A/N: Beta love to ravenslight - thank you for all you do. You're amazing!

The Great Hall was tastefully decorated in red, yellow, green, and blue – each color in honor of one of the Houses of Hogwarts. Laughter and friendly shouts echoed through the space as the reunion of those who graduated five years ago commenced.

The four long tables that usually occupied the hall had been replaced by small cocktail stands covered in white linens stationed along the walls, leaving space in the center for dancing and mingling. A lone wizard leaned against the bar situated beside the roaring fireplace, firewhisky in hand as his eyes followed the movements of a curly haired witch across the room.

So focused was he on her that the blond wizard jumped when he heard someone speak next to him. Turning his head, his grey eyes fell on an unfamiliar witch. She was pretty in an understated way, with shoulder-length auburn hair and warm brown eyes that glittered behind dark framed glasses.

"I'm sorry?" he asked, realizing he hadn't heard what the witch had said.

Grinning as she signaled the bartender for a drink, she replied, "I said why don't you ask her to dance?"

Crossing his arms, he shifted his eyes away. "I don't know who you are talking about."

"Hermione Granger, of course. You've been watching her all night."

Pale eyebrows raised high, the wizard sputtered. "Excuse me? I have done no such th—"

"Of course you have. No sense in denying it." The witch waved her hand dismissively. "It's just like when we were in school. Your eyes were always on her when you thought no one was looking."

His eyes narrowed as he stood straight, hands clenched at his side. "Just who do you think you are? You know nothing about me!"

"I know you well enough, Draco Malfoy. You were the Slytherin Prince, Seeker for your house Quidditch team, among other things. "

He scoffed. "Yeah, Death Eater. Failure. Evil git who should be in Azkaban."

Eyes flashing, she slammed her glass onto the bar. "Did I say that? Do you think I would stand here trying to have a friendly conversation if I thought that?"

Taken aback at the fierce look on her face, Draco quickly shook his head. "No."

"You are more than just your past and you know it. I saw you at school, though I doubt you ever noticed me. You put on a cruel front, but I saw you in moments you probably didn't want anyone to see. I saw you be kind to the younger students in your house. I saw how loyal you were to your friends and family. And I saw how you longed for someone you could not have."

Draco's eyes widened, and his face lost what little color it had. "How do you—"

"Besides, you are not the only one working to overcome their past and undo the harm done by their parents. There are others like you, and I see them too." Her honey brown eyes bored into his before she took a deep breath and shook her head.

Shooting him a sheepish smile, the witch shrugged and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I don't like when people talk harshly about others, but especially themselves. I didn't mean to snap at you. I really just came over to have a nice chat with you."

Draco stood still, mouth slightly open. "Who are you?"

With a smirk worthy of a Slytherin, she quipped, "You know, I really should make you figure it out. We did go to school together for seven years, after all."

At the blank look on his face, the witch chuckled and extended her hand. "Samantha Powell. Hufflepuff."

Draco hesitated only for a moment before shaking the extended hand. "Pleasure," he drawled.

"Yes, isn't it?"

He let out a surprised laugh. "Cheeky. Did you really go to Hogwarts? I think I would remember someone like you."

"Yes, I did. I was in multiple classes with you."

His brows furrowed. "Really?"

Rolling her eyes, Samantha chuckled. "Yes, really. Though I'm not surprised you don't remember. I didn't have a lightning scar or wildly curly hair."

With wide eyes, he stared at her, disbelief clear on his face. "Oh really. What are you saying? That I had a thing for two members of the Golden Trio?"

She scoffed. "No, just a thing for Hermione. And a fairly well-known hatred for Harry." She shrugged. "And Ron. But you never seemed to focus on him as much."

He huffed.

Samantha leaned in towards him. "It's okay, you know. To like her."

"I know it is! Not that I do. We're… we're friends now."

"Mhmm. I know you are. But I don't have any friends that look at me the way you look at her."

Draco crossed his arms and looked at her through narrowed eyes. "And how do I look at her?"

Head resting against her hand, elbow on the bar, Samantha smirked. "Like she's your everything… and like you want to push her against the nearest surface and make her tell you what a naughty witch she's been before you—"

"Okay! Enough… Merlin." Draco ran a hand through his hair, a blush creeping across his cheeks.

"What? It's true," she managed to say through her laughter. "So, back to my original question: why don't you ask her to dance?"

"Because… I don't know." He shrugged weakly.

"That's not an answer, you know."

Draco groaned. "Salazar's sweaty sack! You're a right pain in my arse."

"Why thank you. I take that as a compliment, coming from you."

"Why are you bothering me anyway? Isn't there someone else you could pester?" He pointed across the room. "Look, Longbottom's alone. Go cheer him up."

"Nah, he's here with Hannah Abbott. She's probably just gone to the loo or something." As if summoned, the pretty blonde appeared next to Neville, who greeted her with a wide grin and kiss on the cheek. "See? So you get to bask in my company for awhile longer."

Rolling his eyes, Draco murmured, "Oh, joy."

"So please tell me again why you won't ask the woman you are pining for to dance with you?"

He sighed loudly. "Because she only sees me as a friend. She doesn't feel the same as I do. Happy now?"

Samantha shook her head with a sad smile. "No. How do you know she only sees you as a friend if you've never asked her?"

He turned incredulous eyes to her. "Well, her hanging all over Weasley may have something to do with it."

"Oh, tosh. They're not dating and you know it. Quit using that as an excuse."

"An excu— Listen here, Hufflepuff. I don't know you. We are not friends. I have no idea why you've decided to latch onto me tonight, but please stop butting into my personal life."

