Another week had passed and Hermione finally felt like she was back in the swing of school. It was a rainy Sunday morning and she was looking forward to trying out one of the window seats with a warm blanket and her battered copy of Pride and Prejudice.

Going to take her morning vitamin potion she noticed she was out. Time to go see Madam Pomfrey, guess my date with Mr. Darcy will have to wait.

The hospital wing was empty when she entered for which she was grateful. Dealing with nosey people spreading rumours about her being sick was not something she wanted to deal with.

"Hello Miss Granger. Are you here for your contraceptive potion?"

"Uh, what? No, I'm here for my vitamin potions. You should have received an owl from my healer."

"Oh, that's right. Sorry, most girls that come in here the first couple of weeks just want a contraceptive potion so it's become habit to ask."

"That's okay Madam Pomfrey. I've actually never taken the potion, I just used the charm."

"The charm is fine, but people tend to get lost in the moment and forget to cast it. If you're interested in the potion, I have a 12 month option. It stops your monthly and you don't have to worry again until next September."

Thinking back to her times with Viktor there were plenty of times they almost forgot the charm. She wasn't planning on having sex this year, but better safe than sorry. "I'll try it, thanks."

"I'll grab that and your vitamins." Madam Pomfrey said as she turned to her potions cupboard..

"Here are you vitamins dear. Now with this potion, it's best to take it the first day of your next cycle."

Hermione frowned "I haven't had a cycle in almost a year with all the stress and weight loss."

"That's fine, you take it today then. It will be effective within 7 days so use the charm until then. Come see me when you need more vitamins."

Hermione took her potions and handed the empty vials back to the nurse.

Walking back into the common room and noticed it was empty except for Malfoy. Hesitating for a moment she gathered her thoughts before approaching him.

Sitting down next to him she turned to face him, "Can we talk Draco?"

He wouldn't face her, just continued to look into the fireplace. "Sorry about running out like that last night Mi. It's just hard seeing that word knowing I did nothing to stop her. I know I should have, and I just stood there. I didn't do anything."

"Draco" she placed her hand on his, "there was nothing more you could have done. You didn't identify us when you had the chance. I don't blame you for anything that happened. Bellatrix carved the word into my arm; not you."

Turning his face to look at her "How are you so forgiving? I was horrible to you, I publicly said I hoped you were killed." Draco studied her face.

Moving closer to him she placed her hands on his cheeks, "I forgave you because you were a product of your upbringing. It's not your fault you were raised to think you were superior to people of my birth. I choose to look at who you are now. So far you've been nothing but nice to me." Dropping her hands from his face to his knees, Hermione smiled at him, gave his legs a quick squeeze and walked to her room.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE!"

"Merlin's ball sack Ginny, it's eight in the morning. What in the hell are you doing in my room?"

"Such language from a princess!" Millie was laughing at her. "We came to start celebrating your birthday and we have so much to do to get ready today."

"The dance isn't for thirteen hours. Isn't this a bit early?"

A chorus of "NO!" was shouted at her as they pulled her towards the common room for breakfast.

The Eighth years were joined by Ginny, Luna, and Astoria this morning. Hermione noticed Draco looking uncomfortable next to Luna. It couldn't be easy sitting next to someone that was held prisoner in your house for 4 months. Hermione wasn't sure what to say, but Luna solved the issue for her.

Hermione saw her lean over and whisper so quietly into his ear only the two of them could hear, "you know, I don't blame you for your father's actions. You're not him. I have no hard feelings. We're friends and friends forgive each other."

Draco stared at her completely flabbergasted. "You think I'm your friend?" He didn't sound rude, just blown away.

"Of course we're friends Draco."

Draco looked at Hermione who just shrugged. When it came to Luna, she had learned to just go with it. Luna saw the world through a different lense than the rest of them.

"I'm the only one here that's not sure about you ferret face, but Hermione says you're alright so I'll give you a chance." Ginny looked at him with a sneer but couldn't hold it. She broke out into a huge smile.

"Thanks Jill."

"Jill?" Ginny looked at him like he was crazy.

Hermione cracked a smile at his wit. "It's what you call a female weasel Ginny."

"Well, aren't you clever? How about we stick to our first names?"

"Fine, but I'm still calling your brother Weaselbee."

"Fine with me."

Hermione loved watching the banter between Ginny and Draco. The more she got to know him the more she knew the two would get along. They both had a wicked sense of humour.

"So" Theo loudly interrupted everyone's conversations, "what are you ladies dressing up as tonight and who is my date?"

"Date? I didn't know we were going with dates." Astoria looked around "did you guys know we were supposed to have dates? I thought all the girls were going together."

"Neville and Hannah are going together" Blaise commented.

"Hannah you didn't tell us" Daphne pouted.

Turning bright red Hannah looked at Neville. He smiled at her, grabbed her hand and said "I asked her last night after we took a walk around the lake."

"I was going to tell you when we started getting ready" she said shyly.

"This still doesn't answer my question. Who's my date?" Theo looked around.

"Not me!" Shouted Ginny, Hannah, Luna, and Daphne.

Feeling confused Hermione turned to Daphne, "I thought you and Theo were friends why don't you want to go with him?"

"She likes girls, Mi. I'm taking her to the dance." Everyone looked at Luna like she grew an extra head, including Daphne. "Wait, what? I've never told anyone that. How did you know Luna?"

"I could just tell." Luna gave her a dreamy smile "You did want to go with me didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did." Daphne beamed at her.

Theo looked between Hermione, Millicent, and Astoria. "I can't choose between three beautiful witches. Draco, Blaise, and I will just have to pull your names from a hat."

And that is how Hermione ended up with Theo Nott as her date. Astoria and Blaise looked content to be going together, but Millie looked a little disappointed to be going with Draco having confided to Hermione the night before that she had a crush on Theo.

A/N:

As always, thank you for every favorite, follow, and review.