Disclaimers: I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of the characters

Note: This is Hermione's 5th year and Ginny's 4th but for future reference, the war ended that year after the ministry fiasco. Just imagine all of 7th book happening after the ministry. Yes, Dumbledore is dead. Sorry, but couldn't make the story THAT off track. This is supposed to be a light fanfiction that's not too serious. I won't mention Draco and his Death Eater family much. Also, I won't tell it in the guys POV, since that always gives too much away. If you want to change that, just tell me and I'll see what everyone says. This is NOT some makeover fic and it's going to be gradual to be more realistic.

Summary: "Someone? The day you become someone is the day I bow down to a mudblood" With that, Draco turned and left. "Keep dreaming, Weaselette, and when -- IF you succeed in no longer being a dork, I swear to Merlin, I'll even compliment Eloise Midgen." Laughing at her hurt expression, Blaise went to find Draco. Hermione and Ginny told themselves that they would one day make the Slytherins eat their words. With that comes this story of Hermione and Ginny blossoming, all the while remembering the words of Draco and Blaise. Pairings: Hermione/Draco Ginny/Blaise

Please read and review. Thank you. Enjoy. ( I hope )

1. All's Fair in Love and War

Sighing a breath of content, Hermione stretched her arms, gently put down her book, and looked around at the people in the common room. In the corner, some third years were enjoying a game of Wizards Chess, Parvati, Lavendar, and some of the other girls were giggling over the latest gossips, Harry and Ron… they seemed to just be relaxing, truly carefree.. and for the first time, not lost in thoughts of anxiety. The war was over and the school year was quickly coming to an end. The OWL exams had seemed so long ago, now that there were only 2 weeks or so left.

Hermione was one of the few people who could not truly grasped that the war was really over. Glancing at the stairs, she saw Ginny descending and smiling. Catching the older girl's eyes, a wave of understanding flew to the redhead's eyes. Greeting Ginny with a wave of her hand, Hermione stood up as she walked over.

"Hey Mione."

"Hi Gin, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't know, I can't believe school is really going to be over. And when we come back… there's going to be so many faces… " Ginny paused and finally said in a small voice, "missing."

Quickly embracing her, Hermione felt the tug at her own heart. Feeling her eyes starting to water, she blinked away the tears. The war had had many casualties and wounded… no one had it "fair." There was not one student at Hogwarts who could say that they did not lose a friend, family, relative, etc. For Hermione, it had been her father, who had been killed in a muggle raid. For Ginny, it was Fred and Percy. But there were also their friends, Neville, Luna, Dean, Angelina, Padma, Hannah, and a number of others who were seriously injured.

Not wanting to waste the nice day being gloomy and crying, Ginny saw reminiscing in Hermione's eyes and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Suggesting that perhaps the fresh air and warmth outside would help them, they decided to go sit by the lake. Wiping her eyes and nodding, Hermione agreed.

"Why don't you go ahead Gin?" she said. "I'm just going to go upstairs to put away my book."

"I'll see you there then, Mione."

Sighing and trying not to think too much, Ginny headed to the Entrance Hall. Lost in her thoughts, she was brought out of her reverie when the bright, warm ray of sunlight hit her skin.

Looking up and seeing the beautiful grounds, she allowed a small smile to grace her face. The breeze was gentle and she let it blow at her hair. Walking slowly and starting to feel better, she didn't see the person walking towards the castle.

Hearing a laugh, she saw someone she really didn't want to deal with at the moment. She concentrated on the nice day and ignored his smirk.

She wouldn't let this git get to her on such a day. The look on his face though, made her quite wary. Sometimes, she wondered if she wasn't so poor, would her enemy treat her better. Shaking this thought away, she felt ashamed.

Her family was poor, she'll admit it. But she wouldn't know what she would do without them. In another family? She couldn't imagine it at all.

"Well, well, well, has the Weaselette lost her way?" The voice made her snap to attention and glare at the person who was none other than Zabini.

Feeling anger starting to surge through her veins, she growled and reached for her wand.

"Ooh, couldn't take that, could you?" he taunted.

"If you value your life, you had better shut up, before I hex you into the middle of next year!" she snapped, trying to constrain her anger.

Completely disregarding her words, he continued, "See, Weaselette, that's just your problem. No wonder no guys like you, you scare them all away."

He paused and looked at her face before starting again.

"But really, your nothing but an awkward dork with hand me down robes that happen to throw a good hex from stalking Potter all the time."

Feeling her anger increase twofold, she raised her wand and was about to send a bat-bogey when the meaning of his words sank in. She couldn't deny that the words stung. Even though Ginny knew that it was exaggerated, the general words still hit a nerve.

She knew she wasn't as fortunate and she was just getting out of her shell after all that happened in her first year. It wasn't like she WANTED to be a dork… She thought that she had improved… but his words felt like a slap in the face.

"Hit a nerve, did I?" He mocked at seeing her shocked face.

"Don't you DARE act like you know something when you clearly don't! I am going to show you one day and you will eat. your. words. I'll promise you that." She hissed angrily.

"Bravo," he clapped provokingly, "so the little weaselette has a backbone after all."

Growling in frustration, Ginny moved to pull out her wand.

"Well, I'm sure you'd love for me to stay and chat, but as amusing and fun as this was, I actually have a social life, so I'll be going now."

Not giving her a chance to retort, he seemed to just remember something and added, "Keep dreaming, Weaselette, but I won't eat my words as you put it, and when -- IF you succeed in no longer being a dork, I swear to Merlin, I'll even compliment Eloise Midgen."

Laughing at her hurt expression, Blaise went to find Draco.

