Marcus pulled at the collar of his dress robes. He leaned against the wall and sighed impatiently. They were supposed to leave at 6:30-it was now 6:45 and Hermione wasn't ready and Blaise and Adrian hadn't gone to get their dates yet.

"What's got your wand in a knot mate?" Adrian asked.

"We're late," Marcus grunted.

"In a hurry to give your mum a heart attack then?" Adrian teased.

Marcus glared at him, "Piss off Pucey."

"Calm down mate," Adrian said, his face looking characteristically serious. "Your mum can't do anything at the party. She won't risk making a scene, you know that."

"It's not just her though," Marcus said, "Malfoy? Parkinson?"

"Malfoy isn't going to risk pissing daddy off," Blaise told him. "And yeah, Pansy may make a snide remark here and there but that will be the extent of it."

"Oi! We need to go," Adrian told Blaise. He looked at Marcus, "Meet you at the front gate of Malfoy Manor, yes?"

Marcus nodded. Adrian and Blaise dissapparated and Marcus was alone with his thoughts. He was starting to regret this. It's not that he was embarrassed or didn't want to show her off but he was scared someone would hurt her feelings and she had a rough few days, she didn't need to be tormented in public too.

"I'm ready," Hermione called.

Marcus's head snapped up and he gaped at her. Hermione was wearing an emerald green dress robes-did she know that was his favorite color? The dress robes were sexy and accentuated her curves without being crass. Her dark hair was pulled back loosely with a few curls dangling down around her face. She had almost no makeup on as far as Marcus could tell but she was breathtaking.

"Don't you look dashing?" Hermione said, looking him up and down.

"And you look-" Marcus couldn't find the words.

"Thank you," Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get ready."

"Not a problem," Marcus said. "Let's go." He offered Hermione his arm. When she took it he didn't care what Malfoy, or Parkinson or his mother or anyone else thought. They could all sod off. He knew he would be the luckiest bloke in the room-in the world.

They apparated to the front gate of Malfoy Manor and Marcus wasn't sure but he thought he felt Hermione stiffen as soon they arrived.

Adrian and Blaise were already there with their dates.

"Hermione!" Parvati exclaimed. "You look stunning. Every woman in there will be spitting nails."

"Oh, stop." Hermione told her. "You and Padma look lovelier than I do."

Marcus could admit that Patil twins were very pretty indeed but they didn't hold a candle to Hermione as far as he was concerned.

"I concur with my delightful companion, Granger," Adrian said. "You look beautiful."

"Oh you, focus on your own date and sod off," Hermione slapped his arm playfully.

A carriage pulled up and the boys helped their dates in before they hopped on. The ride to the front door was short by carriage but would be a difficult walk-especially in dress clothes. The Malfoy's had extremely intricate apparition wards and even on special occasion the closest anyone could get by magical means was the front gate.

Once they arrived at the Manor proper the boys hopped down and helped their dates. Adrian took the lead and walked through the open front door. There was a house elf waiting.

"Name?" he chirped.

"Adrian Pucey plus one," Adrian said. "Accompanied by Blaise Zabini plus one and Marcus Flint plus one."

The elf checked their names off a list and took their cloaks.

"Mr. Pucey. Mr. Zabini and Mr. Flint," someone exclaimed. "You boys do clean up nicely, don't you?"

Narcissa Malfoy was walking toward them. She was wearing expensive looking black and green dress robes. Her blonde hair was pulled up and she was wearing a quite a bit of makeup but she was very nice looking older lady even Marcus could see that.

"Mrs. Malfoy," Adrian greeted her with kiss on her cheek, "My goodness. I need to know what devil you made a deal with. You get lovelier every day."

Narcissa smiled, "Now. Now. Mr. Pucey, I am happily married woman."

"And what a shame that is," Adrian winked at her.

Narcissa laughed quietly and shook her head at him. Marcus rolled his eyes. Adrian could be a little much sometimes. He didn't seem to know when to stop.

"And who are your lovely companions this evening?" Narcissa asked.

"This is Miss. Parvati Patil and her sister Miss. Padma Patil," Adrian introduced them. They each shook Mrs. Malfoy's hand.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor ladies," Narcissa said. She looked past them and paled when she locked eyes on Hermione. Hermione also seemed to panic slightly. "Miss. Granger?"

"Good evening, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said.

"Welcome to-" Narcissa faltered.

