Mud-Blood

Esme 13.

She looked vanity in the girls' changing room and started to put on makeup for the ball. She looked into the mirror and tried to hold her tears in. Draco was causing too many issues for her but she didn't want to avoid him and didn't want to push him out of her life, even though he could care less about her being in his life or not because he always flaunts about it. Esme started to brush her hair, leaving it down in its wavey form. She tried to keep a natural look with smokey eye shadow, black eyeliner on her waterline, mascara and glittery lip gloss "I may not be going to the ball mud blood but I swear if you dance with Draco I will make you sorry" Pansy walked up behind Esme, she just looked at Pansy through the mirror "He won't be there Pansy, don't worry" She looked down at her hands "Did you scare him away?"
"No, I don't, but that nasty pimple did" Pansy covered the pimple and stormed out of the room, Esme smiled to herself as she stood up and grabbed the dress, she stared down at the dress hung up on a hanger, something so beautiful as this dress was something Esme has never worn before or even thought about wearing ever. She slipped the dress on the dress, she asked one of the girls in the changing room to tighten her corset. The dress really was a perfect fit, the diamond of the ball she was to be. She put on the gloves and heels, also putting on the large pearl choker, wearing this dress didn't feel like her, she felt like she was wearing a costume, an act for others' enjoyment, well that's what a ball is, an act of art people say. The clock was almost the time of the ball, nerves were present, she sat there and watched every tick on the clock. She didn't know who she would dance with now, she knew Draco wasn't showing up for her, to take her hand and dance with her all night, she wished he was but she knew deep down he wasn't. Esme stood up and grabbed her fan and wand, putting it in front of her corset, between her breasts and walked down to the Great Hall. Students crowded the corridor and as she walked through the students they all moved out of her way as if she were royalty, eyes were all on her, they all didn't recognize her at first, but they were surprised a mud blood could outshine them all. Esme walked into the Great Hall and was stopped by McGonagall "Dear where is Mr. Malfoy? You two are supposed to be the first dance in 10 minutes!" Her voice was frantic as she looked around "I don't know professor, I highly doubt he will be here on time, or at all" McGonagall shook her head "That boy will be in huge trouble if he does not show if he doesn't show I will need to pair you up with a different house president" Esme hoped she would be pulled out from being the diamond "Who would that be?" Esme asked "Harry Potter, he will have to be the backup partner" Esme sighed but kept it professional "Yes professor, I will dance with whoever to make the ball perfect"
"Well, that's great, but I really need Malfoy here, you two were a perfect match" A small smile appeared on Esme's face, they really were a good match. Esme stood off to the side, peering over at the doors every second, hoping to see platinum hair appear "Esme!" Hermione ran up and hugged Esme "Hermione hi! You look amazing" Esme held her hands "Are you joking, look at you! You are a princess Esme. I heard you are the diamond of the ball, I'm so proud of you"
"Thank you, Hermione, but my partner isn't here if he doesn't show I'm stuck with Harry" Hermione giggled "Yikes, that will be awkward won't it? Who is your partner?" Esme took a deep breath "Draco" Hermione eyes widened and her jaw dropped "Draco!?" She shouted and Esme covered her mouth "Shush Hermione, I highly doubt he will show. He was in trouble this afternoon so he probably won't be my partner" Esme took her hand off her mouth and anxiously played with her fan "He will show, trust me who wouldn't want to dance with you, Esme Jones" Hermione winked and stood next to Esme. "Good evening everyone! Welcome to the first ball of the year, we are so delighted to see all your faces and all of your amazing outfits. This year we did something different, I picked one group out of all four houses to be the diamond of the ball, Slytherin was the winner, now calling up Esme Jones and Draco Malfoy!" Esme froze, knowing Draco was not there "Esme go" Hermione tried to push her "But he's not here!"
