Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ginny Weasley fell out of the fireplace in her best friend’s drawing room cursing. Draco Malfoy didn’t even look up from the book he was reading. As she picked herself up off the floor and vanished the ash and soot off her clothes, he placed a bookmark into the book and finally looked at her.

“One would think you would have learned how to step out of a floo by now, Weasley.”

Ginny glared at him and imitated his snooty accent as she replied, “One would think you would have learned to greet your guests properly by now, Malfoy. Your mother must have missed that lesson while teaching you how to be a world class git.”

He laughed while walking over to her and offering his arm to lead her to the dining room. “Sloan running you ragged?”

She sighed dramatically as she took his arm and they left the drawing room. “You have no idea. He wants to end the season on a high note at our match next week. The way he talks, you’d never guess that we’ve won more often than not this season. He’s been treating us like first years who’ve never flown before. It’s a good thing we’ll be done after the next match, because much more of this and I’d be telling him where he can shove his broomstick.”

He smirked as they entered the dining room. “A good thing, indeed.”

Draco’s mother, Narcissa, stopped speaking with her husband and raised her eyebrow at her son. “What is a good thing, dear?”

Draco waved his hand dismissively as he held Ginny’s chair out for her. “Ohh, just that Ginny won’t be appearing in front of the Aurors explaining why it is that she’s decided to use her captain as her new broom shed.”

Distaste crossed Narcissa’s face as she watched him sit in his own chair next to Ginny. “Honestly, Draco. That is hardly a suitable topic for the dinner table.”

“Of course, Mother, my apologies. How was your day?”

She seemed to wilt a little. “Much the same as it has been. I have not received an invitation to the Patil’s ball this year. I begin to despair of ever getting another.”

As the Malfoys began a discussion of their low fortunes since the end of the War, Ginny ate her soup as delicately as she could. She hated these formal dinners. It was difficult enough to be around Draco’s parents, who had a general disdain for Weasleys and their low station, without having to worry about using the correct spoon and not slurping the soup. Her table manners were much improved since she and Draco had started their monthly tradition of eating with each other’s families, but they were not second-nature and Ginny was beginning to suspect they might never be.

At least Narcissa had thawed a bit in her demeanor. She and Draco danced on the edge of being social pariahs, while Lucius, Draco’s father, was truly persona non grata since the trials after the War didn’t result in an Azkaban sentence. Narcissa’s defection, and Draco’s underage status, had earned the family forgiveness for Lucius’s war crimes, at least in the eyes of the law. However, society was less lenient than the law and had taken to shunning the Malfoys. Either Ginny was slowly winning Narcissa over, or she was just growing so desperate for social contact that tolerating the company of a Weasley was preferable to being alone. Ginny was betting on the latter.

As the soup course was taken away and the salad served, Ginny tuned into the conversation in time to catch Narcissa lamenting that she couldn’t throw balls to fix their social problems, as she used to be able to do.

“Why not?” Ginny asked.

Narcissa and Lucius stared at her as if she had just asked why Harry Potter wouldn’t be joining them for dinner.

“No one would attend a Malfoy function. Should they deign to do so, they would still find a way to shun us in our own home.” Lucius replied with a hint of disgust.

She thought on the problem for a moment. “The fifth anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts was last week. The Ministry’s been on a tear about how we, as a society, need to come together and move forward. What if you worked with them to sponsor some events in order to foster that unity?”

Lucius waved his hand impatiently. “Even with Ministry sponsorship, most people would not attend. They are perfectly happy to take our money in reparation, but to socialize is out of the question.”

“What if they didn’t know you were—well, you?”

Draco sat forward, looking intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“What about a masquerade ball? If everyone’s in costume, it’s going to be difficult for people to know who to ignore. The problem is that people are prejudiced against you, and the others who didn’t go to Azkaban, because of your choices in the war. I know that you regret those choices, but they don’t. And the only reason I know that is because of the time I’ve spent with you, over many a dinner.”

Ginny pursed her lips and sipped her dinner wine. “So, maybe you need more than one ball. But perhaps that’s how you can re-integrate. Take away the prejudice and people can get to know who you really are. You can show them you’ve changed. Ish. You’re still a git. But you’re a much more tolerable git now than you were in school.” She smiled teasingly at Draco.

Draco gave a small smile in return while his mother asked Ginny, “How does it help for people to get to know us if we are wearing masks and they are unaware of who they are speaking to?”

“Well, you would have an unmasking event. Everyone takes off their masks at the same time and sees just who they’ve been socializing with at these balls.”

Narcissa tapped her finger against her lips, lost in thought. “Hm… Yes. Perhaps—the Season. We should have the balls throughout the Season. Every fortnight. The unmasking could occur at the final ball.”

Ginny looked confused. “What is the Season? How long is it?”

Narcissa huffed. “The social Season occurs during the summer. All of the prominent families throw balls, teas, and other events in an effort to see and, more importantly, be seen. Much business is conducted during these events and powerful alliances formed. From June to August, the country is ran in the ballrooms of the elite.”

“So, six balls?” Ginny asked after taking a moment to figure out the timeline.

“Indeed.”

“But how would you keep people anonymous after the first ball?”

Narcissa’s eyes lost focus as she thought. “I think there may be an old Malfoy family heirloom up in the attics that will take care of that. It was used quite often in the past. I would need to retrieve it.”

Lucius and Narcissa shared a silent exchange before Lucius nodded his head. “Ms. Weasley, your idea has merit. We will give it some thought.”

Draco looked at Ginny appraisingly. “Yes, it’s rather cunning, you know. You’re tricking people into socializing with people they wouldn’t dream of talking to normally.”

“Yes, well, I’m sure that a fair few people would be friends if it weren’t for the societal expectations and prejudices getting in the way.” She stared pointedly at him. “We’re just helping them get past all that.”

“Noble motive or not, it’s still deception. More and more, I wonder at the accuracy of your Sorting. Good little Gryffindors don’t usually deceive people into friendship—or use innocent bystanders’ own bogies against them.”

Ginny snorted. “Yes, well, I’m sure big scary Slytherins don’t usually throw costume balls to make friends. Or run scared from their own bogies.”

Draco sputtered, “I did not —”

Ginny interrupted him, looking at the clock on the mantle. “Bugger! Is that the time?” She stood up and placed her napkin on the table. “Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, but I need to be going. Early practice in the morning.” She hurried to the door, throwing “I’ll floo you later, Draco,” over her shoulder as she left.

Chapter Text

The next Monday found Ginny weaving her way through the people bustling through the Atrium in the Ministry of Magic. She checked her wand in at the security desk, then made her way to the lifts, humming quietly to herself as she walked. She knew just how she was going to go about getting what she wanted today.

After getting off the lifts on the first floor, she made her way down the hallway, pausing outside the office of the man she was there to see. She peaked around the edge of the door to gauge his mood. Determining that it wasn’t bad, at least, Ginny proceeded to put her plan into motion.

As she knocked on the frame of the door, she called cheerfully, “Knock, knock! Got any spare time for your favorite sister today?”

Percy looked up from his work, surprised and a little confused. Ginny never visited him at work. “That would depend. What does she want?”

Ginny playfully stuck her tongue out at him and pouted. “I would be offended that you suspected me of ulterior motives if I didn’t have one.”

He laughed. “At least you’re honest.” He finished writing something down, gathered all the papers on his desk into a neat pile, then sat up straighter in his chair, his hands resting on his desk in a business-like manner. “So, what can I do for you, Ginevra?”

She rolled her eyes at his use of her given name and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Well, Percival, I happened upon a brilliant idea last night and wanted the Ministry’s help in implementing it.”

He frowned at her. “This isn’t a joke, is it? Time is a rather valuable commodity that we don’t have much. If you’re just here for a laugh…”

“No, Perce, I’m serious.”

He sighed. “Well, what is it?”

She paused a moment to gather her thoughts. It was important she do this properly. “So, the Ministry has done a lot of talking about fostering unity among the community since the end of the war, but they haven’t really done anything to accomplish it. I don’t think words are enough. You need to do something.”

“And I’m sure your brilliant idea is just the thing we need to do?” Sarcasm dripped from his every dry word.

She smiled widely. “I always knew you were the smart one. Of course it is.”

He rolled his eyes and gestured impatiently at her to get on with the point.

“Right. So. The Ministry should sponsor a series of masquerade balls.”

He blanched. “Balls? Ginny, do you know how expensive that would be? Where would we hold them? And how would that even work to foster unity?”

She waved his concerns off nonchalantly. “Ohh, the Ministry wouldn’t be paying for any of it, don’t you worry about that. Space isn’t an issue, either. We just need the Ministry’s support so that people will attend.”

He stared at her blankly. “And why would the Ministry do that? Wait—who’s we?”

She smiled innocently at him. “Why, me and the Malfoys, of course. They will foot all the bills pertaining to the balls and host them at their manor.”

He squinted at her suspiciously. “What do they get out of it?”

“An opportunity to prove themselves to the community. Previously, they helped to divide us. Now, they want to help unite us.”

“These balls do that how, again?”

“It’s simple. Because they’re masquerade balls, no one will know who they’re socializing with. You see, there would be six balls spaced two weeks apart. Narcissa has a way of ensuring complete anonymity at the balls. People aren’t going to be able to snub and insult the disgraced among us, because they won’t know who the disgraced are. This is a chance for those who made questionable choices during the war to prove that they have changed, that they want to make better choices now. Without society’s prejudices getting in the way, these people can get a fair chance to show if and how they’ve changed.” She paused to draw in a deep breath. “That’s why the Ministry’s been going on about unity these past two years, isn’t it? Because you all know that anyone with even a vague Death Eater connection has been shunned, privately and publicly. But society’ll never know that they’ve changed because it’s not like they can show us while we sneer and insult them on the street.”

She sat back as Percy considered her words. She had presented the idea as best she could; now, all she could do was hope that she had done it well enough.

After a few moments, he asked, “How do we find out their identities? Didn’t you say there would be total anonymity?”

“Well, to be honest, I don’t know the specifics of how all of that works. Narcissa only mentioned that she thought there was an old heirloom that would do the trick. But, there would be an unmasking at the final ball. That’s the key to the whole thing. I’m hoping that friendships, hell even relationships, are going to develop over the three months of socializing people will be doing. When the masks come off and people realize who they’ve befriended… They’ll have no choice but to realize that it’s time to move forward, together.”

Percy laughed at her naivete. “While I don’t know if that will be the outcome, I think the idea is, well, brilliant. You’re right; it’s not enough to simply talk about unity. We must encourage it. The problem has always been that we couldn’t figure out to get people together, to get them past the prejudice and hard feelings. These balls take care of that. If the Malfoys truly are willing to foot the bill and host them, then I see no reason why the Ministry couldn’t throw them our support. I’ll pitch the idea to Mr. Shacklebolt when I see him later.”

Ginny jumped out of her chair and rushed around the desk to give Percy a hug. “Ohh, thank you, Percy! I really appreciate it. Without Ministry support, this never would have worked.”

Percy was startled at Ginny’s uncharacteristic display of affection for him, but pleased, as well. He hugged her back and replied, “Of course. Anything for my favorite sister.”

She grinned as she stepped away and walked to the door. “Well, remember that your favorite sister’s got a match to win next week and she expects all of her family to be there.”

He smirked. “Ohh, are Bill and Charlie coming? I’m surprised Mother hasn’t arranged for a family dinner.” He gasped in mock horror. “Unless I didn’t receive an invitation.”

She huffed. “Prat. You know what I meant. All my family still in the country.”

“Ahhh, well then, of course I’ll be there. I’ve penciled you in and everything,” He said as he gestured at his desk calendar.

She shook her head, exasperated. “That would be funny if I didn’t know it were true.”

“What can I say? I’m a busy man.” He grinned.

“Right. Well, I’ll leave you to it, then. Thanks again.” She waved and walked out the door, pleased with the day’s work.

Chapter Text

“And Grinderford catches the snitch! The Arrows win the match!”

Ginny punched the air and shouted, “Yes!”

She and her teammates flew to their Seeker, Taryn Grinderford, and mobbed her in midair. After all their hard work this season, it felt great to win their final match. The Appleby Arrows flew down to the floor of the pitch, where they were bombarded by fans and press alike.

“Sloan, how does it feel to—”

“Hooper, that stray quaffle in—”

“Derleth, how’s your bat after—”

There were so many reporters, asking so many questions, it was hard to keep up, let alone try to give an answer.

“Weasley, what are your plans now?”

Well, she heard that one loud and clear. She supposed that now was as good a time as any to make her announcement.

“Actually, I have an announcement to make.”

Everyone paused and looked at her with interest, while the reporters all jostled with each other to get in the best position to hear her announcement.

She smiled. “I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Magic will be sponsoring a series of masquerade balls this summer at Malfoy Manor in an effort to foster unity and connection within the community. Costumes will be provided to ensure complete anonymity. The first ball is in two weeks and you’re all invited. I hope to see you there!”

