A/N: i re-posted this chapter because i realized i've made a mistake with the Inn's name. It's supposed to be the Three Broomsticks, and i wrote the Leaky Cauldron by accident. Sorry everyone, for that silly mistake, and thanks for the heads up! I am not sure if i will update any time sooner, i am going to try. But my mid-term is coming up and teachers are killing me with homework and tests, so be empathetic, please! Thanks everyone who reviewed.

Girl Talk

{Chapter 10}

The Hogsmeade visit was very interesting. Apparently, the Slytherins were the only people I was allowed to hang out with, and I was not to go to Hogsmeade alone. Then, the girls wanted to get over their Masquerade shopping, and so I had to go with them.

Daphne G. took forever to choose a dress; I knew what I was doing. I picked a dress quickly and thought I could add a bit of magic to make it more 'Juliet'. Though the others felt it was stupid to use magic on your Masquerade dress.

Daphne G. knew I wanted to leave that store so badly and so would not pick a dress. She went through every single option and was unsatisfied. In the end, she picked a really ugly costume; which was fine by me. She was the one wearing it anyways!

"Now that we are done… FINALLY," I stressed the word so D. Greengrass could get the point "let's go shop for accessories and masks."

We headed to a store that sold masks and accessories. We bought necklaces and bracelets and masks and feathers and gloves and everything we thought suitable. It seemed as if the stores of Hogsmeade were prepared with everything a Hogwarts student needed.

I must remember to ask Nott about it later.

When we were done, we went to meet the boys in the Three Broomsticks. It was an all time favourite for everyone.

As we sat to wait for the boys we talked some. I admit I wasn't really listening until 'Draco' and 'Harmony' came up.

"I think he likes you, Harmony." Astoria G. giggled.

"Who?" I asked, having missed everything they were saying.

"Draco." Parkinson said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Really?" I pretended I hadn't noticed his 'peculiar' behaviour towards me.

"You can tell, just by the way he looks at you." Astoria Green—ugh! Screw last names! No one could intercept my thoughts and ask me 'hermione why are you thinking of them using their first names?' Besides, it would make more sense to think of them as my friends, because they are Harmony's friends.

Ugh, it's getting confusing. But I think I like this group, except for Daphne.

"you think?" I asked, a bit oddly.

"Yeah!"

"I hope he's your partner for the Masquerade." Pansy sighed. "it will be so romantic."

"Wonderful." I snorted, against my better judgment.

"Don't you like him? Come on! You two kissed. And that once was enough! You guys were chewing each other's faces." Astoria answered herself.

"I am not going there." I waved my arm. "I kissed him because of a dare-"

"Right; you totally enjoyed that kiss!" Pansy said loudly.

"Could you freaking lower your voice!" I hissed.

"But you—" Parkinson was interrupted by the boys who showed up.

"Hello ladies." Theo smirked.

"May I remind you we are still girls and not ladies?" I said, mockingly.

"My apologies, young ladies," Theo pretended to bow.

Astoria giggled. "You sound so formal."

"Should I take that as a complement?" Theo asked her.

"If you want to," she grinned.

Theo sat beside Astoria, Draco beside Theo, and in front of me.

"Have you done your shopping?" Pansy asked the boys, a few moments after we'd all settled down.

"Yup," Blaise answered, "wouldn't want to shop again, now would we?"

"I personally love to shop." Daphne commented.

"And that is why no one loves you." Draco snorted.

Everyone tried to stifle their laughs without much success.

"Oh, Draco!" Daphne put on a show "you did offend me."

Draco high-fived Blaise "mission accomplished," they joked, hurting Daphne's feelings further.

"You boys really love to break our hearts, don't you?" Pansy mocked.

"Of course," Draco mused "what's better than a broken hearted girl?"

The boys laughed. But I didn't find it funny.

"It can get offending, you know." I said, nonchalantly.

"Oh." I could swear I saw Draco blush.

"We didn't mean to offend you," Theo covered up. "We meant to offend the others."

