A/N: I know, I know. Three weeks! Turns out I was right about having less time to write with my new schedule. I've tried but I've just been so busy. And it doesn't help that this chapter ended up way longer than I had planned. Sorry!

I'm sure there's some stuff I wanted to say about this story but now I don't remember … Hmm … Oh! While I have no intention of writing a prequel I might throw in a couple chapters with flashbacks to how Rose and Scorpius got together. Is this something you guys are interested in? Let me know!

By the way, did any of you watch the HIMYM finale? I did, unfortunately, and saying I was disappointed is definitely an understatement. I believe Katherine Heigl said it best: "I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich". I feel like I need to take it upon myself to write this whole last season over. WHO'S WITH ME?!

Hermione sat alone in the Minister's office, tapping her feet and fidgeting with her hands while she waited for Kingsley to return with Cormac and Kendall Sheehy, who had decided to make a spontaneous stop at a pub on their way over from the train station.

She was already dressed and suddenly second guessing her outfit choice. While shopping for it, all she could think about was how she wanted to look both sexy and elegant when Draco saw her all dolled up, but it only now occurred to her that Cormac might think this was for him.

The door opened and Hermione stood. Cormac walked in, his eyes trailing down Hermione's body, as she knew they would. Her dress was black lace with a tan underlay. The bodice was fitted, the skirt flowing, the sleeves were capped and it definitely gave her more cleavage than she was used to. And then his eyes lifted back to look at her face, her lips a dark rouge and her hair in ringlets that were pinned at the nape of her neck, with the exception of the few framing her face.

"What?" she asked, looking insecurely down at her dress. "I never know what to wear to these things. Does it look terrible?"

"Definitely not," said Cormac, stepping inside and shutting the door. He was alone.

"Where's Kingsley and Mr. Sheehy?"

"Kendall had to change so he's in the loo."

"How fantastic you succeeded in getting him here on time," said Hermione, rolling her eyes.

"It was just one drink." Cormac took out his mobile. "There was no reason to rush." Something clicked and Hermione just knew he had taken a photo of her.

"Stop that!" she shouted.

"Relax, Hermione, I just want to make sure I remember exactly how you looked on the night you fell in love with me."

"Good luck with that."

The door opened again and Kingsley walked in with a man she recognized from the back of his many book covers as Kendall Sheehy. She suddenly felt a little nervous. While she had heard him speak before, she had never met him. This man was her idol. The epitome of class and elegance, not to mention absolutely brilliant.

"Mr. Sheehy, this is Hermione Weasley," said Kingsley, motioning to her. "She is the one responsible for getting you here tonight."

Kendall looked at her, his eyes wandering a bit more subtly than Cormac's, but wandering, nonetheless.

"Mr. Sheehy, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said, stepping forward.

Kendall held out his left hand, which was a bit odd, but she shook all the same. And then it seemed like his fingers were trailing over hers, one in particular. If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn he was checking for a wedding ring.

"The pleasure's all mine," he said in a silky voice. "I have followed your work for years. Your creation of S.P.E.W. was actually the inspiration for my second book, Equality Should Not - "

" - Be Paired with Animosity ," Hermione finished with him. "Yes, I've read it at least a dozen times."

Kendall smiled, showing off a set of perfect chops. "Have you?"

"Yes, yes, you are both fantastic fans of each other!" said Cormac, stepping between them. "But I do believe people are arriving downstairs and it would be rude of the hosts, not to mention the guest of honor, to keep them waiting." He offered Hermione his arm.

"Well, maybe if you weren't late it wouldn't be a problem," she said, taking it.

Cormac led her out of the room and towards the lift, with Kingsley and Kendall just behind them. Once inside, Hermione handed each of the men the masks she had brought. The Charity Auction and Ball was held on Halloween every year and they always had a different theme. This year was a masquerade. Hermione's mask was made of lace and black to match her dress. Cormac and Kendall's were just a basic black while Kingsley had requested gold.

"Oh, hold on Mr. Sheehy, your tie is crooked," said Hermione, reaching over and fixing it as they rode in the lift.

"Call me Kendall," he said.

She smiled. "All right."

The lift opened and they all stepped into the redesigned atrium, Hermione attached to Cormac's arm again. She saw the Elders instantly, who were watching them closely. Most of their positions had been given from status and wealth. Hermione had always found this method a bit primitive and, while she knew the Elders were here to stay, she vowed to fight the means for becoming an Elder if she ever rose high enough in the Ministry. Her current position, as respected as it was, simply would not cut it. She and Cormac had been primed by Kingsley himself to run this place one day and, when it came down to it, the two of them shared the majority of their beliefs, which was why they worked so well together. While he may have been an egotistical prick, he still fought hard for what he believed in. After all, he had been chosen as a Gryffindor. For some reason.

"I've never understood why they don't like me," Cormac whispered as he led her farther into the room.

"Really? And you won't even venture a guess?" she quipped.

"Funny," he said. "Not everyone can be as perfect as Hermione Granger Weasley."

Cormac grabbed two goblets of wine off of a passing floating tray and handed her one.

As Hermione took her first sip, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her. She turned her head and smiled when she saw him. Draco, standing across the room and looking very debonair in a black suit and tie. And a green mask, of course. Even as Alex, his Hermione approved date for the evening, brushed at his jacket, he did not dare take his eyes off of her, staring her up and down over and over again until his eyes finally landed on hers, returning her smile and mouthing the word, "Beautiful."

Hermione blushed. More than anything, she wanted to go over there and kiss his handsome face. Unfortunately, that was not an option.

"What's he doing here?" asked Cormac, following her eyes to Draco.

"Kingsley invited him," she answered.

"But this is a Ministry function."

"Yes and, thanks to you, he now works with the Ministry. Plus, he's exactly the type of person we want at these things. An impulsive buyer with Galleons to burn."

