PROLOGUE: An Annual Ball.
Tonight was the night when Lucius Malfoy held his annual end of summer ball, it was the 30th of August, just two days before Amy Rookwood would return to Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, where she would be starting her 6th year, along with Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode, Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Arriving at the front door, Amy and her mother were soon let into the infamous Malfoy Manor, by one of the Malfoy's house elves who took their coats before ushering them into the main room where the ball was to be held. As soon as they'd crossed the threshold, the elf disapparated, and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy greeted them. "Ah Mrs. Rookwood how very kind of you to come, I feared that we would not be seeing you this evening given recent circumstances" Lucius Malfoy greeted with a polite smile on his lips. Mrs. Rookwood gave a somewhat forced smile and replied "Don't be daft Lucius, we attend every year, just because certain events haven't fallen in our favor over the past few months does not mean we would not attend." Lucius nodded, agreeing with what she'd pointed out to him, just as the doors behind them opened again, causing Lucius to excuse himself. Victoria Rookwood smiled kindly as Narcissa Malfoy rolled her eyes half heartedly at her husband "Well Viccy by any account I am pleased you came, I don't know if I could of stood around all night playing host and listening to Mrs. Parkinson all night, without wanting to tell her to be quiet" she gave a small chuckle which Victoria shared. "Great, the Parkinson's are here" Amy muttered under her breath, causing Narcissa to turn her attention towards her "Well don't you just look splendid Amy" she exclaimed, stepping back a pace in order to get a full view of her "I don't think I would of recognized you had your mother not been standing here" she added, "Why the change?" she questioned, in reference to Amy's hair, which, several days previously when she'd been at Malfoy manor had been almost as white as Lucius', Amy simply shrugged in reply "As much as I like having white blonde hair, being a brunette just seems to suit me more" she explained "Well dear, as I said, it looks very nice, and you yourself look simply stunning" Narcissa replied. Amy smiled politely in reply as Narcissa then proceeded to whisk her mother away, telling her that Draco was surely to be around somewhere.
With a sigh she sidled over to where she knew she could get a drink, avoiding being asked to dance as the tempo of the music changed from a slow song to something much more energetic, before casting her eye over the current people in the makeshift ballroom. Her eyes only had to land on several of the people to know that many death eaters were in attendance tonight. Turning back to the bar she collected her glass of pumpkin juice just as two beefy looking boys appeared at her side, easily towering over her small height, but not seeming to realize who she was, as the last time they'd set eyes on her, she had long straight white blonde hair that fell to somewhere just below the middle of her back, and tonight her hair was brown, and styled in elaborate curls that fell to just below her shoulder blades. "Crabbe, Goyle" she spoke in greeting "Didn't your parents ever tell you that it's rude to ignore someone?" she demanded, only receiving a grunt from one or the other as her eyes scanned the heads of the guests, searching for white blonde, after all, if his make believe body guards were at the bar, then he had to be heading over here too.
After receiving no real response from either Crabbe or Goyle, she turned to face them, only to be met by someone much less bulkier "Draco" she said, slightly surprised by the fact he'd managed to creep up on her without her noticing. She'd always been able to tell when someone was sneaking up on her, her dad had taught her from a young age, before he'd been arrested. "You look surprised to see me Rookwood, although I don't imagine as to why as it is my house" he drawled in an almost bored voice, whilst she rearranged her features, effectively shutting him, and anyone else out, and stopping them reading her emotions freely. Amy smirked "Well, I have every right to be surprised when you're over here when I'm sure you could find someone else to entertain other than me" she replied, before adding "And I don't know if you've heard, but apparently Pansy and her family are here, so why aren't you playing host with them?" she queried, pleased to see a flicker of displeasure at the idea of spending time with Pansy pass across his face, causing him to roll his eyes "You know as well as I do that she can be terribly boring and monotonous" he declared giving Amy a look that clearly said 'I'm sure we've had this conversation before', to which Amy just shrugged "I'm simply surprised you aren't in her clutches" she told him truthfully, to which Draco shook his head "Unfortunately for her, I thought that I should spend time with one of my eldest friends, seeing as I haven't had a chance to see her much during this last holiday" "and whose fault is that" she snapped under her breath, not sure if he heard her, but her question was answered by him simply raising his eyebrow.
Grabbing his drink from the side Draco offered her his arm, which after only a moment's hesitation she took, letting him lead her through the current dance floor spinning her briefly under his arm and out into the entrance hall, and into a dead silence after the upbeat tempo of the music in the ball room, and then through a door by the elaborate marble staircase without question.
The room he had led her to was something of a small banquet hall. "What are we doing here?" Amy enquired, although it was rather obvious as this was the room that the main meal would be held in later that evening. "Like I said, I'd like to be able to spend some time with my friend before school starts and we're bogged down with homework" Draco explained "and everybody will be moving in here in about five minutes to eat whatever it is mother asked the house elves to prepare" he added, and, as Amy observed him, she could see that his features had softened, meaning that he'd let down some of the walls he'd built that were designed to keep everybody out, the walls that kept his expression blank and emotionless. For at least five minutes she'd get to talk to the Draco that wasn't trying to be the perfect son and heir to the Malfoy fortune.