Unofficial Portkey Archive

Just between Friends by GhostOrchidz
EPUB MOBI HTML Text

Just between Friends

GhostOrchidz

Chapter 4: "The Engagement Party"

*************

"Blaise Zabini!" Luna exclaimed staring shocked at Ginny. It was later that day and Ginny had told Luna who she had gotten to be Hermione's date.

"I know! But I had asked Draco..." Ginny started playing with the brightly colored wool blanket that Luna had gotten in Norway one summer while looking for Bippity BoBo's which lay strewn across Luna's bed.

That was the kind of vibe that Luna's room gave off. Bright colors in odd arrangements all over her room. With one big poster of a two year old edition of The Quibbler which had in the middle a very muscular red haired men with a thick beard holding up a very odd looking creature. The man kept looking from side to side grinning while the creature kept blinking looking confused.

"You asked Draco first!" Luna exclaimed once again.

"Yes! I was desperate!" Ginny insisted.

"Oh my, Ginny." Luna said simply sitting down in front of her vanity and beginning to brush her long blonde hair.

"But Draco couldn't make it so he offered to have someone else go in his place. So naturally, I got excited! Then he tells me..." Ginny said.

****

Flashback

"My good friend Blaise." Draco said smiling as if proud of himself. On the other hand Ginny looked at him horrified.

"Excuse me! Did I hear you correctly? Did you say Blaise. As in Blaise Zabini?" Ginny asked hoping she had heard wrong.

"Yes, Blaise. As in Blaise Zabini. What's wrong with him? Many women find him a very handsome, charming man quite like myself." Draco said with the infamous grin.

"Hardly! Do you actually think that Hermione will agree to go with someone who contributed in making her life at sometimes unbearable with your repulsive cronies and yourself!" Ginny raged.

Draco looked at her with disregard. "Are you done? he asked in a bored tone.

"I think so." Ginny said groaning and sliding into a chair.

"Look, he wont treat her like dirt or like she is beneath him. I'll make sure he treats with the utmost respect. And be a perfect date. Or as close as possible to the perfect since I cannot make it." He said smiling smugly.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I don't know...I mean Hermione going out with B...B..." Ginny said forcing his name to come out of her mouth.

"Blaise Zabini." Draco said slowly pronouncing his name.

"I know how to say it!" Ginny said. She sighed.

"Look if I'm wrong. And I highly doubt I will be. You wont have to go with me to the Christmas party." Draco said.

"Really?" Ginny said smiling.

"Yeah. But I highly doubt that I'll be wrong. Blaise owes me one. And once I have a little talk with Blaise about the time I saved him from being hung in Cancun after sleeping with the President of Mexico's daughter he'll be more than happy to take your lovely Hermione to Harry's party." Draco said.

"Saturday! 8:00. Tell him to be at our flat prompt." Ginny said standing up and walking out the door.

****

End of Flashback

"I had no other choice! There was no one else I could find." Ginny said.

"How about one of the guys in your address book?" Luna asked trying to style her hair in a way that would have most likely scared most children and some small nocturnal creatures.

"Oh no way!" Ginny said amazed that the thought had even crossed her mind but at the same time not surprised at all since it was coming from Luna.

"Why not?" Luna asked doing some sort of strange beauty ritual that consisted of her taking her thumb and pointing finger and putting one on her cheekbone and the other on her brow and stretching the skin in between making her eyes appear to be bulging out.

"Because those guys are wild! They like to have a good time. They'll be expecting something in return from her and you know Hermione is a bit..." Ginny said.

"Prude." Luna said finishing her sentence.

"Exactly. I mean remember when we went to The Three Broomsticks that one time and those 3 cute wizards were sitting in the table next to us." Ginny said.

"Yeah and one of them came up to Hermione and asked her on a date. And when she came home that night she had freaked out when he had tried to kiss her goodnight on the cheek." Luna said.

"Exactly!" Ginny said.

"Well lets hope Hermione doesn't hate you completely when she finds out who you found." Luna said.

Ginny looked at her and shook her head. "Thanks." Ginny said.

"Who are you going with?" Luna asked her forming her mouth in a big O and then closing it.

