AN: Because I feel so freaking loved at this moment, thanks to my awesome reviewers, I will write the next chapter. See, reviews are the best type of bribery. OH, and if someone would like to help me with Harry and the other men's outfits, speak up. I'm a bit lost when it comes to formal men's wear. Also, this story is a mix of the book and both of the movies, because I love all of them, and of my own ideas. I am drawing much from the more recent movie with Keira Knightley and the gorgeous Matthew Macfadyen, because it is short, sweet, and cute, and I am lazy. And one more note: I believe some characters in this story will be bisexual, Darcy I think will be. You have been warned. Anyway here you are! I am writing this at 4:30 in the fricking morning, and tomorrow will bring pain. This chapter is freaking 8 pages long. See? Reviews mean Bribery. Oh, and you all better love me. Alot. Enjoy!

Pride and Prejudice

Of a Different Sort

Chapter 2: Babbling Brooks, Balls, and Blatant Snubs

Harry was staring at his reflection in the full mirror in his and Hermione's room.

"Oh, stop glaring at the mirror! You look magnificent!" Hermione huffed at him as she completed the finishing touches in her own attire.

"Me? You, sweetheart, have obviously not seen yourself yet!" Harry thought that if anyone deserved the word magnificent to describe them, it was Hermione.

Harry did actually look very nice, in a forest green shirt, black coat, and black pants, bringing out his most striking features; there was nothing to be done with his hair, so it was left in its quirky style. Hermione, however, was beautiful in a soft blue gown that fit in exactly the right way. Her hair was set in a low bun, with a few whimsical white flowers placed right around the bun.

As Harry was appraising his sister, Hermione was humming a silly tune. Realizing what the song was and what she was doing, he smiled and sang with her hum in a light tone.

"Me and you,

Dancing 'round the babbling brook,

Laughing at its silly words,

Singing with its jolly tune!"

Here Hermione entered,

"Like the fools we are,

Smiling at the smiling sun,

Waving at the flying doves,

Running until we reach too far!"

And then, the younger girls, who had come to stand in the door way, also joined in. Tonks's deep voice, Lavender's soft sound, and Ginny's strong, high tone blending with their elder siblings' voices to create brilliance.

"How funny we must come across,

As we skip about the vale,

And any other passer-by,

Would think us quite outrageous!"

They trailed off until there was only giggling left. Harry gazed at his sisters happily. Hermione and he had started the tradition by making up the strange song while dressing for their first party, and it had helped to lessen their nerves. They continued in this way for every festivity the children went to, even though it was no longer necessary.

The group of kin stood in the room chattering excitedly, and the name Bingley was quite often mentioned, until their easily agitated mother's voice was heard summoning them down.

XXX

Entering the ballroom with his family, Harry was filled with excitement. He grabbed his older sister's hand and pulled her to find their friend Penelope Lucas.

Not only was it right to speak to Penelope first, as her parent's were hosting this event, but also because Harry was very fond of Ms. Lucas, as was Hermione, and Penelope's younger sister, Katie, was very good friends with the younger Bennet girls.

And, seeing as Mr. Bingley was kin to the Lucases, there was no better place to find information on the man before he arrived.

Harry and Hermione soon found Penelope near the punch. Penelope was not one to dance very often, as she was plain in appearance, and though she was not at all ugly, she was dreadfully shy around most.

Harry beamed at his long time friend, and immediately asked after Mr. Bingley.

"When is the entertainment to arrive?" He asked excitedly. Even though word had traveled that Mr. Bingley was interested in the opposite gender, Harry had hope for one of Bingley's friends. And if not, it would still be quite fun to tease his sisters.

Penelope ignored his lack of manners and the fact that he spoken at all.

"Why, Harry, you look very handsome tonight. And Hermione, lovely as always." sensible Penelope said, hugging both and kissing them on the cheek. (1)

Harry made an indignant face at her, while she ignored him once more, and Hermione laughed at her companion's antics.

The three continued to tease each other, chat, and gossip, as only the oldest of friends can.

XXX

Meanwhile, roughly three miles away, a large carriage carrying three passengers who had no idea what a ruckus they were causing.

Well...they had some idea.

"I can just tell that all of the single women who have heard of you are just frantic to meet you, Ron. Isn't this going to be wonderful fun?"

