Again I must apologise for the amount of time it has taken for an update :( I have been rather busy with real life and finding time to write hasn't been easy. I am now completely switched over to my new laptop though, with all my writing files backed up in two other locations, and that new key on the laptop feel means they just need to be broken in, so hopefully I will get the chance to and updates won't be so few and far between.
Harry apparated to the Burrow to collect Ginny for the Ministry's Charity Ball, hoping that the evening would go well, he didn't need another mishap like Ginny shouting to him across a room to get his attention. He hoped that Ginny had thought about her actions after the gossip that had been flying around Diagon Alley about that incident, he supposed he would find out this evening.
Mrs Weasley opened the door and pulled him into a bone crushing hug before allowing him into the kitchen properly. "Ginny will be down in a moment Harry dear, she is just finishing her hair."
Harry nodded politely, and began to talk to Mrs Weasley about her day, subtly checking his watch to check the time so he could keep an eye on how long Ginny was making him wait. When she finally came down the stairs he had been talking with her mother for a good five minutes. Harry knew that making him wait was a ploy on Ginny's part to make him appreciate her more, to appreciate how long she had spent getting ready for him, the only thing it did though was irritate him. He didn't voice his irritation though, knowing that it would fall on deaf ears or be met with excuses.
When Ginny had finally arrived in the kitchen Harry had been startled by her choice of outfit, both women taking his gobsmacked expression to mean that he liked her dress. Mrs Weasley then ushered them out the door before Harry could actually comment or send Ginny back upstairs to change. He couldn't believe how brazen Ginny was being with her dress, wearing one of his colours instead of her own. The tailor that Lucius had recommended had explained all about House Colours, the importance of them and the significance of different people wearing them in different situations.
Ginny wearing one of his House Colours while accompanying him to a ball would imply a serious commitment between them, a contract, engagement, hand fasting or bonding. That she believed he was unaware of this and still wore his colours was as if she was trying to trap him in front of the rest of society. Harry refrained from commenting on her dress choice, he knew it would just start an argument he didn't want to get in to and make them unfashionably late. He would just have to make it known that her clothing choice did not have his approval.
Harry knew that he needed to speak with Hermione almost desperately, he wanted his sister's opinion on the matter to see if it aligned with his own. He was regretting resuming his relationship with Ginny once the war had ended, they both seemed to have different priorities these days. Harry was focused on the orphanage, his Mastery and learning what was required of him due to his Lordships. Ginny however seemed to be trying to take him away from all of that, she was aiming to turn him into some sort of social butterfly, trying to get him to go to events he had no interest in, and get him to propose to her. The only things they had in common really was their love of quiddich and the Weasley family, not really the basis for a relationship.
He put thoughts of breaking up with Ginny out of his head as he took her arm and apparated them to the Ministry. Entering the ballroom he was unsurprised that many people had already arrived, scanning the room he caught sight of several noteworthy figures, all the Matriarchs were there already, Lucius had arrived, Hermione was there talking with Neville, and the majority of them all turned to take note of his and Ginny's entrance. Harry could hear the comments passing around the room about their outfits and he could tell that while his outfit was met with approval Ginny's had creating a lot of questioning amongst the rest of the guests.
Before Harry could decided which way to go into the ballroom, whether to make his way straight to the Matriarchs to bid them good evening, or move towards Hermione to collect her first, the decision was taken out of his hands by the approach of Narcissa Black. The daughter of his House was dressed in a lovely gown in a deep purple that worked well with her complexion and tied her to the House of Black.
Narcissa curtseyed to him and greeted him as the Lord of her Birth House , barely acknowledging Ginny at his side before asking for some of his time to introduce him to some people and resolve a family issue. Seeing no problem with this he agreed, having seen her look towards Lucius and another man, whom he assumed was her lover that Lucius had mentioned once, he realised that it was probably an issue concerning Narcissa herself rather than him or the Black family in general.
He steered Ginny further into the ballroom and off to the side as Narcissa moved away to collect the two men. Ginny spent the whole time waiting for Narcissa to return moaning about not being acknowledged and about why they were speaking with Narcissa Malfoy anyway, completely ignoring the fact that the woman was no longer a Malfoy, but a Black. She didn't even acknowledge Hermione as she joined them, she was dressed in a stunning gown of silver that clung to her frame in all the right ways, not being too revealing, but accentuating her figure.
Harry didn't say it while they were waiting for Narcissa to return, but he couldn't help but wonder how big a fit Ginny was going to pitch when Narcissa asks her to excuse herself so they can discuss a family matter. He was sure that it wouldn't be pretty, Ginny wouldn't even think about where she was or the company she was in and it would be her own downfall. Harry knew that she would never be accepted into society the way she acted, and he didn't believe that he had either the patience or the inclination to change her behaviour. One thing he did know was that he wasn't intending to allow her behaviour to reflect badly on him for much longer.