Dance With The Devil

Lily was a little surprised at how quickly time seemed to fly around her. Life went on, slowly but surely, yet so far at the same time. It was hard to describe the feeling she felt as she walked into the Three Broomsticks, hauling a bag of sugar filled lollies in her wake. She probably looked pathetic walking alone with lollies and a zoned out in her own little world.

Lily smiled and ordered herself a butterbeer and made her way to a small but free table. She placed her bag onto the seat opposite her and sat down. She pushed her red hair off of her face and glanced at her lap, wrangling her hands nervously. It was as though she was waiting for something to happen. But that wasn't true, nothing was set to happen in her life. Maybe that was the reason she felt pain when people compared her to any of her family. Her grandmother, her mother...her father. Each were so amazing in their lives, her mother still, that being compared to them was just heartbreaking. She was never going to be anything, this was obvious even though she didn't voice it. Lily didn't have direction in that sense.

Lily leant back and glanced at her newly arrived mug, her eyes staring at it as though it was about to explode. She hadn't even noticed it being set down. Since when did she become so unobservant?

Hogsmeade was a wondrous place. It was like the Diagon Alley of Scotland and it was also a famous landmark. Sirius Black had prowled the streets before finally heading up to Hogwarts that year in 1993. It always interested Elijah, history always interested him but he’d never take History of Magic unless the teacher was halfway decent. He was looking forward to the upcoming school year and the events to come. There was going to be a lot more freedom for him as Quidditch Captain and a member of the Imperium Squad. Plus, he had Jen under his thumb. She loved to mollycoddle him and treat him like one of her own so she’d be easy to manipulate when it came down to it. He was looking forward to the school year and as he trotted through Hogsmeade on all fours, he remembered that he could get into Hogsmeade a lot more often with his elevated status.

The road up to Hogsmeade was clearing incredibly quickly. People weren’t expecting to see a White Bengal Tiger to be wandering through the little village. Said Tiger was actually heading to the three broomsticks and as it slipped in through the door it became apparent that it was a tiger recognised by the barmaids so it wasn’t to be feared. The feline strode through the bar, listening idly to the giggles coming from the barmaids. It hopped up onto one of the barstools and looked pointedly at the girls.
The bravest one stepped forward where as the other set about getting said tiger a drink. She reached her hand out and slowly ran her hands through the thick fur of the animal. Its eyes fell shut and the tiger leaned into the woman’s touch. Loud purrs began to rumble in its chest and the woman blushed, pulling her hand back. She watched it wrinkle his nose and slowly, the tiger morphed into the human version she knew so well. The infamous, Elijah Krum.

“’Ello beautiful, how’s about a drink, eh?” He winked at her and leaned over the bar, pressing a kiss to the side of her mouth. The effect was always interesting because every woman acted differently. This one babbled something unintelligent and went about pouring a pint. Elijah sat himself down properly on the bar stool and smiled, flicking the bell on is choker which also doubled as a collar for when he was in his Animagus form. As he sat there his mind started to travel into different dimensions that didn’t make sense to him by any stretch of the imagination. Elijah smiled to himself and nodded to the waitress when she handed him his drink. He flicked a coin at her and drank deeply from the glass, savouring the taste. This was why he loved the three broomsticks.

Lily wasn't hugely shocked to see a familiar feline form enter the room. Okay, that was a complete lie that her mother would definitely see through, but it wasn't like Lily had even told her mother about Elijah. She'd have a fit in all rights if she knew that Lily had kissed him merely what else they had done together. She wasn't quite sure either what her brothers would think. She felt the familiar flush appear on her cheeks, self-dubbed the 'Elijah flush'. It was the one she got everytime she was around him.

Lily knew he hadn't spotted her, as he made his way in a surprisingly confident manner considering he was in the form of a feline. How many guys could pull that off and still get girls giggling? Although that was probably because girls had a natural urge to laugh at cuteish animals.

Lily debated to herself whether she should approach him or not. They hadn't really had a one on one situation lately and that had made her feel slightly hurt. She also couldn't help but get a tad envious as he flirted with the barmaid. This was what probably in the end that led Lily to grabbing her drink and clipping the bag of sweets to the belt of her jeans and heading over to the bar.

Lily tapped Elijah on the shoulder. "Uhh...hey." She said softly, feeling herself flushing even more.