Stomping her foot in vexation, Ginny yelled, "I'LL SHOW YOU ZABINI! WATCH YOUR BACK!" and taking a deep breath, she shouted in frustration "AAAGH!" and stomped the rest of the way to the lake.

Kicking rocks angrily, she sat down and waited for Hermione. Not having to wait long, she saw Hermione storm out of the castle looking ready to kill someone.

"I'll see you there then, Mione."

Going upstairs and clearing her head, she quickly put her book away. She told Harry and Ron she was going outside for a bit and left the common room. Deciding to go towards the other end of the 7th floor corridor, to have a little more time to herself, she regretted it as she saw the Room of Requirements.

Smiling at the memory of the DA, she teared up slightly on remembering Neville… in the Permanent Damage Ward. Shaking her head, she scolded herself for dwelling on such a thought.

Heading quickly down the flights, she was on the staircase with the trick step when.. who did she have to run into but Malfoy. Not feeling like arguing, she decided she would just quietly make her way pass.

But, of course, Malfoy, being Malfoy, just did not cooperate. Ignoring his comments, she made to turn back and go the long way around.

"Don't you walk away from me, you filthy mudblood."

This was the final straw, taking a few deep breaths, she attempted to ignore it again, until he continued to taunt.

"Did I hurt wittle Granger's feelings?" he mocked. "That's all you'll ever be, a mudblood. Nothing but a bookworm fluke. Lowlier than the soles of my shoes."

Turning around, she snapped, "You may still believe in that blood purity nonsense, but look where that got you and your Death Eater family! Nowhere, everywhere you go, you announce that you're a Malfoy and people frown upon hearing the name, knowing that your father is in Azkaban!"

Hermione knew she should've stopped here since she WAS crossing the line a bit, and on seeing his face contort into a murderous expression, she knew she did. But she kept going.

"Now who's the lowly one? Everything I'm saying is true and you know it, that's why you're getting so mad, isn't it?"

Laughing sourly, she continued, "Well, next time you want to talk about my blood status, I suggest you think about it. Look at Voldemort and learn from his downfall, he was a half blood himself and your side LOST! So don't you DARE start about MY "dirty" blood, because if anything, yours is worse!"

Taking a long breath after her tirade, she suddenly felt very small and cowered slightly at the expression on Malfoy's face. Trying not to let him get to her, she straightened up and stared defiantly at him.

"You might fool yourself into thinking you're someone, being 'smartest witch of your age,' but let me be the first to tell you the truth," he hissed.

"You are NOTHING, without your brains, what are you, Potty and Weasel, do they ever really hang out with you? I didn't think so, you're just their encyclopedia to pass their classes."

Knowing he hit a nerve, Hermione didn't let it show, she let the anger overpower the stinging feeling in her heart.

Seeing her face, he smirked triumphantly and taunted. "You. Are. Nobody."

Stuttering slightly, she retorted, "Y-you don't know what you're talking about," sounding very unsure, "and I'm going to prove it to you. I AM someone."

Laughing bitterly, he said, "Someone? The day you become someone is the day I bow down to a mudblood." With that, he turned and left.

Clenching her fist in rage, Hermione felt as if he just twisted the knife in the wound. She knew that she shouldn't let him get to her, but couldn't help but think that what he said was true.

"Just you wait, Malfoy," she hissed at the spot he had stood.

Shouting out in frustration, she stormed out of the castle.

"AARGH!" she yelled out when she saw Ginny. "Bloody ferret won't just go and drown in the lake!"

Looking up from her own mutterings, Ginny asked what happened.

"Bloody Malfoy! That's what!" she snapped and then looked apologetic and sighed. "I'm sorry Gin, I shouldn't be taking my anger out on you."

Shaking her head and looking understanding, Ginny quickly reassured her. "No, it's okay, I understand. What did he do? If it was ANYTHING like that BLOODY Zabini, then I arrrgh!"

Taking quick breaths, Ginny calmed down and sighed. Taking turns, they each told their story of their run-ins.

"Hermione Jane Granger!" Ginny said in quite a scary voice while shaking Hermione, "You are NOT a nobody! If you believe a SINGLE word that ferret says, why I.. gah! You are one of the best people I know and you most definitely a someone! You are smart and intelligent and your one of the best friends I'm lucky to have! Do you hear me!?"

Nodding cautiously and eyeing Ginny, Hermione listened to the younger girl's story. When she finished, she looked upset at Ginny and went off on her own tirade.

"You listen to me Gin. You are NOT awkward and a dork! After what you've been through, you're one of the MOST AMAZING people I know! And just because you don't have a lot to say does NOT make you an awkward person! You actually put THOUGHT into your words, you AREN'T a dork! Now, do YOU hear ME?!"

"I guess, Mione." She answered in a doubtful voice.

"AARRGH! What the BLOODY hell!? You know what Gin? We are going to show them and we are going to make sure they regret EVER crossing the two of us!"

Breathing quickly, Hermione took deep breaths before calming down.

Staring with wide eyes at Hermione, Ginny looked astonished. She had never seen this side of her before. To be honest, it was quite a bit scary. She made a side note never to cross Hermione.

As she thought about it, though, Hermione had a point, they shouldn't let MALFOY and ZABINI of all people get to them and get away with it!

Feeling anger coming up again, she calmed herself down before turning to Hermione and voiced her opinion.

"Oooh, when we get finished with those slimy gits, they won't know what hit them." Ginny said in such a sinister but calm way. Looking at each other, the two girls burst out laughing.

A/N: Please rate and review XD I gave up on my other story due to the lack of replies... but I really think this own is okay... Tell me what you think and if you guys want me to continue. I'm open to suggestions too. I hope you enjoyed. Thank you.