Ginny was taken aback. She had not even thought about getting a date for herself.

" You know what I don't even know. I haven't even thought about finding one for myself." Ginny said.

"Oh well since you don't have one you can go with my cousin Timothy! I invited him since he's coming to visit in London." Luna said turning around to face her.

"Timothy...Timothy. Wait is that the cousin that came to your birthday party with a big purple hat with leopard print?" Ginny asked.

Luna nodded enthusiastically. "He's such a spiffy dresser." she said.

Ginny smiled uneasily. "Um you know I don't think I need a date..." Ginny said trying to get out of the situation.

"No! No! Don't be silly! I'll send him an owl." Luna said reaching into the little night table next to her bed and opened a drawer to pull out some parchment.

Ginny opened her mouth but then shut it. She knew she wouldn't be able to convince Luna that she really didn't need a date but she knew even if she did not go with him she would see him there, Luna would reintroduce them, and he'd be asking questions all night. Then she thought something she could not believe had even crossed her mind...she would have rather gone with Draco.

*******************

Hermione ran a hand through her bushy hair as she set down a stack of papers with cases ranging from lamps turning off when muggles tried to go down the stairs to televisions that would play porno each time a child would have it on a children's station. She began to thumb through the papers as a voice sounded in front of her desk.

She looked up to see Maximilian Stuart. A coworker of hers whom she could not stand. He was tall with brown hair and a crooked nose.

"Read about you in the newspaper this weekend." he said leaning against the wall of her desk and looking at his fingernails.

"Yeah who didn't." Hermione said going back to her work.

"I found the article quite humorous actually. I mean Harry Potter asking you to marry him." Max said laughing his cold laugh.

Hermione blushed with anger. "Why is that?" she asked as she continued to sort the papers.

"Because why would Harry Potter in his right mind ask YOU to marry him!" Max said.

Hermione didn't want to admit it but that had really hurt. Then she turned angry. "You know what! Harry and I have been friends since we were 11 years old. I was just helping him pick out a ring for his now fiancé Jacklyn! And I just happen to be going to his engagement party in two days with the most magnificent guy!" Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself.

'Damn my temper!' she thought mentally cursing herself. Max looked at her and laugh.

"Wow. How pathetic!" he said laughing.

"What do you mean?" she asked completely embarrassed with herself.

"Well obviously that's all you ever will be to Potter. I mean best friend's for 12 years and nothing. I mean he actually asked you to help you pick out an engagement ring for his GIRLFRIEND. Which may I add is not you." he said sneering at her. "And you think that if you pretend that the date you have will get your mind off being in love with Harry..."

"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" Hermione yelled standing up and breathing hard.

Hermione felt like someone had just crushed all of her insides. She could feel the tears starting to build up behind her eyes. She knew he was right even though it killed her to admit it.

"OOh. Did I strike a nerve?" Max asked continuing to laugh.

"Get out!" she said trying to calm down.

"It's the truth isn't it?" Max asked.

Hermione then grabbed her wand and raised it toward him.

"Get out." she repeated menacingly.

Max chuckled and started to walk away. "You know you can't perform any spells that would hurt anyone in the workplace Hermione." he said.

Hermione knew this was true but frankly she didn't care and she was running about 50 different types of hexes that she could throw at him that would all leave him not being able to sit down properly in a seat for months.

He then gave her one last evil smile and left. Hermione looked at the stack of papers left of work.

'Screw it.' she thought and grabbed her things and apparated home.

"You better have gotten me the best date you could muster!" Hermione said staring intently.

Ginny smiled uneasily.

****************

"I cannot believe you did this to me." Hermione said as Ginny straightened the final piece of Hermione's hair.

It was the night of the party and Hermione was in her bathroom letting Ginny attempt to straighten her hair. It now hung to her mid back in soft waves. She had even let Ginny pick out a dress for her which she now regretted. It was a tight red number that reached mid thigh. With thin spaghetti straps not much was keeping this dress from having her breasts dangerously pop out at any given moment. Which brought up another problem with the dress...they couldn't BREATHE! Did she mention that it was incredibly tight?

