"I'm so excited!" the red headed girl flounced around the common room her golden dress billowing out around her as she span in circles. "This is the best event that Hogwarts has ever thrown! I'm so glad Rosier and Fodder got suspended now."
I rolled my eyes at her and walked over to floor length mirror propped up beside the portrait hole.
The red silk fabric of my dress flowed over the curves of my body reaching down to my ankles, my leg visible when I walked through a split that came up to the middle of my thigh, my golden heels gleamed in the candlelight. I ran my fingers through my hair which I had styled into soft waves as I pressed my lips together to set my crimson lipstick.
I glanced towards the large golden clock over the fireplace five minutes to seven. Regardless of my attempts to convince Lazarus that I was more than able to meet him outside of the Great Hall he had insisted that he come to the common room for me just before seven so that we could walk down to the Great Hall together.
"I still can't believe Lazarus asked you and that you said yes!" Amber smirked still swirling her dress around herself.
"Why not?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well... I just never saw you two that way." She replied sticking out her bottom lip in thought as she often did.
"Neither do we." I said quickly wanting to put those rumours to bed quickly before Amber could spread them around the school there would be enough speculation over peoples dates as it was.
"We are just going as friends." I added causing Amber to crinkle up her nose.
"As friends? Who goes to a Valentine's Day Dance as friends?"
"Friends do!" I huffed crossing my arms across my chest defensively.
"You look ravishing my love," Florian grinned from behind Amber as he had just entered the common room from the boys dormitory, Amber flew around a very large grin plastered over her face. Florian wore a black tuxedo with a golden tie to match Amber's dress.
"Have fun," I smiled at them as they walked towards the portrait hole hand in hand.
"Are you not coming? You can come down with us if you like?" Florian smiled, I returned his smile warmly but explained that I was just waiting for Lazarus he had nodded and they had left.
Not even a minute had passed before there was a tuneful knock upon the portrait, I laughed as I heard the fat lady complaining from the other side.
"You boy you can't just go knocking on me, watch where you are putting those hands!" chuckling to myself I pushed the portrait open to see Lazarus stood just outside a smile spreading from ear to ear. His chocolate brown locks were loosely pulled back and he wore a black tailored suit and white shirt with a red tie and pocket rim to match my dress, he did look very smart. His small froze on his face as he stared at me in silence his eyes wide I coughed lightly and looked around us feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Oh er are you ready? I mean you look ready! You look... you look amazing." Lazarus stuttered running a hand through his hair before holding it out for me to take.
I internally rolled my eyes I was quite capable of stepping out of the portrait hole as I did multiple times every day but not wanting to be rude I took his hand before releasing it again once I was through into the corridor where he now held his arm out for me to take instead smiling. I linked my arm through his as we walked along the corridors and down the steps towards the Great Hall all the time I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable, something just didn't feel right it was like I was going on a date with my brother.
"Wiglaf is meeting us here." he smiled as we reached the two large wooden doors.
"He's here." I smiled pointing to Wiglaf as he stood just a few metres away from the entrance his hands in the pockets of his slim fit navy pants which matched a navy blazer and sweater underneath which was upon a white shirt. His long hair pulled back into a neat bun.
I waved at him to get his attention and he smiled upon seeing us before making his way towards us.
"You're both a sight for sore eyes." Wiglaf smiled.
"You too." I smiled with a playful wink.
"Shall we?" He gestured to the large doors placing a hand upon one of them ready to prompt it to open for us.
"Wait where's Riddle?" I asked placing my hand upon Wiglaf's arm to stall him.
"I don't know." He replied. "He will probably be inside, he did not make any arrangements with me to meet beforehand and as you have just asked me I am assuming nor has he with you."
Both myself and Lazarus shook our heads and I removed my hand from Wiglaf's arm.
"I'm sure we will cross paths inside." He concluded before pressing upon the large door causing it to swing open by itself.
The large hall was no longer the Great Hall but instead housed a large gleaming marble dance floor which reflected a deep red glow cast by numerous red candles within suspended large golden chandeliers. The enchanted ceiling cast a clear dark star filled sky over the hall as red drapes hung from the walls and covered the circular tables which lined the outside of the dance floor. Golden bird cages filled with small rose shaped candles had been placed at the centre of the tables. Rose petals were scattered all over the tables and the floors and even floated down from above all around the room. The sound of chatter was barely audible over the of melodies of soft love songs floating around the room.