Grinning widely, Samantha poked Draco in the arm. "Ah, but I've decided I like you, despite your rather prickly personality. And when I like someone, I make them my friend. So you're my friend now, whether you want to be or not."

Draco slowly shook his head. "You cannot be serious."

"I'm very serious. And here's the thing about being my friend. I hate to see anyone be unhappy – especially my friends – when there is something I can do about it."

"And just what can you do about it?" he sneered.

"What you have not realized, Draco, is that while you have been watching Hermione when you think no one is looking, she has been doing the same to you. And has for a long time. The two of you are so good at hiding it, that no one has really noticed. Except me that is. Being the shy, quiet girl people forgot was there did have some benefits. I saw and heard things others didn't."

Looking slightly confused, he asked, "So what are you saying?"

Samantha fought the urge to whack him upside the head. "Are you really this dense? I'm saying that your dream witch likes you in return. So go get her."

"Oi! I'm not dense!" He deflated a little and quietly said, "I just…she can't. Not after the way I treated her."

"Oh, but she can. You told me yourself that you two are friends now. Is it really that hard to believe her feelings could go beyond that, if she was willing to forgive you enough to be friends?"

Not able to supply an answer, he merely shrugged.

"Come on. What could it hurt to just ask her to dance with you?"

"Oh, it could hurt. A lot. She punches really hard, you know," he said with a smirk.

"So, you're not going to even try?"

Draco sighed and leaned back again the bar again. "No, I'm not. Now leave me alone. Go 'Puff all over someone else."

"No."

He quirked an eyebrow. "No?"

"Not until you grow a pair and ask that lovely witch to dance. It won't kill you, y'know."

"It might." He ran a hand over his face and huffed. "Though dealing with you is becoming a close second."

"Okay, Mr Grumpy Pants. I'll make you a deal. I'll leave you alone if you go and ask Hermione to dance."

"Fine. But she won't accept. Either way, I expect you to be gone when I come back over."

Samantha held her hand out again, smiling wickedly when he shook it. "Deal. Now, go sweep your woman off her feet."

She watched as Draco pasted on a mask of confidence before swaggering over to the far side of the room. She followed his blond head as he stopped beside Hermione. The curly haired witch beamed at him and seemed to hold in a laugh at whatever he was saying. Merlin, he's probably fumbling his words while trying to maintain his suave aura.

He held out his hand to Hermione, who accepted it with a shy smile and flattering blush. He guided her to the dance floor as a slow song began to play. Samantha smiled as she observed the two slowly begin to dance, each moving closer to the other as the song went on. Neither pulled away when the song ended and another began.

Ah, mission accomplished.

Grinning happily to herself, Samantha's eyes swept across the room, looking for someone else to talk with. Hmmm, Greg Goyle was standing by himself looking lonely. Well, she had already befriended one Slytherin tonight. Maybe she could do so with another. After getting her glass refilled, she headed towards him with a friendly smile.

Two hours later, Samantha felt very accomplished. Greg was having a lively discussion with Parvati Patil at a nearby table, while her sister Padma was laughing with Seamus Finnigan. She had noticed Seamus casting glances at the Ravenclaw so had suggested he ask if she'd like a drink. Another success, she thought with a self-satisfied grin.

A tap on her shoulder startled her slightly. Samantha turned to find a grinning Hermione hand in hand with a smug Draco.

Smiling widely, she greeted them. "Hello, Hermione. Draco. Having a nice evening?"

Hermione blushed and nodded, while Draco rolled his eyes as he smirked.

"Oh, yes. This evening has been… perfect. Thank you, Hufflepuff," Draco snarked.

Hermione tsked. "Her name is Samantha, Draco."

Dropping his hand, Hermione leaned in to give Samantha a hug. "Thank you, Sam," she whispered.

"I told you it would work," Samantha squeezed her friend tightly. "Good luck."

The two witches pulled apart and smiled at one another as Draco's eyebrow quirked. "You know each other?"

Hermione turned towards him smiling. "Of course! We shared classes for seven years, Draco. Sam and I have been friends since first year."

"What? But… I don't remember seeing you two together."

"That's because you were hardly ever in the library. Sam and I often shared a table when we studied there."

"Oh." His eyes widened as he turned towards Samantha. "Oh. That's why you…"

"Yup. I told you. I don't like to see my friends unhappy."

Draco narrowed his eyes at her as he crossed his arms. "Are you sure you were in Hufflepuff? You seem to be a bit of a Slytherin."

Samantha chuckled. "Only when needed, my friend. Now go on. You two enjoy your evening."

Hermione smiled brightly at her and blushed as Draco grabbed her hand, pulling her back onto the dance floor with a smirk.

Samantha watched with a happy grin as Draco spun Hermione and then dipped her, causing a delightful giggle.

"I see our resident Hufflepuff Cupid has been busy tonight."

"Mmm – Not a bad night's work if I do say so myself." Chuckling, Samantha turned to greet her old roommate and friend. "Hello, Hannah."

Hannah grinned at her and looped her arm through Samantha's, giving it a squeeze. Looking at her from the side of her eye with her most innocent face, Hannah asked, "So when are you going to use some of those matchmaking skills for yourself?"

Samantha's eyes darted to a tall brunette Slytherin dancing intimately with his lovely date. She swallowed and pulled her eyes away, focusing on Hannah with a lackluster smile. "Oh, you know I can only use my powers for others. Sad to say that they don't work for me."

Hannah glanced to where her friend's eyes had strayed and nodded sadly. "Shame, that. Maybe someday someone will play Cupid for you."

Samantha hummed in agreement, her eyes once more falling on Theo Nott.