Chapter 16: The Party

Things quickly returned to ALMOST normal upon hearing footsteps coming down the stairs. There were still a few people who needed to pick their jaws off the floor.

"Get ready!" Mrs. Weasley harshly whispered.

All the guests quickly found places to hide and waited for the guest of honor to arrive. Just as they were about to shout their existence, they all heard George say that it was just him and Fred.

So, they all maintained their locations while Fred and George joined them, found a hiding place and listened for the signs that would announce Harry and Ron.

Minutes later, they heard more footsteps coming down the stairs and waited with baited breath. As the pair made it around the last corner of the curving staircase, they all cried, "Surprise!"

Harry jumped in surprise, but soon had a Cheshire grin on his face.

Ron clapped him on the back and said, "Happy Birthday Harry!"

Harry greeted everyone with a smile and thanks, even Malfoy.

Soon, the party was in full swing. People were dancing and eating. While strange looks were still being thrown his way, Draco tried to ignore them and have a good time.

So, to have a good time, he asked Ginny to dance. She agreed and he held out his arm to her. She took it with a smile. As soon as she linked her arm with his, she startled at the jolt of fire that ran up her arm. The sensation was amazing and she wondered if he had felt it too. When she looked up into his eyes, she knew he had.

Those silver daggers were burning with a fierce intensity and just a hint of shock. Ginny smiled at him and he returned it.

When they got to the center of the room, he turned her into his arms and pulled her close. She responded by putting her arms around his neck and hugging herself to his chest.

The song was a slow song about loving someone no matter what, but Ginny only heard the rhythm of Draco's heart.

They were so involved in one another, neither one of them noticed that everyone had stopped to watch them. Their chemistry could be felt throughout the room.

The song ended much too soon, but Draco and Ginny did not notice. They continued their rhythmic dancing with one another.

This ended when Charlie quietly, but distinctly, cleared his throat.

Ginny brought her head up from Draco's chest, looked around and quickly felt her face flush red. Draco, too, noticed everyone's attention on them and let go of Ginny.

Ginny broke the silence with, "Thanks for the dance, Draco."

Draco nodded and they headed back to the table of food. Fred and George were standing to the side. As Draco and Ginny approached, Fred and George handed Draco a glass of punch.

"Here you go, mate." George said with a smile.

"Thanks"

Draco then turned and handed the glass to Ginny. His mother had taught him to be a gentleman to the ladies.

Ginny quickly took the glass, said thanks and took a drink.

Fred and George reacted as if they were auditioning for the "Matrix." "Noooooooooo!" They both yelled. They grappled to get the glass of punch from Ginny, but it was too late.

Ginny Weasley was now sporting a green and silver Mohawk.

Everyone stared in shock.

"Ginny- umm- sorry." Fred said while snickering. George was snickering too, after all, they had succeeded! Young wizards and witches were sure to love it! Apparently, Fred and George had finally finished their new creation for the joke shop. A new potion to create Punk hairdos; they planned on calling it Punky Potions.

"Fred and George Weasley, you should be ashamed of yourselves! Draco has acted like a perfect gentleman tonight. Shame on you!" Molly Weasley interjected.

Ginny ran for the closest mirror and looked at herself in horror. Then, she lost it. She doubled over in laughter.

"Fred, George, I love it. You think Dumbledore will let this be part of the formal attire for school?" She gasped out between bouts of laughter.

Everyone else, by this time, had joined Ginny in laughing.

Soon, it was time for Mrs. Weasley to serve the cake and for Harry to open all his presents.

He got a Chudley Cannon's wand case from Ron, a book about Seekers from Hermione and a pouch of floo powder from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (They thought he could use a bit of freedom and some practice!). He also received a T-shirt from Lavender that said, "Seekers Find IT Quicker!" Padma and Parvati got him a gift certificate to Flourish and Botts, which Hermione eyed hungrily. Bill and Charlie had gone in together to get him the new style of nifler hide gloves for Quidditch and Ginny and Percy gave him an abbreviated copy of the Ministry's Quidditch Rules (only 350 of the 714 known rules!).

However, the surprise of the evening came from Draco. Draco gave Harry a dragon amulet.

When Harry opened and showed everyone the rock, everyone gasped in shock. Harry, Hermione and Seamus looked around in confusion, not understanding the significance. Ron quickly explained the importance and rarity of such a gift.

Dragon amulets are very rare rocks made from crystallized dragon's blood, dragon's tears and fresh volcano lava. They offer the owner protection from strong doses of dark magic; in particular, they offer relief from two of the three known unforgivables: Imperio and Crucio. This relief comes from the stone itself and therefore, does not use the wearer's magic source. Thus, the stone allows the wearer to maintain their natural level of magic for defense.

Harry looked at Draco in shock. He simply could not find his voice. Ginny, sensing his shock, turned to Draco and thanked him on behalf of Harry.

Then, she surprised everyone, including herself, by giving Draco a quick peck on the cheek.

Draco responded in the most unnatural way, he blushed. However, he recovered with a satisfied smirk.

All too soon, it was time for everyone to head home. The party had been quite an event for everyone involved and all were ready to retire.

Draco was the last guest to leave and found himself in the Weasley's living room with Ginny.

"Draco that was a very, nice gift you gave Harry this evening."

"It was nothing.  Mom and I went to Diagon Alley yesterday and it seemed like the right gift.  Trouble seems to find Potter wherever he goes."

Ginny chuckled at this.  He WAS right.

Draco gave her a small smirk. 

For some reason, thought Ginny, he seems nervous.

Draco took a deep, cleansing breath.  "Ginny, I want you to have this.  I know, we did not come together under ideal circumstances, but I hope we can be friends -and maybe more one day."  While speaking, he had pulled a small, green leather box out of his breast pocket.

Ginny looked at him wide-eyed.  He pushed the small box toward her right hand.  "Go on, open it."

Ginny swallowed hard and opened the box.  Inside, she found a 3-carat oval cut sapphire flanked on either side by one-carat princess cut diamonds.  It was exquisite and Ginny had never seen anything like it in her life.

"Do you like it?"  Draco asked.

Ginny looked up at him. Her eyes said it all.  There was a hint of disbelief, with pure awe and wonderment.

"Yes."  She whispered.

"Well, put it on then."

Draco pulled the ring out of the box, picked up her left hand and put the ring on.

"Perfect fit."  she said.

"Of course, it was made that way.  A charm was put on it so it will only fit on the hand of one Miss Virginia Weasley."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

At this, Draco placed a chaste kiss on her lips and walked to the fireplace.

"See you soon!"  he said as he flooed back to Malfoy Manor.