Disclaimer: I doiubt anyone would believe these characters were mine after they read it.

A/N: Tis is the second to last chapter. Enjoy!

Lucius opened the letter in his hand from the Ministry, wondering what they could want this time. He was a little more than surprised when he saw it was an official invitation to the Ministry Christmas Ball. He had the instinct to ball it up and toss it back at the owl that had delivered it, and for half a second he started to.

Then his thoughts turned to a certain woman that would surely be in attendance due to her status. The itch to see her had been growing simce she had apparated away from him and the Weasley boy in Diagon Alley almost a month ago.

He quickly wrote his acceptance and handed it back to the owl before he walked out of his kitchen and went to find something suitable to wear. He only had two weeks to prepare. But he wanted to find that one thing that would make her notice him. His need to have her notice him was overwhelming. She was probably trying to forget all about him as she shared a bed with Harry Potter every night.

The thought of it made his stomach churn. She was the only thing he had thought about those six long years he'd been locked away for something he hadn't done. Oh he had done his fair share of Death Eater business, but not since his first sentence in Azkaban. Everyday his thoughts dwelled on her, on her touch, her smell, her voice. It was what made him stay sane and alive. And now she was in the arms of another man.

Damned if he was going to let a little chit of a girl make him feel inferior to Harry Potter.

Harry and Ron spent the better part of the last two weeks begging Hermione in every way they knew to get her to go with them to the Ministry Christmas Ball, but she steadfastly refused.

Finally giving up they turned to Ginny in desperation. And the small red head was only too happy to help in the matter.

"You know," Ginny began as Hermione was distracting Lily so she could lay her baby boy down for a nap. "Harry and Ron realllly want you to go to this Ball."

"I know," Hermione said softly. "I just don't feel like being around a bunch of people. Makes me antsy."

"But it'll be a blast."

Hermione 'hmphed' as she got off the floor, bringing the two year old with her.

"Oh come on, you can't let me be the only woman with them. Who's gonna save me from the Quidditch talk?"

Hermione laughed. "I don't want to be there to hear that either."

"Hermione please," she begged. "It's going to be my first time being able to go out in months and I would really like to spend it with a friend."

The pouting face put it over the edge and Hermione agreed to go

"Great!" Ginny exclaiimed. "You can come with me to Madam Malkin's when mum gets here for my last fitting. And we can find something for you too."

"Oh no, shopping?"

Ginny looked gorgeous as she stood still for Madam Malkin to take in another few inches from the waist of her dress. This made the petite woman grin uncontrollably. Her dress was a pale green with beads sewn in around the strapless top and bottom in the pattern of leaves.

"Oh I'm so glad I lost all the baby weight so fast!"

Hermione snorted as she looked through the racks of dresses in front of her.

"Ginny, these are all too...fancy for me," she finally told the red head.

"Oh come on, you mean you don't like any of those?"

"No," Hermione said, shaking her head. "You know none of these are me."

"If you like I can bring out a few simpler dresses," Madam Malkin offered.

"If it's not too much trouble," Hermione said with a smile.

Madam Malkin got off her position on the floor and walked into the back of her store. A few moments later she returned, levitating a rack of dresses more Hermione's style.

"Oh, thank you. That's much better."

Madam Malkin gave her a smile before going back to work on Ginny's dress.

An hour later had Ginny looking up at Hermione as Madam Malkin trimmed the bottom of the dress Hermione had chosen. The red head just smiled as Hermione fidgeted slightly.

Hermione wore a lavendar dress that was made of silk. The tank top straps widened at the top and narrowed towards the bottom of both ends. The neckline was cut low, but not too low to be wanton. It fit snugly against her body until it reached her hips where it fell to her ankles. It had a slit on the left side that went midway up her thigh.

Hermione loved the feel of the fabric on her skin, reminding her of Lucius' bed for a moment. It was still a little more revealing than she had planned on, but she had to admit, she loved it.

Author Babble:

Oh no! The next chapter is the LAST ONE! I've enjoyed writing this sooo much!