Sadly, the crowd wasn't much better than the paparazzi. They all stared and whispered when she walked by. Almost all the people were giving off a gray light. Suddenly, a streak of gold shot past and into a nearby store. "Guys! Lets go to ... 'The Thespian Theater of Terrors!'" She ran off, not noticing the weird looks she got as her friends hurried after her. As Hermione entered the store, she saw that she had misread the sign. They had entered The Thestral Trading Co. A draft animal sort of place. Having seen Voldemort die at Harry's hands the early summer of their 6th year, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny could now see thestrals. "Oh my God!" gasped Hermione. The horse like lizards were strangely beautiful. They were black, and had a greenish tinge. These were all domesticated, and held in open box-stalls. A familiar voice came out. " Hermione! What are you doing here? Does your dad want another one?" It was Charlie Weasley. Hermione blinked, & saw him in a grayish-gold light. Not her best choice.

"Charlie, what happened to dragons mate?" Ron asked, noticing his brother. "Ron, Ginny, Harry! Haven't seen you in ages! Well, got in a spot of mishap, I'm working here until my burn heals up. So, Hermione, what did you dad ask for?" Confused, Hermione asked, "My dad?" Laughing, he explained, "That's what your dad does, Hermione, he raises magical animals. His thestral herd numbered around 200, until Voldemort came in and killed it off. If he hasn't told you this, then I know which one he'll want." Walking to the back, he pulled out a thestral with a price tag of 800 galleons. "This little lady is pregnant with 13 little ones. This many is rare, and there are 8 females to 5 males. This is a perfect lady to restart you dad's herd. Pick her up on your way out of here, ok?" Still confused, Hermione just nodded, 'Put it on the account, Kent Rengars." Suddenly, a hand held hers, and lo and behold, Draco Malfoy was kneeling before her. "Miss Rengars, it is such an honor! Oh, to gaze into such eyes, I-" "Draco! Shut up!" Blaise Zabini came up to them. "Sorry, he just got hit with an infatuation curse." Harry just nodded as Draco gazed lovingly at him. Hermione blinked, clearing the tears of amusement from her eyes. Draco was bathed in a gold light, but Blaise, he was surrounded by light blue. Suddenly, an invisible force threw Hermione into Blaise's chest. As she tried to move away and couldn't, she sighed. She had a LOT of explaining to do.

"Uh, Hermione, get the hell off Zabini, would you?' Harry asked, confused and alarmed. Blushing, Hermione mumbled a response. "What was that?" Ron asked, face matching his hair. Before she could say anything, Blaise answered for her, 'She said 'she can't get off me' and I agree with her. Rengars, do you know what's going on?" Ginny stepping in, said, "Let's find someplace private. Herms, can you turn around?" Hermione managed to turn around, and the group headed towards Charlie's office in the back of the store.

Once everyone settled in, Hermione in Blaise's lap, she started. "You all know that I'm a Rengars, right? So Ron, Ginny, and Blaise ... oh, you too Draco, you should know about my heritage. I have received the Tigre Draconis genes." Ron gasped as she continued, "I have to choose a mate by my 18th birthday, and I was given a potion to help identify my options. Bad glows gray, good gold. There is one more option, the ideal soul mate, which glows blue, and I am... magically pulled to them." Raising his eyebrow Blaise asked, "So I'm your Tigre Draconis mate? What's in it for me, and how do we get you unattached?" "I'd like to know that as well." growled Ron. "Well," Hermione started before Ron had time to rant, "By becoming my mate, you will become a Tigre Draconis. To separate this spell, I think we have to... you know ... kiss." By now, Harry was Glaring, Draco was winking at Ginny, and Ron's face outdid his hair. Blaise, however, didn't seem upset. "Well, lets get this over with. I'm sure we have better things to do." Sighing deeply, he bent down and kissed her. Hermione whimpered as a jolt hit her lips. Feeling passionate, she pressed herself closer, throwing her hands into his hair. Blaise, feeling the jolt as well, wrapped his arm around her waist, the other caressing her back.

