Yay! A New Chapter! Now, to keep you from waiting. . .

The Moonlight Glares

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

Chapter 5

There had been one thing on Hermione's mind the whole week. And Anna and Elizabeth hadn't been helping, considering they talked about and to the Malfoys often. It had taken Hermione a day to work out what information she had gotten from Draco. Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, was Mr. Lane's half brother, meaning they had the same mother, but different fathers. And Elizabeth and Mark were Hermione's birth parents, so Mr. Lane was really just her stepfather. So Hermione wasn't related to Malfoy through blood, just marriage . . . sort-of a half-step-cousin. At least that's what Hermione ended up labeling it.

After Hermione had gotten through that headache, she found her thoughts drifting to Malfoy more than she would have liked. Why, for instance, had he been in the library so much when he was here? She almost never saw him in the one at Hogwarts, and she was there a fair amount of time. Or, why had she never known he had a younger sister? The way he acted had always given her the impression he was a spoiled only child.

After a lot of thinking on the subject, she had finally owled Harry and told him about the situation.

Dear Harry,

I hope you're well. My new home and family is a bit of a shock. Anna, my little sister, schemes enough to make Fred and George proud. Elizabeth, my birth mother, is nice, and welcoming. She wants to meet you (no surprise). It turns out they're friends with the Malfoys. . . don't panic, I'm fine. But it was really odd, Malfoy came over with his little sister last week and spent most of his time moping around the library. What do you make of it? Anyways, I hope you're okay, and say hi to the Weasleys, and everyone there for me. Oh, and keep Ron from wanting to storm over here with his wand up when he reads this.

Love,

Hermione.

She'd sent the letter a day ago, and was still waiting for a response. It was after dinner, when she was lying on her bed, reading a new book, when she heard a soft tap, tap. She got up and went to the window to see an unknown brown owl with a letter, another owl with what looked like a Hogwarts letter, and Hedwig. She opened the window and the three landed on her bed.

She went over and untied the letters from the three owls. The school owl hooted and flew out the window, but Hedwig and the brown watched her and hooted softly. Hermione ran into the bathroom quickly and filled a small bowl with water and set it on a table, and Hedwig and the brown hopped over to take a sip. She opened the letter from Hogwarts first, the usual welcome letter, with a list of book supplies. There was one extra piece of paper in it however.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you are invited to resume your duties as prefect of Gryffindor house this coming term. Enclosed is your badge. Please owl us as soon as is possible with you acceptance or declination.

Your Deputy Head Mistress,

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione smiled, and noticed the shining new badge in the bottom of the envelope. Putting the letter aside, she opened the letter from Harry next. She found it also had a letter from Ron stuffed in it.

Dear Hermione,

It's good to hear you're well. Everyone's fine here, except Ron near blew his top when we got your letter. (You were right, he said he was going to storm over there with his wand up. I had to hold him away from the floo powder.) Anyways, I'm not quite sure what to make of Malfoy being your new family's friend. I would say you should just keep your guard up and your eyes peeled. If there's anything wrong, or anything suspicious, owl or floo us right away. Oh, and Lupin, Tonks, and the Weasleys say hi.

From,

Harry

Hermione-

Don't let that git touch you. If he does, I swear I'll Aveda him. Charlie has been talking about this new dragon, maybe I'll feed Malfoy to it. Or, Fred and George just made these new erasable lollypops, Ginny used one on Percy the other day. Bill was laughing the entire time. Yes, Percy's back. Still can't stand him. Oh, Mum and Dad say hi.

Anyways, write soon,

Ron

Hermione laughed as she read the letter from Ron. It seemed that life was normal for them all, and happy. As she put the letters aside, she looked at the last one. Carefully opening it, she took out two sheets of paper. The first seemed to be a formal invitation.

Miss Hermione Granger

You are Cordially Invited

To the Malfoys' Annual Summertime Ball

August twenty-eighth, Nineteen-Ninety-Six

7 o'clock p.m., Malfoy Manor

Please Attend in Formal Dress-Ware.

Repondez Si-Vous Plait par

12 o'clock midnight of August first.

Hermione stared at it for a moment, before setting it down gently, and picking up the other letter. Maybe this will clear things up. She found it to be handwritten.

Granger,

Considering your entire family is invited each year, mother said it would be rude not to invite you as well. Don't you dare embarrass me in any way while you're here. And you'd better come, too. It's exceedingly rude in wizarding society to turn down an invitation, not like you'd know that.

Draco Malfoy

Hermione stared at this letter for a moment, too, turning everything over in her mind. Considerably, it took Hermione a long while to fall asleep that night.

Early the next morning, the morning of July Eleventh, found Hermione in her library writing several letters at once. One, of course, to McGonagall, saying she'd of course accept her prefect position. One, to Harry and Ron, assuring them everything was still fine. And two to the Malfoys. They had been the hardest to write, and she had checked them about twenty times before being satisfied.

To Mrs. Narcissia Malfoy,

I thank you for your invitation and am delighted to report that I will be able to attend the Malfoys' Summertime Ball. I hope to see you again before then.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

Malfoy-

Don't flatter yourself; I know enough about wizarding society to never refuse an invitation. Do you think I read for nothing? And don't worry, I won't embarrass you. I don't plan on coming near you with a ten-foot pole.

Hermione Granger

When she had finally sent them off, she felt a sense of relief flow through her. Her relief was short cut, however, as Anna came bouncing into the room.

"Guess what?" Anna said brightly

Hermione groaned, "Do I want to know?"

Anna nodded, smiling, "Narcissia Malfoy is visiting Australia all next week, so Draco and Phe are staying with us!"

Hermione felt as if a weight had hit her full force. "All week?"

"Yep," Anna nodded, "And mum said that she might even take you and me and Phe shopping one day, not just Diagon Alley, but muggle London too! Can you imagine all the clothes we can look at. . ."

Hermione had zoned out after the word "Yep." She got up and walked out the secret door, Anna following her and chatting the entire way as she found her way into the kitchen. After getting a glass of orange juice and sitting down, she looked across the table at the still-talking Anna. Finally, it seemed, the girl had to take a breath, and stopped talking while giving Hermione a large smile.

Hermione knitted her eyebrows, "Isn't Draco old enough to watch Phe by himself now?"

"Well, because she's going halfway across the world, and for a whole week, none the less, Mrs. Malfoy wanted someone to watch both of them. . ." Anna's exression darkened, "And you can't be too careful in these times."

Hermione nodded, she did know that. She took another sip of her orange juice as her sister started talking again, and Hermion let herself melt into her thoughts.

Now, for my random auothr ramblings.

First: Thanks to takigirl, jalapeno1011, lilybookworm, zalamandra, Lintz, Cal8907, brokenflower, deadgirlythings, brown-eyed-godess, and yenyen for reviewing!

Second: Props to brown-eyed-godess, brokenflower, and Cal8907for getting the question!

Last: Question for Ch. 5: What is the name of Nicholas Flamel's wife? (no using the books/internet! that's cheating!)

See you all next week!