"Who likes to stare at your arse."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm going to check and see if the press is ready for Kingsley and Mr. Sheehy."

She put her goblet down on a passing tray and walked off towards the outside area of the atrium. Cormac watched Draco watching her for a moment before following after.

On her way out, Hermione passed Blaise, who was walking in with a young, model-esque witch on his arm. He winked at her. She turned and saw that Alexandra noticed him instantly. While she did her best to ignore him, there was no mistaking that her peripherals were hard at work.

Once outside, Hermione went to the press area and noted that everyone was accounted for. Cormac ran back inside and returned several minutes later with Kingsley and Kendall, who were then ushered from reporter to reporter; answering questions, taking photographs, the works.

Even though Hermione was just standing off to the side, waiting for them to be finished, she was not especially surprised when a familiar reporter from Witch Weekly approached her.

"Good to see you again, Hermione."

"Parvati," said Hermione, not even faking a smile. "I was not aware you would be attending this."

"Oh, you know me. I always love a good story."

"A good fabricated story," Hermione corrected. "And there will be none of that here."

"Does that mean you won't be giving me the scoop on you and Draco Malfoy?"

"There is no scoop. One would think after six years of living together you would be more compassionate when it comes to my personal life."

"They don't pay me what they do for me to be compassionate, Hermione. It's just business," Parvati explained.

Hermione's usual photographer stepped up to her right then and snapped a photo. "That's a much sexier dress than last year. Did you wear it for anyone in particular?" he asked.

Hermione grunted.

"Press is not supposed to be over here," snapped Cormac, stepping in front of her. "Either do your job and interview the Minister and our guest speaker on the function at hand or you will not be invited back next year."

Parvati let out an exacerbated sigh but still motioned for the photographer to follow her back to Kingsley and Kendall.

"Go back inside," Cormac said as soon as they were gone. "I can handle this."

Hermione nodded. "Thanks, Cormac."

"In love with me yet?" he asked.

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Never going to happen."

When Hermione got back inside, she immediately grabbed another goblet of red wine off of a floating tray and some salmon hors d'oeuvre. She had been so busy trying to finish her normal workday early so she could do any last minute preparations for this, not to mention getting ready, that she had completely forgotten to eat.

"Is that the first thing you've had today since that banana I forced you to take to work with you this morning?"

Hermione smiled as Draco stepped up beside her, holding out a plate of food.

"No, that banana is definitely still sitting on my desk."

"Of course it is."

Draco held out his goblet and she clanked it with hers. Then she went to town on his plate of food, which, with its many items coated in cheese, had obviously been designed for her.

"Where's your date?" she asked.

"Networking, as always. Where's yours?"

"Outside being surprisingly gallant," she said. "Parvati tried to ask me about our love affair and that obnoxious photographer was with her."

"And Mc-whatever stepped in?"

"Draco, you know his name."

Draco smirked. "Do I?"

Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Hermione turned her head to see Harry watching them, his piercing green eyes shining through his white mask. He had come without Ginny that night on the request of Ron, who thought it would be fun if they both went stag. She really wished Ron had just sucked it up and asked someone.

Then she noticed Harry's eyes shift so they were looking at something behind her. Ron stepped up beside him with his mask on his head and looked at the same thing, nearly choking on the kabob he had been inhaling.

Hermione turned again, her face dropping as she noticed what they were looking at. Somehow, Colette had snagged herself a date to the ball. Some poor, naïve wizard Hermione did not recognize, but looked just smitten with the witch on his arm, despite the attention she was paying to the older, red-headed wizard across the room.

All right, Hermione was just going to admit it to herself. She did not understand why a hot, young thing like Colette was so invested in the idea of being with Ron. She could only assume the obsession began by watching their marriage blossom and then deteriorate over the years. After all, she had been working with Hermione for ten of them, starting as an intern and eventually advancing to her assistant.

"Isn't that the giggly girl who came tumbling into my room with your husband at the engagement party?" asked Draco, barely glancing at Colette as he sipped his wine.

"It is."

"Then perhaps I should go over there and thank her." He winked.

Hermione wanted to roll her eyes but ended up smiling instead. "Come along, Mr. Malfoy," she said, walking off. "Let's go decide what pretty items you're going to bid on so the Ministry can get back some of that money we're paying you."

Draco grunted as he followed her. "I don't want anything. You know the only reason I'm here is to make sure that git doesn't try anything with you."

"Yes, and if I didn't want to see you all dressed up I would emphasize how you really have to start trusting me. I am capable of saying no."

"Like you did with Theo?"

Hermione sighed. "Not this again. Speaking of which, where is he tonight?"

"I don't know. I doubt he's coming. We have a mutual dislike for these things."

Finishing off the last of what Draco had on his plate, Hermione put it on a passing tray and stopped in front of the first item up for bid. They had everything displayed around the room so people could decide what they were interested in before the auction began.

Hearing someone giggle, Hermione looked over to see Edie with her arms wrapped around James. "Does Theo know about that?" she asked.

"Don't know, don't care," Draco answered, his nose crinkling as he stared at the hideous painting in front of them.

"Who donates this shit?"

"Lots of people," said Hermione, moving on to the next item. "Just so you know, you're buying something."

Draco grunted again. "All right. What do you like? Say it and it's yours."

Hermione chuckled. "If I want something I'll bid on it myself. I try to get at least one item a year."

"And what's the lucky item this year?"

"I don't know, I'm not in charge of getting donations. That's why we're looking?"

When she got bored of the weird sculpture she simply could not figure out in front of them, she moved on again.

"I don't know what you're so upset about. So Edie has a boyfriend? She's had them before," someone said.

"But this is a bloody Potter she's gallivanting around with, Jaclyn. It is not only humiliating but completely unacceptable behavior."

"What do you expect me to do about it?"

"She's your daughter. Control her."

