Tsuyuno:  Ah, yes, poor Ron Weasley.  Don't you just want to give the poor boy a hug?  Ah, well.

Makalaseri:  This review was truly inspiring.  Thank you so much.  I appreciated every single word you wrote in it and I don't think I deserve it in the least but it doesn't mean I didn't love it.  Never fear, for I am working on an original novel, though I have yet to start writing it because so much planning is going into it.  There are even wizards in my story, too, though they aren't the central story.  Yay!

Arwen Undomiel:  Funner is a word if you want it to be.

Tine:  You always write me long, fleshy reviews and I treasure them.  I know what you mean about getting into funks.  I have them too.  I start reading a story and I get two chapters (skimming) through them before I have to click off the story whether it's good or not.  My attention span just won't work.  I don't know what a Mary Sue is like and I strongly feared she was going to become Mary Sue as I also feel for her mother, Drusilla, in the prequel, but hopefully I'm just being paranoid.  As for the humor, well, I don't think I'm able to write anything that isn't funny.  My entire life is like that.  I once had a fight with a friend and he ended up making up with me because I was so funny when I was mad that he couldn't be angry anymore.  *bites lip*  Apparently, I look like a small child throwing a temper tantrum.  *shrug*

Tarin Norwince:  I tried to email you but the message came back.  For the art, I'd like that but I'd like to see a sample of your work first.  Could you email me at angeldlsm00@hotmail.com?  Thanks.

Anyone else who read and/or reviewed, thank you for taking the time and on with the chapter!

DISCLAIMER:  After writing a thousand of these, it's really getting old.  There are a few things I do own in this story and Harry and Draco are not two of them.  I own Kali.  And this plot.  I know, I know.  It's sad, but it's true.  Servius and Serena are mine, too.  I am not J.K. Rowling.  If I were, I wouldn't be ravenous to know who dies in the fifth book.  She is a goddess and I am merely borrowing her characters for my own selfish.

Falling Chapter Sixteen:  Obtaining Perfection

The few days between Blaise's discovery and Halloween passed without many significant events other than Hermione almost spilling the secret about Snape when Ron brought up his fears over meeting Kali's dad.  Harry had gone to Professor Dumbledore the same day as when they almost kissed and the headmaster thought it was a wonderful idea for Draco to get back out with the school.  Since then, the almost kiss was on Harry's mind constantly and he was more than looking forward to the Ball when he could see Sirius again and maybe bring it up with him.

Kali, Blaise, and Hermione walked out of Potions class only a few hours before the Ball on Halloween.  Ron had gone ahead to the hospital wing where Harry was watching over Draco so that Harry could leave and get dressed.

"It's so strange sitting in class with you and knowing," said Hermione.  "If only Pansy knew how far off she really was when saying that you and Professor Snape are intimate."

"It's gross, isn't it?" said Kali.  Hermione nodded.

"Yes, it really is."

As they headed for the staircase up and out of the dungeons, a figure of a boy appeared at the top and Kali stopped in her tracks.  He had dark brown hair, almost black, and brown eyes.  His robes were black but they didn't look like anything the other Hogwarts students wore.  Catching sight of them, he grinned and descended the staircase, a bag slung over his shoulder.

"Hi," he said to them.

"What are you doing here?"

"Halloween Ball.  Mom wanted to come.  Says she hasn't seen the place in ages.  She's seeing the headmaster right now so she sent me down here in the meantime."

"Well. . ." said Kali in a calculated manner, "it's great to see you."

"You lie, but I'm glad to see you."  He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, which she returned.

"Oh. . ." said Kali, "guys, this is my cousin, Servius.  He's Aunt Serena's kid.  You know, the ones I lived with in America.  Servius, these are my friends, Blaise and Hermione."

His gaze drifted from first Blaise and then to Hermione.  Rolling his eyes up and down, Servius took in Hermione from head to toe and broke out into a smirk.  "Hello there, Hermione."  Kali rolled her eyes.  "Has anyone ever told you just how beautiful you are?"

Hermione dropped the large stack of books she had been holding and Servius bent down to help her pick them up.

"Stop hitting on my friend, Servius."

