Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter Sixteen: The Yule Ball

Black stood by the entrance hall tying and untying his velvet blue bow tie, looking anxiously at the stairs every now and then, ignoring Malfoy and Prewitt's banter beside him. The first dance had already started and Hermione, Scarlett and Xander were running fashionable late.

All three boys however stopped to watch three figures descending the marble steps. Black had eyes for only one woman in star sapphire blue. Hermione trailed behind her eyes focused on her two inch golden sandals, concentrating so she wouldn't slip. The satin gown she wore was artfully draped from a gold necklace, that felt like mesh on her skin it was so light, attached to the dress as one piece. There was something Egyptian about it with it's geometrical patterns woven with chains of fine gold and at the centre of each shape was a gem in a shade of deep blue. Each one completely unique.

Black's eyes were drawn to the wide ribbon in the same blue of the gown tied around her waist. There was something sinfully wicked about the fact that only a necklace and a ribbon held her dress together. Her hair had been barely tamed allowing it to follow its natural curls but with a sleek finish. A midnight blue head band with a dark blue feather was wrapped asymmetrically around her head. Her facial features were simply enhanced except for her lips that were shaded a dark crimson red. Rosaline had somehow managed to transform her into a dark beauty.

Hermione caught Black's gaze, ran to him and twirled so the dress rippled under the light. She showed him her dangerously exposed back, turning her head so she could see his reaction. Black's eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped towards her, touching the ribbon tied around her waist, then wrapping his arms around her he whispered into her ear "Exquisite." Hermione turned to face him, straightened his bow tie and kissed him softly. She eyed his tux appreciatively, the hard lines accentuating his broad tall frame.

"Shall we?" Black offered her his arm. She took it graciously and entered the magnificently decorated great hall. The ceiling was charmed to resemble a clear night sky, lights were provided from floating candles in elaborate crystal holders. Beautiful rose arrangements sat on small round tables around the dance floor. A five piece jazz band was situated in front of the high table playing an upbeat number. Dancers waltzed and sauntered around the room animatedly. The atmosphere was light and free. Dumbledore and Rosaline stole the limelight as they danced the Charleston at the centre of the room. Rosaline wearing a shocking pink chiffon dress and Dumbledore an electric blue suit complete with matching loafers.

Riddle and Rosier danced gracefully around the hall looking quite the perfect pair. Rosier observed critically the other girls dresses while Riddle looked thoroughly bored. As the song ended he released her abruptly and went to a round table that lined the dance area for a drink. Riddle sat back on a chair and sipped a butterbear distastefully. Reaching into his robes he brought out a flask and tipped the contents into his glass. Rosier watched him pouting her crimson mouth.

"Aren't you going to tell be how beautiful I look tonight?" She simpered. Riddle looked at her for a minute, his eyes dropping to her low velvet sweetheart line revealing a little of her lacy black bra underneath.

"Beautiful" he smirked. Rosier blushed and reached for a glass of champagne.

Riddle watched the couples dance. His eyes drawn to Prince he fought his impulse of dragging her off the dance floor so he could teach her what happened to those who defied him. He smiled at the thought of drawing her blood, torturing her ever so slowly.

Rosier watched Riddle glare at Prince and wondered what his obsession was with her. This girl was fast becoming a nuisance. First stealing her beau away from her and now her lover?

A few tables away Potter sat with Lyall Lupin and his date, downing champagne glass after glass. Lupin watched him disapprovingly.

"Enough." Lupin vanished the contents of the next glass with his wand. Potter only grabbed another, his eyes trained on his former girlfriend.

"Why does she have to always look so fucking beautiful?" Growled Potter. Lupin's date sighed and walked away without a second glance.

"You cost me my date." Lupin groaned looking at the Ravenclaw go and then at his intoxicated friend. What he sacrificed for loyalty.

Lupin watched Scarlett dance, laughing at something Gideon Prewitt had just said as he twirled her smoothly. Indeed his eyes wasn't the only ones on Scarlett. Half the males at the dance were watching her.

"Isn't that what you love about her?" Lupin himself couldn't imagining dating Scarlett. Beauty like that should be taken in small doses.

Potter bared his teeth as he saw Prewitt lean into Scarlett, his lips almost brushing hers. He stood at once dropping the champagne on the floor and walked to the smiling couple. Lupin followed hurriedly attempting to pull him back only to be thrown to the ground. Black seeing the danger ahead let go of Hermione and pushed Potter back aggressively.

