Ashes to Ashes

Chapter Seven

By Mell8

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Ginny:

The moment I stepped into Dante's arms for the first dance I saw Danny wince and turn his head away. Then the music started and Dante and I floated along with all the other dancers. I moved just as gracefully as Dante as we glided from step to step. Danny's wince turned into a look of astonishment.

"You dance much more proficiently than I had been warned," Dante said when he caught Danny's disbelieving stare.

"I figured it out," I murmured with a sullen look for Danny. "Danny only had time to teach me the steps for the waltz though," I added with a worried look at the musicians. I doubted they would stay with the tame waltz for too much longer.

Dante said, "I'll mention it to the musicians," in a wry voice at the same time as a nearby low society vampire couple sneered at me.

"Who is she to speak of our second in command as if he were a mere commoner!" the woman gasped in a voice that was far too loud to just be meant for her partner's ears alone.

I leveled a glare at Dante. He had told me their names were Danny and Josh. How was I supposed to know they had titles and that I was being terribly rude by not using them?

"Ah," Dante said delicately. "Danny and Josh have been my close confidants for nearly three hundred years. I suppose my familiarity with them might have effected how I introduced them to you."

"Might have?" I grumbled.

"Oh, alright, did effect. Anyway, Danny's real name is Danton and he's considered to be my second in command. Josh's real name is Joshua and he's my third in command."

"Thanks for telling me," I said wryly as the dance came to an end.

"Of course," Dante said as he released me with a bow as I curtseyed. "Now, the representative for the werewolves is in the corner to your right," Dante said as he pointed out a burly brown haired and bearded man. "The next dance should be a waltz as well so have fun."

I danced with Jimmy the werewolf and we had a pleasant if meaningless conversation. I easily promised him another dance but was forced to leave him at the end of this one because of Harry. As the last notes of the waltz came to a close Harry finally caught sight of me and, of course, nearly had a fit.

"Sorry," I apologized to Jimmy. "If I don't got over to him now he'll make a scene and ruin the night for everyone." I pointed out Harry to him and when Jimmy saw Harry's reddening face he laughed and let me go.

"Harry," I called gaily as I made my way over to him. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here Ginny?" he snarled. "You weren't invited!"

"Oh, Harry," I said with a shake of my head. I had decided to tell him an edited version of the truth but with an emphasis on pacifying him. "Of course I have an invitation. I certainly couldn't be here without one! Remember how I was visiting a friend in Ottery St. Catchpole, well here I am."

"You're staying with the vampires?" Harry gasped incredulously.

"Harry!" I laughed. "I'm sure the vampires invited some locals. Luna might have been invited if she hadn't decided to stay at school for break." Yes, they invited some local vampires and 'might' had a strong leaning towards, 'no, not really', but Harry didn't need to know that.

"Your mum's going to have a canary!" Harry said worriedly.

"She won't if you don't tell her," I said sharply. "Harry, obviously the vampires are on their best behavior tonight," they were, "so I'm not in any danger by being here." I wasn't. "If you tell mum she'll go bonkers. Let her believe that I'm not anywhere near the vampires. It'll be safer for everyone around her."

"Weasley, a pleasure," Draco's voice came from behind me. Harry scoffed, clearly thinking that Draco was being sarcastic and rude. I was just happy that something had come along to distract Harry from our conversation.

"Malfoy, how are you?" I answered back as I turned away from Harry to face Draco.

"I would certainly be much better if you danced with me," Draco replied as the music changed to something unrecognizable.

I winced. "Ah, Draco," I started slowly. "I have to admit that I don't know the steps to this dance."

"But I do know them," Draco said with a smirk. "It'll be okay."

He took my hand and led me away from a spluttering Harry onto the dance floor. Draco quickly showed me how to hold my hands for this new dance and swept me into the movements. He was kind enough to murmur the steps to me so I could be prepared when he would suddenly turn me in a graceful spin or a dip. The dance would have been smoother if I had known the steps but we certainly didn't make a poor showing of ourselves. Dante certainly seemed impressed when he greeted Draco at the end of the dance.

III

Draco:

"You and Ginevra dance quite beautifully together," Dante said with a curious look towards me. He was clearly wondering what my connection to Ginny was, but since neither of us could tell him in public, the Master Vampire would just have to wait.

"Thank you, Master," I said with a polite bow. "But Ginevra is quite wonderful as well."

The Master laughed. "You are the representative for the Death Eaters, are you not?" he asked.

"I am," I replied with a grimace. "Not by choice, however," I added with a sidelong glance at Ginny. I couldn't keep my smirk off my face when I saw Potter bowing gracelessly to Ginny while glaring at my back. He was clearly trying to ask her to dance in retribution for me daring to dance with her as a simple waltz started playing.

Ginny accepted but I could see reluctance in her steps as she joined him on the floor. They started twirling and Ginny was polite enough not to say anything as her toes were immediately assaulted. Apparently Potter had never gotten beyond those basic lessons Hogwarts had taught us for the Yule Ball all those years ago. He was certainly making a poor showing of himself here.

