Disclaimer: "Harry Potter" is the property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. This work of fiction was created entirely for fun, not for profit, and no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This is the piece I wrote for the DramioneLove Valentine's Fest at Live Journal. As per the rules of the fest I wasn't allowed to post this here until the Masterlist was out.

The prompt I chose is:

Prompt: Hermione runs into Draco, her co-worker & secret lover/ex-secret lover (whichever you want), at the Ministry's Valentine's Masquerade Charity Ball. He's brought a date. She's come alone & is insanely jealous.

Extra Notes: Comedy or Drama (depending on where you want to take the story). Post-Hogwarts, EWE. Can include angry/jealous or make-up sex, if you want to take it that far, but if so, then I want hot, hard wall sex.

Squicks/No-No Content: No violence. No sexually deviant stuff.

Many many thanks to my wonderful beta Ria Binger for helping me with this and RZZMG for hosting such a delightful fest! You should check it out, all fics are simply marvelous!

A Night to Remember

Part I

Balls weren't really Hermione's thing.

It wasn't like she didn't like to dress up and dance all night with her date and friends or that she didn't enjoy the general atmosphere of such events.

No.

She simply had bad luck. And that coming from someone as pragmatic and logical as Hermione was saying something.

Her very first ball, her coming of age Yule Ball as her mother had tearfully dubbed it when Hermione sent news of it with Hedwig back in her fourth year of schooling, ended in utter disaster although it started brilliantly.

Her date was a famous Quidditch star, Viktor Krum and she actually cleaned up rather nicely. Her schoolmates were shocked to realise that yes indeed, Hermione Granger was an actual girl and when she wanted she could turn heads. She just chose not to. There were more important matters to worry about at the time.

But back to the point.

No matter how that night started the end of it found her in tears and all because of an idiotic boy who realised she was a girl and his feelings for her when she was in someone else arms.

Things with Ron didn't work out eventually but at that point she was crazy in love with him and his words and attitude that night deeply hurt her.

So that was her first experience.

The second similar event was the first Victory Ball a year after Voldemort's downfall.

It took place in the finally renovated Hogwarts, the place the dark wizard fell, and as was expected it was a very grim event. A year wasn't enough to heal their many wounds and the ball was quite morose. Even when she, Harry and Ron were awarded their Merlin's Order First Class during the ceremony in the end, the memory of the ones who weren't there to receive their own award clouded their possible happiness and pride. Harry gave a tearful speech and the three left soon after.

Worse than the atmosphere were the whispers and speculations Rita Skeeter had started a few months earlier about what exactly the trio did all alone in the wild whilst in their secret mission to destroy Voldemort. And of course Hermione's supposed nights of passion with Harry when Ron was away.

After that the new Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt decided it was time the wizarding community to start healing and progress into a new era where prejudices and preconceived notions of blood superiority were put to rest. A truly difficult endeavour but when he had the full support of the Boy Who Won it became significantly easier.

The oldest pureblooded families opposed the new movement as was expected but some actually embraced the new world order, being intelligent enough to realise it was the best course of action.

One of those families were surprisingly the Malfoys.

Draco was acquitted based on his young age and Harry's testimony that the young Malfoy did what he did under duress. His parents and his own life were on the line and even then he wasn't capable to finish the last portion of his mission. Actually killing Albus Dumbledore. Harry, under Veritaserum told the court how Draco lowered his wand before the Death Eaters arrived unwilling to commit murder.

Of course Narcissa's lie which saved Harry's life and secured their victory was enough to assure her and her only son got away with no punishment but it helped Draco's damaged reputation. It helped that Draco didn't actually had the Dark Mark despite what everyone -Harry and Ron included- thought.

Lucius' crimes on the other hand were a one way ticket to Azkaban. The cunning Slytherin though proved he had brains. He made a deal with the Ministry; he helped them corner and arrest the remaining Death Eaters and those who helped during the Dark Lord's reign and he remained a free man. Of course the prestige and influence he was used to was all but none existent.

All he had left was his fortune and family.

