After the incident with the troll, Ron and Hermione stopped fighting
and actually gave being friends a chance. That isn't to say that they
didn't argue – Harry didn't think anything would ever stop that from
happening – but they were much nicer to each other and insults
were now quite rare. Harry was glad. Ron had quickly become his
best friend, while he had formed a friendship of sorts with Hermione,
always enjoying discussing various topics with her, and he was quite
happy that he could do both at the same time now. He found that it
also made time move faster, with classes and studying going more
smoothly, and so he was surprised when November quickly passed,
and it was only two weeks until the Christmas holidays.
"I'm such an idiot!" He said one morning during breakfast as he
joined Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table. "I should have
gotten these to you weeks ago! Here." He handed them each a
rather fancy looking envelope and their confusion turned to shock
when they saw the seal.
"This is from the Ministry of Magic!" Exclaimed Hermione as she
carefully opened the letter, Ron doing the same, though with much
less care.
Dear Miss Granger,
You are cordially invited to the annual Christmas Ball at the Ministry
of Magic this holiday season. The Christmas Ball, a tradition since
the Ministry's founding in 1707, is in celebration of the Winter
Solstice and the rebirth of light and magic as we enter a new year.The ball will be held on the solstice, December 21st, at 8:00pm.
Dress is formal, dress robes preferred, though muggle formal wear is
acceptable. Please arrive through the visitor's entrance in the public
washrooms across from Dover House in Whitehall, London, and
present this invitation upon arrival.
The Minister for Magic looks forward to welcoming you to the
Ministry!
"The entrance to the Ministry of Magic is in a loo?" Hermione asked,
her nose scrunched up in distaste.
"Yeah, but it's not really a loo." Said Harry. "That's just another
deterrent for muggles. There are all these wards around it, and you
have to be a witch or wizard to pass through. Once you do there's
this little antechamber where security is and then you enter the
Ministry proper."
"It's all underground, you see." Added Ron. His dad worked at the
Ministry and he'd been there several times over the years. "To hide
from the muggles. But it doesn't look like it's underground. There's
this wicked spell that makes it look like it's above ground and the
Magical Maintenance Department can change the weather to
whatever they want. Dad said that one time when they wanted a pay
raise there were hurricanes for two months straight!" Harry chuckled
remembering when that had happened. Cornelius had complained
about it quite a lot and eventually had given in just to see some
sunshine again.
"That all sounds fascinating." Said Hermione. "Seeing the Ministry of
Magic is quite the opportunity. Thank you for the invitation, Harry."
"Yeah, thanks mate." Said Ron. "Just one question though, are we
going to be the only kids there?" Ron knew it was quite the honour to
be invited to the Ministry's Christmas Ball. It was usually only the
wealthy and powerful within wizarding society who managed to get
their hands on an invitation, at least that's what his dad had said."No." Said Harry. "There'll be lots of people our age. The ball
became a sort of family affair once I started going. Cornelius wanted
me there to show me off, but knew it'd look odd if only one child was
there, so he invited other children as well, and now it's expected that
you bring your family with you. I do have to warn you though, it will
mostly be the Slytherins who are there." The three looked over to the
Slytherin table and spotted Malfoy holding court with the other first
years, and several older students as well; his family held such
prestige and power that many wanted to get in with him. "Anyways,
your parents are invited too, Ron, and your brothers and sister." Now
he turned to Hermione and looked quite embarrassed. "I couldn't
invite your parents, Hermione, I'm so sorry! I promise it's nothing
against them, there's just not a way to work around the wards at the
Ministry to allow two muggles in without tearing the wards apart."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but Harry rushed on. "You can
come with me though, Aldora said she'd pick you up at your parents'
house so we can arrive together." Hermione smiled.
"Thank you, Harry, for thinking of me. I knew when I decided to come
to Hogwarts that I'd be entering a different world and that my parents
couldn't really be a part of it. So, while it is a bit sad, I'm not offended
that my parents can't go." Harry looked relieved and finally dug into
his breakfast.
