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Ginny had just made the biggest mistake of her life! She had been foolish enough to break up with the only boy she had ever truly cared for. She stood alone in the kitchen after Professor Snape had apparated both Harry and Charlet away. She regretted her words the moment they had come out of her mouth but now it was too late to do anything about it. She ran upstairs and threw herself on her bed in a heap of shame as hot tears stung her eyes. She wished more than ever that she could take back those foolish words!

She thought back to what had pushed her to break up with Harry and realized it was not even his fault. The only thing he was guilty of was being too popular and too cute. It was her own insecurities that had finally got the best of her. She didn't feel she was good enough for the hero of the wizarding world. He deserved someone prettier, with nicer clothes and more money. But those things had never been important to Harry, had they? He had never flaunted the money he had. As a matter of fact, thought Ginny with remorse, Harry had always shared anything and everything he had with her entire family.

Oh Merlin, what a fool she had been! Would Harry forgive her and take her back? The thought of him dancing with all those rich, beautiful witches at the ball made Ginny scream out in frustration. She looked up at her night stand and saw the globe she had given Harry for Christmas was still there. She picked it up and watched the scene play over and over again. That had been one of the happiest days she had ever had. She had felt like a princess that night as Harry held her in front of all their friends. She began to cry harder as regret overtook her.

There was a quick knock on the door before Hermione stuck her head in the room, "Ginny, are you alright?"

Ginny wiped the tears off her face before turning around to face her friend, "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just the stupidest witch you ever met."

Hermione walked into the room and shut the door behind her. She sat next to Ginny on the bed and could tell the girl had been crying when she saw her red face and puffy eyes. "What happened? Is everything alright with you and Harry?"

Ginny snorted, "No Hermione, it's not. I'm such an idiot! I broke up with Harry but before I could take back my words, Professor Snape apparated Harry away! Now he's at the ball dancing with girls with beautiful clothes and tons more money!"

Hermione put her arm around her friend, "Harry's not like that, those things have never been important to him, Ginny. You must know him better than that by now?"

Hermione's admonishing tone made Ginny feel even worse. "Yeah, I know it! I wish more than ever that I could take back my words," Ginny cried.

"Then … why don't you? Why don't you put on the dress you wore to the Welcome Ball and go to the ball?"

Ginny shook her head, "No, I-I just couldn't! Besides, I wasn't even invited." But Ginny did sit up on the bed and her mind began racing over the possibility. "Besides, the dress I wore to the ball is still at school."

Hermione's mind worked fast to come up with a solution, "You can wear the dress I wore to the Tri-Wizard Ball? I could pop back home and pick it up?"

Ginny thought about the beautiful dress with the layers of sheer material. She remembered back to when she had first seen Hermione wearing it, she had thought it was the prettiest dress she had ever laid eyes on. Oh Merlin, was she brave enough to actually crash the ball at Malfoy Manor? Her insides were in knots as the memory of Lucius caught up with her. The whole experience of being kidnapped by that madman was just too horrible to re-live. But Lucius was gone now. With a thrill she decided that she could do it!

"Do you really think I would fit into the dress?" Ginny asked with excitement.

Hermione stood up, "There's only one way to find out. I'll be right back, why don't you shower while I go home to get it?"

Ginny jumped up and hugged her friend before racing off to shower. The excitement she felt over seeing Harry at the ball made her stomach flip.

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Harry found himself standing on the front doorstep of Malfoy Manor. He looked up at Severus as a surge of anger ran through him, "Dad, I was right in the middle of something when you came in! I need to go back right away!"

Severus was not in the mood to deal with teenage love today, "The problems between you and Ms. Weasley will have to wait until tomorrow. We are late enough as it is."

"I don't care how late we are! Take me back!"

"Calm down Harry! I will not put up with your insolence this evening. You are to remain in control of your emotions and act respectfully whilst you are here," Severus admonished, annoyed he had to speak to the teen as if he were a child. "I am sure Ms. Weasley will still be willing to talk with you in the morning."

