A/N: Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed! I am glad that you like everything so far! I will really try to update as soon as possible. As a side note – I am really trying to update about once a week. I started this chapter on Monday and was only 2 pages through by Friday. Please don't kill me, but I will make a one week deadline and post by Friday!  I can't write on the weekend and can only write in half hour segments during the week.

A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters. If I did, I'd be rich:)

Mr. Draco Malfoy cordially invites your presence

at a Carney Estate Ball to celebrate the Malfoy

return to Reimashire.

Please enjoy an evening of dancing, drinking

and mouth watering dishes at the Carney Estate on

May First at Eight o'clock in the evening.

Formal attire is preferred.

The next day, every woman in town was crowding into dress stores to find the 'perfect dress' for the Carney Ball. Fabrics simmered and shined as stressed witches worked to make them match their clients' descriptions. All the men coward in the pub and tried to block out the chatter.

Hermione arrived home that night to find Ginny posing in a deep purple gown with about 30 others hanging around her flat.

"What the—" Hermione gasped as she viewed the spectacle her flat had become. "Did I miss something? What Athena's Garden having a blow-out sale?"

"Oh, Hermione! I am so glad that you are home!" Ginny grabbed Hermione and pulled her to her room. Inside were another 15 dresses of different styles and colours. "I knew that you wouldn't have time this week to get ready so I went ahead and got some dresses for you! We have to bring back the ones we don't want, of course, but dresses were selling out so fast I wanted to make sure that you weren't left with the rejects." Ginny looked very proud of herself as she began to pick up dresses to show Hermione. "Try this one on!"

Hermione changed into the gown offered to her. It was beautiful; a very pale gold silk material shimmered when was moved and sparkled when touched. The wide V-neckline capped her shoulders and rested just low enough to show modest cleavage. At the centre of the V was a gold brooch with a large diamond in it. The dress flowed down, following the shape of her body to her hips where it flowed into a graceful circumference. Since the material was very light, it rippled with everyone movement that Hermione made.

"Wow" Hermione whispered, looking at herself.

"Can I see?" Ginny came into Hermione's room in a midnight blue dress. "Wow 'Mione! That looks great on you!" She turned Hermione around for a full view. "See? Don't I have the best taste in clothes!"

"I admit, you do!" Hermione knew that this gown was made for her. "Ginny this is beautiful! I think I'll let you do all my shopping from now on!" she joked.

"If you do, I'll have to start charging for my expertise." Ginny looked down at herself. "Now, I need your help with me. I can't seem to find anything that looks good."

"Trying to impress someone?" Hermione joked. She was surprised when Ginny blushed. "What? Who? Draco?"

"No! Not that he's not handsome and rich and friendly," Ginny added hastily. "I just want to look good, that's all."

"Are you sure? You're not just being shy?" Ginny shook her head. "Ok. Well, if you want to talk about it, let me know." Ginny looked relived that Hermione dropped the subject and nodded. "Let me get out of this dress and we can start working on you, ok."

"Sounds great." Ginny walked out of the room. "This is my favourite part," she added on the way out, "Trying on dresses is always so much more fun that the balls, you know. You get to the ball and everyone acts all stuffy and sophisticated and no one has any fun!"

"That's not true! We had a great time at the last Ministry of Magic Ball!" Hermione moved very carefully from the gown. She moved extra slow to not ruin any part of it.

"Correction – you had a great time. Talking history and studies and god knows what with other stuffy old men. At least I did get to talk with people my old age!"

"What are you trying to say? That I'm one of the stuffy people?"

Ginny laughed. "I was going to say sophisticated, but since you did say that…" Hermione's door opened and a pillow came flying out to hit Ginny. She doubled over in laughter. "Just kidding, just kidding!"

The day of the ball was busy with women again running around town – doing their hair and getting last minute 'supplies.' Hermione and Ginny were lucky to grab the last available appointment at Marvellous Maleficent to have their hair, make-up and nails done. Hermione got a simple French manicure while Ginny had her nails done with a moonlight scene that moved across the countryside. Occasionally, an owl would hoot softly from it. "It's like having your own romantic setting," Ginny explained.

