A/N: This chapter was EXTREMELY long, and since I am not a fan of extremely long chapters I have decided to split it into two. But don't fret! This just means the second half will be posted within the next couple of days! Something to look forward to ;-)

I can't think of any necessary notes for non-SOTD readers, but if you feel something needs explaining please don't hesitate to PM me!

And on with the show …

On a night in early February, Draco waited patiently on his very comfortable sofa in midnight-blue dress robes while Hermione finished getting ready. Tonight they were invited to the Annual Ministry Ball, which was going to be their first public function attending as a couple. Needless to say, Hermione was more than a little nervous.

Draco was fine though. He got ready quickly and effortlessly and was currently using their cell phone to text Sophie while pretending to be Hermione. It was working well at first, but once he asked how her breasts looked in the dress she was wearing that night he pretty much gave himself away. She responded by telling him they looked good, but not as incredible as hers did that night they spent together last November when the boys went out of town. Draco raised his eyebrows and asked her to tell him more. While he knew she was lying he wanted to see where she was going with this. It was a shame Hermione wasn't into that kind of kink.

"What are you doing?"

Draco whipped around to see Hermione standing behind him and reading over his shoulder. She narrowed her eyes at him and placed both hands firmly on her hips.

He smiled innocently and said, "Sophie was just telling me about the fun night you two spent together last November. Anything you want to confess to?"

"She told you?" Hermione said with an almost convincing blush.

"Don't tease me," he said, putting his knees on the sofa and swiveling around so he could kiss her. "For the record, if you ever did want to do anything like that you have my blessing."

"Do I now?"

"Absolutely. As long as I could watch," he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "And not just with Sophie, you know. Weaselette would be fine too. She's pretty hot for a ginger."

"Pottyette," Hermione corrected.

"Right, her," he said. "Or Astoria. That would be all right too. But not your friend, Luna. She has this air of innocence about her that makes it so I simply cannot approve."

Hermione rolled her eyes. He smirked and kissed her on the cheek, instantly making her smile. She stepped back and held out her arms so he could take her in. "How do I look?" she asked.

"Give me a twirl," he said. She did as he instructed. When she was finished Draco smiled and said, "Ravishing as always," which he sincerely meant.

Hermione was wearing a midnight-blue dress to match his robes with black lace. It was strapless and fitted to the waist, with a corset-like back and a flowing and elegant skirt. Her eye makeup was dark and her lips were their natural rosy pink with shimmering gloss. Her hair was pinned low on the back of her head while loose curls framed her face.

"Something's missing though," Draco said, catching her eye and frowning.

Hermione went pale and stared down at her dress. "What is it? I don't think I've forgotten anything."

Draco got off the sofa and walked behind her. He kissed her neck and pulled something out of his pocket. Moving his lips to her shoulder he wrapped the item around her neck and clasped it in place. Hermione looked down at what he had put on her and gasped. It was a necklace. Lilies garnished in diamonds decorated the chain while the central one had a large, black diamond dangling from it.

"Where … when … did you get this?"

"I saw it when I passed a jewelry shop in Diagon Alley last week and thought it would look absolutely perfect with your dress. I see now I was right."

Hermione smiled as she played with the dangling black diamond. "Draco, it's too much."

"Says who?" he demanded. "I almost always let you get away with your whole self-righteous, women's rights façade, but tonight let me treat you like the lady you are." He kissed her just above the necklace, causing a small moan to release from her lips. "Let me prove chivalry is not dead."

"Draco …" she whispered … "you better stop that before we're in danger of never leaving this flat."

"I'm all right with that."

Draco grabbed her arm and jerked her around so she was facing him. He placed one hand behind her head and pulled her in for a searing kiss. Her body pressed against the back of the sofa while he grinded against her. They were so caught up in each other that neither of them heard the two distinct 'Pops' echo through their flat.

"Uhum!"

Draco and Hermione both turned their eyes to see Sophie and Phillip standing near their door and smiling widely.

"Deed my texts turn you on?" asked Sophie with a wink.

"Very much so," said Draco, giving Hermione one more quick kiss before pulling back and taking her hand. "I suppose your presence means it's time for us to go then?"

"Yes. Phillipe ees very eager. ," said Sophie, rolling her eyes.

"Thank you again for getting us in tonight, Hermione. We really appreciate it."

"My pleasure," she said, going over to the closet and pulling out hers and Draco's cloaks. Draco slyly snuck up behind her and helped her into hers before putting on his own.

"You two look very pretty," smiled Sophie.

"Thanks," they both said, taking in the sight of Sophie in a bright-red, skintight halter dress. "As do you."

