Angelina stood in the hallway by the dungeons. She knew Draco would be coming this way soon. It was the day of the second task so she did not have much time. Finally, she heard footsteps coming down the corridor. As soon as she saw the pale blond hair she grabbed his arm and pulled him into Snape's class.

"What the—Ina?"

"Draco, you have to help me."

"And good day to you too."

"Come on."

"Come on what? You haven't said a word to me in how long?"

"Well, maybe if you weren't so determined to ruin my relationship, I'd be more open to conversation."

"What relationship? I know you don't mean that sham you have with Weasel?"

"Speaking of shams, how's Pansy? At least I like my boyfriend."

"I'm leaving." He started out of the room.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry." Angelina said grabbing his arm and stopping him. "Please."

"What?"

"I need you to be my date."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"No."

"Please, Drake. Come on." Angelina begged. "It could be fun, like before. Remember before Fred and Pansy and Slytherin and Griffindor it was always us. Why can't we just do that for one night?"

"Because, it's not real."

Angelina was silent. Angelina sat on one of the tables. It was the table she and Fred shared.

"Are you breaking up with Weasley?" Draco asked moving to face her.

"No."

He leaned forward on the table with an arm on each side of her. "Then why don't you ask him?"

"Be serious, I can't ask Fred to take me. That would be awful. You know how theyare. I know, I would be totally embarrassed-"

"Yes, you would be. You should be."

"I hate you." She pushed him away and started toward the door. "You know exactly what I mean. Don't you wish sometimes that you could do what you wanted to do and not what you're told you have to do?"

"I do what I want to do." He yelled following her.

Whipping around to face him, Angelina said. "Really, then why are you so unhappy Drake? Tell me that. " Her voice was pleading again. "Come on Drake, it's me. Don't you still love me at all?"

Draco didn't respond.

"You're pathetic." She turned to leave again, but Draco grabbed her arm with some force.

"I'm the pathetic one? Who's the one having the secret affair, Ina? Who's the one trying to live double lives? Who's the one hiding things and skulking around empty classrooms? It is never going to work with you and that Bloodtraitor Weasley. The sooner you accept that and move on the better off you'll be. You're older you think you would have accepted that by now."

Angelina pulled her arm away from his grasp, turned around and buried her face in her hands. She hated this. Why did everything have to be so hard? Now, here she was begging Draco for help.

"What are you doing?" Draco was stunned hearing her sniffle and seeing her shoulders shake. "You're not—Ina! You can't cry. Stop it! You don't cry, so just stop." He said not knowing what else to. This was not like her to be bawling over some guy.

"I'm not crying." She said wiping her face.

He looked at her disapprovingly, wrapping his arms across his chest and sighed. "Fine."

"What?"

"I said, fine Angel, fine. But, don't blame me when this whole thing—"

"Oh, Drake." Angelina screamed throwing her arms around him.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

They both looked up, their arms still around each other. That mischevious smile instantly crept across Draco's face while Angelina's face turned to one of horror. "Fred?" What he was doing in Snape's stores she didn't know. But it was Fred. He was always in places he wasn't allowed to be in. She thought he'd be with George getting the bets for the second task ready.

"Thank you, once again, for another edition of Traitor's Theatre." Fred said lightly before determinedly exiting the room.

"Let me explain." Angelina begged running after him. Fred did not slow his step until Angelina stood in front of him halting his progress. "Fred please."

"What? What can you possibly tell me that is going to explain why I always catch you with Malfoy."

She knew there was nothing she could say but the truth now. "I'm—I'm being Bewitched."

"What?"

"Not literally of course, I am having a Bewitching Ball."

"What, like pretentious rich families make their daughters do?"

"Yes. Exactly like that." She said slowly walking forward.

"Why?"

"Because I am from a pretentious rich, family." Angelina said softly. "And I thought that if you knew about how I grew up and who I grew up with you would change your opinion of me."

"You're rich?" Fred asked.

"A little."

"What's a little?" Fred asked. When he thought about it he really didn't know anything about Angelina's family. She never really talked about them. She talks about them of course but he had no idea what her parents did or anything about them.

"Have you heard of Angelus Johnson?"

"Angelus Johnson? The Millionaire who owns the Tutshill Tornados?"

"Among other things, yeah, well that's kind of my father."

"That's your father?!!" Fred stood for a few moments in shock. She wasn't just rich she was a Galleonaire. Everything he overheard was starting to make sense. "So, that's why you asked Malfoy to be your date?"

"What—no, you don't understand."

"No, I heard you. You don't want me to embarrass you."

"Fred Draco is—"

"There's my Angel." She heard someone say.