Stunned silence met her statements. The Ministry? Partnering with the Malfoys? Masquerade balls? What in Merlin’s pants was going on? It seemed to occur to the reporters, at least, that one of the people who could answer those questions was standing right there. They descended on her en masse.

“Ms. Weasley, do you mean to say—”

“Weasley, what can you tell me—”

“Ginny, how did this—”

Her captain and fellow Chaser, Merwyn Sloan, quickly stepped in. “We will be taking no more questions at this time. Now, our stench may not bother you overly much, but we’d still like a shower.”

That was the cue for the Beaters, Garrick Monteith and Finbar Derleth, to start using their bats to gently push people to the side and clear a path to the locker room. After protectively circling Ginny, the others followed gratefully, all the while ignoring the press, who were getting quite desperate for answers.

There was a moment of silence after the team entered the changing rooms. But only a moment.

“What the hell, Weasley?” Sloan was not amused. “That couldn’t wait? Do you realize that the fact that we won is now going to be buried under news of these—these balls?” He seemed personally offended by the notion.

She winced. “That had not occurred to me. Sorry, Sloan. The moment just seemed right.”

Their third Chaser, Evanthe Kettletoft, looked at her quizzically from her place on one of the benches, Finbar perched next to her. “Why were you the one to make the announcement, anyway? Doesn’t your brother, the one who works for the Minister, usually do this sort of thing?”

“Well, it was my idea, you see. The balls, that is. And this is really more a social thing than a strictly political one, so with my status as a beloved Quidditch star, well…” She trailed off and shrugged. “It just made sense.”

Eva rolled her eyes. “It just made sense, she says. Like any of this makes sense.”

Monteith, meanwhile, glared at her in suspicion across the room. “Why would you suggest such a thing, anyway? I still don’t know why the Malfoys aren’t rotting in Azkaban with the rest and now they want to throw balls? As if that will make up for what they did?”

Ginny forgot that Monteith had personal reason to dislike the Malfoys. Multiple family members died at Death Eater hands, and Lucius almost certainly was involved. Perhaps making the announcement here hadn’t been the best idea after all.

She stepped toward him and shook her head. “Of course it won’t make up for what they did. They realize that and they want the rest of us to know it, too. They regret most of the choices they made during the War and they want to make amends, as well as assist in the Ministry’s efforts to help everyone come together.”

He snorted in disgust and turned to his locker to get his shower stuff. “You mean they want to sweep their role in everything under the rug and pretend it never happened. Well, they can’t. Some of us may have forgotten what the Death Eaters did and forgiven them, but me and what’s left of my family didn’t and we won’t let the rest of society forget, either.”

“Hey, you weren’t the only one who lost family in the war, ok? Maybe some of us just realize that people can and do change. When they do, they deserve a second chance.”

“Yeah? Well, you can take your second chance and shove it. I won’t be attending any balls at the Malfoy’s.” He slammed his locker shut then barged off to the showers.

Ginny tried to calm herself, knowing she still needed to try to convince the rest of the team to try give these balls a chance.

Fin shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “He has a point, Ginny.”

She laughed ruefully. “So do I. Look, I’m not saying they’re angels. Merlin knows they’re not. But they do regret what they did, what they helped Voldemort do. They just want a chance to prove that. I hope the rest of you will at least consider going to the first one. Don’t you think it would be fun to be completely anonymous for a night? Hell, you may not even run in to any of them. Just please give it a chance.” She looked pleadingly at the rest of her team.

Mafalda Hooper, their Keeper, shrugged her shoulders as she pushed off from the wall she had been leaning against. “I haven’t got anything better to do this summer. And you’re right. Escaping this fame for a night seems fun.”

Ginny beamed at her. Taryn cut in with, “You know, I’ve always wondered what those Pureblood balls were like…”

Ginny laughed. “Well, I don’t think these balls will be quite like those. Less bigotry and—” she stuck her nose up in the air before grinning again “—and more fun.”

Taryn giggled. “I’ll be there, too, then.” She and Mafalda grabbed their shower stuff and wandered off to the showers together, whispering about costumes and wondering who else would go.

Ginny smiled after them and then looked back at Fin, Eva, and Sloan, her question on her face.

Eva shrugged and followed the others. Fin looked uncomfortable. “Look, I don’t know. I’ll think about it, ok?” And then he left, too.

Sloan watched her thoughtfully. “What does the team get out of this? You can’t deny that the Malfoys will benefit from these balls. I’ll go, and I’ll even come out publicly in support of them, but I want something in exchange.”

Ginny shook her head ruefully. “You can take the man out of Slytherin…”

His smile was predatory. “As fellow Slytherins, they’ll understand.”

She chuckled. “I’m sure. What do you want?”

“As you know, the Arrows are looking for a private backer. We’ve not had much luck. Most of you are new talent and it makes investing in us a risky venture. If the Malfoys could be persuaded to sponsor us, get us new equipment, help us make connections in advertisement, that kind of thing… Well, it would help us out a lot.”

She nodded in agreement. “I’ll see what I can do. Should be able to get back to you in a couple of days.”

He inclined his head in assent. “I look forward to it. Now, if you’re quite done stirring the pot, I’m going to get a shower and get home. You should do the same.” He followed the rest of his team to the showers.

Ginny sighed and sank onto a bench in relief. She hoped the rest of society followed her team’s lead. It was almost a half and half split between people who were going to attend the balls and those only considering it or adamantly not going. Considering the Malfoy’s previous affiliations, she figured it could be worse. She looked up at her locker and debated whether she wanted to shower here or at home. She remembered that none of her family, except Percy, knew about the balls prior to the announcement and winced. That decided the shower issue.

Chapter Text

Ginny, freshly showered, apparated just outside the garden wall. Sometimes, the Anti-Apparation Wards on the house were inconvenient. This was not one of those times. She quite dreaded stepping into that house, though it didn’t stop her from trudging through the garden to the kitchen door. Some things were just unavoidable.

She strode through the door, effectively stopping the heated conversation taking place inside. She was unsurprised to see that an impromptu Weasley Family Meeting had been called. Everyone who still lived in the country was there, plus Harry and Hermione. All who could were sitting at the table, the rest leaned against the walls or counter tops.

Molly turned to glare at Ginny, hands on her hips. “Young lady, I want an explanation. What do you think you’re doing?”

Ginny grinned and conjured a chair. She knew this was going to take a while and rather thought she could at least be comfortable for the ordeal. “Really, Mum, I thought it was obvious. I was making an announcement for the Ministry.”

Molly pointed her finger sternly at her. “Don’t get cheeky with me, Ginevra, this is serious. I knew that allowing you to be friends with that Malfoy boy was a mistake. Of course, I thought it was just a phase, that you would grow out of it, but enough is enough. All of this nonsense about “regretting their decisions” and “wanting to make amends” is just that—nonsense.”

She paused in her ranting to stir the pot on the stove-top. It smelled delicious, whatever it was. “I can’t believe you’ve fallen for it. Balls! What a ridiculous notion. They’re just trying to wave their money around, again, and buy their way back into society’s good graces. And you!” She jabbed her wooden spoon in Ginny’s direction. Ginny’s eyes followed as a large drop of sauce fell from the spoon and plopped! on the floor. “Helping them! In all my years—”

Arthur interrupted Molly’s tirade to add his own two knuts. “I can’t believe that the Ministry is not only allowing it, but condoning it! Sponsoring these balls, whose idea was that?! They’ve thrown their support behind the Malfoys!”

Percy, affronted, interjected. “Now, Father, I thought it was a rather brilliant idea myself and when I approached Minister Shacklebolt about it, he agreed. You know that we’ve been trying to uni—”

Arthur’s face started to develop red splotches. “Brilliant idea—Kingsley agreed—Kingsley agreed? What in blazes is going on over there? Have you all gone mad?! These are the Malfoys, have you forgotten -”

At that moment, Ron decided to enter the fray. “What upsets me most,” He stated loudly, “is that, of all the people who could have, Ginny was the one to announce it. Why is that?” He looked pointedly at her.

Until that point, Ginny had been sitting calmly in her chair, letting her family’s ranting, raving, and general chaos swirl about her as if she were in the eye of a raging storm. At Ron’s question, everyone shut up again and stared at her expectantly, evidently wanting an answer.

“I was doing my friend a favor. I also happen to agree with the Ministry. It’s time for society to try to start moving on. Of course, we can never forget what happened and who was lost, but it will only cause more problems down the road if we can’t find a way to come together and heal. I’ve learned that there’s more to Draco, and even his parents, than I first thought. Maybe the others who weren’t sent to Azkaban just need to be given a chance, too. After all, it’s difficult to get past your prejudices if you don’t learn there’s a better way, in a supportive environment. It’s not enough for people to preach at you. That doesn’t change anything!”

She took a breath, and continued more calmly. “Many of them have a lifetime of prejudice to overcome. They’re not going to be able to do that without help. Ostracizing them, making them social pariahs, isn’t helping. We’re only going to foster resentment and hatred. If we don’t want to pave the road for another Grindelwald, another Voldemort, then we need to try another way. After Grindelwald, we ignored the problem of blood purity prejudice. After the First War, we denounced it, pushing it underground, where it festered and, much like Voldemort himself, rose again, more powerful than ever. This time, we need to try something new.”

She paused and looked around at her family. “Forgiveness and acceptance. The only way to be rid of darkness, is to shine a light on it. We need to be that light.”

Silence met her speech. Some of her family (Percy, Harry, and Hermione) appeared to agree with her reasoning. George was considering her words, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Ron and her parents clearly disagreed, but couldn’t find a way to say so without sounding like giant prats.

George stepped away from the wall and clapped his hands, startling everyone but breaking the tension. “Well, Ginny’s had a big day and most of the family’s here. Why aren’t we celebrating?”

Ginny smiled gratefully at him while the group splintered and dispersed throughout the house, taking butterbeers with them and talking about other things. She grabbed a butterbeer herself and slipped out to the garden for a moment of peace. Being the focus of a Weasley Family Meeting was, if nothing else, emotionally draining.

She hadn’t been outside even five minutes before she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“You should be careful,” Harry warned as he sat next to her on the garden bench. “It’s one thing to be Malfoy’s friend, but tying yourself to him in the public eye could work out poorly for you. Remember how nasty the coverage of me was during the War?”

Ginny huffed and rolled her eyes. Trust Harry not to know when to leave things alone. “Thanks for the concern, Harry, but it’s really none of your business. I’m a woman grown and I know what I’m doing. As I’m sure you’ll recall, I don’t need another older brother trying to protect me.” She stated that last with deceptive sweetness, a clear reference to their breakup and what she had told him then.

He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “Ginny, I’m just trying to help. I still care about you, you know, even though we didn’t work out.”

“Yes, Harry, and I still care about you. But you don’t see me worrying and fretting over you about every little thing. Perhaps we would have ended differently if you could have done the same.”

He sighed in defeat. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ll just go back inside now.”

He turned and walked back to the house, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Ginny almost felt bad. But not quite. Like most of her family, Harry was under the impression that she needed protecting. She flopped onto her back on the bench. She didn’t and she refused to feel badly for trying to make that clear to them.

A little while later, she heard George calling for her. “Oy, Gin! How can we celebrate your victory without you?”

She grinned and made her way back inside.

Chapter Text

The following morning, Ginny flooed to Malfoy Manor with no small amount of trepidation. She wasn’t at all sure that Lucius and Narcissa were going to take her announcement well. To her surprise, she fell out of the fireplace this time without an audience. After getting up and dusting herself off, she frowned and furrowed her brow in confusion. She wondered out into the hall and shrieked when a house elf appeared with a crack! in front of her.

“I is sorry to be startling you, Miss.” The house elf bowed. “The Masters and Mistress are in the ballroom. Would Miss like Bitsy to show the way?”

Ginny placed her hand to her chest in a steadying motion and tried to catch her breath. “Yes, please, that would be lovely.”

Bitsy whipped around and scurried down the hall. Ginny hurried to keep up. The Manor was large, and she was still not what one could call familiar with it; the possibility of getting lost without a guide was very real.

After a few minutes, and more than a few turns, Bitsy stopped in front of a set of double doors. She waved her hand to open them and walked through. Ginny peered around at what appeared to be an antechamber as the elf walked over to another set of double doors. Another wave of her hand, and these, too, opened. Now Ginny could hear the murmur of voices.

"The ballroom, Miss.” Bitsy bowed, motioned with her hand, and with another abrupt crack! disappeared.

Ginny took a deep breath, then straightened her back and threw back her shoulders before marching into the ballroom.

The Malfoys stood in a group in the middle of the room. Lucius and Draco were listening as Narcissa gestured. Draco smiled a bit as Ginny walked up, a fact which Narcissa noticed, thus drawing her attention to Ginny.

“Ahh, Miss Weasley. Have you made any more interesting announcements that I should know about today?”

Normally, Ginny would be inclined to throw back a sarcastic retort, but as she felt slightly guilty about making the announcement without talking to any of the Malfoys, she looked sheepishly at the ground and murmured, “No, ma’am.”