After what he put his family through he had to admit that that was enough.

The first Ministry's Valentine's Day Masquerade Charity Ball in 2002 was hosted in Malfoy Manor and organised and paid for by the hosting family as an act of good will. It was a success and ever since then it became an Annual event.

It was the last Ball Hermione had attended and although it went splendidly -she accompanied Neville as Hannah was busy that night and Hermione didn't want to go with a stranger- it marked the beginning of something that ultimately became the biggest mistake of her life.

Harry and Ron were worried about her, her last visit in the enormous Manor wasn't exactly pleasant, and they were close to her at all times. But it wasn't so bad.

Lucius and Narcissa were perfectly polite, although she was sure the obnoxious man thought it beneath him when his wife forced him to apologise to a lowly Muggle Born for what he allowed his crazed sister in law to do to her.

Narcissa, coldly beautiful Narcissa, thanked them for testifying in her son's favour but still it was fairly obvious that no matter how accepting they appeared to be of the new intermingling society, it was plain that they still thought themselves above the rest of the world.

Bigotry, so deeply rooted, was hard to disappear overnight.

Hermione gave them points for trying though.

A few weeks later much to the brunette's surprise her boss, Amos Diggory, announced that Draco Malfoy joined the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

and assigned her to show the blond around.

It wouldn't be so awkward if she hadn't slept with him during the Charity ball in his Manor.

Hermione was never one to give in to temptation but damn, she was drunk, sexually frustrated -her last boyfriend Antony Goldstein was more interest in his job as an Unspeakable than her- and Draco Malfoy was a hot wizard. It really wasn't her fault.

He was the sober one, he should have hexed her and pushed her away but nooo, he kissed her hungrily and pulled her into his room and proceeded to shag her all over the place.

Around four the next morning she had woken up disoriented and sneaked out without alerting him and swore to herself never to mention the night of debauchery again.

Unfortunately Draco wasn't of the same mind. As he said whilst fucking her in her office he didn't appreciate waking up with a rather painful erection and finding out she had ran away like a cowardly Hufflepuff.

Hermione tried; really she did, to avoid him after they thoroughly tested every horizontal

surface in her office but if it was something Draco Malfoy was that was determined.

She found herself pulled into supply closets when she least expected to, he invented reasons to come to her office or for her to be forced to visit him in his own just so he could see what kind of knickers she wore that day.

The brunette witch knew she was in serious trouble when he started hunting her outside of their work place.

At first she thought she was hallucinating, seeing blonds everywhere, but when he 'assaulted' her in a night club's ladies room on one of the rare girls' night out Ginny had succeeded to drag her to she knew that thing they had wasn't something she could just ignore.

For Merlin's sake her lips were constantly chapped from all the biting she did to keep her sounds of pleasure quiet because Draco had an exhibitionism kink.

No place was sacred for the blonde Slytherin.

He fingered her whilst they had an office meeting, found her when she was shopping and ate her out into the changing room refusing to put up privacy and silencing charms only telling her to 'be quiet kitten'.

Six months after they started their sordid affair Viktor came in England for a visit and asked her out to dinner. Half an hour before her date she found herself bent over her couch, her pretty satin skirt flipped over her waist and Draco pounding away into her, his clothes still on. She thanked the deities she had permanent silencing charms on her apartment or else there wouldn't be a soul in the building who wouldn't had heard her screams.

Draco made it perfectly clear that day that she was his and only his. He was a possessive bastard and hated to share.

Shocked as she was, she still had the presence of mind to demand an explanation and a straight answer on what exactly they were doing.

It was clear they were physically attracted to each other but did he want more?

He did.

But he wasn't ready to go public, he needed time to prepare his parents for a Muggle Born girlfriend and he would prefer no one to know. Merlin knew her friends wouldn't be able to keep it a secret.

Hermione, shamefully and embarrassedly admitted to having feelings for the blond beyond lust causing him to smirk.

She granted him the time he wished and agreed to a secret relationship.

