~Accidentally on Purpose!~

~23~ ~PIED PIPER~

Don't worry. I don't own anything. It is the world of JK Rowling. We are just living in it ;) And none of the art except the cover page belongs to me. HAPPY READING!

The bleeping euphony of the obligatory instrumental music in the ball spilled out the spindly decorated and impressive main ballroom of the Malfoy Manor.

Guests from all over Britain and some other parts of Europe were constantly spilling in, clad in their best dress robes and full-length gowns.

The ballroom was decorated with lilies and lilacs in addition to the blinding lights from the grand chandelier and elegant wall lights on every pillar.

The seating arrangement was set all around the dance floor in sets of 6 chairs against a table and most of them were already occupied by the time Draco came into sight.

Talks of politics, business, and life, in general, were buzzing throughout the hall and Draco started greeting his guests one by one.

He could see his mother talking to saint Potter and Ginerva Weasley in his peripheral view, who was clearly pregnant with their second child. Yes, he had stopped calling her names but he would never call Potter by his name even if Hermione told him to do so.

Talking of her, where was she? She was never the one to be late, even fashionably, he thought. Just as he was looking for her in the groups, Susan came in front of him and whispered a 'congratulations in advance', smiled, and walked away.

He noticed she was wearing a blue and gold frock that ended on her knees with her commonly tied hair, let down in soft curls. Needless to say, she looked pretty just like everyone else tonight.

"Quite the turnout, mother. Better than all the past years, if I dare say."

"Thank you, my boy. Oh here comes your soon-to-be betrothed." She replied while wiggling her eyebrows in a very non- Narcissa manner.

And on queue Natasha came into their view and my lord, did she look beautiful. Only a blind person would refute the statement.

She was wearing an ankle-cut silver shimmering dress that held onto her curves tightly but was not too revealing. She held herself as a confident and beautiful woman that made her look even more gorgeous. Her brown hair was neatly parted at the side and was straightened to give off a sophisticated and elegant look.

"Mrs. Malfoy, Draco" she greeted both of them with a slight curt nod of her head and bow and naturally held Draco's hand when he offered it to her.

"Natasha, you look stunning," Draco remarked and then his eyes moved towards a detail on her dress that he had missed earlier.

A little butterfly brooch was stuck on her dress, that matched with her gem-studded necklace, just between the shoulder blade and the neck. He took into the details carefully, when she took notice of him and clarified his doubts.

"They're butterflies, do you like it? It's a gift from your matchmaker."

"How very thoughtful of her." He paused for a second and then asked her, "Where is Hermione by the way? I'd like to thank her."

At this Natasha stuttered, "I_ I'm not sure, Mr. Malfoy" and she looked into his eyes for an answer.

She ignored the slight frown on his face and creases on his forehead. "Perhaps we should take our places", she said while gliding into a seat herself at the utmost center.

"I'll be right there." He said as his eyes raked through the ever-growing number of people and paused on the one person who knew where she would be, Susan.