Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

All mistakes are mine. Sorry.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays.

Music is my Muse:
Song for this chapter: Firework; Katy Perry
Lyric of choice: You just got to ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night…

Love of a Mate

Chapter 20
Belle for a Ball

Once again Hermione was standing in front of a mirror with Ginny behind her looking at herself in awe.

"What am I wearing?"

Ginny smirked. "A perfectly lovely ball gown."

"Ginny," she said shaking her head in mild horror.

Ginny laughed. "So it has bell sleeves, a lot of lace, and is pink. It is lovely."

Hermione groaned and turned looking at the low cut creation. It had a deep V neck line both in the front and the back and she had never felt so exposed although thanks to magic everything was covered and she knew her breasts would stay perky and in place. Sticking charms, got to love them, but still.

"Is this decent?" She asked looking down at the deep V around her bust.

Ginny snorted. "You prude, of course it is decent."

Narcissa walked in and stopped her hand going to her mouth. "Oh, oh it looks so much better than I ever imagined."

Narcissa was in a champagne dress robes and looked incredible with her hair flowing around her face and her makeup done to perfection.

Hermione gave a small smile. "Um, it's very daring, isn't it?"

Narcissa nodded walking around and playing with the full skirt of the dress and smiling softly. "Blush Pink, it's such a lovely color, I knew it would look fantastic on you. I worked with a Muggle born designer out of France, we combined different elements to come up with the gown. All handmade lace too."

Ginny grinned and ducked out. "I have to go dress, my dress is pale blue and I am in loooooveee." She sang as she rushed out.

Narcissa smiled after the redhead and turned back pulling out three velvet sacks from pockets in her robes. "I – well I went to our vaults and I took the liberty of picking out some pieces for tonight."

Hermione swallowed but nodded as Narcissa pulled out a pearl, diamond, and ruby tiara. "Oh my God." She said staring at the work of art in her mother in laws hands.

Narcissa smirked and waved her wand so that the tiara flew into her hair which was in a beautiful elaborate French twist with curls around her face. Hermione turned to look in the mirror her eyes as wide as saucers as Narcissa pulled out earrings that matched and a stunning diamond and ruby necklace with a large single pearl at the end that ended at the deep V in her bodice. She knew somehow Narcissa had planned that perfectly.

Narcissa wiped at her eyes and shook her head studying the young witch in front of her. "Stunning, you will leave everyone breathless."

Hermione went pink and then sighed. "I really only wish to leave my husband breathless."

Narcissa looked up and her smile was radiant. "Oh, he might trip over himself when he sees you. Now, did you put the cushioning charm on your shoes, dear?"

Hermione nodded and took a deep breath. "Are you going to finally tell me just how many people you invited to this ball?"

Narcissa shook her head laughing. "No, now sit down and collect yourself and in half hour head down the stairs to knock the wind out of my son. He is pacing waiting for you."

Hermione grinned. "Only thing I like about this ball is the fact that you kept him away for the day, his ranting in my head about it has been vastly amusing until I finally had to block him out."

Narcissa snorted. "He needs to let you have girl time, silly wizard. Now, take a seat and enjoy the peace and quiet."

Hermione sank down onto the cushioned bench and stared at herself in the mirror as her mother in law rushed out humming to herself.

"I look like a princess." She said staring into the mirror.

"You are a princess."

Hermione turned around on a gasp and laughed. "Harry Potter, how did you get in here?"

Harry walked forward and grinned. "Snuck in, Ginny kicked me out so she could get ready and your husband is in a snit."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "He hasn't seen me in twelve hours."

Harry laughed and walked over looking her over whistling. "Wow, Hermione."

She fidgeted with her bell sleeves. "I know, will anyone even recognize me?"

Harry smiled at her and pulled up a chair. "Sure they will, how is married life treating you?"

Hermione sighed dreamily. "Wonderfully, Draco is still a pain, but I love him."

