None of my classes were with Malfoy that day, so I didn't see him until that night.

'Tomorrow is Saturday,' he reminded me. 'The ball is Monday. Not much time, eh?'

I shrugged. 'Enough.'

'Hermione...' Malfoy looked hesitant. 'Look, you'd better sit down.'

'That doesn't sound good,' I said, seating myself down next to him. 'What's up?'

'My father... he's in the school board, and he's coming up to assist with the ball. He wants me to have a private dinner with him tomorrow.'

'That's cool,' I said, not at all guessing where this was going.

'He wants you to come.'

'What?!'

'You have to come. You're my new girlfriend, and he wants to meet you. He's heard a lot about you.'

'No,' I said weakly. 'First the whole breakfast thing, and now this? No way!'

He sighed. 'You're going to in the end, you know.'

Since I felt that he had it right, I tried to think up some excuses. 'But your father hates muggle-borns. Is he going to be very pleased with you when he sees me?'

'He won't,' said Malfoy with a triumphant smile. 'He knows all about your, uh, your... heritage, and it's not a problem.'

Suspicious, I leant forward, narrowing my eyes. 'Why is it not a problem?'

'Fudge is beginning to suspect him of being racist,' said Malfoy. 'You know, against mud – I mean, muggle-borns – '

'He's got that one right,' I muttered to myself.

Malfoy shot me an irritated look. 'Anyway, my father didn't mind at all that I'm dating a muggle-born, for what could be better than showing he was not racist? His son is dating a muggle-born.'

I nodded, then the full impact of what he just said hit me. 'Oh, my god,' I wailed suddenly. 'You're only dating me because I'm muggle-born!' I jumped up and tears sprung to my eyes. 'I can't believe you Malfoy!' I was all set and ready to run from the room when he hastily stopped me.

'No, no, no,' he protested. 'This happened way after I made you – er, we started dating! Believe me, I hadn't breathed a word of this to him until after he wanted a way to prove he wasn't racist! Hermione, trust me, I didn't start to like you because you were muggle-born!'

His explanation made sense, and the fizzing anger I felt died down. After all, if he wanted a muggle-born, why chose me, when there were hundreds other out there, who would be absolutely thrilled to even touch his face.

'Okay,' I agreed reluctantly. Mentally, I sighed. What was I getting myself into?

'Hermione!' cried a voice behind me. 'Hermione!'

It was Lavender, running down the stairs trying to catch up with me. I waited.

'I need to talk with you,' she panted, hands on her knees.

'Sure,' I said, feeling a familiar ominous feeling. I just knew she wanted to talk to me about Malfoy...

Sure enough, when she led me to a nearby seat the first thing she said was; 'I'm sorry about Parvati's behavior... but she's worried about you,' she took a deep breath. 'And so am I. Hermione, what you've got to understand that even though Draco likes you and all, he's still a Malfoy. That's not changing. He's still mean, a playboy, and dangerous.' She looked at me seriously.

'I know – ' I said uncertainly.

'Just cause he likes you, doesn't mean he's changed.'

'I know – '

'He's the same arsehole from our first year.'

'Yes, but – '

'He hasn't changed!' she looked at me desperately.

'I know,' I told her. 'I do. I'm careful. I think I can change him though – '

'You can't!' cried Lavender. 'He's a Malfoy, Hermione. You can't change that! He still picks on the first years – I've seen him! He likes you, but nothing else is new.'

I was quiet as her words soaked in.

'Make a choice,' said Lavender. 'I advise someone else. There are lots of fish in the sea, after all. Choose someone... better. But I won't hold a grudge against you if you don't. Just remember,' she paused. 'A Malfoy won't change. You won't make him change.' Her icy eyes stared hard into mine, trying to get the message through.

I nodded dimly. 'But there's more than that side to him, Lavender. His other side is different... thanks, though. I'll think about what you said.'

She smiled, relieved. 'You do that.' Then she left.

Malfoy noticed me staring blindly at the doorway, still as though paralyzed. He squeezed my hand, whispering; 'Don't worry, it'll be fine.'

Easy for him to say. They were his parents. Why, why, why did I ever agree to do this?

I stood there rigid, unable to move, let alone speak.

'C'mon, lets go,' said Malfoy, checking his watch and straightening his robes. He poked me in the back with an impatient finger. 'C'mon, move.'

As though in a trance, I followed him out of the common room, and up a flight of stairs into a opulent, beautifully furnished private room.

In the middle was a long dinner table, and at either end sat Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.

My stomach twisted with hate and I couldn't help the hateful, depraved look that swept across my face like a curtain, hiding me.

Malfoy greeted his parents with a joyful, Mother! And then Father!

God, I felt like retching. But I plastered a minuscule, pseudo smile upon my face instead.

'Ah,' said Lucius. 'Hermione, is it?'

No shit, Einstein. But I couldn't say that. I settled with a slightly scornful, 'Yes. Hermione Granger.'

How would he take it?

But he just gave another one of his ersatz, pleased smiles and beckoned to his wife. 'This is my wife, Narcissa.'

'Pleased to meet you,' said Narcissa coolly, looking me over. I paid a swift glance in her direction. I had only ever seen her once – at the Quidditch World Cup, but she looked much the same. Like she had an awful smell drifting under her nose, as Harry had once cleverly put it. I couldn't see any likeness between her and Sirius.

'Sit,' said Lucius leisurely, gesturing at some chairs.

Malfoy sat. I followed suit.

There was a pause, then magically the dinner appeared in front of us.

Everyone started helping themselves, so I did to. I wasn't very hungry, but I ate some mashed potatoes and managed to get down half a shepherds pie before I started to play with my food. The Malfoys' were all chatting in their 'malfoyish' way. Hehe.

'Hermione,' Draco addressed me suddenly. 'Why don't you tell us about the upcoming ball.'

I froze. 'No!' I mouthed at him from across the table but he sent me back a smile which obviously said that he knew he was torturing me but he did it anyway.

I dropped my fork with a clatter. The very last thing I wanted to do was to talk to Malfoy's parents. It was hard enough eating in their presence. 'Oh, er, well there's a ball coming up, right, and um, like everyone from fifth year and up has to go... uh – ' I looked desperately around the room for inspiration. 'And, um, if you hadn't brought your dress you're supposed to get one this weekend at Hogsmeade... it's on Monday.' I finished with relief, picking the fork up again.

'I assume your attending this ball with Draco,' said Narcissa in the same cool voice.

'She is,' said Draco. 'Aren't you Hermione, dear?'

'Um. Yes,' I said. 'Of course.'

'Malfoy tradition says that you must dance every dance with Draco.'

'Okay,' I said skeptically. Like I even give a shit about fucking Malfoy tradition...? 'Whatever.'

'It's settled then,' said Lucius giving me what he evidently thought was a warm smile. It wasn't. 'Oh, Draco, I'm so pleased.'

Oh, Draco, I'm so pleased. Loser.

By the end of dinner, my back ached from sitting up straight in the uncomfortably designed chairs, and my stomach was half empty. But the food that it contained within it had tasted foul. Usually I liked shepherds pie and all... but maybe it was the nervousness of meeting the Malfoy's which made it taste so vile. It was enough to sustain me though.

'Well, it was lovely meeting you,' said Narcissa, standing and shaking my hand. 'I do hope we'll meet again sometime.'

Lucius did the same. 'Do have fun at the ball. You to, Draco.'

I kept the fake smile plastered on my face until Draco and I left the room, but it was silence between us until inside the common room.

'Was that so bad, really?' Malfoy asked me, shattering the silence.

Yes. 'No, not really,' I lied.

'So, what do you think of my parents?'

'Oh, right. Well, I can't judge them yet since I just met them.'

He gave me a sideways look. 'I know what that means.'

I didn't correct him. He was right, after all.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait again. But I hope everyone enjoyed it! Please review and tell me what you think!