Finally, the girls were finished and dressed in their gowns. At 7:45 pm, a knock sounded on the door. Both girls looked up, surprised.

"Where you expending anyone, Ginny?" Hermione asked, moving to the door.

"No, no one." Ginny grabbed her purse and cloak.

"Blaise!" Hermione exclaimed, opening the door. Ginny instantly looked up. "What are you doing here?"

"Why I wanted to escort the two most beautiful women in Reimashire to Draco's Ball, of course! Ladies," Blaise bowed gracefully, "you look gorgeous." At that moment, Ginny came around the door and Blaise was able to get a complete look at her. Ginny decided to dress in a midnight blue gown that shimmered like water on a star-lit lake. It was sleeveless although she had a matching wrap that she loosely draped around herself. The gown itself fit close to her body, down to her hips and stretched for comfort. From the hips down, a bit of extra material was given for movement although the dress remained very form-fitting. Her red hair was darker than normal and brushed to the back of her head were it was allowed to cascade down her back in loose waves. Blaise gawked for a moment before regaining his composure.

"Ginny," he smiled, "you look very pretty tonight." He took her hand and gave it a kiss. "Very pretty." Ginny blushed. Blaise looked back to Hermione and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" Hermione nodded and took his arm. Blaise turned back to Ginny, "Ginny?" She took his arm as well and they moved outside. Hermione laughed.

"A horse-drawn carriage?"

"Of course! What better way to arrive at a ball?" Blaise asked, as if this was the most natural thing. Hermione nodded, but didn't say anything. She knew that most girls would be arriving in limousines they rented for the occasion to look posh. When they saw Hermione and Ginny arrive with Blaise (another gentleman for whom the women about town were trying to catch the attention of) in nothing other than a carriage, they were going to try to grasp when this change in transportation to ball occurred. Hermione just shrugged and stepped into the carriage. Ginny and Blaise followed and sat opposite each other with Blaise next to Hermione. The carriage began its journey.

For a bit of time Hermione and Blaise continued a steady conversation which Ginny offering her points every once in awhile. Finally, Blaise asked, "What do you girls think of Draco?"

Hermione felt a bit off-guard with the question. "Well… I…um…" Ginny interrupted.

"I think he is a great guy. I really don't believe that someone as nice as you could be friends with someone who is otherwise. I am surprised at the change in him, but I think he started acting different by the time he graduated from Hogwarts. Am I right in thinking this Blaise?"

Hermione was surprised at Ginny's statements. Draco had begun to act differently at Hogwarts? How? When? She tried to think back to their final year and how they treated each other. Truthfully, she couldn't remember much of him that year. She frowned, slightly. Well, there was that one time when he tried to talk to her in Seventh year.

Draco had come up to her out of the blue and said, "I would like you to meet me tonight by the lake. I want to tell you something." Although it was more of an order than request, she went to the lake and met with him. There, he tried to hug her and said something along the lines of that for a muggle-born she could be ok. At the time, she was furious at him and kneed him in the groin for the hug. Hermione frowned deeper. Had Ginny noticed something in him that she didn't?

She looked up to find Ginny and Blaise watching her. "Are you ok, Hermione?" Hermione shook her head.

"I'm fine. I… I was just remembering something I left at work."

"It is that important?" Hermione knew Ginny didn't believe her for a second.

"No, I just remembered it now, that's all." Ginny didn't look convinced. Neither did Blaise. "Come on guys! Just forget it and let enjoy the rest of the ride. What where we talking about?"

"Dr-" Ginny started.

"Hogwarts." Blaise interrupted. Ginny looked confused, but Blaise quickly winked at her which sent Ginny into blushes. "What do you remember most about Hogwarts?" The conversation continued until the trio reached the Carney Estate.

A/N: Ok, this isn't as long as normal, but I have to stop this chapter for now. I will start the next one and go through the Ball.:) If I don't post again today, you can expect it by next Friday at the latest.