I just shook my head, half disappointed, half disgusted by the boys.

"You boys need to mature." Pansy sighed.

"You think?" I snorted.

"I think Theo is sweet on you, Astoria." I told Astoria.

We were now sitting in our bedroom planning our dresses. Daphne had gone somewhere with someone, and Pansy was in the common room talking to some girls. Astoria and I had the bedroom to ourselves. Not that I minded. Hey wait! It's not like that! I mean, Astoria is the nicest of the girls, and so I don't mind being stuck in a room with her.

Don't think wrong.

"Really?" She asked, blushing.

"Yeah!"

She smiled shyly. "Can I tell you something?" she asked.

"Go ahead."

"I like him," she admitted, "really like him."

I was silent for a moment, while she looked at me. No one had ever confessed of their love to someone to me.

"Astoria…" I said very coldly and seriously.

She gulped, "yes?"

"THAT'S WONDERFUL!" I shrieked.

She was so surprised she jumped up, startled.

"You're lucky. Everyone can tell he likes you," I tried to explain. "not everyone gets loved back."

"Is it obvious I like him?" she asked me.

"Not really. What's with you always joking around with him." I admitted "you're pretty comfortable around him, don't you think?"
"Really?" She sighed, "I feel tong-tied when he's there. I forget what I want to say or do."

I laughed "you look pretty normal."

"I wish he'd ask me out." She frowned, before grinning wildly "I'd defiantly say yes."

"If we didn't have this talk," I said "and he asked me out, I'd say yes."

"He's pretty hot, isn't he?"

"Who's hot?" Pansy asked bursting in the room.

"Hi Pansy." I said, more of a reminder than a greeting.

"Oh hi!" she replied. "so, who's hot?"

"Theo." Astoria rolled her eyes.

"Oh yes he is!" Pansy bounced on her bed. "Though I like chocolate boys better."
"I thought you had it for Draco?" Astoria teased.

"Nah!" Pansy scoffed "he's old fashion."

"What? Going for his best-buddy?" I mocked.

"Blaise is sexy." Pansy grinned.

"Sure." I laughed. "more like an ass to me."

"Hey!" Pansy pretended to be offended "don't talk about him like that when I am around!"
"Yeah, yeah," I waved my hand dismissively.

"So," Astoria challenged, "who do you like?"

"You know, Ron Weasley isn't nearly that bad." Pansy joked.

I gagged, "Ew! No way in hell!"

"Oh! What about Potter? He's got that whole 'boy-who-lived' thing going on," Astoria laughed.

I made a face. Come on, man! Harry's my best friend!

"No thanks." I said.

"If you're more for the girl type…" Pansy joked.

"Thanks, but I am perfectly straight."

"Waking the dead can't be that hard," Astoria thought out loud.

"Huh?" I asked.

Pansy was confused for a moment then suddenly grinned. She and Astoria exchanged a look I didn't like.

"Voldemort was free. He died single." They said in Harmony.

I fell off the bed I was lying on. "What the heck?" I screamed. "out of all the people in the world?"

"I thought so," Astoria shook her head grinning.

"Poor Harmony," Pansy joked. "we should go to Dumbledore and ask him to wake up the dead Voldemort."

"Then Potter's pains would go in vain," Astoria laughed.

"Really guys?" I choked out, laughing. "I think I will go with someone my age."

"How about Draco, then?"

"Between Draco and Voldemort, I think I'd take Draco." I grinned.

"Draco vs. anyone, You'd better take Draco." Astoria warned.

"Just remember, Blaise is mine." Pansy put her hand up.

"Theo is all mine," Astoria reminded.

"Don't worry, I am not one to share." I grinned at them.

A/N: So, this chapter is a bit weird. But i had to put it in because it explains a bit of things... like how Hermione gets closer to Pansy and Astoria.

Next chapter is the Masquerade. You get to know who's partnered up with who!

Thanks everyone who reviewed!

You guys know what to do now... ;D

-cherryblossom