Emerald and Crimson (Chapter Three)

Chapter Three1

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Ron and Hermione watched as their friend was swept across the ballroom floor in the arms of Lord Riddle.3

"Oh, Ron, don't they look absolutely gorgeous together!"  Hermione exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.4

"Yeah, sure," Ron muttered back, sarcastically.  "But only until he figures out that Alanna's a guy."5

"Oh, Ron, stop being so... omigod!" Hermione gasped, her sparkling eyes catching sight of Lord Malfoy.  She licked her lips.6

"What?" Ron asked, staring in the same direction.  "Oh holy hell."7

"I'll have some of that!  Looks good, eh, Ron?" Hermione giggled, poking Ron in the side.  "Maybe you should take a little advice from our darling friend Alanna!"8

Ron's eyes widened a bit, but they never strayed from Lord Malfoy's powerful body.  "What?" He murmured, then blinked taking in what she had said.  "NO!  Hermione, I'm straight!  I'm damned proud of it as well!"9

Hermione stared at him, and patted his back, murmuring softly, "how can sleeping with a woman make you proud of yourself, Ron, darling, if you know you'd rather be with a man?"10

"Hermione... w-what are you talking about?" Ron asked, confused, and panicking slightly.11

"Okay, Ron, let me put it this way," Hermione started.  "If a Caterpillar was afraid of wings, it would never become a butterfly, and people would say 'Hey!  Look, it's a worm in a tree.'  Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Ron?"12

"Hermione, are you calling me a worm?  Or a butterfly?  Or... a Caterpillar?!  What the heck is that supposed to mean!" Ron exclaimed, so completely confused.13

"In other words, Ron, STOP denying the fact that you're gay!  EVERYONE knows it but you!  Get it through your bloody head!"  Hermione exclaimed, exasperated.14

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Alanna was floating on air in the arms of a man she had just met.  He was everything she had ever dreamed of in a man, smart, handsome, and strong.16

"Miss. Hart?" Tom inquired softly, gazing down into her emerald eyes.17

Alanna laughed, "please, call me Alanna, Lord Riddle."18

"Of course," Tom smiled.  "And I am Tom."19

Alanna nodded, and they did a beautifully executed move, that ended with Alanna being dipped, gently, towards the floor.20

"An interesting question has entered my mind, Alanna.  May I ask it?"  Tom murmured.21

"Go ahead, Tom, but I, of course, can't guarantee you an answer," she smiled, sweetly.22

"Of course," Tom acknowledged.  "Which do you prefer, Alanna, young boys or mature men?"  They moved to the music, through some very complicated dance moves.23

"I think," she began, her emerald eyes darkening with thought.  "when you really love somebody.  Age shouldn't matter at all."24

"Indeed," Tom murmured, the dance slowly coming to an end.  "I'll escort you back to your friends, Alanna.  I hope you'll save me another dance, I would enjoy having another conversation with you."25

Alanna smiled, her eyes lighting up with happiness, "Of course, Tom, I would adore it!"26

Tom nodded, and they walked in relative silence towards Alanna's friends.27

As they got closer, Hermione exclaimed, "Don't be ridiculous! The world is full of whores, Ron!  What it really needs is a good book keeper."28

Alanna turned beet read, "Thank you, Tom."  She ran off moments after that.  Tom noticed her friend look back at him and blush, before murmuring something to Alanna, causing the girl to laugh sweetly.29

Tom turned and walked swiftly towards where Lucius and Severus stood talking.30

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Lucius smirked at Tom as he walked up to them.  "Who was that beautiful angel you were dancing with, Tommy boy?"32

Tom turned to look at Alanna, the girl stood with her dark head on the Weasley boys shoulder, Tom stifled a growl, and murmured, "That, my friends, was Miss Alanna Lily Hart.  And don't call me Tommy boy."33

Severus noticed Tom's stifled growl, he placed a hand on Tom's shoulder and whispered, "So jealous, so soon, my friend?"34

