Chapter 6

Let's pretend here Travers was never in Azkaban...

My dress was fabulous. The bottom was loaded with golden aswell as white diamonds that faded out near the top to finish in a strapless red sweet heart neck line.

''Gregory, you are... this dress is...'' My sister Sarah was wordless. She decided to help me get ready... and try on my rejected gowns since they were way better than her dress. I am so thankful for Gregory, I had tried on so many different dresses and they all were beautiful but this one was truly the most beautiful dress I have ever seen!

''Oh! I almost forgot,'' Gregory took out a dazzling pair of earrings, ''Now these were all we had but they should do the trick.''

''Thank you so much Gregory!'' After I got out of the dress and ordered some elves to take care of all the other dresses we bid our goodbyes. Now I had to figure something out for my hair...

5pm Zabini Residence

Ms. Zabini was walking in the gardens with multiple reporters, talking about the ball tonight and how much work they had put in it while the house elves were preparing everything. The ball room was humongus.

Everything was golden, from the grand stair case to the big rich chandeliers. Different shades of gold shimmered as the sun was setting, its light coming from the large window that touched the ground aswell as the ceiling behind the staircases. Later tonight, from this very window, the full moon and its accompanying stars will make a beautiful background. Amongst the guests of honors there will be Mr. Nott and his son, the Greengrass family, the Flint's, the Malfoy family and last but not least the Daragons. Mrs. Zabini will be accompanied by Mr. Travers and her son, Blaise Zabini, will be accompanying Ms. Elisabeth Daragon this evening. The event is to start at 8 pm and finish at midnight. Full coverage of the event will be posted in tomorrow's edition of the Daily Prophet. Make sure to get a copy, where juicy gossip is sure to be spilled!

As Ms. Zabini showed the reporters her livingroom, Draco Malfoy appeared in the fireplace with a rather large bag on his shoulder.

''Oh, good evening Ms. Zabini, I didn't think i'd run into anyone at this time,'' Draco moved slowly and with care as he embraced Blaise's mother.

''Good evening Draco, dear... oh! Why you're right it is so late.'' She turned towards the reporters and excused herself as she had to get ready.

''Draco...'' One of the reporters started to walk towards Draco. Draco held up his hand and walked towards one of the doors in the room. Just before leaving he said :
''It's Malfoy to you.''

Clear 'clinks' were heard as he walked away briskly. The rejected reporter mumbled:

''Drunko Malfoy you mean...'' All the reporters muffled a laugh as some wrote down on their papers KEEP EYE ON DRACO. MALFOY MISCHIEF.

8 pm, Zabini residence

All the men were lined up on the stairs, organized by blood status: least important on the bottom and most at the top of the stairs. On the bottom of the stairs a photographer was waiting as well as a handful of reporters. The room already had about a hundred guests scattered around, but it started to really fill up as the women would collect their date from the stairs to the dancefloor. We were all waiting in an empty big room atop of the stairs. Pansy Parkinson introduced herself to me as she rudely interrupted mine and Narcissa's conversation. She wouldn't stop pulling on my sandy curls. Atleast I was making friends... Kind of.

I had already had many compliments on my dress... as well as many dirty looks. One larger girl 'accidentally' dropped her plate of bread and pastries on my dress. Thankfully, my sister took out her wand and cleaned the mess.

I then decided to sit alone in a chair until it was my turn, to avoid nasty run ins. When my mother left and there was only myself and Blaise's mother left in the room. I felt uncomfortable, she seemed so shaky and anxious.

''Is everything alright ?'' I asked her, approaching her near the refreshements table.

''Oh yes, dear, I'm just a bit stressed. I really want everything to be perfect, you know.''

''I'm sure everything will be more than perfect,'' I awkwardly rubbed her back and she smiled at me. She handed me a glass of champagne and took one for herself.

''A toast, to a beautiful evening ahead,'' she said, raising her glass.

''And to the best summer ball, ever.'' I added. We smiled and took a drink.

The elf in the room called on her as it was her turn to leave this empty room and enter the elegant party.

''But Ms. Zabini I thought you were the last to...''

''Ellisabeth, it's the man of the house that comes in last... anyways, Blaise insisted, you know how much he likes attention.'' She gave me one last look before leaving the room and added, ''you are the most beautiful girl here, and that dress...'' she smiled a bright smile and left the room.

I started shaking a little. I had to go in last? Nah, it's no big deal, I had to go next to last anways. I'll be fine. I drank the rest of my champagne. They called my name. I downed another glass.

''Good for the nerves...'' I whispered to myself.

I left the waiting room and saw everyone's stare turning from and Travers to me. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. Thank god I had an unimaginable amount of powder on my face. I walked over to Blaise, he took my hand and kissed it. This made me smile and I had to try hard not to roll my eyes.

''I wouldn't expect less of you...'' He whispered.

