The Flower and the Snake

“Thank you.” She said, blushing slightly. He was right of course. The people still arriving were stopping dead to stare at Rose Weasly. No one had ever seen her so dolled up before, and many of the males especially were starting to wonder if she was really the brainiac they had always known through school. Rose had always been “pretty,” but tonight she was undeniably beautiful.

She held out a gloved hand for her escort to take following the protocol required for such an occasion. Most had forgotten the intricacies of events like these since the Yule Ball would probably be the most fancy event they ever attended. However, Rose knew that for a Malfoy, this was their life. Scorpius must have been raised on this his entire life, and so Rose wanted to show him that she could be the perfect lady when she needed to be. To prove that he’d never have to worry about what his parents might think of her ill manners.

“You look rather dashing yourself.” She said, softly wanting to compliment him as well. Not that he didn’t always look amazing, tonight it just seemed even more unreal.

He took her hand, kissing it before shaking his head lightly. "Nothing but a shadow in your light." he said, guiding her down the last few steps, his hand on her hip, the other still holding hers. "Your corsage." he presented her with the small black box.

He was suddenly very glad he had left the corsage color choice up to the dress maker. He had thought Griffindor colors for sure, though the white rose went gorgeously with the gown. "Allow me?" he offered to put it on her wrist, still utterly entranced by how she looked.

He couldn't help but marvel at how gracefully she moved in the gown. Though he wouldnt admit it out loud he had expected to have to catch her coming down the stairs... And he was pleasantly surprise with the contrary.

Rose held out her wrist, keeping herself composed and calm as she looked at how delicate the rose looked against the black of her glove. In essence it matched perfectly, and she wondered how he had known to get that as a corsage. Once it was tied on secured, she rested her hand again on his arm to be led into the ball room, her stomach in knots.

She didn’t look nervous though her stomach was doing flips. In fact she looked completely composed and put together, like she did this all the time. That wasn’t farther from the truth.

“I guess you like my surprise then?” She asked, referring to the dress that she had kept secret for so long.

"Like it?" he smiled at her. "I love it." he said, guiding her into the Ballroom-a-nized Greathall. "Honestly, I expected something red and gold." he admitted, taking her hand in his. "Not that that would have looked any less gorgeous mind you."

He let his hand grasp hers lightly, moving from her side to stand in front of her. "Your choice... Dance now, Or would you rather Socialize?"

Rose didn’t get a chance to respond before Lily found her. She had thought that a crowded dance floor would make it difficult for her to be spotted. She was obviously wrong.

“OH Rosie! You look amazing!”

Lily was wearing a simple red grown with black accents, the color setting of her dark hair quite well. Her date Micheal looked extremely uncomfortable standing near Malfoy, as he kept sliding a bit farther away from the 7th year Malfoy.

“ And Scorpius, you look quite…princely.” Lily decided, giving him the once over as well. Rose couldn’t have described it better.

“Our table is over there where the head table usually is. I’ll catch you later okay?” She said, not waiting for a response.

“Umm sorry about that. She’s not usually that quick.” Rose said, slightly embarrassed. “Or blunt.” she added under her breath in reference to what Lily had said about Scorpius.

Scorpious shrugged. "I rather her be quick blunt and friendly as opposed to snippy blunt and rude." he reasoned. "At least one of your friends aprove."

Scorpious offered a reassuring smile to Rose. "You're tense." he noted. "Don't tell me you could possibly be selfconchious. You're the bell of the ball."

Rose blushed, and rubbed the back of her neck nervously. The truth was that she really did feel self conscious. Horribly self conscious. It wasn’t because she felt uncomfortable with her appearance. The truth was that she’d never been a ball gown like that, and neither had she ever tried to dance in one either.

“Its not that…” She started, looking around at the people twirling on the dance floor. “I don’t know how to… well….” She couldn’t even say it. The one thing that she was nervous about this whole night was making him think she couldn’t hold her own, and now she was letting her lack of graceful skills take over.

"You know. There a three things in this world I am absolutely atrocious at." Scorpious said suddenly, offering her a small smile. "Transfiguration, singing, and I never could master the waltz." he said. "So how about we go together, on the dance floor, spin in circles, and have fun."

Rose couldn’t help but laugh a little as Scorpius made fun of himself. She suddenly had a great urge to hear him sing, though she was pretty sure it wouldn’t end well for her.

“Okay.” She said, nodding. She took his hand and pulled him out to the dance floor and placed her hand on his shoulder, the other in his. She had a feeling this was going to end disastrously, but they might as well look marvelous doing it.

