Emerald and Crimson (Chapter Two)

Chapter Two1

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'You, Lord Weasley, are invited to the3

Second Annual Summer Ball4

Hosted By:  Lord Lucius Malfoy5

Date: June 12th'6

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.  "Ron, are you listening to me?!"7

"Is that his name?"  Ron whispered, to himself, staring at the invitation.  "Sounds like a flavor in a gay ice cream parlor... Strawberry Swirl, Chocolate Mocha Madness, and Lucius Malfoy."8

"Damn it! Ronald Weasley! Listen to me!" Hermione cried, hitting him upside the head with a pillow.9

"Ow!" Ron whined, rubbing his injured head.  "What was that for?!"10

"You weren't listening to me," she replied, returning her eyes to her needle point.  "What's on your mind, Ron?  Is it Harry?"11

"I'm worried about him, 'Mione!  He's my best mate!"  Ron sighed.12

"Mine too, Ron.  He'll show up soon, I just know it.  Call it woman's intuition."13

Ron just shook his head, closing his eyes.  "I can only hope, 'Mione.  I miss him.14

She smiled at him.  "Soon, Ron."15

There was a loud knock on the door, and Ron reluctantly got up and went to answer it.  He opened the door and blinked, "Uh, hello.  Can I help you?"16

A beautiful girl, with layered raven hair, and sparkling emerald eyes, stood there in a green halter top and a blue jean skirt, with black boots that came up mid-thigh.  She smiled, serenely, "Yes, could you tell me if this is the Weasley residence?"17

"Yes, it is.  I'm Lord Weasley... what can I do for you?"18

"I'm Alana Lily Hart.  I'm here to discuss something with you, about our mutual friend, Harry Potter."19

Ron gasped, "Of course, do come in, Miss. Hart."20

She smiled, again, "Just Alanna, please."21

Ron nodded, "Alright, Alanna."  He walked next to her, leading her to the living room, where Hermione sat.  "Please, have a seat.  Alanna, this is one of my best friends, Lady Hermione Granger."22

"How do you do, Lady Granger?" Alanna murmured, softly.23

"'Mione, this is Alanna Lily Hart."24

"Alanna?  That's such a beautiful name," Hermione smiled.25

"Thank you."26

"She says she has some news about Harry!" Ron exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.27

"Really?  About Harry?  Thank God!  Ron has been worried sick about that boy," Hermione muttered.28

"Oh, has he really?"  Alanna asked, confused.29

"He has, but don't let me distract you, what did you have to say?" 30

Alanna took a deep breath and stood, saying softly, "What you see before you is a masterpiece of deception."31

Hermione blinked and stared at the girl, "Omigod."32

Ron looked confused, as Hermione stood and circled Alanna a few time.  She stopped and looked directly into the girls emerald eyes.  "Harry?"33

"Surprise guys."  Harry's soft voice exclaimed from the girls slender body.34

Ron gasped, "Harry?  Bloody 'ell, mate, what happened to you!  You used to be normal!"35

Harry laughed,  "I grew out of it."36

Ron circled him once, and whispered, "This is bloody weird, mate."37

Harry looked at the ground, pouting, "are you calling me a freak?"38

"No!  I'm calling you special."  Ron corrected.  "Besides, I think you look beautiful."39

Hermione nodded, "I completely agree.  You look stunning."40

Harry blushed, "thanks guys."41

"No problem," Ron grinned picking up the invitation from the Malfoy's.  "Alanna would you like to go to the Second Annual Summer Ball at the Malfoy's, with Hermione and I?"42

Harry smiled, "Why, dear sir, I would be delighted to accept your generous invitation.  Provided, of course, that Hermione doesn't mind."43

Hermione winked, "I don't mind at all.  The more the merrier, if you ask me!"44

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Tom raised an elegant ebony eyebrow, as he stared at his blond friend.  "What exactly are you *trying* to do, Lucius?"46

"Firstly, I'm looking for a new boy toy.  Secondly, my dear friend, I'm looking for your soul mate," Lucius stated, running a brush through his shoulder length blond hair.47