We walked over towards a back table which was lined with crystal punch bowls and matching crystal goblets, heart shapes cookies and other sweet treats.
Wiglaf poured himself some punch while Lazarus grabbed two goblets taking one right from under my outstretched hand causing me to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll get you a drink." He smiled.
"I can get myself a drink Lazarus," I smiled with a sigh.
I looked around the hall but I still hadn't spotted Tom I was starting to think that he had decided not to come but I couldn't see how he would have gotten away with that being a prefect.
"May I have this dance?" Lazarus grinned shoving a hand out towards me and breaking me from my thoughts.
"Oh," I replied, "erm yes." I smiled, I didn't really feel like dancing just yet but I didn't want to be rude and so took Lazarus's hand as he led me towards the centre of the dance floor. The soft music began to play, I recognised the song I had heard Amber listening to it in our dormitory it was dream like almost entrancing.
Lazarus was a good dancer that I had to admit as he weaved us in and out of the many couples. My eyes suddenly went wide as I felt Lazarus hand slip a little low reaching my tailbone, I gently pushed his hand back up not wanting to make a big deal out of the situation it was probably just an accident...
"Grisha I..." Lazarus whispered but just then the room seemed everyone in the room seemed to stop moving the only thing I could hear was the music drifting through the hall. My eyes fell upon him, upon them, stood at the edge of the dance floor was Tom and Celia. I dropped my arms from Lazarus's shoulders and stood frozen to the spot upon the dance floor facing him. Tom's hair was swept to the side neatly in soft dark waves which contrasted with his pale skin and eyes which glistened like sapphires. His black satin tailcoat reflected the warm glow of the candle light over his fitted double breasted waistcoat and matching cravat which was wrapped elegantly around his neck upon a stark white shirt. My breath stopped in my throat as I looked at him standing there like an eerily dark angel as a pain shot through my entire body as I turned my gaze towards Celia with her long nailed hand resting upon his chest, her body pressed so close to his there was merely centimeters between them. She wore a tight fitting black black dress which plunged low leaving very little to imagination behind a thin opaque mesh which covered her chest and arms, her long blonde hair styled into large glossy waves.
Suddenly as if he had felt someone's eyes upon him Tom turned his head to my direction and our eyes met. He stared at me his gaze haunting intense as it seemed to piece into me, Celia's hand caught his hollowed cheek and turned his face gently back towards her.
"Grisha!" I shook my head and turned myself back around to Lazarus who was stood beside me on the dance floor looking frustrated. I looked down sheepishly feeling the horribly familiar feeling of guilt bubble in the pit of my stomach.
"I see." Lazarus huffed as he looked over to where my gaze had been focused.
"Lazarus it's not like that I just... look," I stuttered and unable to explain my reasoning I instead extended my arms in the hopes that Lazarus would take my peace offering and continue to dance with me.
"It's okay Grisha if you want to go and talk to him go." he sighed leaving me holding out my arms, I dropped them defeated to my side.
"Oh don't be like that Laz." I begged.
"I'm not, come on let's just get a drink." he murmured taking hold of my wrist and pulling me away back towards the refreshment table and Wiglaf who was now sat beside it, his goblet in hand tapping his foot to the music. He looked over at us as we approached him and shot me a suspicious look which made me drop my eyes and take a sip from my glass to avoid it.
After a few minutes of casual conversation Lazarus excused himself it was then that Wiglaf turned to me I knew well when Wiglaf was about to begin a lecture and I turned my head away taking another sip of from my glass hoping to ignore what was surely to come.
"Grisha." I heard him say in his Professor like tone, I pretended not to hear him as I wore my most innocent expression looking around the room.
"I saw the way you looked at him... and her." he continued I stopped looking around the room but instead focused my gaze upon one of the dancing flames from the rose shaped candles.
"Even a white rose has a black shadow, do not let jealousy be yours." I turned to him now.
"I'm not jealous." I replied firmly my defenses risen yet his words stung deep within my skin making the hairs across my body stand on end. "It is Lazarus who is jealous." I snapped, "I don't know why." I turned my head away sharply.
"He is jealous, he is jealous of how you feel for Tom." Wiglaf sighed.
"I do not feel for Tom! I just don't feel for him either he is my brother just like you." I said the words but deep inside I knew that how I felt for Lazarus and Wiglaf was different to how I felt for Tom... but yet I still could not recognise why or perhaps I could but I was not ready to admit it.
I took another swig of my drink before placing it now upon our table.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I sighed.