Fined

Ron and Hermione broke off from what seemed to be an overly enjoyed argument as Harry halted mid step at sight of the odd pair in front of him. A blue eyed gaze immediately triggered a reaction that caused Ginny's cheeks to redden. Draco's own cold gray gaze fell upon the cheeks, and cued in on the embarrassment so clearly worn there, smirking.

"The famous trio, I presume?"

It had been more of a question than a statement, and upon turning briskly, his back now to the blushing redhead, he answered his own question.

"Well, if it isn't another Weasel- and his mudblood girlfriend too!"

Hermione's chest heaved in pursuit of catching back her lost dignity. Ron's hand reached for her's, but dramatically changed direction as the tips of his ears took to a deeper shade of a telling red. His hands struck outwards and he made a movement as if to throttle the foul mouthed wizard before him. Harry, however, reluctantly grabbed the back of his friend's collar before such a thing could be done.

Draco kept his smirk.

"-And Potter.. Been crying to this pathetic lot about your dead mum, I expect."

Ron's large hands weren't fast enough, nor eager enough, to stop Harry.

The messy haired wizard had made contact with Malfoy's face with a strong blow to the nose from hs tightly clenched fist. A sickening crunch followed the impact and a trail of dark blood followed downwards.

Ginny's cheeks turned back their process of becoming more and more red, fastly turning her entire face to a ghastly shade of white.

"No, don't.. His mum.." Ginny's mouthed closed all too late.

Ron, who was now quite busy with restraining a fuming Harry, cast his sister an irritated look. "Draco's mum? What about her?"

Draco's state of shock from the fist that had flown into his face soon dropped.

"She's.. Well, you very well wouldn't know, would you? She could be dying.." She looked at Harry. "And y- you're taking a swing at him!"

Draco scowled at her.

Hermione's struggling expression turned to one of worry. Ron dropped Harry's arms. "Harry used them to swing around as an attention getter, rolling his eyes at his gaping friends and the shuffling Ginny. "And mine's ALREADY DEAD!"

Stepping forward, Hermione elbowed Ron in the side.

"Ow! What did.." He looked at the outraged Harry, and then back to a frowning Hermione. "To the party, then?"

Harry nodded. Draco heaved a sigh and walked past them.

"Coming Ginny?" asked a hopeful Hermione.

"I.." She watched the retreating back of Draco, whose figure was slightly slumped.

Ron walked ahead. "Well, you're not going to stick around and wait for ferret boy.."

Suddenly, as if inspiration struck, he turned. "You're not, right?"

Ginny laughed nervously.

Harry followed after his friend. "Come on, Hermione. Ginny will catch up. Malfoy's a prat, she knows that."

From their expressions it was obvious that Ron and Hermione weren't so sure, but being the loyal friends they were they followed Harry to Fred and George's party,