"He's right Harry, you will just have to survive an evening without your shabby girlfriend in tow. I highly doubt she would have the proper attire to wear to an affair such as this anyhow," Charlet added in her high and mighty voice.

"Just shut the bloody hell up, Charlet," Harry spat out.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a long suffering sigh, "Watch yourself, Mr. Potter. I expect you to behave like a gentleman."

Harry knew he was taking his anger out on Charlet. He mumbled out an apology which earned him a sharp retort from the persnickety witch.

"As if I need your paltry apology!" Charlet said in a snit.

Harry ignored her and thought about Ginny once more. This evening would be somewhat more tolerable if Ginny was by his side. His thoughts were brought back to the present when the door opened and a smartly dressed butler appeared. They were escorted down a long brightly lit foyer. Harry felt somewhat better when he felt his father pat him on the shoulder and give it a slight squeeze.

"You are doing the right thing by attending, Harry."

Harry gave Severus a small smile before they turned a corner and found themselves standing at the threshold of a very fancy ballroom.

There was an orchestra at the opposite end of the opulent room. Large antique mirrors lined the walls and a row of magnificent crystal chandeliers ran down the length of the room. The room was packed with people dressed in their finest attire, some were dancing as others held glasses of champagne. Almost all of them stopped to stare when they spotted Harry.

Harry wished he had never agreed to this. He decided to stay for just an hour before heading back to the burrow. Maybe, he could figure out what he had done to make Ginny mad enough to break up with him and try to fix it. He was a little angry at her for jumping to the wrong conclusions about him but he knew her well enough to know she didn't mean it.

Just then Narcissa made her way to them with a wide grin plastered on her face. "Hello, welcome Severus, Harry, Charlet." Narcissa said with a grand wave of her arm. She sidled up to Severus and whispered out in a sharp hiss, "Where have you been? You are very late!"

Severus raised a disapproving eyebrow, "You should count yourself fortunate we are here at all."

The sharp retort put Narcissa back in her place, the phony smile came back to her face. "Of course dear." She took hold of Severus' arm as they made their way through the crowd of people eager to meet the hero's. Yes, she did count herself very lucky that they had shown up. Most especially lucky that Harry had decided to join them. Without him this party would not be the social event of the year!

Harry stayed close to Severus' side as people began to crowd around them. He was introduced to several prominent members of Wizarding society as well as the Muggle Prime Minister. He shook hands and took in the compliments he was given with humility.

Most people walked away saying how charming and modest the-boy-who-lived had turned out to be. There were a few people from Hogwarts there as well. Most were Slytherins or ex-Slytherins but there were also a few people from all the other houses.

Another group of distinguished visitors made their way over to Harry. Narcissa introduced them as the Wizard Minister from Switzerland and his wife. He shook their hands and smiled at their compliments. Charlet suddenly appeared at his side and held onto his arm once more. He was forced into introducing her. As soon as they left he shook the incessant girl from his arm. She huffed out how rude he was and walked away. Harry knew Severus would be giving him a look of reproach before he even looked up at his father. As it turned out; he wasn't wrong.

Harry was saved from any admonishments as another group of wizards made their way up to meet him. This time Fudge pushed his way through with a group of people he was trying to impress.

"Harry, my boy, we are thrilled you decided to come this evening. I would like you to meet some very important friends of mine," Fudge wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulder then proceeded to introduce him as if he were a dear friend.

Harry barely managed to hold it together as the puffed up man told story after story of how he always believed in Harry defeating the Dark Lord. He could barely manage to keep a straight face when the Minister insisted that Harry come visit him at his house by the beach. When pigs fly!

He felt a tug on the back of his jacket and turned to find a very inebriated Draco standing behind him with two bottles of Fire Whiskey. Draco swayed as he leaned into Harry before whispering, "When you can break away from all this rubbish, come up to my room for the real party!"

