•His English Rose• {Harry Potter X Twilight crossover}

•Nine•

Chapter Nine - Dancing and Desires 

The hotel they arrived in was beautiful, old, and quite expensive. Nova sighed as she peered around the busy lobby, with chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, polished floors, and thick rugs covering the ground. It was truly exquisite. The hall at the back of the lobby is through large double doors. More chandeliers led the way, and they entered a beautifully decorated hall: chairs and tables surrounded a polished dance floor, and carpeted stairs on the right led to the upper floor where people could watch from above. Carlisle led her towards a smaller group of people: a large pot-bellied man with an expensive fitted suit, on his arm a young brunette-haired woman, stick thin, her dark eyes widening as Nova and Carlisle approached. A second couple stood speaking to them, both a beautiful ageing couple, both with salt and pepper hair. Nova could smell them all, the money rolling off them - well except the young brunette who, as Nova had gotten closer saw that she had faint scars along her nose, indicating plastic surgery. 

"Ah Doctor Cullen, glad you could make it" Stated the Pot-belly man, he shook Carlisle's hand

"Doctor Strand, good to see you" Carlisle greeted "May I introduce my date for the evening - Nova" Nova smiled as Doctor Strand rounded on her, his beady eyes dancing over her hungrily. 

"What a beaut... How much was she?" Doctor Strand guffawed. Nova raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows. Carlisle tensed; he almost could rip his head off, but Nova's arm grounded him. He laughed slightly. Strand was one of those who were rude, arrogant and loved to put others down. Carlisle knew he was joking but Nova smiled brightly. 

"Actually," she replied softly, Strand looking slightly taken back. "Carlisle doesn't need to pay; he got me on pure talent." She sent Carlisle a cheeky wink, which almost drove him insane. "Oh, good, a bar," Nova dismissed herself from the group when she spotted the large bar in the corner and headed that way. Strand chuckled heavily slapping the vampire upon his shoulders 

"Where did you ever find her, and can I get one?" Strand replied, ignoring his date who huffed beside him. 

"Sarah... is that you?" Carlisle greeted the woman. Sarah smiled brightly as she was recognized. "I didn't know you came to those events." Strand looked to his date and then to Carlisle. "Oh, of course, you both work at Forks General, don't ya?"

"Yes," Sarah replied softly, her eyes flashing and fluttering as she looked at the handsome doctor. "I haven't seen him for a few days, though," she said with a touch of regret in her voice. Carlisle nodded just as Nova rejoined the group. He could smell the vodka in her drink, and also the bourbon on her lips; she handed Carlisle a glass of Champaign, both knowing it was for show. 

"I wasn't sure what you wanted," Nova replied softly. He smiled, thanking her as she turned to the Strand's date. "Nurse Stanley, right? I saw you around town," Sarah nodded. She didn't miss Carlisle looking at her, nor the soft British accent; It was at that moment that Sarah had hated Nova, her perfect features, her perfectly styled blonde hair, her gorgeous silver-grey eyes. 

"Carlisle" Sarah stated softly ingoing both her and his dates her hand resting on the nook of his arm "Would you like a dance? We can catch up" Before the vampire could decline Strand chuckled 

"Perfect" Strand commented "I'd like a dance with this exotic beauty" Strand quickly dragged her from Carlisle, her drink spilling slightly on the floor; Strand had dragged her to the dance floor where only a handful of people were dancing. A stage on the right had been set up with a string quartet had made themselves at home. Music filled the room, songs that Nova early recognised as Strand had placed her drink on a passing waiter's tray and pulled her to himself. His hands clutched her tightly so she couldn't escape as he bent to speak to her as they moved.