Disclaimer: As always I own nothing and it's beta'd by my better half.
A/N: A special thanks to my long time readers and reviewers (Especially Fast Frank who I can't thank personally as it's a guest account) for sticking with me thus far.
While Harry was enjoying spending her time with one of her best friends, she was dreading the ball. Sure, the adults had given her a crash course in the things that she should have grown up knowing, plus Draco and Neville had helped…that didn't change the fact that it would the first time she would be surrounded by so many people especially given her fame. She was so intent on staring out of the window that she didn't even hear the door creak open. A hand landing on her shoulder made her jump but she spun around to see the wide concerned eyes of her sister.
"You're worrying." Draco spoke softly, settling down next to her. Harry gave her a look, getting a wry chuckle in response, "you'll be fine. You'll have me, mum, Nev, Gran and Hermione with you." Harry shrugged weakly, "You really think I'm going to let you make a fool of yourself." Draco endeavoured to put her best impression of her old self into the sentence, which had the desired effect as the younger girl started to giggle before falling into uproarious laughter. "Let's go and get food before we get all prettied up." Harry stuck her tongue out at her, causing the blonde to join her in laughter as the two headed down to breakfast.
To Harry's surprise the pair of them were the last females to head downstairs, "About time!" Narcissa smirked at the duo, "I thought I would have to go and wake you both for once."
"Why is everyone up so early?" Harry looked confused, she knew that she'd get up the same as normal but to see Narcissa being up before Neville was a new and alien experience for the dark haired girl.
"We need plenty of time to get ready." Narcissa spoke slowly, seeing the expected reaction in the two teen's faces as the pair paled dreading what they would be put through which caused her to start laughing.
Contrary to what any of the girls were expecting, what Narcissa and Augusta had planned was more of a pamper session. Rooms which the Longbottom's had built solely for that purpose, Emma whispered were bigger than a fair part of their house, the floors were warm and one of the rooms was what muggles knew as more of a spa. Emma gasped softly seeing the plush robes designed for use in the room, Narcissa smiled at the obviously wary Draco and Harry, gently pushing them towards the changing areas.
"Mum…" Harry's eyes widened softly as she protested, "…I…what are we wearing?"
Augusta turned and looked at the pair with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she had wondered how long it would be before Harry slipped up and used the word that she'd been thinking for Narcissa. Saving the shell shocked woman who had hugged her daughter tightly, she handed them both their modest robes.
The girls were more relaxed realising that they wouldn't be wearing anything too revealing, Harry had been concerned that Hermione would be uncomfortable with them but considering that the bushy haired girl had practically dragged the two into the steamy room made both of them relax more. Although Draco did still softly apologised for her actions the previous year, which to her amusement got her a gentle clip around the shoulder and a comment of how that was a different person so she didn't need to apologise for him something which brought a flush to Draco's cheeks.
After what felt like mere minutes, they were let into individual shower rooms. The adults softly saying that they'd go after, Harry couldn't help but notice that the water was a perfect temperature and she'd gasped when she felt the magic working the exfoliating potion into her skin. As it was soothingly washed away she couldn't quite believe how clean she felt but before she could poke her skin too much, warm air rose around her drying her before soothing oils were worked into her skin. She'd slipped a clean robe on before exiting feeling more refreshed and relaxed than she ever had before.
"How are you coping with everything which has happened?" Emma asked softly, she hadn't missed Molly being unsure if Narcissa had changed her name and given that from what she'd read the wizarding world was easily still in the Victorian era in terms of propriety…it didn't take a rocket scientist to work out that Narcissa's husband had likely not taken losing his heir as well as Narcissa had reacted to the accident.
A shadow became visible behind Narcissa's eyes as she replied, "Personally I'm fine." She got a deep look and again she found herself being shocked by Dr Granger, "Am I correct in presuming that you guessed that my Husband didn't take the loss of his Son well?" She kept her voice down, and she tried a weak smile when Emma nodded, "He wanted to replace Draco not realising that until he did so, he hadn't lost him." Her eyes looked haunted for a moment but she shook it off quickly with a soft smile towards the other room, "Who am I to complain I got to keep my baby and gained another?"
Emma couldn't stop a wide smile breaking across her lips, "I'm glad that Harry has a family now!" She glanced towards where the teens were, "I'd been working on the muggle side to try to get Harry away from her relatives." Narcissa looked surprised, "Harry never told Hermione anything concrete but she's a smart girl, she worked out that they abused her. I've spent the past few years trying to get evidence and ensure that Harry ended up away from them. It was more difficult as I was trying to make sure that she ended up with us or a wizarding family especially as…" She trailed off waving her hand.
