"And it goes without saying of course, yet again, without his vital services throughout the War, I daresay we would not be standing before you like this, celebrating another dazzling Yuletide at the illustrious Malfoy Manor! Please join me in raising a glass for our host family this evening!".
A flash of camera sent stars twinkling through Kiara's eyes for a moment, her smile freezing momentarily on her face as she blinked. A warm hand sliding around her waist tugged her closer, the smell of fresh pine and dark oak flooding her senses, his lips brushing across the skin at her temple with a gentle smile for the reporters in attendance. She allowed her body to rest only for a moment against his silk clad chest, the thick contours of his body moulding to her as he steadied her with the same hand. "Careful now, wife..." he muttered easily, pulling away to flash her a quick smile and wink, a brush of his thumb against her cheek fondly before turning to greet the small crowd that had gathered to wish them for the season.
Kiara stepped out of his hold with a graceful smile at their guests and a soft kiss on his cheek, excusing herself and walking away through the huge hall. The ceiling was especially charmed to reflect the outdoor weather, much like the one at Hogwarts. The starry night was broken up by swirls of dark grey crowds. Indoors, tiny icicles floated down from the ceiling, sparkling like diamonds and turning into dust just before they could land in someone's hair or on their outfit. She looked over at their guests for the evening.
Although it had been 3 years since the War had come to a devastatingly sober end, this was only their first time hosting the once wildly famous Malfoy Yuletide Ball. Although she had to admit, maybe it was more notorious than ever. Kiara sent another silent prayer of relief towards Narcissa, who had eventually agreed to plan the entire event alongside Pansy and Hermione. Kiara had still not managed to learn the proper enthusiasm required for such arts like they had. She was far more content to indulge in the liquor being transported around in the crystal wine glasses. Plus her heart lay elsewhere in the planning for the event of the season. As Theo liked to scream out the second they had hit the winter season.
Wizarding Society had packed into the expansive space, glittering in their finery, their eyes barely concealing the interest and hunger at the history and subtle call to the Wealth horded by the Family on display. Throughout the room, plinths held various ancient texts and treasures for the guests to look through at their leisure. First editions of some of the most sought after research text available. Ancient tomes and objects that held more magic than could ever be taught in a lifetime.
She smiled to herself as she saw the Head Unspeakable and his wife eagerly looking over some displayed letters. Convincing Blaise to part with the Ancient Medici family letters had been a triumphant moment indeed. Even if he'd only allowed her 24 hours with them. Never mind she'd had to bake him 5 different flavours of carrot cake and shove them down his throat before he'd finally felt full enough to actually sit still and listen to her sales pitch. Well, listen to her beg was a more apt description.
Nodding hello at her friends as she passed by them, she waved to the Potters and the Weasleys in attendance around the drinks table, not stopping until she reached the doors to the grand ballroom, taking a moments time to observe silently over her shoulder at just how preoccupied the guests were. Mclaggen downing several shots of incredibly potent dragon's firewhiskey and attempting to twirl a murderous Pansy Parkinson onto the dance floor, was currently doing a marvellous job of attracting the attentions of those who were still, regrettably, sober.
Opening the doors slightly, she slipped through the crack and made her way down the darkened corridor. The hallway glittered beautifully as she walked down it, strings of silver lights falling down the walls, hanging from the ceilings. What portraits there were of the ancestral line could simply only watch, their burning eyes never leaving her. They could only ever observe, the knife slashes and scorched marks around their mouths ridding them of the ability to ever call to anyone.
At the end of the hall, just off to the right, a small dark grey door opened onto a small alcove, wisteria wrapping itself a cherry oak wood as it curved outwards and formed a small balcony space. Kiara took a grateful step into the space, letting the door fall shut behind her as she breathed in the winter air, snow falling onto her dressed form. The deep jewel tones of her gown twinkled in the light of the moon, the white of the snow contrasting prettily with the darkness of the silk she had wrapped her body in from head to to toe. It clung to her like skin, infused with clever warming charms courtesy of Hermione's brilliance. So she was able to truly enjoy the chill in the wind.
