Monsoon Wings

The Ball finally arrived. There was no way turning back now. The girls were getting ready in the dormitory.

Hermione had appeared very beautiful. She wore a ribbon pink dress with waves near the ankles. When asked who was her date, she blushed and kept tight lips, assuring them they will know in the end. Olivia wore a shocking cute pink dress with black ribbon around the waist, punctuated with pink heels. She had curled her brown hair, making it even more bouncy, and added beautiful little pearly hairpins.

Once Hermione and Olivia were ready, they had promised to help Juno to get ready.

‘Come on Juno, are you ready with your dress? Let’s do the make-up,’ Olivia called, adjusting the stool in front of the mirror.

Shyly, Juno stepped out of the changing room.

Expensive things never fail.

‘Wow, you look—stunning,’ Hermione praised, wide-eyed.

It was the most dazzling dress Juno had ever seen in her whole life. It was long; it started from the bosom, and the back was very low. The outer fabric was the preeminent of satin while the interior was silk, which stroked her skin like the feathery wings of an angel. It felt soft, yet strong at the same time. There were minor curves around the waist, which clings to the actual waist, and the patterns made the waist so slim that one, with exaggeration, may be able to clench a fist around and made a grasp. There were maple leafs patterns from the breast down to the knee, slanting left, stamped by the most sparkling of diamonds. The bottom part was of layers, and it looked the best of prom dresses.

‘Wow, Juno. You are really lucky to have Malfoy,’ Olivia said, slightly jealous.

What did I say just now? Olivia thought. Lucky to have Malfoy?

‘I understand it costs 900 Galleons. Look at the diamonds—they are so pure and they glisten like crazy,’ Hermione voiced. ‘I envy you, Juno.’

Juno blushed. ‘I wonder how I’m gonna dance in this. And he bought me heels also. He really doesn’t understand how girls dress. Well, I admit I’m not stylish, but what’s the point of wearing brilliant heels when it’s covered with the long dress?’

‘Shit, we are running out of time. I’ll do your hair while Olivia does your make up,’ Hermione said, getting to move.

‘You’ll stun people. Just see,’ Olivia said.

*

Okay, so the Ball is starting. And Emily is nowhere in view.

Draco was waiting hear the marble staircase to the Great Hall. He was smartly dressed in a tidy tuxedo with blue silk ribbon.

Where the heck is she?

He drew a very long breath. The champions were already lining, and the others were starting to enter the Hall, coupled. Draco glanced and found out Potter was in line with Patil. Ha! Potter didn’t ask Olivia out. Draco had seen Olivia. She looked like an angel. And her partner was Jayden Rocky. Pitiful. She would’ve been happier if she had agreed to go with me.

Granger was with Viktor Krum. Draco didn’t care, anyway.

If Granger and Olivia had gone down, then where is Emily?

The answer to that was, on top of the stairs. Draco didn’t realize at first. He was searching around. But somehow he got this tingling feeling, and he glanced towards the marble staircase.

There she was, Juno Emily. She looked—no words could describe. Draco’s lips parted slightly as she descended the stairs. His eyes didn't blink, they gazed wonderly at the figure on the stairs.

No, the angel was not Olivia. It was Juno Emily.

No words could really describe. She looked as if she was a single star in the dark sky.

Her hair was braided loosely only near the scalp, then the lower part pinned to her right side, and was left covering her shoulder. And her make-up… her eyes looked faultless with mascara, her cheek bones glorious, lips a trifle red with lipstick. Is this Juno Emily? He wondered. The harsh girl who called him a fool moronic boy and a brainless monkey and had kicked him under the table once? She had taken the form of a brittle princess.

He offered her a hand, not lifting his eyes off her. She accepted his hand, and they carried forward, arm in arm to the Great Hall. The whole crowd hushed and some gasped with awe. Draco felt a gush of pride in his heart.

When the time came, they started dancing. Draco held her close by the waist, very close. Their faces met, and she could smell his mint breath. She was blushing like crazy.

‘Can’t you leave out some space?’ Juno whispered, trying to smile and look natural, because many were watching.