"She's a witch?" Narcissa finished with a soft laugh, not having realised just how far the muggle woman had gone for a child that wasn't even hers. Emma nodded with a soft smile the pair of them breaking into relieved chuckles as they realised that Harry had always had far more people in her corner than even she had known.
Draco had thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her mother, and sincerely hoped that the next time they did the same they wouldn't have to go to a ball afterwards as despite what she'd said to Harry. She wasn't overly enthusiastic about it either. Yet she was still relaxed and felt decidedly spoiled after the morning of pampering, having a full manicure and pedicure had been a novel but enjoyable experience. Her own hair would take much less time to coral than Hermione's, Emma's or even Harry's, something the raven haired girl questioned softly.
"Shouldn't my hair be better if the accident broke whatever James had done to make me look like a Potter?" She'd asked timidly.
To their surprise it was a sniggering Augusta who replied, "Did you not see Andromeda's? Blacks often have wavy or even wild hair so it's more than likely that you always had Sirius to blame for your hair." Which had caused Harry to pout before chuckling softly as Draco told her to sit down.
Draco would never admit that she really enjoyed doing different hairstyles on either herself or on Harry especially not after what she'd put Pansy through when her best friend had decided that she needed to learn how to style hair. The two adult witches quietly ignored the spells coming from the underage witch's wand as she cast softly. Harry's hair piling up before it shifted, some curling and twisting just beyond her fringe as Draco knew for a fact that the pair of them would rather keep their scars covered. The resulting up-do was complex enough that Narcissa found herself smiling in amazement at her daughter. Even as she effortlessly tamed Hermione's hair into soft curls before quickly pinning the front back with tiny diamond pins. Augusta had a far easier time with Emma's hair, and before Draco could react her own hair was done into an elaborate bun with Augusta turning her wand to Narcissa's hair.
"I wouldn't bother with mine, I'll sort it easily enough myself." The blonde spoke with a soft smile, closing her eyes, before any of the room could react Narcissa shook her head. Black spilled down the strands even as her hair twisted platting itself as it coiled around her head elaborately.
"How?" Hermione questioned before any of the others could react.
"My natural hair. I'm not able to change anything else about my appearance other than my hair." Was the soft reply even as Narcissa changed Augusta's normal bun to a much more elaborate one.
All of the adults had insisted on the little makeup the teens were allowed to wear was to be done muggle-style. Emma taking great joy in doing Hermione's for her first ball even if it only was a light dusting of powder, a touch of eyeliner and a coating of mascara.
Augusta looked years younger as she walked down the stairs with the others, it wasn't anything Neville could put his finger on but something about his Gran made her look far younger although he thought with a soft smile it could simply having had a chance to relax with other ladies. Harry had not been amused to discover that Hermione would get away from having to greet every single guest on the door as she and her parents were going to be inside the ballroom with Andromeda and Ted who had arrived during the residents pamper session.
Harry might have been overwhelmed if it hadn't been for Draco and Neville, with the pair of them cracking comments about guests into her ear in the moments in between and only when they were certain that the person wouldn't hear. Every time someone they knew went inside after going down the line being officially greeted, Harry wished that she could head on inside after them. It was worst when it was someone they were good friends with, like Pansy.
Seeing Minister Fudge, Harry had been expecting the worst thinking that he would be the bumbling idiot that she'd heard about and seen briefly when she was hiding with Ron the year before. However she found herself pleasantly surprised, when the man in a horrible green bowler hat reached them in line. After the traditional greetings were exchanged, the Minister stopped before the trio of teens, Draco's eyes widened at the breach of etiquette. Her eyes widening further as the minister swept his hat from his head and bowed as low as he possibly could to the three teens. "I wish to apologise for my immense lack of judgement in having the Dementors guarding Hogwarts and I hope that you are aware that they are as we are speaking being removed from the school. As long as I live I will endeavour to ensure that they are never in your presence again." He spoke audibly despite still bowing.
Shocked as the three were they could only manage to say thank you to him, but apparently that had been what he'd been waiting for as he headed inside to the ball. The next guest had been waiting patiently but couldn't stop himself from sniggering, "Well I never. I hope you will forgive me for not bowing as deeply, I don't think that my old bones will allow me to get back up if I do." He smiled at the three, breaking the tension which had filled the teens as they all laughed as they told him that "au contra, it was absolutely fine if he didn't".