"She's nineteen. I can't -"

" Find a way."

"Jackie."

Jaclyn turned towards Draco's voice, her face already bright-red but turning even brighter when she saw him standing there with Hermione.

"How are you this fine evening?" asked Draco, an obvious sneer aimed in Jaclyn's fiancé Alastair's direction.

"Fine," she answered. Then, glancing just at Hermione, she asked, "Is Theo here?"

Hermione looked at Draco.

"Not that we've seen," he said.

Still looking at Hermione, Jaclyn now asked, "You're not here with him?"

"No," said Hermione. "I'm just here with a colleague."

Jaclyn looked at Draco.

"Not him!" Hermione said quickly.

"But aren't you dating -?"

"Excuse us." Alastair grabbed Jaclyn's wrist and dragged her towards the doors leading outside. On their way out, Theo walked in, following them with his eyes before noticing Draco and Hermione and heading over.

"I hate it when he manhandles her like that," he said as he approached them.

"Nothing you can do about it, mate," said Draco. "What are you doing here? I thought you hated these things."

"I do but some bloody woman in my department forced me into coming with her."

Hermione smiled. "Theo, are you saying you have a date?"

"No," he said sternly. "Definitely not. She's closer to my daughter's age than mine. Actually, she wanted to come tonight because that Tasher prick is supposed to be here and she's been trying to catch his eye. She seems to think that I have some sort of in with him."

"And somehow that got you here?" asked Hermione.

"No," he answered, glancing slyly at Draco. Draco smirked.

"Am I not in on the joke?"

"No joke," said Draco. "Theo is a man with needs. You get it."

"Oh." It took her a moment but then she realized. " Oh ! Wait, what? I thought she wanted you to fix her up with Bentley?"

"Yeah, but she isn't going to shag him tonight. She wants to date him," explained Theo. "Which isn't going to work, by the way. Tasher's the most famous Quidditch player in the world right now. He doesn't date . He's milking it. Even has his eye on an older, famous in her own way witch."

Theo and Draco both smirked at Hermione.

"He does not!" she protested.

"Oh, yes he does," Theo said amusedly. "Heard it straight from the horse's mouth."

"I don't know why you keep assuming men who make a point to hang around you aren't interested in you," said Draco.

Hermione frowned. "Before I was separated it was never a problem."

"It's not like men weren't looking." Draco finished off his wine. "I'm heading to the bar to get something stronger. Firewhiskey?" he asked, looking at Hermione.

"Yes please," she said, finishing off her own wine and handing him the empty goblet.

"I'll come with you."

Draco and Theo walked off.

Hermione moved on to the next item up for bid. Some abstract painting. She never understood abstract art. Landscapes were really all she liked. So she moved on.

"See anything of interest?"

Hermione turned her head, blushing a little when she saw Kendall standing next to her. "Not yet," she answered. "You?"

"Yes, actually." He smiled at her.

She blushed brighter. After that conversation with Draco and Theo just now, she had to wonder if maybe she wasn't crazy. "Finished with interviews?" she asked.

"It's pretty much the same cookie cutter questions for me at every function I attend. I have my answers down to a science by now."

Hermione smiled. "I didn't realize there was such a thing as verbal science."

"There is a science for everything, my dear."

She nodded and moved on to the next item. Kendall followed her. "Do you need a drink?" he asked.

"A friend is already getting me one."

"Oh, well, since you're covered …" He grabbed a goblet of wine off of a passing tray, took one look at it and put it back. "Rosé. Not my thing."

Another tray passed shortly after. He seemed much happier with this one and took a sip. Hermione moved on to the next item. He still followed.

"Might I inquire about something?"

"All right," she said a bit skeptically.

"It's probably a bit rude for me to be asking you this."

Hermione tensed a little. "It's fine. I'll let it slide since I'm a fan."

Kendall smiled softly. "As I said earlier, I've followed your work for a long time, so I am well aware that your maiden name is not Weasley."

And she was blushing again.

"But no ring?"

She rubbed her empty finger. So he had been checking afterall. "I take it you don't read the gossip columns."

Kendall made a disgusted sound. "Definitely not. I hate that garbage."

Hermione chuckled. "Me too. But it tends to favor articles about me and my estranged husband. We're separated."

"So you're single?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No. I'm seeing someone."

Kendall pursed his lips. "I hope it's not that McLaggen. Nice enough bloke but a bit self-involved."

"I believe you're the first person to ever call Cormac nice." She smirked. "No, he's not here tonight," she lied.

"Any chance that means it's on the decline?"

Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably. "You're very forward, aren't you?"

"Yes, and it normally works in my favor."

She was about to answer his question with a very firm 'no' when, suddenly, a glass of firewhiskey was shoved in front of her face, successfully putting some space between her and Kendall.

"Your drink," said Draco, his eyes planted firmly on Hermione's new chum.

"Oh … Thank you," she said, taking it. "Draco, this is Kendall Sheehy."

Draco very quickly softened, his eyes brightening a little.

"Kendall, this is Draco Malfoy. Another fan of yours."

Kendall held out his hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Draco shook. "Pleasure's all mine."

"Where's Theo?" Hermione asked.

"His date found him and dragged him off somewhere."

"Draco Malfoy," Kendall repeated. "Forgive me, but I know the name and I'm a little surprised to hear that you're a fan of mine."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "I thought you said you didn't read gossip?"

"The Malfoy family is pretty renowned," explained Kendall. "I don't need to read an article to know all about them."

"Fair point," said Draco. "I read your first book twenty years ago when I was starting my business as a way of understanding the other side. I guess my viewpoint has just slowly developed since then."

"Draco's son is actually marrying my daughter next April," Hermione announced. "His entire family has been very supportive."

"Minus my ex-wife's parents," Draco corrected, taking a sip of his firewhiskey. "They're involved with several pureblood purity groups. Truly heinous people. But we're all disowned now, thank Merlin."

