I'm looking for someone to read over a one-shot before I post it. PM me if interested.

Halloween will be the next chapter, before we move into December. Follow and comment, please.

October 24, 1991

As she promised herself, Hermione started taking a more active role in the party planning the next morning.

"So you're saying, that the Farleys are coming but they're not as high priority as the Blackthorns, even though they have more political power?"

"Right," Daphne nodded. "Because you have a personal connection to the Blackthorns."

"Juliette," Hermione said slowly. "Because Jade is friends with her-"

"And Jade's taken you under her wing!" Tracey interjected excitedly.

"And for that reason, we didn't invite the Travers," Hermione continued, her voice growing. "Because Lilian was rude to me and it's a slight against her family."

"Exactly," Daphne said triumphantly. "See, you're getting the hang of this."

Hermione nodded happily. "I'll still leave the dresses to you, though."

"Don't worry," the blonde reassured her. "I'll give you a crash course."

"Okay."

"White is only acceptable for children under twelve and brides," Daphne said firmly. "It represents innocence and purity, so unless you're Light, you don't go around wearing white after you..mature."

"By mature, you mean..." Hermione trailed off, unsure if it was proper to discuss the topic.

"Your cycle," Daphne whispered, before slapping a hand over her mouth and giggling.

"Yellow is a big no," Tracey cut in, ignoring the still-giggling Daphne. "Just don't wear yellow. It makes you seem like you don't want to belong in Society. Also, it's Hufflepuff colors."

"Red is love and confidence," Daphne chimed back in. "Pink is typically worn by younger girls or older girls who want to show off their body."

"So you basically have three colors," Tracey said. "Purple, blue, and green. Unless you want to wear red or pink, but they're less common."

"Jade did jade," Daphne said, rolling her eyes. "I'm doing blue for mine."

"I'm wearing pink," Tracey offered. "My mom picked it out, I haven't even seen the dress yet."

Hermione nodded slowly. "What about purple? It's typically known as the color of royalty."

"The Wizengamot wear purple robes," Daphne agreed. "Purple and gold, then. Show them that you won't settle for anything less than the best."

"How many parties will there be?" Hermione asked suddenly. "Like, over break."

Daphne frowned thoughtfully. "Well, there's yours. There's the Malfoy Yule ball, and we hold a New Years party as well. There might be a few smaller ones."

"Do you go to all of them?" Hermione asked.

"We do," Daphne confirmed. "You'll come to ours, of course, and 'Cousin Azalea' will be attending the Malfoy party with us."

"Right, that," Hermione murmured.

"You'll do fine," Daphne said, waving a hand dismissively in the air. "We'll go over table manners and dancing another day." She paused and turned to Hermione. "You can dance, right?"

Hermione gulped. "No?"

~ Slytherin ~

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she escaped the Slytherin common room. Daphne had spent the past hour and a half teaching her the proper way to hold a fork, and criticizing Hermione in every aspect.

"So who tortured you?" Blaise Zabini asked, amused.

Hermione gave a yelp and jumped in fright, turning to the Italian boy. "You scared me!"

"I did," Blaise agreed.

Hermione stared at him for a minute, before shaking her head. "No one tortured me."

"Your face says otherwise," Blaise pointed out.

Hermione glared at him. "I'm going to the library," she declared, stomping past the Slytherin.

"I'll walk you," Blaise informed her, falling in step with her brisk walk. "Anything in particular you're looking for."

"Nothing in particular," Hermione shrugged. "Curses. History. Say, what do you know about the Slytherin court?"

"A bit," Blaise said casually. "Might I ask why?"

"I've been hearing bits and pieces," Hermione said, matching Blaise's tone. "Certain...things."

Blaise's eyes gleamed. "Shall we share our information, then?"

"You first," Hermione tilted her head towards him.

"Not here," Blaise murmured, leading her into an empty classroom. "How did you first hear about the Slytherin court?"

"Jade," Hermione admitted. "How many people are in the court?"

"There's the prince/princess, and then typically four to six others," Blaise responded. "Do you know any of the previous princes?"

"Lucius Malfoy was one," Hermione offered. "Who told you about the court?"

"My mother," Blaise shrugged elegantly. "Why should I attend your party over break?"

Hermione paused, having not expected the question. "Because it's the start of something," she said slowly. "Something big. Something that you want to be apart of."

"Oh, really?" Blaise raised his eyebrows.

"Zabinis like to win, don't they?" Hermione said.

"Well, you have that right, if nothing else," Blaise murmured. "Alright, Hermione, you have me convinced. Now, will you do something for me?"

"What?" Hermione said bluntly.

Blaise smiled slowly. "You are going to make friends with Draco Malfoy."

Hermione's eyes widened as Blaise's words sunk in. "No. Absolutely not. I refuse to have anything to do with that spoiled brat-"

"Who is currently at the top of Society," Blaise cut in. "If Draco likes you, then he will pass on a good word to his mother. And whatever Narcissa Malfoy says, goes."

"Fine," Hermione said, resigned. "But- we're also going to befriend Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter," Blaise repeated, a faint look of shock on his face.

"He's Dumbledore's golden boy," Hermione said with a shrug. "He can do no wrong. He's also the Boy-Who-Lived and the savior of the wizarding world."

"Very good," Blaise said approvingly. "We'll start a study group, then."

"We can get Susan Bones as well," Hermione said. "Her aunt is high in the DMLE."

"The Patil twins are the daughters of the Indian Minister," Blaise offered.

"Neville Longbottom is a genius in Herbology," Hermione added. "And when he's old enough, will be on the Wizengamot."

"Useful connection," Blaise agreed. "If only we could ally Malfoy and Potter."

"We might," Hermione said, a plan forming in her mind. "Blaise, how do you feel about Quidditch?"

"I'm a fairly decent Chaser," Blaise said. "What for?"

"In the muggle world, people talk online without ever seeing the other person," Hermione said excitedly. "If we can get Harry and Malfoy to have a conversation, they'll see that they have a lot in common."

"This could work," Blaise mused. "It's about to be dinner, so we'll work on this more tomorrow."

Hermione nodded and grinned at Blaise, who smiled back. "Blaise, I think this is the beginning of a great friendship."