"Oh, Kailah, dear, I wasn't hitting on your friend.  Unless, of course, she wants me to."  Servius gave her a wink and Hermione gaped, speechless.  "So . . . where's Uncle Sev?"

"Er - I can take you there once Aunt Serena comes.  We should wait for her, right?"

Servius shrugged.  "I guess.  I heard you're a Gryffindor."  Kali nodded.  "Better that than a Hufflepuff, right?"

"Much better."

"So how's school here?"

"It's good.  I'm nervous about the Ball tonight."

"Oh yeah," Servius said before breaking out into laughter.  "Uncle Sev wrote us and told us that you've got a boyfriend and he has to meet him tonight.  Your poor boyfriend.  Having to deal with Uncle Sev and actually being desperate enough to date you."

Kali rolled her eyes.  "That's enough out of you, Servius Atwater."

"Your friends know, right?"  Blaise and Hermione, still gaping, nodded.  "Oh, good.  I didn't want to pop any bubbles or anything."

"No bubbles.  My boyfriend's name is Ron and you don't understand about not telling him yet.  He's going to be horrified at the thought that my father is the mean old Potions professor.  I just hope he doesn't break up with me."

"Oh, he won't," said Hermione.  "Ron adores you.  It won't matter that Professor Snape is your father, it will just make him rather uncomfortable for awhile."

"What's it like having Uncle Sev for a professor?" asked Servius, still amused by some matter.

"He's . . . mean.  He yells at me.  My potion wasn't the same color as everyone else's and he took points away and made me come back to make it right.  He keeps saying that he doesn't understand how his own offspring can be so appalled by Potions."

"You've actually made a right potion?  Wow.  It . . . all the class is supposed to have the same color?"  Kali nodded, shrugging.  "How can he expect you to like Potions after you had Mister Wagner, anyway?  That guy is so old, he's like a thousand."

"Who is like a thousand?" asked a short and slender woman coming up from behind Servius.  "Hello, Kailah, darling, you look simply divine."

"Hello, Aunt Serena."  They hugged and Serena gave her a pat on the head when pulling back.  "Servius said you came for the Halloween Ball."

"Well family is invited, aren't they?  Besides, I haven't seen the school in a very long time, I haven't seen you in a long time, and it's always fun to torment Severus.  You cousin is here at his own personal request.  A lot of rubbish about missing you and wanting to see where you go to school.  Honestly, I think he's just trying to get transferred."

"Transferred?"

"I hate Mister Wagner," explained Servius.  Shrugging, Kali nodded.

"Servius has been going on about it for some while.  Now, Kailah, Severus wrote us and told us you were made a Gryffindor.  Something about the Sorting Hat making a terrible mistake and I believe he mentioned Hufflepuffs, but Severus is never to be taken too seriously so I dismissed it.  Drusilla would have been proud."

A soft shade of red rose into her cheeks as she grinned.  "Thanks."

"Severus also mentioned a boyfriend.  He said that he's appalled by your choice in men but if you had to pick someone, he was glad you picked who you did.  Something about your taste improving and that he was no Bryce Light, which, I must say, I was glad to hear."

"Me too," muttered Servius.  "I hate that guy so much.  I hate him with enough fire to fuel a thousand suns."

"His name is Ron Weasley," said Kali.

"Weasley?" asked Serena, looking somewhat terrified.  "His father's name isn't Dane, is it?"

Exchanging confused looks with Hermione and Blaise, Kali said, "No."

"Good," she said, breathing a sigh of relief.  "Who are your friends?"

"Aunt Serena, this is Hermione Granger and Blaise Zabini.  Blaise is a Slytherin and Hermione is in Gryffindor with me."

"It's nice to meet you," said Serena.  Kali's very quiet friends nodded and shook hands with Serena.

"I just shook Snape's sister's hand," Blaise muttered under his breath so only Hermione and Kali could hear.  The girls tried not to laugh at his tone.

"Now, you said Weasley?" started Serena but Servius was already on it.

"One of those poor red-haired Weasleys that Uncle Sev keeps complaining about when he would come to visit in the summer?  You know, the ones with thousands of children and not nearly enough money to support them all?  Also incompetent in the classroom?"