Hermione smiled. "Sounds like you're better off."

Draco smiled back and said, "Definitely."

"Kendall, ol' chap! I heard a rumor you'd be here!" exclaimed a red-cheeked, clearly already drunk wizard as he slapped Kendall on the back.

"Evening, Dom. It's been a long time."

"Yeah, it has! Come see everyone!"

Dom pulled Kendall away, who motioned to Hermione and Draco that he would be right back.

"I suppose you didn't catch on to that one either," said Draco as soon as they were alone.

"No, I did," she said. "He asked about my lack of ring."

"And?"

"And I told him I'm separated but seeing someone. Obviously."

Draco grunted.

Hermione furrowed her brow. "I don't know what you expect from me," she said quietly. No one was currently around them but they could never be too careful. "I'm not intentionally leading anyone on."

"All I expect is for you to be more aware," Draco answered. "I don't think you realize the impact you have on men. And tonight … Well, you look too beautiful for everyone not to notice."

"I'm just going to take that compliment and move away from this conversation."

And so she moved on to the next item in the auction, Draco moving with her. Eventually, she got him to agree to bid on a painting he thought Scorpius would like. It was a white dragon in a rose garden. Definitely seemed appropriate.

The large banquet hall they had made out of the atrium was filling up now but the majority of people were focused on the alcohol and the food.

Hermione still had not decided what she wanted to bid on herself and was starting to think that maybe she would have to end up with something she didn't like this year. It had happened before.

Then she saw it.

A silver music box with birds and flowers engraved on it. Her heart froze. Then sped up.

Draco watched her as she suddenly turned very white. "What is it?" he asked, reading the description of the item. It was a Muggle music box. Other than that, there was very little information.

"My mother …" Hermione said with shaky lips. "She used to have a music box just like this. Rose and Hugo accidentally broke it twelve years ago when they were visiting my parents. She was really upset. She always loved that music box."

Hermione read the description too but seemed unsatisfied.

"It doesn't say what song it plays."

She took out her wand and waved it, removing the magical barrier protecting the item. Then she picked it up, wound it and opened the lid. A small man and woman began dancing on the inside to a song Draco did not recognize.

Hermione whimpered and covered her mouth. "This is it," she said. " Anniversary Waltz . This is the song!"

"Hermione, what are you doing?"

She looked over just as Cormac walked up and took the music box out of her hands. He put it back in its place and redid the barrier.

"Whoever wrote this item's information did a terrible job," she said with a sniffle. "It doesn't even list the song."

"It's a Muggle item. Whoever wrote it probably didn't know the song," said Cormac.

"Well, then they should have tried bloody harder!" Hermione shouted. She then noticed that several people were staring at her. She blushed. "Sorry, I … I'll be right back."

With her head held down, Hermione darted out of the main room. Her destination was a washroom but she had never liked sharing public restrooms with lots of people, so she walked farther so she could have some privacy.

Hermione knew she had been completely unprofessional out there. It was so unlike her, but when she saw that music box … The pain of losing both of her parents was still so strong.

She only spent a few minutes alone and gathering her bearings before she knew she had to get back.

Hermione left the washroom and began to walk towards the party until she heard someone call her name. She looked. "Ron. What are you doing back here?"

"I followed you," he said. "I saw you run off. You looked kinda upset."

"I'm fine," she lied, trying to walk on.

Ron hurried so he was walking next to her. "Come on, Hermione. Just because we're separated doesn't mean you can't talk to me."

"It does if I feel like everything you do is just a ploy to try and get me back."

"Hermione!" Ron grabbed her hand and held her in place. She turned and looked at him, his ears as red as a lobster and his freckles seeming to flare up right along with them. "No matter what happens between us I still care about you. You're upset. Please tell me what's wrong."

Hermione looked into his blue eyes and sighed. "It's nothing big, but one of the items up for bid looks exactly like my mom's old music box. It just made me miss her. That's all."

Ron released her hand. "I'm sorry," he said. "Was that the one the kids broke back when they were small?"

"It was," said Hermione with a soft smile.

"Seeing that music box should make you happy, not sad."

Hermione pursed her lips and thought about it. "I guess you're right."

"You're going to bid on it, aren't you?" he asked.

Hermione nodded.

"Then it's happy. You loved that music box."

"I did," she said confidently.

"Then there you go!" he exclaimed animatedly.

This time, Hermione gave a big smile. "You're ridiculous."

She headed back towards the main room with Ron walking beside her. When she got there, she looked around, her heart stopping briefly when she saw a woman chatting and laughing with Draco, making a clear point to touch his arm and lean in incredibly close. She knew her. From the restaurant that night she ran into him while with Theo. Jasmine Sharrow, if she remembered correctly. If this was how she had looked standing with Kendall then she definitely didn't blame Draco for getting upset.

Draco's eyes locked with hers, his face immediately filling with concern. He looked like he was about to come over, but then he stopped for some reason.

"Hermione."

Hermione turned her head slightly to see Cormac had found her.

"Kingsley and the Elders would like to speak to us."

She nodded and took his arm when he offered it. "Thanks again, Ron," she said, giving him a smile before walking off with Cormac.

Kingsley was standing off to the side of the beverage table with the five Elders currently in office and a few other people, mainly their spouses. While the name may have sounded fancy, they were pretty much just advisors to the Minister. But they were still highly respected and had great influence among Britain's wizarding society.

The oldest Elder, a wizard well into his hundreds, was formerly a Minister in the forties. When Kingsley retired he would most likely become one.

"Ah, here they are!" exclaimed Kingsley as the two of them arrived. It was only then that Hermione noticed Lucius Malfoy was among the small crowd.

