I don't own Harry Potter

She couldn't help it as her eyes began to drift from the excited face of Ginny to the Slytherin table that lay behind her friend.

Where is he? He should have been here by now. I wonder if he got tied up or something. Maybe he's sick, or he could have gotten a detention, or… I don't know but he should be here!

"Hermione!" The brunette's eyes shot back to reality and focus to meet the red heads suspicious glare.

"What?" Hermione replied trying to remain inconspicuous to the fact that she hadn't been paying attention the whole time, to lost in her own thoughts about Blaise.

"Have you been listening to a word I've been saying?"

"Of course!"

Please don't question me. Please don't question me. I am not in the mood to answer questions as to why I wasn't paying attention.

"So what do you think?"

Crap! Okay, shot in the dark now.

"I say yes."

"So you think I should do it."

"Why not? You only live once right."

"You're sure blond would look good on me?"

Thank Merlin! Dodged a bullet there! Now the question is why in the world would Ginny want to destroy her lovely hair?

"I think a…. a strawberry blond not to far from your natural color. But if your really wanting something drastic then you could always just try a glamour to see what it looks like first before you do something permanent. I could give you some charms for it if you want."

Ginny's face lit up at the news.

"Thanks Hermione that's really nice of you."

"No problem."

"Yeah I think that it might be a shock to my mom so a little change might be-"

As Ginny drowned on about her hair, school and boys Hermione once again let her mind drift, mean while staying more aloof then before by nodding at the appropriate times and keeping her eyes trained forward, for the most part anyways, they seemed to keep drifting towards the Snakes' table.

"Oh my gosh!" Hermione cried out shocked as she felt a nudge on her foot. Immediately twenty sets of Gryffindor eyes were upon her.

Looking down she saw a delicate paper bid made out of thin parchment, upon closer inspection she determined that it was a swan. A smile grew on her face as she realized it had to be from Blaise.

"What's that Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"Uh… Just a message."

"From who?"

Panic rose in her throat, everyone was staring at her waiting for an answer, one she couldn't give just yet.

"I don't know."

"Then don't you think you should open it?"

"Oh yeah. I don't know what I was thinking."

Slowly she pulled her wand from her bag, taping it against the body of the swan. As it unfolded in her palm she hid the angle of it so no one but her could read it.

Hermione,

You might have noticed that I'm at dinner. I'm already in the room. Come here half way through dinner instead of after, I may or may not have a surprise for you.

B

"It's from Hagrid."

"Why does he want you?"

"Yeah, he needs some help with fang. He's sick and he's not sure what is wrong. The last time I was there I told him I'd been studying animal health so he thinks I can help."

"So he sent the note in the form of a swan?"

"I showed him how the last time I was there as well."

"Oh. Okay I see."

"Yeah so I'm just going to head out. See you later Ginny."

"Alright, bye then."

Hermione rose slowly and began to leave when a hand caught her arm.

"Where do you think your going Hermione?"

Why does everyone have to question me! I can't tell Harry and Ron the same thing or they'll want to come.

"I have some homework to do."

"Dinners not even half over yet."

"I know Ron, but it's important. Anyway I've already eaten a lot. Okay? I'll see you and Harry later."

She tugged her arm free of Ron's overprotective grasp and walked briskly to the entrance of the great hall.

I hate lying to them, not that I'm any good at it. They probably already know something is going on. I want to tell them but I truly don't think they'd get it. Harry hates Blaise by association with that ferret Malfoy, Ginny can't accept any of the Slytherins, and Ron… well I just don't think he could comprehend it.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice a certain blond behind her until something hit the back of her head.

I'm so so so sorry!

I told you guys two days and I made it so many more. It won't happen agan and as a treat I will have a new one up super soon!

Also I'm sorry this doesn't tell you much of Draco's plan but it will in the next chapter

Thanks to those who reviewed!