"And might I add that your breasts really do look divine," said Draco. Hermione cleared her throat. "But Hermione's look better." He grabbed her and kissed her cheek while she proceeded to roll her eyes.

"But not as good as zey looked last November," Sophie winked.

"What was that now?" asked Phillip, his ears immediately perking up.

"Nozing, mon chérie," said Sophie, kissing the air until Phillip came down and met her lips.

The four of them headed over to the fireplace and used the Floo network to get to the Atrium, which was already overflowing with guests in party attire. As soon as they were all there, Hermione took Draco's hand and guided him through the crowd and towards the new fountain, which was a lot like the old one, only Luna Lovegood had designed it so it was much more animated. She felt it really lightened up the place.

The other members of the golden trio were already waiting for her with several reporters and photographers, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic. Their dates were standing off to the side.

Once upon a time Kingsley and Draco had been on good terms. Now, not so much. He was still angry at Draco for not telling him about his father's growing insanity. Draco couldn't blame him really. If he had told him sooner Hermione never would have been hurt, and that was something he never forgot.

When they got there, Hermione turned to Phillip and Sophie and said, "You two go on ahead and start networking. We'll be in shortly."

"Ah, yes. Your photo op," said Sophie, giving the a-ok symbol with her hand. "See you een a leettle while." She and Phillip followed the crowd inside.

Draco took Hermione's cloak before going over and standing next to Astoria and Ginny while Hermione joined Harry, Ron, and Kingsley. "Good evening, ladies. I'm arm candy tonight," he said proudly.

"Me too!" exclaimed Astoria, giving him a high-five.

"You should be happy they broke up, Weaselette. Now, instead of standing off to the side alone, you get to hang out with us," he smirked.

"Yay!" shouted Astoria, throwing a triumphant fist into the air. Ginny was not amused. Astoria lowered her hand and looked skeptically at Ginny before saying, "You look very nice tonight, Ginny."

"Thank you," she said, half-smiling at the other witch. "You like nice as well. I can see why my brother chose you as his candy."

Astoria laughed a little too loudly to sound sincere. She was quick to pull it back.

"Well, come on, ladies. Don't leave me hanging," said Draco, holding out his arms so they could take in the whole package.

Astoria and Ginny looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Yes, Draco. You look very nice too," said Astoria, reaching out and pinching his cheek.

"That's quite an impressive necklace Hermione is wearing," said Ginny, moving her head to catch a better glimpse of it. "A gift from you, I presume."

"It was," he said, glancing over at his fiancée, who was currently talking exclusively with one of the reporters. She glanced sideways at him and gave him a wink.

"Almost four years later and people still can't get enough of the golden trio," said Astoria. "Were you here last year, Draco?"

"I was," he answered. "I remember walking right past them during this same sort of interview process. Don't think I saw them again for the rest of the night."

"Found a dark corner with your date, did you?" she asked. Draco's smile said it all. "Funny how things change."

"Who was your date last year?" Ginny asked curiously.

Draco thought about this. "Uhh …" This took a minute. It began to look like his brain was really hurting as he scrunched his face in thought. "I'm not really sure. But I do remember she was blonde. Wait … brunette. No … no, I was right. Blonde. Or maybe she was a redhead … Wait -"

"Please stop now," said Astoria, throwing her hand over his mouth. "You don't remember really would suffice."

Ginny laughed. "You were right. She was blonde. I saw you entering last year."

"You could've stopped me sooner, you know."

"I could have," she said, smiling, "but I like to see you squirm."

Draco smirked. "You are, by far, my favorite Weasel."

"Draco, I told you at the beginning of last summer. I'm Mrs. Potty now."

Astoria let out a very shrill chuckle. She threw her hands over her mouth. "Sorry. Don't know why I found that so funny."

"Draco!" Draco turned back to the golden trio to see Hermione beckoning to him. "Come here, please."

"Ooh, I'm being summoned." He threw his and Hermione's cloaks into Astoria's arms. "It's been a pleasure, ladies." He kissed both of their hands before going over and joining Hermione. "Yes, darling?" he asked, wrapping his arm possessively around her waist.

"Draco, this is Inga Utkin from Witch Weekly. She would like to know more about our engagement."

"Yes, I was just asking Ms. Granger, or, better yet, the future Mrs. Malfoy, about how you proposed. She was brief with the details, saying you wanted to keep them private …"

Draco gave Hermione a secret smirk, knowing very well that the only thing she wanted to keep private was the 'naked' detail.

