Alex was floating on a cloud…well, sort of. Ever since they'd walked through the Hall doors, Mark had been the perfect gentleman, acting kind and attentive and making her feel beautiful. And the meal she'd let him order for her was absolutely delicious….

But for the love of Merlin, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. It was just a feeling and in a room this size it was impossible to pin down a culprit. But it still made her skin crawl.

Mark was, of course, all over it. "Are you cold, Alex?"

She shrugged. "Maybe a little. It was probably just a draft."

"Probably," he agreed.

She wanted him to insist on casting a warming spell on her gown. To which she would've objected as it would've been arrogant and controlling…and then they'd have had a fight. So why exactly did she want him to in the first place?

Alex decided that she was just going mad from the inbreeding. Yeah, that was a good enough excuse.

That thought trailed off and before she could dredge up another one, Dumbledore stood, almost abruptly. A wave of his hand and a genial invitation brought the rest of the students to their collective feet. There was a faint breeze as the tables retreated to the walls, clearing a dance floor.

The Headmaster waved his wand once more and a stage rose out of the floor. The Weird sisters took their places and the Champions stepped off the line with their dates and swung into the dance.

Alex sighed and languidly lifted herself free of her chair. "Let's make the rounds and get it over with."

"Will do. I think I spotted some of ours over there." He nodded left.

"Lead on." She took his arm. "So, yours, mine or social contacts?"

"What?"

"The people we're going to see. Your friends, my friends or necessary social contacts?"

"Oh. Either A or C, I think."

"Okay then." Alex started lining up expressions and topics of conversations for the approaching face-to-face.

"Don't worry," Mark whispered, leaning close to be heard, "they'll love you."

She sent him an amused look, but inwardly was gratified by it. He really was quite the sweetheart when it got right down to it.

"Do you think I care who likes me, Baddock?"

He just looked at her. "Yes."

The look Alex was sending him suddenly became less amused. Just because he was a bloody sixth year he thought he knew anything! "Oh, look," she said coldly, "it's Eddie."

Mark sighed with what she translated as pity. "Hey, Ed."

The other boy turned at his name and the two clasped hands.

"Mark…and the lovely Lady Bellmonte, of course." Ed took her hand and bowed over it.

"Good evening, Eddie. But," and here she reclaimed her limbs, from both boys, just to make her point, "where's Pansy?"

Eddie shrugged helplessly. "When I showed up where we were meeting she wasn't there."

"I see." Alex frowned. Pansy had left to meet him long before Alex herself had met up with Mark. She should have been more than on time. And not just that, Pansy was the very definition of 'social climber', though less odious than, say, her parents. She would never show up at a social event alone. Never. Not when she had a date, anyway. So what could've….

Before she could follow that thought to its logical conclusion, an arm dropped heavily across Ed's shoulder, physically jarring him.

"Edward," Hunter greeted in a falsely light voice. "Miss Bellmonte, could I possibly impose upon you to entertain Raya for a few moments?"

"You possibly could…. Could I ask what this pertains to?" Alex replied, lightly linking arms with the other girl, who, strangely enough, didn't seem to mind getting passed off like this.

"I believe, Alex," Raya responded, "that the boys merely need to address Edward's current…bachelor-hood."

Alex was nobody's idea of a fool. Her head and shoulders slowly drew back and up and she raised an eyebrow.

But Mark was no fool either. "Really? It's strange, we were just talking about that."

"Now that is funny," Hunter commented.

"Not that funny," Alex snapped, though she didn't move out of courtesy for Raya. "What did you do with my dorm mate, you unpunctual cretin?"

"Temper, my lady," Charlie corrected, easily joining the group.

"I don't understand what you're all-"

"Shut up, Ed. You were late."

"Only a little bit late though. If Miss Parkinson got offended over that then-"

"You were thirteen minutes late," Hunter all but snarled. "Which was more than long enough for her to get set upon by three Birdbrains and need to be rescued by Draco."

Eddie, to his credit, paled brilliantly.

"Ladies if you will, kindly let the gentlemen handle this," Charlie said graciously, apparently the only one currently retaining the ability to speak.