That's when it hit Marcus. This was not the first time Hermione had been to Malfoy Manor. He was so stupid. He didn't know the details but he knew Hermione had been brought here with Potter and Weasley during the war. He knew she had been tortured her by Bellatrix Lestrange here. He didn't think about it before he invited her. He didn't think about how uncomfortable it would be for her and the Malfoy's.

"Well, Miss. Granger, you are most welcome here," Narcissa finally said.

"Tha-Thank you," Hermione seemed to be shaking a little as Marcus led her inside.

"I should go and see to my other guests," Narcissa said. "Draco and the rest of your friends should be inside-near the bar as usual."

Adrian and Blaise led Parvati an Padma into the house. Marcus pulled Hermione back as she made to follow them. "We can go," Marcus told her.

"What?" Hermione asked.

Marcus swallowed, "I didn't think. I didn't remember and I will understand if you want to go."

"I'm fine," Hermione told him.

"Really-" Marcus started.

"Marcus, listen," Hermione interrupted him. "You may have forgotten when you asked me to come but I certainly didn't forget when I agreed. I knew what I was doing and I will be fine."

Marcus studied her face and saw that she did seem ok so he nodded and led her inside. Marcus and Hermione found Adrian, Blaise and Terrence by the bar. The Patil twins were standing nearby talking to Daphne Greengrass. Daphne smiled and Hermione and waved. Hermione waved back.

"Everything alright?" Adrian asked.

"Fine," Marcus told him then he looked at Hermione and asked, "Want a drink?"

"Not quite yet," Hermione told him.

"Let's go ahead and make our rounds so we can form the sub party," Adrian told Marcus.

"Sub party?"Hermione queried.

"Yes. When we come to these functions we always break away from the festivities and have our own little party," Adrian explained. "It's the only way to survive, otherwise we could quite possibly die from boredom. We had to rush Terrence to St. Mungo's once for that very reason."

"You had to rush Terrence to St. Mungo's because he was dying of boredom?" Hermione raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Actually, we had to rush Terrence to St. Mungo's because he had an allergic reaction to the hors d'oeuvres," Blaise corrected him.

"I still maintain he was allergic to boredom," Adrian interjected.

Marcus rolled his eyes and looked at Hermione, "Before we can sneak off we have to make the rounds and greet people."

"What people do we have to greet?" Hermione asked.

"We have to find our parents and their friends, we need to greet the minister-" Adrian said.

"Kingsley?" Hermione smiled. "Kingsley is here?"

Adrian rolled his eyes, "Of course you would be best buddies with the minister."

"We go back," Hermione told him.

"We also have to greet the birthday boy," Terrence added, looking as if that was the last thing he wanted.

"It's his birthday shouldn't we have brought presents?" Hermione asked.

"Presents are always sent before the party. It's gauche to bring presents and to open them at a party," Terrence explained.

"A lot different than birthday parties you are used to, huh?" Adrian asked.

Hermione laughed, "Yes, most of the time the birthday parties I attend usually take place in the backyard of the burrow and we all wear jeans and t-shirts and sit at folding tables and George sets off fireworks after dinner."

"This will be very different," Blaise told her.

Hermione looked around, "Obviously."

"I see my mum," Adrian muttered. He walked over and took Parvati's arm, leading her away.

"And I see my mine," Blaise groaned, "She brought her new husband. Poor guy." He led Padma away shortly after.

"I saw your mum," Terrence told Marcus, "She was with my parents earlier."

Marcus nodded but didn't say anything.

"Why don't you go and see your mum," Hermione suggested. "I will stay here and get to know the bartender."

Marcus raised an eyebrow at the guy pouring drinks, "Should I be concerned?" he teased.

"No," Hermione slapped his arm, "But, I think you should say hello to your mum without me. No need to antagonize her."

Marcus was quiet for a moment. He pulled on the collar of his dress robes as he considered. Finally, he held out his arm to Hermione. "Come on," he said.

"But Marcus-" Hermione started.

"No," Marcus said quietly but firmly. "Hermione, you are my date and I don't want to hide that. My mum might as well get used to it now. I have no intention of you and I ending anytime soon so-" He took a deep breath, "Ready?"

Hermione nodded. She took Marcus's arm and he led her. Terrence and his date, Daphne, followed behind. Marcus, Terrence and Daphne stopped every so often as they crossed the room to say hello to various people or to shake hands. Marcus introduced Hermione to a few people and she could see the recognition in their eyes and the shock. But everyone was polite to her. Some even seemed excited to meet her.