Harry nodded, knowing that he wouldn't be drinking fire whiskey after all the mess he had been in before being sent away to the training camp. Drinking was just not for him anymore but he would enjoy a break from all these stuffy people. He watched Draco weave an unsteady path back to the grand staircase before stumbling up one stair at a time. He felt sorry for Draco, the Slytherin was probably drinking to deaden the pain he must be feeling after losing his father and his way of life.

A few moments later the minister and his entourage walked away leaving Harry and Severus alone for a few moments.

"I think I'll go find Draco," Harry said before anyone else could come over to meet them.

"No, you will stay here," Severus said. "I've no intention of letting you wander about without bodyguards."

"Bodyguards? We're not back to that again are we?" Harry groaned.

"Stop complaining," Severus said under his breath as another group of wizards approached.

"I'm not complaining," Harry shot back, "I'm just bored with this whole thing. Why can't I join the other people my age?"

"Because the other people your age are most likely doing things that my son is not allowed to do," Severus alleged.

How did the man know everything that went on, Harry thought. "Why are you acting so mean tonight?" he asked as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Severus looked down at the teen through narrowed eyes, "We will discuss this later. Although I am uncertain what it will take to make you comprehend my stance on your safety?"

Harry bristled at being treated like a child. His anger got the better of him as thoughts of Ginny breaking up with him came to the forefront. He barely managed to sound civil as he shook more hands and greeted more important people. He didn't want to be here anymore, he was tired of all this nonsense.

He looked around the room, trying to figure out if his being here was really making any difference at all. After all, some of these very people had been married to death eaters. Would they all really have changed allegiances so quickly? He doubted it very much and thought his father must think the same. As he searched the room for someone his age to talk with his eyes came upon the sight of two burly men standing in the corner with their eyes trained back at him. He huffed in frustration as he realized they were most likely the bodyguards Severus had spoken of.

He didn't want to get stuck being chaperoned around all night. He looked over at Severus who was in a deep conversation with Professor Dumbledore and the Muggle Prime Minister. He knew this was his only chance to get away for a few minutes before Severus saddled him with the two thugs.

He quickly took a few steps back into a group of wizard women. He smiled at them as he slowly made his way to the giant double doors at the end of the ballroom. He could see the bodyguards watching him and ducked between two large Muggles as they walked past. Within seconds he had made his way out into the hallway unnoticed. He quickly went up the winding staircase and began to look for Draco's bedroom. It wasn't too hard to find since the music coming from down the hallway could be heard from the landing.

As soon as he stepped into the room he wished he hadn't come. A group of about thirty teenagers were lounging about the opulent bedroom. Some were dancing while others were sitting on and around the bed … talking about him! He clearly heard his name being mentioned and just hoped it wasn't for anything bad. He took a step back but Draco noticed him and called him in.

"Harry, come in! E'ryone, I'd like t' in'duce my newest bestest friend, Harry Potter!" Draco stumbled towards him and threw an arm over his shoulder. The music stopped and everyone turned to look at him. The Slytherin thrust a large glass of amber liquid at him before saying, "Let's toast to the hero!"

Harry held onto the drink with one hand and held Draco up with the other. Draco slumped against him before sliding to the ground in a fit of laughter. Half the other teens seemed as inebriated as Draco was and laughed hysterically. Charlet stood with her group of friends looking down at the Slytherin as if he were a bug that needed to be squashed.

"For Merlin's sake Draco, have some dignity, why don't you?" Charlet couldn't stand to see a sloppy drunk. She noticed how her friends had suddenly become extra giggly when Harry had walked in. It bothered her that they were so infatuated with the half breed. She was also still angry at the way Harry had rebuffed any advances she attempted to make towards him.

Harry put his drink on the desk and helped Draco to stand once more, "Whoa mate, you best stop drinking."

"S'fun Potty," Draco slurred. "Come on Harry doncha ever 'ave fun?"