"Of course," Raya replied for them both, leading Alex out of hearing range of the group. Edward was going to get a dressing-down-between-peers. It would only humiliate him to have women witness it.

"Set upon?" Alex asked in a low voice

"She's fine," Ray assured. "It was apparently all verbal, then Draco stepped in. Hunter and I stopped by and chatted with them for a few minutes."

"Them?"

Raya smiled. "Seems your mini-Malfoy not only saved her but he also found her a date."

Alex felt a faint pressure in her chest and swallowed to try and relieve it. "Well, she is his ex."

The older girl laughed. "You're not perfect, Alex Bellmonte. You should see your face right now! I just called him your mini-Malfoy, did I not?"

She began breathing again and pretended nothing had happened. "So, who is she with?"

"Gregory Goyle. They're safely ensconced with his friend Vincent Crabbe and her friend Millicent. None of them looked like they were planning to move anytime so-"

"Our deepest apologies ladies. We can do nothing but humbly beg your forgiveness," Charlie entreated.

To those who knew what to look for it was an interesting display of the class system within wizarding social hierarchy.

Charlie Warrington stood in front as spokesman, flanked by Mark and Hunter, both of lesser bloodlines than himself (though only slightly in Mark's case) and then trailed by Eddie, the Shamed One.

But beyond that, the four men sought out and approached the women to beg their forgiveness out of more than just courtesy.

For as much as their society seemed to resemble a similar Muggle institution, there was one glaring difference. While an irate Muggle woman was something of a disturbance, there was nothing quite as terrifying as an irate witch.

Thus, women had gained equality and even a hint of dominance in some cases, much more so than in Muggle society.

And as the women registered the apology they glanced at each other once, calculating rapidly. Raya Della was of lesser blood than Alex, but she was older and part Cromwell. The facts balanced almost evenly, leaving the question of who would take the lead up in the air. But it was nothing if not a familiar conundrum and Alex inclined her head slightly.

"Of course. You know you have it gentlemen." Raya gracefully offered Charlie her hand in assurance. He clasped it briefly before passing her off to her date.

Alex slid over to Mark and put her hand on his arm, smiling at him to show her agreement. He blinked and then smiled back.

"We'll see you later," Mark said strongly, steering her back into the crowd.

"If you can find us!" Charlie called after them.

Alex snickered and muttered, "We won't be looking hard."

Mark smiled at her again. "Welcome to my world…sorry about that."

"I'm getting the feeling I'll be saying that myself before this evening's over. So let's call it even."

"Ever as my lady desires. Where to next?"

"Pansy," she said without hesitation.

"I thought as much, come on."

"Incoming," Greg murmured.

Pansy scowled. Word had gotten out at break-neck speeds and ever since everyone with a connection to her or to Eddie had stopped by to 'chat for a moment'. Translated, that came to, "to check her over" and report back to the rest of the gossips.

It was annoying and getting worse by the chat. The only time Pansy got this kind of attention at a social function was when she pulled a stunt, and even then it wasn't this much of this kind of attention.

"Alex and Donovan," Milli announced brightly. Pansy was suddenly grateful for her friends…even if the boys didn't technically count. They'd all taken to playing her bodyguards right off and were making the whole event she'd become bearable.

And at least this time it was one from each camp coming together. Two birds with one stone.

"Hey, Milli," Alex greeted, lightly hugging her friend like normal. "Boys. Pansy." She only offered smiles to the rest of them, retreating back to her date's arm…just like normal. Pansy frowned and looked at her dorm mate. Alex met her subtle gaze squarely.

Okay so Alex did know and was here to check up on her, but she wasn't going to harp on it.

She let out her breath slowly in relief and felt her spirits start to recover.

"So, has anyone else had any problems with the Frenchies?"

They all groaned at Milli's remark.

Alex sighed. "More so than with the Bulgarians. Apparently Viktor's mates don't hold him in as high regard as his Headmaster does. Ever since I put him in his place, well they've been downright friendly…if a little scared of me."

"Not a one of those icy twigs has even given a hint of having manners, for all they whine about ours," Vince added.

"Stupid Barbarians," Donovan mocked in smooth French. "As if we can't understand them."