"Servius," scolded Serena, "stop that or you'll be going to school in a dress for the next two weeks."

"Speaking of which," said Kali, "get a girlfriend yet or do they still think you're gay?"

"Shut up."

Kali smirked.

"To put it in a more civilized manner," Serena glared at Servius, "Weasley as in Arthur Weasley's son?"  Kali nodded.  "The youngest boy?"  Kali nodded again and Serena grinned wickedly in a way that only Snapes ever really master.  "I bet Sev absolutely loves that.  He at least said he can trust Ron, which is more than we can all say for Mister Light."

"What happened with this Light kid?" asked Blaise.

"Smoked large amounts of weed and had a lot of sex.  Daddy wasn't happy when he was looking to occupy my bed.  I thought he wouldn't really be like that but, you know, everyone has to be wrong eventually and that was my time.  Bryce just wasn't for me."

"But Kailah never listened when Uncle Sev told her that."

"Daddy tells me that every boy is wrong for me."

"Sev's just being protective," said Serena.  "I mean, look at how he gets over his belongings when he'd visit us in the summer, and you aren't just an old cloak.  If I had a Sickle for every time Sev yelled at me for mistreating one of his things then I'd be rich enough to treat this entire school to ice cream.  Speaking of that slimy, greasy brother of mine, lead me to the Potions classroom, Kailah, darling."

"Sure," she said, shrugging, and then looking to Blaise and Hermione.  "D'you want to come or do you have somewhere to be?"

"I'll come," offered Blaise and Hermione nodded, her eyes fixed on a smirking Servius.  "It'll be nice to kill some time before the Halloween Ball."

They headed off down the corridors and Serena recounted some of her fonder memories of Hogwarts to them ("That's where Sirius Black broke Sev's nose!") on the way.  Even the Bloody Baron, passing them on his way to somewhere or another, paused to say hello to Serena.  Every little astonishment registered from Servius as they walked ("Chivington isn't like this.  I want to go to school here.") and part of Kali was getting fearful that Servius may permanently end up at her school.  She went into silent prayer.

"Uncle Sev!" exclaimed Servius as they walked into the empty Potions classroom.  Snape was sitting at one of the desks working on second year essays and looking rather irritated.  At the sound of his nephew's voice, his face went pale and he looked up to see them gathering in the doorway.

"Don't call me that and what are you doing here?"

"We were invited for the Halloween Ball," said Serena.  "Besides, I missed Kailah and, of course, the bestest big brother in the entire world."

"Oh, yes, and I missed you, too," he drawled in a rather unpleasant voice.  Serena scowled at him.  "Must you be here?"

Servius wandered away from the small contingent and began to investigate the many wonders of Snape's classroom.  Hermione and Blaise hung back toward the doorway as Serena crossed and began to bother her brother with alludes to transferring Servius.  All Snape had done was told her in a horrified gasp that two Snapes were too many for the school and Serena rebutted, saying that they had both been there at the same time before.  This was immediately followed by a newfound sympathy for the professors they had as young students until Serena started to dote on the wonder that was Sirius Black ("I knew he was far too gorgeous to be guilty!") and Snape scowled at her.

"Er-" said Kali, "we really should be getting back to our dormitories so that we can change and all."

"Fine, Kailah," said Snape, his voice silky and bitter.  "Leave me alone with this lot."

"I can't believe you have real Potion ingredients!" exclaimed Servius.  All eyes turned to him causing a red blush to seep into his cheeks.  "Well . . . Mister Wagner wasn't like that.  He was like a thousand-"

"He's sixty-eight," corrected Serena.

"Yeah.  Like a thousand, and he has this old Potions textbook that's splattered so badly you can't even read the ingredient list anymore.  All of our Potions are never the same color.  Mine will be orange and the guy beside me will have a yellow one and the girl in front of me has pink.  Then Mister Wagner will have turquoise or something ridiculous like that."

"I'm going to go," said Kali, eyes still nervously fixated on Servius and she made a mad dash to get out of the classroom, dragging Hermione and Blaise along with her.  Blaise departed from them almost immediately to go to Slytherin and Kali spent the entire trek to the seventh floor with Hermione, answering questions about what Servius was like and interjecting every so often with questions about the 'ancient' Mister Wagner.

