A/N: Sigh. Yes, another show tune chapter. Y'all should know by now that I am the biggest dork known to man kind. But that's what makes me so cool. I'm the biggest dork you'll ever know! I'm just kidding, but not about the dork part. Thanks to the loveliest reviewers ever: Andrhea and Jenny. Also towards the end of this chapter there is a phrase: made slit-eyes. It means to narrow your eyes at someone. Like when your little brother has your diary and he's jumping around trying to read it, looking from black mail material. AKA, narrowing your eyes.
Chapter XI- Masquerade
"masquerade/pretty faces on parade/masquerade/hide your face/ so the world will never find you/masquerade/every face a different shade/masquerade/look around/ there's another mask behind you…"
Masquerade, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Draco left after sitting with Hermione and Ginny, while the two girls were sipping their tea. Ron refused to be anywhere near him, still angry at Ginny for not telling him about her "affair" with Draco.
"How can I be having an affair when I'm not dating anyone else? He still thinks I should be shagging Harry, so we all can be one big happy family, like we were in Hogwarts. I'm not in love with Harry. I don't think I was back then either. It was just a silly school girl thing that everyone took way to seriously." Ginny sighed, and sipped her hot tea.
"I don't doubt you there Gin. Ron just doesn't want you hurt, that's all." Hermione said.
"I trust Draco. I know he would never try and break my heart. But that's a risk you have to take when you enter any relationship, even ones that are "normal". I don't understand why this is such a scandal. We love each other, and that's all that matters." Ginny replied, getting up, putting her empty tea cup in the sink. Hermione put hers in as well and charmed them to wash.
"We were going to go out to lunch before I had to go get my hair done. Do you want to come with me?" Hermione picked a piece of fuzz from her light purple shirt. They changed their clothes shortly after Mr. Weasley left the house, glad to be away from their old uniforms and memories.
"I don't Ron really wants me hanging around, wearing Draco's shirt and all…"
"That's his?"
"Yeah. I was wearing one of Ron's old Quidditch shirts and he gave me his."
"That's nice. I think Ron should just get over himself. Your twenty now, not sixteen! You can make your own decisions." Hermione said, walking into the lounge, finding Ron sitting on the sofa, his head in his hands.
"Ronald, get up, and get over it! Ginny's old enough to choose who she wants to date!"
He sighed and stood up, towering over both the girls, his short hairs was messy from running his hands though it to much.
"We're going to lunch with Ginny." Hermione said taking his hand, trying to searching his eyes for answers.
"Ginny, do you love him?" He asked, shaking Hermione off gently. Hermione was slightly insulted, but knew Ron had to set things right with his sister.
"Yes. I love Draco. He loves me. I know you have had this silly rivalry since your first year-"
Ron cut Ginny off "Don't let him break your heart, okay? I could care less about him, but don't let him hurt you, hear me? I'll be civil with him, if you agree not to let him cause you to much strife." he said seriously.
"All relationships have rocky parts, Ron. But I promise, I won't let him hurt me. If I know he is being unfaithful, I'll turn my head away, starting walking, and never look back." Ginny replied, hugging him, happy that he was accepting their relationship.
"You're allowed to shag him now." Ron joked and Ginny's face turned slightly pink
"If he knew the truth he wouldn't be so civil with Draco like he promised!" Ginny thought.
"Good, now there is no sour tastes in our mouths, we can go out to lunch! I'm starving!" Hermione exclaimed.
Harry was filling out reports when he heard a knock on his flat door. He got up confused. It shouldn't be Hermione or Ron, they always sent a note before coming. He looked briefly though the peep hole, seeing a fish-eyed version of Gwen standing in front of his door, look distraught. He undid all the locks on his door, opening it to reveal the normally proportioned Gwyneth L'Esapnye. She had tears running down her flushed cheeks, and once the door was fully ajar, she embraced Harry in a tight hug. She began to sob, and Harry patted her back comfortingly.
"Don't worry Gwen, I'm here." He whispered softly, trying to comfort her. He weeping subsided somewhat, and he brought her fully into the room, shutting the door behind them. He sat her on the sofa, and he wiped her face.
"I'm zorry, 'Arry. I just needed someone to hug me. Your probably zo busy…"
"Oh no Gwen! When I have a friend in trouble, I'll drop anything. You know that. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, keeping his voice soothing, like he had done with Hermione many times after one of Ron's temper eruptions.
"It's my boyfriend, Philip. Well now ex-boyfriend. He was sleeping with another woman. Thatz probably where he is right now!" She sniffled, trying to get a hold on herself.
