Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley were walking down a street in Diagon Alley, excitedly chatting about the upcoming Summer Solstice Ball at the Ministry. Ginny was going on the arm of one Mr. Draco Malfoy, who after months of flirting had finally asked her out on a date. Ginny was very excited and decided that new dress robes were in order.

Even though Hermione would not be attending, as she no longer worked for the Ministry, Ginny had still asked for her help in picking out some robes. They stopped in front of a shop with an impressive window display, of two moving mannequins, who were dressed in fancy and expensive looking dress robes. "This is it, Madame Coûteux's Fantastique Dress Robes." Said Ginny.

"They look Expensive." Hermione said as they stepped inside.

"They are expensive, but they have the best." Ginny said walking further into the store and walking towards a clearance rack. Hermione laughed and also began rummaging through the rack.

"Look at this one Ginny." She said holding up a gorgeous midnight blue robe that had a plunging neckline and a matching cloak.

"Something a little more…modest I think." Ginny said looking at it, her nose wrinkled.

"May I assist you?" asked a tall, skinny woman asked in a thick French accent. Ginny surmised the women to be Madame Coûteux.

"Yes actually, my friend here is going to the Ministry's Summer Solstice Ball and needs something to wear." Hermione said, speaking up for Ginny, who was about to refuse help.

"Oh mon dieu! Well, I 'ave just the thing! Suivez-moi!" Madame Coûteux said, walking to a rack near the back of the store.

"Follow her Ginny." Hermione said, giving her friend a little push, then following behind. Madame Coûteux was muttering to herself in French, looking through the rack.

"Ah! Voilà! I think that this will be quite perfect for you Mlle." She said holding up a forest green satin robe, with a light green rose embroidered on the bodice. It's stem wound all the way to the bottom of the skirt. The robe had a V-shaped neckline that was a lot more modest than the one Hermione had picked off the other rack. It had long flowy sleeves that passed her hands and opened wide. At the tip of the V of the neck was a tear shaped diamond. The robe came with a matching forest green velvet cloak, which had little drawstrings to keep it closed.

Ginny's breath caught in her throat. "Oh it's gorgeous. How much is it?" she said, running her hand along the smooth fabric.

"Only 200 Galleons." Madame Coûteux said smiling. "It is one of my finest." Noticing the sad look on Ginny's face, she spoke again. "I can cut the cost by 15 and give you a 34 galleons a month for 5 months payment plan."

"Really? Ginny said smiling. That would be really kind of you."

"No problem Cherie. Lets just have you try this on, make the adjustments then take care of everything else. Vite vite, into the dressing room." She said handing Ginny the beautiful dress robes.

About an hour later, Ginny and Hermione walked out of the store, a large parcel in Ginny's arms. "So what are you doing the night of the ball?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"Probably nothing. I may have patrol duty, but other than that just a date with my current reading book." Hermione said shrugging.

"I'm surprised no one asked you to the ball. I was positive Harry would."

"He did, and I said no. I don't want to give him the wrong idea. I know he still likes me, but I just don't want to get back together with him. I broke things off for a reason."

"Because of your teaching job. Hermione, what's one night? Go with him as a friend. He still is looking for a date you know."

"No, Ginny. I don't want to. Can we please talk about something else?"

"No we can't." Ginny said stopping, and moving in front of Hermione. "I'm going to treat you to lunch, and your going to tell me why you are so adamant about not even going as his friend. Lets go."

Hermione sighed. "Oh alright." The two girls walked into the Leaky Cauldron, and sat down at a table. After getting their food, Ginny turned to Hermione.

"Okay, spill." She said, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Harry has been pushing lately to get back together. He keeps telling me that we belong together, and that it doesn't bother him I'd have to live at Hogwarts, and that I could even floo back and forth after we got married. He doesn't get that the distance isn't what bothers me."

"Then what does?"

Hermione paused for a second, and moved her salad around with her fork. "I guess, just that I don't see myself with him. He wants a large family, and I want a carrier. I'm so happy were I am in my life right now. The staff at Hogwarts is enough family for me, and I have hundreds of children. I don't really want any of my own."

"Hermione, how long has it been since you've been on a date?"

"Since…Harry actually."

"But…oh my. You're a twenty-five year old virgin." Ginny said whispering.

"So? I have more important things to worry about than getting shag, and our a virgin too!"

"No, I'm not. This won't actually be my first date with Draco you know. Mum thinks it is, but if only she knew…"

"Ginny!" Hermione said in a scandalized voice.

"What? He and I have been together a while. Tomorrow night is the first time anyone will see us together though. I'm going to share another secret with you too. I-"

"Oh my god, you're pregnant." Hermione said, cutting her off.

