Hermione laid on her back in the field behind the Weasley's house reading a book. "Hey." Percy said, approaching her. "It's time for dinner." Hermione sighed as she closed her book and got up.
"Are you excited about the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow?" Hermione asked him.
"I don't really care. I'm going because my family wants me to, not so much because I want to." Percy sighed.
"I feel that." Hermione agreed as they entered the house and Hermione sat between Ginny and Ron at the dinner table.
"How are you Hermione?" Lily asked as Molly started serving dinner.
"I'm good," Hermione smiled. "If you have time after dinner I'll catch you up on what's going on."
"Of course." Lily smiled.
"What's going on?" Ron asked, still chewing his food.
"Don't worry about it." Hermione frowned in disgust before turning to Ginny. "Have our letters come in yet?"
"Mum's got them." Ginny said. "She's going to get all of our stuff while we're at the Quidditch match."
"Are you sure Misses Weasley?" Hermione asked the Weasley matriarch.
"Of course, your parents sent some money so I can get your supplies. So go, enjoy it. I'll have your stuff when you return." Hermione nodded as she started eating her dinner.
That evening Hermione walked around the garden with Harry, Ron, and Ginny. Ron and Harry were in front while Hermione and Ginny were walking behind. "Hey Ginny," Harry said. "Why don't we go see if we can bug Percy some more." Ginny and Hermione shared a look before Ginny followed Harry out of the garden.
"I'm gonna go back." Hermione started.
"No, come on. I won't bite." Ron said. Hermione hesitated before walking beside him. They walked in silence for a few moments before Ron stopped and looked at her. "Hermione, I have something I want to confess."
"What's up…" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"I like you." Ron blurted. "Sorry, that was supposed to be better." Hermione just eyed him. "What?"
"You…like…me." Hermione repeated, slowly.
"Yeah." Ron said. "Here, I'll show you." Ron bent his head and gave her a quick kiss. "See." Hermione shook her head. "I'll show you again then." Ron said, grabbing her side and pulling her in for a deeper kiss. It took Hermione a moment before she slapped him, then punched him when he did not stop after the slap. "Ow, bloody hell."
"What the hell are you doing?" Hermione asked.
"Kissing the girl I like." Ron said.
"Well I don't like you." Hermione said, walking away from him.
"Oh come on." Ron said. "You're just messing with me."
"No, I am not. I don't like you Ron. I don't see why you would even think I like you. You have been an arse to me since we met."
"Come on." Ron said, grabbing her arm. Hermione tried to remove her arm from his grasp. "You just need another kiss." He started to bend down to kiss her when he got hit with three stunning spells. Hermione looked up as Percy, Fred, and George were walking to them.
"Thank you." Hermione told the three Weasley boys.
"No problem," Fred started.
"He deserved it." George continued.
"Go inside," Percy nodded toward the house. "Mum will make you some tea, Lily was also asking for you." Hermione nodded as she ran into the house.
Hermione sat at the kitchen counter with a cup of tea as Lily rubbed her back. "I can't believe he did that." Molly said. Hermione looked at her and glared.
"Why?"
"Because Ron isn't like that." Molly said.
"Well Molly, evidently he is." Lily said. Molly just scoffed as they heard noise from the window.
"I can't believe you stunned me." Ron groaned.
"I can't believe you kissed Hermione without permission and clearly against her will." Percy retorted.
"Come on Perc, she was just playing hard to get."
"She was literally trying to get away from you." Fred and George said in unison. Ron scoffed.
"God, when did you become such a twat." Percy asked.
"Percy!" Molly called. "We do not use that type of language."
"Why don't you come to my house tonight." Lily said. "And if you want you can go to the Greengrasses after the game."
"Thank you." Hermione said, getting up.
"See what you did Ron." Percy said. "Hermione is leaving."
"Wait what?" Ginny asked as she and Harry entered the room.
"Our dear brother," Fred said.
"Harassed your friend and now she's going to the Potters for the night."
"You did what!" Ginny and Harry yelled. Hermione just patted her friend's shoulder as she went upstairs, packed her bags, and followed Lily to the car.
The next day Lily, Hermione, Harry, and James arrived at the Quidditch World Cup. Lily paid for their portion of the tickets then led them through the crowd to their campsite, three muggle tents. "The Weasley boys are in that tent, you and Ginny are in the middle, while we are in this one." Lily said, pointing at each one.
