People are actually reading my fic! Huuuge thanks to everyone for your reviews and encouragement. This is my first ever multi chapter work and it's making me nervous that I'm putting myself out there. It's probably very clear that I don't currently have a beta as I'm still not really sure how seriously I'm taking myself as a writer (OMG am I a writer?), so all mistakes and plot crappiness are entirely my own and I hold my hands up. It seems a few people are enjoying my silly little school-mates fic so I will forge on, but I realise I'm rubbish at updating, being a busy working, teacher mum. School holidays seem to be my update times at the moment so thanks again followers for your support and patience. (I have followers!? Yikes.)

Chapter 7

It was another bright and sunny June afternoon and a cheerful breeze whipped the loose strands of Hermione's hair wildly around her face. She was relieved to be out in the fresh air after the two hours of being cooped up in the rather stifling atmosphere of the potions classroom, surrounded by the heat of boiling cauldrons.

Hermione and Ginny linked arms as they traipsed merrily along the well-worn track that led down to Hogsmeade Village, Ginny chatting away enthusiastically about the leavers' ball that she would of course be attending as Harry's partner.

"Don't forget that you get to do it all over again next year, Gin." Hermione reminded her friend. "And with Harry again, no doubt."

"Yeah I really hope so." Ginny replied. "Kind've got my hopes pinned on being Head Girl next year though, so I'll get my own room. Then Harry and I can get some privacy when he comes to visit to get some Head action of his own" she said with a suggestive quirk of her eyebrows.

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped, playfully smacking her friends arm, then laughed. "To be honest, I bet Harry's kind've wishing the same!"

Ginny gave a snort of approval. "I still don't think anyone can believe you turned Head Girl down this year Hermione." She said after a short moment. "Everyone just assumed it would be you."

"Yes, well I'm glad I did turn it down" Hermione responded. "I'm sure given my timetable, Head Girl responsibilities would've just swamped me, and I was more than happy to simply continue being a prefect."

"Hmmm." Ginny mused thoughtfully. "And especially happy to continue with prefect patrols on certain evenings huh?"

Hermione visibly jolted with wide eyes and an obvious blush. "I… I'm not sure what you mean?" she ventured, keeping her eyes locked dead ahead, although she could clearly feel her friend's intent gaze boring into her within her peripheral vision.

"Hermione…" Ginny began before nearly bumping into Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode as they turned the corner into the main street of Hogsmeade. The girls were carrying large bags containing equally large pastel-coloured boxes that appeared to have wide ribbon tied around them – no doubt from the small but ridiculously expensive, boutique in the village. They had clearly also been to the hairdressers as their heads were coiffed into rigid, towering bouffant hairstyles that looked as though they'd been lacquered profusely with some fixing potion or other.

"Oh, hi girls!" Hermione blurted out quickly, taking advantage of the diversion from Ginny's seemingly horrific line of enquiry. "Did you collect your gowns for this evening, then?"

"Yes." They answered in unison and with unabashed suspicion. It was true that the Slytherin and Gryffindor girls rarely struck up conversation socially.

Pansy gave both girls a sweeping appraisal with her dark eyes. "And you two had better get a move on to get yours if you want to leave yourself enough time to get yourselves looking… reasonable." she remarked.

"Well some of us don't need heaps of time and assistance to make ourselves look fabulous!" Ginny chimed in with a satisfied smirk.

"Really?" Pansy replied with a mocking tone of surprise. "I would have thought Granger's hair alone would take several hours to get under some semblance of control. Unless you're planning on shaving it all off – which I suppose would be a major improvement…"

"Why, you cheeky little…" Ginny started, taking a quick step towards the pair.

"It's fine Gin!" Hermione quickly interjected, grabbing Ginny by the shoulder and guiding her away. "I'm sure Pansy was only having a bit of fun." The sound of the Slytherin girls' piercing cackles faded away as they made their way along the pavement. Hermione tried to shove away the image of Pansy walking into The Great Hall on Draco's arm that was now forming in her mind.

"Come on. We can't let a bit of snake-bite spoil our afternoon." Hermione said with determination.

"Hmmph." Ginny muttered. "You and those bloody snakes. It's a pity you haven't been able to charm all of them into a state of civility with your covert admiration." Hermione looked sharply at Ginny and pursed her lips.