Pansy Bingley was a very wicked woman. She was however, quite charming if she wished. Ronald Bingley, the real reason the poor women they were discussing were in such a tizzy, was a kind, loyal, jolly soul who looked slightly disheartened to learn of the stir he was causing.

"Oh, Pansy, don't treat him so. Let him be excited about his party. The poor man loves these things, for some reason." (2) The third individual was a man by the name of Mr. Draco Darcy, the best friend of Mr. Bingley and his sister. Darcy's skin was quite pale, mostly because of heredity. His hair was an uncommon platinum blonde and his eyes were also unusual, silver.

Mr. Darcy's companions looked at him in amusement.

"Not looking forward to a classic country dance, Draco?" asked Mr. Bingley, his bright smile and fiery hair lightening his entire countenance.

Pansy scoffed, flicking her dark bangs out of her eyes. "Our Draco? I think not. He doesn't enjoy any kind of dance, and is never interested in more than maybe one partner, at the most."

They both looked at Draco, who was scowling at their teasing.

And then, they had arrived.

XXX

"I do hope I look alright," murmured Hermione, who was for some reason feeling self conscious tonight.

Harry rolled his eyes at her. "Hermione, if you looked any lovelier no one would be able to keep their eyes off the entire night. Let the others get some attention too." He joked.

As they were speaking, Penelope grabbed their arms, dragging them to the front of what had now become a row of people, where the crowd had begun to split for the guests everyone had been waiting for.

The three cohorts peered at the newly arrived threesome being lead to the front of the room by Sir Filius Lucas, Penelope's father.

"Well?" Harry whispered expectantly to Penelope, who sighed long-sufferingly.

"The one with the red hair is Mr. Ronald Bingley, while the short brunette on his right is his sister Ms. Pansy Bingley," she whispered.

Harry nodded and smirked at Hermione who had yet to remove her eyes from the young Mr. Bingley. "And the one with the quizzical brow?" he asked, eyeing the gorgeous blond on Bingley's left. "The poor man looks miserable."

"That is the stately Mr. Draco Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire." stated Penelope. "He is said to be miserable, but poor he most definitely is not. He has ten thousand a year."

Her friends' eyes grew large. Well, Harry's eyes did. Hermione's were to busy gazing dreamily at Mr. Bingley.

As the three new comers passed by, the thoughtful trio curtsied at them. Mr. Bingley was obviously distracted by Hermione, which made Harry ecstatic for them. So much so, in fact that he almost missed the glance Mr. Darcy sent him. Almost.

XXX

After the dancing started up again, Mrs. Bennet and Tonks, who was not dancing because of her klutzy tendencies, grabbed the trio who were still chattering on about the guests, taking them toward the objects of their conversation.

Upon reaching Mr. Lucas and his guests, the women curtsied, as Harry bowed.

"Ah, capital," said Mr. Lucas. "You all know my daughter, Penelope." He said gesturing towards her, whilst she curtsied.

"And may I introduce Mr. Ronald Bingley and his sister Ms. Pansy Bingley," at this the two bowed and curtsied respectively. "This is Mrs. Bennet, Ms. Hermione Bennet, Ms. Nymphadora Bennet, and Mr. Harry Bennet." And so, they too, curtsied or bowed.

"Pleasure," announced Mr. Bingley, while Pansy smiled at them, in a way that Harry found slightly frightening. "And may I present," he continued, "my close friend, Mr. Darcy."

The man in question bowed slightly, glancing again at Harry, who was to busy contemplating Pansy's wicked smile to notice this time. Hermione and Pansy did, however, as the Bennets curtsied and bowed appropriately.

"I have two others, as well," said Mrs. Bennet. "Lavender and Ginny are dancing, at the moment. All of my girls are splendid dancers, Hermione is the very best."

Harry and Hermione glanced bemusedly at each other as their mother hinted for Mr. Bingley to ask Hermione to dance.

"Well, wonderful!" declared Mr. Bingley. "I would love it if Ms. Bennet would honor me with my first dance of the night." Mr. Bingley said holding a hand out to Hermione, who flushing accepted it.

Harry smiled after them. As Mr. Lucas and Mrs. Bennet discussed something Tonks wondered off to find her other sisters.

