InsaneJournal

who; Dominique Weasley and Phoenix Malfoy
when; Friday morning, after breakfast
where; Great Hall and the the dungeons
what; Phoenix asks Dominique to the Ball
rating; PG
status; Complete


Once she had finished her toasts and orange juice, Dominique got up from the Gryffindor table and headed outside the Great Hall; but not without galncing once last time toward the Slytherin table, looking for Phoenix. She didn't know what force made her look his way, but she always did no matter where they were. He was so different from the other boys, quiet, mysterious even; she couldn't get him out of her head.

But when she didn't find him on the table, she tried hard not to be disappointed and focus on what she had to do today. She'd see him in one of their classes later.

It had been a rather tense morning. Phoenix purposefully dodged his breakfast for the chance to take a long reflective walk along the grounds. It was mere hours until the Ball. Usually such occasions didn't interest him, even scare turn him immediately off but this year, he found himself in anticipation as he tried to decide if he should ask the one girl he had been thinking of the moment he had heard word of the occasion.

A Weasley. A smile crossed his features as he crossed though the courtyard, clad in his school uniform and thick robes, a scarf around his neck. The irony was too amusing. His cheeks were flushed from the cold as he took a seat by a stone bench. The trees were bare by this time, a criss cross of dark painted lines hanging high over his head against the bright morning sky as he looked up. ever since he could remember, Peyton was always the woman who helped him go through dances and balls. This year, however, he doubted that would still be the case. Now, he has been spending time with Dominique, someone who he probably should stay away from, but just couldn't bring himself to do so.

His gaze fell down on the spot beside him and spotted a Bachelor's Button on the dry grass by his boot. He took it delicately in his palm, and before he could further ponder on his thoughts, he headed for the Great Hall. He stood waiting by the doors, leaning against the wall as he watched the students file out. Once he spotted her, he neared her. "Hi." he said under his breath, keeping his hands behind him, but couldn't get himself to smile. "May I... steal you away for a moment?"

Dominique was thinking -- or rather, trying to think of the things she needed to do today instead of that pale blonde boy whose last name was Malfoy. Her family would probably kill her if they knew she had been spending time with him, but she'd rather not think about it. They'd probably just overreact before even bothering to know him. Phoenix wasn't like other Malfoys, and it was that what had caught her attention in the first place.

She jumped a little started at the sound of his now familiar voice, not having expected him to be there. With a small smile on her face, she turned to him. "Hi, Phoenix.. Yes, of course." She said with a little nod.

Without touching her, he lead her a little away from the small crowd that was slowly forming in front of the Main Hall. He descended on flight of stairs for the dundgeons, and turned to his right. The corridor seemed deserted enough, so he turned back to her. The light was faint in this area, highlighting her palce features with a faint orange outline from the torches over thier head. "I hope you don't deem this too bold but I..." he started, his eyes locked with hers. "... was wondering if you already have plans for the Ball tomorrow." He was nervous. Rejection was never a good color on Malfoys, and he was no exception. "If so, then I would like to apologize for taking your time. If not..." he trailed off, then waited for her to answer.
She followed him closely behind, her body subconsciously moving closer to his. She was curious to know what he wanted her for and why they had to go to the dungeons to speak; but she didn't voiced her questions and just stole glances at him as they walked. But her questions were answered as soon as the stopped.

Dominique would be lying if she said she wasn't surprise of what he was about to ask her, because it was quite obvious what it was: A date to Ball. Deep down, she wished for him to ask her to the Ball, but she had never imagine he would do it. He didn't seem the type to go to Balls; but then again, she had been wrong before about him.

She found herself getting slightly nervous as she answered him, playing with the ring on her finger, twisting it around it. "Oh, I don't have any plans. I'm free as a bird." She said, chuckling a bit nervously.

At her answer, he felt a wave of something akin to relief spread through his chest. He wasn't doomed for the depths of hell yet. "Would you..." He started forward, his eyes never leaving her face even as she turned her eyes from him. The air was still cold around them, but he was starting to question if such a thing was the reason why he was shivering. "... mind dearly if I'd ask you to... come with me?" He bit his plump bottom lip as he waited. He perhaps should think of what he could say if she declined, but he just couldn't get himself to do so at the moment.

Dominique tried not to smile too widely when he asked her to be his date for the Ball. She felt like jumping around and squeeing loudly, but somehow she managed to hold herself back for now and gave him an average sized happy smile. Although she could not stop her heart from beting faster. "I wouldn't mind," She said as she shook her head lightly. "I'd love to go with you to the Ball."

The slightest genuine smile crossed once stern features as she spoke the words he had been anticipating since he has started the conversation with her. "I'm glad to hear that. I was actually fearing I'm... already too late." he then took his hand behind his back, took her wrist lightly in his and opened her palm. Gently, he placed the flower he had plucked from the courtyard and laid it on her hand. "It's a Bachelor's Button, in case you're curious." he explained, pocketing his hands. After voting against telling her what it had meant to him to give her such a thing, he then looked away. "I am keeping you." he stated, looking at the stretch of corridor behind her. "I suppose you'd wish to head to class now?"

She loved it when he smiled, even if it was just a faint curl in the corner of his mouth. It made his face lit up and he looked very handsome; nt that he didn't look handsome the other times he didn't smile, though. And oh, if only he knew she had been waiting for him to ask her, even if she didn't think he would do it.

"It's beautiful.. Thank you." She said with a smile when he placed the flower in her hand. She felt her cheeks flush and she could've sworn her stomach did a flip, but maybe it was because of the breakfast she just had. "Oh... Yes. I guess I should go back to get my books." She had completely forgot about classes. "You'd like to go get your stuff too, right?"

"You're welcome." Phoenix replied, his eyes softening as he gazed down at her. At the sight of her cheeks reddening again, he frowned. "Cold?" But as realization dawned in her features, he nodded. "I had assumed you should. I apologize If I had taken your time. I merely found it... appropriate to ask you in person." His tone was light, more honest than anything else. "I'd like to watch you go, if you don't mind?" he asked. "My classes are not until after a few hours..."

Dominique shook her head, both to let him know she wasn't cold and that the apology wasn't necessary. "You don't need to apologize. It was very nice of you to ask me in person. Most boys would use notes or owls. Very impersonal and cold if you ask me." She replied, running a hand through her hair to push a lock of hair off her face. "I don't mind." She smiled.

At her green light, he nodded slowly. The urge to smile caught him by surprise, but just this once he allowed himself to give in to it. Looking down at her, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on his side against the wall and raised his eyebrows expectantly at her, as if saying carry on.

Seeing him smile made her want to kiss his cheek for some reason, but she hold back the urge and just smiled back at him. "I'll see you in class, then." She turned around and bit her bottom lip, trying not to grin like a fool as she made her way back to her common room. There, she would jump and squee all she want, that's for sure. Today was the best day ever.

"I'll see you then." Phoenix said and nodded curtly before he watched her turn and head down the path they took before. The smile on his face faltered slightly when she turned the corner and disappeared out of earshot. A sound sigh escaped him as he slumped back against hard stone. And now the real challenge begins.