Authors Note: So, do any of you play on Pottermore? I do. While writing this I'm doing potions over and over again cuz I REALLY want my House to get the House Cup! ;3 I'm a Slytherin. Which is awesome btw! But yeah, nothing serious to say except this: SLYTHERINS RULE! GRYFFINDORKS DROOL! (This has no influence on my love for Harry it's just House loyalty… yes, I know I'm a nerd.)

Last Chapter Reminders

:Thoughts:

Disclaimer: All I own is a car and my mind. And sometimes I'm not even sure about those!

Warning: this contains malexmale love. No slashy goodness but if you don't like boys kissing then don't read. AU of a Cinderella sort ;) HP/DM, RL/SB implied.

To Join the Dance

Draco smiled wide and released Harrys elbow stepping back into the doorway of the manor. "Then I shall hope to see you in three days Harry." Harry watched him close the door to the manor and turned away walking down the steps of the manor thinking furiously to himself.

:What have I gotten myself into?:

After leaving Malfoy Manor, Harry chose not to head straight back to Prince Estate after he had spent a little time walking. It wasn't like things would improve with his presence. And despite what he had told Draco he knew there was no way he would get there in time to keep Tom from lying to Snape and turning him into the villain of the story. Harry knew that going back now wouldn't change anything. He was going to have to face Snape sooner or later but at the moment, he preferred later.

He spent about an hour wandering around town and eventually ended up at a familiar location right before the sun hit the edge of the horizon. He was in front of the Magik Pumpkin Pub, owned by Sirius Black who also happened to be the Barkeeper. Harry grinned wide as he stepped inside the dim room, letting the door swing shut behind him. It was still earlier so there was only three other people inside. One was sitting off in the far corner, one was leaning against the bar, and the last was Sirius.

Sirius was a tall, well-built, man with pale skin and long black hair. However, what struck Harry as unnerving for the first time were the grey eyes that focused on him and reminded him for a moment of Draco and quickly banished his good mood. A change which did not go unnoticed by the bartender who subtly nudged the man sitting at the bar pointing him towards Harry. When the man turned Harry realized it was actually Remus and a little of his good mood returned.

"Hey Remus, hey Sirius. Hope I'm not catching you two at a bad time?" Harry let the statement turn into a question as he looked between the two men. Remus shook his head while Sirius smiled crookedly at Harry.

"Not at all Harry," Remus replied. "I was actually asking if Sirius had seen you. I went looking for you at the estate when I was done but you disappeared. I was concerned." A worried frown crossed his face when Harry grimaced. "Are you alright? Did something happen to you?"

Harry walked over to the two men taking a seat at the bar next to Remus. "I'm fine Remus. Tom just decided to play a prank on me and it got a bit out of hand." Remus frowned and opened his mouth to question him but Harry spoke quickly before he could. "I'm fine though. Tom got mad at me but nothing bad happened. Really. I can look after myself." Remus looked unconvinced while Sirius looked between them curiously. "If you don't believe me you could always buy me a Firewhiskey and I'll spill my life story to you!" Harry smiled brightly and hopefully causing Remus and Sirius to laugh at him.

Sirius shook his head mock seriously. "Now, Harry, you know you're not yet of age to be drinking Firewhiskey. It's Butterbeer for you or water. Nothing else." Harry pretended to scowl at the older man but he just smirked and grabbed a mug to get some Butterbeer for Harry.

"So why were you looking for me anyways?"

Remus smiled warmly at Harry. "I was concerned that Snape wasn't providing you with enough food. I thought that you might like to come with Sirius and I to grab some lunch. Are you hungry?" Harry flushed slightly as he shook his head. He was still full from the lunch Draco had forced him to eat. :Maybe not forced. I didn't exactly put up a fight.: He hoped the dim lighting covered his flush as he accepted the full mug from Sirius. Remus was frowning slightly.

"Are you sure? You know we don't mind treating you to actual food upon occasion." Sirius nodded in agreement as he began wiping cups and small plates.

"I'm sure. I had large lunch." That small statement caused both Sirius and Remus to look at Harry in silent disbelief. Their staring had Harry shifting awkwardly. "I did. Someone I know, A- friend. He and I grabbed some food." Harry chose to refer to Draco as a friend for lack of a better description, but was starting to think he would have to explain himself if the looks the two men were trading were anything to go by and Sirius's next words confirmed it.

"Harry, I don't know what you aren't telling us but it is obvious we are missing something. You rarely talk to anyone except us or Neville. Now spill it. Who is this mysterious friend of yours and what happened with Tom?"

Harry grimaced at the raised eyebrow and stubborn look on both of their faces. "Look, Tom pulled that prank on me and I ended up having to make a run for it. He wasn't too happy with me when I pushed him over." Sirius was about to interrupt but Harry held up his hands in a pleading gesture. "Let me finish?"