He turned to look for Penelope to see if she would want to dance (3), and she beamed at him in happiness as they set off.

XXX

"Well, Draco. It seems Ron likes the Ms. Hermione Bennet quite a lot." Pansy whispered to her companion as they watched the festivities. "What do you make of her?"

Draco groaned. "Why not find a dance partner and leave me be, Pansy."

Pansy gasped at his audacity. "Fine, I believe I shall. Mayhap that handsome Mr. Bennet." She was now smirking slightly. "Yes, I believe it shall be him. Do excuse me."

She then waltzed off to find Harry as Draco glared after her.

XXX

Harry was speaking to Penelope as they strolled about the room.

"I'm telling you, the expression on his face was so strange," Harry was saying until...

"Ahem. Excuse me. Penelope! I have been longing to see you, cousin."(4) This came from the short, brunette Pansy Bingley as she came up beside them. "And this is the young man who was just introduced to us, right? Mr. Bennet, was it?"

Penelope smiled at her second cousin who was obviously interested in Harry, for whatever reason.

"Actually, it's just Harry." Harry said bemusedly. (5)

"OH!" Pansy exclaimed. "I see. Well, then as a friend I will ask for a dance, Harry."

Harry smiled at her, glancing at Penelope for her permission, which was easily granted.

"Of course, Pansy," he said holding his hand out to her.

And so, they danced.

XXX

Later, as Pansy was getting better acquainted with Hermione, Harry and Penelope went for a leisurely walk in a quieter hall right outside the ballroom were some were getting a breath of fresh air.

As they stood mostly hidden behind a statue, they overheard a conversation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.

"Come now, Draco. You must dance. There are plenty of options for partners, both male and female." Mr. Bingley seemed to be very distressed by his friend's chosen solitude.

"I will not," proclaimed Darcy. "You know I loathe it. And you are dancing with the only handsome creature in the room."

"Oh! She is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on!" Bingley proclaimed. "But her brother, he is also quite attractive, even Pansy thinks so. And I doubt he would mind a dance." said Bingley wryly.

Penelope looked at Harry with a smile.

"He is tolerable, I suppose," admitted Darcy. "But not handsome enough to tempt me."

Harry sneered into space, while Penelope was shaking her head at Darcy's rude manner.

"Go back to your partner," Darcy was now saying. "Your time is much better spent in her company than in mine."

And Bingley followed this advice.

XXX

(Because I love this next scene from the movie, I put it in with a twist.)

XXX

Mrs. Bennet, Darcy, Bingley, Pansy, Hermione, and Harry were standing together and talking. Or rather Mrs. Bennet was talking and the others were subjected to listening to it.

"My Hermione has always been considered such a beauty. Once, when she was nearing sixteen, she had a suitor who I was sure would make an offer...however he did not. He did right her some lovely verses though..." Mrs. Bennet trailed off and Harry jumped at the opportunity of an actual conversation.

"I imagine that's what destroyed the affections, then. I wonder who it was that discovered the dismal affect poetry has on love." He said loudly.

Everyone looked at him curiously.

"Hmmm," Darcy said, causing everyone to look at him. But he looked only at Harry. "I was under the impression," he continued. "That poetry was the food of love."

"Of a deep and devoted love it might be. But of undeveloped affections, it demolishes." Harry stated.

Darcy looked contemplatively at Harry.

"Then what do you recommend for new affections?" He asked Harry.

Harry locked eyes with him. He smiled a smile Darcy had often seen on Pansy's own face, one which could be described as slightly malicious.

"Dancing," Harry stated slowly, without breaking eye contact with Darcy, "No matter how barely tolerable one's partner is."

Then he bowed, turned, and sauntered away

Hermione and Mrs. Bennet were stunned. Pansy glared at Draco. Bingley's eyes grew large in shock. Darcy just watched Harry walk away.

XXX

More Notes:

1-Because Harry is openly gay, girls will call him by informal first names, like close friends, and men will use his name formally.

2-Draco is good family friends with the Bingleys and sees Pansy as a sister and likes guys better really, so they use informal names when in private.

3-All types of couples are welcome to the dance floor in this story, just letting you know.

4-The Bingleys and Lucases are closer in this fic.

5-The fact that Harry is letting her us his informal name symbolizes that he is gay.