Darkness on the Horizon

Ch. 14

I took Dane's hand as he led me into the crowd. His hand rested gently against my waist while his other grabbed my hand. In true pureblood fashion we waltzed around the room. As we moved I found myself getting lost in him. I knew what I was feeling was more than friendship but I was terrified of losing him. I didn't want to ruin our friendship by admitting my feelings and so I didn't.

"Let's get out of here," he said stopping abruptly as confusion filled me. Normally I don't disappear from events like this but it's his birthday.

"Alright birthday boy," I said smirking. "I'll follow your lead." He grinned as he took me out of the ballroom before apperating us away. When we landed I noticed we were in the middle of Muggle London. "Where are you taking me?" I asked with curiosity as he just smiled instead of answering the question. Within a few minutes we had stepped into a fast food restaurant. He walked up to the counter ordering us two burgers and two ice cream cones. I raised an eyebrow but sat at a table inside the fast food place. He sat across from me both of us overdressed for the location but neither of us caring.

"I like eating Muggle food," he stated as I picked up my burger eating it. It had been several years since I had a burger. I had forgotten how much I liked burgers.

"It is really good," I agreed before adding, "but it's super bad for you."

"But it's worth it," he said making me laugh as I finished off my burger quickly. I then started eating my half melted ice cream cone. The cool vanilla filled my mouth.

"Why did your parents invite my family?" I asked him wanting to know if it had anything to do with us being friends.

"I may have mentioned you once or twice," he said as I felt my heart pound.

"Do you do sneak away often?" I asked switching the subject.

"I don't stick around my parents' parties very long. I'm not a big fan of waltzing so I usually find a way to leave but this is the first time I escaped with someone else," he said as I looked at him.

"Well, it's about time someone made sure you didn't go too overboard," I teased as he rolled his eyes. He smiled at I stared into his dark eyes. I didn't get time to react before suddenly his lips were on mine. My body reacted to his instantly as I returned the kiss craving more. Fire danced across my skin as his hand held the back of my neck. After a few moments he pulled away leaving me breathless. We both just stared at each other in shock taking in what we had just done.

"I'm sorry," he started to say before I cut him off with a kiss of my own. When I leaned back I just smiled at him as he looked at me with his jaw open slightly.

"I wanted it too," I murmured as his smile grew.

"I like you Isabelle Malfoy, I have since the moment we met and I think I always will," he said as my lips parted at his declaration.

"I like you too Dane Rosier," I said unable to think of anything today that could compare to what he said. "I don't even have the words to fully explain how I'm feeling right now."

"You don't need to. Can I court you Isabelle?" He asked me as my eyes widened.

"I," I paused at the seriousness of what he was asking. Courting was a step above dating and taken very seriously by all the pureblood families and yet I found myself agreeing. If we started courting the expectation would be marriage within a year and I was still so young but for some reason I wasn't as scared with him. "Yes, you can court me." Dane grinned at me before he got up.

"Come, I want to do once last thing before we head back to the party," he said as I took his hand. I didn't ask where because I knew he wouldn't tell me. He led me outside and down the street to a nearby store. Inside the store he quickly found a souvenir that most tourists would buy. It was a little red phone booth that said London below it. He bought two of them as I smiled at the little object. "Now you will always have something to remember the start of our relationship."

"It's perfect," I said taking the item. A lot of girls wouldn't see the gesture with that object but I did. It was simple and better than any extravagant gift I've ever gotten because it came from a sentimental place. Once we stepped out of the store I let him pull me into another kiss before we apperated back to the party. When we landed in the hallway outside the ballroom we composed ourselves. "Can we possibly keep this to ourselves for a bit? I want to figure out our feelings before we have our whole family involved." I asked him hesitantly nervous about his reaction.

"Thank Merlin," he sighed with relief making me giggle. "I just want to enjoy us first before putting expectations on us."

"Good, we are on the same page," I said to him before we walked back into the party. I used my magic to send the little phone booth gift to my bedroom at Malfoy Manor before Dane and I slipped into the crowd. He went off to find his parents while mine had already seen me and were approaching me.

"Isa," my mother said with a knowing smile. "Where were you?" She asked as I feigned confusion.

"In the hall. Dane wanted to talk to me about a student," I lied as her blue eyes showed she didn't believe that answer. She had seen the attraction between Dane and I but I refused to admit it to her yet. I wanted this to be special just for Dane and me even if it was only for now.