OOC:

Okay so this is the seventeenth chapter.

O.O

I didn't think I would ever get this far especially with everything that has been going on lately in my life. -sighs-

Maybe for the twentieth chapter I will hand out cookies and mini "virtual" presents.

BTW I am going through writer's block and finals right now so I am pretty much dead.

Anyway thanks to TonyAnnaAndre and Skylark Potter for reviewing the sixteenth chapter.

~hands out cookies to both~

Now if more people reviewed then I could be busy baking which just magically stimulates my typing.

Hehehehehe

It is time for the Ball.

YAY! I LOVE BALLS!

~magically appears in fancy Cinderella gown~

On to the story.

Tonight was the night of the Samhain Ball and there was no way that she would be feeling any comfortable at this event.

People were going to see her in the costume that she had picked out.

Of course her cousin was enjoying all this and was even helping her with her hair (getting rid of her natural white streaks) and with her makeup. Why Hermione found this exciting was beyond her comprehension. Her cousin was just weird.

After her cousin had finished with her, Emily stood up to go catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was surprised at what she saw.

She actually looked beautiful.

Her hair was free of her white highlights leaving dark brown, almost, black, ringlets that hung about her shoulders. Of course her cousin had put her hair in low pigtails that made the costume that she was wearing more innocent.

Her skin was flawless, pale, but flawless. Somehow the makeup that Hermione put on her made her eyes pop out more. The emerald green color of her eyes stood out against the scarlet cloak of the Red Riding Hood costume. Yes she was indeed beautiful.

She really did owe Hermione.

Strapping on her Mary Jane platform heels, Emily walked away from the mirror and began to walk towards the portrait that held a secret door behind it and an even more secret corridor that no one had ever found before.

A feeling of apprehension formed inside of her but she wouldn't back down.

She was going to that dance.

Fifteen minutes later she found herself walking into a room that would make a claustrophobic person flail and pass out. The ball room was filled with a bunch of students who were either in their fourth year or higher. Third years and below couldn't go though. The reason was still unknown.

All of the guys wore masks with their costumes to hide their identities whereas the girls' faces were left free of any such coverings.

The basic parts of this ball was simple.

Have fun, practice safe sex (just joking), and the male dancers would have to reveal who they were at midnight to the person that they were dancing with at the time of the unveiling.

Hogwarts' School Dances were weird.

"This may actually turn out to be fun."

Emily whispered to herself before she made her way down to where her cousin and her friends were hanging out. The looks on Ron's and Harry's face made her want to run away because they were staring at her as if she had a third head.

Her cousin's expression though was utterly different. As eager as can be, Hermione ran up to her and began to hug her really tight until Emily was sure that her spine would be utterly crushed if she wasn't let go.

"Herm, you are hurting me."

At that her cousin let her go only to smile sheepishly at her.

"You look so awesome. The guys are going to be staring at you so much today. You better get used to the attention, Em. You are going to need it."

"Oh shut up Herm. Let's just hurry up, party and then end the day. You know how much this type of stuff takes my energy away right?"

At the nod of Hermione's head, Emily smiled and turned to go before one of her favorite songs began to be by Evanescence began to play but she didn't have a dance partner.

Suddenly she felt a gloved hand lightly cup her shoulder and turn her around to face a tall man dressed in a black cape and suit.

No words could escape from her as that gloved hand pressed a finger against her lips prompting her to be silent.

"Shh, little one. It wouldn't be proper for you to cry out right now would it?"

A silky smooth voice whispered against her ear as the man bent down to press a light kiss on her neck. Shivers cascaded up and down her spine while her body went virtually numb. This person seemed so familiar yet she couldn't recognize him.

Though the man was dressed in black his hair was straight and was as black as a raven's wing, shiny just like the wings of that beautiful creature. His mask, that all of the guys were required to wear at this dance was silver but had green trimming around the eyes and edges of the mask.

A green snake was embedded in the mask, constructed by what appeared to be emeralds and two rubies for the eyes. Whomever this was, was obviously a Slytherin and very wealthy for them to have such details in their mask.

Now the familiarity that Emily felt around this man was hard to explain. The eyes seemed familiar yet they were an amber color. Who was this man? Why did her body yield to his touch like a cat yields to its owner. There was something weird in the way this man was making her feel.

Another song began to play though it was strange that this song would be playing at a Hogwarts' dance.

What was the name of it? Once upon a December or something? All Emily could remember was that it was from a muggle movie that she watched about a russian princess that was animated and stuff.

In one single movement her body was pulled towards the strange man's and soon they were off in a waltz.

Dancing bears
Painted wings
Things I almost remember...

Emily felt herself drawn to this stranger as they somehow nimbly danced their way through the couples that were starting to waltz along with the music. Usually she wasn't that graceful when doing the waltz but somehow she was doing fine with this stranger.

"Who are you?"

She found herself asking the stranger as her head tilted up to examine his features once more. She still couldn't explain the attraction that she felt for this man as her eyes roved over this man's body.

"You don't know? Tsk. Tsk. Must I show you who I am, little one?"

And a song someone sings
once upon a December...

That silky smooth voice sent chills up her spine once more. Her head began to feel lightheaded as she continued to stare up at him. Her eyes were trapped in his, mesmerized by the perfect amber shade that they were colored.

"I do believe that you are the only who is able to look in my eyes without fainting a minute later, little one. That is an impressive skill to have."

Suddenly Emily found her body being dipped. Her body became rigid as she felt herself get closer to the floor but was surprised when the stranger didn't struggle to support her weight, keeping her suspended in the air with one hand as he tilted her head up to meet his.

"Let's go outside, dear. It might make more sense if we went out there. You look like you need fresh air."

Someone holds me safe and warm,
horses prance through a silver storm...

Warm arms wrapped around her shoulders as they walked up the stairs towards the balcony. The crowd seem to matter very little to them as they maneuvered their way through the couples.

When they reached the balcony, the man released her from the warmth of his arms so that she could walk over to the railing of the balcony. What Emily didn't know was that the man magically sealed up the wall so that no one else could enter through the balcony unless they climbed the very walls of Hogwarts to get on the balcony. This was what was needed to give them some privacy.

The figure gazed at the young girl before him and smiled. So this was the little woman that his fledgling desired...hmm...interesting. He did admit that this girl had a certain charm and was able to withstand his gaze without passing out...immediately.

He was going to fully test her out and see if this Little Red Riding Hood was ready for his Big Bad Wolf.

If not then he would just take her away from his pup.

With that thought in mind, the man walked up to the girl and flashed a big toothy grin.

Your blood will be mine tonight, little one. Mark my words.

Okay.

So I FINALLY got this capter done.

It took forever but it is finally done.

So was anyone fully prepared for the mini cliffhanger at the end?

Did anyone understand it?

I would love it if I could get reviews for this chapter before I update this story.

I will warn you now that I will be updating my other stories as well while I am on here.

YAY!

So please review and if you want to email me personal comments about my stories then email at the link that is shown on my page.

I will answer you guys as soon as I can if you do.

I would so love help from people if they could input some of their opinions of what should happen next.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this chapter.