The Woman in White

Ron hadn’t received any more owls since issuing his invitation. He was now looking forward to the charity dinner with anticipation. He didn’t know if this one would turn out like the others but he wanted the chance to see if she was a real woman. He missed having a partner, and even though she was acting, coming home to Sara had been a delight while he was in the dark.

Maybe this woman would be a lady, not a shrew. Maybe this one was worth it. He hoped so. He had enough of liars, and users, and backstabbers. He wanted someone genuine. He wanted someone to love, but he wanted someone who wanted him, not just the newfound wealth or the newfound connections.

He dressed with care, making sure he was pressed and straightened and not a loose thread in sight. His hair, while always slightly shaggy, was somewhat tamed. His robes, as usual, simple and classic, without peacockish displays. He left his home feeling confident and feeling optimistic for the first time in nearly a year.

The charity dinner was opulent without being overdramatic. There were masks again, and again Ron went without. He ate his dinner half heartedly, looking around constantly for the woman in white. He had assumed she would have on the same mask, but what if she didn’t? He had taken the photo from Justin and enlarged her, making out slight details as best he could.

He had managed to eliminate several woman in attendance simply because they were the wrong height or the wrong build. Some had breasts far too big to be the woman in questions and others had no breasts to speak of. Some were too broad in the shoulders or stooped when they stood. He only sighed as the night went on and he kept looking.

“You seem distracted.” He turned and saw a woman with elegant blond hair and a perfectly made up face sit beside him. She was wearing a red dress that clung to her frame, but Ron could tell right away, that this wasn’t his lady. The chin was pointier and her lips were larger. The woman in white had a rounder chin and petite cupid bow lips. She also didn’t have the practiced pout this woman had. Ron turned his attention back to his search. “Looking for someone in particular?” She asked leaning closer, showing off obviously enhanced cleavage.

“A woman.” Was all Ron said as he continued to look around the room.

“Look no further, you found one.” She said with a giggle. Ron rolled his eyes and looked back at her. “My name is Lucy.” She offered a hand but Ron just sneered at her. “You are…..?”

“Not interested.” He said and looked over the room again.

“Playing hard to get?” She said forcing another chuckle. “You’ve been here by yourself all night. Something must really have your attention…..”

Her words had died out in his ears as his heart sped up. There she was. Same dress. Same mask. She was standing over near a statue at the other end of the room and looking at him. He rose and walked over to her, leaving the stunned Lucy to merely watch him leave.

He kept his eyes on her, afraid she may vanish if he looked away for a mere moment. She didn’t move. She stayed where she was as he approached the statue and looked down at her. She smelled like roses. Not the elaborate, expensive foreign perfumes most woman chose. This was simple, delightful roses.

“You came.” He said, giving her a smile.

She nodded and gave him a small smile. Her lips were subtle, and most likely only dressed with a lip balm. He could see her eyes in the mask, a pale grey.

“You came alone?’ He asked. Again she only nodded, but she didn’t look away.

The music from the band began to slow down and the lights dimmed just a little. “Would you like to dance?” He asked holding out a hand.

She gave him another smile and took his hand. Her dainty little hand fit into his perfectly, as they walked to the floor. He took her in his arms and they moved slowly to the music. She could have easily rested her head on his shoulder, he was a head taller then her. Taller, he thought, if she took off her heels.

“What’s your name?” He asked. She looked down and averted her eyes.

“You won’t tell me?” She shook her head and looked up at him shyly. Ron could see the nervousness in her eyes.

“I’m not angry if that’s what you are worried about.” He said. “You don’t have to tell me your name.” She relaxed in his arms and he couldn’t resist bringing her close, so their chests were pressed close.

As they danced Ron felt her cuddle close to him. He looked down at her eyes again. “Are you afraid of me? Is that why you won’t tell me your name?” She shook her head just once and in addition to her answer, gave his hand and shoulder a squeeze.

Ron smiled down at her, returning with a squeeze around her waist. “Are you married, is that why you won’t tell me your name?” He thought it might be a long shot, but then again he had been pursued by a few married women.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, and shook her head. “Alright, alright. I didn’t think you were.” He gave her another squeeze.

The music started to change tempo. “Will you come outside with me for some fresh air?” She nodded and took the arm he offered.

They walked along the gardens, each hedge filled with charmed tea lights to give off a gentle light. A few other couples were wondering about looking for private niche to sneak into.

