Chapter Thirteen

"It is! Fancy seeing you here! What is that you've got on your face?"

Hermione groaned as she realised that she was still covered in make-up from the boys makeover session as she clambered up off the floor and ran over to hug her friend.

"Kasey! I haven't seen you in so long, what are you doing in London?" she exclaimed as the girl pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I know, it must have been at least a year. Gosh you've grown. You're hair looks so nice Hermione. When did you get it cut?"

"Oh, a couple of weeks back. I've had it like this for a while now though. Has it really been that long? Blimey, time flies doesn't it."

Hermione had met Kasey when she started primary school, and the two had been best friends ever since. They did everything together, and even when Hermione went off to Hogwarts, she and Kasey still kept in touch. Hermione remembered the good times they'd had together fondly, and always tried to find time to meet up with her whenever she was home from school.

"So why are you in London then?" Kasey asked, drawing Hermione out from her memories.

"Oh, it's just a school project thing. Getting acclimatized in the real world, or something like that." The lie flew off her tongue automatically, though she cringed inwardly at the fact that she couldn't be truthful with her.

"I see. Well, I'm up here for a couple of days with Jack. I told you about him in my letters, remember? Anyway he and I have been seeing each other since last October, and he had a gig near here so I thought I'd come for a walk whilst he and the rest of the boys were setting up. It never even crossed my mind that I'd run into you!"

Hermione laughed, happy for her friend. "Well I'm glad you decided to come to the park or I never would have seen you. We weren't even planning on coming here!"

Kasey nodded, before raising an eyebrow and looking over Hermione's shoulder. "I see." She lowered her voice slightly before continuing. "And now can you please explain to me why you have refrained from mentioning the God who is standing behind you. I demand introductions and you will spill all later."

Hermione chuckled at her friend, who was ever the same as she remembered her, before turning around to introduce the Slytherins.

"Daphne, Blaise, Draco, this is Kasey Lane, one of my friends from Primary School," she said, trying to put emphasis on the last two words to convey the message that she was a muggle.

"Kasey, these are some of my friends from school. Meet Daphne Greengrass,"

The Slytherin girl smiled warmly at Kasey and she returned it.

"Blaise Zabini,"

Blaise winked confidently, and Kasey laughed, before blowing a kiss back.

"Kasey, I'm going to save you the trouble with this next sentence. The Italian Stallion is Gay. Moving on."

Kasey pouted. "Sorry sweetheart." Blaise grinned.

"and, this is Draco Malfoy."

Draco smiled at her charmingly, and Kasey smiled back, biting her lip. Hermione felt as though she'd been punched in the stomach as she watched the two exchange pleasantries flirtatiously.

There is no way in Azkaban I am jealous, she thought to herself, gritting her teeth. Besides. Kasey has a boyfriend, and it sounds like she's very happy.

Kasey turned to look at her, eyes shining.

"Are you going to explain why you look like a blind person has done your make-up now?" she grinned.

Hermione groaned again. "Blame those two," she said, pointing an accusing finger at Blaise and Draco, who both smirked, obviously extremely pleased with themselves.

"Do you two want a hand getting it off?," she asked, looking between Daphne and Hermione. "I have a load of make-up remover in my bag, because Jack's manager makes the boys wear make-up in their shows, and he hates it with a passion. It's off his face a minute after he comes off stage."

"Yes, please. You're a life-saver!" Daphne exclaimed.

"Then perhaps you'd let me do your make-up properly? Pretty please? I've just started my training to be a proper make-up artist, Hermione I told you about it in my last letter, though I don't know if you'll have got it yet. I promise I'll do it nicely."

Daphne looked at Hermione quickly for conformation that this was indeed true. When the Gryffindor nodded at her, she smiled, and turned back to Kasey.

"That would be great! Hermione, I never knew muggles could be so nice! If only my parents could see this, they'd surely-" Daphne stopped short, a horrified look on her face.

Kasey frowned. "What's a muggle?" she asked.

Daphne flushed, a thing Hermione had never seen the Slytherin do. It looked odd and out of place on her face, as she began to stutter an excuse.

"Oh, it's just what we call people who don't go to school with us. Stupid really." Hermione said quickly, and Daphne shot her a grateful look.

Kasey scrutinized them warily.

"I feel like there's something I'm missing here."

"Stop worrying." Hermione chastised. "Honestly, you're such a worryguts. And you're always the one telling me to live a little!"

Kasey laughed. "Well, I'll give you that. Sometimes Hermione, you walk around like you've got a stick up your arse, no offence."

Hermione smiled. Kasey was one of the few people who could make fun of her bookworm status and live to tell about it.

"You know me so well. Now, how about you help me get all this gunk off my face then? Though I'm making no promises that I'll let you do my make-up after. We're on a pretty tight schedule."

"Ever Little-Miss Organised I see. Sit down then."

A couple of minutes later, Kasey had wiped the make-up off her friends face and was now doing the same for Daphne. Hermione grinned as she watched the two of them conversing as if they had known each other forever, and she didn't notice Blaise approaching her until he plonked himself down next to her.

She jumped. "Gosh Blaise! Don't sneak up on me like that! You'll scare me to death."

He grinned crookedly at her.

"Sorry Hermione, Slytherins are sneaky like that. They creep up behind you and it's like bam, suddenly they're there, when you least expect it."

"I suppose it's just what you do," she smiled.

"Yes. It's a little like love I suppose. Creeping up on you like you least expect it." Blaise grinned at her slyly.

Hermione sighed. "I've told you before and I'll tell you again, Blaise Zabini. Draco and I are never going to get together. No true love, no heart-stopping romance. Sorry to disappoint you."

Blaise just smirked. "Who said I was talking about you and Draco? You came up with that one all by yourself."

He jumped up and ambled over to Draco still smirking as he left Hermione thinking over what he had just said.