A/N: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you like the names. Les Miserables is my favorite musical too. Anyway, here's chapter seven. Enjoy!

When Friday rolled around we had to attend the stupid farewell ball. Actually, it wouldn't have mattered as much if Eponine and Blaise were to "disappear" during the event, but I had to be there with Draco from the moment the first guest came down to the instant the last guest left.

I had to hang on his arm like a leech and pretend that I was happy with our engagement. For a moment I considered acting like an idiot to try and embarrass father and the Malfoys enough that the wedding would be off. But I wasn't that lucky, and I wasn't about to make a jackass of myself in front of all of these slimy toads.

Eponine and I began to get ready an hour before the ball began. I had to be there early anyway, and I knew I would never hear the end of it if I was late. I had on a black, low-cut, tank-top dress. It hugged my waist and had an elegant pattern of glitter. My hair was up on my head in an elegant style, and my make-up was perfect.

Eponine gave me a hug and wished me good luck as I was leaving. I opened the door and Draco was standing there with his hand raised to knock on the door. He lowered his hand as I gave him a questioning look.

"I was just coming to pick you up. We have to arrive together." He said.

"Who's original idea was that?" I asked as I waved goodbye to Eponine and closed the door.

"My father's."

"Figures."

He stopped and turned to me. He grabbed my arms and squeezed them tight. It hurt considering his arms were much stronger than mine. I didn't want to show any weaknesses so I returned his glare as if I was unaffected by him.

"Listen you! You had better watch what you say tonight! If you do or say anything to embarrass my family or me I can promise you now that you will regret it. This isn't just some meaningless threat either. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal." I said.

We glared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. I almost felt naked as if he could see into my mind and soul. His eyes softened up, and he let go of me.

"We had better get going." He said.

I knew that he felt bad about what he had just done. He linked arms with me. I looked disapprovingly at this, but he gave me a warning look. I just rolled my eyes and turned my gaze to ahead of me.

"Mother tells me you're an actress." He said.

"Oh really?" I asked.

"Yes. However, I had a little trouble believing it."

"What?! I'm the best damned actress you'll ever meet!"

"I don't know. You seem to have a problem acting like you're a perfect angle to your parents at times."

"If you only knew-"

"Why don't you prove that you're so good and act like you're the happiest girl in the world?"

"That's easy. I'll be so good that you won't even know it's me talking."

"We'll see."

"Hey if we're engaged then where the hell is my ring? If you're so rich and honorable then buy me whatever ring I want."

"We'll do that next weekend. That is, if you can pull this evening off."

"Deal."

We walked into the ballroom and met Lucius and Narcissa. Narcissa kept saying how beautiful I looked and every time she did Lucius agreed. We stood next to them, and waited for the first guest to arrive. They got carried away in a conversation and Draco leaned down so his lips were right next to my ear.

"How can someone so beautiful be so stubborn?" He whispered.

"Thank you. I am beautiful, aren't I?" I whispered back.

I turned my head to him. Our faces were inches apart, and I felt as if I were in a dream or something. I felt something, but I didn't understand what it was. I don't really remember what happened. I was just glad that something didn't happen. We turned away at the same time to see the guests approaching.

It was the Parkinson's. They shook hands with us and as good as Mrs. Parkinson's intentions were, I wanted to kill her for what she said.

"Oh, it's like a younger Narcissa and Lucius standing right next to them." She said.

Draco smirked fakely, but I saved our butts. The lights came up, I smiled sweetly, and the show began.

"Why thank you Mrs. Parkinson! Now that I think about it you're right. I just hope Draco and I can live up to our parents expectations." I lied.

"I'm sure you will." Mr. Parkinson said.

They walked off and the Bradners walked up.

"You are good." Draco whispered.

"Told you." I whispered back.

That evening was the best performance of my life. Everyone believed my act, and if Eponine didn't know me better then she would have believed me too. I had to lie a lot, but I didn't mind. Father was very pleased with me. He even took me aside and asked me if I was feeling all right. I merely laughed and asked him if he would rather I act the way I do at home.

When the last guest left at one in the morning I could barely keep my eyes open. I took the smile off my face and placed my head on Draco's shoulder.