"Nothing to do with you Black" Potter hissed, sprawled on the floor beside Lupin.

Scarlett and Prewitt finally noticed the brawl taking place a few feet away from them. Black whipped out his wand and looked warningly at Potter who did the same. Scarlett ran in front of Black and looked pityingly at Potter.

"Damion what are you doing?" Scarlett asked him incredulously taking in his drunken state and his dualling stance.

Potter stumbled forward, grabbed her hand and began walking to the exit. Prewitt brought out his wand and stunned him with his back turned. He shrugged apologetically at everyone and said "For his own good."

"Don't blame you mate." Lupin said, gesturing for Black to help him shift Potter out of the hall.

Scarlett's eyes filled with tears as she stood watching Damion being dragged out in utter humiliation. Hermione walked up behind Scarlett and gently guided her out to the courtyard. The stars were out in force tonight. Scarlett looked up at them as she sat down on a stone bench. Hermione took her in her arms and comforted her. Xander soon joined them with Malfoy who did his bit by calling Potter every name under the sun, eventually making Scarlett laugh.

Malfoy kneeled before her clutching her hands as Xander sat on the other side of Scarlett. "Repeat after me. Potter is an arsehole."

"Potter is an arsehole." She smiled at him. "A good for nothing selfish little prick who-"

"Woah that'll do love." Grinned Malfoy.

"Thanks guys" Scarlett hugged Hermione and Xander.

Eventually they all headed back inside to enjoy the remainder of the evening. Hermione lingered by the doors and debated waiting for Black when she heard a soft scream coming from the dungeons. She sprinted down the corridor, pulling out her wand as she did so and found Lestrange kissing a bound Parkinson in the alcove Riddle had held her in a week ago. She sent a stinging hex at him and then released Parkinson who looked thankfully at Hermione before fleeing the darkened corridor. Lestrange turned and pointed his wand at Hermione who was suddenly frozen by his wolfish glare. She panted heavily fighting the occlumancy defences that threatened to fall in the face of such familiarity. Lestrange put his wand away, prowled towards her and gripped her waist painfully in place.

"Hello beautiful" he whispered into her ear.

Hermione's golden eyes looked fearfully into his black irises then at his leering red mouth as he brought them forcefully down on hers, biting hers so hard he drew blood. He pressed her against him and stroked her exposed back and she let him. She closed her eyes and turned into stone as he went through the ritual she'd suffered many times as a war prisoner. She opened her mouth and let out a silent scream.

"Lestrange." A voice snarled. He didn't stop, too lost in the thrill of his hunt. "Crucio"

Lestrange dropped to the floor twitching violently. Hermione shook her head out of her trance and looked at her saviour. She immediately drew her wand when she saw it was Riddle. He was distracted however by the writhing man on the floor. Lestrange's silent screams filled the corridor with a potent fear that lingered with Dementors.

Hermione saw with horror his eyeballs roll back into his skull and looked back at a possessed Riddle, his hand completely steady as he brought Lestrange to the edge of insanity. Hermione disarmed him, not prepared to watch any longer, even if it was Lestrange.

Riddle slowly turned and looked at her. She was gripping both wands still trained on him.

"This is how you treat your rescuer?" He asked politely. He unnerved her completely.

"Why would you save me?" Hermione shuddered.

"I could hardly stand by watching him defile you, now could I?" Riddle smiled eerily.

Hermione continued to shake violently. Riddle approached her but she fell back in fear sending a poorly aimed jinx at him.

"I'm going to go back to get help." He hesitated.

"No!" Hermione gasped, the wands dropped as she held her knees and rocked herself against the stone wall.

"Don't leave me." She pleaded.

"Ok." Riddle stood quite unsure what to do. She seemed to be suffering a panic attack. He conjured a blanket, placed a warming charm on it and slowly approached her once again. She didn't move so he kneeled in front of her and gently pulled the blanket around her. Her eyes were no longer on him but fixed in mid-air. Riddle sat down beside her, looked around the corridor before placing a hand on her back. She seemed to be soothed by the action so he edged a little closer and circled his thumb in a way he hoped was reassuring. The rocking eased and a few minutes later the shuddering too ceased. He dropped his hand from beside her in case she returned to her senses and cursed him for touching her.

