The eyes of Winter

Chapter 29...Halloween Havoc

Halloween fell on a Saturday and the afternoon was spent on
a trip to Hogsmeade. The air was crisp as Winter and Draco made
their way down the path with Crabbe and Goyle on their heels. Hand
in hand no longer these days, she held his arm. A wizard trademark of
courtesy for the lady who accompanies you, simple wizarding manners.
Only between them it held much more. Draco could feel her hand beneath
his cold weather robes, holding and rubbing sweetly and secretly.

It was common knowledge at Hogwart\'s, even among the teachers, that
they were something more than friends. Only it had never been proven. No
one saw them kissing, or caught them snogging in some dark corner. It simply
didn\'t seem to visually exist, but it was there. Whatever it was. Their eyes
constantly gave them away.

Draco told Crabbe and Goyle to go get them a seat in the Three Broomsticks.
They lumbered off, watching and listening for any ideal gossip. Winter
could only shake her head at the duo. They positively reeked of submission,
and the want to please.

\'Virgins!\', she thought and rolled her eyes. Turning back to Draco he
began to lead her into a back alley. It was dark, and looked dank as a
swamp. She looked at him with a questioning stare and he only shrugged.
They turned a corner and he knocked harshly on a old wood door. Winter
heard a door shut upstairs and heavy footsteps coming down the steps
toward them. The tattered door was opened just a crack and a set of green
eyes looked out of it.

\"Young Mr.Malfoy sir! And a pretty lady. I\'m honored please come in.\"

They followed the man up the stairs and when he opened the door it
actually turned out to be a lovely workshop. Several desks piled high with
all kinds of beautiful fabrics, every color and texture. Little buckets here and
there filled with beads of every size and shape, with spools of thread thrown
everywhere. Needles, thimbles, wands were scattered about here and there.
Some needles sowing by themselves, mending dresses and robes. It was
truly confusing.

\"Hello Barnabus.\" Draco pulled off his heavy robe, and the thin man took
it and hung it up on his coat rack by the door.

Barnabus was tall and thin, with a pair of thick glasses. Wearing a
needle cushion on his wrist that looked like a pumpkin. It clashed terriably
with his olive green sweater, and blue beret that had several swatches of
different fabrics where it had been patched. And the fact he was barefoot
was even stranger. Around all these needles? The man must be knockered.

\"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you today?\" His French accent very
prominant. He looked at Winter and beemed, clasping his hands together in excitement. \"And you must be the young lady who will wear my creation
tonight. Oh, it was lovely! But not as lovely as the one who will bring it life!\"

\"Barnabus meet Winter.\" Draco paused for a moment. \"My good friend.\"

\"Hello.\" Winter put her hand out to shake his, but he turned it
pl
planted a soft kiss on the top. \"AH Madame, I\'m charmed.\"

Winter tried not to smile as she saw Draco roll his eyes above her.

\"Barnabus,\" Draco cleared his throat, \"I need you to start on another
garment for me. A riding cloak, a heavy one.\" He only looked down for a
second to see the knowing on Winter\'s face. He thought he almost caught
a gleam of excitement.

\"Oh Mr.Malfoy!\" The little frenchman was getting antsy. \" Your wish is
my command. To make such a garment would be my pleasure. There is
not much need for them these days. I feel honored you choose me. What
color, sir?\"

Draco looked down at Winter and smirked with mischief in his eyes. \"Make
it white Barnabus, white as the snow. With silver trimming, lots of it.\"
Winter just gaped oped mouthed at him.

\"Very well sir. Your usual measurements?\"

\"No, it\'s for Winter.\" Draco tried not to sound to obvious about her Bar Barnabus smiled widely again at the pair. \"I think you already have her
measurements. Start as soon as you can, and there will be something
extra in it for you.\" Malfoy rattled his pockets, and the little tailor smiled
even wider. Draco was ushering her toward the near by door. Grabbing his
robe, and as he turned she heard him whisper to the small man. \"Make it
as you would have for Queen Maab herself! Do this for me, and your silence
will be rewarded also.\"

\"Yes sir.\" With that Barnabus clicked the door shut behind them.

