Luna left them to go and stand with her father, who seemed to be having a spirited conversation with a foreign wizard.
"Totally barmy, if you ask me," Draco said, shaking his head and leading the way to the refreshment table.
"Well she made this whole party more fun than I ever expected it could be," Harry chortled, grabbing a paper cup of punch.
"Urgh, what is this?" he asked screwing up his nose.
"Traditional wizard recipe. Made from mainly lizard eggs and bile I believe," Draco said laughing at Harry's incredulous face.
"No, it's carrot juice actually," Draco explained as Harry still looked disgusted.
"Who is that?" Harry asked, discreetly pointing at a man who was obviously being ignored by his peers.
"Walden Macnair, works at the ministry of magic. I think he has something to do with dangerous creatures or something," Draco replied dismissively.
Severus chose that moment to interrupt their conversation.
"Disposal of dangerous creatures is his division, I believe," Severus said, his black eyes lingering on the former deatheater. "And a crueler man I wish never to meet. Regardless Harry, that was an interesting choice of dance partners,"
Harry laughed again at the look on Severus' face. "Oh come on guys, it's not like I choose to dance with a hag or anything. Luna's really pretty, and nice too,"
"Hmm, could have worse I suppose-" Whatever Severus had intended to say was cut off by a loud shrieking noise. It seemed to come from all around, causing the guests to throw their hands over their ears.
"What was that?" Harry said, shaking his head to try and remove the ringing.
"I think it was the security alarms," Draco said in a worried voice.
Lucius seemed to be making his apologies to the shocked guests, and made off down one of the Manor's hallways. As he stepped out of the room all of the enchanted candles went out, causing the guests to shriek again.
Harry felt a hand grasp his own, and he was glad to know he was not alone in the dark. Seconds later Draco grabbed his other hand, and Harry knew he was safe with both him and Severus. Seconds passed, the light flickered back on. Lucius returned looking slightly anxious a few minutes later.
"No need to be alarmed. Just a false alarm. Now, let's have some music and return to the dancing. Mrs. Nott, would you care to dance?" Lucius said extending an elegant arm to a regal looking woman with a hawk-like nose. She gently touched his outstretched arm and lowered herself respectfully as the first chords of music flared, and they began to dance.
Slowly the crowd relaxed and the mood lightened. Under the soft hues of the candle light the party moved into full swing.
"We can leave now. Usually the 'young' people gather in the room next door and leave the adults to their socializing. Stick around too long and you might end up in a political betrothal!" Draco laughed at his own joke.
"Oh ha ha. Like you'd have a problem with being engaged. Probably already planning it!" Harry stuck out his tongue.
"Already planning what?" A harsh voice asked as they walked into the room.
Pansy Parkinson was watching them with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing," Draco said blushing and digging Harry in the ribs. She was one of about fifteen young teens in the room. Almost all were of Hogwarts age or close to, like Luna. There was a mixture of houses, including some of Harry's year mates whom he had never even spoken to before.
"Katherine Macdougal, and this is my sister Morag. We're in Ravenclaw," Two girls on Harry's left smiled almost identical smiles. They both had long brown hair that had been pulled back in elaborate buns.
"Hi," Harry said almost shyly, taking a seat next to them. He was not used to pretty girls smiling at him, especially not in double.
"Thank Merlin the adults are drunk enough to not realize we're gone," Blaise Zabini drawled with a nod towards Draco.
Although they shared the same dormitory, Harry had barely spoken to Blaise.
"Well, some are more drunk than others. Looks like you'll have another new daddy before the night is out, Blaise," Draco smirked, knowing he would not rile the other boy.
"Oh goody, more gold," and they laughed as if sharing a private joke.
Morag leaned over to Harry. "Apparently his mother has married over seven times. She's extremely beautiful. All of her husbands have died mysteriously leaving all their gold to her," she whispered.
They chatted and joked with some familiarity that surprised Harry. Most, if not all, did not associate at school.
"How did you do in that last Charms exam? Mine was a nightmare," Daphne Greengrass asked Morag.
"Alright I suppose. I've always done well with charms though. How about you Harry?" she asked, drawing him into the conversation.
They passed a pleasant hour, away from the stiff formality of wizard society. Finally, slightly woozy parents arrived to collect their children, and the Dance Hall of Malfoy Manor was finally empty except for Severus, Lucius, Draco and Harry.
"Well that was entertaining," Draco said loftily as the last person Flooed out.
"Upstairs boys, you don't have to go to bed, but there is something I need to discuss with Severus," Lucius' mask of docile good nature had slipped, and he looked slightly haggard.
Draco nodded and Harry followed him upstairs.
"Severus, it was not a false alarm that went off during the party," Lucius said without aplomb.
"I figured as much. What was it then?" Severus asked, flicking his wand and drawing a chair closer to sit in.
"One of the guests seems to have accessed some of my family vaults. I cannot be sure what was taken; the vault in particular was one that I had no governing over," Lucius replied, retrieving his own chair.
"How can it be that you had no access to a safe on your own estate?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The Darklord, at the height of his power, demanded the use of some of my more secure storage. He ensured that I would not be able to access it, but other than that, I don't think there were any spells or curses preventing access. I do not even know what was in their in the first place, but it could not have been anything good," Lucius explained.
"The Darklord did not have his own vaults at Gringott's…?" Severus inquired.
"Apparently not. I think we shall have to wary, and hope that whatever it was, it doesn't come back to haunt us," Lucius mused aloud.
"Yes," Severus said darkly. " Let us hope,"
A/N- Wooo for a new chapter! Thanks for all the lovely reviews of my last, they are very much appreciated! Who noticed the hints I dropped here? Oh and I found Katherine and Morag MacDougal's names on Harry Potter Wiki, so they aren't my own characters. Just thought I needed some fresh characters, who aren't featured much in canon. As always, what do you think? Any reviews or suggestions welcome ;D