Natalie was standing in Kingsley's office sweating like crazy. She had no idea why she'd been called in here. She was hoping Harry had not tattled on her for being a smidge reckless on the call yesterday. Or that someone had found out she had been hurt and had gone to Ginny Weasley instead of St. Mungo's. Natalie was trying not to fidget and failing.

Kingsley shut the door behind him and looked at her.

"Dean Thomas?"

Natalie jolted. "Huh?"

"Eloquent," Kingsley said with a severe look. "Why is your father having me look into the background of Dean Thomas? He won't say why. So far I have learned he attended Hogwarts, was a few years ahead of you, and just became a Master Artisan."

Natalie felt color creep up her cheeks.

"Really? Well, well, well, little Nat has herself a gentleman caller. At least he better be a gentleman. Please impress on Mister Thomas the damage your back-up father can do with a wand... or even without one. I didn't make Auror because I looked so fetching in the robes."

"You had better not... there's no need to..." Natalie glared at him. "Dean's not like that. There will be no call for hexing, thank you very much."

Kingsley smirked at her knowingly, and Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Well, I was going to ask you something else, but I don't want your painter boyfriend coming after me."

"He's not my boyfriend," Natalie said loudly, knowing Kings was enjoying her twisting on her hook here. "He's not my boyfriend. I don't know what we... look... it's not really your business and I don't feel comfortable talking about it just yet... and you're all too aware of this, so no more enjoying my discomfort. What else were you going to ask?"

"Maggie's going to be out of the country on business on the first. That's the night of the Ministry's Winterval thing. I need an escort. You ready to sit at the grown-up table? I heard your buddy Harry was invited to this thing... as well as a few department heads, some people you might want to meet. But if some artist type is going to try to pluck my eyes out with his paintbrush for escorting his girl around, I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't."

Natalie was smiling widely. "I'm not Dean's girl. We're just..." Friends? No, not really. Friends don't kiss with that much tongue. "Just, you know. We're just... again, not your business. Um, anyhow. Yeah. I'd be honored to escort you to the ball."

Kings was giving her this look.

"What?"

"It's formal. That means a dress or women's dress robes, you know that right?"

Natalie glared at him. "I have a dress."

"Maggie said if you needed to go shopping this weekend for suitable robes she is available."

Natalie's eyes narrowed. This had Margaret Shacklebolt written all over it. No way Kings would come up with something like this on his own. "This was Maggie's idea, huh?"

"What can I say, brat? My wife thinks you need to get out more too. Have dates. Do something besides study. She said there would be lots of young eligible bachelors at this thing. Plus, she doesn't like me going to these things alone. Says Jones, Tonks and I drink too much when left to our own devices. Wait until I tell her little bratty Natty has herself a beau though."

Natalie ignored that last part. "Auror Jones will be there?"

She hadn't seen Hestia Jones in weeks. Natalie wanted to make sure she was all right. She had even been thinking of dropping by the woman's flat but did not want to get chewed out for butting her nose in where it might not belong.

"She was invited, as was Tonks."

Natalie smiled. Sure, she'd have to wear a dress or dress robes, but maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

"So has this Dean Thomas kissed you or anything? Do I need to have a chat with him?"

Natalie rolled her eyes and left the office. Godric save her from meddling parenting types.


{SUMMARY} Natalie gets asked to escort Kingsley to the ball in his wife's place... after being teased about Dean.