"Neville how about you escort Lord Potter and his elf to the guest suite near your room where he is staying. You two may chat and what not, for an hour. At that time I expect you both back dressed for the ball. As Host and Guest of Honor you will need to be here to greet the other guests."
"Yes Gran. Come on Harry."
Augusta looked at the painting a bit longer before the floo chimed signaling the next guests, her sister Enid and Algie.
Harry and Neville spoke of homework and what was expected for the house party. Tonight was the ball. The Longbottoms were expecting a little over eight hundred people, apparently most all the invitations had been accepted. The house party was considerably smaller a mere fifty many of them family or close family allies. Tomorrow morning the guests would be on their own as Neville and his Gran would be visiting his parents at St. Mungo's. Other than tea and dinners most of this week was unstructured. Gift opening would be done privately in everyone rooms the next morning. There were few children at the house party, besides themselves, only Susan Bones and two older boys Roger Davies and Cedric Diggory would be at the party all week. Harry had met Roger at the Corner's party since his dad was one of Harry's solicitors. Harry felt slightly relieved it wasn't going to be all strangers.
Harry asked Neville's advice as to which clothes to choose only to have Neville be astounded by his wardrobe. In the end Harry had to make his own choices. He chose a base kimono of a green chinese brocade that featured a dragon in silver and a darker green flower then he chose a black on black striped silk hakamas, a black sandwashed silk haori, and as a final touch a kataginu in a dark green satin that matched the darker green in his kimono that had the happiness kanji embroidered on the front lapels in silver and the Potter crest on the back, tied with a narrow silver silk obi.
Harry stood next to Augusta and before Neville in the receiving line and he made good use of the training Petunia had given him in memorizing faces and names. As he was introduced if he knew anything of the person he made an appropriate comment either about their job or the accomplishment they were known for. The first people through the line were the other house guests.
Amos Diggory tried a subtle dig by commenting on Harry's sorting to Slytherin, "I wonder what your father would say you being sorted into Slytherin. I doubt there's been a Potter there before."
"That would be incorrect. The first Baron of Potter was sorted there. As to my father, he probably would be a little disappointed, but my mother told me in a letter it was more important to be a good person than to worry about houses at Hogwarts. It was pleasant meeting you Mr. Diggory, Mrs. Diggory, Cedric."
Corneilus Fudge was one of the first guests coming for just the ball. After eagerly shaking Harry's hand, he tried to take him to task for his mockery of Lucius Malfoy. "You know my boy you really shouldn't say such things."
"I'm sorry Minister but, I wasn't raised in the wizarding world and my comments were based on the information available. My impression was, not that I know much, that the imperious means Mr. Malfoy would do anything Volde-". When the man gasped Harry stopped himself, "I'm sorry. Anything You-Know-Who wanted. As for paying his way out of trouble what other conclusion could I come to when the Daily Prophet's business page from that time shows there were several ministry projects that there was insufficient budget for, that got privately funded that year and Malfoy, oh pardon me, Mr. Malfoy was listed as a major contributor. If I'm incorrect I hope you'll enlighten me as to where my logic is faulty."
Fudge hemmed and hawed a few seconds but then the next guest arrived and he moved from the foyer to the ballroom.
It was twenty minutes before there was a lull in arriving guests and Augusta had a chance to find out the meaning behind the conversation between Harry and the Minister. Once she heard his comment regarding the Malfoys she laughed so hard she cried and had to step to the ladies room for a moment to compose herself. She definitely liked young Lord Potter.
Harry was pleased to see almost all the guests from the Corners' party and they were pleased that he remembered them and greeted them by name.
One of the last to arrive was Albus Dumbledore, he was quite surprised to see Harry at the ball.
"Harry what are you doing here?"
"I am an invited guest, much as you yourself are."
"I thought you were spending the holiday at your aunt and uncle's."
"I spent the first day with my aunt. But I was invited here, and I'd rather not be at Aunt Marge's so I'm spending my holiday where I choose, besides Aunt Petunia said it was fine and she's my guardian not you Headmaster. Have a nice evening."
Augusta was surprised by the very cool tone between the Headmaster and Harry. And she noticed that Harry looked at the Headmaster's Beard,or over his shoulder he refused to meet the man's eyes. Indicating the boy probably knew something of legilimency and occlumency and had no wish to be scanned.
She wondered why the boy distrusted the man so much. Not that she herself had much fondness for the old shyster knowing what she did about him.
Finally the ball was to commence. Harry asked Lady Longbottom what the first dance was going to be.
"A waltz of course."
"May I have this dance?"
Surprised, she said. "I would be honored provided you don't step on my toes."
....
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