Hermione awoke from her first night in a dingy little cell underground. She groaned as she moved her back, sore from sleeping on the stone floor. She rubbed her arms in a futile attempt to gain warmth from the damp that infested in her skin. A death eater approached her cell and unlocked the rusty iron gate. "Hello beautiful" the older man smirked, his mouth was red and cruel. Hermione watched him in detatched apprehension as he stroked the crotch of his trousers, his beady eyes on her the whole time.

"Hermione?" He called her quietly, trying to pull her out from whatever rabbit hole she'd plummuted into.

Hermione jumped up, startled, looked around at the empty corridor, threw Riddle's wand back at him and ran back to the entrance hall. Once there she saw Black hurry down the marble steps smiling as he saw her waiting for her. As he drew closer he frowned noticing the shaken state she was in.

"I'm sorry our evening was cut short." She apologized not ready to share what had almost happened to her once again.

"It's not over yet" He murmured taking Hermione's hand and walking her up the stairs. Her feet were throbbing when he finally stopped at the Astronomy Tower. Hermione went out before him and saw the cushions and blankets on the stone floor beneath the starry skies. Dozens of tealight candles floated around them looking like burning fireflies in the dark December night.

"I thought we could maybe sleep out here tonight?" He asked a little nervously.

"It's very romantic" smiled Hermione shyly, taken aback that anyone would find her worthy of such thoughtfulness.

"Too much?" He frowned.

Hermione shook her head and lay down patting the spot beside her. He joined her as she kicked her heels off and rested her head on one hand his hand caressed her sides. She shivered at his touch separated only by a layer of silk and leaned in to capture his lips in a deep kiss. As their mouths moved more erratically Hermione sat up, pressed Black down on the floor and placed her knees on either side of his waist watching his eyes widen in surprise.

"Do you want me?" She murmured, her lips nibbling his ears, her hands weaved through his dark hair. She could hear Black breathing heavily and moved her lips down to the hollow of his throat, her teeth gliding across sensitive skin. He groaned unable to say much else. She lifted her head so she could see him. His silver eyes were dilated. She saw he was biting his lip and laughed softly. "Do you want me?" She repeated, her eyes shining with laughter.

Black responded by untangling his hands from hers, circling her waist and untying the ribbon so it fell in a pool of blue beside them. Hermione looked at him as she reached to the clasp at the back of her neck and released it. Black watched the material fall away revealing her naked breasts in the star light. He pulled her under him and stroked her jaw. "Beautiful." He whispered as he trailed his kisses down to her neck, breathing heavily causing her to groan with pleasure. Her hands made quick work of his buttons as he finished the job she stared at his streamlined body, pale skin and the trail of dark hair going southwards from his naval. She kissed the tender skin just above his belt, flicking her tongue as she did so. Black hissed as he retaliated by pinning her hands above her head and kissed her nipples. As he kissed and sucked his other hand trailed down between her legs, finding her clitoris he pressed gently against it causing her to arch her back.

All thoughts of Lestrange and Riddle fell away as Black teased her mercilessly. His thumb circling her little nub and two fingers pressed against her entrance. She thrust her hips forward wanting more of him, more contact, skin on hot burning skin. Squirming under him she released her arms from his hold and unbuckled his belt, then unzipped his trousers. Black stopped her, his face looking strained with restraint. Hermione only nodded while helping him out of his trousers. As soon as his penis emerged, fully erect, Hermione grinded against him, the head of his cock against her clit, causing both of them to moan with pleasure. She sunk her nails into his smooth back as her body convulsed under him with her first orgasm. As the last wave passed Black thrust all of him easily inside of her, didn't wait for her to adjust before moving again. Hermione clinged onto him helplessly, all abandon lost in the feel of him inside of her. Black held her hips aggressively as he slammed into her repeatedly looking at her head thrown back he thought he'd never see a sight so beautiful. As he plunged deep inside of her she came a second time. He groaned at the feel of her walls tightening around his sensitive penis. With one last push he stilled as he came hard and fast inside of her. His semen spilled down inside her thighs. He collapsed beside her, panting, both their bodies covered in a sheen of sweat. "Fuck" Black swore. Hermione laughed and entwined her fingers tightly in his.

A.N. And this is why this fanfic is on a mature rating! Too much or not enough? Only one way I'll know. Review please my dear readers.