"You're staring again mate." I blinked and looked over at my twin. He chuckled and shoved another bit of mashed potatoes in his mouth. "I mean, I get it. McKay is nice to look at sure. But you're bordering on obsession. It's getting a little creepy." I rolled my eyes at him and flicked a couple of peas his way.

"Bugger off George." But I made a concentrated effort to not let my eyes drift back to the Slytherin table.

"Weasley is staring at you again." I looked over at the offending red-head and sneered. Rolling my eyes I turned back to my best friend.

"He can look all he wants I guess." I took a small bite of the salad I had on my plate. "Load of good it will do him." Like a Gryffindor and a Slytherin could ever be anything but enemies. Let alone a blood traitor like Fred Weasley and myself. Not that I cared much one way or the other what he believed. But I had a certain reputation to uphold. I drifted off into my own thoughts as the mindless chatter of my friends surrounded me. I was Brianna McKay after all. Wealthy pureblood, only child of the Minister of Magic's right hand man Charles McKay. My father would have a heart attack if he even got a whiff of a rumor that I was friends with a Weasley. It just wouldn't do.

"So what are you planning?" I arched a brow and turned to Sarah, my best friend. We were opposites in every physical aspect. Her blonde hair stopped right at her chin and her hazel eyes shown surrounded by thick black lashes. She was petite, barely passing my shoulder. I had dark brown curls that fell to the middle of my back. I loved my blue eyes, but could never achieve the lashes Sarah had. And even with heels, Sarah was nowhere near my 5'8" frame.

"Planning?" I questioned.

"I assume you're being unusually quiet because you're planning your start of the year bash." A few of the other 7th years at the table turned toward me with excitement.

"Ohhhhh yes! When is it Bri?" The nasally voice of Violet Williams called from a few spots done. I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous nickname. I wasn't even friends with Violet.

"Oh don't you lot tire of the same old party with the same old people every year?" I drummed my fingers against the table. "Not to be terribly offensive but I see you blokes all the time. We were just at a party before school started at Flints." The group moaned their displeasure.

"Surely the great Slytherin Princess can come up with an exciting new idea." Marcus Flint said from across the table. I wanted to through my head back and scream. I had never asked to be the Slytherin party planning princess.

"I'm sure you'll come up with something fabulous. You always do." Violet smiled before turning back to her group. I wanted to chuck a dinner roll at her stupid head. She could plan a party if she bloody well wanted to. That was the only thing anyone ever wanted me to do. It was after all what a true pureblood lady was supposed to be good at. Birthing babies and planning parties. And since I wasn't pushing a kid out any time soon, I was stuck. Of course, the other girls in my house could have also pick up this long standing pureblood tradition but it seemed that only I was deemed worthy of pulling together these school events. I'd done so since 2nd year. But each year was the same. All the Slytherins, drunk on smuggled in firewhiskey, dancing around the common room. The same thing we did over the summer at a rotating list of homes when parents were out of town. Not that I hated any of the classmates, but there was just no excitement when you partied with the same people over and over and over.

I excused myself from the table, complaining of a headache. Really I just desperately wanted to be away from the nosy bunch. Talking about engagements and who was having a baby or an affair or whose mother was doing what trendy diet now-a-days. I don't know when all this melancholy started, but as of late I just couldn't stand the boring droll that was pureblood society.

My feet carried me down the familiar halls, heading towards the dungeons and the bed that was calling my name. I hardly paid any attention to where I was going. So it should have come as no surprise when I ran smack into something. Or someone.

"Woah!" An arm gripped my waist, stopping me from falling flat on my ass. My hands immediately flew up and landed on a strong chest. Blue eyes met mine as I tried to catch my breath.

"Watch where you're walking much Weasley?" I said, much more breathlessly than intended. I was trying to ignore the strong feel of his arm around me, or the electricity that seemed to be flowing up my spine.

"I think you're the one that needs to be watching where they're walking McKay." Fred, for I'm sure that's who it was, said as he righted me on my feet and released me. I tried to suppress the sudden cold chill I felt without his arm.

"Whatever." I pushed past him with my head held high. Maybe it was just the lighting, but I could have sworn he smirked as I left. Turns out this year wasn't going to be as boring as I feared.

"Masquerade." I smiled sliding in next to Sarah at breakfast. She looked from the paper and her cup of coffee.

"Come again?"

"We'll have a masquerade party." I said as I fixed a cup of coffee as well and grabbed a piece of toast. "And we'll open it up to all the houses."

