AN: jep not mine... too bad! Someone wanted to see more one on one interaction between Hermione and the boys individually and I tried.
I know grammar and spelling mistakes are in the story. I try my best and I'll try to correct them but give me time :)
I want to thank all of you who have favorited or followed the story or those who left a review. It really warms my heart that so many of you like this story.
In the next week Hermione couldn't contain her curiousness and she tried to find out what her costume would be but it didn't work. But she didn't want to give up. So she would try again when she got the guys alone. So she tried to ask Theo about it when they met in the library to do some homework.
"But Theoo…" Theo chuckled, Hermione was cute when she pouted. He shook his head while laughing and Hermione let out a huff. "Party pooper."
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Maybe I'll just find someone who likes me more"
Theo chuckled while pulling her in for a hug.
"You'll never find someone as smart as me."
Hermione giggled. "That's why I need you. You're the smarty I use for my homework." Hermione said while nudging him softly.
Theo smiled and tried to distract her from the costume. He asked her about the Potions assignment they were working on. She started on a little rant about the use of moonstone and rat spleen, what they needed to write a paper about.
He just liked the way her eyes sparkled when she was passionately talking about magic. Theo couldn't imagine not knowing magic for a part of his life. It was such a big part of him and everyone he knew, so Hermione baffled him. She was so knowledgeable about all things concerning magic. He was so proud of her. Hermione waved his hand in front of Theo's eyes.
"Theo?" Theo shook his head and looked up at Hermione, smiling.
"Sorry lost in thought."
"Good thoughts?" Hermione smiled back. Theo nodded before grabbing his quill and started writing again.
"Where are the other guys?" Hermione asked when she rolled up her parchment.
"They have practice now." Hermione nodded when she started packing away her books. She liked spending time with Theo, she felt like he was the only one that got her thirst for knowledge.
Draco and Blaise were smart to that's for sure but they'd rather goof off after making sure their assignments were done. Theo could talk about academics whenever Hermione felt the need to ask him about magic. He was also the only one that wanted to know more about muggle culture then just music or movies. They talked about history and healing. Hermione explained science to him, what she remembered from her muggle school days and the books her parents provided for her. They sometimes just hid in the Room of Requirements for an hour to listen to the Beatles and Queen, just enjoying each other's company.
"Ok, can I just ask one question about the costume?"
"Hermione, I'm not telling you what we got you."
She sighed "I wasn't going to ask you that I just wanted to know if I would have gotten that costume for myself?"
Theo thought about it. She knew how much Hermione loved Greek mythology. It was one of the things they discussed numerous times and of course her parents indulged in her interests and bought Hermione a lot of mythology books. He smiled and slowly nodded. "Yeah I think you'll be happy about what you'll be dressed as."
"That's a relief."
He smiled and pulled Hermione after a few hours spend in the library to the Great hall to get some food. When they finally reached the Great hall, Blaise and Draco were walking in freshly showered. Hermione started blushing. Boy, she had some good looking friends.
Blaise wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "How is my favourite bookworm?"
Hermione chuckled.
"Hey, I thought I was your favourite!" Theo responded.
Blaise chuckled. "Nope, always been Hermione. But you can be my second favourite?" Blaise grinned at Theo, who was rolling his eyes before a smile appeared on his lips. "Come on guys, I'm hungry."
Draco said before making his way to Neville and Dean. In the weekend the little friend group always sat together. Hermione made her way up to Padma and Luna and sat between them. The guys, like always had to put their own two cents in about the upcoming Quidditch matches. The girls rolled their eyes. "Where is Hannah?"
Padma and Luna smiled and pointed at Hannah sitting at the Ravenclaw table speaking to Terry Boot. Hermione smiled.
"So we all have a date?" The other girls nodded.
"We're one of the first ones and no Hermione we're not telling you what your costume looks like." Hermione pouted. Damn Luna and her weird ways of always knowing what was on her mind.
"But I'll tell you one thing. They really did a good job so just relax." Padma said to Hermione. Hermione nodded and smiled at Padma.
"I'm not really worried, I just want to know. I don't really like surprises."
The girls both giggled. "Yeah we know but you'll like it, just trust us. Just a little week left and then you'll know."
Hermione smiled and nodded again. She was looking around at the rest of her house. They didn't look that boisterous like they once did and a lot of the older kids looked exhausted.
Luna whispered in her ear. "I think they finally get how much you did for them all." Hermione looked down and nodded. She had been angry and her house had suffered. Draco was looking at her with raised eyebrow. He shook his head and got up and walked up to Hermione.
"Come on, before your heart takes control and you forgive all these sorry sods."
She accepted his outstretched hand and followed him out of the Great Hall.
"Wait here." Draco let go off her hand and walked into the kitchens.
He came out after a few minutes with a picnic basket. He took her hand again and led her up the stairs to the Room of Requirements.
"It's pouring down outside." He answered when he saw her questioning look.
Draco walked along the wall three times and opened the door for her. It was the room he always asked. It looked like a gentleman's club room. The room was dark green filled with black leather couches and dark wood furniture. But he always asked for a roaring fire and bookshelves, so she felt comfortable. Most of the time, there would a wireless that played muggle songs. Draco loved muggle rock.
After a few weeks being friends with Draco, she learned that Draco, who she had thought was emotionless, just expressed himself differently. She could hear from his music choice how he felt. He put the picnic basket down next to the comfortable looking couch. They both sat down and started to eat.
