The Second Time
The second time he saw her there was blood on her boot.
Again, just a drop or two, easily mistaken for some stain or other should someone have asked her about it. He knew though, somewhere in his gut he knew that was blood and oh how he ached to know the story behind it.
She stood in the middle of the Ministry lobby, back straight, hair pinned up and away, in the most dull grey and black skirt and jacket imaginable. Those boots though, they tapped the marble floor in irritation he thought as she stood and appeared to listen to some useless sack of flesh beside her.
Finally he could properly take in her face as he couldn’t before. It was disappointingly plain he thought, average really. Dark eyes, tan skin, a slight frown to her completely ordinary mouth.
He believed he knew the exact moment she felt his eyes on her. She stilled like prey, like a deer caught in the sights of a rifle, so utterly and perfectly caught in the knowing that his eyes had finally found her again. And when she turned to look at him Tom couldn’t believe that he had ever thought her plain.
It was not that her features had changed in that moment but the full force of her attention on him came with the intrinsic knowledge that he had been wrong – she was never average, never prey. She wore her suit like a cloak of disguise but through her eyes he could see the predator now. Her eyes never darted around in search of the threat but immediately locked onto his own and made promises of more blood.
The smile that slowly bloomed on her face was one of joy and madness and fervor.
But as he took a step towards her she shook her head, her smile changed as she looked back at the asinine mouth breather beside her. She interrupted him, made gestures with her hands and exchanged less predatory smiles. She was too far away, Tom couldn’t hear her, couldn’t know what the melody of her voice was or how it pitched and flowed.
She turned again as she began to walk away, towards the fireplaces. She was leaving. He quickened his step - he actually felt rushed to meet her even though he knew he’d never make it. He tried to hold her eyes and thought perhaps he could try to cast a silent Imperius to make her wait but she already stood in a hearth.
Still he all but sprinted across the marble, wand in hand, eyes locked, he reached for her mind.
The flames burned green as she smiled wide and crazed.
He felt her last thought like it was seared onto his flesh.
“Bye Tom.”