Millicent Bulstrode smiled at her old friends. They barely acknowledged her. She sighed and moved toward their table. These events were always tedious, but she couldn't risk enraging her father by slighting her fellow Slytherins.

"Millicent, you're looking well." Pansy glanced at her. "Did your father hire a stylist?"

"No." Millicent glanced down at her robes and shrugged. It was good to be considered lacking intelligence amongst this crowd.

"Pansy, do you think Adrian is really going to ask for Astoria?" Daphne tapped the table by her plate. "She was hoping for Malfoy, but he won't be out of Azkaban for another six months."

"Pucey is a better catch in this environment anyway." Pansy smiled. "Rich, handsome, and unmarked."

Millicent sat back and allowed Pansy to carefully push every threat to her claim on Draco into other relationships. It was so sadly predictable. Why the others never noticed was the only question left unanswered.

"So, Millicent, when do we get to see your new place?" Tracey tilted her head.

"It's not my place." Millicent shrugged. "I'm sharing with another apprentice. She let me have a room. It wouldn't do to violate her hospitality by inviting over a large crowd. Studying to be a healer is hard enough."

"Stuck with some Hufflepuff?" Daphne smirked. "How can you tolerate it?"

"I am not in possession of a betrothal contract." Millicent dropped her gaze to the table. "The work is interesting."

"I'd starve before I took a job." Pansy sat back.

Millicent nodded and hid her inner smile behind an abashed expression. The group would move on if she didn't struggle. It was the first lesson she had learned at Hogwarts.

The conversation turned toward the recent rumors surrounding Viktor Krum. Quidditch players provided such wonderful distractions. She merely nodded as the speculation grew. That he was probably crashed on the couch at her home was not something she wanted to share.

Hermione was ridiculously fond of him and had the best wards in all the land. He adored her as well, but they weren't romantically involved. They were just friends.

Hermione had that problem in spades. Longbottom, Potter, Krum, a whole host of Weasleys, all called her their friend. She needed someone that didn't see her as a sister or a friend in her life.

"I need to go shopping for some new robes." Pansy pushed her lettuce about on her plate. "I don't want to look dowdy with Draco."

"Has he asked you? Or are you just planning to force yourself on him again?" Daphne took a bite of her food and seemed to enjoy the angry flush rising in Pansy's face.

Millie hid her own amusement by focusing on her food. Pansy really had become shrill. She glanced up at the dark haired witch and thought of how miserable Draco had been with her. She didn't challenge him or help him. She latched on to his arm and sucked what little joy he had right out of him. He needed a caring partner that wouldn't put up with his nonsense.

Millie smirked as the most delicious idea formed in her mind. Draco and Hermione. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be so much fun watching them spark off each other. It didn't hurt that it would crush Pansy's dreams into the dirt either.

Author's Note

I love writing Millie. She gives me so many options. I like this version of her quite a lot. I see her marrying Viktor and laughing as Draco and Hermione find out they really are made for each other. What do you think?

-Anna