''Thanks... I think.'' I smiled brightly, like if he was the most charming man ever. Good for the press, you know.

Everything after that was a blur. We got down quickly enough, a bright flash, a couple of questions and we were on the dancefloor for the first official dance. I placed one my red gloved hands on Blaise's shoulder and one in his hand.

''Ellie, really you have outdone yourself... and every girl in here. You are smokin'.'' Blaise said as he lifted me in the air, dancing.

''OK mister charming, gross, stop it.'' I squinted looking around the dancefloor to see who was with who. ''Is that Parkinson with Draco?''

''Pansy Parkinson, she's terrible. He hates her... she must've convinced her date and Draco's mother to dance together. Poor bloke...''

''Oh god Marcus Flint is getting uglier every year!'' I whispered in Blaise's ear. He laughed as he twirled me around, this somehow caught Draco's attention but he quickly looked the other way once I caught him staring.

''Well I'll say his looks are horrible but he is a good guy to have around when Draco starts running his mouth at the other houses.'' Blaise agreed.

''Oh gross look at my sister...'' her and her husband were dancing and looking at each other, mesmerized by love.

''C'est l'amour.'' Blaise said.

My breath got caught up in my throat when I saw Oliver. I screwed up a step and almost fell, thank god Blaise picked me up and somehow covered up my mistake.

''What the hell, Daragon!''

''Sorry, sorry...''

We finished dancing in silence and I half curtsied and ditched Blaise. I walked over to where I had seen Oliver, but he wasn't there anymore. I was about to go on the hunt for him, but got caught up in introductions and conversations with uninteresting people. A Russian family introduced me to their son, who was about my age, he was a giant compared to me though; tall and very muscular. We talked for a while about school and quidditch, but we didn't have much in common so I politely excused myself. I talked for a while with the Prince family, whom I had known since I was young. I ran into a couple of friends from school too, which was nice. Too bad my best friend Annabelle, from France, couldn't make it. Before bidding my goodbyes, one of the boys slipped me some fireball:

''A bunch of us are meeting by the pool later, if you ever want more fuel for that fire...'' He winked and I promised I'd stop by later.

When I finally made it to the porch, for some fresh air, I saw a tall, lean boy entering the gardens.

''Oliver?'' I asked. But the boy didn't seem to hear me and kept walking.

I chased after him, holding my dress in one hand and my heels in the other. The garden was filled with flowers and bushes as tall as my chest. When I got close enough I called for him:

''Oliver! Wait up!'' He turned around and I almost ran into him.

''Ellisabeth!''

10 pm Zabini Manor

Draco and Blaise had joined their friends from Hogwarts in a room Blaise had reserved for them. He had specifically asked the decor resemble the Slytherin common room. It was already packed. Pansy was half drunk in deep conversation with an older boy who couldn't take his eyes off her chest. Some kid was passed out in a corner, looking ill. The quidditch boys, Higgs, Bole, Pucey, Harper and some other people were playing a drinking game in the middle of the room.

''Ladies and gentlemen!'' Blaise stood on a couch to get everyone's attention. ''Thank you for coming,'' Everyone gathered around Blaise, ''it has been over a hundred years that we, pure, real, great, handsome, powerful... Wait, was I speaking of myself?''

Someone in the croud screamed ''Get on with it, twit!''

''Watch your tongue Pucey!... Like I was saying, a hundred years of pure blooded witches and wizards, have been celebrating the end of the summer by getting shittered at the fanciest party we... or our parents can muster!''

Cheers could be heard, which woke up the kid in the corner. As soon as he woke up he puked all over himself. Laughter erupted as Blaise called a house elf to clean up the mess and get rid of the youngster.

''Now now, everyone please take a shooter glass at the table by the fire as I go over the rules: 1. Th-... No! Pansy! You take the shot after... ugh, just take another one and try not to drink it just yet! Ok so the rules are th-''

The double doors of the room burst open, interrupting Blaise's speech once again.

9:30 pm The Gardens

''Elisabeth!'' Oliver turned around and picked me up off the ground twirling me once. Am I in a fairytail or is this a dream? ''You look amazing! Truly beautiful.''

He put me down and backed up a couple of feet, admiring me. I feigned a model pose and twirled around making my dress flare around me, I noticed how outside my dress was a deep shade of purple. He clasped his hands throwing his head back to laugh at my unusual behavior... The alcohol might have washed away all my shyness. I cat-walked over to him and took his arm as he offered it.

''You look rather dashing yourself.'' I smiled at him, we started goofing around as we walked further into the garden. We sat down on a bench over looking a huge golden fountain, I placed my shoes under the bench.

''Are you enjoying your evening?'' I asked him, remembering my manners.

''Even more now that I'm with you...'' He put his arm around my shoulders, he had the biggest grin on his face.