"Hermione don't you look lovely tonight," said Fanny, the only witch who was an Elder. "I haven't been able to pull off a dress like that since my twenties and here you are, a woman well into her forties and looking fantastic in such youthful attire."

Hermione just smiled and thanked her for the backhanded compliment.

"And, Cormac, no escort this year?" Fanny quipped.

Hermione really had to bite her cheek. She hated that this was the only person representing her gender among the Elders. Once she was higher in the Ministry, one of her first tasks would be finding a more exemplary witch.

"Funny," said Cormac, not sounding amused in the slightest.

"Hermione, I was just talking to Lucius here about how his grandson is marrying your daughter next spring," said a wizard named Van, the one Elder she actually liked.

"Yes, they are," she said.

"Then maybe once you're family you can convince him to become an Elder. I have been trying for years with no progress."

"Oh." Hermione looked at Lucius. "I wasn't aware that is something you're interested in."

"It's not," said Lucius. "Right now, I only want to spend time with my wife."

"Who is noticeably absent tonight," said Fanny.

Lucius grunted and took a sip from the goblet he was holding.

Kingsley and the Elders kept Hermione and Cormac busy all the way until the announcement that the auction was about to begin. Everyone was guided into a separate room where several chairs were setup and pointed towards a small stage.

As she was walking with everyone, somehow, Theo found her. "Do you know if Edie is here? I swear I saw her but, if it was, she disappeared before I could be sure."

"I don't know," Hermione lied.

"Who does she know who works at the Ministry?"

"Where's your date?" she asked, eager to change the subject.

"Oh." Theo looked around. "I guess I lost her."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Everyone sat down and Kingsley stepped up to the podium, giving a brief speech about the importance of this charity before calling Kendall onto the stage. Hermione watched him in awe, speaking so passionately about the importance of equality and keeping the Ministry running in unity. He was a great speaker and, in the past, she had had fantasies about dating someone as cultured as him. But Draco was cultured, just … not quite so elegant. When he wasn't putting on a show, at least. Which was actually part of his charm. She wished he was sitting next to her right now but, instead, she was beside Cormac, with a spare chair next to her for Kingsley.

When Kendall was finished, he stepped down and the auction began. It was fairly boring, as they often were. Draco bid on his painting and won it for five-hundred Galleons. As the auction went on, Hermione started to get nervous when she realized this one man was bidding on and winning every Muggle item. Maybe they wouldn't mention the music box was Muggle made …

"And our next item up for bid is an old, Muggle-made music box."

They held it up. Hermione grunted. Well, shit.

"Let's start the bid at fifty Galleons."

Hermione held up her paddle.

"Do I hear sixty?" Another witch raised her paddle this time.

"Seventy?"

Before Hermione could bid again, the wizard in question beat her to it.

"Eighty?"

She raised her paddle.

"One-hundred?"

He raised his.

"One-twenty-five?"

Hermione.

"One-fifty?"

Him.

"Two-hundred?"

Hermione.

It went on like this until Hermione raised her paddle at five-hundred Galleons. The absolute maximum amount she had told herself she could spend that night.

"Five-fifty?"

The wizard raised his paddle.

"Six-hundred?"

Hermione looked over at him sadly, a smug smile planted on his face. She sighed.

"Six-hundred? Going once. Going twice."

"One- thousand!" someone shouted.

Everyone looked to see Draco, sitting one row back and several seats over from Hermione with his paddle high in the air. He caught her eye and winked.

"Fifteen-hundred!" called the other wizard.

"Two-thousand," Draco countered.

"Three-thousand!"

Apparently they were jumping right to the big guns, and the auctioneer couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Five-thousand," said Draco, his voice much calmer than the other bidder, who was starting to turn a bit red. It wasn't about the music box anymore. It was about the competition.

"Ten-thousand!" he announced, that smug smile back since he obviously thought he had won this.

The entire audience gasped. No item in all of this event's history had ever gone for that much before.

Draco was about to say something when Hermione stopped him and said, "Draco, don't!"

He looked at her.

"I can never pay you back for that. Let him have it. It's just a music box."

Draco frowned. "Your eyes say differently," he responded. "And you forget, Hermione. Money doesn't matter to me." He raised his paddle. "Twenty-thousand Galleons."

More gasps. Hermione felt like she was going to faint. Her heart was torn between the sweet gesture and how she and Draco were supposed to be discrete, not spend enormous amounts of money on each other in front of hundreds of people.

The other wizard hesitated, his paddle halfway up. It was obvious he did not want to spend that amount of money but he seemed to still be stuck on the competition.

"You can raise that thing all you want, I'm going to keep one-upping you, even if we get to a million Galleons," Draco said coolly. "The lady wants it to remember her late mother. I suggest you back out now and let her have it."

The wizard sneered at him. "Twenty-five thou -"

"Fifty-thousand," said Draco, smugly raising his paddle first.

The wizard said nothing, his paddle back down low.

"Going once," said the auctioneer, finally finding his way back in. "Going twice."

Dead silence.

" Sold to the very generous gentleman in the second row!"

"Oh, would you look at that. I win," Draco said smugly, grinning widely at the sulking wizard.

Hermione watched as they carried the music box off of the stage. Then she looked at Draco and he winked again. She faced the front, fidgeting for the rest of the auction, unable to stop herself from smiling as she realized the music box was really hers.

When the auction ended, Draco was summoned away, along with the other winners. Hermione followed him, waiting until he was finished dealing with a goblin from Gringotts about a money transfer before walking up to him. "You shouldn't have done that," she said. "I'll never be able to afford to pay you back."

"Then don't," said Draco.

"I can't let you -"

"I'll tell you what," said Draco. "Pay me the five-hundred Galleons that should have been more than enough to get you that music box and we'll call it even. Just consider the other forty-nine-thousand five-hundred Galleons to be a very charitable donation of mine to the Ministry. I believe I was overdue for one."