Angelina didn't have to question whom the voice belonged to and by the horrified expression on Fred's face she knew this conversation became even harder. She clenched her fists and grimaced. She really wanted an opportunity to explain this one first. "Uncle Luke." She said smiling as he walked toward them.

Fred stood stupefied as Angelina met Lucius Malfoy and embrace him. Uncle? No way. What unholy union made this possible? Lucius Malfoy stood with his arm around Angelina completely disregarding Fred's existence. Fred looked beyond them to see Narcissa Malfoy, Draco and a very finely dressed Black couple walking toward them. Both ladies were dressed in thick fur coats and hats. Fred looked on in horror as Narcissa Malfoy and Angelina exchanged kisses on the cheeks.

Mrs. Malfoy placed her hands on Angelina's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Ina, what is the matter dear? You look upset?"

Angelina took a breath and said a quick prayer. "No, no of course not. Aunt Cissy, Mother, Daddy, what are you guys doing here?" Angelina asked greeting her parents.

"Didn't Draco tell you we were coming?" Lucius Malfoy asked. "We waited here for you, because he said you were on your way."

"I sure he did. How considerate of him." Angelina said through gritted teeth moving to stand between Lucius and Fred. She looked back at Fred who was obviously taking this opportunity to make his exit certain the group would not notice his absence as they didn't seem to notice his presence. Angelina saw Lucius' arm flick swiftly as his cane struck Fred in his stomach preventing his departure.

"Ina, are you not going to introduce your friend?" He said acknowledging Fred's existence for the first time. He still did not deign look at him but kept his eyes trained on Angelina.

"Of course. I was just going to." Angelina said nervously. "Fred, these are Draco's parents Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and my parents Angelus and Lucinda Johnson. Everyone, this is Fred. Fred Weasley."

"What's all this now?" Angelina's father said.

Looking up, Fred saw Angelina's father's large frame moving toward him. He was dressed similar to Lucius Malfoy with the very expensive black robes and a thick cape with an ornate—and obviously Goblin made—clasp: a silver serpent with emerald eyes. "Fred Weasley? Angelus Johnson." He extended his Dragon-skin gloved hand to him.

Fred took it and tried his best to be coherent in his greeting. This was far too overwhelming. He could see Draco on the side smirking obviously enjoying this.

"Weasley?" Mr. Johnson said stroking his chin. "Don't I know a Weasley?"

"Arthur Weasley," Mr. Malfoy whispered leaning closer to Mr. Johnson. "You know."

"Ahh, another Weasley? Great Merlin, how many of them are you?

"Seven." Fred answered.

"Far too many." Mr. Malfoy said in his cool voice.

"I'm sure you remember my sister Ginny, don't you Mr. Malfoy?" Fred asked defiantly. Although they didn't know for certain, he was still convinced that it was Malfoy who gave Ginny Tom Riddle's diary.

"All the red hair is too distracting to remember you individually." He answered un-phased.

"I meet a Weasley in Egypt?" Mr. Johnson said. "Another one?"

"Yes, my brother Bill works for Gringotts there."

"Ah, yes. He was a big help. Very capable." Mr. Johnson paused to look Fred up and down. His entire tone and expression changed. "Now, to get to the meat of it all Fred Weasley. Exactly how well do you know my daughter? You two are just friends I assume."

Angelina stood only a few feet away but was being absorbed into another conversation. This is not how she wanted to introduce Fred to her parents if at all. And, she knew how much he hated the Malfoys so she really would have loved to prepare him for this level of familiarity.

"Ina, are you listening to me?"

"Sorry, aunt Cissy, what?" She said. She would not be able to eavesdrop on the males' conversation and participate in her own simultaneously.

"We wanted to know if you tried on the dress yet." Her mother sighed obviously annoyed.

"Oh, no."

"Angelina Cassiopeia, I sent that to you over a month ago." He mother complained.

"Oh, don't worry, Lucy." Narcissa moved closer to Angelina. "I am sure you will look beautiful as always, my dear."

"Thank you aunt Cissy."

"Besides, I was the one who picked that dress." Narcissa said fixing Angelina's Griffindor scarf. "And no one can deny that our Angel looks stunning in green."

"Apparently the sorting hat didn't think so." Angelina said much louder that she had desired. Narcissa Malfoy released Angelina's scarf as if it burned and her mother gasped and Angelina realized she did not need to remind them of their greatest disappointment: her being sorted into Griffindor instead of Slytherin. The group fell silent. Both the Malfoys and both her parents were not only Slytherins but they each came from a long line of Slytherins. With their Pureblood Slytherin pride, her being a Griffindor was hard enough to accept in her first year. They did not need that thrown in their faces.

Her father and Uncle Luke began grilling Fred as to the nature of their relationship and Fred finally conceded by telling them that he and Angelina were in fact dating since they went to the Yule Ball together.

