Approaching Fred, George thinks of how he was going to word his question without upsetting his brother. He was nervous enough about asking it any way, but it's all about presentation. He always got nervous about asking his brother something so important. He knew Fred got nervous about asking him important stuff too. And he knew that Fred felt guilty about asking Angelina out after he broke up with Caprice, since Fred knew George had his eye on Angelina. Fred hadn't asked George about it, but he wouldn't admit it. Nor would George admit that he knew about his remorse.

"Hey, brother." Fed greeted George quietly. They were in the Common Room, a usually noisy and boisterous place. However, today fifth and seventh years were studying for their exams, so it had been dubbed a quiet place. No student was allowed to be rambunctious that day while students researched and reviewed and analyzed information on classes ranging from the easiest like Herbology and Charms, to quite difficult subjects like Potions and Astrology. While Fred and George were a little bummed about the quiet-zone rules, they took the opportunity to catch up on classwork.

"How's it going?" George asked, looking at the Transfiguration book in his twin's hands.

"Fine. What do you need?"

Here it goes. George thought. His palms were sweating, his heart was palpitating, his breaths were coming in jagged, sharp pants. It was like he had been running, or doing extensive physical labor. He didn't know why he was getting this nervous about asking his brother something so simple.

Then, he decided to just take a leap. "Hey Fred, look I was wondering can I ask Caprice to the Yule Ball?" He knew it was going against their code of asking out each other's exes. However, Caprice needed a date for the Yule Ball. He didn't have anyone know that Lee asked Alicia, and Patricia was going with a Ravenclaw, and Katie was going with Cormac McLaggen. And while Caprice had a lot of options, he wanted to snag her first. So, figured he'd ask her to it before anyone else did.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead." Fred shrugged, acting as if he didn't care. However, he really did. It was clear to everyone that Fred still cared for Caprice. When he would kiss Angelina, he would look over to see if Caprice was jealous. When Caprice would be talking and flirting with another guy, Fred would become monstrously jealous, but act as if he wasn't. It was written all over his face though. Screaming out of his angry, sad eyes. It was practically drawn on his mouth when he made any expression, since his smiles didn't reach his eyes.

Even now, his face was stony. He looked straight into his book. George could almost make out his blue eyes clouded with anger and jealousy. He could see rage on all his features. His lips were in a sneer-like frown, and his entire expression was cold and hurt. He was pained, he was sad. He was trying to look heartless. He was trying to be emotionless, but Fred couldn't pull it off.

"Are you really sure?" George asked, hope lighting up his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'd much rather know she was going with someone I could trust. You know, rather than some arse." Fred said. George noticed his features soften a bit as he said that. George could tell his brother's heart was aching.

George nods then goes to find Caprice to ask her. He had invented a set of fireworks to set off that would say 'Yule Ball, Caprice? -George' when they exploded.

He finds her in the Great Hall. She was having lunch with Christi and both the girls were laughing and giggling over something. It was obvious Caprice had been here to escape the deathly silent Common Room. George smiled, since what better way to spent free time than with a sibling? Not that he would have personal, alone time with Ron or Ginny. Maybe Ginny…

She's less awkward and has a much better sense of humor that Ron. George thought. He put himself back into reality then, trying to think of the task at hand.

HE got into the right position in the Great Hall. He had charmed the fireworks to not set on fire… Unless it was the Slytherin banners. But they wouldn't be near those banners, so it was unlikely.

Maybe I'll bring up to Fred about setting the Slytherin banners on fire.

He set the firework off and it went flying toward Caprice, then explodes right in front of her. It was many different colors. Gold and red, sparkling silver, blue, white and black. All the colors he knew she loved. It sparkled and danced in front of her, crackling and sparking. Then, it formed the words, 'Yule Ball, Caprice? George?'

"Aww!" Christi cooed.

Caprice just glares at her sister then she looks over at George. He was standing there, looking so hopeful. She sighs and gets up from the table. She walked out of the Great Hall, trying not to make a scene or anything. She didn't like the attention. Everyone knew she had broken up with Fred now, and it would seem quite slaggish of her to say yes to George publicly, Fred's own brother.

George stood there, dumbfounded, for a minute. Christi finally got fed up with that, and shouted to him. "George!" she yelled, capturing his attention. He looked heartbroken as he looked at her. He knew he shouldn't have felt this way, but it was inevitable.

"What?" he asks.

"Go, run after her! She couldn't have gotten far while you were in your daze." Christi shouts over to him. He nods and runs out of the Great Hall and after Caprice. He catches up to her and gently grasps her elbow.