When they were back into the street she asked him, \"Who was that?\"

\"Just the tailor. He actually works for Madame in Diagon Alley, but he
stays here to mend and sell Hogwart\'s robes, and things like that. But the
man is utterly bored, and he does a little work on the side for people he
knows. Fancies himself a French designer!\" Draco laughed. \"I met him
with Professor Snape a few years ago. Seems our potion master likes
only custom made robes.\"

\"You didn\'t have to do that you know.\" Winter lowered her voice.

\"I don\'t have to do anything. I just wanted to. You need one for the
winter months anyway. Don\'t think I\'m going to let you get sick everytime
you have go out and ride that infernal beast of yours. I thought I was
bad about Quidditch!\"

She stuck her tounge out at him, and dropped the subject. She
certainly wasn\'t used to being spoiled. It wasn\'t bad. She rather enjoyed
it. Not to mention, Draco had tried to play it off, but he sounded like he
really ment that comment about her getting sick.
Always protecting her, even if it was from the common cold.

They sat in the Three Broomsticks for awhile. Drinking butterbeer, and
laughing it up with the other Slytherins. It began to clear when students
started to leave to get ready for the Halloween dance. Winter and Draco
left soon after. Walking arm and arm, but nevertheless side by side.
**************************************

Winter stood in front of her large mirror. She had fifteen minutes
before the dance and her nerves almost sang. The gown was beautiful
as she knew it would be. Rustling softly when she moved. She stared
longingly at her face as she slowly unscrewed all the metal bars and rings.
Not for a long time had she looked at herself without them. They now
seemed part of her, almost a kind of a mask. Keeping unwanted intruders
at bay.

Another click of metal as she dropped another ring into a velvet box that
looked like a coffin. It held ALL her jewelry, but tonight held more
than it ever had before. Click. Another click. Falling like rain. She felt
naked even though she was completely dressed. All were gone now,
leaving her face completely natural. Winter left her tounge bar in, thier
was no way that was coming out tonight. Not for what she had planned
for Malfoy after the dance.

While she put on her make-up she thought about Ron of all people. He
had been one of the only ones she knew here that hadn\'t asked about
the facial jewelry. He was so miss-understood. From the conversations
they had together she concluded he was lonely. She had heard he had a
big family, but the poor boy just needed some good lovin\'. All there was
too it.

Earlier that day at Hogsmeade, Winter had seen Hermonie try to steal
a kiss, but Ron turned his head and gave her his cheek. Pleased that he
had listened. She owed Weasley a favor, and Hermonie was playing right
into her plan for them. They seemed pretty chummy the last week. Ron had
really been pouring it on, and according to him had stopped his late night
snog fests with Luna.

\'Tonight\', she thought. \'I won\'t be onlyonly one getting some action.\' She
only hoped Hermonie didn\'t take it too rough on him the first time. If all
went well tonight, Ron would surely tell her tomorrow.

She sat there a while longer, just thinking. If she was right she was
about ten minutes late for the Ball. Draco would be waiting, but it was
good to keep him on his toes. He needed it every once in a while, just
to keep him guessing. She looked at herself just one more time. Face
barren except for the black and mauve make-up she had put on herself,
screw the wand this time. This needed to be perfect, a little Halloween
treat for Draco. Suprise then seduction, quite a pair, quite a plan.

Winter was st ast as she walked toward the Great Hall. Thankfully not
passing anyone in the Slytherin corridors. She could even hear the
music now as she stood in the doorway of the dungeon entrance. Feeling
that she now wore a different face. It was hard to be without her psudo
mask. Skin felt diffferent without the intrusion on the bars and rings, and
the small holes tingled faintly. Empty for the first time in two years.

When Winter reached the large ornate doors, they were closed. She
figured she had been one of the last ones to decide to show up. She
shuttered at with thought of the first time she had entered these massive
doors. Her nerves had been wound tight then, just like they were now. She
calmed a little at the idea, that this time there was someone waiting for her.

