The Burning of the White Wisteria

CHAPTER 17: THE PARTY

My eyes scanned the dance floor, looking for someone specific. I let out my fifth sigh of the night, leaning against a cold stone wall. The texture of the stone pressed into my bare back, exposed by my white dress, as I downed my champagne. I let out a hiss as the bubbles burned my throat. Why was I even here?

Because Tom told you to be here.

Oh, right.

"Don't worry, Alexa, he'll show up." Mara placed a comforting tan hand on my shoulder, the fabric of her dress brushing against my thigh. "He promised he would."

I nodded at her, smiling sadly before I looked back at the dance floor.

Abraxas rejoined our side, two drinks in his hands as he passed one over to Mara before nonchalantly wrapping an arm around her waist. "Hasn't turned up yet?" He asked, sipping his drink to hide his clenched jaw.

"No." I shook my head, fingers playing with the edge of my white dress. "He hasn't."

"Bastard," Abraxas scoffed. "Who does he think he is? Ditching you like this?"

"He's just running late," I said quickly, trying to diffuse my brother's anger. "He wouldn't just ditch me."

"If you say so." Abraxas shrugged.

The three of us stood in silence for a long while. The orchestra that Slughorn had hired for his party was in full swing. The entire room seemed to be in full spirits: laughing, dancing, and drinking with each other as the bright moon shined in through the room. The entire place looked like it had been touched by Midas himself: covered in lavish golden decorations, drapes, and tableware only to be paired with various white flowers such as roses and carnations as waiters walked around the room and handed out horderves. My eyes followed the white suit of one of them as he offered a tray of champagne to a group of people. I stared at one person in the group in particular.

Ivy Dovetail stood in the centre of a group I had never seen her in before. She laughed with her honey-sweet voice as she stood with Aventus Avery and Rudolphus Lestrange; their charms working perfectly in tandem to enchant her.

I tightened my hold on my champagne glass, desiring to try and warn her of their true nature before someone's hand laid on top of mine. I looked up to see Mara standing in front of me again. "You alright?"

"Yeah... Yeah, sorry, I've just never seen Ivy talk to Aventus Avery before."

"Huh?" Mara looked over at them. "That is odd."

"Anyway," Abraxas suddenly said, pulling Mara over towards the dance floor. "How about a dance, Marabella?"

"Oh, um..." She concernedly looked back at me. "Well, maybe we could wait until--"

"No." I shook my head. "It's okay. Go have fun."

Before Mara could even say anything she was whisked onto the dance floor by my brother. I watched as they danced together, smiling and laughing. They're a great pair. I can see that now.

Mara pressed against Abraxas, her dusty lilac dress reaching just above her mid-thigh. Her shoulders were covered by sheer puffs of fabric, delicate and soft as the translucent fabric reached her wrists. The puffs connected to a straight across neckline and tight-fitting bodice that lead to a flared out bottom half. It was ornately embroidered with dark purple flowers on the skirt of the dress. I watched the flowers swirl as Abraxas led her in a turn, his face nothing short of overjoyed as he watched her.

My brother wore a blue suit. I was certain I'd never seen him wear before. It made my heart swell happily when I considered that he might have gotten one just to impress Mara tonight. She squealed when he hoisted her into the air for a moment before bringing her back down, their foreheads leaning against each other as they slowly danced.