All He Needed Was A Friend

Chapter 18: A Jealous Dance

***POV: Beatrix***

Christmas Day had come at last. This evening I had a ball to attend at the Malfoy Mansion, tomorrow one at Prince Manor, and finally on friday, "I" was throwing a Christmas ball. Uncle Peter had me organizing the whole thing and I had had hardly any time to spend with Tom. It was aggravating. Uncle Peter insisted that I get used to it seeing as I would be organizing them all the time once I married another pureblood. At least, I had some quiet time now. Walking into the family library, I found Tom reading a book and taking notes on it. He was so engrossed in his work that when I walked up behind him he showed no recognition that I was even there. Peering over his shoulder, I saw the book was one written in runes.

"What are you reading?" I asked causing him to jump.

"Beatrix, don't do that," Tom exasperated. "I could have..."

"Could have what?" I asked waiting for Tom to finish his sentence.

He shook his head, "Nevermind." He turned back to his book and closed it. "What's up?" He smiled. I handed him a wrapped present to which he raised an eyebrow. "Another present?" He inquired. "Didn't you just give me a new set of dress robes?"

"Well, yea, but this one is a early birthday present that I chose on my own without Uncle Peter leaning over my shoulder," I explained.

"I see," he said as he tore the paper off. He held the journal in his hands and opened it flipping through the blank pages. He looked up smiling, "It's beautiful Beatrix, thank you."

I blushed and mumbled back, "You're welcome." We sat there for a couple seconds in an awkward silence before I mentioned, "I, uh, need to go get ready for the ball..."

"I suppose I should as well," Tom replied with a slight smile still lingering on his lips.

After arriving in my room, I pulled out the ocean blue ball gown that Jason had made for me as a thanks for getting Walburga to go out with him. The gown combined with a pair of blue two inch heels would be my attire for the upcoming ball this evening. I sat at my vanity examining my jewelry when I heard a 'pop' behind me.

"Min was wondering if the young mistress was ready to get dressed for the ball?" my personal house elf, Min, asked.

"Yes, Min, I'm ready," I responded, "but which piece of jewelry should I wear?" The house elf walked over and after looking at all the pieces, selected a necklace of blue tinted pearls and my mother's ring.

"Min thinks the blue pearls and ring will go nicely with Mistress's dress," Min commented walking into the bathroom.

"I'll go with those then, Min," I agreed and allowed Min to get me ready for the ball.

"Young mistress looks beautiful," Min said after she was done.

"Thank you, Min," I smiled. "Will you go tell Uncle Peter and Tom that I'll be done in just a minute." Min nodded before disappearing with a 'pop.' I looked at myself in the mirror once more remembering the first time I'd looked at myself in this same mirror just six years ago. I had the same black wavy hair, but it had grown to my mid-back since then. My pale blue eyes hadn't changed, but the house elves claimed that my eyelashes had grown longer and that I had the most gorgeous high cheekbones they had ever seen. I had always hated dresses for the way they made me look, but they looked better on me now, or at least, less worse since I'd started filling them out. "Let's go do this," I encouraged myself before walking out into the hallway.

***POV: Tom***

The three of us were going to transport to the Malfoy mansion via a portkey since Beatrix and I could not yet apparate. Once Beatrix arrived looking as beautiful as ever, we teleported over. Uncle Peter and I landed okay, but Beatrix nearly toppled over.