October 16, 1991

Draco Malfoy didn't cross Hermione's mind again for the next few days, and Hermione threw herself into completing her homework, an old habit that she had brought with her.

"Hermione!" Tracey whined, dramatically flinging herself into a seat next to the brunette girl. "Please! I will die if we spend any more time today in the library!"

"Good, then I can get my homework done," Hermione murmured distractedly, her eyes skimming over the Charms homework Professor Flitwick had assigned that day.

"Daphne?" Tracey tried, turning to the third occupant of the small table.

"Just let me finish this history essay," Daphne promised.

"Fine," Tracey huffed, lowering her elbows onto the desk and resting her head in her hands.

"Daphne, Tracey, Granger," Pansy Parkinson called, hurrying through the doors of the library.

Hermione looked up from her homework, slightly surprised. After commiserating over the disastrous potions lesson together, the girls had called a shaky truce, united in their annoyance for Draco Malfoy. Hermione found that the more time you spent around Pansy, the less annoying she was, although they quickly agreed to keep calling the other by their last names. Hermione had graciously invited Pansy to the smaller gathering after her party, and Pansy had invited the muggle born to sit with her and some of the older girls at lunch the next day.

"Parkinson," Hermione nodded in greeting.

Pansy walked quickly to their desk, Millie only a second behind her. "Did you hear the news?"

"What news?" Tracey asked, frowning.

"Somebody pranked Draco," Pansy snickered.

"I thought you liked Draco," Millie said in confusion.

"Yes, but I'm mad at him right now," Pansy explained. "Plus, it was really funny to see him with Weasley hair and freckles."

The other girls laughed quietly, not wanting to get kicked out of the library.

"Did someone get a picture?" Tracey asked.

Pansy shook her head. "He got a fourth year to undo it before most people saw. I don't think we would have ever heard of it if I wasn't in the common room when he came in."

Hermione nodded slowly, before turning back to her homework. However, it was too hard for her to concentrate with the girls giggling next to her, so after a minute she gave up and placed her parchment in her bag. "I'm going back to the common room," Hermione announced.

"Bye," Tracey and Millie said in unison, before looking at each other and giggling again.

Hermione rolled her eyes slightly and stormed off. She was fine with a little talking, but it was nearly impossible to concentrate with the amount of noise those girls were making! Hermione entered the common room, thankful that it was empty at the moment. She flopped into one of the cozy armchairs and set her homework up on her lap, inking her quill.

Hermione worked peacefully for a few minutes, before she absentmindedly stood up to reach her bag and her papers crashed to the floor. "Oh no," Hermione cried as she rushed to reach the parchment, silently praying that the still wet ink hadn't smudged.

She breathed out a sigh of relief to see the immaculate words. "Okay, I can't work here," Hermione decided. She flipped through the parchments to place them in their correct order, but stopped in surprise when her fingers hit a creamy white parchment, one that was much fancier than the ones she used.

"What is this?" Hermione wondered to herself, pulling out the parchment. Her eyes scanned over the page, widening in surprise when she realized that it was a letter.

My darling Draco,

I do hope you are keeping up your grades and enjoying your time at Hogwarts. I have enclosed your usual selection of sweets, be sure to share them with your friends and housemates.

Your father and I have accepted an invitation to a coming of age party over Yule break, you will be attending with us. I believe the witch is a classmate of yours, Hermione Granger? I am unsure as to her heritage, and I hope you will be able to shed some light on that topic for us.

Your loving mother,

Narcissa Malfoy

Hermione's eyes widened as she read the letter. It came as no surprise to her that Narcissa Malfoy didn't know anything about her family, after all, she was a muggleborn. She was suddenly curious as to what Draco had responded. She hadn't spoken to him much, only to note that he was a spoiled child who thought the world revolved around him. Maybe that would be something for her to rectify in the next few days.

Hermione's ears prickled as she heard the common room open, and Hermione quickly dropped the letter and pretended to be reading.

"Mother makes me treats every week," the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy came. "Of course, I only share them with people who are of the right sort."

Hermione scoffed slightly to herself. She knew exactly what he meant by the 'right sort', and that she didn't fit into the list.

"Ahh, Granger," Draco smirked, coming to a stop as he noticed her sitting in an armchair. "How are your classes? Have you realized yet that you won't be able to keep up with the real witches and wizards?"

"Not yet," Hermione said with a small smirk, "I've been falling so far behind, I wanted to ask the person who's first in our year to help. Do you know who that is?" she asked innocently.

Draco scowled at her. "Mudbloods don't count," he spat back.

"You know, it's like you've never learnt anything," Hermione commented. "I don't know what you were doing before you came to Hogwarts, but clearly it wasn't biology."

Blaise Zabini, one of the boys clustered around Draco, laughed lightly. "Didn't you hear, Granger? They invented type Mud just for you."

"Right after type Idiot," Hermione shot back.

"Ah-ah, you're talking to someone who's sixth in our class," Blaise said with a grin. "It obviously can't compare to yours, but Malfoy on the other hand..." Blaise trailed off as Draco scowled at him, the Italian's sarcastic words having an effect on the pompous blonde.

"Shut up Zabini," Draco grumbled as he pushed past the other boy, shoving his way up the staircase.

Blaise watched him go, an amused look on his face, before turning to Hermione. "You know, Granger, you're not that bad," he decided.

"Thank you?" Hermione said hesitantly.

Blaise nodded, appeased with her answer. "Well, I'll see you around."

Hermione watched Blaise exit the room, a confused look on her face. She had no idea of what the Slytherin was up to, and that worried her more than anything her mind could come up with.