Power Within

Chapter 8

Of Crimson Gold and Emerald Silver

Draco watched Hermione dance all night. He did not know why--it was as if he was stuck. Hermione ignored him and did her best to push all the events of the past few weeks out of her head. Then she noticed Narcissa.

"Harry, why is Malfoy's mum here?" Harry shrugged and told her about seeing Narcissa at The Three Broomsticks that day. This intrigued Hermione, but not as much as Draco's odd behavior. He had even gone as far as to ask if she had been eating. How weird was that? Finally, Dumbledore stood for an announcement. It was his usual Happy Halloween and the announcement of his yearly treat bags when they left. Dumbledore rarely forgot what it was like to be a kid. Hermione listened to him smiling.

"For the last dance I would like our Romeo and Juliet to start us off."

Uh oh.

Did Draco know about this?

She looked over at him--apparently not. She had never seen Draco look so--scared?

Draco could not believe what he just heard. Granger obviously did not know anything about this by the terrified look on her face. She hated being in the spotlight. Odd for a Juliet. Draco noticed his mother looking at him, so he collected himself and walked over to the Gryffindor. This was too priceless--Harry looked furious. Draco gave Harry his trademark smirk and then looked Hermione up and down.

"Come on Granger, Dumbledore and my mother are expecting us."

Hermione took a deep breathe.

Has he always been this sexy when he is being so...Malfoyish?

Something happened though. When he took her hand, she could feel it all through her body, as did he. Draco gulped and put his hands around her bare waist--willing himself not to think about her.

Rather hard not to, Draco, she is right here--so close. Just do not look at her--her eyes look so confused and lost.

Too late.

Draco could not stop staring into Hermione's eyes. It was odd, something he had never experienced before--as if he was losing himself. With his father away in Azkaban, he was finally starting to learn who he truly was, but what are these feelings? He wanted to pull her to him and never let go and he did. He could not help it.

Hermione was lost. Why was he looking into her eyes so deeply? There was something so understanding about his usually cold eyes--they seemed to have melted. His touch was almost apprehensive at first. Then, Hermione relaxed slightly as did Draco. His hands were so warm. It was not anything like dancing with Harry. This was deeper it seemed. He pulled her closer and she felt like she was falling--who is this boy in front of her? Surely, not Lucius Malfoy's son.

Narcissa Malfoy's son.

A voice spoke. Her mind reeled as he pulled her into him and she felt herself becoming lost in the dragon in front of her.

Is he trembling? What is happening?

At first, everyone was watching them and then, their eyes shifted to the enchanted ceiling in pure amazement. Narcissa and Dumbledore both looked up and smiled.

At first stormy clouds were rumbling all around...slowly, just one side of the ceiling had a dark cloudy appearance. The opposite side was colored in swirls of emerald green and silver moving vibrantly. Slowly the rumbling died away as the crimson and gold swirls of color flooded that area. The green and silver snaked itself around the intense crimson and gold shades so that parts had meshed causing an array of many colors. The crimson and gold and the green and silver continuously moved around the enchanted ceiling. Everyone was in awe. It was magical.

Only two people did not notice--the two that found themselves lost in each other. Nothing existed at that moment. It was just Malfoy and Granger, Slytherin and Gryffindor, Draco and Hermione, Pureblood and mudblood, Romeo and Juliet--encircled in a world of crimson gold and emerald silver.