Draco smirked. It was amusing to know that his mother could have that effect on Ginny, even if it was temporary. She wouldn’t be cowed for long.

His mother’s lip curled slightly. “Good. See that you speak to me before making any more.” She turned back to survey another side of the ballroom.

The clear dismissal rankled, but Ginny replied, “Yes, Mrs. Malfoy. I’m sorry for yesterday.” She glanced at Lucius as she said her apology, including him in it.

He quirked his eyebrow, somewhat surprised that a Weasley was capable of apology. “No use crying over spilled potion, I suppose. We have much work to do because of your impulsive behavior. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Miss Weasley?”

She frowned. “It wasn’t impulsive. I spoke to my brother about it last week. Ministry sponsorship doesn’t happen overnight, you know.”

Lucius tilted his head, considering her. In all of the activity, he had almost forgotten that the chit had somehow managed to get the Ministry to sponsor these balls. While the Weasleys were well-connected in the new world order, he hadn’t realized she had so much influence. Perhaps, he had underestimated her. “Yes, how did you manage that?” He neglected to mention that he had attempted to see the Minister about the matter and been told Shacklebolt was unavailable for the next three months.

“Well, my brother is Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Once I convinced him that these balls would accomplish the Ministry’s aim of unity and—” She made a talking motion with her hand, “Bla bla bla, he was happy to talk to Kingsley about it himself. He told me that Kingsley approved it when he saw me at the match.”

Draco chuckled. “Just couldn’t keep it to yourself? Got carried away in the wake of victory?”

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. “Well, I thought it was fantastic news and the perfect way to celebrate our win.”

Narcissa huffed as she turned back to them. “Children, we have bigger things to worry about.” She looked at Lucius in despair. “Do you know how difficult it will be to acquire everything I will need for this ball? And possibly the two after that? Pierre needs at least a month of advance notice for his hand-spun and -embroidered silk, Annette prefers six weeks for her orchids, and Jean-Claude…”

Ginny grimaced at the ridiculous “grocery” list of no doubt horrendously expensive things Narcissa “needed” for the ball. She looked to Draco for his reaction and was unsurprised to find that he appeared unfazed. She needed to stop this foolishness, quickly.

“Mrs. Malfoy,” she interrupted, “I hate to be rude, but you can’t possibly get all those things for these balls.”

Narcissa flickered from annoyance at being interrupted to confusion. “Well, it will certainly be difficult, but—”

Ginny shook her head. “No, I mean, it’s too—” She paused, searching for the right word. “Extravagant. Some people already think you’re just trying to throw your money around to buy yourself back into their good graces. You’re never going to convince them that you regret the choices you made during the War or that you’ve changed if you continue to act as if it never happened.”

Narcissa seemed affronted. Ginny hastened to reassure her. “They’re balls, so of course, they should be lovely. But—but for most of the people who are attending, the nicest events they’ve ever been to are Ministry occasions held at the Ministry.” Ginny thought of how her mother would react to seeing hand-spun and -embroidered silk and diamond chandeliers and any of the other trappings Narcissa felt were necessary at her balls and winced. “If these balls are too much nicer than those events, they’re going to be uncomfortable being there. And they won’t come back after the first one.”

Narcissa still appeared offended, while Lucius was considering Ginny again. Draco nodded at her and turned to his mother.

“She’s right, Mother. Most of these people aren’t—” He glanced cautiously at Ginny, “in our same financial standing. They’re not used to the things we are. Just as you’re uncomfortable going to the Ministry events, they would be here.”

She sniffed. “What, pray tell, am I supposed to do? Throw the balls in a barn?”

Draco rolled his eyes at her dramatics. “Of course not, Mother. Don’t be ridiculous.” He looked at Ginny speculatively. “Ginny could help you.”

Ginny, who had been surveying the ballroom, trying to imagine less opulent decorations, whipped around to stare at him in alarm. Narcissa appeared befuddled, like he had suggested she teach a hippogriff to waltz.

“What?” “What?”

He chuckled at their reactions. “It’s not such a shocking notion. Ginny, I don’t know how your ball organizing skills are, but my mother is a professional at this. She’s been doing it awhile, you might say. But, as you said, she’s not used to catering to this crowd. You could be a moderating influence on her plans, ease her down a bit, so that people aren’t uncomfortable.”

Narcissa’s lip curled in distaste, and Ginny grimaced. They both knew he had a point. If they wanted the ball to be successful…

“Very well,” Narcissa conceded, at the same time that Ginny said, “Fine.”

They side-eyed each other. Neither were particularly thrilled at the idea of how much time they were about to be spending together.

Draco nodded in satisfaction and turned to Lucius. “Didn’t you say there was a business matter you wanted to address with me, Father?”

Lucius turned to his son. “Yes. I’ve heard a schoolmate of yours has expressed interest in buying the Leaky Cauldron…” They walked out of the ballroom to have their discussion in Lucius’s study.

After they left, Narcissa glanced at Ginny with faint distaste. “I will need time to reconsider my plans. I expect you to be here by nine tomorrow morning.” Before Ginny could say anything in reply, she turned on her heel and swept regally out of the room.

Ginny humphed. “Well, I’ll just show myself out then, won’t I?”

To her relief, Bitsy was waiting in the antechamber to show her the way back to the drawing room and its floo.

Chapter Text

By ten o’clock the next morning, Ginny was reconsidering the merits of these balls. She had argued with Narcissa over this decoration or that food choice no less than ten times and she had only been there an hour. Surely this would get easier the longer they worked on this.

It did not get easier.

After a week of working with Narcissa, Ginny had learned that she needed to be at the house early, coordinate a plan of action with Narcissa, and visit again every few hours to make sure that Narcissa hadn’t decided to “spruce things up a bit.” It almost seemed to be a compulsion with that woman to add another hundred galleons or so worth of material to whatever they happened to be working on. She appeared to be quite appalled to find that Ginny didn’t know the many and varied differences between tulle and chiffon and why you would want to use one over the other. Ginny was appalled at the amount of money being spent and knowing that it was quite conservative compared to what the Malfoys usually spent on their balls.

It was no wonder Draco had no concept of restraint. When you had that much money, why would you need to? And speak of the devil…

“Hello, Mother. Ginny. How go the preparations?”

Narcissa glanced at him then returned to the chandelier she was draping in silk and crystals with her wand. She sniffed. “They will do, I suppose.”

He looked at Ginny in question and she rolled her eyes. “She’s still sore that I won’t let her bring in fairies to light the place up.”

“Ahh. I see.” He replied in a tone that clearly conveyed he did not. Apparently, using fairies as decoration was completely commonplace to him.

She sighed. “Most people have only ever seen fairies used as decorations during Christmas at Hogwarts, and even then it didn’t happen every year. Using them would set you apart, which is what we don’t want.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. They have a way of lending a certain atmosphere…” He trailed off as she glared at him. He quickly changed the subject. “What about music, Mother?”

Narcissa settled the drapery, slid her wand into its holster, and glared at Ginny. “Ginevra tells me that our standard twenty musicians is far too many. I had to inform them we would only need ten.”

Ginny muttered, “Only because she threw a raging fit at the suggestion of five.”

Draco looked from one woman to the other and briefly wondered how they had managed to avoid drawing wands on one another up to this point. And also whether they would make it through the whole summer without that happening. “I’m sure ten will be fine, Mother. We probably won’t even notice the difference.”

Narcissa was scandalized. “Of course we will notice! Whoever heard of a waltz performed with only ten instruments? Ohh, Cecile Parkinson will never let me forget it.”

Draco looked up at the ceiling, appealing to some higher power for patience. “Perhaps you will need to remind Cecile that a waltz performed by ten instruments is preferable to none, which is the number performed in her ballroom since the end of the war.”

“Yes, well…” Narcissa’s eyes fell on Ginny and her eyes widened in horror at her sudden realization. “Ohh, no! Ginevra, dear, you don’t know how to waltz, do you?” She pulled her wand out again and gestured for Draco to take Ginny out into the middle of the ballroom. “Come, Draco, we must get her up to speed. Perhaps she will prove as graceful on the ground as she is in the air.”

Draco held his hand out to Ginny to lead her away from the piles of supplies, a pained expression on his face. Ginny wasn’t sure if that was due to his mother’s frenzied concern about her dance skills, or the thought of having to teach her how to dance. Well, she thought as she followed, she would show them.

They stopped under the newly decorated chandelier, a respectable distance between them. He raised his brow in question as music floated around them, called into being by Narcissa’s wand. It was unlike Ginny to comply with this so meekly.

“First, he will bow to you and you will curtsy in return, like this,” Narcissa instructed, while Ginny turned to her to watch as she demonstrated. “He will then place his right hand at your waist and take your right hand in his left. You should rest your left hand on his shoulder, lightly. He will guide you through the dance. Just try not to trip or step on his feet. A gentleman will, of course, have the good grace not to say anything if you do, but it reflects poorly on you.”

Ginny nodded her head earnestly and smiled innocently, turning to Draco with mischief shining in her eyes. He sighed. She was clearly up to something. He only hoped it wouldn’t upset his mother too much.

Draco bowed to her and Ginny curtsied prettily. Draco tilted his head and searched her face, where her innocent smile got a little bit wider and less innocent. As he stepped up to her and they placed their hands appropriately, her soft perfume enveloped him. She smelled of woods, and flowers, and sunshine, like a wood nymph barely tamed. Dazed, he moved through the steps slowly, ostensibly to give her time to get used to being guided through the dance.

She didn’t seem to need it. As he brought them up to the correct speed for the waltz, he noticed that she, in fact, danced quite well. She didn’t need to be pulled to and fro, as girls who weren’t confident in their skills did, but she also didn’t try to take over leading the dance, as Pansy was prone to. She was pliable and followed where he led, her grip light and sure the whole while.

As the music died down, he was surprised to find himself almost… disappointed. His grip tightened briefly, just for a moment, reluctant to let her go.

There was a moment of silence after they broke apart, during which Ginny grinned smugly at him.

“I say, dear, wherever did you learn to waltz?” Narcissa asked, astonishment still faint in her voice.

Ginny turned to her. “We may not live in high society now, but my mother grew up a Prewett. She taught all of us the waltz, as well as a few other high society skills we don’t have much use for in our daily lives. She didn’t want anyone to be able to look down on us if we should find ourselves in a situation that called for those skills.” She tried to be matter of fact while she spoke, but there must have been a bit of accusation in her voice because Narcissa’s brow raised.

She looked at Ginny calculatedly. “It seems I may have underestimated you. And your mother. At least we do not have to teach you to dance. One less thing to worry about.” She turned back to the supplies and returned to work.

Ginny blinked and turned to Draco, who was watching his mother in faint surprise. He turned to look at her, as well.

“That was almost an apology. My mother doesn’t apologize unless society’s rules dictate that she should. Even then, as a Malfoy, she disregarded those rules a lot of the time. You are full of surprises.”

With only one day left until the ball, Ginny was in a near frenzy. If Narcissa tried to make one more change, she was going to throw caution to the wind, draw her wand and put an end to her misery, one way or another. Molly noticed that Ginny seemed on edge and caught her as she walked into the kitchen on the way to the Manor.

“Ginny, dear, are you ok? You seem… well, I don’t mean to pry, of course, but are things ok with your new beaux?” She asked while doing the dishes. She had realized over the years that appearing busy while trying to get information she wanted out of her children tended to give them the courage to open up.

Ginny frowned deeply. “New beaux—what are you talking about?”

Now it was Molly’s turn to frown. “Well, you’ve been gone an awful lot lately and I just assumed…”

And finally Molly’s probing questions over the past two weeks made sense to Ginny. She had thought her mother was suspicious that she was involved with the Malfoy’s balls. But of course not. It had to be a new man. Ginny rolled her eyes. “No, Mum. There is no "new beaux". I’m just helping a friend with a project.”

Molly wiped her hands off with a towel and set the dishes to wash themselves, still frowning. “It must be a large project. You’ve hardly been home since your last game.”

Ginny shrugged and waved her hand. “It is. Going to take most of the summer to finish actually.” She desperately hoped that the casual front would put Molly off the subject.

No such luck. “The whole summer? What kind of project would take so long? And whose project is it, anyway? I know it’s not Hermione’s, she would have told me about it.”

Ginny huffed. There really was no other way around it. Her mother was like a jarvey with a garden gnome when she wanted information, and she could smell a lie a mile away. “If you must know, I’m helping Draco and his family with their balls.”

Molly laughed while taking the teapot out of a cabinet. “Don’t be ridiculous, Ginny. You know how your father and I feel about those people and their ridiculous grab for power. What are you really up to?” She asked as she filled the pot with water.

Ginny sighed and crossed her arms over her stomach. “That is what I’m really up to. In fact, I’m the one who came up with the idea to begin with.” Might as well get everything out there. She knew there was about to be a fight of epic proportions, anyway.

“You what?” Molly barked sharply, the teapot clattering as she slammed it onto the counter and turned to face Ginny sharply, her face beginning to match her hair.