~*~

"Verrrrrrrrrry nice," said the pocket mirror Draco was checking out his hair in.

"Even your mirror feeds your ego," said Ron, leaning back in his chair and watching Draco adjust the one hair he insisted wouldn't fit in with the others.  "Malfoy, it looks fine.  Even if there was one hair out of place, it's just one hair.  No one will be able to tell the difference anyway.  Just leave it alone."

"I have to look perfect, Weasley.  Something you obviously know nothing about."

Ron rolled his eyes and rubbed the bottom of his dirty soles over Draco's pillow.

"What did you just do to my bed?"

"Nothing."  Giving him an innocent smile, Ron started to whistle.  "I don't get it.  What are you so worried about?  People are going to be too busy to notice you there and anyone who does notice you is going to have other distractions."

"I just need to look perfect."

"For who?"

Harry.

"For everyone, okay?  I've been through hell for the second time and I'm only on my way back.  The least I can do is look somewhat composed even if I'm all scar tissue underneath."

"Are you really that nervous?"

Draco paused.  He was really that nervous and not just for the reasons he was giving Ron.  Not only was his mother going to be there but very little was on his mind the past few days but Lucius and the kiss that almost was with Harry.  Tonight he had to look perfect and not just to put on a facade for the school so as not to fuel the flames but also for Harry.  Draco always knew Harry was bisexual but it was a different sort of knowing when it was just a random fact with no significance.  Before there was never anything about it that had to do with Draco, but now Harry admittedly was attracted to him and Draco knew he was screwed.  He had fallen right back for Harry.

"Yes," Draco said, weak.  "I am really that nervous."

"Join my club.  I have to meet Kali's father tonight.  Kali's going to meet my mum.  I need to make a good impression and I want my mum to love her."

"You and Kailah really have something special going on, don't you?"

Blushing, Ron turned away from Draco.  "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."

"I'm just as surprised as you are."

"You call her Kailah.  Why do you do that?"

"Er - I don't know.  She doesn't seem to mind."

"No . . . There is something going special going on with me and Kali.  Yeah.  At least I hope so."

"She really cares for you, too, Weasley.  Can't imagine why. . ."

"Thanks, Malfoy," Ron sneered.

"Don't worry about meeting her father.  I'm sure he'll be . . . er - civil to you."

Sighing, Ron sunk further back into his chair and watched Draco once again try to fix the solitary hair that bothered him so much.  Without a knock, the door to the hospital wing swung open and Harry sauntered in wearing his new green dress robes.  Catching sight of Draco primping in the mirror, he cocked an eyebrow and smiled as Draco cursed under his breath.

"Having problems obtaining perfection?" teased Harry.  Draco dropped the mirror causing it to split in several places.  "Sorry.  Didn't mean to scare you."  Harry sighed.  Ever since admitting that he was attracted to him, Draco was acting very strange around Harry and it was beginning to bother him.  He hadn't wanted to weird Draco out, but every time he showed up, which was a lot due to the conditions of his Suicide Warning, Draco got very quiet and jumpy.

"You didn't scare me," said Draco, bending down to pick up the pieces of mirror.  "I just didn't expect to hear you there."

"Well - er - we should probably be going soon.  Sirius is going to be here soon and I know you have to meet Kali, Ron.  Are you ready?"

Draco looked sadly at his broken mirror and nodded.  He laid the pieces on his bed to be fixed later (which he imagined Madam Pomfrey would do while he was gone) and reluctantly fell into step with Harry, Ron behind them, as they left the hospital wing.  Madam Pomfrey's eyes were on him as he left, clearly displaying her disapproval, but because it was under Dumbledore's orders that he attend, the matter was out of her reach.

Walking into the Great Hall, they were taken aback at seeing all of the decorations.  Huge jack o' lanterns were floating amidst black and orange taper candles around the room.  The tables had been removed save two, which were set against the walls on opposite sides of the room and were filled with food.  Smaller, round tables had been scattered around the dance floor.  They were some of the first students there and almost every pair of eyes fell on Draco as if to see just how much of the rumors were true.  Beside Harry, Draco shifted uncomfortably.