"Oh Hermione stop it! You look Gorgeous!" Ginny said stepping back to admire her work.

"So does being gorgeous consist of not breathing properly." Hermione asked gasping for air as her chest raised making her breasts swell dramatically.

"Beauty requires pain, my dear! I'm so happy you had that, what is it called again, wonderful bra?" Ginny said name dropping.

"Wonder bra." Hermione corrected her putting a hand to her stomach and trying to regulate her breathing.

"Right! It makes your boobs so magnificent. You'll definitely catch Harry's eye. And your date's as well." Ginny said. "Your body is to die for in this dress!"

"Yeah, with them popping out I'm sure a lot of people will be staring at me. I look like a whore." Hermione said making a face at her reflection in the mirror.

"No you don't! You look like a vixen!" Ginny said. "You'll definitely upstage Jacklyn."

Hermione looked at herself again. She was still a bit iffy on the get up. But then thought about it and she realized she did look rather sexy if she did say so herself. She had put some dark red lipstick and made her eyelashes longer. She really did look quite foxy.

"So what's my date's name again?" Hermione asked managing to perform a spell that made the dress a bit looser.

"Nice try but you know very well I haven't told you who it is." Ginny said now looking at herself in the black dress she had on. She tossed her red hair back and pulled the dress down a bit at the bottom.

"I honestly don't know why it's such a big secret." Hermione said looking at herself sideways and her eyes widening as she had never realized how big her bum really was.

"It's not a secret really just a surprise." Ginny said putting on some mascara.

"You two look so beautiful...like swans!" Luna said stepping into the doorway. They turned to see her in a hot pink dress that had black flowers over it.

"Um, thanks Luna. Nice outfit..." Ginny said raising her eyebrow.

"Thank you. I thought it was going to be too fancy but then I thought oh well!" Luna said.

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and exchanged a mental laugh.

"May I say Hermione that your bosom looks quite nice." Luna said.

Hermione looked at her taken aback. "Um well thank you...Luna." she said smiling weakly.

"I mean they're nice and round and perky. Great for breast feeding children. I think Harry will notice and then ask you to marry him and bear his children." Luna said. Ginny burst out laughing. Hermione looked at her and made a gesture to stop laughing.

"I'm sure that'll happen Luna." she said.

Then they heard a loud pop outside their front door.

"That must be him! One minute." Ginny said. She then started to walk toward the door.

Hermione felt like she was going to faint. She was starting to get massive butterflies in her stomach. She took a deep breath and looked to see who was at the front door.

There stood Blaise Zabini with a red rose in his hand. His dark eyes looked at them mischievously. He wore very nice midnight blue dress robes and a smirk that could rival Draco's.

"Good evening." he said and kissed Ginny's hand.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Yeah." she said. She knew it was all an act. He then looked past her to Hermione and his eyes seemed to flicker with surprise. His eyes looked at Ginny once again with slightly raised eyebrows as if saying 'Draco didn't tell me she changed.'

"Hello, Hermione." he said in a cool tone and walked over to her and handed her the rose.

Hermione stared at him shocked. She looked past him at Ginny who was smiling at her shyly.

"Th...Thank you." she said accepting the rose.

"You look quite stunning." he said kissing her hand. Hermione blushed.

"LUNA!" a voice yelled outside.

"Oh! That must be my cousin!" Luna said. She ran quickly to the door and opened it.

There stood a fair haired wizard with a bright orange suit with green trimming on.

"Oh Merlin!" Ginny said putting her hand to her forehead. "Help me."

"What, may I ask, happened to him?" Blaise said looking at Timothy as if he had just eaten something unpleasant.

"Luna's cousin. My date, sadly." Ginny said unpleasantly. Timothy walked in with some rather smelly flowers for Ginny.

"Hello Ginevra! These are for you." he said grinning and handing the flowers to her. Ginny took them.

"Um, thank you." she said trying not to smell them.

"They're supposed to be an aphrodisiac." Timothy said winking at her. Ginny smiled uneasily.

"I'm going to put these in the kitchen." she said and walked in there quickly.

