The Ministry's Most Eligible Bachelor ~ Dramione

Auction

This is Rita Skeeter coming to you directly from tonight's red carpet event for the Ministry of Magic's 10th Annual 'Widows, Heroes, and Orphans' fundraiser. Tonight's event is going to be one of the largest draws in history, due mostly to the brainchild of Astoria Greengrass who derived the 'Bachelor Auction' idea while she was on tour in the United States. Some of tonight's bachelors include eye candy Cormac McLaggan, smooth and sexy Dean Thomas, and the ever elusive Draco Malfoy.
Here come the lucky ladies that will be served by and bidding on our bachelor's now. First oh she is lovely tonight, Mrs Pansy Parkinson Finnegan. Mrs Finnigan who are you wearing tonight and does your new husband approve of you bidding on a date?

She slipped in unnoticed by Skeeter, but that was her plan. She didn't know who sent her the ticket to come, nor why she came, she just did. She had put on her most elegant dress: an A line dark green velvet, floor length dress with a gold rope that tied just under her bust. She paired it with black ballet flats, did her makeup light except for the her red lip stain. He loved when she wore dark red lip stain for two reasons: first, he swore it brought out her beauty and second, he could kiss her all night long and not worry about it coming off.

The last time she wore it was months ago. It was the last time she dressed up for anything. The wedding of one of her friends from school to one of her newer friends. One of the people he introduced to each other, then they fell in love. His thought was that if they were together and happy, why shouldn't their friends be? And who would have thought that so many good pairings would come out of the school rival houses.

First it was Pansy and Seamus. That one she swore was going to blow up in their faces. Probably literally too since Seamus still had issues with pyrotechnics.

Then there was Ronald and Daphne Greengrass. If Pansy and Seamus were an odd couple, than Ronald and Daphne were from another planet or solar system. But a year in, them moving in with each other, and they couldn't be happier. Daphne was dropping hints that Ronald should propose at some point, which he waited and waited. Dragged his feet in true Ronald fashion. But then when he finally got down on one knee, it was magical Daphne said. Everything she dreamed of and more.

She couldn't be more happy for her friends. Harry and Ginny were getting married just after Christmas. They decided that since the whole family would be together for the holidays, why not just have the wedding then. Plus Ginny wanted a winter themed wedding since she and her best friend started planning it.

So far she has been a bridesmaid once, is scheduled to be a maid of honor, and another bridesmaid. Pansy, Ginny, Daphne. It made her sad, but tonight she was going to smile and enjoy her night.

She had no idea who she was sitting with. She found her table easily, in the back corner of the room. She decided to hide in the shadows as much as possible, not drawing attention to herself. The evening progressed, she watched her friends mingle and chit chat. From a distance you could have sworn that there was some scheming taking place. Knowing them, they all had some plan in mind, but it was a good thing she was left out of it. All she wanted at this moment was hopefully to see him once again. She emptied out her account at Gringotts to bid on the date. She needed to. She needed to apologize.

Her table remained empty through the night, as did the two adjacent tables. She nursed her glass of water, thinking that whoever was her waiter for the evening shouldn't get any bids if this is how he treats the women - or woman - at his table.

"My apologies, I was running late from work and wanted to make a good appearance. Is there anything I can get you? More water I see. Did you want the soup or salad tonight Miss?"

He stood aways from her and she kept her face drawn looking in her water goblet again. "Soup please. And yes more water would be appreciated."

She watched him scurry off. Quick on his feet still, even wearing the Italian loafers she bought him last year for Christmas. He swore that they were his favorites, and at the time she didn't believe him, but he wore them daily to the office until they became a staple of his wardrobe.