Thanks to a great number of people pointing out that they wanted to hear about the ball, I've decided to put another chapter in before the wedding which will detail the event. Originally I thought you might find it boring, but if you're willing to read, I'm willing to write!

I have also discovered (thanks to your reviews) that in England they say "happy Christmas". Sorry about that, it didn't even occur to me they might say it different over there, so please excuse my error.

I'm astounded by your enthusiastic response to the past two chapters, thank you all so much!

imagine I was a star: Yeah, New Zealand is a great place for a holiday I think. Did you come to Auckland? That's where I'm from and it rocks! Ha ha, thanks a lot for your review, just because you don't have an account doesn't mean I won't acknowledge your positive reviews

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"Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, welcome." A stout butler greeted them cordially at the entrance of the Dupere manor.

"Thank you." Hermione murmured as they were led through the large doors and to a gothic styled ballroom. It had columns lining the room which splayed at the ceiling in patterns of glittering filigree.

"Quite a sight isn't it?" Draco whispered, leading her through to a crowd of people who were so finely dressed she suddenly felt inadequate.

"Yes, quite spectacular." She replied softly.

As they approached, a woman who looked to be in her mid 50's smiled in exaggerated fashion. "Mr Malfoy! Such a pleasure to see you, and you brought your fiancé." She spared a glance at Hermione before turning her radiant smile back to Draco.

"How have you been these past months? We have heard much of your activities." She glanced arrogantly at Hermione once again.

Draco tightened his grip on Hermione's arm slightly "The press are always out to make scandal of our actions." His courteous smile was in place for the ladies that made their way to greet him.

"Indeed!" The lady said "I look forward to your wedding."

"As do I." Draco replied "Though I don't believe you have met my fiancé, Hermione." Here he pushed her forward every so slightly so she was in clear view.

"A pleasure to meet you all." Hermione smiled softly. She felt entirely out of place here, it occurred to her that this was the sort of company Draco had grown up with; she had never felt quite so awkward.

"The pleasure is ours dear!" A younger woman smiled warmly "Mr Malfoy's soon-to-be wife!"

A scattering of laughter and smiled spread throughout the circle. Draco took her arm once more, said a few soft words to the woman next to him and led her further from the crowd.

"You held up pretty well." He said, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

She frowned "They don't like me do they?"

"They will." He assured her "When they find out how much of an influence you are on me."

She laughed "I can't tell you to pick up a quill if you didn't want to."

"You underestimate your powers of persuasion Miss Granger." He teased.

Just as Hermione was about to reply a large man appeared at her side. She tried to hide her surprise.

"Good evening Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded her head in acknowledgement.

Draco reached however, reached out and clasped hands with the towering male. "Good to see you." his tone slipping into a casual drawl.

"Likewise! And this would be your fiancé?" He had dark hair and friendly eyes that warmed when he smiled.

"Yes, this is Hermione." Draco said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Hermione felt herself blush slightly "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Ha!" the man bellowed loudly "She is a quiet one!"

Draco laughed "It's always the quiet ones." Hermione once again felt out of place, but Draco took her hand and turned to whisper in her ear.

"Relax, he's a good friend of mine."

She turned and smiled at the man. He grinned back "I hear you used to be an auror."

"Yes, I was." She said, beginning to feel more at ease with his friendly manner.

"A close friend of our Harry Potter then?" He continued, signalling to a house elf to bring a tray of drinks.

Hermione nodded "We've been friends for years now."

"I believe Mr Malfoy has forgotten his manners;" He laughed, his entire frame seemed to tremble with his deep laughter. "My name is Barry Seabold."

Draco grinned lopsidedly "A simple error."

"Quite highly bred isn't he?" Barry told Hermione in an undertone which could be heard by Draco. They shared a laugh.

"I can't say I'm not." Hermione smirked., taking a drink from the tray a short elf offered them.

Barry feigned an expression of surprise "He's rubbed off on you! The smirk, the arrogance…Poor woman."

Draco frowned then "I would think you better than to insult my fiancé."

"Pity isn't the same as in insult my friend." Barry replied, his tall body turning around. "And here would be my wife."

Hermione found herself in the company of two extremely tall people. The woman, who had long curly blonde hair and clear blue eyes, looked down her pointed nose at her husbands company.

"Good evening Mr Malfoy." She spoke in a nasally tone and held her hand out which Draco slowly lifted to his lips.

"Hermione, this is my wife, Bianca." Barry introduced, not at all phased by his wife's obvious distaste of her presence.

"It's nice to meet you." Hermione said without any sincerity. The air crackled with a moment of tension before Bianca turned to her husband.

"I believe we haven't spoken to Nigel in a long time; please excuse us." She added, inclining her head slightly in Draco's direction.

Barry winked at Hermione before being led off by his wife into the crowd.

"He seems nice." She offered.

Draco smiled "Yeah, he is. Bianca is another story; but they seem happy together."

He put his glass on a tray as it passed by at waist height and looked around "This isn't an event to come to if you want polite social interaction."

Hermione gazed around at the well dressed women and their expensively clad husbands. Draco was wearing a suit made by a personal tailor. Hermione knew her dress must have cost a great deal but she felt that her body didn't match it.

"Maybe we should go?" she suggested softly.

He looked at her "You look stunning; they're only biting because you're new and your dress probably cost more than their whole wardrobe put together."

She gave him a puzzled look "How can you possibly know that?"