"Timothy, this is Hermione and her date Blaise." Luna said smiling as she introduced them.

"How do you do?" Hermione said smiling. Timothy took her hand and began to kiss it and then started to kiss up her arm. Hermione's eyes widened along with her mouth.

"Excuse me but I do believe she is my date, mate." Blaise said sticking his hand in front of

Timothy's face so he could shake it.

Timothy grinned and shook it.

"Sorry but she does look rather beautiful." Timothy said.

"I definitely agree with that." Blaise said and smiled slyly at her. Hermione continued to blush furiously.

Ginny came back to the living room trying to keep the fake smile on her face. "Well, we better head over there." Ginny said. Timothy walked next to her and grabbed her rather aggressively.

"I do agree!" he said.

Ginny smiled uncomfortably and knew it was going to be a long night.

******************

"Are you sure you gave them the right venue." Harry asked Ron for 6th time that night. They were both at the food table awaiting the arrival of the girls.

"Yes, I told Luna that it was at Count Vlad's Opera House." Ron said shoving a little pink finger like food into his mouth.

"You told Luna! They're probably in Romania, knowing her!" Harry said.

"Relax. I told Hermione and Ginny to." Ron said.

"Aren't they bringing dates?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. Ginny's coming with Luna's cousin, Timothy and Hermione is bringing this really amazing guy." Ron said realizing he still had no clue who Hermione was bringing.

"Really? Who's this really amazing guy?" Harry asked.

"Um, you know I completely forgot his name. We're just so used to calling each other mate because he's such a cool friend and guy and amazing so we don't call each other by our erm names." Ron said knowing he was digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole.

Harry looked at him as if he were crazy. "Riight." Harry said shaking his head. Then smiled as Jacklyn came over. Ron had to admit she looked pretty good. She wore a long pale blue dress that matched her eyes and hung to her body like a glove. It showed off her toned body and it's curves. Her blonde hair was up with tendrils framing her face.

"Hello love." she said smiling brightly and giving Harry a kiss.

"Hi, love. Where have you been?" Harry asked holding her around the waist.

"Oh just mingling with the guests and showing off this magnificent ring." she giggled holding out her hand making the diamond sparkle.

Ron raised his glass of fire whiskey to his lips and rolled his eyes. As his eyes settled to the other end of the dance floor he saw the girls. His eyes then widened when he saw who Hermione's date was. Ron spat out fire whiskey. Harry and Jacklyn both jumped and then turned to what Ron was gawking at.

"What is he doing here!" Harry demanded his eyes narrowing.

"You don't like him dear?" Jacklyn asked looking confused at her fiancé's reaction.

"He was an old classmate at Hogwarts whom Ron and I didn't get along with." Harry explained.

"Well it seems Hermione must have invited him." Jacklyn said eyeing Hermione dangerously.

"What are you talking about? Hermione isn't here yet." Harry said looking at her questionably.

"Erm, Harry. She's the one in the red." Ron said looking at her uneasily.

Harry turned and spotted her. His eyes almost popped out. He could not believe that was Hermione. She looked very...different.

Hermione spotted Harry and blushed the color of her dress. At that moment she felt like just turning around and running out of the place. Harry was giving her a look that made her feel as though he were thinking less of her.

"Oh what have I gotten myself into! I shouldn't be here." Hermione said stopping. Blaise turned to her.

"And why is that?" He asked.

" Because look how everyone is looking at me. They're probably thinking I'm some prostitute you just picked up." she said putting her hand to her face feeling how hot it was.

Blaise snorted. "Please, many of these people know who I am and clearly know that I would never resort myself to the level of hiring someone to fulfill my needs. They're staring at you like this because they probably wish that they were with you or looked half as good as you." Blaise said. Hermione looked at him and smiled. They walked up to Harry, Ron and Jacklyn.

"Ronald!" Luna said and walked over to him and kissed him. Ron wrapped his arms around her and lifted her.

"Do you like kinky things?" Timothy asked Ginny all of a sudden. Ginny coughed and looked at him.

"P…Pardon." she said.

"Do you like kinky things?" he repeated.

