nose' exaggeratingly. Harry stopped walking, because he had been overtaken with laughter.
"That is so him!" he laughed, "ugh…I hate that man!"
"Me too, I mean I've only been here for two months and he's managed to poke at me from every angle!"
They both strode down the hallway, laughing and talking. Eventually, they made it to the Gryffindor portrait hole. Harry turned to Lixella as she was walking away.
"Just, by the way…." he started, she turned around, "I know you're going with Jynx, but save a dance for me, okay?"
"Sure Harry!" she said. She was excited about the invitation. Harry was a really nice guy. Every time she saw him before, he looked bored and full of angst. Now, he seemed a little happier. Kind of like Draco, but he was far more open about it. Lixella knew that dancing with Harry would make Draco extremely jealous. The whole thing seemed a bit childish, but there was nothing she could do now.
Lixella stared at herself in the mirror once she was done getting ready. Her dress was purple, to match her eyes. It was a typical ball gown, with a large skirt. The silk fell in creases down the large skirt, ending with embroidered crescent moons, and swirling curved black thread. The top adorned the same embroidering, It went over the chest, and trickled down her stomach line to the skirt. The body piece, ended in a curved point, and wrapped to the back, where it was met by a large black bow. The jacket only came to the top of the dress. It was black cloth, with ruffled cloth around the neck and tight sleeves. It was cut so that the top of it clipped around her neck, but did not cover her chest.
Her hair had been done up by Jynx. It was pinned up into an up-do. Curls fell from the up-do, and down her back. The front of her hair fell in a delicate wave, across her face and to her tangle of curls. On her head she wore a tiara, made of black twisting metal. It sat on the crown of her head, and came to a point on her forehead, adorning a crescent moon gem with a dagger through it. The tiara had belonged to her grandmother. She put her mask on, it was a delicate black mask, made of felt and lace. Holes were cut into the negative space, which were designed with curling lines. The top line of the mask resembled the shape of her tiara, as they mimicked each other on her forehead. She brushed a few strings off of the dress, and Jynx walked out of the bathroom.
"ready to go?" she asked.
She wore a short black dress, with a green lined corseted top. Her hair had been sprayed into a pinup style of curls. In her hair she wore a black bow, with an emerald green bat pin. Her mask was that of a black crow, made of green and black tulle. On her back, she wore small black leather bat wings. "Bloody hell!" she remarked, staring at Lixella, "you look like a queen o' tha night!"
"haha…oh, that's a funny one!" Lixella laughed, thinking of Elvira the show hostess. Jynx stared at her, confused.
"No…I mean it" she stated plainly, "you look lovely, but in a dark way!"
"Shall we go then, Madame?" Lixell held out an elbow.
"Why, o' course your majesty!" Jynx linked elbows with her.
The two headed up to the ball room, as each other's dates. They reached the room of requirement and said hello to Professor McGonnagal and Snape on the way in.
"Wow…you two look great together" said Luna. She walked up to them, with Neville. She had come as a dragon fly, with wings. Neville was one of the few boys with an actual animal mask, depicting a lion.
"Yeah, she's jus' so cute…I couldn't say no!" said Jynx.
"Hey guys!" they turned to see Harry and Ron, without dates. It was strange to think that Harry Potter couldn't find a date. They had both come in just dress robes, with regular black masks.
"where's Hermione?" asked Lixella.
"getting ready, she takes forever" said Ron. He was then quickly punched in the back by an annoyed Hermione. She hadn't come as an animal, but as winter. She simply wore a sparkling white gown, with a white lace mask, and snow flakes in her hair.
"You're terrible" she taunted to Ron, "I leave for two seconds and you start complaining about me. Hello, everyone"
"Hi Hermione" they said in small groups. They all turned to the stage as the first band of the night was announced. They couldn't get the weird sisters to play, since it was a small masquerade. Instead, they had hired various students from school, who tried out. The first was a group of boys. They started off with a Muse song, "Our Time is Running Out" . Ron took Hermione's hand, and Harry looked over at Lixella.
"Shall I have this dance, Madame Cruxshade?" He asked, bowing.
"Why, of course Mister Potter" she said, curtsying and giggling.
Harry was quite a good dancer, especially fast paced. They twirled, and spun, and even clapped. The whole room was whizzing by her as she danced wit him. She started laughing, out of sheer enjoyment.
You're something beautiful
A contradiction!