"Draco?" Narcissa Malfoy said in her soft drawl. "You didn't tell me that Ina was dating that Weasley boy?"

"Oh, didn't I mother?" Draco moved toward the women between his mother's and Mrs. Johnson. "I suppose I didn't think he was very important." He shot Angelina a look. "I'm sorry aunt Lucy."

"It's not your fault Drakie. Angelina was the one keeping secrets; I don't think we should be questioning Drake." Lucinda Johnson said firmly.

Angelina narrowed her eyes, throwing daggers at Draco.

"Oh, Lucy. It's not as if we didn't keep a few secrets from our mothers when we were that age. She is young. It is not serious. It is not as though she is going to marry a Weasley." Narcissa Malfoy said matter-of-factly. "But, I thought you told me the Diggory boy asked you? He is a Hufflepuff though. Still, at least he is handsome. He would look very good on your arm at your Bewitching."

"Yes, a school Ball is one thing but your Bewitching is what is important." Her mother said. "You cannot go with just anyone. And Diggory may look nice but I would much rather you went with someone from a better family."

"True. It is better to send the right message." Her aunt Cissy agreed. "What about Halston? He's older, very handsome and Zabini is an old family."

Angelina looked at Fred knowing he had overheard this entire conversation. A part of her wanted to scream 'Do you see why you never met my family? Do you see why I kept this a secret?' But, she was too ashamed. And, when she saw the look on his face she knew her fears about him meeting them was founded. He didn't look at her the way he used to. He looked at her as though she were on of them.

"I'm sure you all want to catch up." Fred said. He did not take his eyes off Angelina nor did the expression she feared change. "I'm late and have to meet my brother." As Fred started off he was stopped again by Lucius Malfoy's cane.

"I am glad to hear Mr. Weasley that you and Angelina are not serious." He started. "After all, Angelina was raised in a very privileged lifestyle quite beyond your comprehension. Someone of your background could not possibly understand. You two are from completely different worlds. You could never dream to keep her in—how do the Muggles say it—the manner to which she is accustomed."

"Uncle Luke!"

"Angel, my dear." He said placing his hand firmly on her shoulder. "What kind of godfather would I be if I did not look out for your well being?"

She looked up at him knowing what he was doing. He was so good at belittling people. He never yelled. He never raised his voice. And, he often smiled. But, the way he spoke with such disdain made his message abundantly clear. "Come, come." He said tilting her chin toward him. "Don't look at me that way. After all you are our only girl. We have to make sure that you will be taken care of."

Fred was red with anger but chose not to respond. "Ladies." He nodded to Angelina's mother and Mrs. Malfoy.

"Charmed." They said in unison, in a tone that conveyed they were anything but.

Fred just looked at Angelina and without saying another word turned and left.

"Fred!" She called starting to go after him. She had not gone two steps when she felt someone clutch her wrist tight. She looked back to see her father preventing her departure.

"You cannot be serious?" He said. "Weasley?"

"Daddy." She looked at Draco, who just stood beside her mother with that look saying 'I told you so' in his eyes.

Angelina's family did not approve of her choice in Fred Weasley. The only thing he had in his favor was being a Pureblood but as Mr. Malfoy reminded them the Weasleys' rarely behaved like it. Teenager or no, Angelus Johnson was not going to allow his only daughter to make such an appalling decision. She was seventeen and old enough to begin accepting her position in society. Angelina actually spent the first half of the day watching the second task with her parents and the Malfoys. Draco abandoned them directly and Angelina was made to suffer the disapproval of her parents and her Godparents. When she was finally allowed to join her friends she was exhausted.

Fred, being who he was, continued as though nothing had happened. He, George and Lee made jokes, took bets and were their normal social selves. He was nothing if not a good actor.

"Are you okay?" Alicia asked as her friend sat down. She saw Angelina's parents and by the look of her things did not go well.

"Well, he knows." Angelina answered.

"And?" Katie asked.

"And, I was right. He hates me. He won't even look at me." Angelina informed. She had tried to get Fred's attention. She stood close to him alongside Ginny and still he would not acknowledge her. Finally, she gave up and joined her friends.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you guys will make up as usual." Alicia said trying to reassure her.

"Yeah, you guys fight all the time." Katie added hopefully.

"This is different." Angelina said.

It was different. Normally, she was the one angry with Fred. Normally, he was the one who did something stupid or insensitive and therefore was the one who had to ask for forgiveness. This time it was Angelina who needed it. She actually felt sorry for Fred now, for the first time being on the opposite end. He must really like her to go through this every time. Did he feel like this every time?


A/N: What??? Slytherin Angelina? Uncle Luke??? Well, I rather like Lucius--aside from that whole Death Eater bit. Hmm, that can't be good. I wonder what Fred thinks?