It's been a year since I first posted this story. That's a big milestone, so I decided to post this chapter early. In addition, I've posted a bonus scene on my Tumblr. It's of Hermione teaching Jade, Rhea and Julianne how to wear makeup, so if you're interested, my tumblr is alyblack-starr . tumblr

Like I said, there will be a bit of a time skip in this one.

March 20, 1991

After Valentines' Day, the rest of February passed in a blur. Hermione attended a Quidditch game with Daphne and Tracey, although it didn't last long as Harry Potter caught the snitch within the first few minutes. Strangely enough, it was Professor Snape who had been refereeing, not Madam Hooch. Draco Malfoy had of course spent the entire night proclaiming that he could do a better job, and Hermione sulked a little when she realized that her plan to befriend Harry and Draco would need more work than she thought.

Things with Blaise were still a little awkward, as the two didn't really know how to behave around each other anymore. Hermione blushed every time he grinned or smirked at her, and nearly every time she looked up from her books in the library, she could feel a pair of dark eyes watching her.

On the other hand, Hermione, Daphne and Tracey had grown even closer. It turned out that planning a party together could really bond people, and the trio spent a lot of their time with Jade and Rhea, learning advanced spells and makeup tips. Hermione had showed the older girls a makeup catalog, and they had immediately set out to perfect their looks.

"Top three things to do this summer. Go," Tracey said, swinging her legs in the air as she lay on her bed.

"Visit Paris," Hermione said slowly. "Um, work in my Aunt Amaya's shop, and see you guys, obviously."

"I want to go to Italy," Daphne chimed in. "But Astoria wants to visit America for some reason."

"Probably because you don't speak Italian," Tracey snickered lightly.

"Well that's what Blaise is for," Daphne huffed. "He said that if we go, he'll show us around. He offered to let us stay with him, but Mother prefers staying at hotels."

"You should go, Hermione," Tracey said slyly.

"I don't like Blaise!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I never said anything about liking Blaise," Tracey shot back.

"Can we please study for finals?" Hermione pleaded.

Daphne gave her an incredulous look. "It's March, Hermione."

"So?"

"The Spring Equinox is tomorrow," Daphne said suddenly, changing the topic.

"Is it like Easter?" Hermione frowned.

"Kind of," Daphne said hesitantly. "We don't celebrate all the spring holidays, especially since we're young, but people do leave out flowers and wear pale colors. You eat lightly, too."

"There's another holiday in May, right?" Hermione asked.

"Beltane," Daphne confirmed. She blushed deeply. "There's a maypole dance for young girls and a bonfire, but that's all that we're allowed to participate in. It's a bit of an...adult holiday."

"Oh," Hermione said, wondering if her face was as red as Daphne and Tracey's.

So it seemed that witches and wizards were pagan. They followed the eight Wiccan holidays, but more recently wizards were turning to holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. Was that what blood prejudice was all about? That witches and wizards were upset because muggleborns came into their society and tried to get people to celebrate their holidays? Dumbledore certainly wasn't making it any easier for the purebloods to disagree. Instead of celebrating the pagan holidays, he's encouraging the modern ones. This could be what's making purebloods hate muggleborns.

If the proper wizarding holidays were encouraged, muggleborns might even participate and learn to fit in with wizarding society better. Hermione tried, but she knew that there were other muggleborns who completely disregarded all the society rules. If given the chance, would they embrace wizarding holidays? All Dumbledore seemed to be doing was driving a wedge between the two groups. For a big believer in fairness, he certainly seemed to be favoring the muggleborns.

"Hermione," Tracey called, bringing the brunette out of her thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"

"Is Dumbledore responsible for blood prejudice?" Hermione asked carefully.

Daphne and Tracey exchanged a look. "It's a big debate," Daphne admitted after a minute. "People say that it's due to the last wizarding war, others say it started with Grindelwald. My parents think that there wouldn't be a problem if the muggleborns tried to learn our culture."

"But they don't," Hermione said slowly. "Which is Dumbledore's fault."

Daphne shrugged helplessly. "The elves try to help, but we can't do much as first years."

"But this can't go on," Hermione insisted. "It's not right. We're witches and wizards, and Dumbledore is trying to change our ways. It's like going to France and telling them they have to act like Americans. You wouldn't do it."

"Some people don't even know we follow the Old Ways," Tracey said quietly. "They just believe whatever Dumbledore puts out."

"That's why Harry was so surprised," Hermione realized. "At Samhain. He grew up muggle."

"And with a Weasley as his best friend, he's probably been hearing that Dumbledore is a great man who can do no wrong," Daphne said sarcastically.

"It didn't help that Dumbledore is willing to break the rules for Potter," Tracey added.

"So we just have to get him to realize that Dumbledore is wrong. Let him know that there is a wizarding culture," Hermione said. "Harry just wants to fit in."

"And how exactly do we do that?" Tracey asked skeptically. "Remember, Potter hates Malfoy and doesn't think very highly of us."

"Well," Hermione said slowly, "I'm pretty sure he likes me better than his muggle relatives. I've heard him talking to Weasley."

"And his clothes are terrible," Daphne chimed in. "He's either wearing school robes or rags."

"If we get Potter, we get pretty much everyone on our side," Tracey said excitedly.

"So we start planning Project Potter," Hermione said, determined.

"What exactly is Project Potter?" Daphne asked, making quotation marks around the last two words.

"Well, we're going to start by getting him out of the house during the summer," Hermione said. "He lives in Surrey, which is near London, where I live. London is also where my Aunt's shop is."

"And if Potter gets a job there, he'll be seeing you a lot," Daphne caught on quickly.

"Exactly," Hermione said, pleased. "But that's just Part A. And you both know I don't do things by halves."

The three girls smirked at each other and leaned closer as their plan began to form.