Just Around the Riverbend

My faithful reviewers:

alina290
margaritama
HarryGinny4Eva - Each author is supposed to post the link to their story's forum thread in the story itself. Since I'm not going to participate in the forum, I'll only answer burning questions and the like here (Like yours. ^_^)
LaBibliographe


Aww...only four reviews? I'm sure I could have gotten a couple more if I held out, but seriously...just because I'm not going to respond to every review doesn't mean I don't appreciate them.

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Phelan looked at the costume spread out on his bed, a look of discontent on his face. Malfoy had picked the costume for him. He’d said the character fit Phelan’s personality nicely. Phelan didn’t find that at all amusing. For Lucius Malfoy had requested a Puck costume for Phelan. It was nicely made, of course, but Phelan had his doubts about going as a faerie. With a sigh, he started to put on his costume.

The costume itself was simple in design. A scarlet, form-fitting short sleeved shirt tucked into navy leggings. These two parts of the costume fit snugly, as to show off Phelan’s muscles, of which he had plenty. Over this was a dark purple tunic that rose over his right shoulder. He was wearing boots of scarlet leather, trimmed around the top with yellow leather. His forearms were also encased in yellow leather arm bands, and he had a yellow sash around his waist.

The end result was better than he had hoped for. He cast a reflection spell, and looked at his reflection closely. Well, damn…didn’t he look fine? He ran his hand through his short hair to muss it gently. He nodded in approval, and then banished the reflective surface. He tucked his wand into his left armband, and started up towards the Manor.

~~

Hermione looked at the dress, an expression of awe on her face.

“This is so much finer than I would have expected.” She said softly. Lucius caught Hermione’s hand in his, and brought her fingers up to his lips to kiss them gently.

“It isn’t fine enough for you. Nothing can match your beauty, only compliment it.” He said. Hermione blushed heavily, still quite unused to the type of worship she received from Lucius.

Hermione’s dress had a beautiful kelly green bodice that dipped almost between her breasts. The bodice was accentuated by a leaf green collar that was high in the back, and stretched down into the dip of the bodice. The sleeves were the same leaf green down to the elbow, where the changed into an off-colored, minty green gossamer. The bottom of the bodice was connected to a chocolate brown skirt that split into an upside down v-shape in the front to reveal a triangle of the leaf green material. The dress was paired with leaf-green ballet flats. But some of the most stunning parts of the costume were the accessories.

In the very middle of the bodice there was a very unique brooch. It was a silver pendant nestled between two crescent moons. The pendant had a single topaz in the center, surrounded by four circular sapphires. On top of the dummy’s head was a silver crown. The crown was almost leaf-shaped, yet much rounder than a true leaf. But the most stunning accessory of all was connected to the back of the dress. Beautiful, shimmering gossamer wings adorned the back of the gown. They were the same minty green as the bottom of the sleeves, with a slightly darker green to accentuate the fine veins of the wings.

“A gown befitting the Queen of the Faeries.” Lucius said softly.

Hermione was still shocked silent, so she didn’t reply. Her costume was beautiful. But she also thought that Lucius’ costume had something to be said of it.

The same minty green of Hermione’s gossamer wings had been dyed into a silk shirt. The shirt tucked into leaf green leggings that Hermione was positive would hug Lucius’ toned legs very nicely. The leggings were tucked into brown leather boots. There was also a thick, brown leather belt around the waist of the dummy. His costume was finished off with an almost Regency-style overcoat with a high, leaf green collar.

Lucius’ costume didn’t have wings. Instead, Oberon was fitted with gossamer attachments that were sewn into the back of his coat. It stretched from wrist to wrist comfortably, and was attached at a single point to the coat. His only ‘bling’ was the silver circlet crown on the dummy’s head.

“I do believe Oberon will steal the show.” Hermione finally commented. Lucius merely smiled. He tapped the dummy with Hermione’s costume, and it disappeared.

“It’s time to get ready, my Queen.” He purred. Hermione shivered.

“Of course, my King.” She replied, and disappeared with a pop. Lucius groaned softly. If he engaged her now they’d be late, but he’d make sure she had her ankles at her ears tonight.

~~

Phelan waited patiently for the others to arrive, his booted feet tapping gently against the floor. He heard a noise at the top of the stairs, and looked up to see Lucius and Hermione appear. His brows rose at the sight of Hermione. She was beautiful in her costume. Even he would admit to that. Her hair had been tamed into sleek ringlets that framed her face and hung across her shoulders like a fine cloak. Her crown sparkled in the light of the room, and her brooch seemed to glow with magic.

Lucius looked like the prince he thought he was, and Phelan didn’t have too many comments on him. But the biggest surprise was walking behind Lucius. Daisy. His mouth dropped slightly when he saw her costume.

She had on a snug, crimson, elbow length shirt that was tucked into navy, knee length leggings. She had a purple cloak around her shoulders, and a purple skirt attached at her waist. She was wearing scarlet ballet flats that perfectly matched the smooth caramel skin of her legs. Her cloak was attached with a simple silver brooch of two opposite crescent moons. Her hair was down, and the raven’s wing locks shone like liquid ink. Her eyes were lined heavily in black, and she had on an ethereal mixture of yellow and purple eye shadow that shimmered in the light. In fact, her face, neck, and chest sparkled with body glitter.