"The show is over." I whispered.

"Not until the fat lady sings." He whispered back.

How he knew that expression, I'll never know. I was too tired to think about it, and I fell asleep. I woke up the next morning in my bed. It was funny, I didn't remember walking upstairs, taking off my dress and makeup, and brushing my hair. I sat up in bed and just sat there. Eponine was sitting at a table eating eggs and toast. She smiled and whipped her mouth.

"I woke up about ten minutes ago. I was going to let you sleep so I went to get breakfast, but there was a house elf waiting outside the door. Blaise and Draco sent it to give us breakfast. It set up a table and everything. Just tell the plate what you want and it will give it to you." Eponine said.

"Oh how sweet. They're trying to get us to like them." I said groggily.

"Well Blaise isn't really that bad. He's actually pretty nice."

"You like him don't you?"

"A lot. But don't worry! It will probably blow over and I won't like him anymore by the time Operation America needs to take place."

"Eponine, no one said you had to go to America. If you want to stay then I'll understand."

"No! I'm not going to dessert you! I'm not even in love with him."

"Yes you are."

"But I barely know him."

"Eponine, what is the biggest thing on your mind right now. Be honest."

"Blaise."

"What do you want more than anything right now?"

"Blaise."

"What do you want to do today?"

"Blaise. I mean-"

"Eponine! You aren't even married to him yet and already you want to shag him?"

"That's not what I meant!"

"I know. Face it Eponine, you're in love."

"I know! What am I going to do?"

"Marry him. I'll owl you when I've mad it in America. Once you learn how to apparate you can come and visit me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I don't have a future here. Even if I do, it definitely is not with Draco."

"Are you sure? You seemed pretty happy with him last night."

"I was acting."

"Were you really?"

Since she had mentioned it, I wasn't exactly certain myself.

"You know what else? Draco carried you up here last night and tucked you in. I called your mother in and she used magic to brush your hair, take your makeup off, and put your nightgown on." Eponine said.

"His mother probably made him do it."

"I don't know. He had this cute look in his eyes the whole time."

"Eww! That pervert was eyeing me while I was sleeping?"

"He wasn't eyeing you! He was looking at you.longingly?"

"Whatever."

After breakfast Eponine and I packed our bags and gave them to the house elves. They were such a sad sight. They were tripping and stumbling over each other, and I felt really bad when I saw that two of them could barely pull just one of my suitcases.

We said goodbye to all of our friends, and I was surprised when Draco hugged me. He whispered in my ear, and I was no longer surprised.

"Mother and Father expect us to hug and kiss." He whispered.

"And if I refuse?" I whispered back.

"Just do it for me. Please."

I was in awe. I didn't know the word please was in this guy's vocabulary. Well, since he asked nicely I gave in. We pulled away, but kept our arms around each other. We leaned in and I received my first kiss.

It was small, just a peck on the lips. It didn't last long either, but it was definitely believable. It felt so good, and I actually kind of enjoyed it. At least he was a good kisser.

Narcissa and mother smiled and said how cute they thought that was. Father and Lucius gave each other approving looks, and Robert and Katie rolled their eyes at the adults.

We said goodbye and we were on our way. We got into our lemozine and I pulled my magazine out of the compartment under the seat. I didn't get to finish it thanks to a certain arrogant bastard.

"Cosette I was very proud of you this week." Father said.

Was I hearing correctly? Did my father just tell me that he was proud of me? This had to be a conspiracy. For the first time in my life my father honestly told me that he was proud of me.

"You're what?" I asked in disbelief.

"I'm proud of you. I know I've never said it before, but you never gave me a reason until now. You didn't want to be here at all this week, but you showed everyone respect. Not to mention you were very kind to everyone and kept a polite smile on your face." He said.

"Well, I was just, uh-"

"Thank you."

Ok now I was hearing things! Father never said that to me before unless I passed him the salt at the dinner table. I was speechless.

"Uh, you're welcome?" I said.

"Too bad you don't act like that at home. It's a shame you don't show your family the same respect that you show our friends." He said.

And we were back to square one.
A/N: So what did you think? Please review!