Here is the final entry I wrote for the mini-fest on LJ. There are 10 chapters and I'll be updating every few days or so. I'll be a bitch and say that the more reviews the sooner I'll update, but know that the whole thing is completed so if you don't review, it will be updated soon enough. Please enjoy reading.

Pairing(s): Multiple Pairings
Prompt: 2011 Prompt: Someone's spiked the eggnog with Veritaserum at the Auror Dept's Christmas do. Jobs are threatened, hexes and punches are thrown, friendships sorely tested, and to everyone's complete lack of surprise _ & _ are discovered snogging under a desk.
Notes: I originally intended for this to be quick and enjoyable and it grew into something long and silly and fun. Thanks to yeaka and g_bowneyes for the beta and I hope everyone else enjoys this absolute behemoth of ridiculousness.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Kingsley's POV

Everyone knew that the Annual Ministry Yule Ball wasn't really where one wanted to be on the weekend before Christmas. They all knew, though, that if they wanted to have actual fun, they would have to sit through the stodgy event and persevere. Speeches, dancing, ridiculous plates of food that no one really enjoyed, Celestina Warbeck promoting her latest album.

It really was worth it, Kingsley mused.

He hated the Ball, just as much as his staff did - especially the Aurors - but it was tradition, and the Wizarding world was all about tradition. The young folk, though, hated how formal the Ball was. And if they were anything, it was ingenious. They came up with a way to maintain the tradition, but still make it their own.

The Afterparty.

Bless Hermione Granger's soul for being Muggle-born. Kingsley didn't have lots of time to sit in on Magical Law meetings, but he was very, very happy to have sat in that particular one. After discussing the latest cases against Dark Wizards - there were none, all Death Eaters being dead or locked away in Azkaban - they began speaking about the Ball. Everyone tried to convince him that cancelling the event or changing it up would be well worth it.

Unfortunately, he had no say in that. It was written into the very magic of the Ministry that the Annual Ministry Yule Ball had to occur, less the very foundation of their society crumble.

So, Hermione, being her awesome self, told anecdotes from the Muggle world about drinking and dancing and letting your hair down, and the Auror Afterparty was born.

And thank Merlin for that.

Kingsley shrugged his robes off his shoulders and loosened his tie. He tapped his foot while he waited for the lift to take him to Level Two.

He needed this. After the stuffy party upstairs, after seeing off several Wizengamot members to the Floo, trying to maintain a diplomatic view on key issues, after listening to old geezers groan and whine about the state of affairs, he wanted - no, needed - to relax.

Based off what Hermione said, he knew that this was where he was going to get to. The whole affair promoted being carefree and enjoying oneself. He figured he'd get to sit with his old colleagues and lament over the good ol' days, chasing bad guys and hunting Death Eaters. All this over a good strong cup of Eggnog. He couldn't wait.

He just hoped that it didn't get too wild. He knew the younger crowd had a tendency to get rather rambunctious, but he had faith that their superiors would keep them in check. At least until he got there to take over that duty.

He strolled down the long corridor, robes folded over his arm, humming the latest Celestina Warbeck song - from the Holiday album she just promoted, no less. He quickly bypassed the Wizengamot Administration Services offices, hating their very existence, being reminded of the conversations he had tried to avoid earlier. He turned left to avoid the shabby, small, crowded Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, until he reached the tall double doors leading to his final destination.

Auror Headquarters. The words shimmered on the gold placard.

Sometimes, when it was just him alone in his office, he would reminisce about the old times. When he was just an Auror running around wherever Moody and then Robards would send him. He would stare at the fireplace and just remember. That is, until his secretary would enter his office with more notes, pressing Wizengamot cases, meeting schedules, guests, and Minister duties.

The doors opened right in front of him, barely missing his face. He immediately took a step back to avoid collision and his eyes bulged when he caught sight of the party.

"Oh, Kings - I mean Minister!" Pansy uttered, holding onto the door to keep from falling over.

"Miss Parkinson," he nodded, unsure how to react to the normally professional woman. "How are you this evening?"

"Mostly good. I could do with a shag from the boyfriend though," she replied, throwing a hand over her mouth. "Please excuse me." She quickly straightened herself and ran back into the room, hiding from her boss.

Kingsley didn't know his assistant was seeing anyone but decided that was the last of his problems. He stepped into the Auror's large bullpen and realised something was clearly wrong.

Squabbles amongst friends. Lovers quarrelling. Robards was crying. The man was Head Auror, and there were fat tears streaming down his face.

He glanced around the room, trying to make sense of the situation. Pansy was hiding in a cubicle, clutching a red cup to her chest, while seething at the youngest male Weasley.

Draco Malfoy had his arms stretched around Hermione Granger in an attempt to get to the Eggnog. She didn't seem put out in the slightest, drinking some herself.

Narcissa looked like she wanted to slap her husband or Severus or even both.

And he thought that this was going to be better than the party upstairs.

He continued to take account of his surroundings; it appeared everyone had had some of the Eggnog. Note to self: do not drink anything. He sidestepped over to the refreshment table and poured himself a small helping of the Eggnog and then walked away from all the guests. He sequestered himself in one of the cubicles that allowed him the best vantage point and he eyed his drink.

It looked like normal Eggnog.

He raised the glass close to his nose, and sniffed.

It smelled like normal Eggnog. Maybe a little on the strong side, but still the typical holiday fare.

He wouldn't drink the Eggnog, but he had to make sure. He tilted the glass to his mouth and allowed a smidgen to grace his lips. He placed the glass back down on the desk and darted his tongue over his lips to taste.

Ah ha!

He couldn't believe that the Aurors had let this slip by. He remembered the rigorous training he underwent just to avoid a situation such as this from ever occurring.

The Eggnog was spiked with Veritaserum.

And based off the snickering coming from the far dark corner, he had an idea of who was at fault.