"UH...So Harry great place to have your party! It's beautiful." Ginny said changing the subject.

"Thanks. I found this place and fell in love with it." Jacklyn said taking credit. "I told Harry about it and told him we must have it! Forget his house!"

"Well you made a very good selection." Hermione said smiling at her trying to be nice.

Jacklyn looked at her as if she were something that she had just picked off the bottom of her shoe.

" I know." she said and turned back to Harry.

"Darling. I'm going to go to the powder room." She said and kissed Harry good bye.

"Very interesting date you brought Hermione." Harry said once Jacklyn left.

Hermione blushed. "Yes well, I...I...saw Blaise and we got to talking and we just clicked." she replied.

"Really? I'm surprised. Considering our past with...him." Harry said glaring at Blaise. Blaise looked unfazed.

"That's the one thing I adore about Hermione. Even though we all acted our age when we children, and said things we should not have said. Hermione saw past that and realized that I am indeed more mature and gave me a shot. We don't even hold any grudges about that time in our life. However there are some people who do and can't get over it." Blaise said smoothly and eyed Harry.

Harry's jaw clenched. "What are you trying to say, Blaise." he said standing up straight.

Blaise smirked. "I think you know." he said.

"I don't hold grudges. I just know who has changed and who hasn't and I honestly think you haven't." Harry said.

"Really?" Blaise said putting his arm around Hermione's waist.

Harry's eyes wandered to her waist and his fists clenched. Then absent-mindedly his eyes traveled down to her legs and then to her breasts. The he shook his head and stepped forward. Ron got in front of him.

"Ok, mate um...why don't we say hello to your other guests. Luna?" Ron said moving Harry toward the crowds.

"Yes." she said looking at him.

"Would you care to join us?" he said.

"Well I was looking forward to seeing what would happen." She said looking from Harry to Blaise.

"Luna." Ron said frustrated.

"Well if you really want me to." she said sighing and following him.

"That was awesome!" Ginny said excitedly as they walked away.

"How was that awesome?" Hermione asked completely embarrassed.

"Because Harry was getting jealous! Did you see him checking you out?" Ginny said.

"No, he was just looking at this very provocative dress I have on and probably thinking how whorish I look! Oh Merlin! What have I done!" Hermione said putting her hand to her forehead.

"No believe me, the way he was looking at you. It looked like he was imagining throwing you on the bed and ravishing you." Blaise said.

This made Hermione turn bright red. "I...I need to use the restroom. Excuse me." she said and started to walk toward the door.

"That girl has some low self esteem." Blaise said shaking his head.

"Tell me about it. She's a beautiful girl I wish she could just see that." Ginny said taking a glass of champagne from the table and sipping it.

"You know, Ginevra. I was looking . at your bum which might I say is nice. And correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you have any underwear on." Timothy said grinning.

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, Timothy but that is none of your business." Ginny said calmly to him.

"So wait, this means we're not going to..." Timothy said. Ginny's mouth opened wide.

"No!" she said. Then she felt something ringing in her purse. She opened it up and found her beeper buzzing. They had given it to her a St. Mungo's in case of emergencies. It read: "Urgent! Please come to Sam's room."

"Oh no! I need to go. I have to see a patient." Ginny said to Blaise more then Timothy.

"Ok I will tell Hermione you left." Blaise said.

"Thank you." she said.

"I'll go with you!" Timothy said.

"NO! I..I mean, that's not necessary. They need me and non staff members are not allowed after a certain time." Ginny lied.

"Oh well. I'll tell Luna to give you my address so we can maybe have dinner naked. It's a traditional custom in Tenabuhbuh." Timothy said. Ginny looked at him as if he were crazy whereas Blaise was attempting to hold back laughter.

"Yeah, um, I'll get back to you on that." Ginny said backing away. She then walked away.

*************

Hermione walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She needed a moment to calm down.

'Come on. Your a big girl. You can handle anything that comes your way. Harry is not thinking less of you, he was simply surprised at your appearance tonight. You do look quite difference.' Hermione told herself. Then Hermione groaned. If only she could take her own advice. She then straightened out her dress and pulled her lipstick out. She reapplied some and then stuck it back in her purse and walked out.