Neville had frozen when Augusta leant over to the trio and softly told them the identity of the jovial old man, Octavian Lestrange… Neville fought internally to rationalise his knowledge of the family with his initial opinion of the old man, made ever more difficult when Augusta smiled gently at her Grandson and reminded him that it was the same Octavian who was an old school friend of herself and his late grandfather. Neville barely registered the rest of the guests passing by him greeting them automatically as his mind spun and reeled.
The instant that the teens were released from their duties, they headed straight inside, brown eyes darting over the crowd searching for the old wizard. He saw Hermione, deep in conversation with Pansy and Millicent, the three witches seeming to be completely oblivious to the eyes of both sets of pureblood parents fixed upon them. Yet as he continued to scan the room, his recoil was almost visible as his eyes found the jovial old man, merrily chatting with Dan and Emma. He tried to make his way over but lost them in the crowd when he was spun around by a red-haired girl grabbing his arm.
"I thought you had been avoiding us this holiday," He opened his mouth to apologise, cutting himself off as he recognised the mischievous light in the girl's eyes and the twitching of her lips.
"Now…Now Suzie." A dry voice cut through the din, "Some of us have lives which don't revolve around you." The red-haired Susan spluttered indignantly, until an almost cackle reached her ears from the blonde who'd joined their conversation. "I'm sure Nev was busy before you accosted him." Neville agreed internally although he wasn't Gryffindor enough to say so out loud, he'd been intending on interrogating the old man before the two had turned him around. As he'd lost him, it didn't really matter if the pair decided to keep his attention for a while.
Harry was a little overwhelmed, while no-one was doing anything in particular to make her uncomfortable that didn't change her reaction when she stepped into the ballroom and multiple heads turned towards her. Draco caught her wrist and with a smirk pulled her in the direction that she'd last seen their friends. To Harry's relief, as they disappeared from the entrance, she realised that Narcissa was perhaps gaining as much if not more attention than the teens had. A slick voice broke through their musing as they hurried through the crowd, "Miss Potter! Miss Malfoy!" Both girls turned towards the speaker, it was the man who had come after the minister although neither girl knew his name. "A pleasure to see you both again! I must say a wonderful event that your families are putting on with the Longbottoms."
Harry was at a loss for words but Draco smiled with a soft tilt of her head, "The first of many hopefully. My family hasn't co-operated with the Longbottoms and Potters in far too long." The Raven haired girl was confused although she did her best not to allow it to show on her face, she was certain that there was some form of message hidden in the polite sentence.
The man laughed loudly, "I hope to still be around to see it." Draco looked taken aback unsure how to respond to that, "I'm not getting any younger although don't let old Gussie hear me say that."
Harry was unable to stop herself sniggering, "Gussie?"
"Augusta, married an old school friend of mine," He smiled in amusement at the pair, "Octavian is the name, I'm guessing that you didn't hear over our exuberant Minister's greeting."
Harry dropped a quick curtsy, thankful that Narcissa had taught them specific ones for the hosts of these events, "Pleasure to meet you properly."
Another loud laugh boomed around them, making Draco jump slightly, "No need to stand on formalities, I remember your Grandmother butchering my name more times than I would have liked."
"Augusta?" Draco asked softly, blushing as Octavian shook his head.
"Nah kid, that was Dorea." He frowned slightly, "Always suspected Arcturus put her up to it as revenge for breaking his teddy." Harry's eyes lit up, Draco saw the wizard's lips twitch as he continued, "Although that one was accidental magic after he…"
Hermione was thankful for the crash course in etiquette as she stood taking to Millicent and Pansy. While normally, Millicent would be brash and Pansy had a bad habit of speaking before she thought, both of the two were polite and acting the part of the perfect pureblood heiresses. Hermione was fully aware of that she was being scrutinised by both of their parents, thankful that Narcissa and Andromeda had drilled how to act the part into her. A soft mutter from behind them made her wonder which part of the convoluted etiquette she'd forgotten, although her incredible memory had (according to the Black sisters) made her pick it up well enough to fool most if not all of the guests if she chose to. Yet Pansy and Millicent told her that it was more likely someone or something else that the parents were reacting to.
A man approached them, ignoring the reaction from both sets of parents, the three girls gasping when he bowed low. "My ladies, might I request that I borrow your friend for a dance?"