“Ohh, come off it, Mum. You know I’m friends with Draco. I’ve seen what he has to put up with and it’s not fair. He made a mistake!" She flung her right arm out wildly to emphasize her point. "He knows that and he’s trying to make up for it, has been since the War ended. It’s not fair that people still treat him the way they do when he was just a boy, trying to survive the best way he knew how." Ginny's face and voice softened. "If they knew the man he is now, the way I do—”

But Molly would have none of it.. “And his father, what of him? What of the crimes he committed, the people he killed? He should be in Azkaban, atoning for his crimes like the rest of the filth he used to associate with.”

“I’m not excusing Lucius. He did terrible things. But the Ministry decided they weren’t going to lock him up. In the eyes of the law, at least, justice was served and there’s nothing we can do about that." Ginny leaned over and laid her hand on her mother's arm, trying to reach her. "I don’t feel it’s right to keep punishing his family for his crimes, though. Or any of the Death Eater’s families. They’ve all been shunned since the war, even if they didn’t do anything wrong. That’s not right!”

Molly patted her hand kindly. “As unfortunate as that is, if they had made more of an effort to distance themselves from the Death Eaters when it mattered, during the war, they wouldn’t be in that position now.”

Ginny took a step back and stared incredulously. “And risked death for it? They would have been in more danger than the rest of us because Voldemort would have made sure to make an example of them. And they couldn’t very well have come to our side for safety, either. We wouldn’t have taken them in for fear that they were just trying to double cross us.”

“We risked our lives every day! And some of us…” She looked up at the ceiling, toward Fred and George’s old room and swallowed. “Some of us died doing the right thing. I can’t believe you would befriend the people who killed Fred.”

Ginny jerked away as if she had been slapped. “How dare you! Of course I didn’t befriend the people who killed my brother!”

Molly huffed. “Fine, then people who would have if they had had the chance. They’re Malfoys, Ginny, we’ve been feuding with them for centuries. I’m sure they were thrilled by what happened to Bill and Fred!” She took a deep breath and straightened her apron as she looked at Ginny sternly. “And this has gone on long enough. I thought that if I let nature take its course, you would see what horrible people they are for yourself and stop this foolishness. Clearly, I was wrong. They’ve taken you in somehow. I’ve no choice. While you live under my roof, you will not see those people any longer.” She turned away, finally putting the teapot on the stove to boil in an apparent end to the conversation.

Ginny inhaled sharply, her fists clenching at her sides. “Fine! That’s just—fine.” She stomped over to the floo and grabbed powder out of the pot. She glared at her mother as she stepped into the flames and shouted, “Malfoy Manor, Entrance Hall!”

Molly stared in shock as the green flames whisked her daughter away to a place she refused to follow.

Chapter Text

Draco was coming down the stairs in the entrance hall when Ginny appeared in the floo. He noted that she managed not to fall out this time and was about to comment on it when she stomped out the front door, stopping in front of the ornate fountain in the drive before screaming in anger and frustration. He lifted an eyebrow at her behavior and followed her out.

“Problem, Weasley?”

Ginny whirled around, her cheeks coloring in embarrassment. She hadn’t expected anyone to actually see her explosion. She was just so angry! Her eyes flashed as she remembered the argument with her mother. “Yes, actually. My mother appears to be incapable of realizing that I am a grown woman, able to make my own choices. She doesn’t try to control Ron or George or any of them like this, telling them who they can or can’t be friends with.”

A twinge of unease ran through Draco’s body. “What do you mean?”

Ginny threw her hands up and started pacing. “That—that woman told me that while I live under her roof, I am not to socialize with you people, like she has a right to say that to me! The nerve.”

Draco shuddered, like a bucket of ice had been dumped over his head. He knew how important Ginny’s family was to her. Any minute now, she would be explaining why it was that she wouldn’t be helping with the balls anymore, as well as why she couldn’t be his friend. She was angry, yes, but it would pass. Then she would go back home. Better to get this over with, then.

He interrupted her continued muttering and ranting. “You should be getting back then, before what few possessions you have end up in the trash heap. The one outside, that is, since that place you call a home is a trash pile itself.”

Ginny stopped in her tracks, stunned, before her expression hardened and she glared at him. “Well, if I’m such trash, I’ll just be leaving. You can do the balls without me. Good luck with that. When you’ve decided that you’re done being a prat, you can find me at Luna’s or the Leaky Cauldron to apologize.”

She turned and stalked back to the house. She didn’t know what was wrong with people today, but she was done. She knew that Draco only ever got cold like that with her when he was trying to protect himself; Merlin only knew what had set him off now, but she would not stand for being treated this way.

Draco watched her progress back to the house in confusion. He wasn’t sure why she was so angry if she didn’t want to be friends anymore.

And then it hit him.

He was a raging idiot. If she wanted his apology, she must still want to be friends. He hurried after her and grabbed her wrist in the entrance hall.

“Are you saying you were going to keep helping us?” You’re still going to be my friend? was the question he desperately wanted to ask instead.

She huffed. “Of course I was. Why wouldn’t I?”

He let go of her wrist and ran his fingers through his hair, agitated. “But… your mother…”

Ginny rolled her eyes. “As I was saying, my mother does not get to decide what I do and don’t do. Or who I am friends with.” She saw the tension leave him and narrowed her eyes. “That’s what you were worried about? Seriously? I’m afraid I won’t be that easy to get rid of. You’re stuck with me and have been since I found you at Fred’s grave five years ago.”

He smiled slightly. “Good. I’m not sure that we would be able to throw a plebeian ball without you.”

She frowned and poked his side. “I still expect an apology, git.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. Malfoys did not apologize for their behavior. Not that anyone ever called them on it to begin with. Except Ginny. This wasn’t the first time she had forced an apology out of him, and he doubted it would be the last. It still wasn’t a comfortable thing for him to do.

“Look, I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

She blinked at him with her eyebrows raised, unimpressed.

He exhaled and murmured gruffly, “I’m sorry for what I said about your house.”

Ginny nodded her head, pleased. “Thank you.” She paused. “Well, I better be going. I need to see if Luna would mind a couch-crasher.” She winced at the notion and turned toward the fireplace.

He frowned. “Why don’t you stay in one of our guest suites? It wouldn’t be any trouble; we have an obscene amount of them.”

Ginny bit her lip in trepidation. She wasn’t sure that was a great idea. Being around him all the time might bring long-buried feelings back to the surface and she was happy with the way things were between them.

He noticed her hesitation. “Look, if pissing off your mother isn’t enough of a benefit, it would be much more convenient to stay here with us than to keep flooing over all the time to help with the rest of the balls. Although, the practice has done you some good. You managed not to fall out of the floo today. We’ll make a real witch of you yet.”

She turned back around and stuck her tongue out at him. “You bring up a good point, but on the other hand, it is staying with you. I’m not sure my delicate nerves can handle it.” She threw her hand dramatically up to her forehead, as if she were about to faint.

He scoffed. “If you want to convince someone you have delicate nerves, you should probably drop the professional Quidditch career.”

She grinned. “Alright, you got me. Let me go back and get my stuff.”

He nodded. “Bitsy will show you to your room when you get back. I was actually on my way back to the office when you arrived.”

“I’m sorry for holding you up, then.” She walked to the fireplace and scooped some floo powder out of the ornate golden urn on top of the mantel. He started to head deeper into the house, to floo to the office from his father’s study.

“Draco?” Ginny waited until he had turned around and smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

He nodded uncomfortably. “Of course,” he replied and continued his trek to the study, discomfited by her smile.

Chapter Text

Ginny awoke the next day feeling nervous. After all of their hard work, if tonight was a disaster… She shook her head and climbed out of the ridiculously soft bed. It didn’t bear thinking on. Bitsy helped her put away her things the day before and had apparently visited again during the night because there was an outfit already laid out for Ginny on the delicate bench at the foot of the bed. She picked up the garment between two fingers, curling her lip as she did so. Whatever the dress was made of, it was light, and a pretty hunter green to match her hair.

Narcissa usually wore dresses like these. She needed to visit St. Mungo’s if she thought Ginny would. There was a lot to do today to make sure they were ready for the ball and Ginny wasn’t going to worry about dress etiquette on top of it all. She hung the dress in the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a tank top. She threw her hair up in a ponytail, slipped her trainers on, and walked out into the hallway. Bitsy was there to show her the way to the dining room. She appeared aghast at Ginny’s appearance.

“Miss is not wearing her dress. Why is Miss not wearing her dress?”

“I don’t usually wear dresses when there is work to do, Bitsy. Perhaps another day.”

“Is something being wrong with it?”

“No, no. It’s very pretty.”

The elf pulled on her ears, obviously distressed. She was clearly having trouble understanding why Ginny wouldn’t want to wear the dress if there was nothing wrong with it and it appealed to her. Ginny had noticed that the elves had opinions almost as strong as Narcissa’s on propriety.

“Bitsy, could you please just show me to the dining room?” Ginny asked in exasperation.

Bitsy stared forlornly at Ginny’s outfit again before scurrying down the hall. Ginny had to jog to keep up.

She was surprised to find the Malfoys already seated when she arrived. She had somehow expected them to sleep in or something. She served herself breakfast from the sideboard and sat next to Draco at the table.

“Good morning. Is the room suitable?” He inquired.

She nodded enthusiastically. “Ohh, yes. The bed is huge and probably the softest thing I’ve ever slept on. And that bath tub! I could fit half the Quidditch team in there. I didn’t get a chance to try it out last night, but maybe if there’s time today…”

Narcissa looked up from her light breakfast, toast and a mango. “Of course there will be time. I need to ensure that everything is as it should be—balls are taxing affairs. I can’t have you exhausted before it begins, so all you need to focus on today is resting.”

Ginny huffed. Rest! As if she were some delicate little miss who couldn’t handle real work before a late night. She studied Narcissa’s face and slumped when she realized that there would be no arguing with her on the issue. She sullenly returned to her food, while Narcissa started discussing ball particulars with Lucius. Ginny could tell by Narcissa’s jerky gesturing that she was nervous. So much was riding on this.

Ginny took a deep breath, trying to find her center. Draco looked over at her with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

She waved her hand carelessly. “Just nerves, I suppose.”

He patted her hand on the table. “I’m sure it will be fine. The two most capable women I know have been working on this. My father has pulled what strings he could to get people to come. I’ve done the same. When a Malfoy truly wants something, we get it. And I’ve heard those Weasleys are pretty stubborn, too. Britain’s not going to know what hit them after tonight.”

She smiled. “Well, with faith like that…”

Even nervous and on edge, Narcissa sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing. She saw the interaction between Draco and Ginny and filed it away for later consideration.

After they all finished eating, Ginny and Narcissa walked to the ballroom. Narcissa had some last minute things she needed to do and Ginny just wanted to see how everything was coming along. She wasn’t allowed to stay long before being ushered up to her room to “rest”.

Ginny was ready to kill someone. She usually wasn’t one to sit around all day doing nothing and the boredom had her contemplating summoning a broom and jumping out her window. She had never been so bored in her life. Well, perhaps during History of Magic, but that didn’t last all day. About an hour before the ball began, she slipped on the green dress and did a simple charm for her hair and makeup. No one but the Malfoys would see it, but wearing her current outfit to a ball didn’t feel right.

Narcissa came to collect her from her room. She surveyed Ginny from head to toe. “That dress is quite becoming on you, Ginevra.”

Ginny blinked in surprise. It was the first compliment Narcissa had ever given her. “Thank you,” She replied uncertainly. “You look very beautiful, as well.”

And it was true. Narcissa’s pale blue dress wasn’t as full as Ginny’s green one, but hung loosely from her hips. The trailing sleeves and wispy material, along with Narcissa’s aristocratic features, gave an altogether fey appearance.

Narcissa nodded her head in acknowledgment, accepting the compliment as her due. “Come, it is almost time. We need to get into costume before the guests begin to arrive. It would not do for anyone to know our true identities.”

They walked in comfortable silence to the ballroom antechamber, where Lucius and Draco were waiting for them. Draco raised an eyebrow at Ginny’s appearance. He hadn’t seen her in a dress since the Yule Ball at Hogwarts. The dark green set off her pale skin and red hair nicely and the Slytherin color amused him. “You clean up well, Weasley.”

She was about to respond in kind when his mother interjected. “Come quickly. The guests will be here any moment.

They walked over to a nondescript, clear orb, cradled atop an ornate golden stand. Narcissa had explained to Ginny that it would change everyone’s appearance and clothing for the duration of the ball, but she hadn’t gone into any kind of detail.

“Masks, first, please.”

They each took a plain black mask out of the basket sitting on the table next to the orb’s stand and tied them on. Narcissa began to speak after the masks were secured. “After the guests have put their masks on, they will come over to the Pila Dolosa, and touch it with their wand hand. Their appearance, as well as their outfit, will be changed. Then Tanby will apparate them somewhere within the ball room before coming back here for another guest. When the guests are ready to leave, they will approach one of the elves, who will apparate them to a fire place or beyond the wards so that they may go home on their own.” She looked at Draco and Ginny. “Make sure to have them apparate you to your rooms. You cannot simply leave the ballroom on your own, or you will risk exposure. Any questions?”