"Hermione!" Daphne called as she ran up to them.
"Hi Daph." Hermione said, hugging the Slytherin girl.
"I am so sorry he did that to you." Daphne said as Ron, Harry, and Ginny stepped out of the Weasley family tent. "You bloody bastard." Daphne said.
"Oi." Ron exclaimed.
"He's in so much trouble." Ginny said walking up to Hermione and Daphne. "The only reason he got to come is mum pointed out that Lily already paid for his ticket and it would be a waste of money."
"Come on, why don't we go walk around the area?" Hermione said, pulling on the girl's arms and leading them through the camp grounds.
"Draco can not know about that." Hermione said as they walked.
"Of course." Daphne said.
"Why not?" Ginny asked. The two other girls looked at her. "What? I would love to see him beat up my brother." Ginny shrugged. Hermione and Daphne laughed as Draco, Theo, and Blaise found them.
"What is so funny?" Theo asked.
"Nothing." Hermione said as Draco placed himself beside her, their hands barely touching as they walked. "How were your summers?"
"Good, we went to Italy again." Blaise said. "You should have seen the girls there."
"We're good." Ginny said, scrunching her nose.
"Hi guys." Pansy said, joining them and standing on Draco's other side. "How is it going?"
"Hi Pans." Daphne said. "We are beating up Ron later."
"Wait, really?" Blaise asked. Hermione shook her head at Daphne who laughed.
"He kissed Hermione without talking it over with her."
"Technically my brothers' have already beat him up." Ginny said. "They stunned him and each got a good hit before we came."
"Did he really kiss you?" Draco asked.
"Technically he kissed me twice and tried a third but I punched him." Hermione shrugged.
"That's my girl." Draco whispered earning a slight blush from Hermione.
"Still an arse though." Daphne said. "At least now Hermione is coming to my house after the game." The group chuckled.
"I think it's time we head back, we should be with our groups before the game starts." Hermione said.
"We will walk you back." Blaise said.
"Be nice." Hermione warned Draco as they returned to the Weasley and Potter came.
"No promises." Draco grinned at her.
Following the game and the following night Hermione went back with the Greengrasses, hugging Ginny and Lily good bye. "Don't worry." Ginny said. "I have plans to make his life difficult."
"Thank you." Hermione said as she followed Daphne away. "Mrs Weasley said she'd send my school stuff."
"Great," Daphne said. "By the way, my parents invited the Malfoys to dinner tomorrow night, since they were not expecting you and it was too late to cancel."
"That's fine." Hermione said. "It'll be nice to hang out with Draco and it'll give me a chance to practice my pureblood etiquette." They caught up with Mister and Misses Greengrass.
"Mother, can we go and get clothes for tomorrow night?" Daphne asked.
"Daphne, you already have clothes for tomorrow." Misses Greengrass said.
"Yes, but Hermione might not." The two Greengrass girls looked at Hermione.
"Very well, we will go to Diagon Alley." Daphne winked at Hermione who chuckled.
The following evening Hermione sighed as Daphne fixed her hair. "What?" Daphne asked.
"Are you sure this dress is appropriate?" Hermione asked, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Of course. We are going to make him, and his parents, feel bad about being prejudiced against your blood status."
"I don't think he's prejudiced…as much…I just think he's not ready to be disowned." Hermione argued.
"Well, we will make him ready." Daphne said, putting in a last bobby pin. "There, let us go make an entrance." Hermione smiled as she got up and followed Daphne out of her room and down the hall. They could hear talking as they started down the stairs. "Wow." Hermione looked up and smiled at Draco.
"Do not fidget." Daphne whispered as Hermione's hand went to fidget with the edge of her short skirt. Hermione looked once more at herself as they passed a hall mirror. Her hair was up in a low bun and she wore an emerald green sleeveless turtleneck with a mid - thigh skirt. Hermione took a deep breath as she greeted the Malfoys. "You look gorgeous." Draco said, kissing her hand.
"Thank you, you look handsome." Hermione said, eyeing his green satin shirt and black dress pants.
"You look very pretty Hermione." Narcissa said, giving Misses Greengrass a look.
