The Moonlight Glares

Liza Lew

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

Chapter 15

While Hermione, Draco, Harry and Ginny were waiting to be called, Ron found his way back to the grand ballroom. He looked around to see groups of people his parents' age, his grandparents' age, and then, finally, a group of teenagers who seemed to be smiling and laughing.

When Ron got to the group, he noticed the leader of the group seemed to be a curly-haired boy who was entertaining the rest with a story about something that had happened over the last school year. Ron watched the group for a moment before he heard his name.

"Ron!" Ron turned around to see a flustered Neville coming towards him in what appeared to be shiny dress robes.

"Neville, what are you doing here?" Ron asked as Neville came up.

"Well, grandmother decided I should at least try to be part of pureblood society this year, since I'm seventeen anyways. What are you doing here?"

"Ginny," said Ron shortly.

"Oh," said Neville, "Well, I know a couple people if you want to meet them? They were over there," he indicated a part of the room across from them.

"Sure," said Ron, "Not like I have anything else to do"

A short girl watched the red-head and Longbottom go away. She had seen their conversation, and seen the red head looking forlornly at Marcius and the others joking and talking. She liked the look of the red-head, though. So she decided to follow him.

As Neville and Ron were talking to a couple other people their age, they heard trumpets blair behind them.. Neville nudged Ron and they turned around to watch the couple announcements for the year. As the returning couples began descending, Neville whispered something to Ron.

"So I take it Ginny is dating someone?"

"Yeah," said Ron through gritted teeth.

"It's not one of the Slytherins, is it? If Malfoy or Zabini got near Ginny or Hermione, I would die." Neville said.

Ron went pale, "No, Ginny's dating Harry."

Neville raised an eyebrow, "He's a half-blood."

"He defeated You-Know-Who," said Ron shortly, "That's got to count for something."

As they had been talking, the returning couples had finished being announced and a greasy pugged-faced man with blond hair came with a stick-like Asian woman down the stairs.

"Welcome, welcome to another Season," he said, his voice booming through the hall, "I am Mr. Albetro Parkinson, your host for this evening. It is my wife and mine's pleasure to host the Season Opener. You have just seen all the returning couples to Europe's Wizarding Society. Let's give them one more round of applause."

There was a polite clapping around the room.

"And now," said Mr. Parkinson, "Let us begin the most anticipated event of the Season. I now introduce to you the new couples for the next year."

He stepped aside and the second door behind him opened, and the first three couples stepped out.

By the time they got to the single couples, Ron was near yawning. Neville, however, looked concerned.

"Ron, I thought you said Harry and Ginny were dating."

"Hmm? They are." Ron replied,

"Then why haven't they come yet?" Neville asked.

"There are still couples coming out, look," Ron pointed just as a Giselle and Blaise came down the stairs.

"But. . . there are only a two couples left. And the couples go in order from least prominent in society to most. There's no way the two of them, both being new and having families that haven't appeared for generations. . ."

Neville, however, was cut off by the announcement of Harry and Ginny's names.

"Told you," said Ron, smiling. And

"B. . . but. . ." sputtered Neville, "Hey, wait, Malfoy hasn't gone! Does that mean he's the top couple this year? Oh no. . ."

"Ehh, what's so special about the top couple anyways?" Ron asked, "It's not like he and Hermione are going to be snogging in public. . ."

Neville's eyes bulged, "Hermione? Hermione is dating Malfoy? When, how did this happen?"

"Er. . . long story?" said Ron apologetically.

After being thoroughly depressed by watching Malfoy dance with Hermione for several dances (apparently they were expected to lead the dances as the premier new couple), Ron made his way to the punch bowl.

What he didn't know was that he was still being followed. Ron slowly ladled some punch into a cup and turned around to find a short girl standing right under his nose. He backed up a little and she approached him again.

"W-what-who are you?" asked Ron.

The girl crossed her arms, "Really, you should know me. Unless you're new to society. My name's Copalia. Chels Arina Copalia, also of the line of Danforth. You're cute. Who are you?"

"Er. . . Ron Weasley," said Ron.

"Ooohh! So you're the brother of The-boy-who-lived's girlfriend!" she cocked her head to one side, "Do you know Harry Potter too?"

"He's my best friend," Ron mumbled.

"Sorry?" Chels said, "Didn't quite catch that/"

"He's a friend," Ron said a bit louder, "from school."

"Oooo, you go to Hogwarts too? You're just like my cousin! Of course, I can't really compare since I haven't met her. But, she goes to Hogwarts and knows Harry Potter too."

Ron grimaced, "Hermione."

Chels didn't seem to hear him, "Although so does Mr. Malfoy, but he seems to loath Potter." She looked up again at Ron, "Anyways, enough chat. Let's go dance. Come on!"

She dragged Ron out to the floor.

Across the room, Ginny and Harry were standing against a wall talking. Ginny was looking around the room, however, and soon spotted her poor brother.

"Harry look!" Ginny said, nearly in fits of laughter, "Some girl has dragged Ron off to the dance floor!"

Harry followed her gaze, "Poor bloke. He can't dance a step."

"Oh he won't have to worry about dancing with her," Harry and Ginny whipped around to see Draco standing behind them, holding drinks, "That's Chels Arina. She's the most assertive girl here. She'll lead him in the dance."

"When did you get here?" Harry said coolly.

"When Hermione asked to take a break from dancing and talk to you two. Although I do think we should have gone over to talk to anyone else."

"Where is Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"Bathroom," said Draco.

"Actually, I'm back now," Hermione said as three heads turned towards the walking figure. She took the extra drink from Draco, "thanks," she said shortly. Ginny had turned back to watching Ron.

"What are we looking at so intensely here, Ginny?" Hermione said.

"Ron," said Ginny, pointing, "dancing with that girl,"

Hermione's drink came sputtering out of her nose she burst out laughing so suddenly. Several people gave her strange looks, but she waved her wand to clean up the mess. Trying to catch her breath, she managed, "Ron . . . dancing. . . social event. . . girl"

"We know, it's a miracle," Harry cracked a grin, and then looked at Ginny, "Ginny, would you like to dance again?"

Ginny smiled, and let Harry lead her out onto the dance floor.

"Well that was like being in a pig sty." Malfoy said disgusted.

Hermione turned on her boyfriend and slapped him across the face. Her tone was even and near silent but at the same time very scary. She was mad.

"You may have cast a magical spell on all this society so they think you're some sort of saint. You may have control over me while we're on the dance floor or being showed off on a stairway. But you do not and can not insult my friend directly Malfoy, for let me tell you- you arenot better than them. They are better than you. For all they didn't grow up in this wealth and extravagance, they are real, kind people. Yes, they can be buffoons sometimes. But they do not look down on and name-call people in a strange environment."

Hermione took her skirt in one hand and gracefully went over to greet some other people. No one had even seen her slap Malfoy. Malfoy was standing there in shock. He brushed the cheek she had slapped, letting his hand linger there, and stood in dumb silence.

A/N: So, that is the end of chapter 15. Yes, I had to end on a cliffie. And, again, thanks to all my reviewers and readers. And, as always, thanks to my beta, Flo. For all those interested, below is a detailed guide of how pureblood society works. (And yes, I know it is anti-feminist. I personally would hate living in the system, but that's how the story goes at the moment.)

And, this time's question: Which teachers preformed enchantments to protect the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone?