Draco Malfoy Must Die

Chapter 1 - The Forging of Unlikely Friendships

Hermione Granger was 100% done with Ronald Weasley. Once more she had been made to look like the fool by the ignorant, clueless redhead. She had been the one running away with tears in her eyes, she had been the one Dean and Seamus had sniggered at and Ginny had looked at with such a pathetic look of sympathy.

And Ron? Well he was living it up snogging Lavender Brown, and Hermione was done with it. Here she was, sitting on a staircase with some stupid yellow birds fluttering over her head and tear tracks on her cheeks. Where was Ron? Doing God knows what with Lavender Brown probably.

Hermione pushed the bitter thought from her head and heard footsteps approaching. They weren't heavy and awkward enough to be Ron's, or light and quiet enough to be Ginny's.

Harry.

The last thing Hermione wanted was sympathy, but she wouldn't get that from Harry anyway. She wanted to be alone, and Harry would take Ron's side. He always did. He didn't during the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione's brain reminded her. That was different, Hermione thought back, to her own brain.

She rolled her eyes and got to her feet as the footsteps got closer, "I don't want company Harry," she said in what she hoped was a firm, strong voice, "so don't you dare think of finding me on the Marauders map and following me!"

Without waiting for a response she was out of the corridor like a shot, and the next thing she knew she was jogging down the grand staircase. It was rather therapeutic, so she didn't stop until she reached the entrance hall and heard Filch nearby. She shot down the nearest corridor and found herself near the kitchens.

She wasn't sure if Filch knew where she was, who cares if he finds me? She thought rather miserably as she sank down in an alcove cut into the wall. She sighed heavily, Ron clearly didn't realise Hermione's feelings for him, but then again she had a tendency to like boys who treated her like a shit. Although there had been Viktor, he had been so sweet and lovely, and Hermione really missed him. They still wrote to each other, but Bulgaria and Hogwarts were just too far away to keep a relationship going. Maybe one day when Hogwarts is over…Hermione thought hopefully.

"Shouldn't you be celebrating?"

Hermione jumped as the vaguely familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up and recognised the girl standing in the entrance to her little alcove. It was Susan Bones, the Hufflepuff in her year with red hair, and green eyes. She and Susan didn't talk much, they were pretty much polar opposites. Susan was a Lavender, a party girl who liked fun and boys. Hermione had always assumed that made her ditzy, and she didn't have the time of day for people who couldn't keep up with her.

Hermione shrugged, "Should I? It's just a Quidditch game."

"Right, and you don't like anything that's fun," Susan said with a raised eyebrow.

"I do know how to have fun," Hermione shot back with a slight glare, "just because I don't snog people in public or have a reputation for-" she cut herself off.

"Shagging people?" Susan finished, looking vaguely amused, she tutted, "you shouldn't believe everything you hear in the rumour mill Hermione."

Hermione's cheeks flushed, "I didn't mean…"

"Yes, you did," Susan said swiftly as she sat opposite Hermione in the small, and now cramped alcove, "but like I said, don't believe everything you hear."

Hermione didn't say anything, and they fell into a slightly awkward silence.

"What's got you so far from home?"

"I was jogging," Hermione said weakly, that sounds pathetic, her inner voice chided. Why was her inner voice so similar to Draco Malfoy? Don't ask me, you determine how your inner voice sounds, it's your brain.

Susan eyed Hermione curiously, "Jogging? In jeans? On a Saturday night?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I've never even talked to you. Why should I tell what I was doing?"

"You don't have to," Susan said, raising her hands, "I was just curious."

Hermione didn't say anything, she was judging Susan based on what she knew from the rumour mill, they had never actually spoken. So you have no cause to distrust her, or treat her like crap. This is how Ron treats you, do you want to do it to other people?

Hermione shivered at that thought, "The person I…well…he was acting like he liked me too, and I just saw him snogging a….slut…in the Gryffindor common room. I wanted distance."

Susan was smiling slightly, Hermione had stuttered over the word, "I never thought I'd hear you swear," she teased, "so who made the first move then, Lavender or Ron?"

Hermione's eyes widened, and Susan laughed, "No offence, but it was obvious you had a thing for him. The whole insulting each other thing gave it away, and as for sluts, Lavender is pretty much the only one in Gryffindor. Mind you, Ginny Weasley is getting herself a bit of a reputation these days."

Hermione snorted, "No wonder, she just needs a Slytherin to add to her portfolio and she'll have a full house."

"Aren't you two friends?" Susan asked, surprise and amusement lacing her voice.

"Yes, but we don't have much in common anymore. I'm sensible, and logical, and Ginny's…fun and not sensible," Hermione explained awkwardly.

Susan grinned, "You can't be sensible all the time Hermione. We're at Hogwarts, we're supposed to have our crazy days here. Being sensible is for life, not for school."

"But-"

"You can have fun and still get good grades," Susan said, predicting what Hermione would say, "I'm third in the year, behind you and Draco Malfoy."

Hermione tried to hide her surprise, but from Susan's smirk, she knew it had obviously flitted through her bloodshot eyes.

"You need to party, drink firewhiskey, kiss boys, while you can," Susan said with a smile. She got up and held out her hand to Hermione, "come on."

Hermione looked at it cautiously, "To where?"

"Don't ask questions, just enjoy yourself," Susan said, once more raising an eyebrow at the Gryffindor.

Hermione was hesitant but took Susan's hand all the same. Susan's grin widened as she led Hermione along the corridor and into a small, nearly hidden away nook in the wall. All that was in front of them was a pile of barrels, and Hermione frowned as Susan dropped her hand and tapped out some kind of rhythm on one of the barrels. The lid of the barrel swung open, revealing a passageway large enough for the average sized person to crawl through.

"Wow," Hermione said as she stared at it in shock.

Susan grinned, "Bet the entrance to the Gryffindor common room isn't so cool."

"It's just a portrait," Hermione admitted.

"Come on then, we're having a party," Susan said, getting to her knees and crawling into the passage. Hermione followed her, not quite sure why she was doing this. Because you know deep down you want to have fun. Hermione supposed that was true, she didn't enjoy working all of the time, but her grades were important to her. Come on, you'll get to see the Hufflepuff Common Room, you know you want too.

"Why are you having a party?" Hermione asked as they crawled through the passageway.

"Because it's a Saturday night. Let's face it, when do Hufflepuffs get to celebrate anything? We've not won the House Cup or the Quidditch cup in years, and then our Triwizard champion died."

Hermione was silent, not sure if that was a joke or not. She studied her surroundings to avoid conversation. The passage was clearly magically enlarged because it felt comfortable, it smelled earthy, although the ground was clean and dry. At the end of the passage there was a circle of light, and as Susan climbed out and straightened up, she offered her hand to Hermione and helped her out.

Hermione took in the common room, it was amazing, far nicer than the Gryffindor one. It was late, past curfew, so the common room wasn't too busy. It seemed to be filled with people 5th year and above, the younger students had obviously gone to bed.

The room was circular with 4 circular doors, presumably leading to the dormitories. There was a fireplace with a painting of Helga Hufflepuff above it, and it was roaring and warm. There were sofas, and armchairs, but they were black and yellow, instead of red and gold. Plants hung from the ceiling which was a glass dome. All of the windows were circular, and on the window sills were potted plants. The whole place felt earthy, and warm, and sunny. Hermione loved it.

"Pretty neat huh?"

"It makes the Gryffindor common room seem dreary," Hermione said honestly.

"What brings you to our domain, Hermione?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked cheerfully.

"Fun," Susan said with a grin, "she's just had her heart broken, and we're going to convince her that she needs to enjoy herself more."

Justin chuckled and handed her a glass, "Don't suppose you've ever tried Firewhiskey before?"

Hermione shook her head, it smelled incredibly strong, which probably meant that it was strong. This is stupid, you've spent your whole life avoiding situations like this. Hermione told herself. But on the other hand, you're only young once…

So she did it, properly. She may never have had firewhiskey, but she had done shots in the Muggle world. The Hufflepuffs cheered as she downed the liquid, which burned her throat, "Merlin, that is strong," Hermione said as she put the glass down.