Both men nodded so Harry continued. "There was a good hiding place near the lake beyond an apple orchard and I was heading there when I tripped over a tree root in the apple orchard and hit my head on something." He was not about to explain being strangled by Tom. It was bad enough that Draco knew. "When I woke up I was inside the owner of the orchards house. The boy who found me, Draco, had brought me in and helped me out. He also had my clothes cleaned. I'm not sure why he helped me or had my clothes cleaned but when I was awake and dressed one of his maids led me to a dining room and we ate some lunch." Sirius was looking at Harry strangely but Harry just wanted to get the story over with so he ignored it for the moment. "When I finished eating I left and walked around for a bit before I came here. Happy, now?"

Remus had a deep frown on his face. "Harry, why would you push Tom over? You know he is just going to let Severus know and get you into trouble. That was very irresponsible of you."

Sirius scoffed and spoke up before Remus could lecture Harry. "Let him be Remus. Tom deserves a lot more than a simple push in my opinion. Tom is only lucky that Harry has more self-restraint than me." Harry shared a grin with Sirius before Remus shook his head at them both sighing softly.

"A small mercy, that. What about this boy, Draco? His name sounds familiar though I'm not sure why."

Sirius snorted drawing both their attentions. "Let me guess. His name was Draco Malfoy?" Harry gaped at him and Sirius nodded to himself. "Thought so. He is the son of Lucius Malfoy, his father just happens to be one of the more ruthless and arrogant nobles out there. Don't know anything about his son though. He hasn't really done anything noteworthy." Sirius almost seemed to be talking to himself at the end but Harry leaned forward and grabbed his arm capturing his attention.

"How do you know who Draco is, Sirius? I only mentioned where he lived and his first name."

Sirius smirked and pulled his arm out of Harrys grip easily. "I know about the Malfoy family because I have a lot of information about the nobles memorized. And the Malfoys are the only ones I know of that own an apple orchard and have a son named Draco. I don't suppose Malfoy wanted anything in return for the meal he gave you?"

Harry hesitated. Draco had invited Harry to the party but only made it as a payment for the meal after Harry had refused. Draco hadn't really asked for anything else as repayment. "Erm, he asked me to come to a party." When Sirius frowned Harry elaborated. "His birthday party, actually. It's in three days. He made me promise to come. Said we could make it a game for him to find me since it's supposed to be some Masquerade party."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "That's all he wanted? That seems rather odd of a noble to want someone not of their circle to attend a party, even one as simple as a birthday party."

Sirius snorted. "He probably thinks of Harry as entertainment or something like that. Best not to go, Harry. Who knows what he is planning."

Harry hesitated. On the one hand, he really didn't want to go, especially if Sirius was right and this was just a joke. Draco was weird enough that it would be easy to see him doing something like this in order to play a cruel joke.

On the other hand, Harry did promise.

Harry sighed as he realized that no matter what he felt the matter was already made up. "I'm going."

Sirius and Remus both blinked at him before Remus spoke carefully. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Harry."

Harry nodded. "I know that. I promised him though. And he didn't seem like a bad guy. Maybe he thinks of me as entertainment, maybe not. I still promised. No idea why he thinks I'll be let in when I don't own anything nice enough for a Nobles Party."

Remus began speaking as Sirius walked over to the only other patron of the bar so he could pay for his drinks. "If you're really sure about going Harry then I'm sure we will be able to pull something together for you to wear. I only have limited funds but I believe Sirius has a few things you can borrow."

Sirius came over as other patron walked out. "He is right Harry. You may not know this but I used to be the son of a very wealthy family. When I left I brought over quite a bit of money and a few outfits that I'm sure we can get a seamstress to fit to you."

Harry stared at him. The one thing Sirius never talked about was his family and it had caught both Remus and him off guard by the way he casually mentioned it. Harry was tempted to ask questions but Sirius could get stubborn when pushed so he left it alone. "Thanks guys, I appreciate it but I'm sure I can figure something out on my own. Besides, in the end it won't matter if I want to go unless Snape lets me."

Sirius nodded. "You're right. But Snape hardly notices you as long as your chores are done. Finish them up quick enough and I think that between the three of us we can trick Snape into believing you are tucked into bed."

Remus frowned slightly at Sirius. "You're forgetting something. For all that Severus is a lesser Noble, he is still a Noble. He was probably invited to it as well. If Severus catches Harry there…." Harry felt a chill go down his spine at the thought of Snapes reaction. "Harry is going to need a mask good enough to keep Severus from realizing it's him since he is determined to go." Remus sent him a questioning look but Harry gave a determined nod though on the inside he was feeling queasy with nerves and thinking maybe this was a bad idea after all.

Sirius got an odd look in his eyes before he smirked. "You two leave the mask to me. I know someone who owes me a favor that I can get a half decent mask from. Trust me."

Harry sighed and nodded. "Then I guess I am going. A mask, an outfit, and a way to trick Snape. Not to mention I am going to have to be back before he gets back to the estate." Harry let another sigh through as Remus patted him on the shoulder.

Harry glanced between the two men and gave them a wry grin. "This is going to be fun."

Authors final Rant: Not my best chapter ever. My brain is a little on the fickle side right now and I'm sick. But I worked through it and finally got the chapter done. I don't think there are any errors. I read through it but didn't see any. I don't have a Beta so any mistakes are my fault.

Ciao!