Harry smiled and leaned back. "Ginny and I are thinking about eloping like you two did."

Hermione gave him a long look. "Molly Weasley will avada you if you do."

Harry grimaced. "Yeah, but man wedding planning is driving me to drink."

Hermione picked up a hair brush and threw it at him. "You can suck it up! Ginny is their only daughter."

Harry caught the hair brush with his seeker reflexes and grinned. "True enough. So, you ready for all this? I know you don't like crowds and especially large crowds of purebloods."

Hermione shuddered. "Do you know how many people are here?"

Harry nodded. "I would guess at least a thousand. The Ball Room is ten times its normal size and I saw three foreign Ministers and I am pretty sure a Muggle Princess."

Hermione went white. "No!"

Harry shrugged. "Yep, and every one of them is as dolled up as you. Although you will outshine them all." He grinned. "Well, maybe not my Ginny."

Hermione took a long deep breath. "I don't think I can do this, Harry."

Harry snorted. "Course you can, you are Hermione Jean Granger, brightest witch of our age."

She grinned. "That's Malfoy now."

Harry nodded standing up. "It is, you are a Malfoy, but you are still a Gryffindor. Stand up and go out there and show them what a Gryffindor Malfoy is made of, Hermione. Don't you let any of those purebloods look down on you tonight. It's your ball after all."

Hermione felt her spine stiffen and then laughed. "Ginny sent you in here to give me a pep talk didn't she?"

Harry flushed and then shrugged. "We both decided you needed a reminder that you out witted moldy pants, you can do anything, Hermione. Come on, go and put your wizard out of his misery and hold your head up high and smile. I always smile at these things, it confuses them."

Hermione burst into laughter. "Oh Harry, I love you."

He nodded at her. "I would hug you but you look too pretty and I am afraid I would mess something up with your gown and your mother in law is terrifying."

Hermione laughed again and after a quick check of her appearance nodded. "Okay, I got this."

Harry bowed to her. "My work here is done."

OooOooOOooOO

Draco was pacing in his dress robes cursing that his damn wife was so good at occlumency because once again she was shutting him out because she didn't want him to bug her. He rubbed his hands over his thighs and shook his head.

His mother had double crossed them, small Ball indeed. There were at least a thousand people in his house right now. He had seen the crush in the ballroom that had been extended magically to fit the huge mass of wizarding public drinking wine and champagne while they waited for Draco and Hermione to make their grand entrance.

He didn't doubt that Hermione could handle herself but he hated that she was about to be thrown into the deep end of being a Malfoy bride. His mother was avoiding him because she knew how upset he was.

"Draco, you will wear a hole in the floor."

He stopped mid thought and looked up all the breath leaving his body as he saw his mate. She was in some kind of blush pink gown, lots of lace, dripping in jewels and smiling at him as if they were about to go to a private dinner. Utter happiness radiated off her and she was beautiful, Merlin she was stunning.

He raced up to her and took her hand, kissing her palm before he drank her in like wine and smiled his first smile all day as he breathed in her scent.

"Merlin, what has mother done to you, my heart?"

Hermione laughed. "She has finally gotten her greatest wish, she has dressed a daughter for a Ball."

Draco felt his lips twitch before he threw back his head and laughed and leaned forward to kiss the side of her mouth.

"I love you."

She leaned into him pressing her cheek to his her breathing accelerated. "As I love you. Shall we?"

Draco nodded and stepped back taking her small hand and placing it on his arm. They saw Harry and Ginny standing with his mother by the doors as they turned into the hallway leading to the ball.

Narcissa was wiping at her eyes with a handkerchief as a wizarding photographer took pictures and there was a loud gong as a booming voice introduced the new couple.

Ginny winked at them. "Give them hell you two."

Narcissa winced at the language but then grinned and waved them forward.

Hermione took a deep breath and looked up at her mate smiling as he smiled down at her.

"Ready, my heart?" He whispered into her head.