They chuckled, and Hannah Abbott joined the welcoming party, "Come on Hermione, dance with us," she said, grabbing Susan and Hermione and dragging them to the centre of the room where a wizarding radio was pumping out dance tunes. Forgetting for one night about Ron, and her homework, Hermione let herself have fun.

When Hermione woke up the next morning her head hurt. She had been drunk only once before. The summer before she had come back to Hogwarts for her 6th year, she had met up with a few girls she had gone to primary school with. They had all gone round to one of the girls houses, and Hermione had gotten a little carried away. The next morning she had felt rotten, and this felt like a not dis-similar feeling.

She groaned, and someone chuckled next to her.

Her eyes shot open and she glanced besides her to where the chuckle had come from. Susan grinned and handed her a vial, "It's a pick me up potion, great for hangovers."

Hermione frowned, she was in a double four poster bed decked with a heavy quilt and surrounded by black and yellow checked curtains.

"You're in my bed, we didn't think you'd be able to get back to the Gryffindor Common Room last night," Susan said in amusement as she opened the curtains and let the bright light of the morning stream into the room.

"Ugh," Hermione said, shying away from the light.

Susan laughed, "Seriously, drink that."

Without wasting another moment, Hermione did. The liquid felt thick as it made its way down her throat, and she thought she might gag, but she didn't. It reached her stomach and soothed it, the churning stopped and the headache began to ebb away. She began to see clearly, and the light stopped hurting, and for the most part memories of the night before flooded back.

Hannah giggled from a nearby bed as Hermione's cheeks flushed with colour, "Last night was fun, right?"

Hermione nodded vacantly. She had had fun last night, and for the most part it had been innocent. Firewhiskey, butterbeer, dancing, laughing, insulting the stupid boys who had screwed them over.

But then there had been the kiss, with Justin.

"Don't worry," Susan said, her voice not in its usual amused, joking tone. She sounded friendly, and genuine, "Justin has kissed more girls in this school than I can count, he's a lightweight. He's not going to try and date you or anything."

Hermione felt flooded with relief, but she still felt guilty. Kissing people just out of the blue, that wasn't her style.

As if sensing her thoughts Hannah said, "You need to let loose a little Hermione. Justin instigated that kiss, you're not hurting anyone, don't worry."

As her blush began to fade, Hermione nodded, "Right."

"Stop talking so loud," a voice moaned from another of the 5 beds. The curtains on it were drawn, but Hermione recognised the voice from the night before.

Susan and Hannah shared an amused smile as Susan shoved a vial, like the one she had given Hermione, through the curtains, "Drink that, and shut up, Meg."

Hermione chuckled. Last night she had met and talked with almost all of the Hufflepuffs in her year. She and Hannah were already friends, and talked quite often in Herbology. Hannah was quiet, with long blonde curly hair, and dark blue eyes, but she was sweet. Hermione had gotten to know Susan a little better the night before, and befriended Megan Jones. Megan was Welsh, she was outgoing and loud, but clearly not a morning person. She too was blonde, her hair was wavy, almost verging on bushy, but it was twice as long as Hermione's, she had dark brown eyes and she was fairly short and petite.

"Thanks Suse," Megan said gratefully as she opened the curtain and peeked out. Hermione had to hide a smirk, Megan did have bushy hair, she obviously used charms to calm it down, like Hermione had been doing since the start of her 5th year.

The other two Hufflepuff girls were still in bed. They were Leanne Fox, and Sally-Anne Perks. Leanne was fairly quiet with dark brown hair and eyes, Hermione talked to her in class occasionally and knew of her through Katie Bell. Sally-Anne was even quieter, and very similar to Hermione. She had dark skin and curly hair, and she spent a lot of time in the library, often sharing a table with Hermione. She hadn't been around much the previous night, opting for an early night.

"What time is it?" Hermione asked, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

"9," Hannah said as she slipped into a room that was clearly the bathroom.

"We're heading down to breakfast," Susan said, scanning Hermione, "but you can't go like that. What size are you, a 10?"

Hermione nodded, she was self-conscious about clothes sizes, weren't all girls?

"Perfect," Susan said brightly, "you can borrow something of mine."

She pulled open a large wooden wardrobe and said, "Take your pick."

"Uh, are you sure?" Hermione asked, glancing at her clothes. Her jeans and t-shirt were crumpled from being slept in, walking into the great hall like this would be an embarrassment.

Susan just nodded as she flung on her own clothes, so Hermione settled for a pair of the Hufflepuffs jeans and a green t-shirt which was a little more low-cut than the clothes Hermione would normally wear. They took turns in the bathroom, and half an hour later Hermione's hair was smoothed down so that it was curly, rather than a frizzy, bushy mess.

Hannah had thrown her hair up into a loose bun, and Susan's was left down as usual. It was straight and long, and it always looked radiant. It was a darker red than Ginny's, more like Auburn.

"Hang on, I'm coming too," Megan said as she emerged from the bathroom, her hair curled and no longer frizzy which made Hermione chuckle.

The four girls crawled through a tunnel into the common room which was empty. They then went through the passage that took them out of the common room and back into the main school.

"So did you enjoy your introduction to Hufflepuff culture?" Megan asked casually.

Hermione smiled slightly, "I did actually, thanks Susan, for helping me relax a little."

"She's right, you should have fun while you're at Hogwarts," Hannah said with a smile, "don't the Gryffindors do parties?"

"Only after we've won a Quidditch game," Hermione said, "or Harry's done something heroic," she added sarcastically.

For some reason this made the others laugh loudly, and Susan chuckled, "You all worship him then, that's true?"

Hermione snorted, "I don't worship him, Ron does though. Most of the younger students seem to, but it's not just the Gryffindors."

"It's mostly the Gryffindors," Megan said in amusement, "don't get me wrong, he's all for the good of the wizarding world, and I'm with his cause, but that doesn't mean I'm going to start bowing down to him."

Hermione laughed, "He wouldn't thank you for it, he hates his fame."

"He should party with us more often," Susan remarked, "we don't care about his fame."

"You don't judge people on first impressions, or appearances, do you?" Hermione asked curiously.

Hannah shook her head, "We're Hufflepuffs, I know people say that makes us stupid, or pointless. But we aren't losers, we stick up for our friends and for what we believe in. We're also pretty open-minded, and we don't judge people until we know them."

"It's refreshing," Hermione admitted as they walked into the great hall. She found herself feeling quite jealous of these Hufflepuffs, she liked their outlook on life, and she didn't know why she hadn't talked to them sooner.

Susan grinned, "Well feel free to hang out with us, you don't just have to stick with our lord the almighty saviour, and his sidekick all the time. There are decent folk in other houses too."

Hermione laughed and said goodbye to them as she walked over to the Gryffindor table. She ignored the tug in her stomach as she saw Ron and Lavender all loved up at one end of the table. A few seats up was Harry, who was watching her curiously. She rolled her eyes inwardly and sat down next to him, awaiting his inevitable questioning.

"Where were you last night?"

"How do you know I wasn't in the girls dormitory?" Hermione asked, avoiding his gaze as she helped herself to some food, "did you stay up all night waiting for me?"

It was asked sarcastically, but his answer was serious, "Yes."

Wait, really?

That threw Hermione a little, but she still maintained her I'm-pissed-off-with-you attitude. She wasn't sure why, Harry hadn't done anything wrong, apart from pick Ron as a friend.

"Hermione? Hello?"

He was waving his hand in front of her face, Hermione snapped back to reality.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, and she still avoided his gaze.

"I'm fine," Hermione said honestly, apart from all the thoughts about nasty ways that Ron could accidentally die.

"Where were you last night?" Harry asked again.

Hermione finally looked up at him, her gaze catching his, "Cut the crap Harry. You know exactly where I was, you were watching me on the Marauders map."

Harry's cheeks flushed and his eyes filled with guilt, "I'm sorry."

Hermione scoffed, "Do you know what privacy is?"

"Yes," Harry said in annoyance, "I wish I could get more."

"Well maybe you should stop invading everybody else's," Hermione suggested calmly.

"Why were you in the Hufflepuff common room all night?" Harry asked, "I mean, I know you were in one of the dorms but clearly the Marauders hadn't been there because they aren't labelled as boys and girls dorms," he took a breath, "but it looked like you were in bed with Susan Bones."

Hermione smiled slightly, Harry really was just worrying about her, "I was in the girl's dorm. They had a party there last night, Susan found me in the corridor and invited me, and I couldn't get back to the Gryffindor common room so I slept there."

Harry was watching her curiously, "That isn't like you. I thought you didn't like parties."

"I don't not like parties," Hermione said irritably, "I like parties, I just don't like the ones they throw in Gryffindor."

"And how are Hufflepuff different?" Harry asked, he wasn't annoyed, just curious.

"It's not all about alcohol and stupid games that embarrass people, and snogging," Hermione said, her glare directed at Harry, but really aimed at Ronald bloody Weasley, "sure there is alcohol, but we just danced and talked."

"I didn't even know you were friends with Susan Bones," Harry said, glancing at the redheaded Hufflepuff.

"I wasn't really, but she was nice to me last night. They all were," Hermione said honestly, "I'd only really talked to Hannah before."

Harry was smiling slightly, and it took Hermione by surprise, "What?" she asked self-consciously.

"Nothing, it's just nice to see this more relaxed side to you," Harry said honestly, "I'm jealous. I don't really like the Gryffindor parties either, they all admire me too much…I can never really relax."

"Well the Hufflepuffs told me this morning that you are welcome at their parties," Hermione said with a chuckle, "and they said they agree with you and are with your cause, but they definitely won't worship you."

Harry genuinely laughed at that, "They said that? Fantastic, I might take them up on their offer."

Hermione smiled, and accidentally looked down the table to where Ron and Lavender were snogging, "Ugh."

"I know, it's sickening," Harry said as Ginny walked into the hall and sat down across from them.

"What's sickening?"

"Your brother and the thing attached to him," Hermione said distastefully.

Ginny grinned at the phrase Hermione had used, but her grin turned to disgust when she saw Ron and Lavender, "Ew, don't they ever stop to breathe?"

"Apparently not," Harry said, he was now focusing on anything apart from Ron and Lavender, and Hermione followed his lead.

"Are you alright, Hermione? You just disappeared last night," Ginny said, casting that same sympathetic glance at Hermione that she hated.

"I'm fine."

"You should date. Ron's a lost cause, but there are other guys out there," Ginny said, and Harry tried to tune out of the 'girl' chat.

Hermione smiled, "I don't really want to date just for the sake of it Gin. If I start to like someone, then maybe I'll think about it."

"Well, you need someone to take to Slughorn's Christmas party, don't you?" Ginny asked as she drank her pumpkin juice.

Hermione pondered that, "I suppose so…I was going to ask-" she cut herself off before she could say Ron. Time to change the subject.

"Harry, who are you taking to Slughorn's party?"

Harry who had been pretending very hard to not listen to the conversation, now tuned in, "Huh?"

Hermione laughed, "Slughorn's party, you need a date."

Harry nodded, "Right, I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it yet."

"You'd better ask someone soon. There's only a week to go now, and all of your admirers are getting anxious," Hermione teased, pointing down the table to the group of 4th and 5th year girls who followed Harry around.

Ginny smiled, but Hermione could see that she was disappointed. She obviously still held out some hope that Harry would one day return her feelings, "I guess I'll ask Dean," she voiced, to which Hermione only nodded.

"Got any plans for today?" Harry asked to break the silence.

Hermione shook her head, "Just homework, do you still want me to look over your Potions essay?"

And just like that she was back to the bookworm Hermione Granger that all of her friends knew. But last night was a lot of fun, maybe Susan and the others were right about letting my hair down every so often…

It was the middle of December. Classes had been going on for 3 and a half months now, and the seating arrangement had not changed since the beginning of term.

In this time, Hermione's desk partner in Ancient Runes had never spoken to her. But the Monday morning after her Saturday night Hufflepuff 'experience', things changed.

"Morning, Granger."

Hermione raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Good morning," she said.

"I'm Daphne Greengrass," the girl, Daphne, said. Hermione knew who she was, the Slytherin ice queen. The nickname wasn't just because of her ice blue eyes, it was her attitude. She had some sort of charm, she reeled in boys and then rebuffed them. She never let anyone in, she held everyone at arm's length. That was what they said, that was why they called her the ice queen.

"I know who you are," Hermione said, "I might be a bookworm, but I do share a dormitory with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, I listen to the rumour mill."

Daphne grinned, her teeth were white and sparkling, up close her eyes really were an icy blue. Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and her skin was clear and flawless. Nobody can be that perfect, she has to have Veela blood.

"What do you hear in the rumour mill, Granger?"

"That you're the ice queen, you lead guys on but never give them what they want," Hermione said honestly.

"Which is sex," Daphne pointed out with a smirk, "ironic that the rumour mill is talking about how I'm not shagging everyone."

Hermione thought about that for a moment, "True," she agreed.

"You walked into the great hall with the Hufflepuffs yesterday," Daphne said as they got their parchment and quills out of their bags.

"So?"

"The clothes you were wearing, not your style. From that I guess they were probably Susan's which means you spent the night in the Hufflepuff domain," Daphne said simply, "will the rumour mill be talking about that next?"

Hermione blushed as she realised what Daphne was implying, "No," she replied smoothly, "Susan invited me to a Hufflepuff party and I had to stay the night there because I couldn't get back to Gryffindor."

"Because you were too drunk," Daphne grinned, flashing those pure white teeth again.

"Yes," Hermione said reluctantly.

Daphne laughed, and the sound was almost musical, she's definitely got Veela blood.

"Why are you talking to me anyway?" Hermione asked, aware the Professor would be here soon and their chatter would end, "you haven't said one word to me since the start of the term."

"I like the Hufflepuffs," Daphne said simply, "if they've accepted you I guess I don't mind you."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "You don't mind me? You're a Slytherin, and I'm a Gryffindor, a Mudblood at that."

Something akin to anger flashed in Daphne's eyes, "Don't call yourself that. It's a horrible term, how can you say that about yourself?"

"Everyone else says it," Hermione pointed out.

"Well that doesn't mean you should call yourself it," Daphne said swiftly, "you're a Muggle-born. Even then it's disputable whether that makes you worth so much discrimination. My Aunt works in the Department of Mysteries, and I think they're doing work on genealogy. Muggle-borns must come from somewhere, magic doesn't just manifest itself you know."

Hermione frowned, "You have a very different outlook from most Slytherins, but your theory does make sense."

"I know it does," Daphne said simply, "and by most Slytherins, you mean Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy, right? Draco's a prat, and Crabbe and Goyle just repeat everything their Fathers say."

"And Pansy?" Hermione asked in amusement.

Daphne rolled her eyes, "A dramatic, bitchy pain in the arse. Can you imagine sharing a dorm with her? You think Lavender Brown is bad?"

Hermione chuckled and decided that she liked Daphne Greengrass. For a Slytherin she was okay. Maybe you should have made an effort to talk to people in other houses before.

Ancient Runes was right before lunch. When class finished, Hermione and Daphne rose and walked to the door together.

"Are you going to the great hall?" Daphne asked casually.

Hermione nodded, and just like that they fell into step with each other. Really, you go to one party and all of a sudden people who have never looked twice at you, are talking to you?

"So your theory on Muggle-borns, you never really told me all of it," Hermione pointed out.

"Oh, right," Daphne said, "well I think all Muggle-borns are descended from the 20 or so big pure-blood families. Pure-blood families produce almost as many squibs as they do magical children. Those squibs got killed in some of the more extreme families, I think you know which ones I mean."

The Malfoys.

"But most couldn't kill their own flesh and blood, even if the kid was a squib. I think all Muggle-borns are descended from squibs like that, but for some reason the magic is just dormant for a few generations," Daphne finished as they walked out onto the grand staircase together.

"That makes a lot of sense, you should put some research into that," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"I plan to as soon as I'm done in Hogwarts. Give it a few years and my theory will be front page news," Daphne said confidently.