"You've gone mad." Sarah said shaking her head. "No one will agree to bring the other houses into the common room."

"That's why we won't have it in the common room." I'd been up all night planning the most epic back to school party. I hadn't been able to fall asleep as I tossed and turned remembering deep blue eyes and sparks.

"Who wants to party with a bunch of blood traitors and mudbloods. Or Hufflepuffs for that matter…" Draco Malfoy sneered. I glared at him.

"Not that anyone asked you Malfoy, but what better way to show we're better than by flaunting it in front of everyone?" I took a bite of my toast. "It's utterly ingenious. Plus, no one will know who the others are! It'll be…"

"Stupid." Flint replied.

"Ridiculous." Malfoy nodded.

"A disaster." Sarah commented from behind her pages. I huffed, annoyed.

"You bloody party poopers. Where is your sense of adventure? Your sense of fun!" I pouted and turned to Flint. "Come on Marcus! Wouldn't you love the chance to hit on any girl you wanted without her knowing it was you?" He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Well I'm throwing this party and if you all don't want to come then so be it." Determined, I grabbed my bag as I finished my last bit of coffee. "But this is going to be the best party I've ever thrown so you'll be the ones missing out." And with that I stormed to my first class of the day.

Classes were a bore. Teachers droned on and on about the importance of our NEWTs this year. What use were NEWTs to a future housewife? Not that I did poorly in class mind you. Heavens no that wouldn't do. A McKay must always be top of their class as my father always said. But it was hard to feel the stress of this year when I knew I wouldn't be heading into a career. So instead I spent the first day of class making lists of party supplies. Thought I tried to fake annoyance with Sarah for dismissing my idea, by our second class of the day she had come around.

"How do you plan to announce this little party without getting caught?" She whispered as we scribbles notes in Charms.

"Easy darling. You'll see." My eyes sparkled. I had been honest when I said this would be my best party yet. I even knew the perfect place. Not that I was sharing that tidbit with anyone just yet.

Sarah's question was answered before the end of the day. As the 7th years that had lasted in History of Magic fought sleep, I whispered a quiet spell. While Professor Binns droned on about some war or other, the words on the black board sprang to life. Everyone began whispering as the invitation shimmered behind our ghostly teacher.

Come and find us, one and all

But don't show your face, it's a Masquerade Ball!

5th years and up are invited to attend

When firewhiskey's involved, all will be friends!

This Saturday starting at 11:00

7th floor, walk by thrice

Better ask Barnabas to play nice

"You're pretty good B." Sarah chuckled. "The school will be buzzing about this in no time." I smirked. My invitation was vague enough that the real dolts wouldn't be able to find the party but clear enough that there would still be plenty of people. I mock bowed as we stood to head down for dinner.

"I aim to please my friend." I linked my arm with hers as we pushed our way through the crowd. "Now to pick out the perfect outfit."

"Well, are you lot going?" Angelina asked as she slid in beside Lee at the Gryffindor table. The whole school was buzzing about the mystery party invitation that had shown up in the 7th year History of Magic class.

"Sounds like a bloody Slytherin prank if you ask me." Lee said as he speared his chicken. "But wouldn't miss it for the world."

"George? Fred?" Angelina's eyes stayed on me for a second longer than my brother. I knew she had feelings for me, but a certain dark haired snake was the only one I had eyes for at the moment.

"Sure, why not?" George shrugged. "Always up for a good party."

"And free firewhiskey? Count me in." I smiled. Angelina blushed and smiled.

"Great! Maybe I'll see you there." She hurried away to join Alicia and Katie further down the table.

"And maybe you'll see your one true love McKay there." Lee chuckled at George as he clasped his hands together and batted his eyes at me.

"I bet I could get McKay faster than you could get any girl at the party Georgie." I mocked my brother. For as outgoing as George was with me at pranks he was terribly shy with the female sex.

"I'd pay a galleon to see that." Lee chortled. "The Gryffindor Prankster sweeps the coldhearted snake off her feet. Yea right."

"Bet?" I smirked.

"Bet." Lee and I shook hands. George rolled his eyes.

"Why you make bets you know we're gonna lose I will never know."

"Why dear brother, ye of little faith!" I placed a hand over my heart. "You wound me so." He rolled his eyes and changed the topic with Lee to this years quidditch matches. But little did he know, I remembered all too well the way a certain snake had reacted when I caught her mid fall just the night before. I was certain this party was my chance to catch the girl of my dreams.