"Not by choice?" the Master asked as he led me to a refreshment table where glasses of blood and wine, for the two humans and any daring vampires, were set out. The Master took a glass of blood and I took a glass of wine.

I quickly explained what I had told Ginny about my father and the Dark Lord thinking I was loyal. "But Ginny and I have been friends for a while. I would hate to turn her in to the Dark Lord to get tortured."

"You and Ginny have a bond?" Master asked.

"I suppose," I replied and then took a sip of wine contemplatively. "You would have to ask her for the absolute truth, but I believe she has bitten me a couple of times."

Another waltz began playing and when I looked for Ginny I saw that she had somehow escaped Potter and was dancing with the werewolf representative again.

The Master and I continued to chat amicably about rather aimless subjects, often lapsing into comfortable silence as we drank from our glasses. When the current dance ended the werewolf gently guided Ginny over to the refreshment table where he and the Master pulled away to have a private conversation.

Ginny laughed and took a glass of blood from the table.

"Having fun?" I asked her with a grin.

"I guess," she answered. "I'm still used to Quidditch being the highlight of my entertainment. This ball and dancing is a bit much for me."

"Well," I said with a smile. "I'm pretty sure that the last dance of the night is next. You won't have to be here much longer."

She laughed and looked impressed with my knowledge as the Master came over to ask her for the last dance, just as the final waltz started to be played.

"Goodnight, Ginevra," I said as I bowed over her hand. "My thanks for inviting me," I added to the Master who nodded politely to me before taking Ginevra to the dance floor. I was going to leave now before Potter could corner me and make yet another scene.

III

Ginny:

Draco left but I knew I would be seeing him soon in school. Still, I couldn't help watching his retreating back as he skillfully avoided Harry and escaped. I was a little sad that my friend was leaving. However, I was even sadder than I hadn't gotten a sip of his blood tonight. That would have to wait until school, I guess.

"He is special to you," Dante asked quietly so that the music would cover our conversation.

"He is," I answered truthfully. "We are friends and I like his personality."

"His looks aren't too poor either," Dante said knowingly.

I blushed. Yes, Draco was certainly very handsome with his short blond hair and deep gray eyes.

"His blood," I whispered, hoping to throw Dante off from commenting about my telltale blush. "His blood is amazing. It's so powerful and one sip can satisfy me for a very long time."

Dante looked shocked but covered it by leading me up to the dais as the waltz ended. Draco had left and Harry had gone after him, clearly not comfortable staying when his enemy had gone. Dante clearly considered it safe to announce me.

"I must thank you for attending tonight's ball," Dante said as the waiting vampires gazed up at him. "My childe, Ginevra, and I hope you enjoyed yourselves."

The low society vampire who had scoffed at me earlier in the night gasped and paled when she recognized me.

Dante nodded politely to the crowd and I echoed his nod. They bowed to us as we took our leave for the night.

I followed Dante out of the ballroom and upstairs to his enormous room where a pile of presents lay waiting for me to open. I couldn't help giggling in anticipation and Dante let out a chuckle of his own as paper and ribbons started to fly.

III

Harry looked up at Dumbledore with a worried expression on his face. "I couldn't figure out who the childe is," he said with a shake of his head. "He was never announced and I didn't see anyone who as given special treatment."

"You couldn't find anything, Harry?" Dumbledore asked one last time. He had already heard Harry's recollections from the night, which were sparse and were mostly filled with Draco Malfoy's annoying presence.

"Well," Harry hedged; wondering if telling Dumbledore about Ginny would be just as bad as telling Molly Weasley. Dumbledore was certainly more grounded when it came to things like this, and he certainly wouldn't tell Mrs. Weasley about it. Harry decided that it would be okay.

"Ginny was there," Harry said to Dumbledore's surprise.

"Ginny Weasley?" Dumbledore clarified.

"Yeah. She said that the friend she's staying with over break got an invitation and took Ginny along. Except, Ginny kept dancing with Malfoy! She was being really weird about me being there too."

Dumbledore nodded and let Harry go off to sleep. Unlike Harry, Dumbledore had years of experience in dealing with subterfuge. It had occurred to him as Harry spoke that the childe of the vampires might not be male, as was tradition.

He would be having a conversation with Miss Weasley very soon.

III

Draco didn't bother trying to find his father when he returned to the Manor. A house elf had immediately gone to find Lucius so Draco new he would be summoned eventually, but only at his father's convenience.

Instead of waiting up, Draco went to sleep. He figured that he probably wouldn't be having a good break from here on so he might as well get a little sleep now, when he had the chance.

Bringing nothing except a few theories back from a mission where he was supposed to have found out everything would certainly bring punishment. His only consolations were the facts that, one, Potter certainly hadn't figured out who the childe was and, two, break ended in only a few days. His punishment couldn't be too long or he would miss school. Lucius wouldn't dare keep him away from school and the only place where he could continue his investigations.

When the house elf came for him Draco was deeply asleep, dreaming of Ginny and her sharp, yet beautiful, teeth.