Previously:

A soft chuckle followed by a pointed look. Of course, you are Hermione Granger.

Draco felt her hand squeeze his elbow gently as she faced forward. Thank you Draco.

His thumb traced small circles over the back of her hand. I'm here for you love.

She snuck a quick smile back in his direction; I know.

As they all sat down to eat, Mrs. Malfoy keep a steady flow of conversation, talking about polite things that held their interest in the moment yet would be forgotten later because of the lack of importance. Hermione smiled and nodded along with the others, discreetly watching the others to see what to do next.
Eat this, avoid that, use this fork, dab at mouth with the napkin, and take small sips to drink.

It was odd, because these were all the things she had learned while working with Sydney and Ginny, but it was so different applying it to real life! It didn't help any having Narcissa watching her, adding to the feeling that if she made a mistake she would make a fool of herself.

Draco noticed that Hermione was starting to bite at her lip at bit more and wanted to groan. Didn't she know what she did to him when she did stuff like that? He would gladly take her place and bite her lip instead…he gave a mental shake of his head, clearing his mind and focusing at the problem on hand. She was getting nervous again. He would really have to talk to her when they were alone and calm her down.
He quickly bumped her foot under the table, earning her attention. She gave him a questioning look and he smirked, she really was something else. Didn't she know why he distracted her?

She blushed.

His smirk grew.
Her foot then nudged his in return, silently thanking him. He couldn't help but chuckle under his breath at that, she was thanking him? It was the least he could do. Like Luna had said:

"She wants to fight to stay with you Draco, instead of feeling down on yourself for something you have no control over, you should focus more on helping her every way you can."

"Yes Luna," Draco thought to himself, glancing over at the blond haired witch who was happily talking with the others, "I will help her every way I can." He resisted the urge to run his hand through his hair, lest his mother notice and see that he was a bit stressed, and he didn't want Hermione to see and get more worried, but really? Was this all he could do to help?

He glanced back over at Hermione, a smile on her face and she seemed to be enjoying herself, he couldn't help the smile that graced his own face. Yes, even if it was something as little as this, he would help, because this was a battle she would have to face mostly on her own strength, but that didn't mean that he couldn't help at every chance available. He would be there for her, he would support her anyway he could.

"Oh yes," Narcissa said suddenly after a moment of silence, "I forgot to mention that we will be holding a get-together here in a few days."

Draco's eyes widened dramatically, and the others all made small noises of surprise, sputtering even at the suddenness of the announcement. Hermione looked around in slight confusion, her worry steadily growing. Just how big was a Malfoy get together then?

"Why didn't you inform of us this sooner mother?" Draco asked in a cold voice, his eyes having grown hard as he looked in his mother's direction.

His mother gave a friendly smile in return, but her eyes held a very Slytherin look of annoyance as she replied, "I was telling you when I thought best darling."

Draco starred at his mother a while longer, his face blank before turning back to dinner and resuming to eat silently.

The others followed his lead and Mrs. Malfoy began to chatter away again, filling the now awkward silence.

"Narcissa may be a wonderful host, but she is still a Slytherin," Hermione reminded herself silently, "She is judging me along with the others. She wants to make sure I am suitable for her son." She straightened her back, the smile that had faded from her face coming back, "I will show them all that I am worthy to be by his side."

"When exactly will the get-together be held, Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione asked when there was a lull in Narcissa's talking.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. It will be held in three days time," she responded pleasantly.

Hermione gave a small hum of acknowledgement, "And what shall the get-together entail?"

"Oh, the usual, some food and drinks, dancing," Narcissa answered with a wave of her hand, as though brushing away any importance that Hermione may have found in the ordeal.

"Oh but of course," Hermione said seriously, "I would assume nothing less of the Malfoys, but I was curious as to whether or not there would be anything more."

"More?" Narcissa asked with a raised eyebrow. So that's where Draco learned it…Hermione had always thought he learned it from his father…

Hermione gave a nod, "Yes, like some sort of congratulations for your son's graduation, but I suppose that might be a lot to ask on such short notice." She finished with a gentle shrug; there seemed nothing they could do.

Mrs. Malfoy – barely visible, yet still noticeably – bristled, "Of course, I had planned on doing that, I just didn't want to embarrass Draco. He doesn't like it when we make a big deal out of such things."

"That's true," Hermione acceded with a nod, "I was just curious."

Narcissa studying he girl closely for a moment, a small smirk tugging at her lips, and she said, "I suppose if you insist, a little something extra can be arranged."

"Really mother," Draco protested with a sigh, "There's no need."

His mother smiled in her son's direction, "No you're right, but it would be nice. Hermione dear, how would you like to help me organize it?"

"It would be my pleasure," Hermione said as she bowed her head, hiding the pleased smirk on her face. Yes, she would show them that she was worthy to be with Draco.

Author's note: I hope you liked it, please review!