Invictus [Tom Riddle / Tomione]

Roses & Devil's Snare

Dolohov watched as Tom made his way along the outer edges of the ballroom, like a shadow wraith attempting to avoid notice.

He observed as Tom lingered in front of the heavy drapes concealing the terrace's exit. Tom's eyes swept the ballroom for several moments, glinting red in the dim candlelight,  and then he slipped through the curtains as swiftly as a serpent, with all the incorporeality of a ghost.

Dolohov crossed over to where the Blacks stood, alongside the Malfoys and Lestranges. He squeezed by Callidora and Walburga's parents, nodding his greetings and kissing the hand of Abraxas Malfoy's domineering mother, whom he fondly referred to as Mother Malfoy.

He set eyes on Walburga, who wore an emerald-toned green gown, her generous bust on display, with an obscene-looking jewel nestled against her daring décolletage. He almost grinned at her, but was stopped by the sight of her hand resting on the robes of Orion Black.

Dolohov cleared his throat as he neared. "Miss Black, good evening. You're looking quite well." He glanced at Orion. "May I borrow your charming fiancé for a moment? I believe someone was asking after her."

Orion shrugged and handed her over, passing her hand from one arm to the next.

"I appreciate the rescue," she murmured softly as they walked away.

"You can thank me later," he said suggestively. "For now, I think you may want to inform that photographer over there," he said, pointing at a squat, balding man across the room, "that he may find Hermione Dumbledore in interesting company out on the balcony."

Walburga's eyes grew wide and she glanced at the photographer, then at the curtains. She immediately turned to retreat, but he caught her by the arm.

"Be sure to show him the staircase to the upper level balcony." He winked, giving her a malevolent grin. "For an aerial view."

"Is that all?" she asked, an eyebrow lifted questioningly. "I mean..." She swallowed. "She is here, after all. If we wanted to bring her to the Eye -"

"That's all," he interrupted. "For tonight. One step at a time, my love. We must tread carefully when dealing with the most poisonous serpent in the forest... and his lady fair. "

Walburga's blue eyes narrowed, and she curtseyed before backing away and approaching the man with the enchanted camera across the room.

___________

Tom stood for a brief moment as he appeared on the other side of the curtains, admiring the silhouette of his witch against the moonlit gardens beyond. The night was crisp and cool, not yet warm and balmy, and the stars appeared as myriad brilliant flares of white light in the spring sky. Hermione faded into them like Asteria, the goddess of the stars, the flickering jewels in her black dress blending into the night like a celestial gradient.

She was facing away from him, and he blinked, drawing in a deep breath, hesitant to pull her from her reverie.

Was she remembering their almost kiss upon this very balcony a year ago?

"I should have kissed you," he pronounced as he crossed the stone veranda and came to stand at her side.

He'd expected to startle her, but she didn't seem surprised as she slowly turned to gaze up at him. He imagined that she might have felt his presence, or sensed him coming.

"What?" she asked softly, eyeing him as he pulled his cigarettes from his coat.

"Last year. On this balcony. I would've kissed you if I'd known what's good for me." He gazed at her, frustrated by the mask which covered her features. His eyes flicked downward. "You're like devil's snare in that dress."