Hermione sat curled up with a book on her bed when Jean called for her. "Hermione, someone named Lily is here for you." Hermione closed her book and ran down the stairs.
"Hello Misses Potter."
"Please call me Lily. Hello," Lily greeted Jean and Daniel. "I'm Lily Potter."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Jean and this is Daniel. How do you know Hermione?"
"I'm the mother of her friend Harry, and as a fellow muggle born witch I figured she could use my help navigating Hogwarts."
"And I have some things to ask her so is it okay if I go to the park with her?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, just be careful." Jean said as Hermione led Lily down the road.
"So, tell me exactly what happened." Lily said as they sat on the bench. Hermione walked her through the past three years, ending with the last Hogsmeade trip. Lily sat in thought for a second. "So how do you feel about all this?"
"Confused. I don't understand his thought process or where he's coming from."
"I get that. As someone who had a Slytherin friend can I give you some advice?" Hermione nodded. "Ask him. I never asked Severus and I never tried to repair our friendship so I lost my longest friend."
"What happened?" Hermione asked. Lily sighed before going into the story of her and Severus Snape.
"Wait," Hemione said after the story. "Serverus Snape as in Professor Snape? Potion master and Head of Slytherin House?"
"Yup, that's why I think you should talk to him. How are you after all this?"
"Confused. It was my first kiss. And I can't decide if I liked it or not." Hermione admitted.
"You could always kiss him again." Lily suggested. "James and I never really got along till seventh year as Head Boy and Girl. I gave him a shot and found the love of my life. Maybe Malfoy will be yours."
"But could you imagine his family's reaction? Have you heard what they did to his aunt?"
"Oh I know, Narcissa's cousin Sirius is James' best friend." The two muggle born girls sat in silence for a moment. "Well I should return, Sirius and Remus are coming for dinner."
"Thank you for your help." Hermione said as they walked back to her house.
"Of course, if you have any more questions or concerns just write to me. Actually, while you are home." Lily took out a notebook and wrote some numbers down. "Call me."
"Thank you Lily." With that Lily walked to a car and drove away.
Over the rest of the holiday Hermione thought about what she thought and felt about the situation with Draco. Finally, before going to the Greengrass house, she wrote to Draco asking him to visit her while she was there. She enjoyed the books from her friends, most were wizarding fiction. She was shocked when she pulled out a locket shaped like a book with Pride and Prejudice engraved on it. Please forgive me the note that came with it. Hermione smiled as she placed it in her bag to go to the Greengrasses then to school. Once getting to Daphne's she spent a lot of her time with Daphne, looking over fashion magazines and discussing the boys at school. The day Draco was supposed to meet her paced in the drawing room. Finally the fireplace glowed bright green and Draco stepped out. "Hey." He said, brushing himself off. "You wanted to see me."
"I wanted to discuss what happened in Hogsmeade." Draco nodded. "Can I try something?" Draco nodded again. Hermione bit her lip as she went up to him and gave him a kiss, deeper than the one they shared earlier. Hermione took a deep breath as she separated from him. "What is your verdict?" Draco asked.
"What would your parents' reaction be?" Draco froze, his hand halfway to her face. "You know how they feel about me."
"I do not know." Draco admitted.
"Then find out," Hermione said. "Also find out if you are prepared for the school to know. Because I am not hiding." Draco nodded. "I have to return to Daphne, I'll see you at school."
"See you at school." Draco said, before turning back to the fireplace.
"Wait." Draco paused and his eyes widened as Hermione pulled him in for another kiss. "Bye." Draco winked as he left through the fireplace.
Hermione, Ginny, Daphne, and Pansy sat on the Hogwarts Express together, talking about what they got. "I love these pens." Pansy told Hermione. "You do not have to constantly dip them into ink."
"I know," Daphne said. "I need to learn how to buy these."
"It's fairly simple." Hermione said. "You have to go into the muggle world." Daphne and Pansy made a face. "I figured." Hermione laughed as there was a knock on the door. They looked up and Draco stood in the doorway.
"Granger, can I speak with you?" Hermione got up, ignoring Ginny's glare. They walked down the train into an empty compartment. "I talked to my parents."
"How did that go?" They sat on a bench.
"I was told, if I go out with you, they will not banish me off the family tree like my grandmother did with my aunt, but I will be disowned and they will not let me get into the family vault."
"So that's a no." Hermione said. Draco sighed.
"I like you, but I do not want to lose my family."