"Always, I will always be ready to take on the world with you." She replied watching his eyes dilate with desire at her words.

And so to the gasps of the thousand guests, Draco and Hermione Malfoy swept into the room with eyes only for one another and onto the dance floor, officially starting the ball.

OooOOooO

An hour later and Hermione could feel her smile start to fade a bit, mostly because her cheeks hurt. She was dancing with Theodore Nott, one of the few Slytherin wizards she had never had problems with in school but he was, different now.

"Theo, how are you enjoying your job at the ministry?" Hermione asked as they twirled to a waltz trying to engage him in conversation.

Theo gave her a large smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I enjoy it rather a lot. How are you enjoying marriage?"

Hermione smiled and ducked her head as she blushed. "It's lovely, you should try it."

She felt his hand tighten on hers and looked up to see rage cross his face before he was smiling at her again and twirling her around the dance floor.

Three dances later she was back in Draco's arms and still a bit puzzled by her three-minute dance with Theo Nott. "Draco, have you kept in touch with Theo?"

"Nott?"

She nodded as they moved across the floor and he frowned. "Not recently, about a year ago, I think, he kind of stopped socializing, to be honest."

Hermione bit her lip trying to think of the last time she had seen him and coming up blank. "You know, he used to come to our functions regularly and was, well not a friend, but friendly. I think it's been over a year since I saw him before tonight too."

Draco twirled her and sighed. "I can see that brain of yours working overtime, what is it?"

She shook her head. "He just seemed different."

"People change, my heart."

Hermione sighed and looked up at him reaching up to touch his cheek. "Yes, that is true." She said thinking of how much he had changed in their life.

He leaned into her touch and looked around. "Did you get a chance to eat yet?"

Hermione laughed. "No, I have been dancing, shall we go raid the cake table?"

Draco grinned down at her sweeping her off the floor and tucking her into his side. "Yes, I think we should."

OoOoOoOoO

Ginny sighed as she watched her best friend laughing as she allowed Draco to feed her a piece of cake.

"They are too adorable."

Harry turned and smirked. "Yeah, that's a word for it."

Ginny elbowed him and looked around. "I think Narcissa honestly invited the entire wizarding world."

Harry nodded. "From five countries. Hey is that Krum?"

Ginny tried to look over the crowd and then started waving. "It is!"

Viktor Krum saw the madly waving woman and then the wizard next to her and smiled moving his blond date over towards them.

"Hey Krum," Harry said holding out his hand.

Viktor took it. "This is my date, Helena DuMont."

Ginny smiled at the stunning blond who was smiling shyly at them. "Hello," she said holding out her hand to Ginny who took it.

"Oh, you are French like my sister in law."

Helena nodded. "Yes, I knew Fleur in school. I hope she is well?"

"Viktor!"

Harry laughed. "Heads up, here she comes."

Viktor just barely had time to step back and catch the witch in pink lace who flew at him a large smile on his face. He nodded at the blond behind her who looked annoyed.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Malfoy."

Draco sighed. "Krum."

Ginny giggled. "This is Viktor's date, Helena."

Draco bowed at the blond before he let out a small growl at his wife who was still hugging the large Bulgarian wizard. "Okay, enough of that Hermione."

Hermione winked at Helena and stepped back taking Draco's hand to soothe him. "Viktor is the only person I actually invited that is not family, pardon me if I am excited I found him in this crowd."

Helena smiled up at her date who was flushing. "I am happy to be here," Viktor said formally.

Hermione waved him off and turned to Helena grabbing her hand and then Ginny's. "I have heard so much about you Helena, come on let's go find some champagne. I adore your dress, you didn't wear robes? Brave of you on Viktor's arm the press are always hounding about him finding a 'traditional witch' to settle down with-."

Viktor sighed stepping up to stand next to the raven haired and blond wizards who were shaking their heads as the witches left.

"Vill she return my date?" Viktor asked curiously.

Harry laughed as Draco sighed. "Eventually, whiskey?"