Greg laughed. "You're just sore that your bloodlines aren't good enough for them. You lot should've seen it. He was trying to be courteous and introduced himself. Their ringleader, that little wisp of a veela crossbreed looked him over and said, 'Baddock. Isn't that…Italian stock?' "

"I don't hit women," Donovan stated darkly.

"Don't feel bad, Mark," Alex consoled. "Even my blood is inferior to them. And I have a French branch of my family."

"What!" Milli exclaimed, staring at Alex. "But I thought you Bellmontes only…"

"The "One Marriage One Heir" rule? Yeah we do, but that doesn't mean accidents don't happen."

The three boys exchanged a look.

"Yeah, that's it…accidents," Vince muttered as they all snorted into their fists.

"Oh shut up," Milli scolded, smacking her date on the arm.

"I mean, it's blood that counts." Alex continued blithely. "Look at it this way, if you all didn't acknowledge your bastard branches you'd be in pretty dire straits, no?"

Pansy nodded her agreement. "Who here has siblings?"

Only Donovan raised his hand. "A little brother, in his first year, and a couple of sisters even younger."

Even Pansy looked shocked.

"There are four of you!"

Two children in a pureblood family wasn't unheard of, but four, or even three, was….

"You're related to the Cromwells, aren't you?" Alex queried.

That group was known for huge families. It was why there were so many of them in Slytherin at all times.

" 'Fraid not."

"Well," Milli huffed. "I, at least, take your point, Alex. We must compromise or we're screwed."

"That's not exactly it. I wasn't going anywhere near as deep." She shrugged. "I was just going to point out that I hope you want to get married. Otherwise even your heirs won't officially count."

"Now, Lex," Vince flipped his hair and adopted his best Blaise impression. "what did I say about springing the word marriage on unsuspecting men?"

All six of them started laughing.

"And I think that's my cue to leave," Alex prompted.

Donovan smiled. "Would you like to dance?"

"My pleasure completely."

He started to lead her off and Alex cast a patented "isn't he just adorable" smile back at her girlfriends.

Milli rolled her eyes. "She's gonna end up with both a Consort and a fully stocked harem, isn't she?"

Pansy snorted, with only a touch of bitterness. "She's thirteen and has half of male Slytherin House wrapped around her littlest finger. What do you think?"

Wisely, neither of their dates answered the question.

"Incoming," Greg intoned.

Man, it's hard to come up with new topics of conversation all the time. Mark grumbled to himself as he led his date out onto the dance floor. He blew a strand of hair out of his eyes. It wasn't so bad with people he knew. He could say anything he felt to Hunter, etc without a care as to what they'd think. But this wasn't one of his buddies. This wasn't even one of his female friends.

This was a girl. An actual, honest to Merlin, girl. Who was cute and single and frankly intimidating, though she didn't seem to realize it.

Her hand was currently tucked trustingly into his as he led the way onto the dance floor. He was glad for the list of 'presentability' spells guys passed around to each other. Namely, the anti-clammy one.

He smiled at her as he pulled her around to face him. The current song was middle tempo, so they settled a half-step apart, Mark sliding his arm around her waist.

"So."

Alex's startling green eyes rose to look directly into his and she was smiling.

He swallowed. "Did you hear about the huge American National Quidditch Team scandal?"

Her loose black curls floated around her head as she moved to the beat, mesmerizing him…until she spoke.

"I couldn't tell you if America had a Quidditch team." Alex wasn't frowning, but her smile was more polite and less happy. "I don't follow the sport."

"You don't follow Quidditch!" he asked reflexively, disbelief all over his face.

"Of course. Muggle sports are so much more entertaining." Her tongue traced a line over her top lip. "There's so much more blood…."

Mark felt himself freeze. What in the-?

"Oh, don't be ridiculous! I don't follow any sport," she scoffed.

He was being obsessive. He knew it. He was bored, he was obsessing and he was annoyed at being obsessive. But, as he'd said, he was bored, so there was nothing to distract him.

Silver-grey eyes narrowed as a one Donovan Baddock, up until now a perfectly fine male companion in Draco's world, led her onto the dance floor. Neither one of them could see him through the crush, so he wasted no time glaring at them…well, not much time.