Scorpious smiled, placing one hand on the small of her back, holding her other hand lightly. "I feel like there should be an instructor telling me 1-2-3..." he joked lightly, hoping to have her relax just a bit more as they began to dance.

He smiled down at her as they began to spin, taking care not to step on her toes as they twirled. "So..." he chuckled a bit. "Are we having fun yet?"

Rose couldn’t help but laugh as they spun in circles. She had been right about how difficult it would be to dance in the dress, but he made it much easier since he actually was trying to lead her. As the waltz ended and a slower more stately song came on, Rose put her head on his shoulder, still smiling.

“I dunno, what do you think Master Malfoy?” She said teasingly.

Scorpious smiled lightly as they moved slowly. "Oh, I should say so Lady Weasley." he said. "An abundance of a good time." he spoke extra formally simply in hopes of making her laugh.

"Funny, as a child I would spin in circles until I couldn't spin anymore. Now, ten years later, I'm still doing the same thing." he chuckled. "And people say how I matured... Guess people don't really change over time afterall."

“I dunno.” Rose said, laughing lightly at his comments. “I think people can change sometimes. Only when its really important though.”

Finally the song ended, and they pulled apart. Rose was slightly flushed from dancing, though part of it was definitely due to the amazing guy standing before her. Keeping up with their mock formality she curtsied as if she was in the court of the very monarch and smiled mischievously.

Scorpious grinned and bowed in response. "You're the picture of elegance..." he complimented offering his arm.

[Did you have any plans for the yule ball?]

((Not particulary. Unless we want this unwitting pair to do something risque. Or perhaps fight with nasty people. lol Im down for anything.))

Rose laughed, blushing prettily. She reached out and took his arm, pulling him along with her to the refreshment table. She grabbed two cups of pumkin juice, handing one to him before taking a long sip.

She shrugged lightly when he looked at her quizzically.

"I ws thirsy and I figured you probably would be too. Now dont get that formal on me. A girl is perfectly capable of bringing her man the drink." She giggled softly before taking another drink, looking curiously at the dancers.

Scorpious smiled. "Thank you." he said graciously accepting the drink, taking a sip. "Look..." he gestured with his index and middle finger, still holding the cup to Albus. he had spotted him dancing with the 4th year girl he had set him up with.

"He certainly looks happy all things considered."

"Scorpious!"

The blond looked over raising an eyebrow. A tall Hufflepuff girl was making her way over. He recognized her as a fellow prefect but for the life of him couldn't remember her name.

"I didn't know he was taking her." She murmered to herself, watching Albus and the Slytherin twirl with the music. She laughed quietly when she saw him make a mistake on the waltz and having to be corrected by his dancing partner. She didn't look upset though by his mistake. Instead she looked rather amused. While they seemed oddly matched up, Gryffindor to Slytherin, his tall height with her small stature, at the same time they seemed rather well suited for one another. It seemed Albus had found a worthy date after all.

It was with a smile on her face that she turned to hear a girl named Anna calling out Scorpius's name. She recognized her immediatly as prefect, and wondered what she could possibly want with him at the Yule Ball.

"May I have a word?" She said, her tone none to polite as she pointedly looked at Rose.

Scorpious looked at Rose, then back to the Hufflepuff girl again. "Uh, do you mind?" he asked Rose awkwardly, obviously confused as to what the girl wanted with him.

He didn't like being put on the spot. Nor did he really want to come off as snippy to a fellow prefect.

Rose looked like she minded very much indeed, however she wasnt going to argue. For all she knew this could be very important, though she wasn't sure what was so private that the Head Girl, in charge of the prefects, couldn't hear.

"I'll be over at our table." She said stiffly, her brown eyes darkening slightly in irritation.

When Rose was out of earshot, Anna looked up at Scorpius suddenly very nervous.

"I..I have a letter for you. From the Knights." She said softly, making sure no one could overhear her. As she handed over the envelope with Scorpius's name written in spidery black ink she looked visibly afraid.

"..." Scorpious took it, stuffing it into his pocket with a frown. "Who asked you to give it to me?" he asked seriously. He was at first shocked that a Hufflepuff had known about the knights. Then his mind came to the conclusion she had been ordered by someone to give it to him. if that were the case, then she now no doubt thought he was some sort of deatheater -want- to be or worse. If not, it meant she was in on it, what ever it was...

He was highly suspicious and wasn't about to open the letter until he knew who it was from.