Both wizards nodded and they all headed off.

OoOoOo

Four hours later Hermione sank down in exhaustion as the last guest left and looked over at her small crowd of friends who were staying behind, happy to see that Viktor had taken up Draco's offer to stay over and had a sleeping Helena in his lap. Ginny was dozing with her head on Harry's shoulder and Ron was sleeping with his head in his dates lap, a ministry witch named Violet that Hermione had actually liked. Blaise Zabini who had come solo was drinking talking with Harry who was also awake and still drinking.

The rest of the Weasley family was asleep somewhere in the Manor, as were a few distinguished guest, including, as Harry had said, one Muggle Princess of some kind who was related somehow to the Malfoy family and knew about magic.

Hermione had gotten to speak with her and found her actually lovely, she was looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow.

"Draco, didn't you invite Theo to stay?"

Draco looked up from his conversation with another Slytherin, Marcus Flint, and shrugged. "He said he had an early morning tomorrow and left."

Blaise frowned turning from his conversation. "Is he dating some witch we don't know about?"

Marcus Flint shook his head. "I don't think so, keeps to himself now. He was dating a witch from Russia, not sure what happened there."

Draco frowned and shook his head. "I don't remember that."

Hermione yawned and reached down to take off her shoes. "I am not sure I have ever danced that much."

Ginny peeked an eye open and nodded. "Same, even with the cushioning charms on the heels my feet are beat."

Ron snored and everyone giggled as Violet smirked. "I think I better wake him up and get him to his bed."

Draco shook his head. "No need, a house elf can tuck him in."

Hermione rolled her eyes as her husband called for one and the little elf left with Ron leaving Violet to stand up and take off her own heels. "I am pretty knackered myself." The pretty redheaded witch said.

Blaise stood up. "I can escort you to your room, it's a big house."

Violet flushed. "Um, thank you."

"Player," Draco said once the two had left.

Ginny giggled as Harry shook his head. "Ron won't mind, they are just friends."

Hermione sighed. "Really? I was hoping it was more."

Harry smirked at her. "It's Ronald, Hermione."

She rolled her eyes and watched as Viktor stood up with Helena, bidding everyone good night before he called for his own elf, who escorted them away to their room.

"Does he travel with a house elf?" Ginny asked sitting up and stretching.

Hermione nodded with a slight frown. "Hmm, yes, he has trust issues. His elf makes sure his food isn't tampered with and such."

Harry looked shocked and then grimaced tossing back the rest of his drink. "Man, that would suck to always have to worry about such things."

Marcus Flint shrugged standing up. "He's still the best seeker in the world. Wouldn't put it past a rival team to try and take him out with poison or something."

Ginny grinned wickedly. "And the best looking, more likely witches are passing him love potions."

Harry looked over at her and started tickling her. "I heard that, cheeky witch."

Everyone was laughing as they broke up and headed upstairs leaving poor Ginny to make it up to her wizard.

OooOoooOOooOOoO

That night after an elf had helped her undress and she snuggled in Draco's arms she smiled thinking that life couldn't possibly get more perfect. She yawned and tucked her feet into his legs ignoring his slight hiss at how cold they were.

"Happy?" He whispered moving her hair so that he could kiss her neck.

"Yes, very. No more big balls are in my near future."

Draco chuckled causing her to shiver. "Go to sleep, we have guests to entertain in the morning."

Hermione yawned and fell asleep surrounded by her mate.

Author Notes:
If you saw the video of Duchess Catherine's dress for the State Banquet for the King and Queen of Spain this week, that is the dress I picture Hermione in. I will try to find a decent shot of it to put on my Instagram. Picture the same jewels just add rubies to the tiara and earrings and a large pearl to the necklace.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I left the ballroom decor out on purpose. I kind of wanted you all to have a blank slate to imagine the Ball you would want if you could have one.

All mistakes are mine, per usual.

Instagram: Crystaljeanred

Cheers,

Cjean