"Dresses. Collecting them. Now." she ordered, steering Ginny swiftly through the door of Gladrags Wizarding Wear, feeling incredulous that Ginny had so suddenly found out about her interest in Draco.

The small shop bell jingled cheerfully above the door as the two girls entered to collect their dresses. They had already picked them out several weeks ago but were only just collecting them today as they had needed some alterations. Normally, magical alterations would be a very quick affair, but Madame Sempster - the seamstress at Gladrags, had been rather inundated due to the forthcoming ball.

Hermione tried her dress on quickly and was delighted to find that it fit her like a dream. She had chosen an elegant, light blue, chiffon gown with a classic empire waist. The bodice had silvery lace work all over and it had demure capped sleeves. Ginny gushed over her as soon as she came out of the fitting room.

"Oh Hermione! You look amazing! I love this style on you – like that Pride and Prejudice TV show you showed me when I came to visit last summer!"

Hermione looked down at her dress and laughed. "Well yes, I suppose it is a little 'Jane Austen'" she surmised.

Madame Sempster ushered Hermione back into the fitting room once she had checked it over and she re-dressed into her casual clothes. She hung her dress back on its coat hanger on the ornate brass hook on the wall inside, before Ginny took her turn.

While Ginny was busy pouring herself into her black cocktail dress, Hermione wandered over to the window to see if she could spot Harry and Ron. They had mentioned that they would be coming down to Hogsmeade for a celebratory, end of exams drink in the Hogshead pub. She hadn't really had chance to speak to them after the potions exam and she was wondering how they'd found it.

As her eyes trailed along the quaint row of little shops, she caught sight of a familiar group heading in her direction. It was the Slytherin quidditch team and they were clearly elated and in high spirits, laughing raucously while the lads shoved one another around playfully. Hermione craned her neck to look more closely to see where Draco was, and immediately let out an audible gasp the moment she clapped eyes on him.

He was wet. Soaking wet from head to foot. His white shirt was transparent and clinging to his torso and he had unbuttoned it in an attempt to get dry. His trousers were equally drenched and his hair hung raggedly, shining in the sunlight.

Hermione hadn't noticed that Ginny – now wearing her ball dress, had approached her from behind and had also caught sight of exactly what had caused Hermione to stand in Gladrags shop window, gasping like a stunned mannequin.

Ginny gave a low whistle. "Well, well. If it isn't Mr sodding Darcy himself" she said right next to Hermione's ear.

Hermione said nothing for a few moments, continuing to bask in the gloriousness of the sight now right across the road. At that moment, it was as though time had slowed down, like some cliché in a romantic film.

Draco was laughing as he ran his fingers through his hair. He then made to grab his wand which Goyle was holding in front of him just out of reach, but then quickly snatching it away – only just outwitting Draco's nimble, Seeker reflexes. "Uh –uh!" they heard one of the Slytherin girls say. "Naughty, naughty Malfoy. No drying spells for you until we get back to the castle!"

"It's a Slytherin team tradition, Gin." Hermione explained to her friend, not taking her eyes away for even a second. "When the Captain is leaving and has finished his or her final exam, the rest of the team get to track them down and throw them in the lake. Draco told me all about it one night."

"Oh, Darcy – sorry, Draco did, did he?" Ginny replied gleefully. But Hermione didn't reply, so entranced was she by the passing group and their captain, as they bundled into The Three Broomsticks further down the road.

Ginny was a little miffed that Hermione hadn't even bothered to pass comment on her dress, but shrugged it off easily, resigned to the fact that Hermione was clearly too far gone into 'The Malfoy Zone' to be of any use. Ginny was confident that she looked like a total knock-out in her sexy black number and that Harry would be drooling over her without doubt.

She went back into the fitting room to get changed and found that Madame Sempster had conveniently left a zip-up garment carrier in there for her to use. Hermione's dress was zipped up safely in another. Ginny unzipped it and looked at the sky-blue dress thoughtfully as the germ of a plan formed in her mind.

"Time for Miss Bennet to send a message of interest to Mr Darcy, methinks." she whispered to herself, as she carefully withdrew her wand, her brown eyes twinkling with mischief.