"I'm sorry, Gwen. I know that hurts, when you realize that." He smiled sympathetically at her.
"I don't want to go back. He'll be there, wait for me with a dozen roses, and I'll just fall right back into hiz armz. I do not want that. He'z caused me enough trouble." He eyes were puffy from her crying, and she sat with her knees to her chest, burying her face in her knees when she wasn't talking.
"Do you want to stay here? I have an extra bedroom, you know. You won't have to sleep on the couch." He said, offering her his home. A strange feeling came up inside Harry's stomach. Was it…nervousness? Was he nervous that she would say no, and he wouldn't have another excuse to spend time with her?
"Can I please, 'Arry? Just until I get thingz straightened out with Philip?" She asked.
"Stay as long as need to. And you know what will get your mind off of him?
"What?" she asked, perking up a little.
"Do you want to come to Percy Weasley's campaign dinner with me tonight? Ron and Hermione will be there, and I want someone to talk to when things get a little awkward." He said
"I didn't bring a dress robe with me, let alone other clothes!" She replied sighing.
"We'll apperate back to your flat and get them. I'll come with you, in case in this Philip character tries something." He said, a note of anger filling his voice.
"Will you 'Arry? I just don't want to go back there alone." She said, getting up, hugging Harry again.
"What are friends for Gwen?" He replied, still holding her in his embrace.
Ginny sat in the beauty parlor while the witch messed with her hair, trying to find an appropriate style.
"What color did you say your robe was, dear?" She asked, still waving her wand, flipping though style after style.
"Navy blue." she replied shortly, getting annoyed. Now she knew why she never went to the salon. It seemed like it took the witch ages, around 5:30 she put the finishing charms on Ginny's red hair. She paid the woman and hurried back to her house. When she rounded the corner, she found Draco sitting on the steeps that lead up to her porch. He stood up when she approached, smiling at her.
"You look beautiful!" He breathed, looking at her face.
"I look ridiculous! I'm wearing a tee-shirt and jeans with this elegant hair-do. Why are you here? You're not supposed to see me until I'm fully ready!" She said, unlocking her door.
"How are you getting to the Burrow?" He asked
"I'm going by floo powder. How else am I getting there?"
"Oh I don't know? I didn't want you walking or what do the muggles call it 'hitch-hiking' is it?"
She laughed. "I wouldn't hitch hike. I'd call the Knight Bus before I would hitch hike."
"I can't wait to see you there." He said, whispering silky in her ear.
"Do you ever get enough?" She asked him, as if she read his mind.
"Of you? Never." He said, and kissed her, slowly and passionately.
She pulled away a few minutes later, "Draco, I have to get ready, no matter how much I would like to stay here and kiss you."
"I know, I know. I'll see you later, porcelain doll." He winked at her, and started walking back to his flat. Ginny sighed, watching him disappear around a corner, and then steeped into her house, to go and get ready for interrogation.
Hermione and Ron apperated to the Burrow together, around 5:45. Hermione was wearing robes of a silky mint green, identical to the ones that Ginny looked at while she was shopping. Ron was wearing plain, black, cleanly tailored robes, a far cry from the robe had a worn to the Yule ball his fourth year. They appeared together in the Weasley's small, cramped kitchen, where Molly Weasley was bustling about, fussing with her husband's collar, picking a piece of invisible flint from Percy's front. When they popped in, Mr. Weasley exclaimed and hugged Ron tightly kissed him on the cheek, and did the same for Hermione.
"Don't you look lovely, Hermione! How has your work been going with the researching?" She asked, offering them seats at the long table. Percy was there, with his soon to be wife, Penny. They seemed to be basking in happiness, although Percy looked to be a bit nervous. Ron joked with Percy a bit, and as always, Percy got his feathers all ruffled out. Hermione was close with Penny, since they were both medical researchers, but working at different companies, studying different diseases.
"Ronald Weasley! I told you to take that thing out for this dinner!" Molly fumed, pointing a finger at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mum. I'll go take it out." He said, and left the room, heading upstairs to the bathroom. A ruckus came from the living room, and Ginny appeared in the kitchen door. She smiled proudly as Percy's and her father's jaw dropped.
"Oh Virginia, you look beautiful!" Molly Weasley gasped, kissing her daughter on the cheek.
"Thanks Mum. Percy, shut your mouth, flies will get in." Ginny joked with him. Percy straightened up, shutting his jaw, his ear flushing a bit pink with embarrassment. Ron came thundering down the stairs, stopping at the bottom of the stairs, staring at Ginny
"Ginny is that you? Where did you get those robes? I bet Malfoy brought them for you didn't he?" Ron replied, commenting on the somewhat low-cut neck line. Although it showed a bit of her cleavage, it was still tasteful and elegant. The room stood so still after Ron said the name Malfoy, it was like they all stopped breathing.