"Draco," called a high-pitched worried voice and Draco looked up to see his mother approaching.  He barely had time to register her before her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she pulled him in to her.  "Why didn't you write me?  When Albus sent me that letter . . . and I wasn't supposed to come see you!  I was almost on the verge of telling Albus that I didn't care about what he thought would be best because I needed to see my baby.  You're alright, aren't you?"

Staring at her, his mouth slightly agape, Draco felt himself nod.  "I'm fine.  How are you?"

"I've been worried sick.  How could you . . . why would you want to. . ."  She burst into tears.  "Don't I love you enough?  Is that why you tried to kill yourself again?"

"What?  No!  Mum, it's nothing like that.  I just . . . I miss Dad and . . . it's my fault he isn't here."

"It is not your fault," she said as sternly as she could through sobs.  Hugging him even closer, her arms tightening around his back, she stroked his hair and cried.

"I'm sorry, Mum.  It's about me.  I have a problem."  His voice broke off into a sob.  "But I'm trying to get help so I won't do stupid things like cutting myself anymore.  I'm sorry, Mum.  I didn't want to make you worry.  Please don't cry."

Harry cleared his throat rather loudly and both Narcissa and Draco looked at him.  Going a slight pink, Draco gave Harry a soft smile and his eyes flickered back to where Ron stood just behind him.

"Mum, this is Harry and Ron.  They've been helping me out a lot since I went to the infirmary."

"Thank you for taking care of him," she said, rubbing his back.

"No problem," said Harry.  "Ron - there's Kali."

Coming into the Great Hall was Kali dressed in burgundy dress robes.  Beside her was Hermione in a deep violet blue color.  Walking with them was a boy in black robes and a woman in gold robes that neither Ron nor Harry recognized.  Draco pulled his mother along with them as they went to join Kali, Hermione, and their company, and they pushed two tables together so that Sirius and Lupin would have somewhere to sit when they arrived.

"I can't believe he's already patrolling," said Harry even before they sat down.

"What?" asked Kali.

"Snape!  Look at him!  Already stalking the place like he's just waiting for me to do something wrong so he can hex me."

"Or force feed you poison," said Ron.

"That too."

The woman and boy with Kali stifled laughter.

"I guess this is the time for introductions," said Draco looking over the company.

"Oh!" said Kali.  "Yes.  This is my Aunt Serena and my cousin, Servius.  I lived with them in America.  This is Harry Potter, you already met Hermione, Draco Malfoy, and my boyfriend, Ron."

"Hello," said Ron rather weakly.

Servius laughed.  "You look like you're going to be sick!  I've never seen anyone who looked so much like they were going to be sick before."

"Servius," snapped Serena.  Ron paled even further.

"And did you say 'Malfoy'?"

Draco paled this time.  "Yes, she did.  I'm Draco Malfoy.  Everyone, this is my mum.  Mum, you know Harry and Ron.  That's Hermione Granger and Kailah Strauser."

"Dru's Kailah?" asked Narcissa.  "And Serena?  Is that really you?"

"Narcissa?" squealed Serena.  "I can't believe it!  Servius, you keep quiet."

"But Mom, aren't the Malfoy's the ones with the really ugly kid?"  Draco's eyes narrowed.  "No offense, but I thought they have the rat child."

"The rat child?" asked Narcissa.  Across from her, Kali laughed nervously.

"It's a long story," explained Serena.

"No, it's really not.  I thought they have the rat child.  I'm almost positive.  Hold on."  Servius shoved his head into his bag as he began searching for something.  "Yeah.  See."  He slapped a picture of a rather ugly looking child onto the table.  Draco snatched it from him and crumbled it up.  "Was that you?"

"Shut up," said Draco.  "I wasn't the nicest looking child.  I've grown up."

"That kind of ruins the fun for me," whined Servius.

"You just carry Draco's picture around with you?" asked Serena.

"Mom, he was really ugly.  It's entertainment."

"I was six," snapped Draco.