"Because I've seen them before" he said matter-of-factly. "The designs are all the same as my mothers."

"So the purpose of this ball was?"

He laughed "To spend a ridiculous amount of money on clothing you'll only wear once for fear of being caught in the same outfit again. And to exchange gossip." He added.

Hermione finished her wine, placed it on a tray carried by a house elf and took Draco's hand "So why are we here?"

He smirked cheekily at her "Because I needed to get you a Christmas present."

Hermione smacked his shoulder playfully "You made us come here just so you could buy me this dress?"

He rubbed his shoulder, laughter escaping his lips "What else could I do?"

"Oh Draco Malfoy!"

He continued laughing and pulled her to a cleared area for dancing. They stood close, swaying gently to the music.

"I'm not quite as creative as you." He said teasingly.

Hermione blushed, she still remembered giving Draco his Christmas present.

"I have something for you." She said slowly, getting up from the dining table.

Draco raised an eyebrow "Is it going to endanger my life?"

She laughed "No, wait here."

A few minutes later she reappeared, followed by two house elves who were carrying a large rectangular package wrapped in red and green.

"It's a Christmas present." She explained when he gave her a questioning look.

"Oh." Draco stood and walked towards it. He tugged at the bow which came away with ease and fell to the floor. He progressed through the layers of paper and then another layer of soft lint-free material.

When he finally got it free he let it fall to the floor as well and found himself staring at a painting of Malfoy gardens. It was full of detail and exceptionally accurate; but it wasn't moving.

He stood for a long time, staring at it and waiting for the flowers to move or a branch to stir. But nothing happened.

"It's a muggle painting; I got it done by an artist while you were out." Hermione told him shyly.

He grinned and turned to hug her, placing a thankful kiss on her lips "It's rather lovely."

She seemed pleased that he liked it "I thought it was nice too."

He laughed "How utterly creative of you."

"I didn't know what else to get you;" she blushed "you already have everything you could possibly want or need."

"Thanks to you." He murmured.

"It just came to my mind one day." She explained, leaning her head against his chest.

He rested his chin on her head gently "It looks very nice in the library."

"I think the other portraits are frustrated that they can't get in." She laughed, remembering the portrait of Draco who had complained so much about it she place a silencing charm on his frame for a week.

"They'll get over it one day." He said softly, not really paying attention to what he was saying.

Their slow dance was interrupted by a tapping on Draco's shoulder.

"Anthony." He broke away, shaking his friends' hand. "I didn't know you were coming."

The sandy-haired Australian grinned "Yeah, I wasn't too sure about coming but I had nothing better to do." He shrugged.

"This is my fiancé, Hermione." Draco indicated to her and took her hand.

"I've heard a lot about you." Anthony told her "It's good to finally meet you."

Hermione shook his hand and smiled. "I've heard quite a bit about you too." She laughed.

Draco smiled "Have you had a drink Anthony?"

He nodded "I was wondering if you might part with your fiancé for a moment while I dance with her."

Draco pretended to seem reluctant but winked playfully at Hermione before nodding and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"You're too kind." Anthony teased as he took Hermione's hand and they danced casually between the other couples.

"I think you've done something really great for him." He said quietly.

Hermione stared up at him "Me?"

"Yeah, he's not one to show it, but he really loves having you around." He smiled at her, "he has this look of pride every time he introduces you."

"Well…" She looked down "that's good then."

He laughed "You seem to quiet to handle his temper."

"You've seen him angry?" she asked, finding it very easy to talk to him.

"Yes in fact," he held back chuckles at the memory "he could be a wicked beater."

Hermione laughed too "I don't doubt it."

"Will you be attending the next match?"

Hermione nodded "Yes, I believe we will."

Anthony nodded and released her arms as the last notes of the song faded. Soft chatter filled the room and he led her to a table where Barry and Draco were sharing a glass of wine.

"You decided to come back." Draco teased rising to take Hermione's hand.

"Yes, she's not quite what I thought." Anthony laughed, winking at Hermione.

She blushed and feigned an expression of hurt.

"Would you look at that, she's heart broken." Draco smiled "We should be going."

"It was good seeing you again Malfoy." Barry shook his hand once more and placed a kiss on Hermione's hand.

"You too, I trust you will be at the wedding?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Barry laughed "Anthony and I will be sure to attend."

"Good." Draco replied a hint of smirk on his face.

"Good evening." Hermione waved and they made their exit without bumping into any one else.

"Well done for surviving your first soiree." He mumbled as they stepped outside.

"What makes you think I haven't been to one before?" She retorted, wrapping her coat closer around her frame.

Draco smiled "I don't think you've been to one like that."

"Well if you put it that way, no I guess not."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer despite her squeal of protest "I love showing you off."

"You're obsessed with your own ego." She muttered but his words had spread a lovely warm feeling through her.

He chuckled and leaned in close so she could feel his lips on her earlobe and his warm breath on her neck. "I'm obsessed with you." He whispered.

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How was that? I am so glad my English exam is over! (I put up another fic today called 'Come With Me' – please read!) even if I had to do it in the dark because of a power outage throughout the city!

Thank you so much for your reviews! They are so fantastic! Please review and let me know what you think of the up coming wedding!

Special thanks to OneWhiteTulip (I know you're still dedicated! Thank you!) Obnoxiously Peachy Twit 2008,and Seldom Darlin.