''Well I set you up superbly for that line now didn't I?'' I laughed as I looked nervously around, I could feel his eyes looking down on me. That fireball is not working right, isn't alcohol supposed to calm you down?

When I looked back up at him his smile was gone, he looked so serious. I couldn't stop smiling at his expression; fireball must be kicking in... Careful what you wish for.

And the moment I've been waiting for as well as dreading all night, Oliver pushed an invisible strand of hair away from my face. Brushing his lips against mine, I could feel my heart pumping in my chest, he whispered: ''Pure beauty...'' and he kissed me. He started kissing me slowly, sweetly. I deepened the kiss, he quickly followed suit.

I swung my legs over his and he pulled me on his lap, his strong arms not letting his hands get any lower than my back. I, on the other hand, did not have strong arms like the keeper. So, logically, it wasn't my fault if one of my hands was discovering his muscled chest.

Both out of breath, we parted lips for a minute. His hair was messy, giving him an edge. He looked at me... no, through me. He started kissing my colar bone, neck, then jawline, working his way up to my lips. When I started unbuttoning his shirt, I could feel him against me. He let his hand slither up my leg, where the slit of my dress was.

And then a voice rang in my head: ''that's not long enough...'' I could picture Malfoy leaning against my door frame, with his infamous smirk. ''Wood's hands could easily slither...''

I pulled away from Oliver for a second, trying to get Malfoy out of my head.

''Is something wrong?'' Oliver asked in a raspy voice, ''we don't have to... you know, if this is too fast...'' He pulled his hair back, clearing his throat.

''Oh, no! It's not that, I just, thought of something and...'' I scratched the back of my head.

Aaaaaand the moment is gone. Way to go Malfoy.

''Actually, I should be going, I was actually leaving until you ran into me...''

I looked at Oliver a bit confused. ''Leaving?''

''Yes, well I couldn't find you and I didn't know anyone. I did introduce myself to your father and a couple of men talked to me about quidditch... But after that, I was a bit uncomfortable you see...'' He laughed at himself.

''Oh, I'm sorry, people aren't used to new comers... I'm glad I got you before you left though!'' I smiled at him, awkwardly getting up from his lap. I extended him my hand and added: ''May I walk you home m'lady?''

''Why of course, good sir!'' He took my hand, smiling, and we headed over to the Zabini's house. We bid our goodbyes at the garden's entrance and Oliver apparated home. I felt bad that he didn't really enjoy the party.

As I went around the house to get to the pool, I noticed a room on the second floor with a bunch of kids my age in it.

''So that's where the party is...'' I said to myself.

10pm Zabini Residence

''Ready?'' I asked, giggling, to Albert Prince. I had brought the gang I met up at the pool to the room I had spotted on the second floor after we had emptied the bottles of champagne they had managed to swipe as well as two bottles of fireball. Needless to say, all that alcohol shared between about ten people left us all feeling invincible. Most of us were French, but there were two Russian boys, one of whom I had met earlier. He was much more interesting now that alcohol ran through our veins. We atleast had that in common!

We all muffled our laughs, or atleast tried to. I was about to push open the doors but then I heard Blaise speak through the doors:

''Now, now, everyone please take a shooter glass at the table by the fire as I go over the rules: 1. Th-... No! Pansy! You take the shot after... ugh, just take another one and try not to drink it this time! Alright so the rules are th-''

I smiled wildely as I shoved open the doors and shouted:

''Playing games like children!'' We walked in the room, I swept my glance over everyone and landed on Malfoy's glare, ''And you didn't even invite us?'' I pouted, tilting my head in an angle.

''Ha! Ellie glad you could join us... It's not that we didn't want you guys to play we just... uh...'' Blaise looked around, hoping someone would help him out. Someone did, but not from his side of the room.

''You were just too scared to lose, Zabini?'' A dark haired girl named Faune spoke up, giving Blaise a devilish smirk.

''Fiesty... Please, darling, call me Blaise,'' He winked to her. ''Now that we have an extra party of people, the rules might have to change... yes, too many boys...'' Blaise couldn't keep his eyes off Faune.

He seemed to be deep in thought, after a couple of minutes he finally spoke: ''Alright, the game is called witch hunt,'' I frowned and looked over to Faune, not so sure I wanted to play anymore. ''The rules are: Every boy has to leave an item of worth on this table,'' Blaise pointed a black table in the middle of the room, ''Once that is done, we must leave the room. We then leave the lovely ladies to pick out an item and disappear anywhere in this house.'' I could see where this was going; this 'game' is a lousy excuse to get these adolescent hormones working. ''You have 10 minutes to disappear, ladies. When the time is up, the hunt is on. If you do not find your item by the end of the night, boys; finders keepers, losers weepers.''