Reaching for her wand that had been stowed away in her swept up hair, she gripped the delicate wood, willing her hands to stop trembling, her breaths slow and deep. Her eyes closed as she reached out to grip the banister, the small thorns in the ivy pricking into her soft skin. Would the sharp pinches help her finally feel alive tonight? Her throat choked as she succumbed to the chill in her blood spreading through her body, willing her breath to remain even and calm.
She was doing so well. It had been 3 months. A business trip. He was only back for tonight. Only tonight. They would all go home, she wouldnt have to talk to them. One more hour and she was done. An ugly feeling sank into her heart, she ignored it with an almost violent flinch. "Get it together!" She hissed lowly, pushing her palms further into the thorns as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. No space for them to fill with hot aching liquid.
"2 hours, Kiara. Shall we celebrate a new record this year?".A scornful tone sounded from behind her, a blazing heat filling the small space, robbing her of her breath. She tensed, her posture upright, as her eyes shot open wide. Fuck.
"Tired of working up the courage to ask all the lovely ladies to dance? It must be so debilitating for you to simply have to watch" her tone was quiet, indifferent, an undercurrent of venom laced throughout. She silently steadied herself, pulling her hands behind her and turning to face him, lips pulled into a smirk, her eyes flashing with disdain as she ran her eyes over him with a careless shrug. "Pity".
Kiara lifted her chin in triumph as she watched his eyes darken into bottomless pools of black, his chest jerking violently as he stopped himself from taking a step forward. His broad frame seemed to suck the air from the enclosed space, every corner being filled by his dark scent. Her magic sizzled harshly in her gut, he was always larger than life. Always leaving her unable to simply just breathe.
He shook his head, a bitter chuckle leaving his mouth as he ran his left hand down the tailored suit his mother had commissioned for the evening. A perfect match with Kiara, she had said. "A pity? Indeed. How I wish they had taken my ears and eyes too, but then what a disservice that would be to you, Wife? How dare I deny myself the pleasure of your honeyed words and loving eyes". There was no judgement in his face, a blank resignation long settled into his expression.
Kiara flashed her teeth at him. "If only they had taken the other arm, you may have been able to convince yourself of who you really are if you didn't have to look at your lovely souvenir everyday". She held a look of satisfaction on her face, watching silently as his eyes hardened, his jaw tightening. Almost instinctively, his left hand almost reaching out to where it knew his right should be, if not for the suit arm being pinned over just under his elbow.
The wind wrapped itself around the silent pair, biting against whatever skin was visible. He observed her for a quiet moment, dragging his eyes leisurely over her choice of outfit. His eyes held nothing.
"You're being called for, time to see them out. Don't fucking make me wait, Kiara" he ground out, his tone blank once again as he turned, vanishing back through the door before she could spit out at him again.
Kiara sucked in a large gulp of the cold air, clutching her hands to her chest, wand digging hard into her skin. She shook her head, unbearable misery sinking into her chest yet again. "Not yet. Please..please not yet" She whispered brokenly, frantically to herself as she blinked harshly, refusing even a single drop to form there.
"It's one hour Kiara, just one hour, then he'll go. He has to go". She chanted to herself in a whisper, slowly pulling all that blazed through her veins back into her. The stars remained silent as she pieced herself back together. A proper wife. His wife. She straightened her back, slipping her wand back into the elegant updo she had wrangled it into. A non-verbal charm had her vanishing the small marks from the thorns on her palms, a wave of nausea causing her to shudder as she caught a glimpse of the crimson droplets on her skin.
Clenching her hands into fists to stop herself from clawing at her eyeballs, she straightened up, a serene smile on her face while she walked back through the door and into the hallway , past the portraits of her ancestral in-laws.
What she wouldn't give to be one of them now.