Hermione laid out on a beach lounge chair, book in her hands and sunglasses on her face. She was in the middle of turning the page of her book when a shadow appeared over her. "Excuse me, you're blocking my sun." The shadow did not move. Hermione groaned as she closed her book and started to turn. "Excuse me," She froze and moved her sunglasses. "Malfoy?"

"Hey Granger, good summer?" Malfoy asked as Granger got up and hugged him.

"Yes, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked.

"I told you my family comes to France every summer too."

"Are Zabini and Nott here too?" Hermione asked, looking around.

"Not yet, they will be arriving tomorrow. I am here with orders from my parents to invite you and your parents to dinner." Hermione froze.

"I know how your parents feel about muggles, at least what I have been told. Is it safe for them to go to dinner." Draco shrugged.

"I am not sure, but I know if anything happens I will make sure you are safe." Hermione chuckled as she pulled Draco over to where her parents were.

"Mum, dad, this is Draco Malfoy, one of the friends I made. Malfoy, these are my parents; Daniel and Jean."

"Pleasure to meet you." Draco shook both their hands. "My parents were wondering if you will join us for dinner tonight."

"We would love to come and have dinner with you." Jean said.

"How did you know we were here?" Daniel asked.

"Hermione mentioned you come to France every year, my family happens to come here as well, and from her letters I found out when and my parents, as well as our friends' parents, decided to come at the same time so we can enjoy France together."

"Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott." Hermione said. "They will be getting here tomorrow." Daniel eyed Draco suspiciously.

"Very well, give Hermione your address and when we are to be there."

"Very well, oh, and my parents' dinners are usually dress up occasions. I suggest a suit and dress." With that Draco and Hermione walked away.

"I don't like him, why do we have to wear suits and dresses for dinner with his parents?" Daniel asked.

"Did you see his sunglasses? His family is very obviously upper class." Jean said, returning to her book. "I wouldn't be surprised if the dinner is a five course meal." Daniel just huffed as he returned to his book.

That night the Grangers stood in front of the Malfoy vacation home in awe. "I hope they like the wine." Jean said, looking at the bottle in her hands. "'Mione, did you know they were this rich?" Hermione shook her head.

"I don't discuss money matters with my friends, I only recently learned their birthdays." The family took a deep breath as the door opened revealing Narcissa in a floor length strapless emerald green dress. "Hello, welcome to our home." She ushered the Granger family in. "I am Narcissa, and this is my husband Lucius and you met Draco today."

"Hello," Daniel said, shaking Lucius' hand. "I'm Daniel and this is my wife Jean, and you obviously know Hermione."

"Hello Mister and Misses Malfoy." Hermione said. The Malfoy adults greeted her, Narcissa eyed the bottle of wine.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Jean said. "A gift, though I'm not sure if it's up to your standards." Narcissa took it and read it.

"It will go perfectly with one of the courses, I will chill it so it will be ready. Please, go into the living room." The rest of the evening was small talk amongst the families and the evening ended with Draco showing the Grangers out and promising to get Hermione once Blaise and Theo arrived.

The following few weeks had similar themes. Hermione spent the days with the boys and each family took turns hosting dinners. Once the Granger's French trip came to an end they said goodbye to the Malfoys, Notts, and Zabinis. A few days after getting home Hermione got her Hogwarts letter and the family went to Diagon Alley, planning with the Greengrasses for Hermione to return with them. So the Grangers were at Diagon Alley, and were looking through Flourish and Blotts when they heard a commotion in the store. They looked up and Hermione groaned when she saw Harry, Ron, and Draco arguing, Misters Malfoy, Weasley, and Potter behind their respective kids. Hermione just groaned as she walked over to the group. "What did you do?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Weasely here asked where my pet…muggle born was." Draco said.

"Oh look, and here she is." Ron said.

"Ron, come on, let's go." Harry groaned.

"Yes, let's go to Malfoy, we should be meeting Daphne." Hermione said, tugging on her friend's arm.

"And if I recall," Lucius said with a smirk. "Young Mister Weasley actually used an improper word to describe Miss Granger, am I wrong."

"No, Malfoy," Mister Potter said. "That was you and your son. Ron and Harry know not to use that kind of language. Maybe your son should learn before he screws up like a certain friend of yours did."

"What's he talking about?" Hermione asked. Both Malfoy boys ignored her.

"Go ahead, tell them what you usually call muggle borns, or you did," Mister Weasley said. "Before Young Malfoy here befriended one."

"Will someone please explain to me what's going on?" Daniel said.

"Forgive me, my name is James Potter, this is my son Harry, and this is Arthur Weasley and his son Ron." James offered Daniel his hand, which he shook.

"I'm Daniel Granger and this is my daughter Hermione. I take it your boys are in the same year as her."

"Same year and house." Hermione said. "Not that it mattered to them."

"Okay, so what are you arguing about?" Daniel asked.

"Their families don't get along." Hermione said. "So its' probably something stupid."

"The important thing here," Arthur said. "Is that Malfoy here called your daughter a mudblood."