Hermione felt lost, while Narcissa had explained that it was the height of bad manners to refuse, she really didn't want to dance with him. The man was easily older than her father, balding and had a larger paunch than Mr Weasley (not that she'd ever say that to the friendly father of one of her best friends). She swallowed, Pansy giving her a sympathetic look when help came from an unexpected source.
"I have to say. Highly improper of you." The voice was disdainful and dry, making the man take a step back before the speaker continued, "Approaching a group of young Ladies without as much as a by your leave."
The man raised his head, lip curling, "I fail to see your stake in this, Parkinson. I'm not asking your daughter to dance."
The voice from behind Hermione, spoke up again, "I have to spoken with the young Lady's father and he entrusted her to my care while she is socialising with her friends." Hermione felt a rush of gratitude towards Pansy's father as she quickly became aware that he'd moved closer to the three teens. "As such I would bring shame upon both of our families if I allowed you to demand your dance."
The man sneered, but before he could speak, he was cut off again this time by another, Hermione suspected it was Millicent's father, "Leave Avery, I've never understood while the Dowager Lady concerns herself with inviting you." His tone was gruff and he clearly didn't care if he offended the man or spoke improperly.
Apparently seeing that neither parent was going to let him dance with one of the teens, the man sloped off but not without a dark scowl in their direction. "Are you alright?" Hermione turned around. Pansy's mother was slight, her face pale despite her makeup but her voice was soft and gentle. Hermione found herself reminded of both her own mother and Molly Weasley, she found herself being given a concerned smile.
"I believe so," Hermione said, and found herself being surprised that she wasn't lying. She hadn't been scared after some of the things the three Gryffindor's had been through, she had been more concerned about causing a problem for the adults.
"I'm glad." She glanced at her husband and gave him a look which clearly meant something to the man although it didn't to any of the others, as she received a nod in response. "Perhaps you girls should stay closer to us."
The three nodded, Hermione swallowing and curtsying, "Thank you," She knew it wasn't adequate for what they'd done but it was the only way that she could think of saying so. She received a smile from both Lords, Pansy's father going as far as to bowing back.
Harry was listening to Octavian with rapt attention when Draco spotted Neville approaching. She quirked an eyebrow at him to which Neville shook his head, receiving a quick nod in return. Neville was slightly bemused when got closer and heard the old Lord telling the girls stories of Arcturus and Dorea Black, listening to the man he found himself again struggling to assimilate what he knew of the family with the man taking time from his evening to tell stories of their old relatives to two teens who had never had the chance to meet them.
Neville felt almost bad as he found himself bowing and interrupting, "I apologise for intruding."
Octavian however just beamed at him, "Not a problem, although I must confess I would rather not tell too many embarrassing stories about Gussie." He looked sheepish, "She does have a habit of turning up just as I get to the best part."
Neville mouthed the name looking confused until Draco leant over and whispered in his ear, Neville found himself biting his lip to keep from laughing. He still wasn't sure what he thought of the man and didn't want to give him the pleasure at least until he was certain. However now that he was standing before him again, Neville wasn't sure where to start, he couldn't just come out and ask so what's your view on my parents being tortured by your relatives? Or even ruder would be if he blurted out why are you here? Rubbing in that I'm basically an orphan? So instead he kept quiet and just listened for a while.
"You know. You look a lot like your Grandfather did when he was young."
Neville jolted, he'd never been told that before, "…I do?"
He got a nod and a soft laugh, although he was surprised to see the undertone of grief in the man's face. "I hope you didn't get his Potions skill. Old Frank, couldn't set foot in Sluggy's classroom without something exploding." Whatever Neville had been planning to say was cut off by Draco's soft sniggering and as he looked over he saw a rather guilty looking Harry biting her lip in clear amusement.
"I'm getting better." He protested, breaking Harry's restraint as peals of laughter escaped her. "I am!" Harry nodded trying and failing to explain that she knew that.
"Your father was the same," Octavian mused, watching bemused by their interactions. "Gussie was absolutely abominable at Transfiguration," The teens nodded, the Headmaster had said as much, "I have to admit, I've never been much good at charms. At least your Grandparents grew out of it." Neville looked surprised, "Apparently in the Longbottom's case, Ole Frank always said it was something to do with his magic attuning." He looked around as if expecting Augusta to say something, "I personally think it was having Gussie tutoring him." The teens sniggered at that and Neville felt a realisation coming over him, Octavian Lestrange was truly his Gran's old school friend Octavian. The man who turned up with copious amounts of Fire-Whiskey and flowers thrice a year, when he'd been little Neville had never made the link between the visits and the dates however now he was older…his Gran had admitted that Octavian always specifically checked on her on his Grandfather's birthday, their wedding anniversary and the day he'd died. He had long suspected that it was the old school friend who sent flowers and chocolates every year on the day of the attack.