"Ron…did you say Malfoy and Ginny's name together?" Percy asked, giving both Ron and Ginny an odd look, like they were crazy.
Ginny sighed loudly "I was going to tell you later, but Ron just had to go and open his trap. Mum, I'm dating Draco Malfoy." Ginny didn't look at anyone, staring at the floor.
"Oh Ginny! Stop pulling my leg!" Molly laughed, but stopped when she saw the serious look on her daughter's face. "You're not joking, are you Ginny?"
"Mum, we're in love. It's alright if you don't accept it, but it would make things easier for us. Can we go somewhere to talk alone?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, let's go." Mrs. Weasley said, getting up from the table, leading Ginny out to the lounge. Ginny sat down in a faded armchair, Molly stood near the window looking at Ginny.
"Draco Malfoy, eh Ginny? Your boss. Your brother, Harry and Hermione's rival. Could you pick a more incontinent boyfriend?" He laughed.
"You're not angry with me?"
"Oh, honey, no! Who you date is not up to me to decide!"
Ginny breathed easier. "Oh good. I thought for a minute you were going to be worse than Ron.
"Ginny, I trust you. I know you have a good head on your shoulders. Just don't do anything stupid like break each other's hearts." Molly sat down next to Ginny and took her hand
"Why is everyone saying that to me? 'don't get your heart broken Ginny…he's known to use them and loose them, Virginia!' It's different with Draco and I. He treats me so well, like a princess. He's a prefect gentleman."
"I know. I never thought that boy was always as rotten as he acted. He needed to be away from his slime ball father for his good side to come out." Molly replied, squeezing her hands.
"Thank you so much Mum, for understanding." Ginny smiled at her mother, and there was a sudden "whoosh!" and Harry appeared, donned in maroon robes, the color very much similar to the Gryffindor colors. Behind his came a girl who had long, curly blonde hair, dressed in white robes, with sliver thread woven thought the satin fabric. Ginny went over to Harry, greeting his will a hug. He kissed her friendly on the cheek, the same to Mrs. Weasley. She began fussing with Harry, almost as much as she was pouring over Percy. The short blonde girl looked around the house taking it all in.
"Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley." Ginny introduced herself.
"Oh, 'ello. I'm Gwen L'Esapnye." She shook Ginny's hand.
"Are you Harry's girlfriend?"
"Oh! No, no. We are just friendz." Gwen laughed
"Ginny, are you giving Gwen the third degree?" He laughed.
"How am I supposed to find anything out if I don't ask questions?" She said innocently, her old school-girl gossip coming out of her personality where it had been hiding for a long time.
"Oh it is alright! I am a very, is 'nosey' the correct word?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, Gwen, nosey." Harry said, and they went into the kitchen to say hello to the rest of the group. He shifted nervously from one foot to the other, seeing Hermione and Ron sitting close, their hands held tightly on top of the table. Hermione smiled brightly at him, Ron just staring blankly. Hermione got up, letting go of Ron's hand, and hugged Harry. He felt a surge of guilt rush though him
"They are in love. How could I have thought Hermione would pick me over her long time aficionado?" He thought, giving her a friendly peck on the cheek. Ron finally stood up, following Hermione's example. He smiled at Harry, shaking his hand an clapping him on the back, though he said under his breath "We need to talk, go out to the back porch." Harry nodded in agreement and turned and walked out the back door, he could hear Gwen asking where he was going, and Ginny replied "Male bonding."
Harry let the door shut loudly behind him, Ron doing the same a few seconds later. They sat down on the back steeps like they had many times during their Hogwarts years.
"Why did you kiss her Harry?" He asked. Ron was never the type of person to ease into a hard conversation.
"Because she was upset. She needed someone to be you." Harry said, looking at Ron, There was a hole in the flesh of his eyebrow where once the sliver bar had occupied.
"Did it mean anything?"
"Of course it did! Your one of the only people in this world who understand how my mind works, Ron. I never kiss anyone unless it will mean something. I regret it though, Ron. I really do. I shouldn't have done that to her, knowing how it would turn it out, for the both of you. But I acted on an impulse, instead of listening to my head." Harry explained.
Ron sighed deeply. "I know, I know Harry. The last thing I want to do is wreak the great friendship that we have had for, how many years is it now? Ten?"
"Something like that. Merlin knows when I got all those letters at the Dursley's I would be in the life I am now.