Going in all the trouble a relationship with Draco would cause if the public knew was too much drama for both of them. She needed to focus on her job (her career plan was to transfer to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in a couple of years and her work performance must be exceptional till then) and she could enjoy her new boyfriend without having to worry about what everyone thought or gossip about her.

But over a year had passed since they became officially -or unofficially- a couple and he was still adamantly against telling their friends and family. Having stupidly fall in love with him she tried to keep her thoughts to herself and avoid bringing it up too often but she found herself jealous of her friends; of any couple showing affection publicly to be honest. She wasn't jealous of them per ce, more like what they had.

A real relationship that was.

After spending Christmas alone because he bailed at the last minute, saying his mother had planned a small party for the close friends of the family she had to admit to herself that Draco would never come clean with his parents.

They were seeing each other for close to two years and last time she saw Narcissa Malfoy and her son, Draco didn't even acknowledge her although he greeted Pansy who was with her, sparing her nary a glance.

Later that evening she attended a Weasley family dinner and Ginny announced her pregnancy. She was just six weeks along but the young couple couldn't keep the news to themselves.

The memory of Ginny and Harry, their hands rubbing Gin's still flat stomach with a look of absolute euphoria on their faces made her own stomach twist and turn.

Because it was accompanied by an image that was growing further and further away.

An image of her and Draco cuddling in her comfy couch, her belly rounded with their baby.

Tears were gathered in the corner of her eyes and she blamed it on her happiness for the news. She couldn't tell them the real reason, she already felt pathetic; she had no need to see the pitying looks they would surely send her way.

Because that was what she had become. A pathetic fool blinded by her love that she hadn't realise that Draco would never change; he would never risk his father's wrath and the general pureblood society's reactions if it became known he was seeing a Muggle Born, a mudblood.

And that knowledge hurt her more deeply than anything.

Really his only excuse was his parents' reaction. Her friends were not a matter; she would never allow their opinions dictate how she would live her life and after all Harry had made a truce with Draco after his testimony and Ron had learnt to tolerate him.

His own friends were no different. Pansy was engaged to Ron fro crying out loud!

Blaise Zabini, a close friend of Draco's, was one of the few purebloods who publicly declared his support for Minister Shacklebolt and embraced the intermingling with the non magical world.

Hermione had a very good relationship with the dark skinned Slytherin.

Blaise was working in the Department of International Magical Cooperation and they had to work together once for the latest attempt to revive the Triwizard Tournament. They spent three months working from dawn to dusk for than damn tournament but thankfully it came to fruition without anyone dying this time. Their two teams went in the Leaky for drinks that night.

He frequently visited her office for chats and always remembered to bring her something from his trips to the continent.

She had a feeling Blaise was aware of her relationship with Draco if his knowing looks were anything to go by every time the blond was brought up in conversation.

Draco on the other hand didn't appreciate finding her laughing her arse off over a joke Blaise told her or the two of them having lunch.

The day after the disastrous -or based on perceptive quite successful- dinner at the Burrow

she avoided Draco like the plague, needing to collect her thoughts and decide on the best course of action for her.

It was the first time in her career the brunette witch left work early.

She reset her wards so Draco wouldn't be able to apparate or floo in and sat on her couch, a pint of chocolate ice cream on her lap and cried. Hermione's decisions were always based on logic and not emotion. She had the unique ability to separate her feelings during her decision making process, evaluate every aspect of the subject she studied, think about all possible roots and then decide logically on the best course. And then she threw her emotions into the mix.

It was cold but effective.

But the latest decision she had made was guaranteed to break her heart.

And it did.

When she restored her wards a fuming Draco immediately apparated in demanding to know why he wasn't allowed in.

The young woman was tired. Tired of this farce of a relationship, tired of hearing him echoing back the 'I love you' she so gracelessly offered him every time they made love never saying it first; tired of his broken promises, tired of waiting for tomorrow constantly. Most of all she was tired being just his dirty little secret.

Looking ahead with a blank look on her face she told him about Ginny's news. Draco was smart; the realisation dawning on his face and the following horror that replaced it was answer enough on her unspoken questions.