I want to play the game
I want the friction
….yeah you, will suck,
The life, out of me
Across the room, was Draco, dancing with Pansy. He turned and saw Lixella, dancing with Harry. His heart sank, she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his company. Out of all of the people she could've chosen, she had to choose him. "Potter!" he scoffed, Potter always got exactly what he wanted, without having to try. It made Draco sick, he couldn't let Harry take Lixella, too. The song ended, and he kept his eyes on Lixella. He knew this would happen, that he would come, and be disappointed.
After a few more wonderful dizzying dances with Harry, and one with Neville, Lixella had to sit down. She exited the crowd of people, and went to get a cup of punch. She watched Jynx doing a strange fluttering dance with Luna. The two of them looked like idiots, but they were having so much fun. Her eyes gazed around the ballroom, until they hit Draco. He was sitting in a corner, waving away a very excited Pansy Parkinson. He had come in nothing but a simple black suit. Lixella was almost upset that he didn't have a mask. She walked over to him, and sat down.
Draco sat, staring out at the crowd of people, jumping to the music. He had danced with Pansy, but he did not want to continue doing that. He actually was not fond of dancing. This was probably the reason why he never went to these parties.
"So, I'm going to have to take 5 points from Slytherin" said a voice from beside him. He looked over to see Lixella, dressed in one of the most beautiful dresses he had ever seen.
"5 points?" he exclaimed, "for what?"
"Dress code, Draco. You are not in proper attire. You're at a masquerade, with no mask…5 points deducted." she said
"I have a mask" he said, he held up a black mask. It resembled the shape of a bird beak mask, but with pointed features, like a dragon. "I'm just choosing not to wear it, I have that option!" he said. Lixella laughed and shook her head.
"Fine…I'll let you off, for this one occasion." she said, "No snarky comments for the whole night! Consider yourself lucky, I don't do this for everyone."
"the whole night?" he asked in disbelief, she nodded, "I don't believe you, Lixella. It's impossible for you to take me seriously!"
"Wanna bet?" she asked.
"Yeah…let's bet. If you can go the whole night without making a snide remark to me, you get one chance to tell me to do anything."
"same goes for you, Draco" she said. The two of them sat in silence, they hadn't realized how hard this would actually be.
"Alright" came an announcing voice, "For our next singer, we have Eloise Pennington, performing 'Dark Waltz'." A girl walked onto the stage. She had blond hair, and dark skin. Her hair was adorned with butterflies that fluttered. Her dress was a light blue, and she wore sheer fairy wings on her back.
"Ha…come with me!" Draco grabbed Lixella's arm just as the girl began to talk about the song. This was his chance. He darted out of a side entrance, and up a flight of stairs. He stopped before they reached the top, and put his hands over Lixella's eyes.
"what are you…" she started.
"trust me…you won't be able to resist this" he guided her through a door, and up some stairs. After a few more steps, he removed his hands.
They were on top of the astronomy tower. Lixella had nothing to say, she was completely speechless. The moon was full that night, and it glistened on the stunning view below. She could see the black lake, shimmering emerald, and could make out the Slytherin dorm below it. The shoreline lifted up into rolling hilltops, dotted with trees that were bathed in moonlight. Then, they became tall mountains, that pointed to twinkling stars above them. The night sky was clear, despite a few silver lined clouds. She felt arms wrap around her waist.
"I told you I would make you speechless one day" Draco whispered, leaning down towards her ear. A smile forced it's way across her face, she couldn't help it. Then, the violins started, and a clear voice sang with them. He took her hand and guided her out onto the wide floor of the astronomy tower.
We are the lucky ones
We shine like a thousand suns
When all of the color runs, together
I'll keep you company
In one glorious harmony
Waltzing with destiny, forever
Lixella stared up at him as they began swaying. He held her gaze with soft eyes. As the music flowed, they flowed with it. They stared into each others eyes, silent, for the first time. She had finally gotten past thinking of him as her rival.
Dance me into the night
Underneath the moon, shining so bright
Turning me into the light.
Suddenly, all the problems she had that semester, melted away. The only thing she could focus on, was Draco.
Time dances, whirling past
I gaze through the looking glass
And feel , just beyond my grasp, is heaven
Sacred Geometry
Where movement is poetry
Visions of you and me, forever
Dance me into the night
Underneath the moon shining so bright
Turning me, into, the light
He spun her, and twirled her. With every crescendo, he would lower her into a soft dip. Then, he would lift her up. Her gown swirled outward with every turn. It was gorgeous, they danced below the moonlight, no other lanterns in the room. Lixella's heart was racing, she couldn't believe that she was waltzing perfectly, with Draco.
