The Dark Ball had always been the most glamorous of wizarding party. For wizards deserving of that name, of course. Pure bloods, in other words. Officially, it was a yearly reunion for the last pure families in the wizarding world. Unofficially, it was a place to set up friendships, alliances, future marriages.

This year, Pansy's sixteenth, her parents insisted on her mingling with boys.
"It's about time you find yourself a mate," said her mother. "When I was your age, I'd already been with your father for three years."
"But mom." Pansy was embarrassed to hear her own whining. "Times have changed. And I know them all from school anyways, if they were interested I'd know it."

Her mother brushed her objections aside.

"I've already talked to a few families. Subtly, don't you worry," she said over her daughter's sigh.

So it happened that the night of the party, Pansy was obliged to put on her silkiest dress, to brush back her hair, and to plaster the fakest of smiles on her face. As soon as she stepped foot in the ballroom, a tall young man with dark skin came up to her, holding out a flower.

"Pansy Parkinson," said Blaise Zabini. "It is my honour to be your partner for tonight."
"Actually," came Draco Malfoy's drawling voice from behind them, "it's going to be mine."
"Funny." Theodore Nott had just joined them. "I thought I was going to have it."

Pansy sighed and lowered her face into her hands. She was going to kill her mother.