They shook their heads.

“Very good. Darling, if you please.” She gestured Lucius to the orb.

Lucius rested his right hand on the orb. It flashed green and Ginny watched in fascination as his hair shortened and darkened to lush blonde, while his nose rounded out and shrank, his cheekbones became less prominent, and his lips more full. She noticed with surprise that his eyes changed color, from his signature grey to green. His dress robes also transformed, into a bright yellow chiton, shot through with gold. A gold belt appeared at his waist, golden sandals on his feet, and a golden harp in his hand. His simple black mask transformed into a golden half-mask, with sun rays appearing across his forehead and golden laurels laying on his hair. She would never guess that the man before her was Lucius Malfoy if she hadn’t seen his transformation for herself.

Narcissa touched the orb next; it flashed light blue and her hair also grew shorter, turning raven black, while her nose grew a bit larger, her cheekbones sharpened, and her lips became thinner. Her eyes changed, from blue to dark brown, while her skin darkened, as well. Her dress transformed from a light, airy blue that seemed to float about her into a tight, linen sheath dress. The dress itself was the color of parchment, but another dress made of cylinder beads in the colors of the rainbow lay over it. Her mask became black kohl around her eyes and a headdress with two large horns and a disk between them appeared on her head, a simple lotus staff in her hand.

Draco approached the orb as his parents inspected each other. He didn’t seem terribly keen on changing his appearance. He held his right hand out and touched the orb as lightly as he could. There was a golden flash.

Ginny choked and broke into laughter when his transformation finished. His hair had shortened and darkened, sticking up in all different directions and his eyes had become a brilliant green. In short, he looked rather a lot like Harry. And his costume… His black dress robes lightened to the colors of fire. His sleeves elongated down to the floor, giving the appearance of feathers, while his mask changed from black to red and gold, with large plumes arching over the top of his head.

He glared at her, bent over in laughter bordering on hysterics. “What is so funny?”

His upper class accent coming out of almost-Harry’s mouth only had her double over more. He humphed in disgust and turned to his parents. His mother had her hand up to her mouth, while his father’s mouth kept twitching oddly. “You, too? Will someone tell me what the bloody hell is so funny? Sorry, Mother.” He apologized before his mother could correct his language.

Lucius managed to get his expression under control and replied, “I think the irony is what makes your change in appearance so amusing, Son. There is a mirror on that wall,” he gestured across the room, “should you wish to see for yourself.”

Draco threw his hands up in the air and stomped over to the mirror, where he froze in horror, a squawking gasp escaping his mouth. He hastened back to the orb and touched it again, but nothing happened. “Mother! Make it change."

Narcissa dropped her hand, a slight smile still on her face. “I’m afraid that’s not how it works. Once your appearance has been changed, it remains that way until you go to sleep. You’ll be back to normal tomorrow.”

"And the next ball?”

Narcissa’s mouth twitched. “Unfortunately, that is the appearance you will have for the duration of the summer.”

He glowered. “Great. Wonderful. Just what I always wanted: to be mistaken for the Boy Wonder in a phoenix costume. Are you quite done, Ginevra? It’s your turn.”

Ginny straightened and attempted to calm herself. A giggle escaped every time she looked at Draco, so she made an effort to stare intently at the orb instead. She placed her left hand on the orb and jolted in surprise when it felt like a cold egg was cracked over head and flowed down to encase her body, while a dark blue light flashed. She walked over to the mirror to see what the orb had done.

Her hair kept its length, but was now black. Her nose had elongated, taking on a patrician appearance, her freckles disappeared, and her eyes had changed to a bright blue. It was odd, to look in the mirror and see a stranger looking back. The A-line silhouette of her dress emphasized her small waist. Her milky skin fairly glowed next to the midnight blue lace, which only drew that much more attention to the cleavage framed by the halter cut. The outer layer of the tulle skirt matched the lace, while the black underskirt peeked through. Diamonds were sprinkled like stars throughout. Simple diamond teardrops hung from her ears, and her mask had grown larger, stars and the phases of the moon splayed across her forehead against the black background. She was, in a word, stunning.

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one to think so.

While Draco stared in shock, his father walked to her, took her hand, and bowed over it. “Miss Weasley, I daresay, were my Cissy not here, you would be the most beautiful woman in attendance.”

She muttered, “Thank you,” as he walked back to Narcissa and murmured in her ear as they turned toward the ballroom door.

Ginny avoided looking at Draco and started fiddling with her skirt, waiting for him to say something. After a few more seconds, he seemed to snap out of whatever haze he had been in and held his arm out to her.

“You know, my father has always been exceptionally good at flattery. It’s part of the skill set he uses to ingratiate himself to people. Usually, he’s full of it,” He explained as she took his arm and they turned to follow his parents. “Not tonight. Though I have to disagree with his assessment.”

She looked at Draco and silently dared him to say aloud where she thought he was going.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I think you will be the most beautiful woman in attendance.” She jerked around to stare at him in shock and instead knocked her head against his.

“Bugger!” “Shite!”

“Draco, Ginevra, language!” Narcissa scolded them as they rubbed their cheeks. “Into the ballroom now. I think I hear voices.”

So, in they went, resolutely not lingering on the charged moment that had just occurred.

Chapter Text

A few hours later, Ginny was ready to go to bed. She didn’t realize balls could be so exhausting. She had gone home from training sessions less sore. Perhaps Narcissa had a point in making her rest all day. The ball seemed to be going well, though, and for that she was grateful. It had been a bit rough to start with, people milling about and not really talking to anyone else. Then Ginny saw a woman dressed in a purple peplos, with gold scales in one hand and a short sword in the other, march up to a half-naked man with long hair, an ivy wreath atop his head, leopard skin over his shoulder, and a pine cone-tipped staff and start talking. The man seemed startled, at first, but relaxed into the conversation within a few minutes. A couple of others drifted over to join and after that more conversations started springing up throughout the room. Now, almost everyone was talking, laughing, or dancing.

A clock chimed throughout the room, signaling midnight. Ginny wondered if she could go up to her room now, or if she was supposed to stay until all the guests had left. She glanced at the Harry Phoenix next to her and stifled a smile. Draco was sulking. More than one person had come up to engage him in enthusiastic conversation, clearly under the impression he was Harry. He had talked to everyone who approached him, some at length, but she could tell he was quite ready to retire, as well.

She looked back out over the guests. She was impressed at his behavior, actually. She knew he was a rather controlled individual, but she hadn’t realized how long he could maintain it. The discipline must be a result of his upbringing. He had to have attended hundreds of functions like this growing up. She wondered what it would take to break his control.

Unbidden, an image of naked, writhing bodies with rather distinctive hair colors came to mind. Draco chose that moment to lean in to whisper in her ear. Ginny jumped what felt like feet into the air when she felt his breath on her ear to go along with the images in her head. She felt her cheeks radiate enough heat to warm the room, or so it seemed, while Draco tilted his head to the side, perplexed. She shook her head and shrugged off her odd behavior, so he did the same.

Gesturing toward the entrance, he murmured, “Look, they’re starting to leave. The rest should be gone within the hour.”

Ginny sighed in relief, while Draco smirked. “Tired already? I would have thought a—” silence as the Tongue-Tying Curse they had added to the Pila Dolosa prevented him from sharing identifying information, “you would be able to handle something as paltry as a ball, considering what you’re normally up to.”

“They’re rather different strains, though. I would much rather be up in the air than on my feet in these heels.” She shuffled her weight to the ball of her feet, trying to give her heels some relief.

Draco glanced down and smirked at her. “Regretting not taking Pansy up on her offers to school you in the ways of being a woman?”

Ginny glowered at him. “How was I to know that I would be attending formal balls? The whole notion is ridiculous.”

“You might reconsider. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind…”

Ginny grunted noncommittally, though she was seriously considering it. Surely there was a trick or something so that it didn’t seem like a good idea to cut off her own feet…

“I wonder what she’s been up to all night?” He pondered. “And Blaise, for that matter.”

“Knowing him, trying to figure out if he can get into bed with anyone here before the last ball.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be difficult. It isn’t as if we lack rooms, though I daresay he may not even bother with one…”

She stared at him incredulously.

“What? Sometimes, finding a companion is the only way to liven up these kinds of events. I imagine the complete anonymity may actually result in a higher number of—” He paused to find a polite way to say it “—indiscretions. People start to act funny when there’s no way to hold them accountable for their actions.”

“Well, that’s one way to “further inter-House relations”, I suppose.”

Draco snorted inelegantly. “I don’t know that that’s what Dumbledore had in mind when he spouted that rot.”

Ginny shrugged. “I don’t know. You never could tell with him. Maybe it was his greatest desire to be a matchmaker for teenagers…”

They stared at each other before bursting into laughter, imagining Dumbledore trying to maneuver students together while McGonagall looked on disapprovingly.

Narcissa and Lucius joined them, a curious expression on Narcissa’s face. Ginny and Draco straightened and plastered serious expressions on their faces, careful not to look at each other for fear of laughing again.

She shook her head at them and turned to survey what guests remained. “All in all, I think it’s been a success, though we will have to wait to see what the papers say tomorrow.”

“I was just thinking that earlier, myself. I’m sure even Rita Skeeter will have a hard time finding something negative to say.” Ginny smiled reassuringly at Narcissa.

Narcissa blinked at her. “An overstatement, I’m sure.” She smiled softly. “Though, I appreciate the sentiment.”

Lucius looked at Draco. “If you like, the two of you may retire. Your mother and I can see the last of the guests out.”

Draco inclined his head in thanks and offered his arm to Ginny. “Come, my lady. Let us get you out of those shoes.”

“Torture devices, more like,” Ginny muttered.

Draco and Ginny walked over to one of the house elves to be apparated out of the ballroom. Wipny apparated Ginny to her room, and Rukey did the same for Draco.

The next morning, Ginny stumbled into Draco as he left his room. She grunted at him and continued on her way to the dining room. He chuckled a bit at her zombie-like behavior and followed. They sat in their usual seats when they got there and began to eat. He waited until Ginny started to appear more awake before summoning an elf to bring him the Daily Prophet. Ginny choked a bit on her coffee when she saw the headline.

“MALFOY MASQUERADE DAZZLES!”

“The front page? We made the front page?” She asked incredulously.

Draco replied arrogantly, “Of course we did. Did you expect differently?”

“Clearly. I figured the ball would take up most of the society pages or something, not make it to the front.”

“I expect this to continue after every ball. Besides the fact that the Malfoys still gain quite a bit of media attention ourselves, a famous Quidditch player, who also happens to be a Weasley, mortal enemy to the Malfoys, was the one to announce the balls. It’s a bit of a joint venture now, and of course it was Ministry sanctioned, so people are going to be dying to see how they went.”

“Ohh.” Ginny sipped her coffee. “So, what does it say?”

He lifted his eyebrow sardonically as if to say, “You see?” and she stuck her tongue out at him.

After that first breakfast together, it became a habit for Draco and Ginny. They would eat, and then Draco would get the paper and share what it said with Ginny while she drank her coffee and became a proper person again. Draco was right, the balls always made the front page the morning after. On the other mornings, they would check the society pages to get a feel for public opinion on the Malfoys. As the summer progressed, and more balls occurred, the public warmed to them. When Draco and his mother went out, they got less hostile glances and businesses slowly started to allow their patronage again. Lucius didn’t fare as well, but rather than harsh words, he more often than not got harsh stares instead. While not ideal, it was an improvement. Even Pansy had flooed to let Draco know she noticed an improvement in her treatment while out and about. Things were definitely looking up for the Malfoys and other Death Eater-adjacent families.

They even started to look up for Ginny. Narcissa became easier to deal with after the third ball. She had finally seemed to accept that Ginny’s advice and guidance was correct for this situation and made less attempts to change things after Ginny suggested how they should be. They spent time talking about personal things and getting to know one another, rather than just about ball-related preparations. George and Percy reached out to her after her fight with Molly to reassure her that they weren’t mad at her and that Mum would get over it with time. Her teammates, the ones who gave the balls a chance anyway, wrote to her to tell her what fun they had attending and assured her that they would give endorsing interviews to the Prophet. She and Draco discovered those interviews over breakfast after the second ball.

During her free time, she explored the Manor. Sometimes, when Draco wasn’t at work, he would join her and show her some of his favorite places, like his mother’s walled rose garden. It was nestled deep in the greater estate gardens and he used to sneak off to play there as a child. His parents could never seem to find him there, but he suspected that his mother knew where he went and let him have his secret. She reciprocated by telling him more about her childhood and some of the shenanigans she and her brothers, especially the twins, got up to at the Burrow. If there were times when either of them looked at the other with a feeling of longing, it was swiftly buried and forgotten.