"I noticed, you invited half the country.  My question is WHY!?" Tom growled, his crimson eyes narrowed.48

"Because, Tom, you'll never find your soul mate at the rate you're going!"  Lucius rolled his silver eyes.  "Besides, I'm bored, and finding your soul mate is my new project!"49

Tom sighed, "You're a persistent bastard, aren't you?"50

"Of course I am!"  Lucius smirked.  "Now go get ready, the guests will start arriving soon, Tom!"51

"If you insist, Lucius," Tom muttered, and swept out of the room without a backward glance.52

Lucius stared at himself in the mirror, sighing softly, "What you don't understand, Tom, my friend, is until you find yours, I won't be able to find mine.  We both need the stability that they'll provide us..." Lucius tightened his lips, and narrowed his eyes, standing at the exact moment the doorbell rang.  "And so the first act begins."53

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Tom glared at his reflection in the mirror, knowing that the dark emerald suit and cape brought out his crimson eyes.  His ebony hair was brushed to one side, yet it still fell into his alluring eyes.  His mouth was set firmly into its customary scowl.55

As Tom turned to walk out of his room, the doorbell rang, and the first group of guests arrived.  He paused for a moment before continuing down the stairs, with a most regal air.56

He went straight to the bar and picked up a glass of wine, before turning to watch as the guests arrived in groups of three and four.57

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"We're going to be late, 'Mione!  Tell him to hurry!"  Ron called up the stairs.59

A male voice answered him, "Oh shut up, Ron!  You can't rush perfection!  Besides, I refuse to work on myself until after I finish fixing 'Mione's makeup!  Deal with it!"60

Hermione's voice called out after that, "Yeah, Ron, what he said!"61

Ron sighed, and muttered, "We are so going to be late.  Which means everyone will see us show up, which means we'll be the center of everyones attention... damn."62

A few minutes later, Hermione floated down the stairs in a shimmery pale blue gown, made of silk.  Her hair was flowing behind her in a sea of brown ringlets.  Her face was made up with a pale blue eye shadow, a pale blush, and light pink lip gloss on her lips.  She smiled at Ron's shell-shocked face, and whispered, "Just wait until you see Ha-Alanna."63

Ron could only stare at Hermione like he had never seen her before.  A small cough caused him to look back at the top of the stairs.  "Oh bloody hell."  He exclaimed, his eyes going wide, one thing was for certain, they were going to be the center of attention either way.64

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Tom stood, holding his second glass of wine, watching the door, waiting for someone to catch his eye.  As of yet, he hadn't seen anyone remotely interesting.  Although his good friend, Severus Snape, had shown up, as well as Lucius' son, Draco, with his latest fling, Blaise Zambini.  Still, he watched hoping someone interesting would appear.66

Just as he was about to give up hope, a red haired man came in with two women on his arm.  One was ordinary, and Tom dismissed her immediately, staring at the other.67

She was dressed in a beautiful, silky crimson gown, that brought out her emerald eyes, with a black lace choker at her throat.  Her long raven hair was piled in a mass of curls on top of her head, a few escaping their claps to cover her intriguing emerald eyes.  Her face was pale, her lips crimson, her cheeks a happy pink, and her eyes were brushed with shimmery glitter.68

Tom strode forward, without thinking, and stopped directly in front of the trio.  "Excuse me.  I don't know you, but I wish to enquire if I may have a dance with your beautiful date."69

Alanna stared at the man, her eyes wide, she smiled and whispered, "My name, sir, is Alanna Lily Hart."70

Tom returned her sweet smile, "And I, dear lady, am Lord Tom Marvolo Riddle."71

She curtsied, "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Riddle.  Allow me to introduce you to my friends.  Lord Riddle, this is Lord Ronald Weasley, and that is Lady Hermione Granger."72

Tom made a formal bow, as did Ron, while Hermione curtsied.  Tom whispered, "A pleasure, now, Miss. Hart, would you care to dance?"73

Alanna bit her crimson lip, but nodded, and they twirled off in a flash of emerald and crimson.74

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End Chapter Two76