"Just go" Esme walked into the middle of the ballroom alone, hundreds of faces quietly staring back "It looks like Mr. Malfoy didn't show" McGonagall pushed Harry out to the middle next to Emse "Harry Potter shall take his place" Harry raised his arm and Esme rested her hand on his "They will start off this ball as the diamonds of the year" The music started to play and Harry quickly grabbed Esme's waist "I'm scared to mess up" Harry said "Just follow my lead alright" She said, he quickly nodded his head. They started to dance the steps, floating across the ballroom, Esme's dress moved with her body, blowing past the students, everyone stared in awe, completely mesmerized by their dancing. During the dance, Draco peered into the Great Hall, his eyes froze on Esme, he leaned against the door with his hands in his pockets, he wasn't angry about not being the one to take her hand, he felt more of her from a distance, his heart started to beat fast and his skin was warm to the touch, his head started to race with thoughts about her, he watched the smile on her face as Harry spun her in circles, he was compelled by her movement, by her skin, her body. Everything about her at this moment was a blessing to witness. Everything about her existence was perfection. Time went on slowly as all he could see was her. Harry lifted Esme in the air, slowly resting her down, the music faded out and everyone began to clap. Esme looked around the room, giving a curtsy, she looked up and saw Draco by the door staring at her. She quickly stood up straight and everyone started to dance, she pushed through everyone and reached the door but he was not there, she walked out of the Great Hall and saw him down the corridor walking away. She picked up her dress and ran down the corridor "Draco Malfoy" She shouted as she ran, trying to catch up to him, he walked out the front doors and she swung them open "Stop!" She yelled at the top of the stairs, he stopped walking and turned around "Where the fuck were you? Why did you leave me there to dance with Harry?" Draco started to walk up the stairs "I was supposed to dance with you, you are an asshole Draco Malfoy" He grabbed her waist, pulled her in and kissed her, making her silent, they kissed. Their lips stayed together for a few seconds before they both pulled away, still close "Why?" She asked him as she looked into his eyes "I couldn't steal your spotlight. You looked so beautiful out there mud blood, I wanted you to shine like the diamond you were made to be. Plus I wasn't going to come back" He smiled down at her "Then why did you?"
"I needed to see you, I needed to talk to you" Draco removed his hand from her waist and pulled out a cigarette and lit it "What is it?" Draco giggled as he took a puff "You're always so impatient, I've hated it before but now I can't wait for you those words" Draco sat down on the steps and Esme also sat down next to him "May I?" Esme hinted at wanting a puff from his cigarette "These are bad for you, I don't want to ruin your perfect lungs" He took another puff as he made eye contact "So" He rolled his eyes a passed her the cigarette, Esme held it between her fingers, taking a big puff of the cigarette, his eyes watched he mouth "This isn't your first time is it mud blood?" He said with a smirk "I'm not such a loser you know. I've had my times" She passed the cigarette back "Now are you going to tell me what happened at home?" Draco sighed "Well, you remember that night, the night of the party. When I was um, crying, my father sent a letter that completely shattered me"
"Did someone die?" She cut him off "Not a person no, my heart did. Esme, I haven't been truthful with you. My mother helped me realize what I need to do now, I need to tell you everything"
"Go on," She said nervously, putting her hand on his thigh "This is very difficult for me" He took a huge puff of his cigarette before wiping a tear off his face "The letter my father sent me was a letter to tell me to kill you. To find and kill you" Esme removed her hand "What?" She fluttered her eyes "My father was the one who killed your parents. I was there also and I stopped him from finding you, I knew were there, I saw you under that bed and I instantly felt like a human again, something about you brought back my spark. So, I convinced my father you weren't there. Esme, it haunts me every day, being a part of what caused you so much pain. Then when I realized it was you who showed up at Hogwarts I knew I needed to keep you safe, I needed to make sure you weren't hurt ever again. I may have hurt you but I did it because I was scared of falling for you and that didn't end up being my choice" He looked over at her and her face was in disbelief, tears started to run down her face "You knew? Fuck you were there?!? After hearing me wonder about their death, I would cry myself to sleep over it and you knew this whole time and didn't tell me" Esme stood up "Esme please hear me out okay, I knew you would react this way but I don't care anymore okay, I don't want to fight or hate you anymore. Esme, I came back to tell you what you deserved to hear a long time ago" Draco stood up "I know you are upset but I need you safe, my father said if I don't do this job he will do it himself and he will