"Hah!' Charlet laughed, " Harry wouldn't want to disappoint his Daddy, now would he? Harry would never do anything his daddy didn't want him to do." She heard her friends take in sharp breaths then step away from her as if she had committed some horrible crime. It suddenly occurred to her that her best friends would choose Harry "Half Blood" Potter over her, if they were ever given the chance. That thought did not sit well with her.

Harry scowled at Charlet but didn't feel like arguing with her at the moment. He had enough trouble on his hands as he tried to get Malfoy over to a chair to sit down before the Slytherin fell down again.

One of Charlet's friends was nice enough to come help him with Draco. He couldn't remember her name but smiled in thanks. She put her hand out and said, "Hi I'm Alix. Do remember me? I met you at Snape Manor over the summer."

Harry thought she looked familiar, "Oh yeah, I remember. I was a little out of it back then."

She smiled kindly, "Yes, I can hardly blame you. You were dealing with some pretty bad stuff back then, right?"

Charlet couldn't stand to see her friends flirting with Harry, she had to put a stop to this! She wanted to humiliate Harry as much as possible to make her friends see what a loser he really was. Especially since he had made it clear that he wouldn't be anything more to Charlet than a distant relation.

"Alix, I'm sure Harry does not want to discuss the abuse he suffered at the hands of his Muggle Uncle. I heard he actually tied you up, before beating you, Harry?"

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as everyone looked from Harry then back to Charlet. Alix felt her face redden. She quickly apologized, "Oh Harry, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking…"

Harry shrugged, he gave Charlet a dirty look before turning to smile at her friend, "No big deal. But you're right, I was kind of a mess back then."

Alix snubbed her nose at Charlet as she realized what the jealous girl was trying to do. She looked back at Harry, now fully appreciating the way he had changed since summer. "Well, you certainly look good now," she added with a giggle.

"Harry's a stud," Draco teased, "I think I need another drinky poo."

"No Draco, I don't think you do," Harry said patting Draco on the shoulder.

The music started up again and a few teens walked out to the makeshift dance floor to begin dancing. Alix stood next to Harry and swayed a bit to the music before leaning into him and asking, "Would you care to dance Harry?"

Harry immediately shook his head, he couldn't imagine dancing with anyone other than Ginny. "Not really," he said but noticed Alix blushing when Charlet laughed at her. He saw the tray of drinks in the corner and offered, "Do you want a drink though? It looks like they have other stuff besides Fire whiskey."

He saw her eyes light up before she answered, "Sure I'd really like that." He walked past Charlet not offering to get her anything.

Even though Charlet didn't like Harry she certainly didn't want any of her friends to be closer to him than she was. After all, he was the hero of the wizarding world and the richest teenager she knew.

Charlet always carried herself with the utmost pride. She had talked Narcissa into inviting several of her friends from Beauxbatons and she wanted to make them as jealous as possible. She had thought she would stay by Harry's side so she would be in as many photographs as possible and meet all the right people. But the nasty little street urchin was having nothing to do with her. She couldn't stand the thought of one of her friends getting his attention and decided to get even with him.

She rifled through her handbag before pulling out the tiny vials of potions that Vespa made her carry on her at all times, just in case. One of the vials was filled with a love potion. Vespa thought that potion might come in handy should she ever require a man to do her bidding. She knew she would get into huge trouble with Severus should he ever find out she had drugged Harry but at this moment in time she didn't care. She wanted the hero of the wizarding world to pay attention to her and only her! As stealthily as a snake she poured just one drop of the love potion into the drink Harry had left on the desk. Then she stood back and waited for Potter to fall head over heels in love with her … in front of all her friends, especially Alix!

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Ginny stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She twirled once more, liking the way the layers of sheer silk fanned out. Hermione had charmed the dress to turn deep blue. Ginny thought the dress was the most spectacular thing she had ever seen. Hermione had insisted Ginny wear her hair down due to the fact that Harry liked it that way. Ginny turned her back to the mirror then looked over her shoulder. Her hair fell down her back in ginger waves.

She was so nervous! Was she really going to crash Malfoy's party?

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