Hermione didn't cry, didn't shout or demand an explanation. She calmly asked him to leave and not bother her ahead.

When his face flushed and he demanded an explanation she asked instead when he planned to say the truth to his parents.

His stutter made her snap.

She slapped him and the fight started.

She called him a liar, a coward and a bastard who wasn't even man enough to stand up to his father for the woman he claimed he loved. She was better than this, she deserved better than a scared little boy who obeyed his father's every whim when said father only caused his family tears and misfortune.

The moment the words crossed her lips she knew she had crossed the line. His family was a sore spot for him but his love for his parents was genuine.

But hearing him call her filth, a mudblood slut who wasn't worthy of being more that just a casual fuck and he certainly couldn't present her to his own mother made bile rise in her throat.

Those words she would never forgive.

But she wouldn't give him the pleasure of showing how much he cut her. After two years with him she had learnt how to properly conceal her emotions.

Coldly she thanked him for their time together and asked him to leave and never contact her again.

He sneered and left without a word.

Her pillows that night were soaked with tears.

After three weeks of moping and being miserable enough was enough.

Today was the third Ministry's Annual Valentine's Masquerade Charity Ball and thankfully the blond arse had previous obligations and couldn't attend.

Thankfully because Pansy had laughed off her words about bad luck and forced her to join her and Ginny's hunt for the perfect dress. The wizarding world was still very conservative when it came to formal attire and Pansy -having being introduced to Muggle fashion by Hermione- decided they should pick dresses from Muggle boutiques. Ginny wisely muttered that they would shock the rest of the attendees but Pansy was nonplussed.

And Ginny wasn't really against the idea, especially after she found a stunning dress that complimented her still slim figure. It was floor length green silk with a slit up to her mid thigh, the upper cut out part was two thick pieces of silk covering her fuller breast, and the gold straps wrapped around her back and came to circle the waist of it. She matched it with black high heeled sandals with a gold strap. A gold emerald necklace Harry had given her for their wedding anniversary glinted on her pale neck. A simple silk green mask was lying on Pansy's bed.

Her shining red hair was left flowing down her back. Her creamy skin had that glow all expecting mothers had and Hermione swore she had never seen such a pretty witch.

Pansy of course had huffed in annoyance and Hermione had to correct herself saying that she was equally stunning with their red headed friend.

Sure Pansy wasn't traditionally beautiful with her pug nose -that Ron refused to let her fix in a plastic surgeon, claiming he found it adorable and cute- but she was quite attractive with her strong features, intense eyes and full lips. She was slightly taller than Hermione, with a thin figure and like all pureblood witches an icy aura surrounding her and expressionless blue eyes. After three years with Ron and hanging out with Gryffindors she had warmed but she was still the infamous Queen of the Bitches when she wanted to.

Despite Pansy's desire to stun the crowds as she claimed beforehand, Pansy chose a very modest floor length blue one shoulder layered flouncing cocktail party dress that hugged her figure and brought out the icy blue flecks in her eyes. She picked a pair of Christian Louboutin black leather Discoteka sandals and finished the outfit with the diamond-sapphire bracelet her parents had given her as a graduation present. Her light blue mask had black feathers stuck to it.

Hermione spent two hours trying to find the picky brunette a perfect hairstyle but in the end she managed to satisfy her friend with a high textured bun updo that showed her elegant swan throat and the design of her upper dress.

Unfortunately for the usually modest Gryffindor witch, Ginny and Pansy took it upon themselves to find her a proper dress that would make a certain Slytherin eat his words.

Yes her relationship with Draco was a secret but Ginny and Pansy were her best girl friends. After she ended it and kept acting like a zombie they forced her to tell the truth. Pansy was furious with her snarky brat of a childhood friend but had to agree not to mention anything to him after Hermione's tearful pleas.

But that didn't mean the plotting Slytherin Queen wasn't out for revenge in Hermione's stead. She had taken upon her to show Draco what he was missing and the Charity Ball held in the Ministry that year was the perfect opportunity. Hermione believed that her ex wouldn't attend but Pansy knew better.

