Owls flew into the Great Hall and Hermione caught the letter that finally came from Potter's house. She patted the owl on the head and gave it a cookie, opening the envelope.

Dear Hermione

We are so happy that you like it at Hogwarts! And it is amazing that you made some friends so quickly, especially in Slytherin. I am glad you are aware of their prejudices and not letting it get to you. Things like that does not matter at all and you have to remember to not judge a person based on their blood status.

You seem so angry at that Tom boy, but I can sense something more (lets hope Henry did not, he was so worried about you I doubt he will be able to withstand the fact that you found someone you like)...

Hermione chuckled at the thought of that. Both of them sounded so much like her own parents it somehow made her feel needed and she understood, she wasn't alone. There were people who cared for her, more than she thought would be possible.

...We don't know Riddle surname, so he is not a pureblood and I think it is also a good thing if he is in a Slytherin.

Remember to write to us again! We really miss you, Hermione. Bring that Riddle boy over during Christmas break if you start going out with him.

Tom Riddle, a future Dark Lord, sitting at the Christmas table with Potters? Just thinking about it was ridiculous and she wasn't able to imagine that. Also, going out? Like it would be ever possible...

With love,

Cerelia and Henry

PS. There will be a present waiting in your room, we heard from prof. Dumbledore there is going to be quite an occasion to make you pretty.

Hermione blinked not understanding, until professor Dumbledore clapped his hands, silencing everyone as they waited for him to speak up.

"As you all know, Christmas is coming. That is why we decided to hold a party, a ball to be precise, two days before the winter break. We hope you will enjoy it without any accidents. So now eat up and think of who you want to be your couple!" Maybe it was only her imagination, but she could swear professor looked at her and smiled before he went back to his seat. Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the commotion this information caused. Girls were walking from one friend to another, probably already planning what to wear, while the guys didn't look happy at all. When Hermione locked her eyes with Abraxas he smiled with a weird sadness before he looked over at Druella, who sighed.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked her and she shook he head.

"Imagine it. My first ball and I won't even be able to go with whom I want" - she whispered, this time with annoyance.

"Druella... Why? You said your engagement is not official yet." It was all something Hermione really wasn't able to understand. How could the family decide who you are going to marry? Wasn't it too much old-fashioned? It showed how much Purebloods cared about stuff like that and it was just terrifying.

"He is a coward and he won't ask me." The bitterness in brunette's voice was so audible and Hermione was sure that Malfoy heard her. But he remained silent, while Cygnus put his fork down and stood up to leave, not without sending her an angry gaze. Of course, he would be angry. Hermione sensed that for him this marriage wasn't just an appointment and the thing he had to do. She saw the way he looked at Druella when she wasn't watching. It wasn't the look of someone who doesn't have any feelings towards her. And Malfoy was probably aware of that too. "What about you?" That was a question the Lioness really did want to avoid.

"I have no idea. Maybe I will just go alone" - she laughed and Rossier raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, sure. Because obviously Tom doesn't exist and other guys don't drool over you" - she stated as if it was a sure thing.

"No one drools over me!"

"Yeah. Only few Slytherins and Gryffindors from the time you beat Tom's potion in Slughs class."

"I didn't know..."

"Don't worry. I don't think Riddle will allow anyone to ask you out." Druella was laughing, but Hermione bit her lower lip. It was possible for Tom to be a little of a possessive type, but it wasn't a good thing. Sure, probably wanted to have someone who will be sometimes jealous of her, who will make her feel special. But something told her that in his case she won't feel happy with this, but caged.

"I'm not sure it's a good thing. I think I would like to try and go with someone else." She was lying. She really wanted to go with him, but only if he was acting like a decent human being, not obsessed Dark Wizard or a jerk. Maybe his was behaving like a mean asshole because he was a teenager? But she wasn't that much older than him for Godric's sake! Or maybe three year were too much when you were nineteen? "Hey, Druella. When is Tom's birthday?" He should be seventeen already, it was almost the end of the year. Most of her classmate were.

"Hm... I think it's on the last day of December? Malfoy was talking about it ne day, that they never celebrated it because it was a winter break time. He is the youngest from us all." Great. The youngest one. "Why?"

"Nothing. Just curious." She really did sleep with a teen. Was it even legal? She should be the smarter one if she was older! Why wasn't she able to act like an adult?

She knew the answer before she even asked the question. Because she didn't think about him as of a boy. He was always Lord Voldemort in the back of her head. Not a child, but a man. Really old man now that she thought about it. How old was he when he died?

Shit, that's disgusting.

She quickly stopped thinking about it. This was the past and she was suddenly really glad about it.

It was some guy from Gryffindor that disturbed her when he tapped her shoulder. Hermione looked at him and smiled.

"Can I help you with something?" She had to say it was weird for a student from other House to come to another's table. But his words left her speechless.

"Will you go to the ball with me? I'm Septimus Weasley''. For a moment she forgot how to breathe. He was a little similar, but he didn't have any freckles, his face was rather handsome and his hair in a dark shade of ginger. Maybe if she met him in a different circumstances then she would notice, but she never thought to meet anyone from Ron's family here and definitely not to ask her out. Where did that kind of courage disappear in his family?

"I... Um... Thank you very much for asking me!" Should she agree? She didn't know him, but he couldn't be a bad person. Maybe she could just go with the flow and have some fun, made a new friend? So she wouldn't have to think only about Riddle? "And I-"

"She is going with me, Weasley." His cold voice she could recognize it without even looking. And when he stood next to her, appearing from nowhere shiver ran down her spine when she saw the way he looked at the other boy. There wasn't only coldness, but also disgust and anger, while he clenched his fists. He was looking down on a Gryffindor and suddenly it wasn't nice or complimenting. No, she was the angry one now.

"No, Tom. I don't remember agreeing of going with you. You didn't even ask. So yes, Septimus. I will gladly accept your invitation" - she said, smiling happily and the boy nodded, walking away with a smile. And now it was time to face the other one.

"Outside. Now."