Hermione sighed. "Thank you, Draco." She had to stop herself from running into his arms and kissing him. And she hated that. She absolutely hated that she could not hold him whenever she wanted.

"That was very generous," said Alexandra, walking up to them. "You pretty much just gave back the Ministry everything they're paying us plus interest. We might as well have done it pro bono."

"It was my money, Alex, not the company's."

"If I were you I would spin that differently," said Colby, walking up with Annette on his arm.

"Oh, Colby, I didn't know you were here," said Hermione.

He smiled. "Yeah, Annette and the rest of the national team were all invited. I'm just arm candy."

"As am I, but my date is spending fifty-thousand Galleons on another woman," said Alex, glancing suspiciously at Hermione.

"What. A. Show!" shouted Blaise, raising a goblet of wine he had in the hand that was not gripping his young date's arse. Alexandra glanced at him ever-so-slightly.

Theo walked up, too, with a woman a few steps behind him who must have been his date.

"Bloody hell, mate," said Theo. "A music box? Hermione, what do you want it for, now?"

"My late mother used to have one just like it," she answered. "It even plays the same song." Her eyes filled with tears.

"Aww," everyone around her said in unison.

"Hermione." Cormac appeared from out of nowhere, grabbed her hand and turned her to face him. "Let's dance."

He pulled her out of the auction hall and back to the main ballroom.

"It's a bit odd that you're supposed to be here with me yet you're spending the majority of your evening with Draco Malfoy."

"He just spent fifty-thousand Galleons on me. I had to say something," she snapped. "You seem to be forgetting that this is a business arrangement. Not a date."

"Yeah, well, if you haven't noticed, the Elders barely spoke to me. They were more interested in you ."

Cormac pulled her all the way to the dance floor, which was already flourishing with people. A sea of masks and everyone smiling. Cormac stopped and faced her, Hermione going red when she looked at him. "And that's my fault?" she asked as he put his arms around her and began to move.

Cormac did not answer.

"I don't know what you expect me to do about it, Cormac. I'm here. Like Kingsley asked, even though I don't understand how this is supposed to change anything. We work well together, everyone already knows that."

Cormac sighed and looked off to where Kingsley was standing just beside the dance floor. "He's retiring soon. You know that, right?"

Hermione looked at Kingsley too. "What?"

"That's why that bloody Zabini has been around. He's getting everything in order for him, working with him to figure out how he'll proceed."

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"I know what he does," answered Cormac. "It wasn't exactly difficult to figure out."

"May I cut in?"

Hermione and Cormac looked to see Bentley Tasher standing beside them, wearing a red and white mask to represent his national Quidditch team. Cormac sneered.

"Oh … All right," said Hermione, unsure of what else she was supposed to say.

Cormac unhappily handed her off and left the dance floor.

"Longtime no see," said Bentley, taking her hand and giving her a twirl.

"Yeah …" Hermione's eyes wandered elsewhere as she realized that Jasmine woman was standing near Draco again. This time she had her brother and her father with her, but, still, she didn't like it.

"So how have you been?" Bentley asked.

"Busy," she answered. "How are you liking your new team?"

"Oh, it's excellent! We're definitely going to make a splash this year. Maybe sometime you can come to a game and then after we can -"

Hermione held her hand up to stop him and said, "Bentley, may I be blunt with you?"

"All right," he said, puckering his brow in curiosity.

"I have become fairly close with Theo Nott lately and, while he left out the specifics, he mentioned how you might have said something about me. And I didn't get the impression that whatever it was you said was very respectful. I'm sorry but, whatever your intentions are with me, I am one-hundred percent not interested."

Bentley blinked, looking completely stunned as she left him and walked off of the dance floor, heading straight for the bar.

"Firewhiskey, please," she said to the bartender.

"Make it two."

Hermione blushed when she realized Bentley had followed her.

"I don't remember exactly what I said," he admitted, "but I don't think it was disrespectful. I told you I was a fan of yours and I wasn't lying. Taking you out would be an honor."

Hermione smiled. "That's sweet, but it doesn't change my answer."

"That's all right."

"Sorry for my reaction out there," she said. "I've just been having a bit of an off night."

"Yes, something about that music box and your mother, wasn't it?"

With a small sigh, Hermione said, "Yes." And the fact that Draco was still talking to that Jasmine woman and she couldn't think of a proper way to drag him away from the conversation.

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm sorry you're having anything less than a fantastic night. I know how much work you put into this thing."

"Bentley, come dance with me!" said a giggly witch as she stepped right in front of Hermione to grab Bentley's arm.

"I'm in the middle of a conversation," he said, casually moving her out of Hermione's way. "Go grab yourself some pudding or something and I'll meet you over there."

The witch smiled and hurried off.

"Friend of yours?" Hermione asked.

"I have a vague memory of her staying over one night. Don't you dare ask me her name, though, because I couldn't tell you."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Best not to keep her waiting."

Bentley gazed off at her. "Maybe." He paused. "I would still like you to come to a game sometime. Even as just a friend."

Hermione smiled. "All right."

"And if anything changes, you let me know," he said. "You're kinda my dream girl."

Now she laughed. "Am I?"

"Obviously." Bentley leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Perk up. You're too pretty to look so sad." He started to walk away.

"Bentley," she called.

He turned.

"Learn the lady's name, will you?"

He chuckled and nodded.

"And while I encourage you to enjoy your fame while you can, don't let it get to your head. Nothing lasts forever."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll learn the woman's bloody name," he said, sticking his tongue out at her and wandering off.

Hermione stood alone for a moment, sipping on her firewhiskey, but it wasn't long before she felt a presence beside her. She turned her head to see Alexandra standing there, glaring at something in front of her. Hermione followed her eyes all the way to Blaise, dancing very closely with his date with his head buried in her neck. Both of their masks were long gone, as were many of the guests. While a masquerade had been good in theory, they really were terribly uncomfortable after a while.