After recruiting Blaise and Theo (Draco's best friends who agreed he needed to learn a lesson) to her cause she knew the blond's every move.

Much to her chagrin Hermione refused to go with Blaise or anyone for that matter so Pansy had to settle for her coming alone.

And really the dress the two picked was outrageous! Not that it wasn't beautiful but it was completely inappropriate for such a formal event!

Too... Provocative!

"And that my dear Granger is the point." Pansy calmly answered her.

They were in Pansy's chambers in her family Manor preparing for the Ball and Hermione was just presented with her dress.

Her hair and male-up was ready but she had qualms about the actual dress. It was just... Not her.

"This is not me, Pansy." She resignedly pointed out. "I'm not expected to show up looking like- like a- a trollop!"

"A trollop? Are you joking?" Ginny snapped impatiently. She was supposed to meet Harry at the Ministry in less than an hour; she had no time for Hermione's insecurities. "Anyone who knows you know that you are anything but. What you wear doesn't make you any different."

"But-

"But nothing Granger." Pansy cut her as she fixed her make-up. "You are a young beautiful woman. You have a great body and as my dear old grandmother always said; if you got it you flaunt it. A pureblood she was, and she never entered a social event without shocking everyone. Can you believe that she once actually wore trousers? And that was more than fifty years ago!"

"Seriously?" The two Gryffindors asked surprised. Women in trousers may be an every day thing for Muggles but the wizarding society wasn't so fashion forward. Or forward period. Witches started wearing short sleeves and mini skirts very recently and that was still considered indecent and scandalous by the older generations.

"Oh yes. After that grandpa started the rumours that she was touched in the head and he just obliged to her whims to keep her happy. She made him regret it though later. Grandma was a vicious lady. Thank Salazar she loved me."

"You do know you have a weird family, right?" Hermione bluntly said. Pansy laughed.

"Oh Granger, every pureblooded family has their secrets. Why do you think we have so many broom closets in our vast ancient Manors? To keep our skeletons in there! With how private society was till recently it was no difficult to keep anything we didn't wish the public to know a secret. For example did you know the first Lucius Malfoy courted Muggle Queen Elizabeth the First, and after she denied him it is believed he jinxed her and that's the reason she died unmarried?"

Now that was news.

"You are joking!" Ginny squealed laughing.

"No. Of course the Malfoys vehemently deny the accusations; many historical facts though prove that the family did in fact had close connections to Muggle high society until the Statute of Secrecy became efficient in 1692 and until today many believe their great fortune came from dabbling into Muggle currency and in the latest century into the rapidly progressing technology field. If you'd been in Malfoy Manor you would see they have plenty of Muggle art pieces. Again nothing can be proved but Draco does seem rather well acquainted with mobiles and computers don't you think?"

Hermione tilted her head thoughtfully. It was true Draco never showed any kind of interest, positive or negative, when she used her cell phone in front of him. He didn't jump in surprise when it rang -like Ron- or questioned her sanity when she seemingly talked to thin air.

Now that she thought about it she had found him many nights he slept over watching TV or browsing in her laptop. He had shrugged off her questions claiming it was stupidly easy after he had watched her many times use her computer but it always bugged her how familiar he seemed to be with her Muggle appliances.

"Yes actually." She answered frowning.

"So you are telling me that the stuck up, arrogant, 'purebloods are superior to Muggles' Malfoys owe their fortune to Muggles?!" Ginny asked practically gushing in excitement.

"Before you start gossiping I must inform you again that nothing has been proven. All is speculation and rumours."

"Yes but rumours for centuries! For them to persist for hundred of years it must be true!" Ginny insisted petulantly.

"Ginny people think Elvis is still alive for Merlin's sake! That doesn't mean it's true!" Hermione groaned as she twisted a lock of hair in her finger.

"If dad is right and Elvis is a wizard then it could be true!"

Dear lord she had forgotten Arthur's infatuation with 'the King' and his strong belief that he was actually a wizard in disguise and still alive.

"Who is Elvis?" Pansy asked with an arched brow.

