Hope you like it :) Please review! Thank you to my one dear reviewer! I really appreciate it. :)


Loud voices and booming laughter startled Hermione awake. The voices were coming from inside the common room, but it sounded like way more people than Harry, Ron, and Ginny. Hermione gathered all her things and walked back inside, surprised to see her best friends, along with Draco, Blaise, Nott, Daphne, and Pansy, conjuring a long table in the middle of the room. Ginny was the first one to notice Hermione's entrance.

"Mione! We didn't know where you were, but we had hoped you were joining us! You alright? You look funny."

Hermione shifted uncomfortably and let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, Gin, I'm fine. I fell asleep on the balcony reading. What's going on here?"

"We decided to crash your common room and have dinner together," the Nott boy contributed as he trotted over. "I'm Theodore Nott, but you can call me Theo. I'm hoping that anything I've done to you in the past can be looked over? I'm really sorry for being a Slytherin ponce."

Hermione laughed and shook his hand. "I seem to be getting a lot of apologies for past transgressions today…" She eyed Draco and Blaise, who both turned slightly red. "Er, I'll be right back. Gotta put these things away."

Hermione rushed into her room and shut her door. Well this is an interesting turn of events. Go out there and make some friends! She tossed her belongings on her bed, but noticed her phone screen light up with a message.

You're right. I'm sorry. That's crossing a line, and I don't want to do that. Truce? Let's get to know each other. Tell me your darkest secret. And I'll tell you mine.

Hermione scoffed, but she was intrigued by this mystery man. She thought for a minute, and pulled a sweater over her head before responding.

I don't think I'll amount to anything in my life. I don't care about things the same way I did before the war, so I have no passion about life.

Back in the other room, everyone had sat down to eat. Hermione hesitantly slid into the open seat next to Blaise and fell right into the conversation.

"So what classes is everyone taking this term?" Hermione took a bite of her food and stashed her phone in her pocket.

Blaise and Theo rolled their eyes in her direction. "We already heard about the sweet deal you've been offered, but the rest of us have crazy schedules compared to you. We have to take all the required classes."

Ginny swallowed her bite and piped up. "Did you hear the rumors? Apparently the professors are thinking of adding some 'life skills' classes for anyone eligible for this law. You know, things like 'How to be a Wife' or 'Marriage Counseling' or things like that. Can you believe it?"

The group went crazy after that, everyone throwing out their opinions. Hermione sat back and observed. She enjoyed this group, and she thought she could really be good friends with them. But she had her reservations. She knew at least that Theo and Draco were Pure-blooded, meaning they needed to marry a Muggle-born. She didn't know about Blaise. She actually didn't know anything about him. He was quite the mystery. Turning her eyes on him, she observed the way he interacted with the others. So effortlessly. How did she not know him before. Oops, caught you staring.

"Something interesting catch your eye, cara?" Blaise leaned in close to Hermione's ear, the words rolling off his tongue dripping with seduction. He laughed a deep, throaty laugh that made Hermione shiver with anticipation. Holy shit. This guy is something. Hermione regained her composure and turned a wicked gaze on him. Turning her body toward him, she made sure her legs were pressing against his. She lifted one of her legs and draped it over one of his. His eyes widened, but he made no motion to move her. She leaned in and placed a hand on his arm and pressed her lips against his ear.

"Just sizing you up, Zabini. Trying to figure you out," she whispered. Painfully slow, she ran her tongue down the side of Blaise's ear, resulting in his shiver. Instantly Hermione pulled back, laughing, before her and Blaise noticed all eyes turned in their direction. Blaise lifted Hermione's leg off his, shifting an uncomfortable bulge in his pants. He cleared his throat, cheeks tinged with red. He eyed Draco and Theo.

"I think I may have met my match, gentlemen."

The table erupted with laughter and discussion about Blaise's flirtatious ways.

"Blaise, you've always been the Slytherin ladykiller. You're telling me that Granger out-sexed you?"

"I don't believe it, mate. No one's could be more of a flirt than you!"

"Blaise, you would flirt with a lightpole if it winked at you."

The group of friends laughed and talked the rest of the night, spending the time to get to know each other. Pretty soon, Ginny had to leave in order to meet curfew, so all the others joined her. Saying their goodnights, Hermione turned to walk to her room. As she got to the door, she heard someone clear their throat behind her. Whirling around, she found Blaise leaning against her doorframe. She sauntered over to him, grinning up at him expectantly.

"What are your plans tomorrow night?"

"Probably getting started on homework. Why?"

"Go out with me."

Hermione blinked in shock. Was Blaise Zabini really asking her out? She grinned at the prospect. Clearly she had left an impression. "What did you have in mind?"

He grinned, leaning toward her. "Meet me in the Astronomy Tower at 8." He swept her hand up and kissed it before striding from the room. Hermione couldn't wipe the grin from her face when Harry and Ron approached her. They gave each other a look before directing it on her.

"Blaise asked me out."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Do you think he's someone you could marry?"

Hermione giggled and shrugged. "I don't know, Harry! Isn't that the point of dating? What about you, Ron, any interest in either of these girls?"

Ron shrugged, noncommittal. "I'm not so sure Daphne and Pansy are really my type. Cool girls, fun to hang out with. But marry? I don't know. I'm keeping my options open."

Hermione smiled and grabbed her pack of cigarettes off her bed, offering one to Ron, who accepted, and Harry, who declined. He bid them goodnight as they went out onto the balcony. Hermione told Ron about her afternoon with Draco, how different she felt he was now. Ron agreed, discussing their game of Quidditch.

"They're good guys, Mi. I think we'll all get along really well. And it's nice to make new friends. No offense, you know. But maybe you, Harry, and I have been through so much that we need new friends. To bring in something other than horcruxes and Deathly Hallows. More than Voldemort or devastated families. This will be good for us."

He tossed his arm lazily across her shoulders as they finished their cigarettes. Hermione bid Ron goodnight and got ready for bed. As she crawled in, she checked her phone, and sure enough she had a message.

Oh, I'm sure you have passion. Anyone who looks at you can see it in your eyes, no matter how much you try not to let it show. Here's my secret: I don't think I'll be able to find a wife after the associations my family has had.

Hermione furrowed her brow. So he's a Slytherin. Probably associated with Death Eaters. That doesn't actually narrow it down much. She yawned, determined to think about it another day.