Chapter Text

The first day of August saw Ginny, Narcissa, and Lucius in the ballroom planning the next day’s ball. Ginny smiled and left the room, running into Draco on the way out. Narcissa watched their exchange with critical eyes, noting the way Draco brushed Ginny’s hair back away from her face and how Ginny kept touching his arm. It was past time to get to the bottom of this.

Draco joined Narcissa and Lucius between the two crystal chandeliers while Narcissa was considering the best way to approach the situation. “Hello, Mother. Father. Everything’s going well, I hope?”

“Your mother has things well in hand, though I daresay that the Weasley girl has been more help than I anticipated.”

Draco smiled in remembrance. “I learned long ago that it would be a mistake to underestimate Ginny Weasley.”

Lucius looked a question at his son.

Draco chuckled and rubbed his nose. “Had a run in once with the business end of her wand. I’ve endeavored to avoid a repeat experience since.”

Narcissa smiled knowingly at her husband. “I have always been of the opinion that a man should have a healthy respect for his partner. And her wand.”

Draco furled his brow, confused. “Ginny’s not…”

Narcissa held her hand to her chest, feigning embarrassment. “Ohh, dear. But, the way you two acted together—I only assumed…”

Draco shook his head and blinked. “What? How we act together? She’s my best friend. We act like any other friends act.”

Narcissa’s eyebrow rose in challenge. “Ohh, really? And where, pray tell, has Pansy been all summer? Or Blaise? Theodore Nott? I have seen none of your other friends here, helping with these balls, even though they have as much to gain as we do.”

Draco stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Narcissa pressed the advantage.

“What other friends do you have that risk the wrath of their families and friends to help you and yours? And darling, I have known you your entire life. You have not been physically affectionate with anyone since you were a boy.”

Lucius seemed as stunned as Draco was. But a calculating expression came across his face as he, too, thought back through all the interactions he had witnessed between the two.

Narcissa continued. “I can see that you have been blind where Ginevra is concerned, a situation you should rectify. Allow me to point out that, should your obvious affection for her not be reason enough to pursue her, she would make a suitable match for you. Over these past weeks working with her on these balls, she has proven to me that she would make a fine Malfoy bride. While I feel she is too casual around the house, she is graceful and elegant when others are around. She has a backbone, so she is unlikely to allow you, or anyone else for that matter, to push her around. I have seen her put you in your place and even extract an apology. You! A Malfoy! Apologizing for your behavior.”

Lucius started at that information and Narcissa glanced at him knowingly. “I have found it is a lesson Malfoy men learn from no one but their wives.”

Draco finally found his voice. “Mother, don’t be ridiculous. Ginny’s great, I know that, but we’re just friends. We were lucky even to get to this point, considering how we were in our early years at school.”

Lucius turned to his son. “Do not let your behavior in school dictate your actions now. It would be advantageous if you were to make a match with the Weasley family. They are poor, yes, but they have much more political sway now than we do. An alliance with them would help tremendously in restoring our position in society. The fact that she is also pure is no small bonus.”

Draco waved his hand in annoyance. “Father, even if I were interested in her, which I am not,” He shot a hard look at his mother, “none of that would matter to me. We are Malfoys; we’ve weathered political storms and shame in the past and will do so again now, with or without the Weasley’s help.”

Narcissa slammed her hands on her hips, frustrated with her son. “Draco, we are in a better position now than we have been since before the War. This can be attributed almost solely to Ginevra. Her balls have worked better than I could imagine. I am confident that when everyone is unmasked, society will be rocked to its foundations as old enemies find they have become friends. You are correct that the Malfoys would have recovered without help; we always do. But without Ginevra, it would not have occurred while your father and I were alive, and possibly not during your lifetime, either. Wizarding society has a long memory and does not easily forgive, but they are well on their way to doing so and you and your future children have Ginevra Weasley to thank for it.”

Draco took a deep breath, calming himself. “I know that, Mother, and I have thanked her for her effort in helping us. But she would do the same for any of her friends, because that is who she is. There are no romantic feelings between us and never have been.” He straightened his robes. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.”

After he left, Narcissa turned to Lucius. “There is something between them. I know it.”

He gathered her in his arms and tenderly kissed her forehead. “Yes, Cissy. I see it now, too. At this point, we can only hope that they will see it for themselves, before their opportunity passes them by.”

Chapter Text

At the next night's ball, Ginny stepped into one of the many alcoves along the wall to catch her breath. Thanks to Pansy’s tricks, her feet no longer got sore, but dancing for extended periods of time was still tiring. She spotted Draco not far away and was about to go to him when she was waylaid by a scraggly looking older man, who was weaving in place and muttering under his breath.

“Sir, may I help you?”

The man turned his head slowly toward her and stared blankly for a moment before his eyes focused on her. “Can you -hic!- get the Ministry to jail these Death Eating sonsabitches and throw away the key?” He demanded.

Ginny’s eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”

He gestured wildly to indicate the room, or maybe the whole Manor. “These Malfoys. They ought to be rotting in Azkaban with all the other Death Eater scum. They’ve blood on their hands and no last minute change of heart can wash that clean.”

Ginny was getting rather annoyed at this point. If the man had such hatred for the Malfoys, why the hell was he here?

The man continued, “It’s just like these people to throw balls and parties and carry on as if the War never happened, while my son rots in the ground. He was going to be for Law Enforcement, you know, before Vol -hic!- Voldemort killed him. And then the Ministry has the gall to pretend it was an accident! And I’m sure old Lucius was there, whispering into their ears that of course the Potter boy was lying. -hic!- Only out for more attention. We should have listened to Weasley all along about him.” He fell silent.

Ginny felt her anger ebb as pity replaced it. She still wasn’t sure why Amos Diggory was here, but it was probably time for him to go home. She was about to summon an elf to help him, when he started talking again.

“A damn shame about that -hic!- Weasley girl.” She whipped her head around to stare at him. What about her? “Sure Molly’s fit to have kittens while her baby traipses about with these Malfoy scum. Probably got her under some kind of spell. Or maybe they lured her to their side with money. -hic!- Lord knows the Weasleys have never done well for themselves. Maybe the girl got tired of her lot in life and when the Malfoys offered her money for her help, she took up with them.”

Ginny stiffened and clenched her fists in rage as he continued to spout his lies. The gall of that man, to attack her and her family when they had only ever shown him kindness. Why, her mother had sent over dinner for a time after Cedric died, so that Mrs. Diggory wouldn’t have to cook on top of everything else! She wanted nothing more than to pull her wand on this worm, but she couldn’t risk it. The balls had been going well up to this point, even with the reporters casting about for anything negative to say about them.

Her eyes scanned the room as she tried to figure out how to deal with the situation. She noticed Draco again, and also that he had drifted closer. He must have seen that something wasn’t quite right. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Diggory, silently asking her if she needed help. She shook her head and continued to scan the room after he tilted his head in acknowledgment. Her eyes finally landed on Narcissa and she realized how she should handle the situation.

She stood up straighter and pulled her shoulders back. Adopting an icy expression and a polite, but firm, tone, she said, “That is quite enough, sir. The Weasleys are good people and you are in the Malfoys' home. You will treat them both with more respect, perhaps at the next ball. It is time for you to go home. I would advise a sobriety potion and bed when you arrive.” She snapped her fingers twice and Wipny appeared. “Wipny will escort you home, to ensure you arrive safely. Good night, sir.” She turned and walked away regally while Diggory’s mouth flapped like a fish at his treatment. She headed toward the terrace to collect herself before she circulated among the guests again.

Draco watched the entire exchange, ready to jump in if Ginny needed help. When Ginny’s cheeks grew red and her fists clenched, he figured it more likely that the man was the one who would be needing help. After she declined his help, he was surprised when she stood up straighter and appeared to wrap a cloak of dignity about her shoulders. Rather than tear into the man with her wand, she did so with words, and quite admirably. Not only did she manage to handle the situation, but she did so without causing a scene. His mother would be proud.

As she summoned the elf to summon the man home, he realized that his mother was right; Ginny would make an excellent lady of the house. Since his parents had spoken to him about her, he had been paying more attention to their interactions. She did compliment him well. Of course, he had always been attracted to her, but she had been the only person outside of Slytherin that hadn’t treated him like some kind of social leper. That had been too precious to lose for a quick tumble in the sheets and there was Potter for a time, besides. While the former was still true, it also wasn’t the only thing he wanted… He started as he realized that she had left. He saw her slip out the terrace doors on the other side of the room and followed to check on her.

Ginny walked to the terrace rail and gripped it tightly while taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing, trying to calm her racing heart and anger. She was nowhere near ready for company when she heard the doors open behind her.

She felt someone step up next to her. “How are you?” Draco’s silky voice murmured, just audible over the sounds of music coming through the doors.

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “Fine.” She clipped out. She whirled to face him. “How dare that man! In your own house!” She started to pace in the small pace.

Draco pulled her to a stop, rubbed her arms, and tried to soothe her. “It happens fairly regularly when I go out in public. Some people just can’t move on. I’ve learned to ignore it.”

She huffed. “It’s not fair! You shouldn’t have to ignore it because people should keep their damn gobs shut!”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Silly lion. Life’s not fair.”

She humphed, but couldn’t argue the point. They leaned on the terrace and stood in companionable silence for a moment.

“Thank you—for letting me handle it.”

He inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Of course. Though I’ll admit to some surprise. I quite expected to have to rescue him from the wrath of your wand. Or his bogeys.”

She laughed. “Ohh, the thought had crossed my mind. Many times. But I knew that we couldn’t afford to have a duel break out in your ballroom. Frankly, it would have been generous to call it a duel, shit-faced as he was.” She rolled her eyes at Diggory's behavior. “I happened to see your mother across the room and thought about how she would have handled the situation. Tried to channel her as best as I could.”

Draco smiled. “You did an admirable job. I had the thought myself that Mother would have been proud.”

She beamed at him. “Perhaps we’ll wait until breakfast to tell her about it, hmm? Wouldn’t want to ruin her night.”

He chuckled. “As you say.” He gestured to the ballroom. “Shall we?”

She shook her head. “You go ahead. I’m still feeling a bit on edge. Think I need a few more minutes.”

“Very well.” He bowed elaborately and winked at her before he left.

Ginny laughed at his antics and turned back to lean on the terrace again. She stared at the waxing crescent moon and the stars spilling like diamonds across the sky, the last of her anger slipping away. She frowned as she ran over the events in her mind again. Draco hadn’t charged in to rescue her. He was right there, he saw what was happening, that the situation could have gotten out of hand. He knew how disastrous that would have been for his family, but he still stayed out of it. He stuck around after he established that she didn’t need help, so that he could be there if she did need it. It was such a marked difference from how her brothers, or Harry, would have reacted. They would have come racing in on their white horses, ready to save the day. But Draco—Draco trusted her to take care of the situation appropriately, had faith in her ability to do so.

In that moment, it hit her like a ton of bricks: she was in love with her best friend. Looking back, she could see it happening over the summer - little by little, she had been falling for him, so slowly she hadn’t even noticed.

Well, great. Just fabulous.

Merlin, but this was was worse than her unrequited love for Harry! Harry hadn’t been her best friend. What was she supposed to do with these feelings, now that she knew they were there? She needed to speak with Luna, that was what she needed to do. Her other best friend, though nonsensical at times, usually had some surprising insight or another when Ginny found herself in over her head. But she was probably here at the ball and Merlin only knew what her costume was. She would just have to do her best to avoid Draco for the rest of the night and go see Luna tomorrow.

Yes, that was a hundred percent reasonable.

Chapter Text

Ginny woke up early the day after the ball. She was not typically an early riser, and knew that to be true of the Malfoys, as well. She hoped this would continue to hold true today as she crept down the hall to the drawing room and sighed in relief when she made it there without being discovered. She scooped some floo powder out of the ornate, and rather ugly in her opinion, urn on top of the mantle and stated “Luna Lovegood’s flat” as she stepped inside the fireplace.

Luna looked up from the jars on her coffee table as Ginny stepped out of her fireplace. “Ohh, hello, Ginny. Did you come to help me jar the mooncalf dung I collected last night? I was quite surprised to find so much of it on the Malfoy grounds. You can have some, if you like.”

Ginny blinked at her. “Um… No… Thank you, but I’m good.”

Luna shrugged. “Your loss. It’s quite helpful, you know.” She stood up. “Shall I put on some tea, then?” She glanced up at the clock on her wall. “Or perhaps some coffee? You’re not usually up at this time. Did a sponaugle wake you?”

Ginny knew better than to ask and merely followed her into the kitchen. “No. Luna, I’m kind of having a crisis.”

Luna nodded as if that explained everything. “Of course. Tea it is, then.”

Ginny sat at the table while Luna washed her hand and then dug a tea kettle out of her cabinet and tea from a canister on the counter. Luna hummed to herself as she put the tea on, while Ginny fidgeted impatiently. It was no use trying to start the conversation before the tea was ready. Luna joined Ginny at the table after turning the stovetop on.