"Not important!" Hermione shouted as she pointed a newly manicured finger at the beautiful dress. "Point is I'm not wearing that and that's final!"

"You are so wearing that even if I have to body bind you and spell it on you!" Ginny threatened as she brandished her wand. Hermione eyed it nervously. Her hormones had caused Gin's magic to run amok twice so far, and Molly told them it was only going to intensify until she passed the three month mile stone. And the shorter witch had no inclination to sport pink hair or Morgana forbid speak in haikus for a week. George may think it hilarious but she would be the laughing stock in the office if she fell victim to her friend's wrath.

Not to mention Ginny's eyes seemed unnaturally bright. Crying fits were also regular.

"Okay, fine." She sulkily agreed. "Just calm down woman. Stressing is not good for the baby."

"Acting like an idiot is annoying for the mummy so you better watch it for now if you care about your future godson."

"Isn't she a girl?" Pansy asked as she helped Hermione pull the silky dress of its hanger and undress.

"Harry thinks so but I know it's a boy. I can feel it." Ginny nodded as she rubbed her naked belly.

"I would feel sorry for you if he turns out like James Potter but after what you are forcing me to wear I'll just sit back and enjoy." Hermione dryly commented.

"Oh shush."

"Well well well, what do we have here? Did Pansy already dump you Weasley?"

The drawl was unmistakeable, the dryness that accompanied it made Harry and Ron simultaneously rolled their eyes at his predictable snarky remarks.

"Malfoy. That's a surprise." Harry commented as he turned around to lock eyes with his childhood nemesis and now someone he would go as far as to consider a friend.

Draco Malfoy was as always dressed impeccably, his dark suit was fitting his tall broad framed body like a glove and his shirt and tie matched in colour. His dress shoes were shining and his pale sharp face was hidden by his black mask. There was no mistaking his platinum blond locks though. His silver eyes were cold as was his smile as he inclined his head in greeting.

"Yeah, Ferret. Thought you had plans." Ron casually sipped his firewhiskey as he lifted a scarlet brow inquisitively.

Draco's jaw hardened as the nickname never failed to provoke his anger even after ten years.

"Obviously I changed my mind Weasel. You do know how much I simple love this kind of events." He sarcastically replied, flashing a challenging smile when Ron's ears turned red.

"Now now children." Harry intervened, not interest to watch a brawl between the two grown men. "Enough with the petty insults. Are you adults or not?"

"For once Potter is right." Draco smiled pleasantly and with a flourish motioned to the young woman standing right beside him who had gone unnoticed. She was tall and willowy with chocolate brown hair and soft brown eyes and kind face. Like all pureblood women in attendance she was dressed in a very modest claret cap sleeve bead organza A line evening ball dress, gold T strap sandals, a pair of simple black pearl drop earrings and a priceless diamond-ruby bracelet to match her red dress. In her hand she was holding a lacy-satin mask. "Weasley, Potter may introduce to you Miss Astoria Greengrass. She was two years below us in school."

"Greengrass?" Harry repeated as he politely shook her delicate hand. "Any relation to Daphne?"

"She's my older sister." Astoria's voice was soft, melodic and sweet. Her smile was genuine when she shook hands with Ron. "You know her?"

"She's close friends with my fiancé, Pansy Parkinson and we have the occasional dinner." Ron smiled as he looked up the entrance to the vast ballroom in search of said fiancé. Pansy was never punctuate, she believed such trivialities beneath her and ever since Hermione introduced her to the concept of fashionably lateness Pansy took it upon herself to always make an entrance. He still blamed Hermione for that.

"Oh! Pansy is a close family friend! I heard she got engaged but with my apprenticeship I have no time to socialize." Astoria regretfully informed.

"Apprenticeship?" Harry asked just to be cordial.

"Astoria is studying under Slughorn to be a Potions Mistress. He says she's very talented." Draco smiled affectionately at the brunette witch, her cheeks turning rosy.

