Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Everything belongs to J.K.R and WB and whoever is involved with the editing + publishing + distributing of the books.

Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Draco/Hermione, Ron/OC Rating: R Setting: Story starts summer before 6th year.

-Malfoy Mansion- 4pm

In the dim spacious room, the only light source peeking through the cracks in which the heavy thick window curtains meet, Draco Malfoy laid sprawled on his king sized bed, hands tucked underneath his head. Gloomily he studied a bump in the ceiling while contemplating whether he should

feign sickness and miss the ball or attend with his family and suffer the night watching purebloods "mingle" with Mudbloods and even worse, Muggles

The Ministry of Magic decided to announce a ball where all wizards and witches of England and Scotland, accompanied by their families (the family members don't have to have an ounce of magic in them) could meet and improve relations, while the muggle parents can have the "opportunity of further understanding what the wizarding world is all about".

Wincing at the thought, Draco sat up just as his door opened. Lazily turning, Draco saw the unmistakable shadow of his father even before the door was wide enough to show the person's identity clearly.

"Draco, I have something to discuss with you."

Knowing his father stresses the importance of standing up and facing him while he spoke, Draco quickly stood up and straightened his already ramrod straight back.

"Is this about that horrendous ball the Ministry is holding?" Draco said.

Lucius studied his son with knowing eyes. "You are not going to feign sickness. This ball is important."

"How so? Dirtying myself, surrounded by those Muggles and Mudbloods. There's absolutely nothing to be gained by going." Draco retorted.

"The Ministry believes the Dark Lord has decided to lay low since he didn't make an appearance since the Triwizard Tournament. At a gathering as diverse as tonight's do you really think Lord Voldemort is going just let this chance slip by? One year of planning to seize the reigns of power and of course, planning the downfall of Potter, isn't going to spoil his mood to see some Mudbloods and Muggles meet their end."

Arching a brow, Draco could see the importance of the ball now that his father has shed a new light on the event, he still couldn't see why he had to go. "And we have to go because?"

"Because we are there to support our Lord and by not being there in the first place would arouse the Ministry's suspicions. We are one of the oldest, most prestigious wizarding families there is, we are expected to show up." Draco sensed rather than saw, the flash of irritation starting to show in Lucius' eyes.

Sighing inwardly Draco nodded. "I'll be ready at 5."

"Good." With that, Lucius left, the door closing behind him with a click.

-Granger Residence- 5pm

"Mum! Stop fussing with your hair, you look beautiful." Hermione laughed as she stood in the doorway of the master bedroom. Her mother sat in front of the vanity, makeup of all sorts spread in a disarray in front of her. Her father was in the private bathroom, shaving away at any sign of stubbles on his face.

"Ok, Ok, I'm done. Oh dear, I'm so excited! A ball, can you imagine?! All the people we would meet, all the different things we'll encounter, I can't wait!" Mrs. Granger gushed on, feeling like a teenager again.

"Calm down. At the rate you are going, you'll be too tired to do anything when we arrive." Mr. Granger stepped out of the bathroom, chuckling.

Mrs. Granger rushed over and grinned up at her husband, watching him tying then loosening his tie repeatedly.

"Here, let me do it." She pushed his hands away and quickly finished the job.

"Come on Mum, we got to go to the living room, to wait for the escort to apparate and lead us to the portkey."

Hermione had straightened her hair and left it down naturally. She wore a red satin sleeveless dress, with slits on both sides up to her knees, which hung simply straight down to her ankles and had matching shoes to go with it. Adorning her ears were a pair of earrings made of white gold, dangling straight down. On her wrist was a silver bracelet and to top it all off, a silver necklace with the astronomical sign for Virgo was around her neck. The only makeup she had on was lip-gloss and mascara. After all, she was just going to see her friends, plus she hated having gunk on her face.

Mr. Granger hustled everyone downstairs into the living room where right on the dot of 6pm, appeared an escort.

"How do you do Hermione, Mr. Granger, Mrs. Granger? I believe that you three are the only ones from the Granger family attending, correct?"

Hermione's eyes widened and she grinned as she put on a jacket. "Percy!? I didn't know you volunteered to be an escort!"

Mr. Granger smiled, "No other relative knows about Hermione being a witch other than my wife and me. So naturally, only the three of us are going. How is your father doing?"

"Fine thank you. You'll be meeting him shortly. Let us go now. The other families in this area are gathering at the same portkey as us."

Hermione led the way out of the house and Percy took over, walking with his head high and chest puffed out with importance. Hermione saw the back of Percy's robes and burst out into laughter. Across the back of his dark robes shimmered the words "Kick me, I'm important."

~Fred and George must've done that.~ she thought.

"Ahem, Percy? You should check the back of your robes."

Percy abruptly stopped, dreading what he would find. Pulling his robe off, he saw the words and started to scowl. Taking out his wand, he muttered a spell to erase the charm and putting back on his robes, he said through clenched teeth, "Those two are going to get it when I see them."

Hermione smiled and Percy started to lead the way again. Leading them to a deserted parking lot, he looked around and spotted a water bottle at a corner.

"Come along. My family is already there waiting for your arrival." He said and Hermione told her parents to be prepared to maintain their balance.

Hearing voices Percy looked back and saw another group heading their way. He waved to the escort of that party and turned back around, telling Mr. and Mrs. Granger how the Portkey works.

All four of them reached out a hand and at the count of three, touched the bottle and were whisked away.