“So, how have you liked the Malfoy balls so far? I know you’ve been, though of course I can’t find you when I’m there. I have my suspicions about some people’s identities, though. For instance, I know that Ronald is Artaios. He’s been spending a lot of time with Brigid, though I’m not sure who she is…”

Despite Ginny’s impending crisis, she was intrigued. “How do you know Ron’s costume? It’s supposed to be anonymous.”

Luna laughed and waved that small detail away. “Costumes only hide the people, silly. Not who they are.”

As with most of Luna’s revelations, Ginny wasn’t at all sure how to take that. She wasn’t even sure how to decipher it.

Luna continued. “Seamus Finnegan’s a leprechaun; I felt that was a bit on the nose. For that matter, so was Padma Patil as Saraswati. Do you know how that ball thing works, by the way? It’s quite fascinating.”

Ginny was almost afraid that Luna was going to keep going, so she hastened to answer the question. “It’s a very old Malfoy heirloom, actually. Brought over from Normandy by Armand Malfoy. Narcissa says they’re not sure who invented it, or what it was originally intended for, but that the Malfoys started using it in the 1700s or so for their balls. Only Malfoys can use it and they can give it new instructions to suit their purpose. Personally, I don’t think it was just used for balls, but Narcissa only smirked at me when I suggested it.”

The tea kettle shrieked, literally. “Your tea is ready! Time for tea!”

Ginny winced while Luna got up to pour the tea into her mismatched tea cups and saucers. She placed a cosy in the shape of an elephant over the tea kettle, its spout encased in the trunk, and, with a swish and flick of her wand, floated it to the table. She carried the tea cups over herself, placing Ginny’s in front of her, and settling down in her seat.

Ginny fiddled with her cup, suddenly unsure of how to proceed. “You see, I… Well, that is—Merlin's beard, this is difficult.”

“You know, I find that sometimes it’s easier to blurt everything out at once, rather than trying to find the right way to—”

“IthinkI’minloveDraco!”

Luna smiled. “There, you see? Wasn’t that easy?”

Ginny winced. “Not particularly, no. Nothing about this is easy.” She set her cup down on the table and got up to pace Luna’s small kitchen. “I mean, for Merlin’s sake, he’s my best friend, besides you, of course, I can’t just go about falling in love with him. My family will kill me. After they kill him, of course. My mother’s never liked him, you know.” She stomped her foot in frustration. “I’ve done the whole unrequited love bit before. I refuse to do it again, especially not for some—some arrogant, poncy git. Do you know, he has a silk, monogrammed bath robe? As if he needs to be reminded of the letter his name starts with.”

Luna rather thought that was unfair, as each of the Weasleys got a monogrammed sweater every year for Christmas, but she didn’t think Ginny would be amused to have it pointed out.

“This whole thing is a disaster. How am I supposed to act as if nothing’s changed, when it has? I’m going to have to—” she gestured wildly, “—to leave the country and change my name or something. They have a Quidditch league in America, I could always go there, I suppose…”

Luna had realized by now that Ginny was deflecting from the deeper issue. There was only one way to deal with it.

After she took another sip of tea, she nodded her head. “You’re quite right. This is a disaster. Whatever were you thinking, Ginny? As you said, he’s an arrogant toerag from a horrible family and as if that wasn’t enough, he was a Death Eater. If you’ll recall, I spent months locked away in his basement. And, you know, I could almost understand if he were attractive. But he looks like an albino vampire or something and—” She gasped and looked up at Ginny in horror. “Ginny, you don’t think—he didn’t mesmerize you, did he? Maybe that’s why you think you’re in love with him!”

Ginny huffed and rolled her eyes. “For the love of—No, Luna. He did not mesmerize me, because he’s not a vampire, and I am well aware of his history, thank you. He and his family have done some terrible, awful things, they don’t deny it. In fact, they bitterly regret those things and have been trying to make amends. Do you honestly think I would have become his friend in the first place if he were the same malicious, bullying little rich boy he used to be? Would I fall in love with a man like that? He has his faults, yes, but he’s changed. He is not who people think he is and I would have thought you, out of everyone, would know that society and its perceptions aren’t always right about people.” She took a deep breath and straightened up, looking coldly down at Luna. “Thank you for the tea, Luna, but I must be going.” She took her wand out and apparated away.

Luna smiled in soft satisfaction and poured herself another cup of tea, thanking the elephant for keeping the tea warm as she did so. At least Ginny had accepted her feelings. Now, she would just need to get over the fear.

Ginny apparated to the Burrow after leaving Luna’s. Rather than go to the house and face her mother, definitely not what she needed right then, she walked around the property to the trees surrounding the orchard. Years ago, her brothers had built a tree house to play in. When they finally grew bored of it, she took it over and made it hers. She still used it now and then when she needed to be alone or wanted to think through something. She climbed up the ladder and spent a few minutes tidying up, refreshing the charms she had laid on the place in the past. The housekeeping only took a short time and finally, she could find nothing else to do to distract her from her thoughts.

Her first thought was that she probably owed Luna an apology. Now that she had calmed down a bit, she could see that Luna had deliberately pushed her buttons. She couldn’t very well run from her feelings when she had defended them. She sighed and plopped down on the comfy old armchair she had added last year.

Clearly, she did have strong feelings for Draco. But what to do about them? If she told him, she risked the ease with which they dealt with each other. It would be rather awkward between them if she confessed to feelings he didn’t share. Until this summer, when he had started acting a bit oddly, she didn’t think that most of the time he even realized she was a woman. He certainly didn’t treat Pansy or Daphne the same way he treated her. And while she didn’t want to be treated like a delicate flower, it only proved to her that she clearly was not, in his mind anyway, a woman. She frowned. If she decided to make a move, that would need to change.

That was the question, wasn’t it, though? Would she make a move? She thought about what would happen if she didn’t. Their relationship wouldn’t change, which meant she would get all the details about this woman or that woman he was dating. She would have to pretend that she didn’t wish she was the one he was taking home. She would have to pretend she was happy for him when he decided to marry one of the brainless bints.

Her lip curled in disgust. No. That wouldn’t do. Ginny wasn’t the type of woman to stand by and—and—pine while the man she loved went about town with other women. Not anymore. She would take the risk and consequences be damned. She stood up and started to pace. Now, she just had to figure out how and when she would be making her move. The last ball, where everyone would come clean about who they are, seemed the appropriate place to do it. That left figuring out the how…

Chapter Text

Draco was relieved to find Ginny gone when he woke up. He needed to speak to Blaise about her and he wanted to do so before he saw her again. Blaise had a way of bringing problems into focus and making clear what needed to be done about them. He sent his owl, Phaedra, with a note informing Blaise of his impending arrival and instructions to make a nuisance of herself until Blaise read the note.

Draco stepped out of the floo at the Zabini estates and headed to the billiards room, where he and Blaise usually went to hang out and talk. As he stepped through the doorway, a pillow from one of the lounge chairs hit him in the face. After glaring in Blaise’s direction, he sent the pillow back to its chair.

“Really, Zabini? You don’t feel that was the least bit childish?”

Blaise grinned. “No, it was. Damn satisfying, too. What hasn’t been satisfied is my curiosity. Why is his majesty up so early after such a late and, by all accounts, successful night?” He gestured to the Daily Prophet on the end table. “And another thing: why was I viciously attacked by that thing you call an owl?”

Draco smirked. “I very much doubt Phaedra attacked you, much less viciously.”

Blaise waved the matter away. “Quit stalling. What do you need?”

Draco rubbed the back of his neck. “Well. My mother talked to me about a week ago.” Blaise raised his eyebrow. This was not getting to the point. “She observed that Ginny seemed quite capable. More so than she first thought.” Draco stepped up to the billiards table. “She also suggested that Ginny would make a good match for me, and that we appeared to suit each other well.” Blaise’s eyebrow climbed higher. He hadn’t expected Narcissa to see that. Draco began arranging the balls in the rack for a game. “Father agreed.”

“Your father agreed that a Weasley would make a good match for you?”

Draco chuckled as he removed the rack and lined up for the first shot. “That was my reaction, as well. I thought they had both taken leave of their senses.”

Blaise frowned, though at the use of past tense in Draco’s statement or the fact that Draco seemed to think the idea of he and Ginny together was crazy, he wasn’t sure. One thing at a time. “Thought?”

Crack! The red and yellow balls flew off every which way, knocking into each other. He managed to sink a red ball into a side pocket. “Now, I’m not so sure. I buried my physical attraction to her long ago, you know that. Her friendship was more valuable after the war than any pleasure to be gleaned from a physical interaction.” He took another shot and missed the pocket. “But after that conversation with my parents, I started noticing things about her that I hadn’t before. And last night…”

Blaise considered the table. “What happened last night?” He stepped up to take his shot and pocketed a yellow ball.

Draco leaned against the wall. “She got into it with some man at the ball.” Blaise snapped his head up to stare at Draco. Ginny wasn’t exactly known for her ability to control her temper and wasn’t shy about pulling her wand on someone. He frowned. On the other hand, he hadn’t seen anything about a confrontation in the Daily Prophet…

Draco smirked, knowing exactly what Blaise had been thinking. “She did not, in fact, hex him. Didn’t even reach for her wand.”

“You’re sure it was Red?” Blaise had started using the nickname back in school to annoy her, but it had stuck. “That doesn’t sound at all like her.” Click! He sunk another ball and searched for his next move.

“I was rather surprised myself. But, yes, it was Ginny. I know her costume, as well as my parents', as they do mine. Anyway, she laid into him in a way I’ve only ever seen Mother do. It was magnificent, really. Even as sloshed as he was, I think she got through to him. After she was done eviscerating the poor man, she summoned a house elf to take him home.” Blaise missed his shot and stepped away from the table as Draco stepped up.

“So, other than Red adopting a new pacifist ideology, what was significant about last night?”

Clack! Another ball down. “She defended us. That was why they got into it, because he was spouting shite about how we belonged in Azkaban. She defended us as fiercely as she did her own family when I insulted them in school. But she knew we couldn’t afford the publicity of a duel at one of these balls, so she didn’t draw her wand. And on top of the other things I’ve noticed lately, I just…” He pocketed another ball. “I think I’m in love with her.”

There was silence as he stared at Blaise after his pronouncement, almost daring him to laugh.

Blaise rolled his eyes. “About bloody time.”

Draco blinked. Blaise gestured at the table impatiently. Draco hit the cue ball mechanically and wasn’t fazed as it flew wide of any of his balls. “Wh-what?”

Blaise snorted in disgust and easily sank his next ball. “Merlin, but you’re an idiot.” He scored two more balls in quick succession before missing the third. He leaned on the table. “The only people who who couldn’t see there was something between you and Red were you and Red. The rest of us have been wondering, and in some cases betting, on when the two of you would stop being twits and get together.”

Draco raised his eyebrow. “What were you betting?”

Blaise rolled his eyes. “Nice try. More importantly, when are you going to make your move?”

Draco stepped up to the table and performed a complicated move that sank two balls in two different holes. “I’m not sure that I want to. I mean, my reasoning for burying my physical attraction still stands. More so now, even. We’re a lot closer now than we were then. I know better what it would mean to lose her friendship.”

Blaise was unconvinced. “Really? And what if I told you that the only reason I hadn’t made a move was because I was waiting for you to come to your senses? But if you’re not going to…” He raised his hand and shrugged his shoulders slowly.

Draco knocked another ball into a hole and straightened, narrowing his eyes at his friend. “Don’t push me, Zabini.”

Blaise threw up his hands in exasperation. “Or you’ll what? Are you going to chase off any man that shows an interest in her just because you haven’t the balls to do it yourself?”

Draco’s next shot missed. “No. She’s perfectly free to see who she wants. Just not you.”

Blaise shook his head at Draco and took his next shot. Point. “Are you telling me that you’re going to stand by as she dates other men? What happens if she gets serious with someone? If they marry?”

Draco’s hands spasmed on his cue. Blaise gestured at him. “Mate, you can’t tell me you would be ok with that. You have feelings for her, you want to make a move. So stop being a pillock and do it. Whatever happened to Malfoys always getting what they want?” He tried to shoot his final ball into a corner pocket and missed.

Draco did not. After pocketing his last ball, he landed the 8-ball in a side pocket. He set his cue on the table and looked up at Blaise, determination in his eyes. “So, what do you suggest?”

Chapter Text

As Ginny put her second earring in, she thought over the past two weeks and could only conclude that they had been, well, odd. She had decided at the treehouse that she would try to gauge Draco’s feelings before making a move. So she became more physically affectionate with him, the way she was with her other friends. He accepted her new touches without comment, and it confused her. His general air of “Stay back, peasant!” was why she hadn’t treated him that way before. She expected him to say something about it, whether positive or negative, she wasn’t sure. But nothing. And on top of that, he had taken to doing the same sorts of things: leaning close to show her something in the distance, brushing her hair out of her face, and other such things. Surely, he didn’t—

Her musings were interrupted by Narcissa coming into the room, with barely a knock at the door. “You are ready—wonderful. Come, come, we must go.”