The echo her heels made as they clicked on the floor was the only sign she knew she was alone in the hall. She turned the corner and halted to a stop. She saw two people embraced in each other's arms kissing rather aggressively. The women's familiar light blue dress was hiked up as her leg was bent at the knee and her foot was pressed against the wall behind her. The man's hand was grabbing at her thigh and he was pressing his lower extremities against hers. Her blonde hair was messy as his other hand was playing with it.

Hermione gasped. She knew who they were. It was Jacklyn and her team mate William Meyers. Hermione stumbled back and started to run down the hall. She leaned against the wall once she turned the corner. She regulated her breathing. 'My God! Should I tell Harry? No! I can't it would devastate him!' she thought. 'Well he hasn't exactly been too nice to me tonight.'

She then walked into where the party was. She was still thinking about what she had just saw and what exactly she was going to do when a glass of champagne appeared in front of her. She stumbled back and look to see who had handed it to her. It was Blaise.

"Thank you." she said and took it from him.

"Ginny had an emergency at the hospital. She had to leave." Blaise said.

"Great." Hermione said and then gulped it down. She then stared in front of her.

"What's wrong?" Blaise asked.

"I...I just saw something very surprising." Hermione said. She then took another glass of champagne.

"What?" Blaise asked sipping his slowly.

"I'd rather not say." she said and then gulped that one down.

Blaise looked at her knowing that this could probably be going down the wrong path.

"Hey. Be careful now. Don't want to go overboard." he said eyeing her as she grabbed another glass.

"I. I don't care! This has started off as a bad night. Harry has been acting very rude toward me and well. I frankly do not deserve it." Hermione said taking a sip of the new glass in her hand.

"I agree." Blaise said continuing to look at her cautiously.

"I mean I'm not the simple minded, work a holic, does not go out on date, prude friend he used to know." Hermione continued feeling a sudden rush of confidence. Alcohol made her this way. It didn't take that many glasses to get her tipsy.

Ron and Luna came over with Timothy who was looking slightly discouraged at not having Ginny to look at anymore.

"What's going on?" Ron asked eyeing Hermione who was gulping down, yes, another glass of champagne.

"Hermione's taking a stand." Blaise said sipping his and smirking slightly.

"You know. I've always been a good friend to him. And I would most definitely be a terrific girlfriend. He does not know what he's missing out on! He could have this!" Hermione said and then ran her hand up her side showing emphasis on her body.

Ron looked at her wide eyed along with Blaise as Luna and Timothy studied her as if she were an exhibit at a museum.

"And I am great at sex to! Many people do not know this but oh yeah! I am!" Hermione continued taking another glass of champagne.

Ron and Blaise burst out laughing. Timothy's eyes lightened up. "Really?" he said brightly.

"Back off!" Ron warned.

"I mean he's seen me naked. He's tried to act as if he didn't see it but he did!" Hermione continued.

"What's going on?" Harry asked behind her. She turned to see him with Jacklyn who looked like she had before she had her brief romp with William.

"Oh I think she knows." Hermione said taking a swing of her champagne and staring hard at Jacklyn. Jacklyn looked at her as if she were pathetic.

"Excuse me?" Jacklyn replied.

"I just saw her outside kissing and groping William Meyers. Her team mate." Hermione said glaring at her. Luna gasped, Blaise raised his eyebrow, Ron stare wide eyed, and Timothy looked as if nothing had happened. Harry looked taken aback. Jacklyn however, snorted.

"Are you crazy!" she said taking a glass of champagne. "Oh no, wait. Your just drunk." Jacklyn said drinking her champagne.

"I am not lying! I saw them Harry!" Hermione slurred turning to him and pleading.

Harry looked at Hermione with disgust. "Your drunk Hermione. Why should I believe you?" he said.

Hermione felt her heart tear. "Because I'm your friend." she said softly.

"Really? Well, you sure are not acting like it. I mean look how your dressed, look how your talking. This isn't the Hermione I know. This is..." Harry said trying to find the words.