The atmosphere in the Three Broomsticks was relaxed and content. The Jukebox was playing a random song from the ‘80’s and the barmaids were dancing ridiculously behind the bar as they cleaned the glasses. Elijah was enjoying the little spectacle, watching them carefully as his hand moved across the piece of paper he’d been supplied. He’d been instructed to draw them by the head barmaid, a pretty little blonde that preferred to wear leather instead of cotton trousers like the rest of the girls. She was odd but Elijah didn’t mind. He took a swig of the non-descript alcohol they’d given him and continued to draw. Like in the Leaky Cauldron, there were little titbits pinned up on a corkboard. These were done by various artists, not just him, and he loved looking through them as well as contributing. He took another swig of the drink, deciding he liked it and sketched the out the curve of the blonde’s backside. He smirked to himself and went over the line a few times before returning to the facial features.

He felt someone tap him on the shoulder and he glanced over his shoulder before pulling out a barstool. He tapped the velvet and completely missed the fact that it wasn’t a random person asking for a bit of expertise or anything of the like. He didn’t think for a second that it would be Lily. He finished the sketch and turned it over for the girls to see. The collective squeals made Elijah wince but he quickly found himself being pulled across the bar by the collar so each woman could give him a kiss. He felt his cheeks flush and he bashfully returned the kisses that his cheeks were being assaulted with. He finally broke away from the girls and awkwardly rubbed his cheeks. He watched them disappear, hearing something about a frame and he shook his head. He glanced sideways and he felt his eyes widen and his cheeks flush once more. “Uh...Hi...” He mumbled.

Lily sat down on the barstool Elijah indictated and realized after a moment why he was acting so withdrawn...he didn't remember her. Either that or he just didn't care. Or recognise her. But she hadn't changed that much, had she? Sure, Lily had grown a bit and her hair was a tad longer but she still had her usual small face and pixie way of moving. She still was short and her eyes wide with childish amusement and excitement at what the world could offer her. Was Lily Potter easy to forget? No, so Elijah didn't care. She tried not to feel a little stricken by this possiblity.

Lily felt annoyance at the show off barmaids as Elijah continued to sketch them, or at least something that involved him looking at the bar. She merely watched in silence, feeling a little silly. She found Elijah's ability to draw faccinating, at the same time she couldn't help but a tad envious of it. She also watched the girls basically shower him in kisses and couldn't resist the snort that escaped her.

Lily gave a light smile though when it seemed that either Elijah had fully noticed her presence or recognised her. Or even both. She blushed lightly though at the sudden attention on her. "Uh...I feel like I'm repeating myself but...hey?" She said, though it came out more as a question and Lily resisted banging her head onto the bar.

Elijah opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off when he felt arms wind around his neck and he was once again pulled across the bar. This time he wasn’t attacked by multiple barmaids it was just the head and his lips crashed against hers. She seemed to enjoy that more than he was and her hands wound into his hair. Eli kept his eyes open and he humoured her, opening his mouth and allowing her to explore his own with her tongue. He’d return the favour but only out of necessity. Once the barmaid was finished she pulled away and licked her lips. Elijah looked away and cleared his throat a little. He glanced up hoping that she had gone but found her leather clad butt in his full view. With a sigh he grabbed one of the beer towels and rolled it up. He slapped her on the right butt cheek and she grinned over her shoulder at him before disappearing into the kitchen.

Sighing, Elijah put the mat back down and ran a hand through his hair. This woman reminded him of Ann Marie. Perhaps they were related. Elijah wasn’t too sure though. “Sorry about her,” He said to Lily. “She’s very...loving...” Elijah snorted at his own words and he looked at Lily. “How have you been?”

Lily wasn't one to be surprised or frustrated easily but both emotions came flooding to her as she watched some random woman attack Elijah. Lily couldn't tell for a moment where he ended and the woman started. She witheld herself from throwing up on the bar. She managed to cough lightly even though really she was slightly choking on her drink. Although she shouldn't be as surprised at the fact, it wasn't like Elijah would sit around and wait for her or whatever after happened between them. Lily wasn't quite sure why she waited. She knew though deep down that she couldn't see anyone but Elijah in that way. But she wasn't going to throw herself at him, no she wasn't that girl.

"....I can...see that." Lily spluttered slightly feeling a little dirty from watching the display. She covered her mouth with her hand until she felt safe again to remove it. She had no idea how to answer Elijah's question. How was she? She felt sort of lonely, silly for believing that maybe she would suddenly be this different person from having sex with the guy next to her. She knew her mother would throw a fit if she ever found out. She had given it up to the first guy who noticed her. And she couldn't even regret it. "I've been....alright I suppose. By the looks of it you've been having a whole lot more fun." Lily commented casually even though she glanced away with an unreadable expression on her face.