Dear Harry,

So many things have happened since yesterday. Merlin, it seems like forever since I've seen you. Your worries were a bit unfounded though. The Malfoys are being really nice to me. And we get on so well. Draco especially. If Ron starts getting jealous, just tell him that there is nothing between us anymore! And there hardly was to begin with.

We have just got back from the Malfoy traditional first day of the holidays shopping trip, and my god Narcissa can shop! My feet hurt so bad! We started at nine this morning, and finished about eight at night!

At the end of the summer we are planning something called a Coming of Age Ball, which apparently is a tradition in the wizarding world in wizarding families from a higher class. Stop rolling your eyes, Harry! It's going to be a long thing and I'm working to get you and the Weasleys invited, but don't hold your breath for it. Because Draco and I are going to be Head Boy and Girl next year it's a big deal, and because we come from rival houses it's an even bigger deal to establish a friendship between us.

And yes, it is a friendship. You may think I'm under some spell but Draco just gets me. Don't ask me to explain it, because even I don't have the answer to that. He is sitting here now soaking his feet and making preparations for the show. He is sending me some very pissed off looks. I think he knows I'm talking about him.

Hermione paused with the quill poised above the parchment. She looked up at Draco who was sitting on the end of her bed with his feet in a bucket of ice and piles of shopping on the bed behind him.

"My parents are due to be out tomorrow, why don't we start skating?" he asked her.

"First we have to prepare the boots. And I don't know if my feet will be up to it."

"It wasn't that bad."

"That's because you and your father got to go home halfway through. Why do I have to be so nice?"

"Because you're a Gryffindor. It was your choice to sacrifice yourself to save us."

"And it was a lovely thing to do for us poor souls." A voice from the doorway revealed Lucius smiling down at them. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." Hermione enthused waving him into the room. He came in and sat himself on the couch. "I would just like to say that I think this show idea of yours is a marvellous idea. But."

"Oh dear," Draco said. "Nothing ever good comes from that little word."

"How very true. It is nothing, but you will have to postpone the rehearsals, only by a few days. You are expected at the Zambini's party tomorrow."

Draco groaned. Hermione shot him a look. "I thought you liked Blaise Zambini?"

"Not since the ferret episode. Right son?"

"Oh. What happened?" Hermione asked enthusiastically.

"Reel in the eagerness please." Draco frowned.

"Sorry."

"After the Moody impostor turned me into the ferret in fourth year all I wanted was for people to forget it."

"But it was such a great moment. It made Ron happy for a week. Sorry. My guess is that Blaise didn't let it go?"

"Not only that. He learnt the spell."

"Ah."

"Exactly. Every time he wants one up on me he turns me into a cute white ferret." Hermione got up from the desk and went to sit beside him. Lucius watched them carefully.

"But we have to go to this party tomorrow." Hermione looked gloomy. "But on the bright side. I'll be there."

He looked into her eyes and took her hand. "It's a start."

Lucius chucked contentedly. "Oh before I forget, Cissy asked me to give you two this." He got up and crossed to them and handed Hermione a sheet of parchment.

"What's this?"

"It's a list of the upcoming events that we all have to attend, by order of Mrs Malfoy. We have to find a way to get through them. Or at least make them more bearable. If you have any ideas, please let me know."

"Lucius!" they heard Narcissa shout from somewhere.

"She'll want to try on the outfits for me. She does this every time she makes me go shopping with her."

Hermione looked at Lucius' depressed face and stood up, gathering her shopping bags.

"What's going on?" Draco asked.

"Sacrifice." She said shortly. "I'm sparing your father."

"You're going for the fitting?"

"So he doesn't have to. She said that we would probably do it this way this year. I get the feeling she likes having another female presence in the house."

"Hermione, are you an angel?"

"Hardly. Close though; I'm a Gryffindor. It's the kind of thing we do. Plus, it's a girl thing. And I don't think you boys can cope with any more girl stuff today."

Draco laughed. "You can say that again. The woman really knows how to torture the men in her family."

"It is our nature." Hermione smirked the Malfoy smirk at them as she left the room.

"Where did she learn to do that?" Lucius asked. "I thought we copyrighted it?"

"We did. Her diary says she's been watching me smirk it for so long that she's learnt how to do it too."

"Not surprising. Hang on…you read her diary?"

"Dad, what house am I in?"

"Slytherin…ah."

Lucius sniggered at his son and then went back to his study. Draco chuckled to himself before going back into his room with his shopping.

Three hours later Hermione stumbled into his room. He looked up from his desk as she fell onto his bed and groaned.

"That bad was it?" he tried not to chuckle.

"You have no idea." She said face downwards. "If it's alright by you, I think I'll just lie here and die."

Here Draco felt he was allowed a laugh so he did. "I think mother would have a few problems with that if you did."

"Hm? If you could just wake me up when it's time to go back to school, that'd be great."

"You'll recover."

Hermione laughed humourlessly and pulled herself up to the pillows. She felt something under one of them and pulled it out. "Where did you get this?"

"I, found it." he said hesitantly, knowing he was in deep shit.

"This is mine." She held up her diary.

"I meant to give it back."

"But you didn't. Why?"

"I don't know."

"If you tell me that you read it, I will go back to hating you."

"I didn't read it. I promise."

Hermione hesitated and worked to get herself up off the bed. Wincing on painful feet she hobbled to the door. In the doorway she turned back to him. "I believe you, for now. Innocent until proven guilty."

Draco waited until she had left before burying his head in his hands. "Or guilty until proven innocent."