"Whorish Hermione." Jacklyn finished for him. Hermione's eyes widened. Then before she knew what she was doing she felt her hand burn as she had raised it to smack Jacklyn across the face. Many guests turned around to see the commotion. Jacklyn's head had swung to the side with the force of the blow. She slowly turned her head around and looked at Hermione with pure malice.

"Why you little..!" Jacklyn said rushing forward to grab at Hermione. Blaise and Harry got in the way.

"Hermione. I want you to leave!" Harry said sternly looking at her with a mix of anger and disappointment.

"But..." she began.

"Leave." he repeated more forcefully. Hermione looked at him, her eyes filling with tears.

"Come on Hermione. This party isn't even that great." Blaise said and led Hermione toward the doors. Luna stepped up. "No, it's ok. I'll take her home." he said. Hermione felt completely humiliated. All eyes were on her as she walked out of the dance hall. Blaise and her apparated to her flat.

"Thank you for taking me. I know this wasn't the best evening you had in mind." Hermione said at the front door.

"Hey, it was entertaining." Blaise said. He then smiled. "I believe you by the way. I have friends who know her, and they've speculated for months what's been going on with her and William."

"Too bad Harry didn't." Hermione grumbled.

"He's an oblivious prick. He had what was coming to him. He'll realize it sooner or later and he'll feel like the biggest idiot. Don't worry about it." Blaise said. He then cupped her cheek and kissed the other one. "I had a wonderful time nonetheless."

Hermione looked at him and smiled despite feeling like complete and utter crap. "Maybe we could try this date thing again. Another time. I'll send you an owl." he said. Hermione looked at him surprised but nodded.

"I'd like that." she said. He then took her hand and kissed it. He gave her one last smile and then apparated.

Hermione stood there for a moment not knowing exactly what happened but then found herself opening the door and heading to her room. Once there she then broke down. She grabbed each shoe and threw them across the room one by one and collapsed against the wall crying. She had ruined everything with her and Harry. She knew it.

***********

Ginny hurried down the hall as fast she could in her 4 inch heels. Then Draco heard the footsteps and stepped outside to see if it was her. He was correct. He stood there though for a moment tilting his head to the side as if confused.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's the shoes." she replied pointing at her feet. Draco snapped his fingers.

"That's why you looked different. I thought you had grown taller miraculously." he said smirking. She punched his arm hard.

"Is this why you interrupted my time at Harry's party?" she asked.

"No. How is it by the way?" he asked

.

"Not very good. Luna's cousin, my date, is such a pervert! He asked me if I was kinky!" Ginny said putting her hands on hips.

"No way!" Draco said staring at her wide eyed.

"Yeah! And then he said 'I couldn't help but wonder if you were wearing any underwear because I was staring at your arse and I don't think you are." Ginny said shaking her head.

"Well are you?" Draco asked grinning.

"DRACO!" Ginny yelled.

"Ok! Right! Ah! I have some exciting news." he said.

"What is it?" she asked.

" I did it!" he said excitedly.

"Did what?" she asked.

" I got him to remember his parents!" he said.

Ginny's eyes widened. " No!" she said amazed.

"Yes! Come see." he said and led her into Sam's room.

"Hi Ginny!" Sam said smiling from his bed. He had two pictures in front of him.

"Hi there Sam!" she said smiling and sitting down next to him. "How are you?"

"I'm great!" Sam said.

"Sam. Do these people look familiar to you?" Draco asked holding up the two pictures.

Ginny saw they were of his parents.

Sam nodded. "Yeah! They're my mum and dad!" Sam said. Ginny gasped. She couldn't believe it! Draco had actually done it. She had actually thought he wasn't going to make it work. But he had proved her wrong. He had proved her wrong on a lot of things.

"Well what do you have to say?" Draco said after Ginny had been quite for a couple of minutes.

She turned and looked at him straight in the eyes.

"What color dress do you prefer on me for the Christmas party. Green or red?" Ginny replied.

Draco looked at her surprised. Then he smiled. She did the same.

"I have always been partial to green myself." he responded.

**************************

AN: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! They make me so happy when I see them! They really inspire me to write more and more. I hope you liked this chapter and as always review!