‘Can’t. We have to look like perfect couples. Put your arms around my neck and hug me. That’s what couples do when they dance.’

‘What the freak?’

‘You’re shy?’ the evil smile occurred again in his lips.

She clicked her tongue and did what he asked. Soon they were glued together that she could feel his legs moving around as they dance. She was locked, locked in his arms. His grasp was firm, but gentle. He danced well, and they matched each other.

Hope no one’s taking pictures, Juno hoped desperately. Soon she could see nothing but his flaxen blonde hair, and his nose was digging into her scented hair. The strands were so soft and smell nice that he almost dozed while nuzzling into them. Her bosom was against his chest, his tuxedo felt silky. She felt a bit cold, and his body radiated affectionate heat that finally she enjoyed being covered fully surrounded by his arms.

When snack time came, everyone enjoyed the foods and stopped dancing. Juno and Draco walked to the snack table to grab some drinks. They drank in calm, not knowing what to utter. Juno caught Jayden looking at her, and she smiled, then immediately put her head down.

Draco looked over at Olivia and Jayden. They were sitting on the bench, chatting. There were no cupids of romance jingling around them. Olivia kept looking over at Harry, who was sitting with no energy with Ron and the Patils.

‘Hi, Malfoy,’ a second year Draco had never spoken to greeted. ‘Never thought you had such a beautiful girlfriend. I surely am jealous.’ And then she looked at Juno and retreated, joining her friends and laughing.

‘Let’s leave and go outside, take a walk. It’s airless here,’ Draco said loudly to Juno.

‘It’s cold.’

‘You won’t die. Take my blazer.’

Juno agreed, because she couldn’t bear to see the hurt face of Jayden. She felt sorry for going with Draco. But, was it her fault? Jayden was late. Draco asked her first. Besides, everyone was hushing around about Juno Emily dancing with Draco Malfoy.

Within minutes, they marched outside, hand in hand. Once they reached the snowy grounds, away from everyone else, they broke their entwined fingers. Juno let the blazer cover her shoulders. She was shivering like crazy. They were alone there. Fire torches were everywhere, so they were in fact quite warm. But when the breeze blows, it was chilling.

‘You look beautiful tonight,’ Draco said softly, gazing at the dark sky.

Juno blushed hotly. ‘Thanks.’

They fell into the trench of silence again.

'You were right, it's cold, let's go back in,’ Draco said.

‘Please don’t, I don’t want to. People always look at me—'

‘They’re jealous. All right, just wait here while I grab some coats. Don’t go anywhere,’ Draco said, leaving.

‘Please don’t leave me here!’ Juno shouted, but Draco had jogged back to the castle. The piece of rascal. Juno had wanted to jog as well, but it was hard with the long dress and high heels. But she walked slowly back to the castle, holding her dress up.

Suddenly, something happened.

Juno felt a scorching pain on her back, and the next thing she knew, she was laying on the cold snowy ground. Her palms injured, because they greased against the ground. She angrily raised her head towards her attacker.

In the darkness, it was hard to make up the face. But the someone was wearing a cloak, and was on a broomstick, hovering around ten feet over the ground. It was a guy.

My mysterious stalker. He’s going to kill me!

A decent panic seized her.

But the next words the guy said proved that he wasn’t the stalker. His voice was smooth and a little deep.

‘Aha! I’ve found you, you cheater! You must be my brother’s Muggle fiancée who shamelessly cheated on him and ran away with another Muggle! What a fine-looking girl you are, but, oh, how devious had thou lied!’

Juno angrily raised her voice, ‘You insane lad! How dare you accuse me like that after you have just knocked over a witch!’

‘A witch, is it?’

‘You mistook me for someone else!’

He pulled open his cloak. In the dark, it was still manageable to see his features. He was too tidy to be called a stalker. He had short brown hair, perfect magnificent glinting blue eyes. He was tall, perhaps six feet, and his silhouette made Juno remember the young knights in bedtime stories.

‘Well, then who do we have here?’ he said.