"Really?" Ron forgot about the search for Pansy and turned to the younger woman. "Well thank the powers that be! That old bugger has been hounding Hermione to be his student ever since she graduated! He just couldn't take no for an answer, right Harry?"

The two shared a laugh not noticing how Draco's eyes flashed and his lips thinned.

Astoria smiled.

"I know. It's no surprise really; Miss Granger is a legend at Hogwarts for her academic achievements. No one had scores so high since He Who Must Not Be Named. I've been pleading with Professor Slughorn since my graduation to take me under his tutelage but he refused in the hopes that Miss Granger will be convinced she belongs in the world of potion making."

"Tell me about it. I think she actually jinxed him last time he cornered her in the Leaky." Harry narrowed his eyes in remembrance.

"Doesn't surprise me. She never liked the old fool." Ron chortled.

"Enough." Draco's cold tone made his three companions look at him weirdly. "This is a party if I'm not mistaken. And talking about Granger is not my idea of fun."

"Draco." Astoria whispered clutching his hand.

"Relax Malfoy. We know you and Mione don't get along-"

"Now what utter gibberish. I'm sure Draco adores Hermione."

Pansy swaggered to Ron's side, her long dress swishing as she moved her hips enticingly and winked at Harry.

"Pans! You look exquisite love!" Ron exclaimed as he grasped her hand and brought it to his lips, his eyes shining with love.

"You look dashing yourself my love." Pansy breathed out lovingly.

"Merlin get a room."

"Harry!" Ron's ears turned scarlet as he glared at his smirking friend.

"Yeah Potter, snarky comments are not appreciated. Especially from you." Pansy sneered. She turned her deep blue eyes on her blond friend and then the brunette witch standing beside him. "Tori! I had no idea you would be coming!"

Astoria smiled apologetically. "My apologies Pansy. I honestly hadn't planned to attend but Draco was persistent."

"Oh he was wasn't he?" She slyly asked.

"Well I couldn't exactly come alone now could I? That would be pathetic." He snarled as he eyed his best female friend. He didn't like the glint in her eye.

"This is a Valentine's Ball. Are you making a statement by coming together? Because for the last several weeks I'm hearing quite the gossip about you two."

Draco's already pale face turned ashen.

"That's none of your business Parkinson." He bit out furiously. "What-

"Are you starting a fight again Pans? You promised to play nice." Came Ginny Potter's cheery voice as she appeared behind her husband clad in a sexy green dress.

"Ginny! You look-

"Like a slag!"

"Sexy I was going to say." Harry continued with a glare at his best friend who was eyeing his sister disapprovingly.

"Thank you honey. You look dashing by the way." She purred and his blush was Weasley worthy.

"Can you not do that in front of me? For Merlin's sake Gin I'm your brother!"

"I'm pregnant you dolt! How do you think I got that way?"

"Eew! Not hearing, I'm deaf! Lalalala!"

"Ron stop singing. I love you but that's not a torture I'm willing to submit myself to, sorry. And Ginny stop provoking him. You are doing it on purpose, so stop!"

"I love it when you are being a bitch Parkinson. Reminds me of the old good days." Draco chuckled.

"Bite me sneak boy. Now to the more important matters. Pottette where in Hell is Granger? She was supposed to floo in after you! I think I specifically told you that if she made any fuss you should body bind her, levitate her and throw her of the balcony! I'm sure your husband and Ron would have caught her. They are Aurors for Merlin's sake, their reflexes are remarkable!"

"What?!"

"Granger's coming?"

Malfoy's eyes were wide as he regarded his school mate with sudden interest.

"Of course." Ginny intervened with a hostile look directed at him. His brows hit his hairline.

"And who is she coming with? I'm not sure there's a sane man who would ask her out if there was another available witch." Draco sneered as he titled his head mockingly.

"There's no need to be such a bastard about it Malfoy. Just because you don't like Mione doesn't mean you can insult her." Harry frowned.

"Ah but do you really dislike her, Drake? Or are you simple jealous of who might escort her?" Pansy leered.

Draco scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous Pansy. Why would I be jealous of that poor chap? If there's an actual chap."