Tom hadn't taken his eyes off of Alanna, and replied, "I'm not jealous, Sev."35

Severus rolled his onyx eyes, "Possessive, then."36

"She's beautiful," Tom murmured, softly.37

"Very, Tom, but I've never seen you as a womans man."38

Lucius heard that and laughed, "Yeah, we always took you for a mans man!"  Lucius looked over to where Alanna stood, with her head still on Weasley's shoulder.  "Though, that red head she's with is a particularly delicate morsel." Lucius licked his lips.39

Tom just ignored Lucius' comments.  "She's... different."40

Severus smiled.  "Yes, she is.  Just be careful, my friend."41

"I will."42

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Alanna lay her head on Ron's shoulder, and asked, in a soft giggly voice, "Ron, what do you believe in?"44

"Sex and Death.  Two things that come once in life, but, at least, after death you're not nauseous," he replied, with a straight face.45

Alanna giggled, and stayed there for a few more songs, then she pulled away from Ron, and wrinkled her button nose.  "I'm feeling peckish... I'm going to go see what they have to snack on."46

"Do you want me to come with you, 'Lanna?"  Ron murmured, softly, smiling at his adopted 'little sister.'47

"No, thank you, dear," Alanna replied, smiling at her adopted 'older brother.'  She walked off towards the food table.48

Alanna picked up a small plate, and looked over the food selection, having some difficulty deciding what to try.  She spent quite a while attempting to decide what to eat.  Eventually, she filled her plates with many of the different fruits, but mostly strawberries, and turned to return to her friends.49

She walked slowly, with her plate in one hand, and and strawberry in the other.  Her pace slowed even more, as she took her first rapturous bite into the delicate fruit.  50

Tom walked up to Alanna, and watched as she licked her lips, savoring the flavor.  "Mmm, I adore strawberries.  One feels so wicked eating them out of season."  Alanna murmured, before opening her eyes, and smiling beautifully at Tom.  "Hello, again, tom.  I was wondering when I'd see you again."51

"You did promise me a dance, Alanna," Tom replied.52

"That I did, Tom," she smiled.  Taking another bite of her strawberry.  She set down her plate, and curtsied.  "Shall we?"53

He bowed, offering his hand, he murmured, "We shall."54

Together, yet again, they spun beautifully on the dance floor.  The music spun them around the room, so that both felt like they were floating on air, in each others arms.55

As they danced, Tom asked Alanna in a deceptively quiet voice, "What do you need from people, Alanna?"56

She smiled sweetly, as he dipped her.  She thought about her answer a moment before saying, quietly, "there is nothing, I need from anyone, Tom.  Except love and respect."57

"And?"58

"And..." she inclined her head towards him.  "Anyone who can't give me those two things has no place in my life."59

They danced in silence for a few moments before Tom murmured, "Give me a chance, I could give you those things."60

Alanna looked up at Tom with wide emerald eyes.  Tom smiled, and continued to twirl her around the room in silence.  She stared into Tom's crimson eyes, as they danced, losing herself in their depths.61

They slowed to a stop, just as the music changed from the fast twirls of the waltz to a romantic slow song.  Neither wanted to leave the other.62

Tom ran a hand down Alanna's pale cheek, whispering, "Stay with me, beautiful."63

Alanna smiled, and nodded.  She did a graceful twirl and landed back into Tom's strong arms.64

He pulled her close, and their bodies seemed to move in perfect unison.  They moved beautifully to the music, neither speaking.  Not wanting to burst the bubble that seemed to have been created around them.65

As the music once again slowly stopped, Tom lowered his head, and brushed his lips against Alanna's.  He watched her eye flutter closed, and deepened the kiss, brushing Alanna's lips with his tongue.66

Alanna moaned, softly, parting her lips, and allowing Tom entrance into her mouth for a few moments.  Then she pulled away shocked at her surrender, she gasped, "Omigod."67

"Alanna..." Tom began.68

"I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed, cutting his statement short, then running from the room, tears filling her eyes.69

Tom stared after her in shock, bringing a hand up to touch his lips, and whisper, "Alanna."70

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End Chapter Three72