-H/GThe end of term came quickly and December 21st arrived with much
panic and chaos in the Fudge household. Harry had just arrived
home last night, term only ending on Friday, December 20th, and
Aldora was in a right state as she tried to welcome him home,
ensure they were all properly kitted out for the ball that night, and
deal with several other issues that always arose beforehand. By five
o'clock, as she finally retired to her room to get ready, she was run
ragged, but still managed to look refreshed when she emerged
almost three hours later.
"A vision, my dear, as always." Said Cornelius, giving his wife a kiss.
"Are we all set then?""Yes, I'll go pick up Harry's little friend and we'll meet you in the
atrium at ten to eight, sharp." She confirmed. "Harry, stop pulling at
your bowtie, you'll undo it!"
"That's what I'm trying to do, it's too tight." He complained. Aldora
tsked but dutifully waved her wand and the bowtie untied and retied
itself.
"Better?"
"Much, thank you." Aldora nodded and bid them goodbye before
apparating away to get Hermione, while Cornelius took Harry by the
hand and apparated them to the Ministry. The ladies joined them
only a couple minutes later and Aldora took her place next to
Cornelius, while Harry took Hermione's hand and led her to stand
next to them.
"Receiving line." He explained. "We have to welcome all the guests
as they arrive."
"Oh!" Hermione gasped. "Well, I should not be here then, it's your
family-"
"No, you're staying with me." He interrupted firmly. "You're not
leaving my side until Ron gets here. There'll be too many people who
hate muggles and I'm not leaving you to their mercy." Hermione
nodded timidly. She'd read, of course, that there were those in
wizarding society who disliked muggles and muggleborns, believing
they were beneath them, but she'd yet to really meet any. Guests
started arriving then and Hermione could see that Harry was very
comfortable with the role he had to play and was very charming,
dazzling many he talked to. Each time he introduced Hermione as
his good friend, and top student in their year at Hogwarts, and by the
twelfth or thirteenth person she greeted, Hermione began to relax a
little. She was put on high alert though when Harry tensed beside
her, and she could see why."Lucius, Narcissa, and young Draco, of course, welcome!" Cornelius
greeted the Malfoys warmly, as did Aldora, though Harry was much
more reserved.
"Mr. Malfoy." He was the picture of perfect etiquette and manners,
smiling as he had for each guest, but he was not trying to charm
them as he had the others, and Hermione heard the coldness in his
tone. She'd known, of course, of his rivalry with Draco, but aside
from an insult here and there, the two ignored each other at school,
and she knew nothing about his relationship with Draco's parents.
"Mrs. Malfoy, welcome." He took her hand and kissed the back of it,
as he had several of the ladies that night, though it was clear he was
choosing about whom he greeted in such a manner. "May I introduce
my good friend Hermione Granger? She is also top of our year at
Hogwarts."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." She decided to
copy Harry and greeted them formally with a smile.
"Likewise, I'm sure." Lucius' drawl was anything but sincere, but
Hermione ignored it. Mrs. Malfoy didn't even deign to speak to
Hermione and the two turned back to converse with Cornelius and
Aldora, leaving them with the youngest Malfoy.
"Potter." Draco sneered
"Malfoy." The two didn't even pretend to be cordial with each other,
knowing from experience that the adults were sufficiently distracted.
"Granger." Draco's sneer deepened.
"Malfoy." She greeted rather dismissively, and heard Harry snigger
beside her.
"Can't believe they even let you in, given your…heritage." Harry
stiffened again but Hermione didn't let it bother her."And I'm shocked that your ego even fit through the door." Draco
snarled and was about to retort, but the adults' attention was back on
them.
"He would be delighted, Minister." They heard Mrs. Malfoy say as
they turned towards them.
"Excellent! Hermione, dear, I know how dull and tedious standing
here must be for you, so Draco has kindly agreed to escort you
inside until Harry can rejoin you."
"I'd much rather Hermione stayed with me." Harry said at once.
"Nonsense, Harry, you are all friends here. It will be much more fun
for Hermione to be with her classmate." Harry gritted his teeth and
knew Malfoy was doing the same.
"Of course." He ground out turning to Hermione. "I'm so sorry." He
whispered.
"It's alright." She replied. Seeing that the adults' attention was once
again not on them as they bid their goodbyes, Harry turned to Draco.