"I forgive you mate."
"Thank you Ron." Harry said sincerely.
"Don't worry about it Harry. By the way, who is that girl your with. Is she French."
Harry laughed "You know those silly pen friends we got 5th year from the different schools? Well remember mine, Gwen L'Esapnye? That's her."
"You've kept in contact?"
"Yeah sort of, on and off over the years. She's a painter in Paris. She's a nice girl. No she's not my girlfriend either, before you ask." Harry replied offhandedly, almost reading Ron's mind.
Ron laughed, "Well she is very pretty, even if she is French." He got up from the steep, slapping Harry on the shoulder as he left. Harry sat there for another minute, staring up at the millions of stars he couldn't see out of the window of his London flat.
Draco steeped out of the carriage that he had hired out of Hogsmeade to bring him to the campaign dinner, which was located in a major wizarding city, Nubian, near the muggle city of Dover. He straitened the collar of his hunter green robes. There were several camera men who where snapping photos of the people going into the large ballroom. He didn't look at any of the cameras directly, avoiding the flashes. As soon as he steeped over the threshold of the door, a man dressed in black and white robes appeared beside him
"Name, please?"
"Draco A. Malfoy" He replied, on the edge. He wanted to see Ginny desperately, knowing full well she would look stunning.
"This way please." The man said after checking off his name from the list. The ballroom was filled with large, round tables set with fine china and crystal champagne flutes. The man lead him to a table where Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting. Along with them was another girl around their age with curly blonde hair that reminded him of his mother's when she had a curling charm put on it. Ginny smiled brightly at him, her face glowing. With her somewhat revealing neck line of Ginny's robes distracting him, he tried to focus on her visage. As always, she looked natural and fresh, unlike some of the other woman who seemed to bathe their faces in beauty potions and charms. She stood when he arrived at the table, Draco briefly kissed her on her pink lips, and then sitting down next to her. On his other side was Potter, whom looked disturbed by their display of affection.
"What, jealous Potter?" He whispered, putting on a perfect sneer.
"No, but I bet it took all of Ron's might not to punch that sneer off your face." Harry whispered as well. He was feeling the ten year old hatred bubbling inside him.
"Your just angry I'm shagging the most beautiful girl you've ever seen and you let her slip right though your 'hero' hands." Draco said, knowing he hit a nerve.
Harry glared at him with loathing, but ignored his words. The ballroom was filling up rapidly with people, Draco noticing Professor Dumbledoor, as well as Professor Snape.
"Did I tell you that you look more beautiful than Aphrodite?" Draco whispered adoringly in Ginny's ear.
Her face broke into a grateful smile. "Thank you, do don't look so bad yourself, Draco Augustus Malfoy."
Draco's eyes widened with surprise. "How did you know my middle name?"
"I was looking at the staff list, where everyone's whole name was listed."
"Fine, Virginia Madeline Weasley." Draco said to her, emphasizing her middle name, like she had done with his.
"Well mine is normal. It's not some ancient muggle ruler of Rome!"
"Ahhh, muggle studies is a fun class isn't it? Us wizards have had those name for ages. The muggles stole them from us!" He laughed.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "You are just trying to cover up your weird name."
The room continued to fill, and Percy got paler and paler, staring at the large crowd of people. The tables were situated on one side of the large dace floor, with the stage where a band sat, making adjustments to their instruments with their wands.
Around eight 'o clock Percy got up and welcomed everyone, and thanked them for coming. After he was finished, waiters came out, placing the first course of the meal on their tables, a lintel soup.
"So Draco, how is the magazine going?" Hermione asked politely, putting the crisp white napkin on her lap.
"Slow, but we have the cover photo shoot on Monday, so things are coming along." He said, finally a topic he can really get into!
"That's Monday? I'll make sure to be early!" Ginny said, knowing Draco's reaction.
"Oh so now you'll be on time, just because of some wizard model from Peru?"
"Oh no, I'm going to be on time to see him hit on you!" Ginny spoke her thoughts out loud, making everyone at the table laugh.
"Who would have known, Draco Malfoy, a magnet for gay men!" Ron snorted, banging his fist on the table, causing everyone at the other tables to turn and look. Hermione attempted to make him to stop, but failed.
"Just because men hit on me doesn't mean I'm gay, right, Ginny?" He said, teaseling her. She blushed, and hoped Ron didn't pick out the underlying meaning of his words. They finished their soup, and the dinner wore on with sharp comments thrown back and for between the three young men, making the women roll their eyes. When the dessert arrived, Draco realized he did know the girl that Harry had brought along.