Blaise's eyes glanced ever-so-slightly in their direction.

"Can you believe him?" asked Alexandra, Trying to get a bloody rise out of me."

"Uhuh." Hermione smiled to herself.

"Well, it won't work."

Right then, Blaise whispered something to his date. He released her and walked off of the dance floor, smirking in Hermione and Alexandra's direction as he left the room. Alexandra shot down the last of her drink before dropping the goblet off on a floating tray and disappearing from Hermione's side.

Hermione was only alone for a moment when she heard someone clear their throat beside her. She looked over to see Lucius standing there, his black mask still on. Her heart thumped.

"Mrs. Weasley," he said nonchalantly.

"Mr. Malfoy."

"Are you having a pleasant evening?"

"It's all right," she answered.

"Well, I cannot imagine it's too terrible, seeing as you are now the proud owner of a fifty-thousand Galleon music box." He smirked.

Hermione blushed. "Yeah, I still can't believe Draco did that."

"You can't?" asked Lucius, cocking an eyebrow. Merlin, he and Draco had similar mannerisms.

"Your family is about the only one I know who isn't on a budget so, yes, it is still shocking when any of you spend such large sums of money at the drop of a hat."

Lucius nodded and took a sip of the scotch he was drinking.

"Where's Narcissa tonight?" Hermione asked.

"She wasn't feeling up for this."

"Why, is she sick?"

Lucius gazed down into his glass and chuckled softly. "For someone my son claims to be crazy about, you certainly don't know very much about our family."

Hermione tensed. "What don't I know?" she asked.

"Well, for one, Tobias Nott and his family have asked me to speak against you in front of the Wizengamot next week."

She turned bright-red. "And are you going to?"

Lucius gave a small shrug. "I haven't given an answer, but one would think someone with your moral code would be against a book banning, considering it takes away someone's freedom to read whatever it is they want. I doubt your efforts will do much good, especially since anyone who would want to read those books most certainly have them in their home library."

"So you think the beliefs they promote in those books are right?" she asked, feeling herself getting angry.

"No, but I think everyone is entitled to develop their own opinions on the matter," said Lucius. "In the war you fought for freedom, didn't you?"

Hermione calmed a little. He actually had a point, but just leaving those pureblood purity books out in the world untouched felt like it did more harm than good.

"Excuse me."

She hurried off and headed for the distant washroom. This entire night felt so incredibly awkward and she wanted nothing more than to get out of here and go to Draco's, where they could be themselves with each other. Not here, where she had to pretend to be someone different.

After a good ten minutes, Hermione left the washroom, planning to just grin and bear it for the rest of the evening. On her way back, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her down a dark corridor.

"Took you long enough," said Draco, pressing her against the wall and kissing her.

"Draco, we can't do this here!" she exclaimed, trying to move away.

"But I've been so good tonight, not punching that prick, Tasher, in the face when he stole you away from the other prick I've wanted to hit all night."

"Oh, you mean while you were busy chatting closely with that Sharrow woman?"

"She's a client," said Draco, kissing down her neck and collarbone, stopping at her breasts and licking them while his hands caressed her hips. "I can't be rude to her. We're both just grinning and bearing it, right?"

And it was those words, so similar to her own thoughts, that had Hermione pulling Draco's head up and meeting his lips with hers.

Draco kissed her softly for a moment before pulling back and lifting his mask, followed by hers. While gazing into her eyes, he stroked her cheek and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"Is this about your mum?"

"No." Hermione sighed and grabbed his free hand with hers. "It's just … I hate being here, and not being able to be with you."

Draco smiled. "Really?"

Hermione smiled back. "Of course, Draco. I like you, remember? I want to be here with you and be able to dance with you if I'd like."

"So you want me to ask you to dance?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Hermione's smile grew as she played with a strand of his hair.

Draco gave her a peck on the cheek. "All right then. As soon as we go back I'll ask you formerly."

She squealed a little and kissed his cheek in return.

Gazing into her eyes, Draco said, "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about."

She waited but he didn't say anything. "Well, go ahead," she said

He shook his head. "Not here. I don't want to spoil the little time we have together talking. The weekend of our trip. We'll talk then."

"All right."

"But I do want to tell you up close how beautiful you look tonight." Draco kissed her again, Hermione smiling against his lips. This was what she wanted. Moments like these that were not hidden in shadows, kept in secret from those who mattered. She wanted more.

Back in the main room, Cormac was standing near the bar, drinking his fifth firewhiskey while keeping his eye on the hall that led to the loo. Hermione had disappeared down it some time ago and had yet to return. For someone who was supposed to be spending the evening with him, she sure hadn't been around very much. Always with a member of her bloody fan club, none of them good enough for her.

Feeling frustrated, Cormac finally gave in and did what he swore he wouldn't. He put down his drink and went looking for her.

He arrived at the ladies washroom and when a female Auror whose name escaped him walked out he asked if she had seen Hermione inside. She hadn't. That was when he remembered Hermione always made a point to go to a different washroom when she felt the closest one was too crowded. Just one of the many quirks you learn about a person when working with them for so long. Knowing exactly where this was, he walked on.

As Cormac got closer, the corridors grew darker. There was no sign of life back here and he was starting to get the feeling that he was headed for a dead end. He could always just call her.

Cormac stopped and took out his mobile, just about to dial Hermione when he heard a familiar laugh. He froze and listened.

"What are you doing? Put me down!"

That was Hermione's voice. He was just about to run to her when he heard someone else. A man.

"The moment I do you're just going to say we need to get back."

"But we do," she insisted. "I've been gone for probably twenty minutes. Besides, we shouldn't do this here."

"Why not? Everyone is focused on the ball. No one is coming back here."

"That's exactly what you said at the World Cup, remember?"