"What's a mudblood?" Hermione asked.

"It's a crude, and very rude, way of saying muggle born, because according to them, you have 'dirty blood'." Ron explained.

"And you called my daughter that?" Daniel asked.

"I did not!" Draco said.

"But do you believe it?" Hermione asked. Draco did not respond. "Daddy, take me home."

"Of course sweetie." Daniel said, shooting a glare at the Malfoys and leading her through the store.

"Hermione?" Daphne asked, before looking at the silent Draco. "What did you do?"

Hermione spent the last few weeks of summer holiday at her house, and when it was time for the train to Hogwarts she got a compartment away from her Slytherin friends. She was curled up reading when a knock came from the door. A girl with red hair stood in the doorway. "Excuse me, can I sit with you? I don't particularly want to sit with my brother."

"Sure," Hermione said. The girl smiled and sat across from her. "I'm Hermione Granger."

"I know, I'm Ginny Weasley, my brother was the rude one at the store."

"Oh…" Hermione trailed off.

"Oh, don't worry. My brother's a git. I'm not like him. I don't see why he's not friends with you." Hermione shrugged.

"No one in my house is." Hermione said.

"Is that why you became friends with the Slytherins?" Ginny asked. Hermione did not respond as the compartment door opened.

"Hermione, I am so sorry." Daphne said. "You have to know I do not agree with Draco, and if I had known he and his father would have said that I would have slapped him."

"No offense Daphne, but I'm going to need some time." Hermione said.

"Of course," Daphne said. "Just let me know if you want to talk." She finally noticed Ginny. "Oh, hello."

"Hi." Ginny said with a little wave.

"I am Daphne Greengrass."

"Ginny Weasley." Daphne eyed the girl suspiciously. "Don't worry, I'm not like my brother. And if you want, I'll keep an eye on Hermione."

"How, you haven't been sorted yet?" Hermione asked.

"I'm from the Weasley family, all Weasley's get sorted into Gryffindor."

"Like the Greengrass, Zabini, Nott, and Malfoy families." Daphne elaborated.

"Ah, so you'll be sorted to Gryffindor." Hermione asked, to which Ginny nodded. "Look Daphne, my first Gryffindor friend."

"I should go back to the boys, you do know Draco is sorry." Daphne said.

"Give me sometime," Hermione said with a sigh. "It's worse with my dad being there. He won't take kindly to them anymore."

"I get that, I will see you later. Nice meeting you Ginny."

"You too." Ginny said as Daphne left. Hermione and Ginny preceded to get to know each other, and get excited about the upcoming school year.

Over the next few weeks Ginny and Hermione bonded, spending a lot of their time together. A week into the school year Mister Malfoy wrote Hermione a formal apology, explaining that he was at fault and that Draco was really trying to adjust his views. Hermione wrote back thanking him, but hopefully he can understand why she is not ready to reform her friendship with Draco. Draco, on the other hand, had gone back to ignoring her. And that's how it went, until Draco and Harry got into a fight on the Quidditch field. She went to the infirmary with Ginny. Ginny was going to see Harry, childhood friend and all that, and Hermione went to check on Draco.

"What did you do?" Hermione asked when she got to him after a quick check on Harry.

"Potter was being a prat." Draco explained. "He got mad that I joined the Slytherin team and my father bought everyone new brooms as a congratulatory gift."

"You bought your way onto the team!" Harry called.

"Shut up Potter, no I did not, and you will find that out when we play." Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Well I just wanted to check on you, and thank you for giving me space."

"You know I would never call you…well…you know." Draco said.

"I know." Hermione smiled at him.

"Oh, did you get your birthday gift?" Draco asked. Hermione looked at him in confusion. "You got a gift with no card right?" Hermione nodded. "That was me, I wanted to make sure you got something but I figured you would not have accepted it if I gave it to you or signed it."

"You're going to have to be a bit more specific, as I got four gifts without names, and I'm pretty sure one is from each of my Slytherin friends except for Daphne who actually signed hers."

"Yeah, that sounds like us." Draco laughed.

"I have to go, I'll see you in class, and our study groups." With that Hermione left the room, Ginny following her out.

Over the next few months before Christmas holiday Hermione, Ginny, and the group of Slytherins fell into the same pattern Hermione started last year with a few weeks. With Draco on the Quidditch team he would not be at the study groups as often, and Hermione was still hesitant at times about her Slytherin friends. But everyday Hermione, Blaise, Daphne, Theo, Pansy, and Ginny would meet at the library and do their homework together. After practice, or when there was not any, Draco was there as well and he and Hermione became the editors again. At the start of December, as they were packing up after studying, Daphne went up to Hermione.

"Do you want to come over for the last week of the holidays?" She asked, biting her lip.

"I'll see what my father says. He's still upset about the Malfoy thing." Hermione said, walking out of the library with Daphne.

"I get that, and if it helps make sure they know that Draco will not be there."

"Ok, I'll ask when I get home and I'll let you know." Hermione told her friend.