"It wouldn't surprise me, if you can find proof…" Hermione trailed off, pondering the fact she could be descended from a very powerful wizarding family somewhere along the line.

Daphne nodded, "Look Granger, don't get it into your head that we're friends or anything…acquaintances maybe."

Hermione raised her eyebrow at the blonde for what felt like the umpteenth time, "Don't worry, I didn't think we were friends."

"Good," Daphne said simply. They were nearing the entrance hall and Daphne looked like she had something to say. Hermione didn't push and as they walked down the marble stairs into the entrance hall she spat it out.

"Tell Potter to keep an eye out. I've heard girls talking about slipping him love potions," Daphne said very quickly after an internal debate as to whether or not she should have said it at all.

"Since when do you care about Harry's welfare?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"I don't," Daphne said honestly, "but nobody deserves to get arrested for sleeping with a 4th year under love potion. It's still time in Azkaban, and no man deserves that from scheming, immature girls," she said scathingly.

Hermione nodded, still surprised, "Right, I'll warn him."

"Good," Daphne said sharply and without another word she walked swiftly away from Hermione into the great hall.

Hermione shook her head in surprise, it's been a weird few days, she thought to herself as she walked into the great hall and sat down next to Harry. Ron was further away snogging Lavender, again.

"Listen, Harry," Hermione said quietly, "be careful what you eat and drink. Daphne Greengrass just told me she's heard girls talking about slipping you a love potion now you're this famous, desirable chosen one."

Harry's cheeks flushed, but then he frowned, "Daphne Greengrass, the Slytherin?"

"Yes," Hermione said, "she started talking to me in Ancient Runes today. She's friends with the Hufflepuffs, so since they have apparently 'accepted' me she can deal with me."

"But she's a Slytherin," Harry pointed out.

Hermione shrugged, "She seemed nice enough, I'm not saying we're friends. I doubt I'd even call her an acquaintance, but I think she's right on this love potion thing, so be careful."

"I'll be careful," Harry promised, "but not quite Moody careful."

Hermione smiled, "Damn, there goes my idea to buy you a hipflask for Christmas."

Harry shot her an amused grin, "You got time to read over my Charms essay before lunch is over?"

Late that night after Lavender had come up to the girls' dormitory swooning over Ron, Hermione slipped down to the common room. It was practically empty as she took a seat in an armchair by the fire and buried herself in a book.

She didn't hear the portrait hole open, and when someone flopped down into the armchair next to hers she jumped slightly until she realised that it was just Harry.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked, surveying his pink cheeks, and his heaving chest.

Harry's cheeks flushed an even brighter shade of pink, "Running away from girls," he muttered.

Hermione couldn't help it as she laughed loudly, quickly covering her mouth with her hand when he glared at her, "I'm sorry," she said, hiding her smile behind her hand, "but you are rather endearing that way. Most guys would like all the female attention you get."

"Well I don't," Harry said defiantly, "they're like groupies! Romilda Vane offered me 4 different drinks and then shoved this in my face," he absentmindedly waved a box of chocolate cauldrons in the air, and Hermione chuckled.

"I guess Daphne was right," she said.

"Why'd she even tell you?" Harry asked curiously, "I mean, surely it would be a laugh to her and all the Slytherins if I got bewitched by a 4th year."

Hermione shrugged, "Maybe not to all of the Slytherins. We're judging our hatred of them on a set few, there are hundreds of people in that house. They can't all be bad, can they?"

Harry didn't say anything, but Hermione could tell he was pondering this.

"Do you have a date for Slughorn's Christmas party yet?" Hermione asked as she got to her feet.

"No," Harry replied, "do you?"

Hermione sighed, "No, and it's on Saturday. I was going to ask Ron before…"

"I don't think he knew you liked him, Hermione," Harry said, it was a feeble attempt to stick up for his other best friend no doubt.

"That's not important Harry," Hermione said, keep it together, Ron's a jerk, "I'll just need to find someone else to go with. Goodnight."

"Night," Harry said as Hermione ascended the staircase to the girls dorm.

TBC :)