Someone jostled him from behind, making him stumble forward. Draco jerked back up and whirled on a pair of Ravenclaws. The boy he didn't know, but the girl was a prefect he'd had reason to meet before. She'd caught him out of bed, in a place he wasn't supposed to be, stolen medical potions and paraphernalia under one arm. For reasons he'd never been able to figure out she'd let him off.

So, he let his anger fade. "Keep a tighter leash on you boy-toy, Lisa. He might tackle someone more vengeful than I."

Then, because he couldn't help himself, he took her free hand and bowed, kissing the back gently. A harsh look of jealousy filled her date's face.

Lisa Turpin raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Malfoy. I'll be seeing you."

The two moved away, leaving Draco in the same proposition he'd been before. A new song started, one Draco had rigged as a warning. He'd lost track of Alex and Mark, so he waded into the dancing crowd.

They were just about where he'd last seen them. Mark saw him approach and something between resignation and relief was in his smile. Draco sniggered to himself, completely understanding it.

He tapped Alex on the shoulder. She turned and he bowed.

"May I cut in?" he asked formally.

Alex's eyes scanned him from top to bottom, then she smiled. "Of course. Don't you boys mind me." And her amusement was obvious as she stepped away from them both.

Draco saw understand reach Mark the same moment it found him.

"Ever as my lady wishes," Mark said, heavily laced with sarcasm.

Draco wondered idly what Alex had been doing to the poor boy this evening. He didn't get a chance to ponder the question because Mark was bowing to him and offering him a hand.

"I haven't had near enough to drink," he protested, stepping into the other boy's arms and sweeping off into the dance.

Behind them he could hear Alex cracking up and a quick glance revealed that she was doubled over, barely keeping her feet.

"Let's keep this up until the end of the song," Draco prompted.

"What?" Mark chuckled. "Tired of my company?"

"Shut up, Baddock. I have an arrangement with the band."

One aristocratic eyebrow went up in amusement. "Oh?"

"This was the signal song. The next five are slow dances."

"Ah-hah." He glanced over at Alex, now off the dance floor and using a highly amused Greg as a support. "Well, you have my blessing. You two deserve each other."

As the two boys swirled past her, Tara Cromwell whistled loudly, calling, "You go boys! Flaunt it!"

And they were attracting attention. Draco waggled his fingers at a group of unashamed starers.

As the song flowed to an end, Mark spun Draco one last time and let go.

"Have a good night, lovebirds," he said by way of leaving, having deposited Draco at Alex's feet.

Draco didn't waste any time talking. He swept Alex into his arms and back onto the dance floor.

"Lovebirds?" Alex scoffed as the slow strains of a sappy love song filled the huge room.

Draco looked her straight in the eyes. "Why not?"

They danced in silence, a dreadful uncertainty edging into her gaze as she searched his face. Then she scowled abruptly. "What are you playing at, Malfoy?" she demanded angrily. "You know very well-"

"What?" he interrupted, keeping his voice even. "The parental sized problems to all this?"

"Yeah," she snapped.

"They're obstacles, not impossibilities."

Alex bit her lower lip. "So, it's a challenge, and when have you ever backed down from a challenge?"

Draco swallowed and went for broke. "I like you, Lex."

The disbelief and distrust was painful to watch, though Draco knew he'd be reacting exactly like she was if the positions were reversed.

Darkened green eyes narrowed. "You sure as hell had better not be lying to me, Draco. And no cheating on me, either. Don't forget, Blaise tells me everything."

It took him only a second to grasp what she'd said, though it was rather convoluted and she'd come at it sideways. It was all he could do not to break into a cheek-splitting grin. He settled for smirking widely. "The same goes for you then."

"With who?" she scoffed. "We Bellmontes are notoriously monogamous."

Unable to come up with a response that wouldn't get him into trouble, Draco leaned in and kissed her happily.

That's all folks. Occasionally I have to have something good happen to my babies. Next chapter, all hell breaks loose. Won't tell you why, but we see Blaise and Tania again. And if I get the inspiration I'm hoping to for this next bit, I should get out 3 chapters this month. Maybe. I make no promises.