ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 33

Under the dangling, glimmering threads, shoes moved rhythmically along the floor in pairs. Elegant couples waltzed with the instruments, from radiant smiles to frowns to bored or anxious expressions varied in the space. Those who weren't dancing conversed, in loud and quiet tones alike.

Lilianne had been to her share of parties or gatherings. This by far, was one of the most lavish ones. Also one with the largest guest list. She did not know everyone around her, not even a third of them, but they knew her.

She was the firstborn of Rabastan Lestrange, and so she was looked at. They were not hostile like the people at school long ago, they were inviting. But there was something behind most smiles, they were testing, judging, and measuring while they complimented her dress. Her brother had met another kid his age, both sat in the garden to talk. She stood near one of the flower arrangements, holding a champagne flute in her hand.

Her eyes drifted to the back of a blond head, broad shoulders tight under tailored fabric. Draco was standing across the ballroom speaking with his mother, condescendingly nodding twice as he arranged his hair although it was already combed with idle precision. He spoke with sentiment, rolling his eyes only once as Narcissa turned sterner. Alas, the woman left not before centring the jewels pinned on his chest and muttering one last sentence. The blond picked up a glass of firewhisky to drink casually as he looked over his shoulder, as though looking for something.

By the time his gaze met hers, she was already done with her drink. She could see his smirk all the way from where she stood. With a fake unaware face, she left the flute on a passing tray, softly moving to arrange her dress when her orbs caught him circling the dancefloor, advancing in her direction. "Waiting for someone?" He said, turning around for it to seem like any other conversation. "No" Her head leaned slightly, "But I guess it depends, are you offering?" she whispered with a little smile as she knew deep inside she'd been waiting for him to approach since she arrived.

"Apparently I'm supposed to dance" The blond told her quietly, offering his hand as the violin tempo softened. Lilianne watched it, then his eyes, "It'd be silly going there alone. Care to join?" he asked smoothly, his mouth twitching upwards. "If I must" She replied jokingly, trying her best to remain cool, even if her grin betrayed her when her fingers touched his over her gloves.

As he guided her to a place in the crowd, their feet planted in the polished floor, hands meeting as they positioned themselves before music picked up again. Even over the fabric and little crystals, his cold hand sent shivers from where it set in the curve of her waist. That afternoon, he'd been somewhat not himself, not so smug or overconfident, his automatic response to her was to just shut up and take in the sight. "So this is what you wear to drive me insane" He muttered, scanning her face before the glimmer of her dress caught his eye again, "Good to know".

Lilianne tilted her head, moving quickly with him, "And you haven't even seen what's underneath" she smiled coyly after the first spin. Draco smirked, "Someone's smug today" his eyebrows raised as she lowered her face to hide the imminent laugh, "You're the only person who would say that to my face".

They eased into the rhythm more, moving along the circle with practised grace. It barely took any minutes before she started catching some eyes on them, the pressure underneath, somewhat asphyxiating. "People are watching" She said softly, losing her eyes in the pins on his chest to distract herself. "Let them" He replied simply, they were bound to watch whatever they did. Her eyes rolled subtly, feeling his hand hold her waist tighter. Mere seconds later, her eyes rose to his.

They were supposed to be dancing, it was only polite she looked into his eyes as she made a twirl. It felt ten times better, the intensity of his orbs overpowering the watchful pairs around them. He smirked just slightly, ear tuning to detect the song was ending.