He was dressed in his best dress robes, and had his hair slicked back so that the pesky strands would not fall into his eyes. Instead of traditional Slytherin green dress shirt, however, his shirt was a nice sapphire blue which perfectly complimented his hair and made his shining silver eyes more pronounced.

"You look wonderful, darling." Narcissa smiled from the door frame as she watched her son in the mirror. He turned back to face her, the slightest of smiles pulling on his lips. Like her son, Narcissa wore an elegant sapphire dress which contrasted beautifully against her pale skin.

"Where's father?" Draco asked.

"I don't know." She answered simply, allowing her smile to fade for only a moment. "The Minister has already arrived."

"That's good. I'll be down in a moment." He replied and she nodded.

"The Greengrass family is here, too."

Draco remained silent as he stared across the room at his mother. "I'm sure a number of people are here."

"I thought you wanted to know."

"Why's that?" Draco's voice had a defensive edge he couldn't hide, or even pretend it wasn't there, but thankfully, his mother was not Hermione or Astoria, both of whom would've commented on it.

"Well, you seem to be in much better spirits since you've acquainted yourself with Astoria." She answered simply. She had certainly noticed the change in her son, and after the encounter at the Weasley's she was more than satisfied that the younger Greengrass daughter was the source of the change.

"I don't know what you're talking about, mother."

"Well, she asked about you." She replied, standing straighter as Draco approached her. "She seems to be rather taken with you."

"There's nothing between us, Mother. Don't be ridiculous. I went to Hogwarts with her, just like Hermione and Luna."

"Yes, you do seem to keep a lot of female company." Narcissa commented as she followed Draco down the corridor towards the staircase.

"Well, you always said women were much better at forgiving. Did you ever consider that Astoria, Hermione, and Luna are the only ones who want to be around me and don't blame me for some unknown number of things?"

"No, Draco." Narcissa replied softly. She'd long ago come to the conclusion that once Malfoy men made up their minds, very little could change them. She had, of course, tried to understand their ways, but never could, even though she had certain personality traits which she shared with her family members, particularly her sister. She had given up everything she held dear for her love of a man whom her family did not accept, and similarly, Narcissa had betrayed Voldermolt and every belief she ever had to ensure her son's safety, all out of love.

"I suppose I never did consider that." Narcissa perfected her smile once more, though it had never taken her much work to appear graceful. It had always been one of her traits, and certainly one Lucius had always admired. The same could not be said about her persistence, however.

In the grand ball room, a number of people were engaged in conversations and in the center of the room, couples swept across the dance floor, their dresses and dress robes flowing behind them beautifully. But, in Draco's eyes, it was hard for anyone not to look beautiful when in the Malfoy Manor. When surrounded by such prestige and elegance, one's person did not make much difference.

"I was wondering when I would see you, again." Hermione's voice floated around him, and as he turned back, found the beautiful brunette standing just a few feet away from him.

"I guess I've been a bit busy."

"So I've heard." She replied but Draco ignored the comment as best he could. It was one thing to deny anything to his mother, but another to deny them to Hermione, a person who always made a point to prove their correctness. "Doing any productive lately?"

"Not really," Draco answered honestly as he walked with Hermione along the edges of the ballroom. "Pick the flowers for your wedding yet?"

"What?" Hermione stopped walking and Draco turned to her, only to find her cheeks were the color of Ron Weasley's hair. "How did you know?"

"You are joking, right?" Draco replied, one eye brow raised. "I might not have been around lately, but I saw you two in Diagon Alley not a week ago. And you were hanging all over him."

Hermione swallowed as she turned away from Draco's gaze and continued walking. "We are trying to keep it secret as long as possible, if you don't mind." She said under her breath, and missed the expression across Draco's face.

"You're mad to think it'll actually be a secret. People inevitably know."

"That is not possible. We have taken every precaution." Hermione informed him as she stopped and spun on her heel to face him. With a strong look on her face, she peered up at Draco, and he could tell she honestly believed her words.

"That doesn't matter." He responded simply. "I understand that you're new to the whole life in the spotlight thing, but I thought you were smarter, Hermione. Honestly."

"What are you talking about?"

"He bought a ring from somebody, didn't he?" Draco replied. "And your faces are known all over the world. Obviously he bought an engagement ring for someone, and everybody who has the capability to read knows it's you. Secondly, I'm fairly certain you've told your family, and his. Disregarding any jokes, that's a lot of people already, Hermione. Then there's my mother. She'll tell the whole world once she finds out."

Hermione sighed as she stared into Draco's eyes. For once, he was right, and she expected him to flaunt it. Instead, he continued walking and looked back at her when she didn't follow right away.

"Well, how much time do you think we have?" She asked.

"A month, if you're lucky." Draco answered. "Important people don't get to keep secrets at no cost, Hermione."

"So it would seem." She replied, somewhat bitterly but Draco only laughed. As the two approached Ron Weasley and Harry Potter, both of whom only nodded respectfully in the general direction of Draco Malfoy, they parted ways, but not, however, before Hermione noted the change in Draco's eyes and face.

"You look quite charming, tonight." A second female voice floated around Draco that night, and as he turned, he found the sapphire eyes of Astoria Greengrass, and for a moment that was all he saw. Then, as he processed the rest of her beauty, he admired the beautiful cut of her soft blue dress which clung to her body perfectly. Of course, her delicate frame was already something other women envied her for, but she displayed it perfectly in the dress she chose, without revealing so much of her skin to be thought cheap.

"As do you." Draco replied as he smiled down at her.

"You've certainly created quite the dinner party." She commented as she turned to look around at the crowds. Near every exit, stationed Aurors were on duty, to ensure the safety of the many high profile witches and wizards in attendance, namely Harry Potter and the Minister of magic.

"It was all my mother." Draco replied simply as Astoria's attention returned to him.

"I believe that." She laughed slightly and for a moment they only stared at one another until the song ended and a new started to play. Draco saw the smile across Astoria's face start to widen, and held out his hand.

"Care to dance?" He asked and watched her eyes brighten even more, if that had been possible at all. She put her hand in his and together they walked to the center of the dance floor. Naturally, both had been taught to dance when they were children, as they were heirs to important pureblood lines, but Draco and Astoria moved with a kind of grace a person who simply knew the steps could not imitate.

They, of course, had become wrapped up in one another, that as they glided through the dance floor, they didn't notice other couples escaping the dancing area, knowing they could not compete with two graceful young lovers caught in the passion of a single moment.