Her hands were cold, and her blood was hot. She reached slowly for the
door, and flung it open harshly with a great wind that blew the fabric folds
of her dress robes eerily around her.

The light from a hundred floating candles that leared out of the pumpkins
they resided in hit the beads of her dress for a moment. Causing them to
shimmer against the dimly lit hall walls, flashing hundreds of tiny lights.

She looked around and took a few steps into the hall. Hoards of female
students dressed in their most elegant robes, and wearing their mothers
jewelry. Most of the guys stood along the wall, watching the girls. Almost
all too afraid to dance, but their were some couples on the dance floor.
They danced slowly to the strange music, she thought with a smile,
reminded her of Type O Negative. Tones of home, it made her feel a
little better. A little.

She stopped to look at the band. Black, everything was black. Their
robes, the equipment, even their hair and fingernails. Everything, except
the bass drum had the words, \"In the Void\" expertly painted on it in blood red.
It had been a long time since she had seen a live band.

Snape was suddenly on her left, seeming to swoop down on her from
nowhere. \"Enjoying yourself, Miss VaShawn? I trust you are waiting
for someone?\" He wore the kind of smirk that makes to want to slap
him just to change his expression.

\"Yes, Professor. \" Winter returned his smirk. \"Are you? Or are you
just with the band?\"

Snape sneered down at her. \"One day Miss VaShawn that mouth
of yours will surely bring about your downfall.\" He crossed his arms
angrily.

\"Maybe it will, Professor Snape, but I have never recieved a complaint
about it yet.\" He could tell by the look in her eyes and her grin,that she
wasn\'t talking about exactly what he had been.

Draco was on her other side with a swiftness, linking her arm with his,
and dragging her away to the safety of one of the walls. She looked
back at a brooding Snape, and giggled maliciously. His face wrinkled as
he scowled even harder at her before she turned away from him.

Next to the wall Draco spun her around to face him. His eyes searched
her up and down, but stopped on her face. His eyes softened sadly.

\"Winter?\" He ran the soft touch of his fingers over her face, skin he
had never been able to touch before. \"What did you do?\"

\"I just thought you might want to see me. You know, like the other
girls.\" Her moment of weakness had suprised both of them. She had kept
telling herself it was for Halloween, but now she knew it ran deeper than
that. She loved this man that stood before her. He had knocked down
her emotional walls, and now if only for a moment had knocked down her
physical as well.

Draco looked around suspiciously before speaking to her softly. \"No
Winter, you\'re not like the other girls. That\'s part of the reason I love
you. These boring cows hold no interest for me. Carbon copies of the
same mold, all of them. You, you break that mold, and it\'s
bloody wonderful.\"

\"So you don\'t like it?\" This was going in a entirely different way than
she had anticipated. Better, but different. If he was lying, he was giving
a Oscar winning performance.

\"Yes...no!\" He was tripping over his words. \"I like it which ever way it is,
but I love you.\"

She hugged him tight, and didn\'t care who was watching in the hall.
Lucius Malfoy could have been right there, and she still would of done it.
She stayed for a moment longer, and let him go. To her delight her bowed
deeply in his black dress robes.

\"Now M\'Lady,\" Draco took her hand and began to lead her to the almost
barren dance floor. \"It\'s time to dance.\"

She nodded up at him. She would have let him lead her where ever he
wanted to go. And before many pairs of prying eyes they danced. Smooth
and sweet, and they both didn\'t care who saw them do it. *************************************************
Halloween Havoc continues next chapter....
SMUT coming up! Hermonie proves to Ron
she just dosen\'t have a killer brain, she
has a killer body too! Not to mention her attitude...
what a closet case!
Have fun...and please remember to review.
Smut chapter posted soon!! I\'m still working
on it! Amidda Buddha....Shaolin

P.S. \"In the Void\" is not really a band, but I used to know
the lead singer from a band called, \"Into the Void.\" They
were an old school Black Sabbath tribute band, and to see
Shawn do his 70\'s style OZZY always gave me goosbumps.
This is my small tribute to them.