"Yes, but you're the only one who insists on traveling this far for a bloody toilet."

Cormac was positive he recognized that voice, but he wouldn't dare admit it yet. Not without seeing it with his own eyes. He turned his mobile on silent and tiptoed forward.

The talking had stopped but the sounds that now echoed down the corridor were too specific not to recognize. They were kissing, soft moans escaping Hermione's lips as her heels clicked on the stone floor. He must have put her down.

Cormac had already been close to the corridor the voices had been coming from so it did not take him long. He stopped in front of it and moved just his head, rage filling his every vein as he saw the truth. There, about halfway down the corridor, Hermione was being held against a wall, her lips moving hard against a man's as her hands tangled in his white-blond hair. His were on her hips, her thighs, her arse, anywhere they could grab.

It was exactly as Cormac had feared. Hermione was kissing none other than Draco Malfoy, someone he had grown to absolutely loathe in recent months. For this very reason, actually. Because he was so obviously after Hermione, even though his son was marrying her daughter.

And Cormac was bloody pissed. More so than he could ever remember being. In his rage, he lifted his mobile, a spell already cast on it to take clear photos in dark places even without a flash. Something Muggles had yet to perfect. He snapped a photo. Then another. And one final one before turning on his heel and moving as quietly, but as quickly as he could away from there.

"Did you hear something?" Hermione asked, turning her head in the direction of the sound.

"No," said Draco, grabbing her chin and kissing her again.

Hermione pulled away. "Draco, we really need to get back. Our absence has not gone unnoticed and you know it."

Draco grunted. "Yeah, I do. But …" He wrapped his arms all the way around her waist and nuzzled his cheek against hers. "I like it here."

Hermione smiled and tightened her hold on him. "I like it here, too."

"Another thirty minutes and then we can go home?"

She thought about it. "An hour."

Draco grunted again. "Fine. But you're on top tonight."

"You act like that's a punishment," she said with a smirk.

They shared one last kiss before Hermione pulled away.

"Follow me in five minutes."

Draco nodded and smiled. "And then we dance?"

She smiled back. "Yes, and then we dance."

Hermione walked out of their secluded corridor and headed towards the ball. When she got there, she looked around for Cormac, finally finding him sitting at a table near the bar with his mask pulled off and set in front of him. She made a beeline for him.

"Why do you look so angry?" she asked as she took the seat next to him. "Are you testing to see if that sultry thing works to attract women?"

Cormac said nothing. He didn't even look at her.

Hermione puckered her brow. "Seriously, Cormac, what's wrong? Did the Elders say something to you?"

With as little movement as humanly possible, he shook his head.

"Then what -?"

"Where have you been?" he asked in a very calm voice.

"The ladies room," she answered. "I went to the far one so I could have a few moments alone. These functions are always a bit overwhelming for me."

Finally looking at her, Cormac slowly raised his eyebrows and repeated, "Alone?"

Hermione blushed. "Yes, alone. Cormac, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he said, taking out his mobile and fiddling with it. "But I saw something a bit unsettling earlier. Something I don't really understand. I took a picture of it. Maybe you might be able to explain it to me."

Cormac turned the screen so it was facing her. Hermione gasped. There, right in front of her, was a photo of her and Draco kissing, clear as day. "Where did you get that?" she demanded, trying to snatch his mobile from his hand.

He pulled it away and put it in his pocket. "I told you, I took it. You were gone for a really long time. I was worried. Believe me, I wouldn't have wasted the energy had I known what was actually taking you so long."

"I was actually in the ladies room," she insisted. "We were only together for a few minutes before I came back."

"But why , Hermione. WHY are you with him?" he asked angrily.

"It's none of your business," she spat. "Cormac, you need to erase that picture. Right now."

"Why, because little Rose won't be happy?"

Hermione tensed. "You got her name right."

" Of course I fucking got her name right! We've been working together for fifteen years, I know your daughter's bloody name. I was just joking with you!"

She gulped. "You were?"

"I'm not a bloody idiot, Hermione," Cormac said harshly under his breath. He was having a hard time keeping his emotions quiet. "After years of sitting back and watching you love a man I knew could not ultimately make you happy I thought I finally had my chance. And instead you're with him ? Someone even more undeserving than the last loser you chose."

Hermione turned red with fury. "How dare you call them -"

"What? Losers? Only because they bloody are." Cormac clenched his hands into fists on the table, fully aware that he would not be able to control his emotions much longer. "I bet I could make a lot of money off of those photos. Sell them to that photographer who has been hassling me with questions about you and him ." He laughed. "And to think I thought he was mad."

Her red face quickly became white. "You wouldn't."

"Are you sure about that?" he asked. "Because, after fifteen years it turns out I know absolutely nothing about you."

Cormac stood up.

Hermione stood with him. "Cormac, please -"

He turned away from her and bolted towards the door.

"Cormac!" Hermione hurried after him, finding it very hard to walk quickly in her dress and heels. "Cormac, please let me explain!" she shouted as soon as they were outside, passed all of the smoking witches and wizards so they were completely alone.

Cormac turned and waited.

Hermione gulped, tears in her eyes as she slowly confessed, "I love him."

In retrospect, she knew it was probably the wrong thing to say. But, in that moment, it was the only thing she could think of. Because it was true, and her judgment was often clouded when it came to Draco, especially when he had her in his arms. Like earlier, when she knew kissing him in the Ministry's corridors was a mistake.

Cormac said nothing, his face turning as white as a ghost while his mouth slowly fell open. He stepped backwards, away from her.

Hermione tried to step forward but Cormac wasn't having it. He Disapparated, leaving Hermione standing alone in the cold, autumn air, the wind stinging her wet cheeks as she started looking around in a panic. "Cormac?"

Nothing.

"Cormac?"

Dead silence.

"CORMAC!"