Chapter 32:

Draco didn't know what to say, she was simply breath taking; she was lightly biting on her lower lip, her eyes focused on the floor just in front of his feet. She could feel his eyes roaming over her form as he and his son both stood from their seated position, as decorum dictates.

"Don't they look stunning," Narcissa's voice sounded from the other side of Hermione as she too walked into the room. "The true belle of the ball, no?"

When neither Malfoy made to speak, Narcissa raised her eye brow at her grandson, seeing that her own son was flummoxed for words, "Ye- yes Ms. Granger and Rose look very pretty in their evening attire," Scorpius stuttered over his words slightly, looking to his father for guidance on what more to say, though he didn't get any.

Having glanced briefly up from the floor in front of Draco's feet to the man's face Hermione switched her gaze to his son noticing his bowtie was hanging loosely around his neck. "Do you need some assistance with your bowtie Scorpius?"

The young boy enthusiastically nodded his head as he met Hermione's gaze, "Please, it's more complicated that it appears"

"There's a knack for it you see, you have to make sure it hangs about two inches further down on your left hand side than it does your right." Scorpius adjusted it, listening intently to Hermione's instructions. "Now cross the shorter side under the longer one, now where the two sections cross on your neck will determine how tight the bow will be." Diligently the boy followed the instruction again, "Long end under the short end and pull up towards your chin. Now this is where it gets tricky, you have to double up the shorter end and hold it under your chin so it looks like a bowtie. Now take the longer side and drop it over the top of the bow. Yes just like that Scorp." The boy smiled as he felt himself getting over the harder sections. "Whilst holding the bow with one hand take the other strand and loop it around the back of the tie so it's towards your left shoulder." Hermione briefly paused as the boy did as bade before she was telling him the final instruction, "Simply push it through the knot in the middle to form the bow and when you pull it will tighten."

"I did it!" Scorpius exclaimed as he glanced down at his rather raggedy bow tie.

"And you look very handsome in your tuxedo Scorpius, both you and your father do."

"It looks a bit messy does it not? But I did it, I was not convinced when father said we were dressing in tuxedos rather than Wizard dress robes but they are so much lighter and cooler for this time of year."

The sound of a cane hitting the floor alerted the group to the arrival of Lucius, "Come now Scorpius we do not wish to be late for this gala do we."

"No Grandfather."

"Right so Lucius and I will step through first then Scorpius you accompany Rose and make sure to get yourself a drink when you arrive. Draco and Hermione can follow up behind because Draco still needs to fix his own bowtie." Narcissa announced as she stepped forward to take her husband's offered arm; the pair walking to the hearth seconds later.

It was only as Hermione and Draco found themselves alone and she had begun tying his bowtie did Draco finally find his voice, "You look breath taking Hermione." He gently placed his hands on her hips as he spoke the words.

Letting go of the two tie strands Hermione placed her hands over his hesitating before pushing them away, "I was beginning to think you were having second thoughts about your investment."

"My investments are rarely ever misled, perhaps misguided but always worth it." He smirked as he allowed her to remove his hands from the intimate setting they had found.

"We should get going, people will be beginning to wonder what sordid affair we are getting up to when our children arrive at the function and yet we are nowhere in sight." She finished tying his bowtie and accepted his arm as they walked towards the hearth mirroring his parents' earlier action.

As the hearth's flame calmed down the pair were blinded by the flashing lights of a camera as they entered the Ministry party foyer.

Draco took a menacing step towards the cameraman in order to get his hands on the offensive camera.

However, he was stopped from taking the second step by the Gryffindor at his side as she tugged his arm, along with the sharp calling of his given name. Shortly before she began conversing with said cameraman. "You're not planning to get us into trouble are you Dennis?"

"Oh no Hermione, though some of the pictures may be used for advertising should you allow it. Apart from that I'm selling the photographs to raise money for the Creevey Foundation," the man behind the camera smiled warmly in the brunette's direction.

"Well you are not going to have many people buying them if you catch them unawares," Draco's haughty style of voice announced causing him to be winded by a sharp elbow from Hermione.

"I apologise Mr. Malfoy, I- erm, well I think photographs in action are better than those in situ"

"I believe that is all dependent on the photographer and the subjects," Draco replied quickly.

"Will you allow me to try again with the pair of you?" Dennis asked timidly.

Draco however looked towards Hermione, "One should ask the lady as she is always in charge."

This response caused Dennis to shift his attentions to Hermione just as the blond was doing. It wasn't long before she was sighed and caved, "Just one." Causing a large smirk to grace Draco's features as the pair turned and faced the camera readying their pose then being blinded by the flashing of the bulb.

"Ms. Granger," Scorpius' voice sounded from a distance behind Dennis as he came rushing along the corridor.

"Decorum Scorp, no running." Draco admonished before he resumed chatting to Dennis as the latter showed off the photographs to the blond.

Edited: 30/1/14.