"… but she did mention you proposed to her on your anniversary and I, as well as the millions of readers of Witch Weekly, would love to know how long you had the proposal planned," she said, shoving what appeared to be some sort of recording device in his face.

"Well," said Draco, pushing her hand back a smidgen, "I bought the ring about two weeks prior to our anniversary. I had already decided on the day I was going to do it long before, but I wanted to shop for a ring early since I wasn't sure how long it would take me to find the right one. The perfect girl deserves the perfect ring." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, not being able to help but notice the way Ron grimaced just over her shoulder. He winked at him.

"How long had you known you were going to propose?"

The recorder ended up right in his face again. This time he didn't bother to move it. "I'm not sure when I started thinking about the proposal, but I knew I was going to marry her since they day we officially got together."

"And when was that?"

Draco looked over at the other members of the golden trio and smiled. "Why, the day of Harry Potter's wedding, of course."

"Mind if we get a picture of you two?" asked Inga, already calling her photographer over.

"Certainly not," said Draco, pulling Hermione close and smiling for the camera.

"Could we get one of the two of you kissing?"

"What do you say, darling?" asked Draco, looking at Hermione. She nodded shyly before turning her head and meeting his lips with hers. They kissed slowly while more than just the one approved camera flashed in their direction, but neither of them cared. When they pulled apart they fixed their eyes on each other and smiled.

"Just beautiful," said Inga. "How is it that you have never won our Most Charming Smile award, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco kissed Hermione once more on the nose before turning back to Inga and saying, "A fluke, I assure you. Why? Are you offering?"

"I would have to speak to my editor, but I am positive this is something she will want to make happen."

"If you do that then you should definitely interview Draco about the great company he is working for," boasted Hermione. "It is called Thinx and their objective is to find ways to utilize Muggle technology in the wizarding world. It's all very fascinating."

"Well, we would love to hear about it," said Inga, handing Draco her card. "Owl me on Monday."

Shortly after that, all of the reporters began to disperse. "Phillip's going to love you," said Draco to Hermione while pocketing Inga's card.

Ginny and Astoria came over to grab their wizards. "When you and I got engaged how come I didn't get any interview time?" Ginny joked with a pouting lip.

"Because that was different," said Ron, taking Astoria's hand. "Your engagement wasn't controversial."

"Big word, Weasel."

Sharp looks shot at Draco from all around. He shrugged. Old habits die hard.

Ginny spotted something off to the side, her normally bright face instantly sinking. "There's Mum and Dad," she said to Ron. "And it looks like they want us to come over."

"Why don't they just come over here," he said, pulling Astoria closer.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Draco and Astoria looked at each other and frowned. "How about I make this slightly easier by excusing myself to check in our cloaks," said Draco, taking his and Hermione's cloaks out of Astoria's hands.

"Are you sure?" asked Hermione. He nodded. "I'll come with you."

"I'm capable of checking cloaks on my own, Mione," he smirked. "Just meet me inside when you're done. I'll be the devilishly handsome wizard waiting patiently with two drinks in his hands." Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Since Hermione's not going with you, maybe I should," said Astoria, already moving away from Ron.

Draco put his hand up to stop her. "No, I don't think so. You be a good witch and go and speak with your boyfriend's parents. If you're going to get disowned for him," he looked at Ron with disdain, "then you better start making nice with his family."

Astoria groaned but nodded. The five of them headed off to talk to Mama and Papa Weasley while Draco went inside with six cloaks, which was four more than he remembered agreeing to.

After checking their cloaks he immediately headed over to the bar. He ordered something fruity for Hermione and a firewhiskey on the rocks for himself.

"I certainly hope that pink number isn't for you."

Draco turned to see Mr. Greengrass leaning against the bar beside him. "No, it's not," said Draco, adding a few extra cherries to the pink drink before taking one for himself. "Can I help you with something?"

"Have you seen my daughter this evening?"

Draco glanced around and spotted Daphne and Goyle chatting with Blaise and Pansy a mere twenty feet away. "She's right over there." Draco pointed. "Glad to be of assistance."

"Don't be smart with me, boy. You know who I'm talking about."

"You mean the daughter you disowned? I didn't realize you were still claiming her as yours," he smirked. "She's outside chatting with her boyfriend's parents. They should be arriving in here at any moment now."

"Is she living with him?"

"Last I checked," said Draco, taking a sip of his firewhiskey. "But it was only supposed to be temporary considering you kicked her out without warning and all."

"I have no interest in associating with blood traitors, which is exactly what she will become if she stays with that boy."

"If you have no interest in associating with blood traitors then why exactly are you associating with me? Seeing as I'm engaged to a Muggle-born and all, I can only assume that that makes me one."