"Wait," said Harry, laughing.  "First of all, why do you have a picture of Draco when he was six?"

Narcissa was about to respond but sensing Kali's unease, Serena cut in.  "Narcissa and I were good friends at school so we sent letters and pictures of our kids to each other all the time.  We had to keep in touch somehow.  Sorry, Narcissa, but my son has always seemed to get a great kick out of Draco.  Then again, my son is highly immature and is easily amused."

"Oh," said Harry, still laughing.  "I want to see the picture."

"No."  Draco looked murderous.  "I wasn't the nicest looking child, all right?  The point is that I grew up to be rather attractive and thus I am very vain about my good looks.  They're like a blessing and a miracle so do try to forget I was ever once ugly."

"You weren't ugly," said Narcissa.

"Yes he was," said Servius, smirking.

"I don't like you."  Draco glared at Servius.  The other boy shrugged, still smirking.

"Why don't you like who?"  Blaise grabbed one of the few empty chairs and sat down between Draco and Harry, completely oblivious to their disappointment.

"Hello there, Blaise."

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy."

"How are you this year?"

"Er - coping."

"Well that's better than a bad year.  I trust you've been taking care of Draco as well?"

He shrugged.  "When he lets me."

"Serena, this is Blaise Zabini."

"We've already met earlier in the hall when he was with Kailah."

"Blaise is Gemma Cross's son."

"Really?  How is Gemma?"

"She's okay.  She wanted to come tonight but she's really busy with my sister back at home."

"Gemma's fifth child," Narcissa told her.  "And she's pregnant again!"

"No!  She claimed she was never going to have children!"

"I know!"

"Narcissa Delacroix, and is that Serena?"  The people at the tables looked up to see Sirius Black and Professor Lupin walking over to their table.  "How are you, Harry?  Been taking care of yourself this year?"  Sirius sat down on the other side of Harry from Blaise, Lupin bringing a chair up next to him.

"I'm doing well enough," he explained.  "Snape's being impossible but . . . you know how that goes."

"I certainly do."

"Is he really that bad?" asked Serena, amused.  Narcissa grinned at her from across the table.

"Does he not know?" Sirius asked Serena.  She shook her head.

"Not know what?"

"Nothing, Harry.  Serena, what are you doing here?  It's been ages since I've seen you."

"Driving my brother insane and coming to see Kailah."

"Kailah?"

"Me," said Kali softly.

"Dru's daughter?"  He looked from Kali to Serena to Lupin.

"Kali's in Gryffindor with us," explained Harry.  "She's our friend.  Well, mine and Hermione's friend, anyway.  She's Ron's girlfriend."

To his surprise, Sirius started laughing.  "I can't believe you're actually dating Kailah Strauser, no offense, Kailah."

"None taken," she said, her voice small.  From across the table, Draco looked like he was trying not to laugh and she sent a glare in his direction.

"They don't know, Sirius," said Lupin rather softly.  "I haven't said anything to them or Kailah and I know Kailah hasn't said anything to them."

"They don't know?"  Kali, Serena, and Lupin all shook their heads.  Servius was too busy watching Draco and trying not to laugh, his lips mouthing the words 'albino rat child'.  "What do they know?  Anything?"

"They know Kailah lived with Serena and now she's back with her father.  They know her mother is dead and her father sent her away because he didn't want to lose her, too.  I think Kailah had some idea that we were friends with Dru but no one really said anything about it.  Ron's meeting her father tonight."

"Meeting?" asked Sirius, still grinning.

"Well . . . you know what I mean."

"And they don't know about you, either, Serena?"

She shrugged.  "Nope.  Not that I mind.  I much prefer to be Serena Atwater.  It's so less painful."

"Well that certainly makes sense."

"What are you talking about?" asked Harry.  "We don't know what?"

"Nothing.  Nothing at all."

Much of the evening was spent with Sirius, Lupin, Serena, and Narcissa reminiscing about Drusilla and telling their children all about how wonderful Kailah's mother had been.  They were careful to avoid bringing Snape up in conversation at all, only Draco, Hermione, Blaise, and Kali knowing just who they were talking about when they'd mention 'Dru's boyfriend'.  They stories were highly entertaining and Kali was rather disappointed when Ron nudged her in the side and told her that his mother and, unfortunately according to him, his brothers, Fred and George.  The room promptly went up in a haze and the smell of dungbombs lingered in the air.