Ron led her to a bench next to a fountain. A elfin fairy was frozen in stone pouring a jug of water into a pool of bathing birds. She settled herself and watched as he straddled the bench, facing her. She crossed her legs, playing with her fingernails in her hands.

“Do I make you nervous?” He asked. She looked at him for a moment, and then gave a nervous shrug of her shoulders.

“But you aren’t afraid of me though, right?” He probed. She gave him another small smile, and shook her head.

“You said in your note that you heard of my opinion of women….” she nodded, “have you heard why I think this way?”

She looked away and tilted her head non-committedly. “You’ve heard some of it?” He asked. She gave him a nod.

“No doubt you heard that a woman treated me badly.” He said.

She nodded then gestured to her heart. Holding out both hands, she signed a breaking gesture. Ron nodded and let out a breath. “Yes, she broke my heart. But it wasn’t just any woman, it was my fiancé.”

He saw her eyes widen and her lips parted as she let out a light gasp. “Yes, I was a joke. She actually only wanted to deflower the last of the Weasley men. She wasn’t expecting me to fall in love for her. It was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She wouldn’t have to work or anything. She could relax and live the life she wanted.”

She reached out and took his hand, then reached with her other hand and pulled her wand from where it had been hiding in one of her dress folds. Her wand was covered in a white feather that curled around it. She really had concealed all aspects of her identity and it made Ron smile.

With a flick of her wrist words appeared in thin air and hovered for a moment. ‘She didn’t know what she had.’ The words vanished into smoke and drifted away.

“Thank you.” He said, cradling her hand in both of his. “Please tell me your name.”

She looked away and tried to pull her hand from his but he held it firmly. “I’m sorry. I won’t ask. If it makes you comfortable, then you keep your secret.”

She relaxed and inhaled, letting it out in a slow breathe. “Have you know me long?” He asked.

She looked over and nodded. He still hadn’t let go of her hand. “Have you know me before I left for Ireland?”

She nodded again. He was going to ask her as many questions as he could, she would have to think carefully before asking. He looked around then back. “Did you attend Hogwart’s when I did?”

She thought carefully. If she answered him he would be closer to figuring out who she was, but then again she didn’t have to tell him what year or what house. She looked back where he was waiting patiently. Smiling, she gave him a nod.

He smiled back. “Same year?” She merely smiled and looked back at him. “Same house?” He ventured. She just kept smiling.

“Well, you appear to be close to me in age, so you could be a year of two older or younger.” She looked to the sky and then back at him, acknowledging that it was indeed possible.

“But you could be from any house. Working hard to make sure you give nothing away could put you in Hufflepuff, the disguise is cleaver enough to put you in Ravenclaw. The fact that you know how I feel about most women and you still found a way to contact me makes your brave enough to be a Gryffindor. But the fact that you are teasing me with subtle information, so you have the upper hand mean you could just be a Slytherin.”

Her eyes shifted about as she thought about each point he made. Her eyes widened and she nodded with pressed lips, agreeing with his words. He smiled at her and she returned it. “Did you come here tonight because I mentioned it?” He asked softly.

She looked to her feet and gave him a small nod, peaking at him from behind her mask. Ron thought that smile of her was adorable. He reached up for her mask, but her hands came up faster, stopping him.

Ron saw that the smile was gone, and her eyes were focused on him. He reached again for the mask, this time her hands caught his and she stood up turning her back and rushing off. She only got a few feet away when her shoulders were caught in his strong hands.

“I’m sorry, please stop.” She let him turn her so she faced him. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have tried to take it off. I apologize. Will you come sit down again?”

She looked up at him and wanted to but was afraid he would try it again and she couldn’t let him. She wasn’t ready for that, she was too scared and insecure to let him see who she was.

She looked into his eyes. Those gorgeous blue eyes of his had filled her thoughts before. He filled her dreams at night and her fantasies during the day. He was a man’s man in every sense of the word and she was nowhere near the glamorous woman that matched him. Even transforming herself into the woman in white took effort and time.

She lifted her hands to his shoulder and lifted her lips. Ron leaned down and took the kiss she offered. He thought her lips were soft and succulent, she thought his were strong yet tender. He wasn’t forceful or demanding, he let her kiss him as she wanted.

She pulled away after a moment, wishing she could give him a deep, heated, wet snog, but she couldn’t. If she did, she would through herself at him and that would be too embarrassing.

She caressed his cheek then hurried away. Ron could see the battle in her eyes, and decided not to push her. He watched her strappy white heels carry her away, wanting to follow but holding himself in check. She would contact him, he knew she would. At least he hoped she would.