Dance me into the night
Underneath the moon shining so bright
Let the dark waltz begin~
Oh, let me wheel-let me spin
Let it take me, again
Turning me into the light
The moment was perfectly placed. Lixella's pale skin was almost shining. Her figure swaying beautifully underneath the moon's glow. Draco wasn't sure if he ever wanted to stop dancing with her. She was so perfectly placed into his life. This year had been brutal to deal with, but she had shown up. She had given him someone to argue with, to bicker with, and someone who cared without knowing. She seemed to come into his life when everything was changing, when he needed someone to be angry with.
Eloise sang the last few lines with a clear, haunting beauty. As the violins faded away, Draco spun her, and pulled her in. He held her hand to his chest, and lowered her curved figure, one last time into a low dip. She opened her eyes as he pulled her back up. She still had nothing to say. She didn't want to say anything, in fear that if she did then she would wake up. He was still gazing at her. He had never seen something so purely beautiful before.
"Guess I lose…"he said, in a soft voice. Her gaze fell down, she hadn't returned to earth yet. He lifted up her chin with his hand. "Don't worry, it'll be okay" he said, and leaned down. He gently kissed her, and sparks jumped around in her stomach. He held her there for a second, kissing her softly underneath the moon. She brought her hand to his face, and held him there. Lixella had been kissed before, but not as romantically as this. Everything that anyone had said about kissing in music or romance novels, she was feeling. She could almost hear violins crescendo in the background. The adrenaline began flowing through both of them, rushing through their veins. Time stood still, as they stood on the Astronomy tower, kissing each other.
They both leaned apart after a while, once the music downstairs changed. Draco looked down at her, and a smirk crept over his lips. She smiled back up at him.
"So, what now?" she asked
"Do you want to go back?" he asked, a bit confused.
"No….honestly, I don't" she said.
"Then stay up here" he exclaimed, "with me"
They stood on top of the astronomy tower, staring out at the beautiful scenery. A few hours passed by, they just stood there, talking. They weren't even sure if the party was still going on. The music had stopped a while ago.
"So…you can't remember anything from that summer?" he asked
"No, my memory is completely gone. Except for the night I left your house." she replied.
"That is ridiculous! No wonder my mom gave you that vial. Who did that to you?"
"That's the point, I don't remember them. I just remember feeling scared, and suffocating."
She had told him about the strange things that had been happening to her. The prediction in divination, her memory loss, having to live with her relatives, and owning a house she couldn't live in. He stared at her, dumbfounded by what she was saying. He could not believe that she had all of these problems.
"The problem is…I don't even have my parents to guide me. My mom can't help me with this whole, Family room thing, and my dad, well he can't save me from harm anymore. I'm having to maneuver everything myself, for the first time. I have such little guidance." She stared at the shimmering water below.
"I know what you mean, my father is in prison. Therefore, my mother is paranoid about everything that I do. She's so scared I'll get caught umm, doing something bad, and be umm, expelled. And, no one can help me." he stated, with equal weight. She peered over at him, questioning what she should say next.
"I could help you…if I knew what you were doing?" she said, his eyes darted to her, "I know about the vanishing cabinet, it was my dad's. I know how to work it. I just don't understand why you need it so badly."
He sighed heavily, "No, I can't tell you why I need it." he said, not looking at her.
"Why not Draco? Is it that bad?" she asked. He tried to turn away, but she grabbed his left arm. He shot around and yanked his sleeve down.
"No!" she said, with wide eyes. She grabbed his sleeve, and pulled it up. To her dismay, there, on his left arm, was a dark mark. "Dammit, Draco! Why?" she yelled.
"You don't understand." he tried to explain, "I have to do this, Lixella!"
"Do what? No you don't…" she said forcefully, "you can do so much better!"
"Not until I can prove myself…" his voice trailed off. He couldn't get her to understand. "You're whole family is full of death eaters. Surely, you'd understand something like this?"
"No…never…I would never join them!" she was almost crying. Voldemort had taken away, yet another person she loved. "I can't believe you…" she screamed, "you are better than this. You don't need approval from someone who doesn't hardly know you. He only knows you through your father, and I'm sure Voldemort has said barely anything to him. Why would you do that? You are 16, you have so much time ahead of you?"
