Disclaimer: I don't own anything by the wonderful JK Rowling…but dreams and ambition given to me when my eyes first graced the pages of this series.

HeartForSoul


They were all laughing and having a good time. They had already come up with a name for Millicent Bulstrode. It was Canvas-tent Full-load. Kathy Lean-lass for Daphne. Hermione looked at the clock. It was a quarter to four. She had looked at the clock about five times, and she could swear that Fred was watching her. Every time she looked up, he was joking with the others, though, and she wrote it off as her eyes playing tricks.

She decided to get a head start and go to the book store early. "Guys, I have to go. I have to...get some new quills...I'll see you all later." Hermione said, just about to leave when another voice came to her.

"Wait! I need some too, mind if I come?" Fred asked.

Hermione cursed under her breath and Fred had a flashback to the day they announced the play.


"She starts cursing and I'm in love!" Fred said jokingly. All of a sudden they heard a loud, "BLOODY HELL!" coming from the girl's dormitories. A huge cloud of smoke poured out of the room, and the girls ran from the stairs. The older girls were helping the younger ones down. Fred, George, and Lee walked up.

George laughed, "So which of you curses like Snape when we play a prank on him?"

Hermione looked over and bit her lip.

George and Lee's smiles grew, and they looked over at Fred who had his jaw hanging open.

"That was you, 'Mione?"


"Sure," Hermione said, interrupting his reverie. "You can come. I have to go to the shop and try on some clothes first. It might take an hour or so, you can meet me there." She knew she sounded nothing like herself, but she didn't want Fred to be there. Blaise was really discreet about his actions.

"I could judge your outfits," Fred smirked as Hermione's face burned a bit.

"I'll just meet you there." Hermione said, dashing to the dress shop. When she was sure that Fred was gone she ran towards the book shop. She looked around and walked inside.

She looked at the clock. Five 'til four. He should be here any min- "Hey Granger."

She turned around and had her wand out in seconds. Anyone who called her Granger was usually someone who wanted to hurt her. "Oh, Zabini." She sighed and put her wand away, but in easy reach.

"Expecting Weasley?"

"No! I didn't think you were Fred!" Hermione protested.

"Funny how you knew which one I was talking about..." Zabini trailed off smirking as Hermione kept glaring.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked, getting straight to the topic.

Then Blaise Zabini said the most unexpected thing. "I want to join the play." He grinned at her shocked face.

"What? How did you figure it out?" She asked, amazed.

"I'm not stupid Granger. Draco pointed it out and I thought I'd investigate. I have a friend in Ravenclaw who knows what was going on. I asked her. She told me. The end." He smiled again. "So, can I join?"

She looked hesitantly at him before she remembered Dumbledore's words. 'You must not exclude anyone who wants to join.' It was as if the old git had known this would happen! Hermione immediately cursed herself for calling the teacher - who was most likely able to read minds - an old git in her head. She'd have more luck saying it aloud and him not hearing. "I...guess so."

Blaise grinned widely. He also took a quick glance at her chest before he remembered something. "Oh yeah, I don't want anyone to know I'm in. I'll give you information. We can talk in the library by the potions section. It's the only lesson no one ever studies for."

"I study for-" She shook her head. Not the time. "No one can know anyways. I'll tell Gryffindors and Theo, but-"

"So he is in on it!" Blaise smirked. "He's a horrible liar."

"Listen Zabini, you have to cooperate, and you can't tell anyone else what's going on." Hermione warned.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "I don't want anyone knowing but you and me. Not even Theo. That happens, and I'll cooperate."

Hermione shrugged as an okay.

"The whole crew stuff is cool. That's what I want to do. I can build practically anything with these babies." He held up his hands then acted as if he was polishing them on his shirt.

She rolled her eyes. "Hermione! I thought you were shopping for clothes?" An oddly familiar voice came from behind her. She turned around. It was Fred.

"Just using an excuse to sneak off to the bookstore really. I wanted to read this new book called..." she glanced over to the shelves. "How to Charm the Heart of a Single Wizard." She blushed. "I was thinking of giving it to Parvati for a birthday gift."

Fred laughed. "Nice one."

He turned to Blaise. "What are you doing here, Zabini?" He spat the last name.

Zabini rolled his eyes. "Flirting with Granger. What do you think I'm doing, Weasley? It's called buying a book. I know you barely know what a book is, but some of us tend to be able to read."

Fred turned several shades of red in a matter of seconds. He looked to the ground, and Hermione seemed to snap to her senses. "Watch your words, Zabini." She huffed, grabbing Fred's hand and pulling him out of the store.

Blaise stood there, completely still, until the door shut and he was snapped awake. "I've got to get those two together."

"Who?" A voice asked behind him. It was Padma.

He rolled his eyes. "Godric and Salazar. Who do you think just walked out? Weasley and Granger!"

She raised her eyebrows. "Since when do you care?"

"I don't." He muttered.

"If you want to help, then you might want to stop staring at her chest." Padma pointed out, as Blaise glanced at hers. His head snapped up immediately.

"I'm male, Padma! It doesn't work like that!" Blaise said, exasperated.

"You don't see Fred going around, staring at her chest!" Padma rolled her eyes.

"And he's not dating her," the Italian pointed out. At a look from Padma, Blaise sighed. "Fine. I'll try."

Padma laughed and grabbed Blaise's hand. He raised his eyebrows. "Don't feel too lucky, I'm just giving you an alibi."

"Why?" Blaise asked. Just then, the shop's door, opened up.

"Oh! Hey Blaise. And...a Patil twin?" Draco raised his eyebrows. Draco didn't know Blaise was friends with a few people in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

"Uh...yeah." Blaise muttered, letting go of her hand. "Bye Padma."

He pushed Draco out of the store.


"Alright. You wanted to talk?" Daphne asked Theo. She had rushed through her food, even though he said not to, and was sitting by him in the kitchens.

"Yeah. Okay, the Gryffindors are doing a play. It's to make fun of Slytherins. I want you to-"

She cut him off. "I'm not pranking them, Theo."

"No! Not that!" Theo laughed. "I'm helping them out by giving them some pureblood advice and stalking Malfoy. He's one of the main characters."

Daphne snorted. "Of course he is!"

"We're in it too. They're my friends though, so they aren't making fun of us too much."

"Okay, so how does this involve me?" Daphne asked, sipping the hot chocolate a house elf had just brought her.

"I need you to...follow Pansy. Yes, I know you hate her. Just act like you don't. Please. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I don't know anyone else who would do it."

Daphne nodded. "I'll do it. Does this mean I get to help with the play?" Then Daphne remembered something. "Is that why you are suddenly friends with the Weasleys?"

Theo nodded. "They aren't too bad." He smiled.

Daphne grinned. "Alright. I have to go now. Pansy's friends always meet up in the common room before Hogsmeade weekends." Theo nodded. Daphne's eyes widened. "I just thought of something! We can use a quick notes quill! I can, at least...I can keep it in my purse, and make it record our conversations! We can read them afterwards."

"Excellent." Theo said, amazed at his girlfriend.

"Alright. I'll see you later. Time for operation Stalk Pansy to start." She kissed his cheek and left.