AN: I'm just plugging away at this project. After this school year, the years are going to pass by very quickly for the gang. I wanted to establish the characters as I've written them, and will speed through the boring parts and slow down for the big pieces. Meanwhile, I'm also currently writing my own original novel series, so that's something to look forward to! I hope everyone is enjoying this so far. I'd love some reviews. :)

***I do not own this universe, I'm not making any money from these writings.***

Chapter Seven

Ginny invited both Hermione and Fiona to sleep at her house the night before they were meant to go shopping in Diagon Alley for new formal dress robes. They spent the day with Molly, reviewing the plethora of Pureblood rules for acceptable behavior.

"Hermione, don't hunch your shoulders," Fiona said. "And don't chew your lip while you're trying to remember which fork to use."

"I can remember which fork to use," Hermione snapped. "I am just really worried about how this is going to go. Many of those families probably hate me on principle."

"Of course they do. Especially the old ones. But you can't let them actually know that bothers you. You have to be not as good as them, but better. Besides, we're just kids. The adults do the real socializing. We just have to be polite and pretty," Fiona assured her. Ginny hoped she was right. Even though she was a Pureblood, as far as anyone knew, she was nervous as well.

"The biggest rules are the Do Nots," Molly interrupted. "Do not speak out of turn, do not insult the host and hostess, do not sit or eat until the host and hostess have been sat and served. Simple politeness, really."

"Meanwhile, we live in a zoo with no rules at all," Ginny cracked. Molly tried to look stern, but just then the twins blazed through the living room, and not far behind them thundered Percy, literally quacking through a bright yellow duck's bill that had been somehow stuck to his face.

"Don't know why he's so mad," George yelled.

"I think it's an improvement," Fred agreed.

"QUACK!" quacked Percy.

The etiquette lesson ended abruptly as Molly followed the boys to remedy the situation.

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"So. Tell me about you and Malfoy." The girls were hanging out in Ginny's room before dinner, and Hermione seemed to pretend she wasn't really interested in Ginny's answer.

"Uh. There's nothing to tell."

"Riiiiiight, and you're blushing why?" Fiona chimed in.

"Fine. I think he's cute." Ginny flung a pillow at her raven-haired friend.

"Really? You don't think he's a smarmy little pimple?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"He's been really nice to me. Actually, he was nicer at the beginning of the year to me than my own brothers were," Ginny argued. Hermione's brow furrowed, before she nodded.

"Yes, I can understand that. It just seems he's taken to you really quickly, for a Malfoy."

"Slytherins stick together," Fiona said, her voice hard. Hermione dropped the subject.

"Fiona? Can we talk about your dad?" Ginny blurted. The questions had been burning inside her, but she hadn't found a good time to talk to her friend. Fiona's dark eyes hardened. "It's just…"

"I know what it is, and I really don't want to talk about it. But, if you must."

"I just wondered if your mum ever talks about him?"

"She does. She loved him. Loves him, still. I don't remember him at all. She says I look like him. I've got pictures. She says he would never have betrayed the Potters, never. Something really bad must have been done to him to make him betray them." Fiona's voice cracked and gave way to a soft sob.

"Oh, Fiona, I'm sorry. Don't cry. I just wondered." The girls fell into a tight hug.

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Diagon Alley was fairly empty the next morning. The sky was gloomy, but everyone was in high spirits.

"Now, money's tight, as usual, so I thought we would hit a few of my favorite thrift shops for most of our things," Molly said briskly, her tone leaving no room for argument. Ginny shrugged. She didn't mind second hand clothes. "Besides, we're witches. We can fix whatever we need to later."

Fiona, Harry, and Hermione had their own money to spend, but Ron and Ginny knew to be as frugal as possible. By the end of the day, nobody was unhappy with their choices. Fiona had a knack for current fashion, and seemed to have an eye for styling. After the Weasley matriarch finished transfiguring and charming things, the clothes were nearly perfect.

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Young witches of good standing never went to social functions unchaperoned. So, Ginny and Hermione were being chaperoned by Arthur and Molly respectively. Fiona was being chaperoned by her mother, of course. Fiona's mother was a pretty woman, originally from France. Her accent was very thick, but a lot of the adults spoke both English and French fluently.

Malfoy Manner was decadent, tastefully decorated inside and out. Floating platters maneuvered through the rooms, offering food and drink as the guests mingled. Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco were at the entrance way, greeting people as they arrived. When the Weasley brood plus Harry and Hermione arrived, Narcissa welcomed them warmly. Lucius managed to only barely sneer while shaking hands with Arthur the exact socially acceptable amount of time and no more.

