Small time skip to October. Hermione makes a new friend in this chapter! The Changing Destiny sequel should be posted within the next few days.

As always, like and review, please.

October 1, 1991

Hermione flopped onto her bed, exhausted from a long day of classes. Professor Snape had decided to switch partners around in Potions, and she had spent the entire class trying to stop Lavender Brown from adding 'the pretty colors" to their shared cauldron. Honestly, it was a miracle she had made it out of the class alive. She did feel bad for Tracey, though. Anyone who was paired with Neville Longbottom was set to an automatic zero for the day, and it was a testament to Tracey's potions skills that she managed to scrape an 'acceptable'.

"Never again!" an angry Tracey fumed, stomping her way into the dorm, the other three girls close behind her. "That was the worst Potions class I've ever been in!"

"Why did Professor Snape switch around the partners, anyway?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"Because Malfoy was unhappy and whined to his godfather," Tracey rolled her eyes, throwing her bag onto her bed.

Hermione shook her head. Draco had paired up with Crabbe at the beginning of the year, a pair which did not work well. Pansy and Millicent had joined forces, as did Daphne and Tracey. Theo Nott, a shy but hard worker had asked Hermione to partner with him, while Blaise and Goyle worked together, a pair that surprisingly worked. "Poor Theo," she murmured, thinking of Draco's chosen partner for the day. "Having to do double the work."

"Yeah, well so did us," Pansy pointed out. "Weasley refused to touch anything that I had gotten from the cabinet. He made me do nearly everything by myself."

"Including opening the textbook," Millicent snickered.

Tracey laughed. "You want Longbottom next time? We can switch."

"Merlin, no," Pansy shuddered.

"Potter wasn't so bad," Daphne offered. "He listened, but it's like he had never been near a cauldron before."

"Doubt anyone ever taught him the basic facts," Millicent remarked.

"Maybe I should, he's kind of cute," Daphne mused. "If only something could be done about that mop of hair on his head."

"The infamous Potter hair," Pansy joked. "Millie, you were like the only lucky one today."

"Getting Blaise? Definitely," Millicent agreed.

The girls lapsed into silence as they changed for bed, taking turns in the luxurious bathroom.

"So Hermione," Daphne said loudly when it was Tracey's turn, "have you started getting replies to your party?"

Hermione purposefully angled her body towards Daphne's. "A couple," she replied. "It's going to be pretty big, that's for sure."

"And what about the after-party?" Daphne pressed. "Any responses to those?"

Hermione tilted her head to the side, making a big show of thinking. "You know, I never sent out the exclusive ones. I should probably do that tomorrow."

"That would be good," Daphne nodded. "You know, Mother was talking to Narcissa Malfoy, and she mentioned that she was looking forwards to attending."

"Narcissa Malfoy?" Pansy gasped, giving up all pretenses of eavesdropping. "How did you get Narcissa Malfoy to agree to come?"

Hermione tossed a smirk in Pansy's direction. "Power knows power," she said casually.

Pansy gulped and Hermione grinned again. Daphne had told her about the Malfoys' refusal to attend the Parkinson's Yule party last year.

"My mum replied yesterday," came Millicent's soft voice. "We can come."

"Lovely," Hermione remarked, breezing past Pansy on her way to the bathroom. She entered and closed the door, reaching to turn on the shower. She heard Tracey and Daphne talking loudly outside about the upcoming party, about the 'scrumptious food', 'incredible entertainment', and 'gorgeous scenery'. Hermione stripped quickly and stepped into the shower, lathering strawberry red shampoo into her hair. She soaped her body as well, before rinsing herself clean and turning the shower off. Hermione wrapped herself in a towel and stepped into the main bathroom, nodding at Millicent who was brushing her teeth.

"Hey," Millicent said quietly as Hermione's hand reached the doorknob.

Hermione turned to face her classmate. "Hmm?"

"Thank you," Millicent said. "For inviting me, I mean. Most people don't, because of my dad. So thank you."

A surprised look came over Hermione's face. "We might not be best friends, Millicent, but I'm not going to exclude people based on their blood. I'm not exactly someone to judge."

"Millie," Millicent offered, a small smile creeping over her face. "Call me Millie. Millicent is such a mouthful. Really only my mum and my grandfather call me Millicent," the girl rambled. "I just tell people to call me Millie, it's so much easier and less stuffy."

"You should try Hermione," the brunette joked, her body loosening up. "I can't even count the number of people who have mispronounced it. Herminniny, Herminy, Hermone, Harmony, Hermy, Herms, even. I hate those nicknames."

"What about Mione?" Millie asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Maybe, I guess. It's the best of the worst. I just stick with Hermione."

"It's a pretty name," Millie offered. "Where's it from?"

"A book, a muggle book," Hermione clarified. "Written by Shakespeare. He's a famous muggle playwright."

"Sounds interesting," Millie said. "I should go now, but it was nice talking to you."

"You too," Hermione smiled. The two girls left the bathroom and climbed onto their respective beds, Hermione shutting her curtains before changing into her pajamas. She curled up under her covers and hugged her pillow close to herself, reflecting over the day's events.

Draco Malfoy was a spoiled brat, Hermione decided. Nothing was ever said 'no' to him, and he always expected to get his way. His mother, however, was considered Society royalty. Hermione wasn't sure how Daphne had managed to get Narcissa Malfoy to come to her soiree, but she was grateful. If Lady Malfoy had a good time, it could open doors for Hermione.

Millicent's offer of friendship was surprising. Hermione had always thought the other girl to be Pansy's shadow, but perhaps there was more to Millie than meets the eye. Maybe she would get her a copy of one of Shakespeare's books for Yule, and see how she reacted.

She did have to do something about the Potions partners, though. But she would figure that out tomorrow. She was tired and wanted to go to sleep.