"Harry, by the way, who is this young lady?" Draco asked, almost courteously
"Oh, this is-"
Gwen cut him off, "Gwyneth L'Esapnye. But you may call me Gwen." She replied good naturedly, and shook Draco's hand across Harry's chest. Suddenly the room was silenced by Percy standing on the stage, taping a glass with a spoon. He said a spell quietly and pointed his wand at his throat, magnifying his voice.
"Good evening all! I hope you have been enjoying yourselves so far, and I would like you thank you once again for supporting me in my campaign for Minister of Magic. At this time there will be music and dancing. I also like to thank some other people who are very close to my heart. First my mother and father, Arthur and Molly Weasley, who have always been brilliant parents. My brothers and sister, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny, who are supportive in their very own special ways. And also to my beautiful, wonderful, outstanding girlfriend, Penny, I love you so much. Now, if it pleases the band, will you play the first tune?" Percy said, and walked down the stairs with a slight, happy jump in his steep. The ensemble began to strike a slow, charming, flowing song. Couples all around began to rise, walking to the dance floor. Draco stood, extending his hand to Ginny, "Would you like to dance my dear?" He asked, in his best knightly voice.
"Since you asked so nicely!" Ginny giggled, feeling like a sixteen year old girl once more. Draco guided her out on to the dance floor, spinning her into him. Ginny giggled, completely immersed in happiness.
"Where did you learn these moves?" Ginny asked him, dancing close as human possible.
Draco rolled his eyes, "My mother made me go to lessons during the summer. I never thought they would be useful."
Ginny snorted, "You took dance lessons?" Her laughing started to be come irrepressible.
"I didn't know you snorted!" Draco started to chuckle wildly as well. Once again the snooty upper crust people made slit-eyes at them, and then turned up their noses. They breathed deeply, and Draco drew up close once more.
"You know, this might as well be a costume party. All these people, they put their masked on for the public, but they are rotten on the inside." Draco replied.
"Your right, it's like a parade of pretty face. They hide their faces so the outside world will never find their true faces." Ginny added, as the song ended, and the group began to play a swing tune. Draco grasped Ginny hands and they took off in a frantic dance, almost reading each other's mind on the correct moves. The song ended, with Draco and Ginny walking off the floor breathless and red of countenance. Ginny feel into her seat, shooing a few loose hair away from her face.
"Ginny will you come to the powder room with me?" Hermione asked.
"Oh sure. I'll be back Draco." Ginny replied, getting up, and following Hermione to a side hallway decorated in rosy-cheeked cherubs and pristine white clouds, offset by a bright blue sky. They entered a room that declared "ladies" and scripty lettering on the white door.
"How is Draco treating you?" Hermione asked her,
Ginny screwed up her face. Out all the people in the world, she wanted Hermione, her best friend, to trust him.
"'Mione, I told you before. He treats me like a queen." Ginny massaged her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
"I just saw the way he was looking at you when he came in."
"What do you mean?"
"For Merlin's sake Ginny! Do you not notice anything? He was practically ogling you! He was talking to your breast instead of your face."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Hermione, I know what your getting at. He's not using me for sex."
"I know you know what your doing. I'm just being a protective friend." Hermione reassured her.
"It's like no one trusts me at all. What do you think I'm going to do? Let him break my heart and then go crawling back? I don't think so. I have more pride than that." Ginny stated, lifting up her chin, as if trying to look more proud.
"Let's go, Ron's probably going on and on about why girls go to the bathroom in pairs or packs!" Hermione joked. Ginny laughed and followed her out to the ballroom once more. They arrived at the table, but the seat where Draco was sitting was empty.
"Do you know where Draco went?"
"He went out on the veranda a few minutes ago." Harry answered.
"Oh okay. Thanks, Harry." Ginny said, and turned to the other side of the ballroom, where five sets of tall, white French doors lead outside. She picked the pair nearest to her and stepped out into the warm August night, the breeze swirling around her. Ginny scanned the veranda and what her eyes saw made her heart stop. A woman, whom looked a striking lot like Pansy Parkingson was kissing kiss Draco, whom had his back to her. He made no effort to pull away to hit her, but put his hands on her hips, as if trying to draw her closer. Ginny wasn't exactly sure what happened next, all she new is that she made a run for the front of the building, running down the steeps and down the cobble stone path. She called over a carriage and ordered it to go to the nearest floo station. As the vehicle scurried away, she looked out the back window. Draco was running after the carriage. A small tear slipped from the corner of her glassy eye, turned her head front, and refused to let her self break down into reckless tears.