AN: I am sooo sorry for the length of time between the last chapter and this one. Ill health and then death in the family were just a few factors that have led to my long hiatus. Hopefully this is me back though and updates will be more frequent.
Not the longest of chapters I am afraid, and yet another view of the ball. We move on with the next chapter though, and it will include a trip to Malfoy Manor.
Ginevra Molly Weasley was fuming, sat at an opulent table between Harry and Hermione, being ignored and made to feel like she was insignificant. She couldn't believe that they had been so friendly with the Malfoy's of all people and had sent her away as if she was just anyone. She glared at the silverware in front of her, as if it was the source of all her problems before mentally yelling at herself not to take their attitude. Resolutely sitting up on her chair she plastered a smile on her face and pretended to listen to the conversation around her, all the while working out how she was going to turn this situation to her advantage.
She had dressed in a lovely Gryffindor coloured dress that flattered her figure and was sure to draw eyes, done her makeup flawlessly and styled her hair. She had put a lot of effort into her outfit for the evening when her mother had given her the dress, to make sure that she looked as good as any of the Pureblooded Heiresses that were twittering about. She had to make sure she was the only one who had Harry's attention, her mum had told her that the dress would help, and stop others from trying to get Harry away from her. It would show that they were together her mum had said. Ginny didn't ask her how, if her mum said it would then it was true. She wondered if that was why some of the women had been giving her disparaging looks, they were jealous that she was with Harry. She had considered asking Hermione, but after the display with the Malfoy's she wasn't happy with the elder girl.
She did wonder when Hermione and Harry had become siblings and decided that she would get her answers now. The conversation flowing around her was mostly boring anyway, no gossip from what she had listened to, everyone was talking about the orphanage of all things. She knew that Harry had a soft spot for the orphans and the orphanage was his little pet project to keep himself in the papers and limelight, but he was almost as bad about it as Hermione had been about SPEW.
Knowing that the rest of the table would welcome the reprieve, none of the people at the table really wanted to know about the orphanage after all, she cut in. "Harry, when did you and Hermione become family? Why didn't you tell me?"
Harry took a deep breath before turning to face her, apologising to the rest of the table as he did so. "Ginevra, I was talking, you should know better than to interrupt. My family business is not up for discussion over dinner, and I don't need to inform you of anything I do not wish to."
Ginny almost growled under her breath as he didn't even wait for a response from her before he turned and resumed his previous conversation. She was about to speak and reach for her wand when a hand on her wrist stopped her. She turned to look at Hermione who was looking at her with a reprimanding look on her face that could have rivalled Professor McGonagall.
"Remember yourself." Hermione stated plainly, not speaking further.
Ginny wanted to snarl at her, but she just shook her grip off, she could feel the stares of those at the table she was sat at, even though they were all once again listening to Harry. She could also hear the whispers from some of the surrounding tables, and realised that word of what had just happened was spreading its way around the ballroom.
Ginny groaned internally, she didn't need them all talking about her again, she had enough of that after the last ball. She was getting sick of the hold the Purebloods still seemed to hold over society despite the defeat of Voldemort. She had been talked about and sneered at by the Purebloods for weeks last time, when really they should be thanking her for helping to free them from the tyranny that was He Who Must Not Be Named.
What was worse was that Harry and Hermione seemed to be buying into all the Pureblood nonsense as well, she had even seen Neville and Luna strutting about like the Draco's and Pansy's of their world. Neville was probably just cowing to his domineering grandmother and Luna was probably hoping that one of the Purebloods would pity her and protect her from those who were still bullying her at times for being Loony. Harry and Hermione though, that hurt, that they both seemed to be falling into the same patterns of the snobby Purebloods. Hermione seemed to be wearing at least ten thousand galleons worth of jewellery tonight when the most she used to wear were some studs in her ears and the odd necklace.
She had expected Harry to be the more modern type, coming from the muggle world after all. She expected him to be interested in all the events like wine bar openings and other things like going to the clubs that had opened up after the war was over. Instead he was bringing her to balls were she was expected to know which fork and spoon to use and not speak unless spoken to. Even then the conversation was stagnant and boring, the dancing much worse.
She did enjoy getting to dress up for the balls, but that was about it, there was no other enjoyment to them. She spent the rest of the evening just wishing that the ball was over and thinking of ways to make Harry realise that the way he was treating her was unacceptable. She reasoned that she wouldn't do anything else at the ball as she didn't trust anyone not to distort what happened and spread rumours and lies about her. She also wanted to get her mum's opinion on the situation, she always had good ideas about how to handle relationships and boys.
Harry didn't know it yet, but Ginny was not going to allow him to walk all over her any longer. This was the last ball that she was going to attend with him and just sit and look pretty like arm candy. She was more than that, and she was going to show him and all the Purebloods, just how much more than a trophy she was. And if they didn't like that a woman was being more than just a quiet little decoration, well tough they would just have to get used to it.