"I'm sure I can find a reason why you'd be jealous." Ginny casually stated her brown eyes alight with unholy glee as she stared at something behind them.

"Oh really Red? Then please enlighten me why would I be jealous of the beaver's boyfriend?"

"Oh not just you, Drakey. I think all men in this room would too." Pansy, who had caught sight of what held Ginny's attention, smirked like the Cheshire Cat.

"What are you two talking about?" Ron scowled as he noticed their attention was elsewhere.

"More importantly who are you look- Dear Heavens is that...?" Harry's breathe caught and his green eyes widen comically.

"Oh yes!" Ginny gushed.

Ron and Astoria turned to see what was so enthralling and froze.

"She's beautiful." Astoria breathed and clutched Draco's arm tightly. The blond frowned at his companions' behaviour and turned sharply to look; his jaw unhinged and his brain short circuited.

Hermione cursed Ginny Potter's persuasiveness to hell and back and regretted her own inability to say no as she descended the stairs to the newly restored ballroom in the Ministry of Magic.

Everyone, and she meant everyone, had stop what they were doing to gawk at her. And she really couldn't blame them.

Thankfully her satin-lacy mask covered the top part of her face so her identity was a mystery for now.

And no matter her insecurity and nervousness she couldn't lie. She felt for the first time in a long time sexy.

Her voluminous hair was pulled into a messy updo with the front strands free framing her heart shaped face, her make-up was natural but the bold red lip stick made her look seductive.

And her dress. Goddess her dress... She couldn't believe Pansy and Ginny actually bought this for her.

It was a floor length, gold strapless gown. The top part was corset fashioned with a thin gold belt emphasizing her small waist. With the exception of her breasts, the whole dress was completely see through. The dress didn't allow for a bra but she wore a pair of delicate golden satin knickers that covered her bum. A pair of champagne coloured Christian Louboutin Hyper Prive Peeptoe Pumps from Pans extensive collection was on her petite feet and her right wrist was wrapped in her priced Earendil Wrap Cuff Bracelet dated to the Middle Ages, a present from Harry and Ron for her twenty first birthday.

She felt sensual, sensational.

Her eyes travelled on the guests and her heart flattered when she caught sight of many familiar faces.

Pansy and Ginny had found their significant others and were standing with a pretty brunette witch in a red dress and-

Merlin no.

There were only two men in the magical world with that colour of hair and she knew for a fact Lucius Malfoy would rather eat his own cane than attend this kind of event.

But he's supposed to be in France! He told me he had business to attend there that couldn't be postponed!

And you are so sure he told the truth right? A snide voice bit back at her as she internally flinched. Because he was so honest with you? Or you forgot what Pansy told you the week before your break up? Would you like a reminder?

No! It hurts enough as it is! She answered back mentally and shook her head.

So Draco had lied to her again. No surprise there. For two fucking years all he did was lie to her face so why was such a surprise that he did so again?

Because you are still in love with him!

No I'm not!

Yes you are! But he doesn't deserve your love! Look! He already has someone else! And not just someone! Recognise his little date from somewhere?

"Hermione! You look-

"Amazing!" Harry laughed as he hugged her tightly. Without her realising it she had reached her friends.

"I agree but I didn't think you were the type to wear something so... um.. Revealing?" Ron blushed heavily as he stubbornly kept his eyes on her face.

"Slutty I think is the most appropriate word Weasley." Draco's cold voice sent a knife straight to her gut.

"Draco!" Astoria gasped and smacked him lightly on his broad chest. She turned to Hermione with a small apologetic smile on her painted lips. "I'm sorry about that."

"No need for apologies. Especially when you are not the one to insult me. But I'm used to Malfoy's snide remarks by now. They don't affect me." She monotonously replied as she stared for a second on Astoria's hand now resting on Draco's chest.

The arrogant blond seemed to notice it too and smirked spitefully.

"How rude of me, Astoria let me introduce you to Hermione Granger. Granger, meet Astoria Greengrass," he paused for dramatic effect and then with a victorious, vicious smirk "my fiancé."