devils snare [phan]

Chapter 12

I fiddled with the music player, waiting for Dan to meet me in the Hufflepuff common room and hopefully ease the tension in my chest. I was unprepared for the dance, having heard nothing about it prior to the day before. While Dan had later told me he wasn't the best dancer, I said I would rather have him teach me than the best dancer on earth.

"Hello?" I jumped at the voice breaking my thoughts. Dan's head peaked around the edge of the painting and I relaxed. He smiled and walked inside, the painting swinging shut behind him. He moved closer to me, our cheeks heating up simultaneously.

"Do you," I coughed, gathering myself. "do you know who you're going to ask to the dance?" I shoved my hands in my pockets roughly and forced a smile, the mere idea of Dan being with anyone else making my stomach bubble with anger. Why I had asked him such a question was beyond me.

Dan shook his head. "I don't think I'm gonna go." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I just don't think I belong there."

"That's fine," I sent him a softer smile. "just know if you change your mind I will be there."

"Thanks." Dan smiled, his cheek concaving into a dimple.

"Anyway," I clapped my hands together. "I would like your expertise on dancing... please."

Dan snorted and walked to the music player, flipping the switch. Sweet tones wafted from the speaker and Dan began to sway to the tunes. I stood stiffly, trying to emulate his movements, but to no avail. Dan laughed at my attempt and walked towards me. He placed his hands on my shoulders, effectively stopping my "dancing".

"You're thinking about it too much," he ran his hands down my arms, trickling calm over me like rain down a leaf. "close your eyes, just listen to the music."

I closed my eyes and listened intently to the harmonies and melodies surrounding me, complemented by the crackling of the flames in the fireplace. My feet shifted weight naturally, following the fluctuations in crescendos and decrescendos. Dan's hands wrapped around mine and he swayed with me. I shifted forward and pulled Dan closer. He squeaked in surprise, his chest bumping into mine. I wrapped my arms around his waist, stabling us while Dan wrapped his arms around my shoulders. We swayed together in silence, my eyes still shut.

Although my other senses seemed to be heightened without my sight, I couldn't help but miss the sight of Dan. I cracked open one eye to look at him. His deep brown eyes were locked on me. The second our eyes met, our cheeks burned red, but Dan held his gaze. I allowed my other eye to open and couldn't help a smile. I impulsively pulled him impossibly closer and he jumped slightly, before a lazy grin set along his features. His palm slid up my neck and to my jaw, where his thumb ran along my cheek, soft strokes in time with the music. The fire reflected and illuminated amber stripes in his hair and eyes. His lips were a pale pink and I couldn't help licking mine. I glanced back to his brown eyes, they were locked on my lips. My breath hitched. Our swaying slowly came to a halt and we were just stood there, gazing at each other intently. He leaned closer to me and I stiffened, the words echoing through my head for the one-hundredth and too many time.

Doing that in public.

They were asking for it.

We were alone.

Just me.

And Dan.

I leaned into Dan. his fingers travelled up and grew tangled in my hair while mine stayed fixed around his waist. my nose was just grazing his when I let my eyes close. his breath was colliding with my lips and my heart was beating impossibly faster. my hand travelled up his side to his cheek and I pulled him closer to—