"I wasn't going to let them use me again." Hermione said before taking a bite of her turkey avocado sandwich.
"I just want to protect you Hermione. You deserve so much more than what you got from those stupid lions."
"Hey!" Hermione protested.
"You know I don't mean you, Neville or Dean. Just the rest of the house of Gryffindor."
Hermione nodded before taking another sandwich.
Draco sighed. "I know you can look out for yourself Hermione, I just worry about you. You look so much happier and well rested now that you just take care of yourself and the people that truly care for you."
Hermione looked up and smiled. "I know Draco, sometimes I feel like I just reacted to harsh and then someone does something stupid again and I just think: why did I let them use me for so long?"
Draco chuckled softly. "Isn't that obvious?"
Hermione looked at him, her eyebrow slightly raised. "No…"
Draco chuckled again. "You, my fair lady, have a bleeding heart. You take care of the lost causes and try to fix everyone."
"No I don't." Hermione muttered.
"It's not a bad thing Hermione." He softly grabbed her chin and lifted her chin so Hermione had to look up into his silvery grey eyes.
"You just try to fix everyone because you care so much. That makes you such a great friend and such an amazing person." His thumb brushed against her cheek. Hermione smiled while she looked up in his eyes and nodded slowly.
"Yeah I know. I'm just glad that I found real friends." She and Draco talked for hours about rock music and movies before he started to get up. "I'm not getting anything out of you either, am I?" Draco chuckled and shook his head.
"Nope sorry Granger." He winked. "You'll just have to wait another week before you can gush to us about your perfect costume. I'm sure we just nailed it." He gave her a hug and after making sure he would see her at dinner he took off.
When she left the Room of Requirement, Blaise was waiting for her. "Hey Blaise, were you looking for Draco? Because he just left."
Blaise just shook his head. "No Cara, I was waiting for you."
Hermione smiled. "Is it snakes day today?"
Blaise laughed. "Nope, I just thought Theo got you for his own this morning and Draco just took you for a few hours so I wanted to just spend some time with you. Be grateful you're in the presence of the sexiest guy of Hogwarts."
Hermione laughed. "It thought that was Draco."
Blaise's expression fell.
"Oh Blaisey, it was a just a joke." Hermione tried to cheer him up.
He always laughed at the little nickname she used when he was upset. "Draco, the hottest guy?" He huffed. "I'll teach you Granger." He grabbed onto her waist and started tickling her. Hermione started laughing again.
"Blaise… Pl-pl-please stop!"
He laughed and whispered in her ear. "Not until you admit I'm the hottest."
"Yo-you're the ho-ho-hottest!" Hermione uttered.
She was cry laughing before Blaise stopped his assault. He just hugged her. "See I knew you'd see my side." Hermione just laughed and took his hand. The rain had stopped and Hermione needed a little fresh air. Blaise took her to the Lake and they slowly walked around it a couple of times. "It surprises me you haven't asked about your costume my dear."
Hermione looked up at Blaise's smiling face. "Will you tell me?"
"Nope" Blaise said "But I can tell you that you'll be the most beautiful woman on the ball."
Hermione blushed. "Oh Blaise stop it. Padma and Luna will be much prettier, I mean I'm just … average."
Blaise stopped her and Hermione looked up. "Don't do that Hermione."
"Do what?" Hermione was confused. She just told him what she had heard all her life.
"You, Cara, are far from average. You are funny and smart and beautiful. Your hair is as wild as you are. The twinkle of mischief in your eyes is something that catches everyone's attention and I think that if you started wearing clothing that was actually your size and not two sizes too big, everyone would see what I see."
Hermione's breath hitched. "And what do you see Blaise?"
Blaise smiled fondly at her. "I see a young woman that will one day conquer the world with her brains, will make everyone love her with her smile and make every guy drop to his knees with her beautiful figure."
Hermione blushed. She never got that much praise. Sure people liked her for her brain but nobody ever said she was beautiful. She hugged Blaise really tight. "Thank you."
He slowly ran his hands through her hair before pulling her closer and resting his cheek on her head. "You're welcome."
They continued their stroll and Blaise asked her about her vacation plans. "Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing?"
Hermione shrugged. "My parents are out of the country so I can't really go home and I'm not welcome at the Weasley's at the moment so I'll just stay here and study for my NEWT's I guess."
Blaise slowly nodded his head. He knew that he and the guys could make Hermione's Christmas a good one. They slowly made their way back to the castle, since it was getting dark and dinner would be served in 15 minutes.
Hermione and Blaise just waited for the others of the group before entering the Great Hall and they ate dinner together. Blaise was lost in thought about how he and the guys could make Hermione's Christmas a good one. After dinner they just left to their own common rooms and Blaise turned to the guys, presenting the problem.
"She can't come home with me." Draco said "My parents aren't that strict in their blood purity anymore but I don't think inviting Hermione to the Manor will help them get rid of those ideas."
"Same here" Theo said.
Blaise sadly nodded. He knew his mother wouldn't be against Hermione, because she helped him get his grades up but his mother wasn't one of the most welcoming women. "I guess we'll just have to think harder." They all nodded before getting into bed. They will give Hermione the best Christmas she ever had, they just didn't know how yet.
Next one is the ball. Please review it really helps!