Ginny furrowed her brow in confusion, glancing at the clock on the bureau to check the time. She wasn’t late. She stood up as Narcissa gestured impatiently and followed her from the room. Narcissa walked with the speed of a woman on a mission, and Ginny hurried to keep up.

“Are we starting early?”

Narcissa frowned and came to a stop. “Why ever would you think that?”

“We seemed to be in a hurry, so I thought…”

Narcissa’s cheeks pinkened slightly. “Ohh! No. I apologize.” She adjusted her skirts, turned, and started down the hallway at a much more sedate pace. “You will have to forgive me, Ginevra. I fear I am quite nervous. This is what we have worked toward the whole summer. I hope that it will go as you thought it would when you came up with this plan.”

Ginny smiled. “I’m quite confident everything will work out. People are going to be shocked when the masks come off, of course, but things will settle. It may even take a few days. But I think that lasting relationships have been forged these past few months.”

They arrived at the antechamber and Narcissa sighed. “I hope you are right.” Then she straightened her back and smoothed her dress, her usual calm mask coming over her face. Ginny was always impressed to see Narcissa’s transformation into Lady Malfoy. She wasn’t sure she would ever be able to hide the way she was feeling so completely. They entered the antechamber to find Lucius and Draco already there. Apparently, Narcissa wasn’t the only one feeling nervous tonight. After they all received their costumes for the last time from the orb, Ginny looked at Draco.

“How is this going to work, again? The unmasking, that is?”

Narcissa answered. “After the last guests arrive, I will come back here and speak the closing spell over the Pila Dolosa. It operates in sessions, you see. That is why our costumes have remained the same. Once the session has been closed, the removal of your mask will revert your features to normal. After I have cast the spell and sent the orb with an elf back to the attics, I will make an announcement that the time has come for us to mingle freely without disguises and remove my own mask. Then… well, we shall see what happens then.”

“What about our costumes? You only said that our features would revert.”

“The costumes, except for the masks of course, will remain. A parchment will appear in the guests’ pockets to inform them of how to revert their clothing to their original state, if that is what they wish to do. I imagine that some would like to keep the attire, as a keepsake or memento, or perhaps because it is especially suiting for them.” At that last, she looked at Ginny pointedly.

Ginny grinned. She did rather like her costume dress and was glad that she had the option of keeping it.

Narcissa turned to speak to Lucius and Ginny smiled mischievously at Draco. “You’ll be keeping your costume, won’t you, Draco? It’s so suiting for you.” She simpered and stroked his arm.

Draco’s lip curled in disgust as he raised his arm to glare at the faux phoenix wings. “I will not. In fact, I look forward to never having to wear it again. I’m tempted to burn the damn thing, but I don’t want to take the risk that it will come back somehow.”

She laughed. “Ohh, it’s really not that bad, Draco. Frankly, I’m more looking forward to seeing you in it, rather than Harry. It’s been quite odd talking to you when you look like him.”

He grimaced. “Don’t remind me. I put a lot of effort into blocking that fact out.” He looked at her piercingly. “I quite look forward to seeing you, as well. While this countenance isn’t unpleasant, your hair,” he reached out and rubbed a lock of hair between two fingers, “will look much better against the navy and black.”

Her breath hitched as her cheeks flushed. The room narrowed to just the two of them. He searched her eyes and leaned closer.

“Draco, Ms. Weasley, it’s time.” Lucius’s voice rang out across the room, breaking the almost-moment. They stepped away from each other and Ginny took a deep breath, willing her heart to stop racing. Surely, she hadn’t just imagined that. He had been about to kiss her. Narcissa and Lucius eyed them speculatively before Lucius opened the door into the ballroom and Draco gestured the ladies through.

The ballroom started to fill within moments, the house elves hard to even see, they were apparating people so quickly. Unlike the previous balls, where Draco and Ginny would drift apart and come together again many times throughout the night, this time they stayed by each other’s side. As they walked around the room, Draco laid his hand lightly on the small of Ginny’s back to guide her through the crowd. It stayed there when they came to a stop to speak to other guests. Ginny noticed that whenever she went to steal a subtle glance at him, he was already looking at her, an intense look on his face.

As the band began to play the first strains of a waltz, Draco held his hand out. “Shall we show them how it’s done?”

Ginny grinned and placed her hand in his. “I don’t know that that’s fair. We’ll shame them with their lack of talent.”

Draco led her to the dance floor. “I’m afraid I don’t care, so long as I get to dance with you.”

Her eyes widened in surprise as he bowed. She remembered, just, to curtsy. She scanned his face as they came together, her thoughts in shambles. She hadn’t imagined that. While she wanted to dissect it and figure out exactly what he had meant by it, it got harder and harder to concentrate as he led her expertly around the dance floor. She finally decided to put it aside to figure out later as he pulled her closer through a turn and didn’t return her to her original position after. Again, it seemed to be just the two of them, and the music. Each spin brought their bodies brushing together, the hand on her back subtly stroking her exposed skin before returning to its original position, their eyes never leaving the other’s. His lingering touches wound her tight as a bow string as the music came to a close. There was a moment of silence as they both breathed heavier than normal, before applause broke out around them. They finally broke eye contact to bow and curtsy to their audience, which appeared to be most of the ball attendees. Their impromptu performance had apparently cleared the dance floor, which worked out well as Narcissa walked to the center of the cleared space.

“Friends and honored guests! The time has come to reveal ourselves to one another. It is my sincere hope that you leave tonight with more friends than you had when you first entered our ballroom. Thank you for coming.” She smiled as she removed her elaborate headdress, which became again a simple black cloth mask as she lifted it from her face.

Ginny heard a gasp from someone to her right, but she didn’t get a chance to see who it was and whether it was Narcissa’s identity they found surprising or someone else’s, because Draco was leading her toward the terrace doors. All around, people were starting to take off their masks, some more tentatively than others. She saw a bear become her brother, Ron, and a horrified, “Weasley?!” from an unseen Pansy followed. She would have loved to see the fallout from that reveal, but Draco seemed quite determined to get outside as quickly as possible. She expected him to stop on the terrace, but he continued out into the grounds.

She looked around in confusion. “Where are we going?”

He glanced back at her. “I have something I’d like to show you. I haven’t taken you there yet.”

She laughed a bit in disbelief. “And you think now is the time to do that?”

He muttered under his breath. She thought she heard something about “… the right ambiance…” but she couldn’t be sure. A suspicion started to take root, and she very much hoped she was right.

After a few more minutes of walking, the trees surrounding the path gave way on one side to a lake. He led her up the steps of a Greek temple folly and brought her inside, where fairy lights swooped artfully between the columns. She looked around the temple and out at the lake, where the moon was rising and reflected in the water.

She turned back to him. “It’s beautiful, Draco.”

“I used to play here, as a child. I would pretend to be an emperor, directing my troops in glorious battle. Blaise and Pansy would join me sometimes, though Pansy had little interest in war games.”

She smiled softly as she imagined the three Slytherins running about and playing as she and her brothers had. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“I didn’t bring you here just to share my past with you.” He took a deep breath and Ginny realized he was nervous. Well, good! At least she wasn’t alone in the feeling. “Ginny, I—” He stopped and tilted his head to the side. “I want to look at you as I say this. Not a stranger.” Ginny’s hand shot up to her face, where she felt her mask still in place. She had forgotten she hadn’t taken it off.

She looked back up at him and grinned. “Whatever it is, I’m sure I would rather hear it out of your mouth than Harry’s.”

He started as he realized that he was still wearing his mask, too. “Right. May I?” He gestured toward her face and she nodded her assent. He reached behind her head and untied her mask. She shivered as he pulled it away and she felt the strange sensation akin to an egg cracking over her head. He tossed the mask carelessly onto the floor and inhaled sharply as he saw her for the first time in her dress.

“I was right. The red is much more stunning than the black.”

She touched her hair self-consciously, then stepped up to him to remove his mask. He bent slightly so that she could untie it more easily. His mask joined hers on the floor as she stepped back from him.

She cleared her throat after a few moments of him staring at her like he was a man drowning and she his only hope. “I believe you had something to tell me, unless you wanted me to go first.”

His eyes snapped up to hers from somewhere in her chest region. “You… first?”

She grinned and chose to interpret his question as permission. “Alright. Draco, touching as it was for you to share your past with me, I’m afraid I’m not interested in it right now.” She stepped up to him and straightened his lapels, resting her hands on his chest when she was done. “I’m much more interested in your future. And whether or not there’s a place for me in it.” She stood up on her toes and leaned into his chest with her hands, whispering, “As more than a friend.” And she waited, hoping she had read the situation correctly.

There was a moment of stunned silence before his arms wrapped around her waist and crushed her to him. “Bloody impatient woman,” he muttered before his lips swooped down to meet hers. His lips were soft and firm. He seemed to want to take his time because he languidly traced her lips with his tongue. She, on the other hand, lived up to his statement by sliding her hands from his chest, up behind his neck and into his hair, nipping his bottom lip as she played with the downy soft strands. Now that they had crossed the line between friendship and more, that’s what she wanted: more of him. His lips on hers, the sounds of his breath in her ears, his scent on her skin—she wanted as much of him as she could get. A fact he caught onto when she tried to jerk his outer dress robes off his shoulders.

He groaned as he stepped back from her, holding her in place when she tried to follow. “Gin, not here.” When she frowned at him, he clarified, “Maybe another time, when there’s not a small army of people at my house who could walk in on us at any moment.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the house. “Your room is probably private enough.”

He laughed and pulled her off the path, leaning against a tree. “Slow down. I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her again, pulling away when she tried to deepen it. “Patience is a virtue, you know.”

“Fuck virtues,” she growled as she shoved him against the tree. As she nipped and sucked at his bottom lip, she slipped her hands under his dress robes and unbuttoned his vest and shirt. He drew his breath in sharply as she stroked his stomach and sides. He abruptly set her back again, taking her hand and the lead as he resumed their progress back toward the house. “You’re right. Virtues are overrated.”

Her laugh echoed along the path as they disappeared into the distance and someone stepped out from behind one of the trees.

“Well, well, well. Isn’t that interesting…?”

Chapter Text

Ginny stumbled into the dining room, playfully pulling Draco with her and laughing all the while. They seated themselves at the table, she smiling joyfully and he struggling not to do the same. Ginny started in on her food, while Draco picked up the paper to read about how last night’s ball was received. They each took comfort in the fact that, while the dynamics of their relationship had changed, the morning ritual they had adopted over the summer did not. After glancing at the front page, Draco calmly laid the paper face down on his empty plate and sipped nonchalantly at his coffee.

Ginny frowned at him and tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”

“Last night’s ball didn’t make the front page.”

“What?!” She shrieked as she snatched the paper off his plate. “What do you mean it -” She stopped abruptly, stunned into silence.

On the front page of the Daily Prophet, for the whole country to see, was Ginny shoving Draco up against a tree and snogging him senseless while frantically trying to get at the skin underneath his robes. The photo must have been taken on the walk back to the Manor. Ginny couldn’t remember with any kind of clarity what happened between the folly and Draco’s suite, to include, apparently, the fact that there had been a witness to their behavior. The paper fell from her listless fingers.

“Ohh, shite. Mum is going to kill me…”

Before the paper came to rest on the floor, the fireplace erupted into green flames.

Dearest Readers,

The identities of those we have spent the last 3 months socializing with was not the only shocking information revealed last night. The biggest surprise of the night was not the friends we made along the way, but the friends we woke up beside the next day! The Malfoy balls resulted in multiple truly stunning couplings.

First up is the unusual pairing of the batty co-editor of quack magazine The Quibbler, Luna Lovegood, and notorious playboy, Blaise Zabini, whose several-times-widowed mother remained notably neutral during both Wizarding Wars, despite her well-known position on blood purity. This reporter has to wonder just what it is that one of Britain’s premier bachelors sees in the, shall we say, “whimsical” witch.

The second bewildering pair of the night involves Ronald Weasley, illustrious and war hero and respected Senior Auror, and Pansy Parkinson, daughter of disgraced Death Eater, Ambrose Parkinson, currently serving 20 years in Azkaban for his involvement with He Who Must Not Be Named. After a rather loud and scandalous insult-laden argument, this reporter witnessed them apparating away hand-in-hand. One can only guess as to the reason for their sudden desire for privacy.

Most shocking of all, though, was the union of Ginevra Weasley, the somewhat violent and middling Quidditch darling, with one Draco Malfoy, himself a suspected former Death Eater. The pair’s friendship has baffled onlookers since news of it first arose years ago. But as you can so clearly see, dear readers, they appear to be merely friends no more. I’m sure Molly Weasley, in particular, will be most thrilled with her daughter’s new beau.

Truly, it seems the Ministry’s goal of integration was well met. The only question that remains is how long-lived these ill-matched relationships will last. Unless, of course, this has all been a diabolical plot to ensnare beloved war heroes to a Dark cause. In which case, they seem to have succeeded. Reformed Death Eaters and blood supremacists, indeed.