Authors Note: So just to be clear. Being sick with a high fever and then losing power is an incredibly horrible feeling. Not only could I not type anything up I was stuck in 100 degree heat with a high fever. My last week has sucked. So when I write this the negativity from one of the characters is my personal influence.

Last Chapter Reminders

:Thoughts:

Disclaimer: I own a computer and my imagination. Both were used in the creation of this story.

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

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."

The room was silent save for the scratch of quill against paper as Draco wrote up yet another letter concerning his party. He was answering the same mundane questions every single noble had thought it was his personal duty to inform them of the answers. He was getting a cramp in his wrist with the repetitiveness of the letters. Yes, it is a masked party with formal attire. No, a special gift need not be presented though it would be appreciated. Of Course, I am interested in meeting your apparently single daughter. Of Course, I am excited to be coming of age into such a philistine society. Oh, I am assuredly looking forward to your attendance.

Were it not so common Draco would probably be considering the benefits of getting drunk right about now.

Barely repressing a snarl at the letters he had yet to reply to, Draco signed his current letter and set it to the side for the ink to dry and leaned back to shake his wrist out. You would think a Noble would not leave it until the last minute to send these letters to Draco but it seemed like they all must have gotten together in a plot to either irritate him into killing someone or breaking his wrist from writing so many responses.

Draco sighed and let his eyes drift shut.

:At least there will be one person at my party who isn't shallow or conceited.:

A flicker of a smile crossed Dracos face right before there was a knock on the door of his personal study. He opened his eyes and straightened with a cool expression on his face. "Yes?"

Tilly opened the door and curtseyed to him in the doorway with her head bowed, not meeting his eyes. "Master Blaise is here to see you, sir. He is quite insistent upon speaking with you."

Draco frowned slightly wondering why Blaise would feel the need to return when he had already been by once that day. "Bring him here Tilly."

She curtseyed again and backed out of the room closing the door behind her. Draco stood from his chair stretching and glanced out the window to try and figure out how long he had been writing. It had been a little over an hour ago that he had begun, right after his interesting guest had left. Draco felt the urge to smile again but kept it from appearing this time as the door swung open to admit a narrow-eyed Blaise. Draco tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at the display and opened his mouth to ask what he was doing when Blaise spoke up first.

"Draco, what the bloody hell are you planning? I know you like to plot but this is absurd."

Draco stared at Blaise with his mouth open slightly, refusing to admit he was gaping as he clicked his mouth shut. Blaise, calm and cool, was not only snapping at him but was also using improper language? This was new.

"Blaise, it is a pleasure to see you as well but I have no idea what you are talking about. I assure you I have planned nothing 'absurd' lately."

Blaise snorted. Snorted! Another one for the record books. He then strolled past Draco to take a seat. "I am talking about you inviting a commoner to attend the party your father specifically arranged so that you could meet your betrothed. I am talking about you not thinking of the consequences once again!"

Draco took a seat at his desk with his eyes never leaving Blaise. "How the hell do you know I invited someone? I only asked him today and I have not even had a chance to add him to the guest list."

Blaise rubbed the back of his neck as he obviously forced himself to calm down. "Unlike you, Draco, I am of age and enjoy drinking. I was at a Bar I enjoy frequenting when some child came wandering in telling a tale about you rescuing him and then inviting him to your party. When I left, I first believed it was some story the boy created to make himself seem special but I soon realized that this is exactly the type of absurd behavior you get up to when you are disagreeing with your father."

Draco leaned back in his chair to consider Blaise from beneath lowered eyelids. "I would hardly call my choice absurd, but yes I did invite him. He is hardly a child though, he is the same age as myself."

That distracted Blaise slightly as he replied with a raised eyebrow. "Really? He didn't look it. Entirely too short and skinny. The boy certainly needs a haircut as well." Blaise glanced over at Draco. "The boy spoke about bumping his head and you having him cleaned."

Draco nodded assent the unspoken question. "I did have him cleaned but I hardly think strangulation is the same thing as a bump on the head." Blaise's eyes widened slightly and Draco elaborated. "The boy, Harry, was being pursued by Tom Riddle of all people and when Riddle caught up to him he then attempted to murder Harry."

Blaise sat forward in his seat bracing his forearms on his knees. "Riddle? That annoyingly good looking worm from the capitol? I knew he was arrogant but I didn't think him stupid. He is staying with your Godfather isn't he?"