find you. I need you safe" He tried to grab her hand but she backed away "Why now do you want what's best for me? You saw how miserable you made me when you avoided me when you treated me like shit because of my blood, everything you did was real Draco and now you wanted me safe?" Esme turned around and started to walk away "Because I love you, Esme. I was just too much of a coward to admit it" Esme turned around and gasped "I love you, I love your stubbornness, your honesty, your kindness, I love how you take my rudeness and use it against me" Draco walked up to her "Esme Jones the moment I saw you I loved you. I am so sorry for everything I have done and I am so sorry for what my father did" Draco pleaded with his hands to get through to her, she got into his face "I really wish I didn't fall for you Draco, I hate myself for loving you back. I really wish you killed me when I was under that bed. I wish you let me suffocate in that closet" She started to cry "How dare you confess your love for me this way! After you just told me you knew about my parent's death. I'm so angry Draco Malfoy, I'm so angry that I love you" She pushed him "Esme, please calm down" She pushed him again and this time he grabbed her and tried to hold her close, she started pounding on his chest as she cried "Why, why must you make me fall in love with you" She grabbed his face and kissed him then pushed away, slapping him in the face, he grabbed his cheek and turned his head to face her, he looked at her for a few seconds "I'm sorry" She said, he didn't say anything, he grabbed her cheeks and kissed her passionately, both of their tears mixed together as they kissed, she ran her fingers through his hair as he raised her off the ground from the waist. Esme pulled her lips away "I hate you" She whispered against his lips "I know" He said out of breath against her lips "But hate is another word for love, the more you fixate on hating that person the more you start to think of that person. Esme, I think about you so often that I forget where I am" Tears stream down his face as he lets her go "You fixed my life, but I only ended up ruining yours" He backed away "I'm the disease, I'm the dirty one. I completely destroyed you. My bloodline is the issue, not yours. Just say the word and I'll leave. I won't hurt you anymore. As much as I would hate being away from you, I'll do it" Esme took a deep breath "I don't want you to leave. Draco, I don't blame you for their death, you weren't the one who killed them, you had no choice, you had to watch. I may be angry with you for not telling me but my love for you is way larger. There isn't a bone in my body that wants you gone" Thunder started to erupt in the distance, the sky started to get dark and rain started to pour, completely soaking them "Now what? What's going to happen now? We just walk in there holding hands or something?" Esme yelled over the thunder "Something's not right" He yelled back and then a sharp pain entered his arm "F...Fuck!" She shouted as his knees hit the ground, Esme crouched In front of him "What is it? What's wrong"
"My mark, it bloody hurts" he winced and groaned at the pain "Esme something is wrong, you need to go please"
"No im staying here with you! Im not leaving okay" She raised his face to hers and kissed him, then smiled at him, I'll go get Madam Pomfrey okay, stay here" She stood up and started to walk but stopped as she saw a black-cloaked figure in the distance, appearing from the fog "Draco" Her voice was shaken and scared, he turned his head and forced himself to stand up "Esme get out of here now! Please I beg of you" Draco then collapsed again from the pain, Esme couldn't move, the figure was the same one in her dreams the same black-cloaked figure in her vision. It was the killer of her parents. Esme pulled out her wand and pointed it at the approaching figure "Stay back, I mean it!" She shouted and the figure was now in front of her, the figure lifted its wand and disarmed Esme of hers. Draco stood up and ran in front of Esme "Father no. I can't let you do this. I love her and I know you won't approve of it because she is the wanted muggle born but I love her. Please don't do this" Draco was still fighting the pain and he used all his strength to try and protect her "Father I'm your son!, please let me have this, please" Draco's father raised his wand again and used it to throw Draco out of the way and restrain him on his stomach "No! Father please" He started to cry against the wet mud, trying to free himself "It must be done or else we die or worse, lose our reputation" Draco's father raised his wand toward Esme, she looked over at Draco "I love you" She mouthed then closed her eyes, excepting her fate, realizing she will now be with her parents. Green light zapped behind her closed eyes, silence. "Esme!" She heard and she opened her eyes and Draco grabbed her holding her into a tight hug, she looked around, terrified if she was dead "I'm alive?" She said with confusion and started to cry, she collapsed into his arms. They sat on the ground, holding each other as they cried, Draco's father was lying on the ground, dead. Draco somehow freed himself from his father's force and killed him, saving Esme. Saving the mud blood he fell in love with.