"What? No! I'm getting married. He's giving me the ring tonight."

"Oh Ginny! Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

Hermione shoved the last of her salad in her mouth, and looked up at the big grandfather clock in the corner of the room. "I have to get going. I have to meet Severus in Hogsmeade in about 10 minutes."

"Why?"

"We have an appointment with the man who runs the apothecary there, to try and get a rare ingredient. He said the man would probably help me, but only if he was there too, and that this Mr. Jacobs can't really be trusted."

"Right. Well I guess I'll see you later then. Are you coming to mums brunch tomorrow?"

"Hopefully. I really have to run. I'll see you later." Hermione said, before apparating out with a pop.

Arriving at the apothecary Hermione browsed while she waited for Severus to show up. She only had to wait a few minutes before she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hermione."

"Oh good you're here."

"So what did Miss. Weasley say when you told her you had to cut your shopping trip short?"

"Nothing really, but you were right. She and Draco are already together."

"I told you." He said smirking. They walked up to the front counter, and Severus addressed the boy standing behind.

"Excuse me sir, but we have an appointment with Mr. Jacobs. The boy looked up slowly.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Severus Snape, and this is Hermione Granger."

"Ah. My Uncle is expecting you. Follow me." He led them down a hallway behind the desk. They stopped at a door at the end of it, and he knocked three times. A scary looking man answered.

"This better be good Charles-oh hello Severus, Miss…Gardner?"

"Granger." Hermione corrected.

"Right well, come in." He said stepping aside to allow them entrance "And you boy, back to that desk, and if I find anything else gets stolen under your watch again…" He said, leaving the sentence hanging. The boy turned a shade of white, nodded and practically ran back to the desk.

"Now Severus, what can I do for and your lovely friend?" Mr. Jacobs asked, as he seated himself behind a grand desk, and motioned for Hermione and Severus to sit in the strait backed chairs in front of it.

"I would like to negotiate the possibility of acquiring some Unicorn Blood."

"My my. May I ask what you would need such a rare and expensive ingredient for?"

"An ongoing experiment, what for is the business of myself and my assistant."

"Yes, of course. Just curious you know such an odd request. Well, let's see." He said pulling a large ledger out of his desk and flipping through the pages. "Ah yes. I do have a contact that could get it for you. But at a great cost."

"And what would that be?" Severus asked, looking into the older man's eyes menacingly.

"1000 Galleons to pay for the blood, and another 300 for my contacts trouble, plus an additional 50 for my trouble-a grand total of 1350 galleons. Of course there are other ways to take care of the payments if this is to far above what you can spend." He said looking at Hermione.

"Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself old man. You'll get the ingredient for me for…"

"200 Galleons." Hermione said, putting in how much she could afford.

"Yes 200 Galleons, or else." Severus said rising to his feet. Hermione could practically see the man cower.

"Yes, yes of course. 200 galleons should cover everything."

"I thought it might. Pay the dirty man Hermione."

Shaking, Hermione wrote out permission for him to have 200 Galleons drawn from her Gringotts vault.

"And should you even attempt to draw more than 200 Galleons, then you will find yourself in no state to ever deal with galleons again." Severus said, his eyes blazing.

"Of course Severus, of course. I would never dream of taking advantage of you." He said stuttering. He put the slip away and wrote out a receipt, and slid it towards Hermione, who picked it off the desk.

"Very well, we will leave now. Goodbye Mortamer." Severus said slipping an arm around Hermione's waist, and leading her out the door, and out of the apothecary.

"Are you okay?" he asked once they were a few yards away.

"I'm fine, though I see why you insisted on coming with me."

"Mortamer was a fellow death eater. He abandoned the day before Voldemort's downfall, and because of it was never caught. He's done some pretty heinous things. I would turn him in, though then I would have to admit to being present during those raids as well, and I would probably land myself in Azkaban. But dear old Mortamer is too stupid to realize that, so I get my rare ingredients very cheap."

Hermione giggled. "You're a true Slytherin."

"Yes, I am." He agreed. "When you get the owl saying the blood is in, let me know and I'll go get it for you."

Hermione nodded. "We should probably head back now. Time to make sure no students try to stay instead of going back to school."

"Ah the joys of being a teacher." He said sarcastically. Hermione just shook her head, a small smile on her face as they walked back towards the center of Hogsmeade.

So….what do you think? Also, I'm in the market for a beta, someone who is good at spelling and punctuation. Email me at mllefantom (don't forget to take out the space)if you are interested. I would be eternally grateful:)