"She does, does she not?" Miss Greengrass said. "Let us go sit and eat. Draco you will sit between these lovely ladies." Everyone sat at the table, Misters Malfoy and Greengrass at the head and Misses Malfoy and Greengrass across from Daphne and Hermione.
After dinner the three teens were excused. Daphne leads them through to the garden. "I am going for a walk." She told Draco and Hermione. "But you are more than welcome to sit on this bench." Daphne winked at Hermione as she walked away.
"You look breathtaking." Draco said, taking her in his arms.
"Daphne picked it out." Hermione admitted. "She said the green would appeal to your family."
"And she was right." Draco smiled. "It was incredibly hard not to kiss you when you came down those stairs."
"Well thank you for holding back." Hermione said. "We don't need a fight with your parents." Draco hummed an agreement as he bent down and kissed her. Hermione sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, one of his went to her hair while the other went down her back. After a few moments Hermione separated. "We should probably return. We don't need your parents getting suspicious." Draco sighed as he took her hand and led her in the direction Daphne went.
At the welcome feast Hermione sat beside Neville. Half listening to the conversation around. When Dumbledore started to make his traditional beginning of year speech she looked up and listened. Most of it was the usual 'no going into the forbidden forest' and 'no spells in the halls' then he mentioned 'no quidditch' and the entire Great Hall made noise. "Now, now." Dumbledore said. "There is a perfectly good explanation. We will be hosting a competition called the Tri - Wizard Tournament. It will be held with Beauxbatons and Durmstrung. They will be joining us in October and we will determine the three champions." Hermione looked at Draco who was watching Dumbledore intensely. "They will be of age." Hermione chuckled at Draco's look of disappointment. After that Hermione turned the Headmaster back out and returned to her meal.
"You wanted to participate didn't you?" Hermione asked Draco as they sat with their group in the library.
"Of course, who would not want to?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "What?"
"What is up with boys and wanting to participate in deadly activities?"
"We just like the reaction girls give us when we survive." Draco winked. Daphne, Pansy, and Ginny laughed while Nevielle, Blaise, and Theo just raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, how is your essay for Arthimancy coming?" Hermione asked, nudging him.
"It would be better if you would move a few seats so you would be less distracting." Draco whispered in her ear. "I keep picturing you in that dress."
"And I'm pretty sure if I were sitting farther away you would be distracted by the fact I was so far away." Draco chuckled. "Now let me see your essay."
"No, you do your own work and you can look at it after we are both finished."
"What is going on with you two?" Theo asked.
"You haven't told them anything?" Hermione asked.
"Well…" Draco rubbed the back of his neck.
"Seriously?" Hermione asked. She got up and started packing her bag.
"Where are you going?" Blaise asked.
"Ask him." Hermione said as she walked out of the library.
Over the next month Hermione avoided Draco, annoyed that he would not even talk to his friends about her. "If he won't talk to Zabini and Nott." Hermione told Ginny, Pansy, and Daphne over drinks at the Three Broomsticks. "Then how can I be sure he's serious?" The three girls all voiced agreements. The day Durmstrung and Beauxbatons came, Hermione stood out in the cold between Ginny and Daphne, shivering. "Do you want me to fetch you another jumper?" Ginny asked.
"No." Hermione said, wrapping her scarf closer. "I have no clue why I'm so cold."
"Because you miss the warmth of being in Draco's arms." Daphne teased. Hermione slapped her arm playfully. The group of students suddenly got excited and pointed at the sky. Hermione looked up to see a giant carriage pulled by giant winged horses landing in front of them. "Oh goodness." Daphne muttered as a girl with blond hair stepped out of the carriage. "She's gorgeous."
"She is very pretty." Hermione said, nudging her blond friend. The group died down again as they waited for Durmstrung. Eventually they came, a giant ship rising out of the lake. The students started piling out and the entire Hogwarts group gasped. "It's Krum." The students started talking amongst themselves.
"Krum?" Hermione asked. "Isn't that the Bulgarian Seeker?"
"It is, look." Ginny said, pointing at the guy standing in front of the ship. Dumbledore lead the Durmstrung students into the castle, Hermione blushed as Krum walked by and made eye contact with her.
"He looked at you." Daphne squealed.
"Yes, but I have Draco." Hermione reminded her.
"Who won't even talk to his friends about you." Ginny retorted. Hermione just shook her head as they made their way into the castle.