"So about my offer?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. He decided to use a bit of Weasley charm on her.

Only select people in his family got it. His grandfather on his dad's side had it, and it skipped Arthur for some reason and went to exclusive children in restricted amounts. Bill got a bit of it, enough to get quite a few girls in school. Charlie got it in a great big load. Percy hadn't gotten any, but Fred and George thought that it may have been just his attitude. Fred and George got equal amounts-less than Charlie, but they had to share it among the two of them, they supposed. It skipped Ron, and Ginny was too young for it to be determined for her yet. It was their own theory, of course.

"I'm not sure George." Caprice shrugged, taking her arm out of his grip.

"I talked to Fred and he said it was fine. He wants to know you're going with someone he can trust." George said.

"Really?" Caprice raised her eyebrows. He wasn't sure if this was hope, or if she was just interested in hearing about Fred. She, too, was not over his yet. All the same signs of want were in her, if not toned down at some points and toned way up at others. Her jealously and rivalry was never stable, but it was always there, much like Fred.

"Really." he nodded.

Caprice sighed, and smiled at him, "Well okay. Yes, I'll go to the Yule Ball with you, George." He smiles and nods, then she heads back into the Great Hall and goes and sits across from Christi again. "I'm confused."

"About?" Christi asked lethargically, much unlike her usual hyper attitude during lunch.

"My emotions." he shrugged and Christi scoffed. This didn't faze Caprice and she continued, as if she hadn't noticed at all, "I mean Fred is okay with me going the Yule Ball with George… but I don't know. It just feels wrong going out with my ex-boyfriend's twin brother."

"Well if he's okay with it then I really don't see the problem." Christi said slightly confused.

"It's too complicated, dear sister." Caprice rolled her eyes at her younger, naïve, confused, unknowing sister.

Christi was no taken aback by this. She barely noticed it was the slightest of an insult. She nods then notices the time. "Crap I gotta run. I left my books in my room by mistake. I gotta go and get them then get to Potions or Snape is gonna give me a never ending detention sentence. Have fun with your emotions and George and Fred and confusion… Bye!"

She gets down there and quickly utters the password to the portrait. Then she bolts into the common room, then right up to her dormitory. She runs into the room, grabs her stuff, and then back out of Slytherin house and right into the Potions classroom.

"You're late, Miss. Venizelos." he drones in his usual boring drawl.

"Sorry, Professor. I had forgotten my books." Christi apologizes, if somewhat insincere.

"Don't let it happen again." he snapped. She nods and gets to work on helping Draco.

He smirked at her, and said, "Let me guess you got caught up in lunch with your sister?"

"Yeah." she nodded, "Lost all track of time." Draco laughs and shakes his head as they start stirring the potion. "Have I mentioned that I hate Potions? It's really difficult." Christi growls.

"Well what do you want to be?" he asked, occupied with his task.

"A Hit Witch… which involves no Potions what's so ever!" Christi exclaimed.

Draco laughs and quickly pecks her cheek making her blush. "You know Aurors need a Potions credit so if they need it you might need it as well."

"Spoil sport." She mutters.

Draco laughs and shakes his head. They finish off their potion and have Severus check it over then he releases them. Heading across the courtyard, they head over to Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures.

"I don't know why I let you talk me into taking the stupid class again." he said irritably. He didn't think there was a point to the class, especially since his future profession didn't need this class at all. He wasn't going to do anything that involved it.

"Because it's fun. Besides, you could use the fresh air instead of being locked inside all day." She said.

Draco shakes his head as the rest of the class arrives.

"Well gather round ere'." Hagrid calls. All of the kids gather around and they look at Hagrid. "Alright all of you today we'll be learning about Griffin's. Very powerful and majestic creatures. Now if you follow me." He said. The class follows Hagrid. Arriving a few yards into the Forbidden Forest, they all see the powerful Griffin lying on the ground.

"Wow." The class choruses. The class ends an hour and half later and Christi and Draco head toward the dorm since Care of Magical Creatures was their last class. Heading up toward the Great Hall, Christi sees a huge extravagant banner reading 'Go to the Yule Ball with me Christi? Draco'

"Aww!" she coos, "Draco! Of course I will. I mean, it's kind of expected that we go together because we're dating and all, but I will definitely go with you!" She giggles.

"Well still. I wanted to ask." He says kissing her softly.