But then Phelan realized something. Daisy’s costume was an almost direct replica of his, save hers was designed for a girl.

“You’re Puck as well?” he asked. Daisy looked at him, and her eyes lit up.

“We’re both Puck! That’s so cool!” she laughed.

“Yes. Isn’t it just the wolf’s howl?” He commented. Something about it bothered him, though. He liked very much the thought that others would see them together and associate her with him. He was beginning to like Daisy in more than just friendly terms. The wolf was rearing its head inside him, interested in her as well. Could this girl be a suitable mate? Perhaps. His father would have kittens about it. Oh gods…his father. He hadn’t really given the Alpha much thought in the past few days. He wondered what his father was up to. Oh well, no time to dwell on it now.

“Are we all ready?” Lucius asked, snapping Phelan out of his reverie. There was a chorus of affirmatives, and Lucius handed each of them a small white piece of card stock. It looked almost like a business card, save the face was blank. “This will activate in two minutes. We will all appear in the room I had arranged for us.” He finished. He hated arriving with the general public. There were too many people in too small of a space. Good costumes like his and Hermione’s got ruined in crowds like the entrance crowd. Once in the ballroom, though, the two would have enough space to keep themselves looking sexy.

Phelan gasped when he felt the pull of the Portkey at his navel, and the world went spiral.

~~

Fenrir stalked in front of the other werewolves, looking each of them in the face as he passed. They stared ahead obediently, stock-still as their Alpha circled. Three Aurors laid off to the side, gutted mercilessly by Fenrir, their only transgression being the fact that they were in his way.

“Are you all clear on the plan? If anyone has a question they’d better ask it now. I’m only going to give my orders once. You disobey me and I’ll snap your necks like twigs. We only have one chance to get the first part right. If that goes pear-shaped, we high-tail it, but only on my command. Everyone clear?” his voice was like that of nails being run through a blender. It was gruff and cruel, like a bark being formed into words.

“Yes, Alpha!” The wolves spoke as one.

“Follow me!” Fenrir barked, and began climbing the fire escape of the building. The other werewolves were on his tail, following without delay. The group reached the roof in record time, and surrounded the convenient glass ceiling, their black cloaks making them all but invisible in the night. There was cloud cover on this dark summer night, and these werewolves were well hidden. Fenrir crouched over the window, his sharp yellow eyes darting to find his wayward son.

The boy wasn’t too hard to find. He had just entered the ballroom with his motley crew. The werewolf to the right of Fenrir snorted when he caught sight of Phelan’s costume, and Fenrir’s hand struck out quickly, slapping the pup in the back of the head like a naughty child.

“Make another noise and I use you for a meat-shield.” Fenrir snarled quietly. The young werewolf lowered his head submissively.

~~

Hermione was aware of the many sets of eyes on her as she entered the ballroom. She and Lucius were dressed together, and it was bound to set tongues wagging. But thankfully no one had the balls to say anything.

“Hermione!”

Oh gods, she spoke too soon. Ron jogged up to her, dressed in Shakespearian clothing. He was probably one of the young lovers.

“Wow…you look smoking hot, Hermione.” He said, pointedly ignoring everyone else.

“Ron, I would appreciate it if you would leave me be. This is not a night I want you to be anywhere near me. Go find one of your fangirls.” Hermione said tiredly. Ron frowned, but then finally his gaze drifted to Lucius. He looked the man over rather disdainfully, before looking back at Hermione.

“Have fun with your army of misfits.” He said coldly, before turning on his heel and stalking off.

“What a fucker.” Phelan said. Daisy giggled, and Hermione gave a small smile.

“For once, dear Phelan, I agree with you.” Hermione said.

Lucius held up his bent arm politely for Hermione, and she carefully wrapped her hands around his elbow, walking with him. He gave a parting look to Daisy and Phelan.

“You’re on your own tonight, children. Don’t make me regret bringing you. Either of you.” He said, staring pointedly at Phelan. Phelan grinned, showing his sharp teeth.

“I’ll be as meek as a newborn lamb.” Phelan said. Lucius made a small sound in the back of his throat.

“Somehow I doubt that, Mr. Greyback. Somehow I doubt that.” He said, and walked off. Phelan felt warmth in his hand, and turned to see that Daisy had put her small dark hand in his large pale one.

“Let’s walk around. I’ve always been fond of people watching.” She said, smiling. Phelan found it hard to resist the gentle request coming from those sparkling lips.

“Very well.”

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Okay. So here is our introduction, and a description of their costumes. If anyone wants to see their costumes, I put up a picture on Devient Art

Lucius and Hermione - http://kooldragon400.deviantart.com/art/At-the-Ball-140913220
Phelan and Daisy - http://kooldragon400.deviantart.com/art/At-the-Ball-Phelan-and-Daisy-145363532

And the title of this chapter comes from a direct quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;
Brief as the lightning in the collied night.