"You send Gran flowers." Neville didn't realise he'd spoken out-loud until the others stared at him.
Octavian looked taken aback, "I thought you knew."
"I knew it was an Octavian, I didn't realise it was you." Neville spoke with a soft shake of his head.
"I didn't think you would have remembered from when you were little." He looked a little melancholy, "I used to have a beard…" He mused, "Shaved it off when you kept trying to climb it." The chuckles coming from the three, even Neville who was going decidedly red, "People underestimate how much a toddler hurts when he's swinging from a beard." He looked at Neville with a soft expression, "You always were strong."
Harry had spotted several people from school, spotting a rather out of place looking Theodore Nott as she danced with Ted Tonks. She saw a rather lost looking Crabbe and Goyle as she spun with Dan Granger. As she waltzed across the floor with Blaise Zabini, to her amusement she spotted Marcus Flint spinning Draco across the floor. By the time the ball was over, all of the friends had traded partners much to Zabini and Flint's surprise especially when Harry had been dancing with Neville and a flustered Marcus Flint requested a dance with Hermione. The girls and Neville were all exhausted by end and went to bed with little protest even if Narcissa had to waiver letting them have a hot chocolate first.
The adults were just a tired although in Narcissa and Augusta's case the pair of them decided that they really did need to have their usual discussion time before heading to bed. Dan had begged off although Emma stayed, curious as to what the blonde had been doing as she'd barely seen her. Narcissa had softly explained that part of the purpose of the balls was to network and given her disagreement with Lucius, it was even more important that she did so if only for Draco's sake.
Emma had realise more than ever before that the wizarding world was far behind the muggle when Narcissa explained about marriage contracts and the fact that Lucius could sign one for Draco's hand without either of their consent. A shadow had come over Narcissa's face as she explained, Emma quickly realised that the barbaric practice was part of what Hermione needed protection from. Seeing Emma's opinion was when Augusta interjected, "They aren't all bad," She held up a hand to cut off protests, "Neville will be rich and a lord, not to mention have full access to the family magic, when he turns 17. In my case when Neville is planning to get married…" 'engaged' was what Narcissa had interjected with, before Augusta continued, "it would protect him and also the family, stopping him from being used for his title and money in many cases they can be written to prevent love potions." Privately both witches were certain that they would do that whenever they had to sign one in the future.
Emma blinked, "Oh! So in your cases, you would sign it but not until the kids are old enough to marry and only if they genuinely intended to wed?" She got nods and smiled softly "It's similar to a muggle pre-nup." glad that she'd gotten to the bottom especially as she had been close to going off on a tirade about the barbaric tradition before discovering that it wasn't always bad just depending on how it was done.
"Harry's Father can protect Draco," Narcissa rubbed her forehead, "Assuming he agrees to allow us properly into the family."
Emma froze frowning, "I thought Harry was an orphan."
Both witches flinched, "So did everyone else, it turned out that James Potter." Augusta paused getting a nod from Narcissa, "who everyone believed to be Harry's father, in fact did something rather disgusting and Sirius Black…" Emma gasped, "Is her father."
"The mass murderer?!"
"He's innocent." Narcissa laughed softly, before frowning, "It was in the muggle news?" She received a relieved nod, "He's never much liked marriage contracts although that might have changed in recent years, he would still never sign one for someone unwilling."
"What about Draco's father?"
"He might be a lord but he's not a Black." Narcissa got a blank look and she thought quickly, "It's akin to a random Lord challenging your Queen." Emma gasped and glanced at Augusta who nodded. "Besides if someone breaches a Black marriage contract the family can strip them of their magic."
"Most contracts have clauses similar," Augusta elaborated, "the Black family are the strongest, the Longbottom ones strip all knowledge of the family and the Rosier halves the magical power of the one who breached the contract."
Narcissa laughed softly at Emma's shock and awe, "In terms of turning someone into a squib it requires a lot of power and…" She glanced at Augusta in amusement, "is deemed a dark ritual by the light families as it uses blood."
Augusta laughed softly "You might be surprised to know the Longbottom ones do as well." Narcissa looked up at her in surprise that had not been something she'd expected, "Blood of the Head and Blood of the heir." Emma's jaw dropped. The more she thought that she thought that she knew about the Wizarding world the more it surprised and intrigued her.