Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Sitting at the Slytherin table wasn't so bad anymore, now that Daphne had warmed up to her. Pansy was still pretty reserved, but it was clear that she had been thinking about what Hermione had last told her.

"We're going to the first Hogsmeade weekend together." Daphne confessed, giggling a little.

Hermione gave her a wide smile. "Make sure one of you reserves a table at the Three Broomsticks. The first weekend is always ridiculously crowded with Third Years."

"Oh, you're right. I hadn't even thought of that." Daphne mused. "Oh! Pansy, we should make it a double date!"

Pansy nodded in agreement. "Sure. That would be fun."

"Oh, you're dating someone too?" Hermione asked politely.

Pansy gave her a searching look before nodding. "Yes. Blaise and I have been together for almost two years now. Actually, it's nearing the anniversary of our first date."

"That's so romantic!" Hermione grinned. "I don't know anyone who's been together that long."

"Not even Potter and Weasley?" Pansy asked.

"Well, Ginny and Harry have been going out for a few months." Hermione explained. "Certainly not as long as you."

Pansy giggled slightly, despite herself. "I think Blaise wants to take me out on our anniversary. It's a Saturday, so I'm sure Dumbledore won't mind."

"Do all your homework on Friday." Hermione advised.

Pansy nodded. "Oh, I know. No one ever gets anything done on Sunday."

As they continued talking, owls dropped in with mail. Hermione recognized Ron's owl, Errol, a split second after he came crashing through the table. He spilled pumpkin juice and all sorts of other breakfast foods all over her in his haste to get up.

"Errol!" She scolded, quickly using her wand to clean everything up. She pulled the letter off of the owl and then helped him up.

"Isn't that Weasel's owl?" Malfoy snickered.

Hermione rolled her eyes and opened up the note. She instantly recognized Ginny's neat handwriting.

Hermione –

I know you've been busy (I've heard all about it from Harry and Ron) but I really miss you! We (we being Harry, Ron, Lavender, Parvati, and myself) were wondering if you wouldn't mind spending your free time with us? We're meeting out by the Great Lake after classes. I hope to see you there. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!

With love,

Ginny

"Malfoy!" Hermione called. "We're spending the afternoon with my friends by the Great Lake."

"Absolutely not." Malfoy snapped back. "I have actual things to do, you know."

Hermione shrugged. "Well, I suppose I could always invite them back to our common room tonight. Oh! Ginny and I could have a sleepover! We haven't done that in so long…"

As she trailed off wistfully, she saw Malfoy visibly pale.

"I'll only go to your Gryffindor party if you do something for me." Malfoy said at last, his eyes glinting evilly.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "What? It better not be anything inappropriate, Malfoy, or I swear –"

She was cut off by the chiming of the bell. Her eyes widened and she shot out of her seat. "Oh no! We're going to be late for Transfiguration if we don't hurry!"

Malfoy was up only a second later. Even he didn't want to deal with the wrath of an angry Professor McGonagall.

Thankfully, they weren't late. Hermione put their earlier conversation out of her head and focused solely on her schoolwork.

Finally, it was time to meet her friends. She was almost giddy with excitement.

"You're going to owe me one, okay?" Malfoy grumbled, clearly not sharing her sentiments.

Hermione nodded absently. She hurried out the door.

"Hermione!" Ginny shrieked and gave her a huge hug. Hermione hugged her back, grinning from ear-to-ear.

"We've missed you so much!" Harry grinned.

"Yeah, it's just not the same anymore. You're not there to help us with our homework." Ron agreed.

Hermione rolled her eyes, but grinned nonetheless. "I've missed you guys so much too. I know I see you during classes, but it's just not the same."

"So how have you been?" Harry asked. He glanced over inconspicuously at Malfoy, who was exactly ten feet away from them.

"I've been great." Hermione replied. "Guys, I have to tell you about this. Daphne Greengrass is nice!"

Quickly, she related her experience with Daphne and Pansy, and her determination to make F.U.G.S. flourish.

"Hermione, are you sure that's a good idea?" Parvati asked. "I mean, you remember how SPEW turned out."

"It was S.P.E.W!" Hermione corrected snappily. "And this one will turn out better, because you'll all join. Won't you?"

At her hopeful and angry gaze, the five Gryffindors both gulped and nodded. Ginny, Ron, Parvati, and Lavender were all secretly terrified of her, especially when she was angry. Harry could never resist her hopeful puppy dog eyes.

"Hermione, you are going to be the death of us all." Ginny grumbled.

After another few hours relaxing and having fun in each other's company, Hermione stood up. She could tell that Malfoy was getting more and more impatient to go back inside. "I've got to go, guys. Dinner's going to be soon. Now, don't forget about F.U.G.S!"

"We won't." Her friends replied. "Bye, Hermione!"

"You didn't take forever at all." Malfoy snapped sarcastically as she rejoined him. "That was hours!"

"You could have been working on your homework or something productive." Hermione shrugged. "That's not my problem."

Malfoy grumbled under his breath, but Hermione was too happy to take him seriously. She had honestly forgotten how much fun being with her friends could be.

Life was good.