"Awesome, I will talk to you later." Daphne said, making her way to the dungeons.

The first week of January, Hermione went over to the Greengrasses. Over the week Hermione and Daphne worked on their holiday homework and messed around with Daphne's little sister Astoria. They talked about what they got for Christmas and what they gave everyone. Hermione gave everyone pens, not quills, actual muggle pens. Theo wrote to her and told her how much he loves them. Daphne gave everyone candy, to be on the safe side of course, and Hermione got books from everyone, mainly fiction, but Narcissa sent her a book on pureblood etiquette. Hermione flipped through it before going to the Greengrasses and her theory was correct, wizarding etiquette was remarkably similar to muggle standards. So, with Daphne's help, by the start of the next term Hermione was prepared for most Slytherin gatherings.

Once returning to school Hermione sat in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Ginny. She sat absorbed in her book as Neville walked up to her. "Erm…Hermione?"

"Yes?" She looked at him.

"I wanted to apologize. I never should have let you feel left out. You are my friend."

"Thank you Neville." Hermione said. "You are the second Gryffindor to be my friend. Would you like to sit with me and Ginny at lunch?"

"Sure." Neville smiled as Ginny walked into the room.

"Ready?" She asked Hermione.

"Yeah, Neville's coming with us. He apologized and wants to be my friend."

"Great," Ginny smiled at the boy. "Hermione needs more Gryffindor friends." With that the three Gryffindors walked towards the Great Hall, seeing their Slytherin friends at the entrance.

"Oh, another Gryffindor has joined the group." Blaise said upon seeing Neville.

"He apologized and wants to be my friend." Hermione stated. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"As long as he is honest about it, no." Theo said. "It is nice for you to have friends in your own house." Hermione looked at Daphne and Pansy who nodded in agreement.

"Awesome, I'm going to lunch." Hermione smiled as she entered the Great Hall.

Over the course of the remaining year Hermione spent more time in the Gryffindor common room than in the library, much to the Slytherins' displeasure. "I am happy she has more Gryffindor friends." Theo said, tapping the pen he got from her. "But I was not expecting her to dump us for them."

"I am sure she does not mean to do this." Daphne said. "It might just be easier for her now that she has Neville and Ginny." Draco scoffed. "What?"

"She is dumping us for her Gryffindor friends, how much you want to bet she will spend the summer holidays with the Weasley girl instead of you."

"Now you are just being mean." Daphne said. "She is my friend and would not do that to me."

"What ever floats your boat." Draco said, getting up and leaving the library, leaving a confused group behind him.

"This is a partner potion." Severus said. "So I have assigned groups. Potter and Nott. Weasley and Parkinson. Granger and Malfoy." Hermione sighed as Severus continued listing names and she moved over to Draco.

"Hey," Hermione said. "Are you ready?" Draco just nodded. "What's up? You're not usually this quiet."

"How would you know?" Draco asked. "You have not really been with us lately now that you have befriended Longbottom."
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, adding ingredients.

"You use to spend every day in the library with us doing homework. Now we are lucky if you come in once a week."

"I'm sorry, Neville usually needs my help with homework."

"And let me guess, he will not come and study with the Slytherins." Draco sneered.

"Well yes actually." Hermione snapped. "In case you forgot you weren't exactly nice to him the past two years."

"You know what?" Draco asked. "You are just as big a swot as Weasley and Potter said. No wonder you had no friends before Daphne and Pansy."

"Draco!" Daphne, who was behind them, gasped.

"What?" Draco turned. "Am I wrong? She has friends in her own house and dumps us. Actually, no, she's worse. She is nothing but a stereotypical mudblood." Hermione slapped him before grabbing her stuff and running out of the classroom.

"I can not believe you did that." Daphne said, grabbing her own stuff and running after her. Draco looked at Blaise and Theo who just shook their heads.

"Whatever, it needed to be said." Draco muttered, returning to his potion.

Daphne found Hermione by the lake under a tree. "I am so sorry." Daphne said.

"Go away Daphne." Hermione said. "Just leave me alone."

"Come on," Daphne pressed. "You are my friend."

"Malfoy showed how much of a friend I am to him." Hermione scoffed. "Don't worry about it, just go away and we don't have to continue this." Daphne just stood there. "Go." Hermione said, burying her face back in her knees.
"I hope you know I will still be here for you if you need me." Daphne said as she turned and walked away. Hermione sat alone crying for a few more moments before Ron and Harry walked up to her.

"We tried to warn you." Ron said. "Come on, I'll take you to Ginny." Hermione looked at them before getting up and following them back into the castle.

The rest of the year Hermione got closer to Ron and Harry, eventually becoming their best friend. "Why don't you come over." Ginny said. "Harry comes over all the time, so it'll be nice to have a friend of my own." They made their way onto the Hogwarts express. Hermione saw Daphne looking at her.

"Sure, I'll talk to my parents and I might come over after our trip to France."

"Oh France," Ginny sighed as she sat down. "I want to go so bad. How is it?" Hermione spent the train ride to London talking about France and her family's time there.