He stared at her, unable to find the words. She was furious, she turned and stomped away from the balcony. "And don't you dare touch that vanishing cabinet!" she yelled, almost to tears. In a minute, she was gone. Draco was left there, holding her masquerade mask.
She had run down the stairs, past where the party was, and headed for the courtyard. She wanted to get away from the school, right then.
"Accio broomstick" she said, and her Dawndrifter 2005 came gliding towards her. She hoped on it, ball gown and all, and flew off to the outskirts of the forest, near Hagrid's house. She landed swiftly onto the ground, and climbed off. She sat by the edge of the woods, trying to calm herself down. She couldn't believe that Harry was right.
"Oh god…Harry! I can never tell him, he'll send Draco to Azkban for sure! But, he's going to do something terrible, I just know it!"
She plopped her head onto her gown skirt, and tried to think about something else. The night had been so perfect, up until this point. Then, she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. Her head perked up, her whole body went paralyzed for a second. She turned around slowly, and peered over the bushes. Standing in the pale moonlight, was a banshee. Lixella gasped in fear, the woman was staring right at her. She had ghostly white hair, and skin. Her eyes were black, her lips were blue, and she wore a long white evening gown. Lixella wasn't sure what to do. The banshee stared at her for a few seconds, examining her. Then, she turned around, and began gliding away. Lixella got up to follow her, but was reluctant to go into the forest. The woman turned around, and let out a low screech. Somehow, Lixella understood it clearly as, "Follow". She slowly headed in behind the woman.
Draco was left on top of the astronomy tower. He stared at the delicate mask in his hands. He couldn't help what he was, or what he had to do. However, he was pretty sure that he was falling for Lixella, who would never accept him as a death eater. But, did she even know what she was in for? He had heard terrible things from the last death eater gathering. Lixella's name came up, something about her being able to raise an army of Banshees. It was certain that Voldemort would want to get a hold of her.
Draco wanted to hide her, at all costs. He had to tell her, to warn her, she needed protection. He summoned his broomstick. After several seconds, it arrived. He got on it, and placed the mask in his pocket. He knew that he would get in trouble if he was seen by anyone, since it was so late. He flew around the school, unable to find her. After a good two hours of searching, he dismounted, just outside of the castle. He was getting ready to head back in, when he found her.
"Bloody hell…" he said as he ran over towards the outskirts of the forest. Lying there, with her broomstick next to her, was Lixella. Draco didn't even know she had a broomstick. She looked like she had crashed into something. Her dress was covered with dirt, and her body lay lifeless. He picked her up, supporting her head with his lap. He tried to get her to move. "Lixella, if you can hear me…do something!" he said, but she was motionless. He shook her several times.
It was hopeless, she didn't move. Then, a white figure emerged from beyond the forest. Draco held Lixella close to him. He was not going to let some demon attack them. He nearly fainted in shock, it was a real-live banshee. He thought that they were always just a myth. The banshee just stared at him, and glided over with grace. She knelt down to his level, and took Lixella's hand. He wasn't sure if he should stop her. The ghostly woman nodded at him , to calm down. She then opened her fanged mouth, and let out a single high pitched note. Draco wanted to cover his ears, but he didn't want to let Lixella go. In a moment, the woman faded away, and Lixella's eyes peered open. She began breathing again, but it was quick and raspy.
"D-draco?" she said, still mostly unconscious, "It…it hurts!"
"what hurts? Did that thing do something to you?" he asked hastily.
"No, my throat, I can't…I can't breath. They won't let me breath, Please, help!" she gasped for air. He picked her up, and rushed towards the hospital wing. Once he got there, he placed her in an infirmary bed, and went to wake Madame Pomfrey. He didn't want any questioning, so he just knocked on the door, and went to hide. Madame Pomfrey stepped outside, with a lit wand in her hand. She peered around, then noticed Lixella on the bed in the Infirmary. The old woman rushed over to the girl, and began asking her questions. Draco, unsure of what to do at this point, saw that she was in good hands, and headed downstairs, to bed.
Oh, did you feel that rush of adrenaline? I adore that song! Are you wondering if that white woman was an important character? cuz, she is!
This chapter was extra-long, for obvious reasons! And, thank you to you all, for joining me in my 10th chapter celebration!
It took a long time to write this, and tweak it, so please do review if you can ^_^
Thanks for reading, Can't wait to see you all in chapter 11!
Preview: Lixella heads off to winter break, but ends up spending it in a way she had never hoped to. It's the beginning to her terrible ride, as a death eater! tune in next chapter!