"You better be on your best behaviour, Malfoy. If you hurt Hermione
in any way, I swear to Merlin you'll regret it." Draco smirked, seeing
that his rival was clearly upset.
"We'll see, Potter." He held out his arm for Hermione who reluctantly
took it.
"We will both be cordial to each other, Draco," Hermione declared.
"Or it is not Harry you'll have to worry about. I have no qualms about
sticking my foot where it will hurt the most if you're anything but a
gentleman." Draco's smirk disappeared and the two followed the
Malfoy parents into the ball room proper. Harry spent another fortyfive minutes greeting what must be every person in the wizarding
world who held even a modicum of influence. There were several
other Slytherins and their parents, as well as Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff and his fellow Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom who arrived
with his formidable grandmother. Finally though, the people he had
been waiting for arrived.
"Arthur, welcome, welcome, we're so glad you could come."
Cornelius greeted a redheaded man and his wife before moving on
to the three children they'd brought with them. Eventually they made
it down the line to Harry and Ron smiled brightly at him.
"Hiya, Harry."
"Hey, Ron."
"These are my parents, by the way, Arthur and Molly."
"Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley it's a pleasure to finally meet you." He
greeted, kissing Mrs. Weasley's hand.
"You as well, Mr. Potter."
"Harry, please." He waved off the formality and turned to the other
two Weasley siblings. One was Percy, a fifth year Gryffindor prefect,
whom he greeted happily, though the other he'd never met; she
seemed quite shy, sticking to Percy's side like glue.
"This is my sister, Ginny." Ron introduced a bit dismissively, as an
eleven-year-old boy would of their little sister.
"Miss Weasley." He greeted, kissing the back of her hand as well.
Her faced flushed a deep red and Harry wasn't sure what to do now,
so he settled for smiling and turned back to Ron.
"You have to go rescue Hermione. She's with Malfoy as an escort."
Ron's face twisted into a look of anger and disgust and he nodded,
practically pulling his parents away from the receiving line so he
could go find Hermione. Harry was stuck standing there for another
fifteen minutes before Cornelius decided it was acceptable to
disperse. He rushed off then, looking for Ron and Hermione in the sea of people, barely remembering his manners as people greeted
him again, as if they hadn't just talked with him in the receiving line.
He knew they wanted more time with him, or rather with The Boy
Who Lived, for they always did, but he wasn't about to indulge them
this time. Finally he located his friends and was glad to see that Ron
had successfully rescued Hermione. They were standing with Neville
off to the side of the dance floor and Harry quickly joined them.
"Was Malfoy alright?" Was the first thing he asked.
"Yes. He did as the Minister asked and stayed with me until Ron
found us. We didn't really talk or do anything but kind of just stood
behind his parents as they talked with people." Harry breathed a sigh
of relief.
"Good. I was worried he'd be his usual self."
"You should have told me Hermione was with Malfoy, Harry." Neville
spoke up. "I would have rescued her too." He seemed a little put out,
but not overly so. Harry had known Neville for years. The
Longbottom family was an old one and Neville and his grandmother
always attended the Christmas Ball and other Ministry events, but
he'd never really gotten a chance to make friends with the other boy.
Although Mrs. Longbottom, Neville's grandmother, was well
respected by all, she had never truly recovered from the loss of her
son when Neville was baby and had let the family's standing fall just
a bit too much for Cornelius to deem Neville an acceptable friend.
"Sorry, Neville." He replied sincerely. Sharing a dorm at Hogwarts
he'd gotten to know Neville better and considered him a friend now,
though he was not close enough to join the trio that he, Ron and
Hermione had formed. "So no twins tonight?" He then changed the
subject.
"No." Ron laughed. "Mum deemed them too much of a liability to
attend. She was convinced they'd pull some prank on high ranking
Ministry officials and then Dad would lose his job or something.""It probably wouldn't go that far." Said Harry. "But no doubt they'd
pull a prank." The four Gryffindors continued to chat throughout the
night, pausing only for the odd interruption of someone wanting to
talk to Harry. He did so politely every time, but ended the meeting as
quickly as possible and he didn't once make any rounds and further
charm the important guests. Cornelius would be disappointed, but
Harry didn't care. For once he was having a good time at this thing
and he wasn't about to end that.