"Ahem." They hear from behind them. They pull apart and see Severus standing there. "No public displays of your affection, you two. It's not allowed."

They just go bright red as Blaise comes over. "Hey mate." he says to Draco, "Have you noticed that Beauxbatons girl, Fleur and that she's Veela. Every guy here is swooning over her."

That sparks an idea in Christi's head. "Hey Blaise where's Fleur now?"

"Last I saw heading toward the guest quarters." he shrugged.

"Thanks." She said bolting that way leaving Draco and Blaise confused in her wake. Skidding to a stop, Christi spots Fleur. "Fleur!" she calls. The girl turns and looks at her as she approaches. "Hey can we talk?"

"Oui." She said. They head out to the courtyard and they sit down.

"Okay, I have a major problem." Christi said, rushing into her whole story, "The guy I'm dating, he trusts me to see the true side of him… and the guilt is killing me of keeping a huge secret from him that I'm half Veela! Do you have any ideas or advice on how I could tell him? It's just really stressing me out."

"Oui, zat is a difficult situation."

"Yeah, so any advice on what I should do?" she asks.

"No, I am sorry." Fleur said.

"It's fine."

Fleur nods and the two girls go their separate ways. Heading off to the dungeons, Christi enters the Slytherin Common Room and she smiles when she sees Draco there.

"Hello Love." he greets her.

"Hey, how are you?"

"Fine, just got a letter from my Father inviting me and one guest to dinner tomorrow night. So I figured we'd go and you can formally meet my family."

"What's your family like?" she asks.

"Mother is really loving and comforting. She sends me packages filled with sweets and all kinds of good stuff. Father… Well, Father is someone very proper and cares for order and perfection and can spot someone lying a mile away… as well as someone keeping a secret. But they'll love you like I do. There's nothing about you I don't love. The one thing I love most of all about you is your honesty."

"Umm I'm not really sure." She said. She suddenly worried about her secret being found out at dinner with his family instead of her just telling him.

"Something wrong?" he asks.

"I'm just not sure…" she shrugged, "About meeting your family, that is."

"Please?" he begs using an exceptionally rare pout of his on her.

"Ahh! You know I can't say no to your freaking pout."

"I know." He smirks giving her the signature Malfoy smirk. She rolls her eyes and kisses his cheek.

"So what should I wear?"

"Something formal, something… Something classy and something… Green." he smirked, "My parents love Slytherin pride."

Christi chuckles, "You remember that dress from the Christmas at you place like two years ago?"

"Yea, I love that dress."

"Alright, I'll wear that tomorrow night." She says smiling.

"Good." He said gently pulling her in for a quick snog session. It quickly heats up and he pulls her into his lap holding her close. She pulls back needing to breath.

"Whoa, too fast." She said.

"Sorry." He says breathless. She smiles and gets up and heads to her room to lie down for a little while.

XXX

It was the next evening and Christi and Draco were port keying over to Malfoy Manor and Christi was really nervous. "What if they don't like me?" she asks.

"They'll love you. Don't worry about it." he assures her.

Walking into Malfoy Manor, Christi sighs shakily. She was so nervous and worried that Lucius will pick up on her keeping that she was part Veela a secret.

"Why are you so nervous?" Draco asks.

"Nothing. Just nervous about meeting them."

"It will be fine, Love." He said kissing her softly. "Firewhiskey." He tells her softly before walking into the massive house.

"Firewhiskey, you too." She says as they enter the house. Heading into the sitting area, Draco wraps his arm around Christi's waist.

"Mother, Father?" he calls.

"Draco my sweet boy!" Narcissa says happily as she comes over and hugs him tightly then smiles when she notices Christi. "Oh Draco, she's lovely! She's quite beautiful!"

"Mother, this is Christi Venizelos, my girlfriend of three months."

"Venizelos?" Lucius asks. He has just walked in and picked up on one word of the conversation: the word that meant something. The word that meant blood status, wealth, social status, and everything. The surname, the name and word that classified people. If your surname was one that everyone knew, then that was good. If it was a rich name, a name of somebody of upper class, somebody with a good working status, a good, influential name in the world, well… That was great.

"Yes, sir," Christi nodded, "My father is Demetrios Venizelos, the top lawyer for the Wizengamot."

"Highly admirable man. I like her already Draco." Lucius said. Draco smiles and wraps his arm around her tighter. Maybe his family would like her. Maybe no one would find out her secret until she was ready to tell. Yeah, that'd be great. Maybe every thing would be alright, like Draco said so many times. He was right.