Anna looked around, her eyes darting here and there. Like a scared animal, she was looking for places to hide, places to run to, any way to save herself.

"I...I dont know. It was left on my seat at my table. A note inside said give the letter to you...or they would...." She stopped, suddenly terrified.

"Whatever you're invovled in Malfoy, keep it away from me and my family!" She said vehemetly, though still quiet enough for no one else to hear. Her show of anger however was merely that, a show. The truth was for whatever reason the girl was absolutely terrified and wouldnt say why. The only practical guess would be that there was some kind of threat against her or her family within the little note, but a threat the girl took seriously enough to warrant that the letter to Scorpius had to be delivered.

Scorpious frowned. "... Here." he said digging in his pocket. he pulled out the second box he had planned on giving to Rose. "Keep this." he said handing it to her with a frown etched on his face. "It'll keep you and your family safe. From whatever threatened you." he promised. "Just.... Sorry." he turned away from her, his mind reeling now as he made his way over to his and Rose's table.

in the box had been a charm he had personally enchanted to ward off dark magic and tracking charms. It was a simple bracelet made of small brass shields. Now he woudl have to make a new one for Rose. Not that he minded.... what bothered him was the fact that someone had just been threatened on his behalf.

Sitting down next to Rose at the table, he didn't seem at all happy. "Come outside with me?"

Anna took the box nervously, not sure if she could trust taking something from a guy she had just been threatened over. However, the sincerity in his face, the look of shock that she was so fearful. For some reason it made her trust in his good intentions, and that he truly meant her no harm. She scurried away quickly though, back to her date, and the relative safety of her normal life.

Rose watched the two of them carefully, watched Anna get more and more skittish, and she saw Scorpius's expression darken. Something wasn't right. And when he sat down and asked to talk to her outside, her fear was confirmed.

"Of course." She said softly, taking his hand. She stood up gracefully, and told her friends that had gathered she was going out to get some air, taking Scorpius alongside her. In one fell swoop she garunteed them privacy by giving her friends the slightly inkling that they would of course run with, that "air" was not what they were going to be getting at all.

She moved them through the crowd deftly, without attracting much notice, and once they reached the garden outside led him to a secluded alcove where no one would disturb them. During this time of the night couples were outside enjoying a good snog, in no frame of mind to eavesdrop. While she knew this, she was still quiet, keeping her voice low in case there was others moving about to overhear before they got up to their illicit affairs.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" She asked, her hand still holding his.

Scorpious pulled the envelope out of his pocket holding it up. "Someone threatened Annabell's family if she didn't give this to me." he said. His name was still written across in that almost taunting handwriting. He handed it over with a frown, his gray eye locked onto it.

There was no need to explain who threatened her, after their discussion in Hogsmeade it would be obvious. "I don't want to open it in-case there's a compelling charm on it." he explained why he hadn't opened it then and there. "Also, Edgar informed me that he and a good amount of the others had also been invited to this so called inauguration."

Rose took the letter carefully, listening carefully to what Scorpius was saying. Perhaps her fears, and his as well, were not unfounded at all. The Knights weren't just recruiting him, they wanted his housemates too, and she would bet every last galleon that they were all purebloods.

Now, Rose would never be quite as clever as her mother, or skilled in making potions like Scorpius, but the one thing she had always learned was to be prepared for anything. Thus, she lifted up her beautiful gown, hiking it up over her knee to pull her wand out of a makeshift pouch that she had made to tie securly around her calf. She smiled at Scorpius's awestruck face, deciding to tease him a bit.

"As much as your mind must be reeling from the sight of bare leg, lets focus shall we?" She teased lightly, flicking her wand so that the letter levitated in front of them. Getting serioud she muttered a series of spells used to determine whether an object, in this case the letter, had been enchanted in any way shape or form. When she completed her series of spells and the letter was still floating harmlessly in midair, she began to bite her lip in thought.

"Nothing seems to have tampered with it..." She said thoughtfully, reaching out with her hand to grab it. "But just in case I'll open it. The spells may be deisgned just for you alone in which case my detection spells might not work."

Without giving him time to protest she quickly tore the seal and opened the parchment. Nothing drastic happened, and so she perused the contents of the letter quickly before a scowl came across her features. Without another word she set the offending document on fire with her wand, the tendrils of ashes falling harmlessly to the ground.

"I'm sorry for burning it." she said mildly, obviously not sorry at all. "But I couldn't let anyone else read that rubbish."