Saturday arrived in a flurry of excitement and anticipation. Of course, that was for everyone who had dates, whereas I tried to ignore the fact that it was the ball at all because despite all that Oliver had said, I didn't feel overly confident about going to the ball on my own, especially because of the opening dance. Hermione came to my room again and made sure I made myself look really good, this time wearing light blue dress robes and my hair was again put into long ringlets that flowed down my back.

'You look fantastic!'

'Do I? I think you look better!'

'You always do! Listen, Oliver's right, it doesn't matter if you go alone. If you, the most popular girl at the school can do it, anyone can.'

'I used to be the most popular girl, until Draco came anywhere near me!'

'Come on!' Hermione grabbed my arm and nearly pulled me down to the Great Hall. I saw Draco standing at the bottom with Pansy Parkinson. I held my head high and walked to the bottom.

'No date Black?'

'Don't need one Parkinson, especially not someone's cast off!'

'Draco finished with you.'

'If you remember, I chose his dad over him, doesn't say much for him, does it!'

'Stop it now Pansy!' Draco sauntered away, dragging Pansy with him.

'Will head boy and head girl, along with their dates please lead the school in.' I looked at Professor Mcgonagall who just smiled softly. I walked passed and lead the way whilst the Hufflepuff boy led his date. All the school came to rest at the tables around the room whilst we stood in the middle. The music started and I heard laughing as I stood there, watching Mr Hufflepuff with his date. The laughing became louder and I looked around, searching for the best way through. As I turned, I jumped as Oliver appeared in front of me.

'Oliver, what are you doing?'

'You didn't think that I'd let my girl suffer all that did you?'

'But…'

'Dumbledore and Mcgonagall agree.' Oliver took my hand and we began to dance. The laughter either stopped or I blocked it out as I stepped into my own little world with Oliver.

'What do you mean they agreed?'

'Well, I was itching to come up, save you from this lot, but I wasn't sure. Dumbledore told me to go, because no one deserves to be left to dance alone and Mcgonagall said she thought that you could do with someone at the moment.'

'Thank you.'

'Shh!' Oliver placed a finger on my lips to silence me and we continued to dance, both looking into each other's eyes. I don't think I even noticed the songs changing as we continued to dance because I was lost in my own little world. I had shut out everything else around me and it was just Oliver and I, dancing, as lovers should. It was only when I felt a shadow fall on us that I looked up and saw Lucius standing next to us.

'May I have my fiancée back?'

'Sure, I was just making sure she didn't have too many people laughing at her.'

'Then I thank you for your concern but you may go now.'

'Thank you Oliver.' I kissed him softly on the cheek and whispered 'I love you' into his ear. I watched him walk away and turned to Lucius, feeling angrier than I had done in days.

'Like father like son hey?'

'I don't know what you mean?'

'Oh you don't. Can I have my fiancée back?'

'Well, you were a bit, close.'

'He's been a good friend over the last couple of weeks! He's been there when I needed him!'

'And I wasn't?'

'I wrote to you but I got no reply! Where have you been?'

'On Ministry business. It doesn't concern you!'

'Oh no? Well, as I am your fiancée, it would be nice if you at least let me know a little. What was it? Or should I ask whom? Your master or maybe your mistress!'

'Like I would have a mistress when I have you! How old would she be? 14? As for the other, you know I can't tell you if it was!'

'Why not?'

'Because you're friends with Potter!'

'And if you don't trust me with your dark secrets now, you never will do! I need to know Lucius, you disappeared for nearly a month, for all I know, you could have been…'

'I could have been what?'

'You could have been killed and I wouldn't have known! I would have had to wait for the Daily Prophet to find out! It's been hell, waiting for that newspaper every single morning, hoping that you were ok!'

'Yes well, if I had been killed, at least you could be with your precious Wood!'

'How many times do I have to tell you? I love you!'

'Not as much as you love him! I can see it in your eyes.'

'Of course I love Oliver, I always will do, part of him being my first love I suppose but are you telling me that you don't have any feelings left for Narcissa! If I hadn't have come along, you'd still be with her! But if you remember, I let you teach me all you could about the act of love, when it could have easily been Oliver two years ago! If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be with you now, I wouldn't be your fiancée and I would have told you that the baby was Oliver's! You wouldn't have known. But I told you the truth that the baby is yours and I don't want to hear anymore on the subject! It was the jealousy that drove me mad with Draco, I don't want the same to happen with you.'

'Prove it! Come home with me, spend Christmas with me, not here, where he is!'

'You know I need to use the Library to do some studying! I've got my N.E.W.T's at the end of the year and whilst your Library may help me if I was studying the Dark Arts, but I'm studying the defence against the dark arts!'

'Come home with me or else!'

'What? You'll break it off? Fine, I don't care! Here's your ring and I'll be able to look after the baby so don't worry!'