"Hello mum," Terrence said as they walked outside. There was a group of people standing there having drinks and talking.

An woman about the same age as Molly Weasley turned and smiled. She was tall and thin, almost as beautiful as Narcissa and just as well dressed. She had dark brown hair piled elegantly on her head. "Terrence, I was wondering when I would see you," she smiled as kissed her son on the cheek. She smiled at Daphne. "Hello Daphne dear. I see my son finally wore you down and got you here."

Daphne shrugged, "I had to come with someone I suppose."

Terrence made a face while the two woman laughed at him. Marcus looked around the garden while Hermione watched Terrence and Daphne chat happily with Mr. and Mrs. Higgs.

"Marcus!"

Marcus stiffened and Hermione jumped a little. They both turned to find the source of the noise.

There was a woman approaching them. She was older than Mrs. Higgs and much more severe looking. She was tall and bone thin with grey streaked black hair that was pulled back in a severe bun. Her dress robes were conservative but very expensive looking. Anyone could see the resemblance to Marcus.

"Hello mum," Marcus muttered. He held tighter to Hermione.

Ursa Flint turned her hard eyes on Hermione. She was making no secret of the fact that she was appraising Hermione. Ursa seemed disappointed that she couldn't find a flaw. "Who is your friend?" Ursa asked her son.

Marcus knew his mother was playing dumb on purpose. Most people knew Hermione on sight considering how often she had been in the paper since the war. "This is Hermione Granger, my girlfriend."

It was obvious that people had been listening because all conversations in the garden to seemed to halt and heads turned in their direction.

"Girlfriend?" Ursa hissed and she became rigid with fury. But she contained it and controlled it. They were in public after all. She took a breath and said, "How-nice." She spat the last word. Though she was trying to not a make a scene anyone watching could see she despised this girl and there was nothing nice about her being with Marcus-as far as Ursa was concerned at least.

"Mrs. Flint," Hermione said. "It really is nice to meet you."

"Indeed," Ursa clipped.

The tension was palpable. Ursa was glaring at Hermione who, as one would guess, refused to back down. Marcus wasn't sure what to say or do. The only thing he could think of was to extricate Hermione from the situation.

"Hermione Granger?"

Marcus almost sighed out loud in relief when he turned and saw the Minister of magic walking toward them. He was smiling broadly at Hermione.

"Kingsley!" Hermione exclaimed and then she corrected herself, "I mean minister."

Kingsley waved her off, "Hermione, I have told you before, when we are outside of the ministry you must call me Kingsley."

"Sorry Kinglsey," Hermione stood on her tiptoes and kissed the minister on the cheek.

"You look stunning Hermione, truly stunning," Kingsley winked at her.

"Oh please," Hermione shook her head at him but she still beamed at him.

Marcus found himself feeling slightly jealous. Kingsley was looking at Hermione in a way that made Marcus uncomfortable. Of course that was irrational. The man was old enough to be her father and Minister of magic. But he still hovered behind Hermione making his presence known.

"And who is your friend, Hermione?" Kingsley asked.

"Oh, this is my boyfriend, Marcus Flint," Hermione said. "And this is his mother, Ursa Flint."

Marcus was genuinely surprised that hearing Hermione say that didn't scare him. It didn't scare him when he called her his girlfriend either. In the past labels like that always made him feel claustrophobic.

"Boyfriend?" Kingsley asked with a grin. "I had no idea you were dating someone. How did I miss that gossip? I saw Molly just last night and she didn't say a word."

"She doesn't know," Hermione explained looking slightly uncomfortable.

"I have trouble believing that my dear," Kingsley joked. "Molly Weasley knows all and sees all."

"Well, this is new," Hermione admitted.

"Good for you Hermione, you of all people deserve to be happy," Kingsley said. "Mr. Flint, take care of this one-she is special."

"I know, sir," Marcus said.

"Must be off, " Kingsley said. "Lots of important things to do and I must make at least one more trip to the bar." He shook Marcus's hand and dropped a kiss on Hermione's cheek. He nodded to Mrs. Flint and disappeared into the crowd.

Ursa didn't say one more word to Hermione nor did she look at her. "Have a good evening son," she whispered coolly. "We will chat later."

Marcus knew this was not the end of the troubles with his mother. In fact they might just be beginning.

AN: This is not the end of the party. There is a bit more. Also don't worry Kingsley isn't after Hermione-they are just friends.