Ron's hand clasped around Kali's as he led her away from the group and over to the doors.

"Mum!"  Dropping Kali's hand, he walked over to his mother and let himself be pulled into a hug.  "Mum, I want you to meet someone.  This is Kali Strauser, my girlfriend."

Mrs. Weasley took on a kind look.  "Hello, Kali."

"Hello," she said, smiling as she tried to shake Mrs. Weasley's hand only to be given a hug.  Smiling was good.  You were supposed to smile when meeting the parents.

"Lookie!  Ickle Ronniekins has a girlfriend," one of Ron's brothers teased.  They were identical and Kali couldn't tell whether it was Fred or George.

"They grow up so fast," said the other twin and they both crushed Ron from either side as they pretended to cry.

"That's enough from you two," said Mrs. Weasley.  "Leave your brother alone.  It's sweet."

"Please don't say that, Mum," said Ron, faint.

"I think she should say it," said Kali.  "You won't be getting any of this out of my father."

"Your father is going to be here tonight?" asked Mrs. Weasley.  Kali's eyes briefly flickered around the room before falling on Snape.  He was yelling at two Ravenclaw third years who were making a mess by the punch bowl and she felt her stomach drop.  Turning her attention back to Mrs. Weasley, she sighed.

"Yes, he is."

"I'm rather nervous," Ron admitted.

"Ronniekins is nervous," cooed one of the twins mussing up Ron's hair.  "That's really very sweet."

"Stop it, Fred," said Ron, swatting away Fred's hand and trying to fix his hair.  "You'd be nervous, too, if you were in my position.  Her dad was a Slytherin."

"He's not that bad," said Kali watching Snape yell at a Gryffindor for reasons unknown.  "I told him he had to be nice and I'll bother him forever if he isn't."

"Kali, dear, it's wonderful to meet you," said Mrs. Weasley but her eyes flickered over the top of Kali's head at the forms of the retreating twins.  "I'd love to stay and chat some more but I must keep an eye on those two.  You would think they were still second years with the way they act.  I'm sure you'll be fine, Ron, dear.  Just be polite."

Ron numbly nodded and they both said goodbye as Mrs. Weasley hurried off after the twins who both held rather large bags of candies, probably a few of their trick sweets, and were heading for the dessert table.  Checking the time, Kali forced a smile.  "Your family's - er- interesting, but wonderful."  Ron blushed as he took her hand again and pulled her tight into his body.  "I'd hate to say this, but we have ten minutes before you have to meet my father."

"I'm nervous, Kali.  I really am."

"I won't lie to you, Ron.  He's a pain in the arse but it's usually mostly teasing.  He's not a real jerk or anything.  Besides, he already knows that it's you I'm dating and - er - he knows who you are already so. . ."

"He already knows me?"

"Well. . ."

"Is it because of my father?  Because he works at the ministry?"

"Er-"

"And he knows I'm poor, doesn't he?  Oh gods, he knows I'm poor.  He's a Slytherin and he isn't going to want his daughter to be dating one of the poor, muggle-loving Weasleys."

"Relax, Ron."

"He's going to hate me.  He's going to want to know how I would support you being as how I'm so poor and bring up my father's Muggle Protection Act."

"Ron?"

"What?"

"What do you mean by supporting me?"

"Oh."  Ron's face went a rather deep scarlet.  "I - er - I know we just got together but I've really cared about you since I first met you.  And we became good friends really fast.  I just - I want you to know that I'm taking this relationship between us very seriously.  If you aren't. . ."

"No.  I mean, yes.  I mean, I am taking this relationship very seriously.  I just didn't know that you were."

"Of course."

"Let's hope you still say that after you meet my father."

"See!  You're nervous!  I'm doomed."

"You aren't doomed.  Come on.  It's time."

Kali and Ron exchanged a kiss before gripping hands rather tight and Kali led him outside to where Snape had asked her to meet.