"Isn't it all just a publicity stunt?"

Draco's jaw dropped. "Absolutely not!"

"That's not what your mother says," he chuckled.

"Well, my mother has her own distorted version of reality." Draco looked over at the door. Hermione hadn't come in yet. He found himself longing for her company. "Mind if I ask you something?" he asked.

Mr. Greengrass nodded for him to go on.

"You were never a Death Eater, so what's with the sudden hostility towards Muggle-borns and blood traitors?"

"Just because I didn't get a tattoo doesn't mean I don't agree with their beliefs."

"Well, you were certainly secretive about it. Goyle once told me you didn't care who Astoria married as long as it was a pureblood. As much as it pains me to say this, Weasley is just that, so why do you care? Is it really the blood traitor thing, or is it because his family is lacking the resources a Malfoy or Zabini marriage could bring you?"

Mr. Greengrass laughed. "A little of both, I suppose."

Hermione finally walked into the room. Draco moved to meet her but, before he got too far, Mr. Greengrass said, "I'd be careful if I were you, Draco."

Draco turned back around and sneered at the man. "Excuse me?" he asked.

"I know you think you're in love, but many powerful wizards and witches are unhappy with your choice of bride. You don't want a new war to ensue now, do you?"

"I hardly think my marriage will ignite a war."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said Mr. Greengrass, raising his glass to him. "Nice talking to you, Draco."

Draco left him there feeling a bit unsettled. He had seemed pretty sure about the whole war thing but, as much as Draco hated to admit it, he and Hermione were just not that important.

Hermione smiled as he approached. "Is that for me?" she asked, taking a cherry out of the pink drink and eating it. "You weren't embarrassed while ordering it?"

He handed it to her and smiled. "Very."

"What were you talking to Mr. Greengrass about?"

"I'm not exactly sure," he said honestly. "It started out about Astoria, but then he took it to this rather strange place. Where is she, anyway?"

"Still outside with the Weasley's. It isn't going well. The funny thing is, if they just opened their eyes a little they would see Astoria's absolutely perfect for Ron."

"Slytherins aren't the only ones with prejudices."

She frowned. "I'm beginning to see that."

Hermione took Draco's arm and the two of them went to find their table. It wasn't too hard, considering Sophie and Phillip were already sitting at it and chatting animatedly with Neville Longbottom and his girlfriend, Hannah Abbott.

"Oh, hello, Hermione," said Neville, looking skeptically at the way she had her arm linked with Draco's. While he knew they were engaged since he and Hermione both worked at the Ministry and sent owls frequently, he had only ever seen them together once at Harry and Ginny's wedding.

"And Draco," added Hannah, smiling at both of them.

"Evening, Longbottom," said Draco, pulling out Hermione's chair so she could take a seat. He looked at Hannah and smiled. "While I recognize you, love, I'm afraid I don't remember your name. Refresh my memory, will you?"

"That's all right. I'm Hannah," she said, holding out her hand. "We were in the same year but didn't associate much."

"I'm sure that was mostly my fault," he said, taking her hand and kissing it. "Hermione likes to remind me that I was a real git back then. Still am sometimes." He winked.

Hannah blushed and grabbed onto Neville's arm.

Turning to Sophie and Phillip, Hermione said, "You two will never guess what happened. Witch Weekly wants to give Draco their Most Charming Smile award."

Everyone at the table laughed, except Draco, who felt they were all taking a little too much joy in this. "How'd you manage that one, mate?" asked Phillip once his laughter subsided.

"I think the reporter has a little crush on him," said Hermione, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, it's not my fault my smile is so charming."

All around them tables were filling up. After only a few short minutes Harry, Ginny, Ron and Astoria showed up, the latter looking a little teary-eyed.

"Everything all right?" asked Draco as she slumped into the chair beside him.

"Don't ask," she said under her breath.

Ron sighed beside her. "I'm really sorry, Stori. I didn't think she'd dare say that out loud."

"But you knew she thought it?"

Ron looked at Ginny who tried to slyly shake her head. "Uh … no?"

"You're a horrible liar." Draco handed Astoria the rest of his drink and she downed it in one gulp. "Thanks," she said, putting down the empty glass.

Ron scowled at him but he just shrugged. There was no way she was going to make it through the rest of this night sober, especially with her father here, so she might as well get plastered now and save herself the trouble later.

The last two people to come over and sit at their table were Luna Lovegood and some wizard none of them had ever seen before. Her plus one. While she did not work at the Ministry, she got invited every year as a guest of the golden trio. Defeating You-Know-Who pretty much gave them free reign to invite whomever they wanted. Hence Sophie and Phillip, who were only here to seek out potential investors.