"Please, enjoy yourselves. You look stunning, Molly, absolutely riveting," Narcissa said, her eyes flashing at her husband in warning. Molly returned the compliments, easing into the crowd and mingling with the many other Pureblood families. The children were shooed away, allowed to do their own socializing until dinner time.

The group found themselves at a table of sweets set up just for them, with the children of other guests also snacking. Crabbe and Goyle didn't even try to look like well-bred wizards as they gobbled the goodies loudly.

"I'm really glad you guys came," Draco said, his blue eyes finding Ginny's and holding, though his statement included all of them. "Look, I'm not going to lie. This is a huge power play on my father's part. Harry, you especially. There's a lot of people here who weren't exactly celebrating when the Dark Lord fell. Y'know?"

"Right. So what am I supposed to do, win them over?" Harry hissed, hotly. Draco shook his head, glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard.

"Not really. But you need to begin making allies in the wizarding world beyond just Dumbledore. I've been listening to some of my father's meetings, and You-Know-Who seriously made some people nervous last year when he possessed Quirrel."

"How does he make allies, if some of these people still support You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked.

"Show them what they want to see. Harry, you are an upstanding Pureblood wizard with ancient family ties and a whole lot of wealth behind you. In the right eyes, you are an utterly eligible wizard. Almost as much as I." Draco winked as the others scoffed. "Fiona, you are a stunning Pureblood witch, with a good upbringing, and your family is mostly in good standing. Also, quite eligible. Ron and Ginny are both from very old bloodlines, as well, and while the money could be an issue, honestly money's not that hard to make these days, if you ask father. Really, all you've got against you is the blood traitor thing, but that's what we're here to change. We need to begin winning people over to your side."

"Draco, you don't win people over to the right side. They are either good, or they aren't," Ron argued.

"No, Ron. That's not true. Most people like to follow. They like to feel powerful. They like to feel important. You-Know-Who gave his Death Eaters that sort of importance. But not all of them liked the things he did."

"You're saying show them a better way," Ginny stated. Draco nodded.

"What about me?" said Hermione. Ginny had never seen Hermione look so nervous.

"Hermione, you are probably the most important piece of this little plan. Harry is the Boy-Who-Lived. You are a muggleborn nobody, in the eyes of most of these people. But you are the smartest witch in Hogwarts in generations. You go out there, and you charm these people. Be clever. Teachers love you. Go out there and make these grown-ups love you, too. Smile, talk about how grand magic is, flatter them, perform tricks for them when they ask. Adults love to fawn over cute kids. Let's go be cute kids," Draco said.

The rest of the evening was a blur for Ginny. She smiled and giggled and blushed prettily when the men complimented her. The women just loved her long, pretty hair and adorable freckles, and how were her grades? Was she enjoying Hogwarts? And, oh, how tough must she be with so many older brothers, and what a charming young lady she was. Were the other Slytherins being nice to her? Oh, what an impressive levitation charm! How precocious, what an amazing job you've done with her, Molly!

Hermione was quite impressive, as well. Everyone said so. Why, wasn't it quite possible she were an orphaned witch misplaced during the war? She was so gifted. With her talents and brains, why, she could make Minister for Magic one day! Someone should take her under their wing, surely?

Draco was the same suave Malfoy heir he'd been groomed to be, charming the women with pretty compliments and shaking hands with all the right wizards. Fiona had a similar position, batting her eyelashes at everyone and commenting on all the lovely gowns, beautiful decorations, lovely food, just generally being the perfect little princess.

Ron and Harry had the most difficult time. Ron was awkward, not having grown into his gangly build. Harry had a hard time pretending to be happy. But it worked anyway. One man made an offhanded comment about parents, Ron said, "Oi!" reproachfully, and Narcissa swooped in to castigate the wizard for hurting poor Harry's feelings at her party. The crowd began to see him as a lonely little boy, rather than some mysterious force of nature.

Overall, the night went extremely well. Draco placed a very chaste, very sweet kiss lightly on her cheek just as they left, leaving a spot of warmth that even the cool winter's night couldn't take away.

It wasn't until the next morning when Lucius arrived on the front step at the Burrow to speak directly to Arthur that Ginny even worried something had gone wrong at all.

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"Good morning, Mister Malfoy," Arthur started, a bit awkwardly.

"Good morning to you, Mister Weasley. I have come to request a formal meeting between us. You and your wife and daughter, with my wife and son and me," Lucius said stiffly. His sneer was gone, however. Ginny hid, listening and hoping the men didn't notice her.

"I see," Arthur said carefully.

"Would next Saturday, before school starts again, work for you?"

"Of course, I believe it will."

"Here, then. A formal invite. Thank you Arthur." Lucius whirled and strode back down the path, apparating with a crack once he was outside of the gate.

"MOLLY!" Arthur bellowed, running right past Ginny in her hiding spot.