Chapter thirty-four. Twinkle in the Sky
- My father is ranting about this ball thing, he says it distracts Karkaroff from his duties. But I say, if Durmstrang leader is distracted, Dumbledore will be too, so, our lot my play them a trick or two.
- It is possible... Although, this fool might consider such possibility too and strengthen security.
Malfoy frowned : Zabini always contradicted him, and the most irritating it was because he seldom could find what to answer. Plainly, he felt protected by his mother's high position in the Dark Lord's circle. "But my father is also connected to the Ministry", Draco thought, "why am I even keeping him around?" And he shot a condescending glance at Blaise, who sat, relaxed and confident, in the opposite armchair.
- Yeees, - drawled Malfoy, - So _whom are you going with, anyway?
- Don't know. Can't be bothered.
- Well, how about Pansy, though?
- She is not quite my type. - Blaise answered with a smirk.
Now, Malfoy was positively out of ideas of what to say next, he looked at his goblet filled with greenish liquid, and played with several melted glass cubes gathered at the bottom. He looked out of the huge paneled window framed by heavy curtains of deep black, followed the ray of sunlight that ran across the floor and cast a contrastingly pale tinge over Zabini's dark face. Suddenly, Draco became aware that Blaise was watching him pretty closely, and, was it possible, with a touch more interest compared with his everyday blasé attitude.
Malfoy straightened in his armchair, searching desperately for some topic... His gaze fell upon a portrait of a tall deadly pale man with light eyes and platinum long hair, who wore the snootiest expression in the world.
- Our fathers did know each other, didn't they? - he said at last.
- Yes.
- Curious, they fell apart, though... Around the time Arneric married your mother, was it not?
Zabini fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat.
- I always wondered why... - continued Draco.
- Lucius never told you, then... I mean, he didn't speak about my father at all?
- Not really, no... Well, he did mention that they were close friends at the time_
At this Blaise chocked on his drink.
- _What is it? - asked Draco, a little irritated.
- It's nothing. Gotta be more careful.
________
- Father, I also wanted to ask about Zabini's dad. Blaise acts as if he knew more than I do.
- Ah, don't mind Zabinis: always bite more than they can chew. There's nothing special to know: Arneric and I were lovers a long time ago. And to put Zabini in his right place, I must explain that his cowardly father left me and married Renee. Soon she understood that he wasn't attracted to her and killed him, securing the fortune, much sooner, I must say, than her previous husbands.
- But you married too.
- After he left, and I always was both ways inclined, Arneric, on the other hand, was rather exclusive in this matter. I hid nothing, and didn't tell you because you were too young, now you ask, and I am telling you.
________
Friday night Malfoy was returning a visit. Zabini's mansion looked empty, and indeed it was, as only Blaise and his mother lived in there with a bunch of house elves. Blaise and Malfoy had dinner together at opposite ends of a large long table, apparently designed to host dishes for several dozens guests, which made any sort of conversation practically impossible. Then, they proceeded to a smaller room and settled in dragon leather armchairs.
- So, what do you wanna do? A boardgame, maybe? I've got a new one, "Kill a mudblood" it is called.
- No, I've got this one ages ago. By the way, my father told me about him and Arneric, so you've nothing to be so smug about.
- I'm not like him.
- Like whom?
- My father.
Draco stared at him, what on earth was he implying?
- In what way? - he asked.
- I wouldn't leave my boyfriend for a rich woman.
- Oh, that! You don't know, and, in any case, why not?
- So, you wouldn't mind, for example, if I married a random woman, If we imagine that I am your lover.
- Well, as long as you don't break up with me because of that, I don't see any problem.
- Right. It isn't that honest towards the woman, though....
- Well, I just sort of presumed she knows, otherwise it's kinda playing dirty.
- Exactly! Arneric had gone wild on all points.
- Your mother didn't know?
- That's the one, and _he broke up with Lucius.
- Hmm, very entertaining... - Draco said lazily.
They sat for a while in silence.
A big grandfather clock was creating uniform and soothing jingle. Its pendulum caught Malfoy's eye, on the black polished wood strange runes and symbols were drawn, it balanced from side to side, back and forth and, then, round.
- So, would you like to try it, just out of curiosity, you know?
- Try what?
- Make out with me.
- Are you... are you kidding?
- I'm quite serious.
Malfoy considered it for a moment, the idea was kind of appealing.
- Fine, let's give it a go.
Blaise and Draco were lying in a gigantic bed at least ten feet large and double as long. Their heads almost touched near the top, bodies were an angle apart. Zabini stretched out his hand and graped around above his head until, finally, his fingers bumped into Draco's neck.
- Listen, how about going to the ball together?
- Yeah, I thought about it myself, at least, this whole inviting thing is off our shoulders. - said Malfoy a little out of breath.
- Exactly.
- Hey, what time is it? Won't your mother be home soon?
- I don't have the slightest idea. But it doesn't matter, she would never come here anyway. She finds it unbecoming. Frankly, I take her point, there are so many households where people had never even heard about privacy.
- Tell me about it! By what they say, those Weasleys enter each others rooms without knocking. Then again, maybe they haven't even got separate ones. Anyways...