Draco nodded. "I am under the impression that Harry is a servant under Severus. I have never seen him before but Severus has always enjoyed keeping the servants out of sight when he gets visitors."

Blaise looked at Draco curiously, obviously completely distracted from his previous irritation. "I have never been to the Prince Estate but I do know of a few people who work under him. What was his last name or did you neglect to find out in your madness?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at the slight but gracefully ignored it. "Harry Longbottom."

Blaise blinked. Then he blinked again and smiled in disbelief. "Longbottom? Harry Longbottom? Did his parents detest his birth? Is he horribly disfigured in some way that they would want to give anyone that combination of names?"

Draco couldn't help but smile back. He had to admit, to himself at least, that he had entertained similar thoughts. Draco's name may have been unorthodox but at least it was regal in a way. Harry Longbottom was a horrible name. Draco would have thought Harry had lied about his name if it weren't for the fact that nothing could be a worse last name than Longbottom!

Blaise shook his head and chuckled a bit. He then looked at Draco the amusement fading away to be replaced with an almost concerned look. "You know, if your father finds out you invited a commoner-"

"He will doubtless grow angry, lecture me on proper behavior for someone of my stature, and then ensure the dirty little commoner never mingles with his betters ever again." By the end Dracos voice had changed into a mocking version of his fathers.

Blaise sighed. "Yes, and the boy will be discovered the second he makes a mistake no nobleman would. And then your father will publicly embarrass him by berating him for sneaking in and when Severus finds out he will probably be thrown out on his ear. No one will hire him after that."

Draco frowned. That thought had never occurred to him. "He promised to come and he seemed the sort to keep his promises. When he shows up I will keep an eye out for him." When Blaise raised an eyebrow in silence Draco sighed and conceded. "Alright, once I find him I will let him know his promise has been kept and escort him out." Draco fiddled with the sleeve of his shirt. A nervous habit that he stopped once he realized he was doing it. "I never intended for this to cause him problems. I just would have enjoyed having a guest worth talking to. For all his uncouth behavior it was surprisingly enjoyable speaking to him."

As Draco fell silent he noticed Blaise giving him an unreadable stare.

"What?"

He shook his head and didn't reply to Dracos question and instead stated, "You know you're probably never going to see him again after this party."

"I know."

Blaise nodded and stood up straight. "It is a pity. Most think nobles like us have everything we could ever want. They never realize how often we are deprived of what we need."

Draco smiled humorlessly. "Speaking cryptically again?" He got a blank smile in answer. Draco shook his head at his long time friend.

Blaise walked to the door and opened it turning his head to look over his shoulder at Draco a flash of something crossing his face for a moment. "I am sorry, Draco."

He blinked. "What are you sorry for? This is technically my own thoughtlessness making itself known."

Blaise shook his head sharply. "Yes, it is. But this is also one of the few times you defy your father. You don't do it often so when you do it tends to be important to you. I'm sorry that this one isn't going to work in your favor."

Draco was still staring when the door clicked shut behind him.

It was true. Draco tended to follow his fathers whim and comfort himself with the fact that one day he would be the Master of his own Household. Then his father would not have a say. But there were certain things that Draco had pushed for over the years, like having the Apple Orchard, that he had gotten his way with. It didn't happen often but those moments were precious to Draco as memories that proved he wasn't his fathers puppet.

Draco had hoped he could have at least one of those moments when he became of age and had his future decided for him.

He knew Blaise was correct. This was a risk that wouldn't harm Draco in the long run, but Harry? He would go down in flames for Dracos idiocy. Draco slumped in the chair at his desk at the thought.

He had honestly just wanted someone somewhat normal to be there. Yes, Blaise would be in attendance. Of course he would. But Blaise was still a Noble and in the same trap as Draco. Blaise was lucky enough that his mother was letting him pick his own bride so Blaise could take his time.

But Dracos time had run out. In three days he was going to have to say goodbye to the last of his defiance and look toward a future as the husband of Pansy Parkinson.

It was a depressing thought.

Authors final Rant: Be Honest. How many of you saw this happening? Did you think the third person from the bar would make an appearance? Did you think it was Blaise? Or were you completely blown by my cleverness? Remember, be Honest now!

I know Draco didn't marry Pansy in the books. But bear with me, the story has many twists and turns in store.

Ciao! :)