To each other, they were suddenly the world. To their friends, however, they were snogging, completely engulfed in a blue light. Finally, Ron burst, "What the hell is wrong with you?" As the embarrassed couple broke apart, Harry added in, "It said a kiss, not a snog." Blushing, Blaise looked down at his shoes. "I guess the magic was a little strong." he said. Seeing that Hermione looked uncomfortable, Blaise slung his arm around her waist again, and turned her around, setting her on his lap. 'Now hold on, you!" Ron bellowed, "What's the meaning of that?" "Ron, stop it!" Hermione shouted, upset. "If he's my mate, then he's allowed to comfort me. Leave him alone. Come on, lets get out of here, we have shopping to do! Right Ginny, Ginny?" Looking over, they found Ginny on the floor, snogging Draco Malfoy. " Ginny!" cried Ron, having taken too much, "Ah! All my friends and family are falling for Slytherins!" As Ginny broke it off, she nervously said, "Haha, let's go... shopping!" with that, she ran out of the store.

As the new group of 6 met outside, Harry proposed an idea, "Hey, why don't Ron and I go look at brooms. We'll meet everyone over at The Leaky Cauldron around 3, ok?" Hermione, catching on, said, " That sounds great! Catch you guys later!" Then, Harry left, dragging Ron off to let him cool down. To her suprise, it was Blaise who spoke. "Why don't we go to a cafe and talk for a bit? If we're going to be mates, we should know each other better." Grinning, Hermione replied, "sure, although those two didn't need to talk! Meet them at 3 in the Leaky Cauldron, eh?" Chuckling at the again snogging Draco and Ginny, Blaise said, "Drake! Get a room and be downstairs by 3. OK, we can go." With an offered arm, Blaise and Hermione walked off to "Cafe Lunar" A small, airy place with a nice balcony, the cafe was a good place to avoid huge crowds. "Welcome, Sir and Madam, to our cafe, where would you like to sit?" A large, friendly man asked. "somewhere, a little private, please." Blaise asked, as if reading her mind. The two were ushered to a small table in the back.

Blaise and Hermione talked for over an hour about their pasts, and just general information. Blaise Langshan Zabini was 6'2, and very like Hermione in nature. He spoke fluent English, French, and Italian. He was Draco Malfoy's best friend, deemed, "The Quiet Slytherin." He loved reading, had the best grades in the school next to Hermione, and thought that all people were equal, be they muggles or wizards. He lived with his mother, Francesca Zabini in Zabini Villa. Soon, he would inherit the Zabini business, building brooms. They had created the Nimbus line, and Thomas Zabini had helped design the Firebolt. Currently, Blaise was working on the Nimbus 2004. Just great, my mate for life is OBSESSED with brooms and quidditch.

They continued talking, until 2:45. "Well, we should probably go, we're on the other side of the Alley." Blaise noted. Offering a hand up, Blaise slid his arm around Hermione's waist, and they walked off to meet the others.

When they reached the Leaky Cauldron, Ginny and Draco were actually in a booth, waiting for everyone. Blaise sat down, Hermione falling next to him, her head on his shoulder. He placed his arm around her, and it looked like they had been together for years. This was the site Harry and Ron walked into. "Hey guys! I've found a new broom I might get." Blaise's head snapped up, "What model, Potter?" "A Nimbus 2003. It's been rated best, currently." "NO!" Blaise snapped. Confused, Harry asked, "Why not, Zabini?" "Because Harry the newest Nimbus is going to come out in 3 weeks. 2004 is aerodynamically safer. It would be the best replacement for your battle broom." he stated, tightening his grip on Hermione, and slowly calming down. Ron was shocked, "How do YOU know when it's coming out?" Blaise smirked and said, "I designed it." A thump was heard as Ron hit the floor, out cold.