With this Draco slided off the bed, picked up his clothes, and started to dress; at the opposite end Blaise was doing the same.
Finally, Draco fastened the topmost button of his white shirt and contemplated himself in the mirror, that covered, what it seemed, an entire wall on both sides of the bed. He threw on his black dinner jacket and reached out to his black bow-tie, which lay on the bed beside Zabini's. When the knot was half done, Zabini interrupted him:
- Hey, you picked up mine! On this one is written "Sorrel" and it isn't my tailor's name.
- So I did! Pity, it was almost ready...
- Wait, don't ruin it, I wanted to ask, whether I can keep yours! - cried Blaise, laughing.
- You really ARE obsessed!
Said Malfoy, untying the cravat and looking on the interior part of it.
- Your tailor's name is "Tailor"! - he cried mockingly - this is so lame! No wonder you decided to get rid of it!
- Welcome, welcome to another New Year Ball! We'we all been waiting for a winter break, now, it is behind us. We're feeling down, or eager to start. On both occasions it is thought that a little ball might come in handy, to cheer you all up. Now, I have a great pleasure and opportunity to open this magnificent event! Please, enjoy the New Year Ball!
The Hall erupted with applause, and Dumbledore walked away, giving room to Professor Sprout. She stood comfortably, resting her elbow on a short speaker's column, leaning on one leg. Her light blue suit, her short coiling chestnut hair, her corpulent stature, her entire appearance was open and confident. She brought her wand to her throat, her face split into a smile. When she spoke, her voice sounded even, neither high-, nor low-pitched:
- Hi._ This evening, I 'm going to guide you all through those festivities. As to the formal stuff, there' s only two dances for all participants: one - Opening, one - Last, it is supposed to be mandatory, as per the rules of the Ball, but those of you, who don't want to dance may sneak out to the beverage fountain, there will be enough pumpkin juice for everyone, someone should have seen to it... Non dancing folks, Please, don't wait on the dance floor for others to end : it is as much as your life is worth.(Many people laughed. ) I might make several announcements throughout the proceedings, really hope you won't despise my very voice afterwards, I'm gonna ramble on Herbology tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken, for 6th years. I'm sorry for your sake, chaps. (More laughter followed this. ) Thank you.
Please, prepare for the Opening dance. _Maestro!
A discorded chorus of strings broke out, several other instruments, some making very unusual noises, entered at different times. The music was wistful, petulant and full of frosty tingle of glass and metal, it seemed to go on without any time signature and made people move in different directions one movement leading to another without repetitions, as if they were going to dance forever, but at some point music just stopped as if the volume has been suddenly turned off, and a cheery babble took over.
During the Opening Dance Hermione was filling her goblet with fourth variety of drink from one of the taps of the fountain, while Harry was browsing for cherries in the jar.
- Sorry, I can't find the blue ones, there are some black and sparkling, though. - he said.
- Shame. - answered Hermione from above his head: she mounted a bench to reach the topmost tap.
- They are supposed to taste like a star flavored night sky, but I find them too sour - said a throaty voice from Hermione's left, she jumped and spilled some of her concoction onto Harry's head.
- Professor Trelawney, nice to see you! - said Hermione.
- Good evening, my dear! - she responded dreamily.
- Harry, my boy! - boomed Slughorn, emerging from behind the fountain.
- Good evening, P-professor. - spluttered Harry, his face covered in thick rainbow colored substance.
- Need a hand clearing up, huh?
With one flick of his wand the jelly was gone.
- Ah, Sibyl! Where did you unearthed this oak matured mead, I thought it was banned here ages ago, would you mind if I have a small taste?
While two teachers were distracted, Hermione pointed at a distant corner in which ghosts were floating around, Harry nodded and they started to elbow their way through the crowd.
A few hours into the party the society was split into three main groups: ones that were still dancing from time to time, ones that gathered around Sibyl Trelawney by the fountain, and ones, mostly teachers, but there were some students too, that talked in a big circle, including Dumbledore.
- Let's go this way. - said Hermione, coming nearer Trelawney's group, - I think I heard something.
In fact Trelawney stood quite alone and the group was mainly interested in the drink fountain, still, Divination teacher was conversing confusedly with nobody in particular.
-... Yes, Renee. We wouldn't have met, if I hadn't dropped in for a couple of_drinks - (she hiccuped loudly) - Lovely, spot! Such nice faces, perfectly charming people...
- Professor, you said Renee, Renee who? - asked Hermione.
- Why, Renee Zabini, of course! Charming woman! Perfectly charming... _
- You see, I knew I heard something! Sibyl Trelawney met Renee Zabini in a lesbian bar. - summed up Hermione.
- Okay. What does that mean? - Harry blurted out.
- My hat ! Death Eaters are coming closer, Zabini lives miles away!
- May I have your arm?
Hermione looked distractedly at the person, plainly, they haven't found partners for the Last Dance...
- Sorry, I'm not much of a dancer. - And she walked away, hearing Harry mumble to the person, who hopefully turned toward him, "Me neither..." and squeeze through the throng in her wake.