Whispers erupted from all sides of the room, every girl, unfortunately including myself, was gushing with their friends and every boy was eyeing us all, smirks plastered on their faces. Blaise was flipping and old golden pocket watch and smirking at Faune who was standing next to me.

''I think your date is trying to tell you something, Ellisabeth,'' Faune gestured towards Blaise, looking disapointed.

I laughed at her, I thought she was joking. I looked at her bewildered when I realised she was serious. ''Faune, are you crazy? That's gross! He's like a brother... I think he's trying to tell you something!'' Faune blushed a little looking over at Blaise flirtaciously, she whispered in my ear: ''Good, because between Draco Malfoy and Frederik Perun, Blaise had no chance...''

''What?...''

In utter confusion, I looked over at Malfoy who was shamelessly glaring daggers at Frederik Perun, and the Russian boy was shamelessly staring at... me. His fiery eyes lit up when I threw Perun my most dazzling smile. My conscious reminded me of Oliver... But what's wrong with having a little fun? It's just a game.

''Now as there are more boys than girls,'' Draco drawled, not letting his glaze fall from Peruns massive figure. ''Some girls will have to take more than one item... Let's make it clear though, first come, first served.''

The boys then started placing items on the table: golden chains, diamond buttons, rings, coins, there was even a golden snitch in there. Perun brushed pass me as I noticed he placed a big golden ring orned with small rubies in the pile.

''Is that everyone?'' Blaise asked.

Almost on cue Draco walked over to the table, everyone's eyes were on him. People were gasping and whispering as he went by, but I couldn't get a good look at what he was holding.

''Draco... your wand?'' Even drunken Blaise was surprised.

''Don't worry, I'm confident I'll get it back.'' Draco smirked, I swore he glanced at me but I couldn't really tell. The room was spinning just a bit...

''Then bottoms up!'' Blaise took his shot and everyone followed.

10:30pm Zabini Residence

All the boys left the room, and all the girls made a circle around the table. There was an insane amount of tension. Who would be the first to grab an item... The girl named Pansy reached for Draco's wand swiftly, but the wand fell off the table and her hand got tangled in a long golden chain. The wand rolled to my feet, as by reflex I picked it up. Pansy looked around at us, unsure, as she approached me, her hand extended. Faunce spoke:

''Shouldn't you start looking for somewhere to hide.''

''We can have more than one...'' Pansy glared at her.

''Pansy you have one, that's Higgs chain. One if enough.'' another girl spoke, it seemed like if she was warning Pansy to let it go.

Pansy seemed satisfied with this and left the room without another word. After an eternal 5 minutes, finally someone made a move:

''I can't stand this, anyone else want Pucey's?'' A girl I didn't know asked us all. No one answered, so she grabbed a silver ring and disappeared. We proceeded like the courageous girl after that, asking if anyone wanted the item we had our eye on. Some girls even gave their advice on who should take which one. I decided I'd state the obvious:

''Well, Faunce, the way Blaise was staring at your, I don't think anyone would be against it if you'd take that pocket watch... Right?'' Everyone smirked and Faunce grabbed the watch. She winked at me and mouthed 'thanks', then left. I heard her mumble ''tik tok, tik tok...'' as she left the room, probably letting Blaise know she had his watch. Girls kept leaving the room until there were only three of us left and five items. I had put Draco's wand back on the table

''I'll be honest with you girls, I was dying to get a hold of Perun's ring, but after I saw him stare at you, Daragon, I'll take my chances with Flint... If you let me grab Bletcheley's diamond button.'' One of the girls said. We didn't protest, so she did.

''Take Draco's wand and Perun's ring, I want Lucian anyway.'' The last girl winked at me.

''Oh, no, you should take the wand, I really rather not...'' I leaned against the table for support, standing is hard...

''Tutt tutt, take it and hope Perun finds you first then. Unless you're not up to the challenge...'' and she left the room with her item, probably knowing no girl would back down to being chased after two handsome men... boys... well I bet Perun could qualify as I giant, and while I'm at it Draco definatly could be a snake. Wait what?

I shook my head. I reached for the ring and slipped it in the pocket inside my dress where my wand was. I squinted at Draco's wand, ''you better not get me in any trouble...'' I told it before putting it in my pocket aswell.

''This should be fun...'' I laughed at myself and grabbed a champagne bottle for the road.

As I walked out all the boys were lined up in the hall. I took a swig of champagne as I passed Blaise, he asked ''Are there anymore girls?''. I decided to answer once I got to Perun, playing with his tie, ''No.'' I laughed, as I passed the last boy, Malfoy, he took the bottle of champagne from my hands. I turned around, glared at him, then remembered I had his wand. A smirk crept up my face as I said:

''You'll wish you hadn't done that, Malfoy.'' I kept smirking and Malfoy was dumbfounded. All the boys erupted laughing and Blaise half yelled after me:

''You have 10 minutes, Ellie!''