Hermione Granger ran around all of Friday, trying to find a date to Slughorn's party. It seemed as though everyone, except her, had already asked someone. Harry was already taking Cho Chang. Hermione even considered asking a younger student if it meant that she wouldn't be taking Malfoy. When all else failed, she went to Professor Slughorn and told him that she had to study for a huge test Monday morning, so she wouldn't be able to attend on Sunday night.

"Oh, don't worry about your test Miss Granger! I'll write a note to your teacher asking for you to be exempt from it. I'm sure it will be no problem, considering you academic record. Besides, there's going to be some very high ranking guests attending the party, and I'd love for you to meet them!" he chuckled before walking away. She was close to throwing herself off the astronomy tower. Her only hope was that Draco would find a date. Then she would be completely optionless and Slughorn might let her in without a guest. She hated the fact that she had to rely on Malfoy.

That night at dinner, Hermione couldn't help but continuously glance at the Slytherin table to see if Pansy has broken up with Blaise for Draco yet.

"What's wrong 'mione?" asked Harry.

"It's-it's nothing."

"Well then it's obviously something. Why do you keep looking at the snake table?"

"I'm just... lost in thought."

"Sure then. C'mon, they've got the good chicken tonight. And Ron and Lavender are off who knows where, so you don't have to worry about them." Hermione took one last glance across the hall, before sighing in dissapointment as she watched Pansy cuddle up next to Blaise.

"Alright."

"Did you find a date to Slughorn's party yet?" Hermione gulped before almost spitting out her pumpkin juice.

"Er, no not yet."

"The party's in 48 hours Hermione, you'd better get asking."

"Is there anyone even available to ask at this point?"

"Terry Boot?"

"Slughorn kicked him out of Potions after the second class when Terry spilled Rutlex Amarphoria on his shoes and ruined them."

"Alright then, what about Ernie Macmillan?"

"He's going with Hannah Abbott, she told me yesterday. But they're trying to keep it lowkey."

"I wouldn't worry about it. If all else fails, just pretend to be sick and skip the party, it's that simple."

"I guess that could work. I'm going to go, I have to return some books to the library."

Hermione had trouble falling asleep that night. She had enough anxiety, and listening to Lavender giggle with Parvati Patil as she recounted her make out session on the quidditch pitch with Ron didn't help. She pretended to sleep, when in reality she was gripping her blanket as tears filled her eyes. She wanted nothing more then to scream and let all of her emotions out, but she knew she couldn't do that. She laid there, curled up in a ball until everyone was silent and it was only her.

She woke up the next morning as the other girls were walking out of the dorm. She was usually in the Great Hall by the time that they woke up, which meant she'd overslept. She hurriedly threw on her robes, tried to comb through her hair, and slid her shoes on. She dashed to the common room, where Harry was waiting for her. Lavender look annoyed that Ron made her wait for Harry, and Ron looked annoyed that Harry made him wait for Hermione.

The four of them walk downstairs together, with Lavender nudging Hermione out of the way to make sure that she walked behind the three of them. The quad got to breakfast just in time for mail. Ron was helping himself to the scrambled eggs while Lavender played with his hair. Harry grabbed a little bit of everything and Hermione chewed anxiously on a strawberry. She was to scared to look at the Slytherin table to see if Draco has gotten a date yet. If he hadn't, her worst nightmare would be coming true. The more she thought about it, she didn't know why she said yes. Her heart was pounding as an owl flew in and dropped her usual in front of her. She read everything there was in her pile, trying to keep her mind off of the party. Just as she picked up her magazine, she saw a folded scrap of paper under it. She picked it up and read it.

Damn Granger, I have to say I'm surprised.

It looks like you couldn't manage to get a date

in time and neither could I. Oh well then.

Tell me what colored dress your wearing

so that I can match my tie to it. And

meet me under the stairs of the entrance

hall the minute you read this.

-Malfoy

Hermione shoved the rest of her mail into her bag. She hurried away before even bothering to finish her breakfast. By the time Harry noticed her absence, she was walking out the doors.

"What was that little storm off all about?" asked Ron.

"I dunno, but I think something's up with her," replied Harry.

"There's always something up with her. She's a nosy, overdramatic little bitch." Lavender laughed at her boyfriend, while Harry kept quiet and went back to eating his toast.

Hermione scurried through the corridors until she reached the entrance hall. As she walked in, she looked under the staircase and saw Draco waiting for her.

"What exactly was the point of meeting here?" she asked him.

"Because nobody comes to the entrance hall before lunch."

"Ok, and? What do you need to discuss?"

"Everything. What color are you wearing tomorrow?"

"I was thinking light blue."

"Alright then, light blue it is. And how much longer until we tell people? I couldn't stand watching Pansy and Blaise during breakfast this morning. Did you see them? Snogging their arses off, almost as bad as Brown and her 'Won-Won.'" Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his impression of Lavender. "Anywho, do you want to make it a surprise for the party or make people aware of it now?" Hermione thought carefully. As much as she wanted to see Lavender and Ron's faces when she walked down the Great Hall with Draco, she knew that it would be best to wait.

"Let's make it a surprise for the party."

"Alright. Meet me here tomorrow night at 7. And try not to look too good, I don't like my dates overshadowing me." Draco walked away towards the Slytherin common rooms while Hermione slouched against the wall and sunk to the ground. This can't be happening, she thought. There's no way I'm actually going to the party with Draco Malfoy. She walked back to her dorm to get some better clothes on and fix her hair.

Harry, Ron, and Lavender were all sitting in the common room, with Ron and Lavender snogging on a loveseat. Hermione rolled here eyes.

"Do they ever stop?" she muttered to herself.

"Excuse me Hermione, but unlike you, I actually have someone who cares about me. So I'd appreciate it if you leave my girlfriend and I alone," snapped Ron.

"Shut it Ronald. The only reason you to have each other is because no one else in this bloody castle would ever want to date either of you!"

"Maybe that's why you're single, because nobody wants to date you! And that's why you're talking about us, it's because you're jealous! Blimey, you can't even get a date for Slughorn's party!"

"For the record, I did find a date! So maybe you should keep your mouth shut next time you try to bad talk me!" Hermione marched away with tears filling here eyes. Everyone in the common room had heard the argument, it was only a matter of time before rumors started to spread.

She sat down on her bed and pulled out a book about witches and wizards during the Renaissance for her History of Magic class. But for some reason, she couldn't focus. Every time she read a paragraph, she'd have to reread it two more times because her mind kept wandering off. She checked her calendar that was hung up against her wall and realized that there was Hogsmead trip today at 12:30. She knew everyone would be going, which meant she would have the dorm to herself. She kept trying to read, but was interrupted when Lavender and Parvati ran in to grab their money. Lavender looked at Hermione, then whispered something into Parvati's ear that sent the two girls into laughter before they ran back to the common room.

At 12:45, Hermione decided to walk around the castle in an attempt to get her mind off of everything. Maybe if she was lucky, Luna would still be here and they could talk for a bit. She was walking across the courtyard when she heard a sharp whisper a few feet away.

"Granger!" She turned around and saw none other then Malfoy standing against one of the pillars.

"What?" she spat.

"Is it true you fought with the weasel and his headband obsessed girlfriend?"

"How do you know?"

"Lavender told everyone that you tried to punch her in the Gryffindor common room because you were jealous of what she and Ron had."

"That dirty little slut!"

"Calm down, most people didn't believe her anyway. But did you actually fight with them?"

"I just yelled at them when Ron accused me of being jealous of them, that's all."

"So that's why you didn't go to Hogsmead today?"

"Yes, that's why. Why didn't you go?"

"Same reason as you. I can't stand another minute of watching Pansy and Blaise together. I can't wait to see the look on their faces tomorrow night."

"I'll be lucky if she doesn't claw my eyes out when she sees us together," laughed Hermione.

"I don't know who's going to be angrier by the end of the night, her or Ron."

"Probably Harry honestly. I haven't told him yet, and there's no telling what he's going to say."

"Just watch his forehead. His scar always shrinks when he's mad. It's quite funny actually. Speaking of tomorrow, you said you're wearing light blue, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just double checking. I wrote to my mum to order me a light blue bow tie."

"Does she know I'm going with you?"

"Are you kidding? My parents would kill me if they found out I was going somewhere with a mud- muggle born."

"Do you know who else is going to be there?"

"Crabbe and Goyle are taking Flora and Hestia. Blaise and Pansy will obviously be there, Theo and Daphne, Millicent and Anthony, and Michael and Tracy. Do you know of any others?"

"Basically everyone in our year is going together from what I've heard. Did you hear about Neville and Ginny?"

"Those two are going together! I swear, that girl will date any boy if it means she gets to go to a party or something. Have you noticed that? I feel like she's dating a new guy every other day."

"I know! She's always sneaking out with them too and losing points for Gryffindor, it's so annoying."

"Weren't you two friends?"

"We were until Ron and I had the falling out. She always acts like I'm not there anymore, it's so obnoxious."

The two walked through the corridors for at least an hour and a half, laughing about everything going on in the school. It wasn't until they could see a group of kids walking through the snow in the distance that they realized that everyone was returning back to the castle. They quickly parted before anyone saw them, and Hermione dashed back to Gryffindor Tower. By the time everyone got back, she was sitting on one of the chairs by the fireplace. Lavender glared at her before sitting on a couch on the opposite side of the room with Ron. Harry sat down next to Hermione.

"Why didn't you come to Hogsmead today?"

"I just wasn't up to it."

"So you sat inside for 2 hours instead?"

"That's what it looks like."

"Just because you and Ron aren't on the best terms doesn't mean you have to isolate yourself from us. C'mon, I'm your friend. I would've hung out with you all day if you had come."

"If you're my friend, then why didn't you defend me this morning when Lavender and Ron were yelling at me. And why didn't you stick up for me when Lavender told everyone I tried to fight her?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Believe it or not, I actually talk to people besides you two." Hermione slammed her book and retreated upstairs to her room. She couldn't wait until tomorrow night when she would see the look on everyone's faces when entered the party.