"I get that. Maybe after a while they will change their minds." Hermione said, placing her hand on his cheek. "Just keep me up to date with what happens."
"Of course." Draco said, leaning into her hand. "Why are you not wearing the necklace I got you?"
"I didn't want to lose it." Hermione admitted. "It's so pretty." Draco chuckled. "I should return before Ginny comes looking for me." They stood up. Hermione started to open the door before turning around and pulling Draco down for a kiss using his tie. "One last kiss before I leave." Draco chuckled as Hermione walked away.
Over the next few weeks Hermione made sure to spend time with her Slytherin friends and her Gryffindor friends. Finally convincing Neville to come study with her, Ginny, and the Slytherins. One day Hermione sat in the library, waiting for everyone to join. Draco sat down beside her and watched as she chewed on the end of a pen. Hermione glanced at him and smiled. "Can I help you?"
"Do we not meet here for a study group?" Draco asked, twirling one of her curls around his fingers.
"Well, study." Hermione said, moving her hair from his hand. "And remember? We said no since your parents will not approve." Draco sighed as he pulled out his textbook and started his essay. Eventually everyone else joined and the group started talking about school. "I still can not believe you are hanging out with the snakes Gin." Ron said, as he and Harry approached.
"They are nice." Ginny said. "You should give them a shot." Ron scoffed.
"I'm good, come on Harry. We need to do our divination homework."
"We'll see you at dinner." Harry said as he followed Ron through the library. The group returned to their work.
"I'm sorry for my brother's behavior." Ginny said.
"Don't worry about it." Hermione said. "He's just jealous." The group looked at her. "I have all of you and he only really has his siblings and Harry." The group laughed before they returned to their work.
Hermione sat with Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Neville at breakfast near the end of June when an owl dropped a letter in front of her. "Oh, Harry it's from your mother." Hermione opened the letter and read through it. "Oh, she wants to know if I want to come to the Quidditch World Cup with your family."
"Oh yeah, mum mentioned that." Harry said. "She's getting tickets for my family and Ron's, as well as tickets for Sirius and Remus."
"We are super excited." Ginny said.
"Yes but it's Quidditch." Hermione groaned as they got up and started towards their classes.
"The best Quidditch players in the world." Ron argued. "It's supposed to be Ireland versus Bulgaria."
"Talking about the Quidditch World Cup Weasley?" Draco asked as he and Daphne approached the group.
"Hermione," Daphne said, going to her side. "My mother wants to know if you want to go with us."
"Yes, and no," Ron said first to Draco then to Daphne. "She's going with us."
"Actually," Hermione interjected. "I don't particularly want to go. You know how I feel about Quidditch."
"Come on Hermione." Ginny said. "It'll be fun. And knowing Lily and Mrs. Greengrass the seats will be close enough that we can still hang out."
"I'm sure Harry's mom is not gonna sit anywhere near those Slytherins." Ron countered. "Come on Hermione, you will enjoy your time with us more."
"She will not be going with your family." Draco said. "She will be going with Daphne's."
"Let me guess, your family doesn't want a muggle born dirting their hallowed halls." Ron sneered.
"You better watch yourself Weasley." Draco growled.
"Malfoy," Hermione warned. "I can decide for myself. I will write to both of your mothers when I make a decision. For now though, I am going to class." With that Hermione pushed past her friends.
As Hermione boarded the Hogwarts Express Ron caught up with her and threw his arm across her shoulders. "I'm so happy you decided to come with us." He said Hermione looked to see Draco glaring at them. Hermione shrugged Ron's arm off as she went to the compartment Ginny and Daphne were sitting in. "I haven't been to Ginny's as often as I've been to Daphne's it has nothing to do with going with you now if you'll excuse me." She entered the compartment and closed the door on Ron. "You're brother is so weird." Hermione groaned as she sat beside Daphne.
"I know, don't worry, you'll get to hang out with Bill and Charlie. They are pretty cool." Ginny said.
"What do they do?" Daphne asked.
"Bill is a curse breaker at Gringotts while Charlie is a dragon tamer in Romania."
"Oh," Daphne cooed. "Are they single?"
"Yes, but I doubt you want to deal with my family." Ginny countered.
"Good point." Daphne said with a scrunch of her nose. "So far you are the best Weasley I've met."
"Why thank you, and you're the best Slytherin I've met." The two girls shook hands and laughed.
"I love you two." Hermione laughed as the train left the station.