Hermione and Ginny slowly sank into the chairs that had been set out for them and there was a heavy silence. Hermione refused to look to her left where Draco was sitting. Instead she smiled at Harry whose emerald eyes shone with fury. On his right sat Ginny, right next to her brother. Safe between the two young men. Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat and wrung out her small hands.

"Well girls, did you buy what you needed?" she asked. The two girls nodded mutely. "Um, well this is Mr. Vermis Malfoy and his son Kieran," Molly said waving a hand at the two. Kieran nodded at Hermione and gave Ginny a small smile. The younger girl blushed and looked away.

"Are you ready to order?" A waitress said as she came up to the table. She shifted anxiously at the silence that followed. Finally Vermis looked up with his cold eyes and ordered. Everyone followed and the waitress gave a sigh of relief and scurried away.

"My son tells me your son made Head Boy," Molly said after another awkward silence. She gave a fake smile, "Congratulations."

"Yes, his letter came recently. It really was no surprise. He is my son after all. What did surprise me was that Ms. Granger did not receive the position of Head Girl," Lucius said and turned his malicious eyes on her. Hermione blushed and cast her eyes down feeling her shame to her core. "Well, Ms. Granger? How could it be that that honored position was not granted to you?"

"I have no idea, Mr. Malfoy," Hermione chocked out and felt Harry take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. On the inside Hermione was raging, It was probably your fault you sick bastard.

"Oh my, Hermione, we had no idea," Mr. Weasley said. Hermione felt tears prick at her eyes and she shrugged.

Draco leaned to her side and whispered so only she could hear, "You're not going to cry are you?" Hermione's eyes snapped up and now they were filled with loathing instead of pain.

"No."

"Wonderful. Wouldn't want your mudblood tears at our table," he chuckled softly before leaning back in his seat. His father shot him a curious glance but said nothing. Shortly, the food arrived and everyone seemed to welcome the diversion. While the adults were sorting whose food was what, Hermione scooted closer to Harry.

"Why are we eating with them?" she snarled. Harry glanced around to make sure no one was listening.

"Mr. Weasley works for them and he wanted to discuss something. Vermis said he'd only discuss it at dinner. When he found out that I was here, he requested a dinner with all of us- well demand is more like it. Mr. Weasley couldn't say no without losing his job," Harry explained. Hermione nodded. As everyone settled down and started into their dinner, Ginny looked across the table at the handsome Austrain.

"So, Kieran. Are you going to be attending Hogwarts this year?" she asked. Every eye on the table turned to her. Some with surprise others with distaste, only Kieran seemed pleased by the question. His bright eyes focused on the younger girl. His sharp, handsome features forming into a smile.

"Why yes, actually. My father wishes me to get education from a different angle this year. It should be quite interesting. I have heard from my cousin that you are separated into houses. Is that so?"

"Uh, yeah. Four houses."

"What house are you in?"

"She's in Gryffindor," Draco cut in, his voice filled with distaste. Hermione glared at him and Kieran looked at him in confusion.

"Are all of you in Gryffindor?" Kieran asked, and Hermione glanced at her friends before nodding with them.

"How quaint," Vermis put in. Crossing his arms across his chest. He looked like  a cobra, gazing out at its prey.

"Would I be sorted into Gryffindor?" Kieran asked innocently. All of the Malfoys at the table sat up and glared at their family member in horror.

"God no, Kieran, you'll go into Slytherin. As has everyone in the family," Lucius snapped. The handsome boy nodded and busied himself with the food.

"Of course, Slytherin. Cold, evil, heatless, and using any means to achieve one's end," Harry mumbled. The adults where too busy sending each other pointed looks to hear. Kieran heard though. He gazed at the young boy steadily.

"Who are you?" Kieran asked and Harry dropped his fork in surprise. He glanced at Ron who shrugged.

"You don't know me?"

"He wouldn't be asking if he knew, would he? He's Harry Potter, Kieran. You know. Scourge of evil, defeater of the Dark Lord," Draco said waving his hand dismissively. Kieran's eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, I think we've had enough conversation for one night," Vermis said, standing up and placing a hand on his son's shoulder, "I think we should be going."

"But father, I think-" the young man stopped his sentence and Hermione could see that his father was squeezing his shoulder. Hard.

"I think, you should say goodnight to these…ah…kind people for their hospitality," Vermis said and Kieran nodded.

"Yes, sir. Thank you all. It was a fine meal," Kieran said and stood up. The Weasleys stood up to, glancing at each other in relief.

"Yes, well. Anytime."

"Hope you can pay for that meal with what the Ministry has been giving you," Lucius threw over his shoulder as they walked out. Mr. Weasley glared at the blonds before forcing himself to sit down.

"Well, that was quite an ordeal. What a horrid family," he groaned and ran a hand through his hair. Ginny glanced at the doorway.

"I thought Kieran was kinda nice," she mumbled. Molly shot her daughter a disapproving look as she began to finish her meal.

"None of that, dear. Don't get mixed up with that family. They'll betray you quick as a heart beat. Now finish your meal. All of you," she said and they all sat down to finish their meal.

*****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*****

After dinner, as Hermione and Ginny were preparing for bed, Ginny looked up at Hermione with confused, pained eyes.

"I like Kieran, Hermione," she confessed, "Is that really bad?"

"No, Ginny. It's not really bad. You can't help the way you feel…but be careful. Your mum is right. They're an evil lot, the Malfoys."

"But he doesn't seem like them!" she protested and Hermione sighed and gave the younger girl a reassuring hug.

"Things aren't always what they seem," she said and Ginny shook her head vehemently, jumping into her bed.

"I know. This is different," Ginny said firmly, then her resolve crumbled, "Oh 'Mione. How can something so wrong feel so right?"

Hermione sighed and crawled into her own bed, "I don't know. Laws of the universe I guess. I once heard from someone wise…love means finding kindness where there should be hate. Maybe it's true."

"Maybe."

"Good night, Ginny," Hermione said and blew out the candle. The darkness spread through the room in an instant, the only light coming from the moon outside the window.

"Night."