"Hello everyone," she said in her usual dreamy voice. "This is Rolf Scamander. We work together at the Wizarding Naturalist Conservation Society."

"Scamander," repeated Hermione. "As in Newt Scamander?"

"Yes. He was my grandfather," said Rolf, trying to pull out Luna's chair for her, only to have her dazedly take the empty one beside it. Draco couldn't help but chuckle a little, but one look from Hermione was enough to silence him.

The first part of the annual Ministry Ball was pretty boring. Everyone sat at their assigned tables and ate a mediocre meal. Draco kept noticing Pansy and Blaise gawking at him from a few tables away. Every time they did he would nuzzle in closer to Hermione and nibble at her neck.

Daphne and Goyle were at that table too, as well as Theo Nott and a few other Slytherins, but the rest mainly ignored him. He wasn't even on their radar anymore. Goyle kept a close eye on Astoria though. He didn't like how glossy her eyes looked. Even from a distance he could tell. He looked at Draco once for clarification, who proceeded to nod in the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's table which, coincidentally, was only one over from his own mother and father, who seemed to be having a fairly decent conversation with the Greengrasses, the Goyles, the Crabbes, the Notts, the Parkinsons, and Mrs. Zabini, who was recently widowed. Again.

After dinner was finished there was a small awards ceremony. The only one at their table up for anything was Harry, who had recently gone from Auror in training to full-fledged Auror. He won his award, of course, which was for exemplary work from a new Auror.

When all of the awards were given out, Kingsley went on stage to make a speech. In the midst of it, he suddenly said, "Could I get Hermione Granger to come up here, please?"

Hermione went white. She looked skeptically at Draco before slowly getting out of her chair and walking up the steps to join Kingsley at his podium.

Draco found great joy in how nervous she was. Obviously whatever Kingsley had to say was going to be good. There was no reason for her to look like she was going to pass it. She glanced down at him and caught a glimpse of his smile. Her tense body began to ease.

He smiled wider and mouthed the words, "I love you," to her. She smiled back and finally relaxed.

"Ms. Granger has spent her years since the war working hard in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where she continued her work from her self-made organization in her school years, the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."

Harry and Ron exchanged a look as they recalled their days being forced to work in S.P.E.W. with President Hermione. They were more than happy it was over.

"While house-elves are no longer her only focus, they are still one of the many non-humans to benefit from her work. In less than four years she has completely revamped house-elf labor laws, created a werewolf facility to help new werewolves with their transition, as well as providing Werewolves Anonymous meetings, and most recently worked with the Gurg of the giant community to help establish their laws and organization. Of course, these are not all of her accomplishments, but there are simply too many to name."

Hermione blushed as Kingsley kept going on about how great she was. She was fairly modest and more than eager for him to make his point already.

"That being said, I would like to take this time to offer Ms. Granger a new position in the Ministry. One that can only be filled by someone as gifted and determined as she is."

Hermione's jaw dropped. She looked to Draco who raised his eyebrows at her, looking quite impressed. The Minister of Magic himself had chosen to promote Hermione on stage in front of a great chunk of the wizarding community. That was something to be proud of.

"If she accepts, she will be working directly under me in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. So, what do you say Ms. Granger? Do you accept?"

"O-of course I do!" said Hermione, practically toppling over with excitement. "Thank you so much, Minister!"

Ron's eyes widened. "Hold up. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Does this mean Hermione's going to be our boss?" he asked Harry, who was seated next to him.

"Actually, I believe she is your boss's boss," corrected Draco. "Or maybe your boss's, boss's boss. I'm not really sure of the levels in your department." He grinned and winked at him.

"Wow. She must be the youngest person ever to be offered such a high position. You must be so proud of her, Draco!" beamed Astoria.

Ron and Harry exchanged a look. For years it had always been them who were supposed to be proud of Hermione. It hadn't hit them until now that they would no longer be the ones congratulated for her success.

The majority of the room got to their feet and clapped as several photographers ran up to take photos while Hermione shook Kingsley's hand.

Draco stole a glance back at the Slytherin tables, both young and old, and saw that no one was standing. He thought that maybe Goyle was clapping with his hands underneath the table, but other than that there was no movement. His father turned and locked eyes with him. Draco glared at him until he brought up his hands and started clapping, urging his mother to do the same. She did, but neither of them stood. He accepted that. It would have been social suicide to stand at their table.

Hermione returned to her seat, looking particularly giddy and gave Draco a kiss before sitting back down. The cameras were right there to capture the moment.