AN: This is the chapter that begins to put things in motion, sorry that it has been so boring, that was not my intention, please read, review, flame, and as always enjoy – Mirioux

Hide and Seek

…hmmm what you say, hmm that you only meant well

Well of course you did,

Hmmm what you say hmm that it's all for the best

Well of course it is,

Hmm what you say, hmm it isn't what we need

And you decided this,

Hmm what'd you say, hmm what did she say…

Apology, Truce, and a Fight

Draco Malfoy could not believe that he was about to do the unthinkable, he was hand delivering an invitation to Hermione Granger, the only woman he could hardly stand to be in the same room with unless he had to.

He was there to apologize to her for all the mean things he had said to her, all the names he had called her, and how he treated her as less than human. He hoped that in doing so his Butterfly would think better of him, and still attend his party. Maybe if he was even on his best behavior they could call a truce, he walked up the steps to the rather large house and knocked on the door.

A black haired, blue eyed girl answered the door, "hi, can I help you?" She asked giggling almost hysterically.

"Well, umm… I'm not sure, does Hermione Granger live here?" He asked nervously looking down at the ground.

"Yes she does, may I ask who is calling on her this afternoon?"

"Draco Malfoy, I'd very much like to speak to her if she's home…"

"Just a minute, here come in and I'll go get her, I'm Aleshia by the way," Aleshia greeted as she scampered up the stairs and into Hermione's room. "Hermione, there's a really hott guy downstairs for you, he said his name was Draco something or other, I don't remember,"

"What, you didn't let him in did you?" Hermione shrieked in shock.

"Well, yeah why wouldn't I, the guy is drop dead gorgeous,"

"Oh bloody hell," Hermione yelled dashing down the stairs to rid herself of that maggoty, disgusting, piss worm. "Malfoy, what do you want?"

"Oh Granger…" he stopped short when he saw her, she looked good, in fact she was hott. "…I came to ummm…"

"Well, spit it out already I don't have all damn day," Hermione snapped irritably.

"I just wanted to apologize to you for the way I've treated you the past six years. I know it may sound crazy and incredibly cheesy, but when my father was sent to Azkaban I realized I had the chance to finally be myself, and not him…I don't hate you because you're Muggle-born, in fact I admire that quality in you. I know I sound bloody mental, but I'd like to call a truce and I was hoping that you would attend my masquerade that I'm holding next Saturday." He explained.

"Excuse me, what did you just say?" Hermione choked in disbelief.

"I said that I'm sorry for being such an arrogant, air headed, bumbling bastard; among other things," He sighed repeating himself, "and I would really like it if you came to this end of term party I'm throwing. Everyone in our year is coming, as well as a couple fifth and sixth years, and I know if you don't go then Potter and Weasley won't go, and I need to apologize to them as well." He couldn't look her in the eyes, he was too ashamed of the way he treated her.

Hermione was impressed by his sincerity, and he had changed since his father went to Azkaban, she knew that much. His apology seemed genuine enough. "Your apology is accepted, and I would very much like to attend your party," She smiled at him as he handed her the invitation, and for the first time ever she saw his eyes twinkle and light up.

"Alright, so umm, truce, I'll let you be and be nice if you will?" He asked holding out his hand to her, she accepted it and shook it.

"Truce," She answered as he turned to leave, "oh, Mal- Draco, one more thing, don't tell anyone about my new look, I want it to be a surprise, among other things…"

"No problem," He assured her as he left.

"Oh my god! I have to write to Ron, Ginny, and Harry about this, they won't believe it!" Hermione laughed breathlessly, running back up the stairs to where Aleshia was waiting for her.

"Hey look, who do you supposed that owl belongs to?" Ron aske3d Ginny as they were de-gnoming the garden. The owl was monstrous; Ron had never seen an Eagle owl that large before.

"No idea, let's go find out," Ginny said as they raced back to the house. They skidded into the kitchen just as Molly Weasley was removing the beautifully decorated parchment from the owl and releasing it.

"Just in time you two, one for you Ronald, and one for you Ginny," Molly said handing each their own parchment. They quickly open them and Ron let out a loud groan.

"Malfoy's throwing an end of term bash and insists that I attend," he scowled.

"Mine says that Hermione's going to be there, and that he'd be delighted to have us attend. Not to mention we'll be the only ones not going to his masquerade if we turn him down." Ginny remarked excitedly. "May we go Mum?"

"I don't see why not, but I want the two of you home by midnight." Molly decided after taking a few minutes to think it over.

"Hermione hates Malfoy, why on earth would she waste her valuable time going to his party?" Ron demanded, assuming that Ginny knew something that he didn't, which in most cases would have been true, but not so in this one.

"Think of it this way Ronald, this will be your chance to ask Hermione to be your date, so you won't mope about as you did at the Yule ball." Ginny suggested, knowing that if he didn't and Hermione showed up with someone he would be a green eyed monster filled with jealousy and envy, even if he was blue eyed.

"Good point Gin, I think I'm going to send Pig with a letter to her right now," Ron spun on his heal and ran to his room to write to Hermione.

Dear Hermione,

I know that I don't usually write to you at all during the summer, but Ginny and I just received invitations to Malfoy's party and I just wanted to know if maybe you would be interested in going with me…as my date…anyway, let me know soon.

Love,

Ron

He looked the letter over a couple times before tying it to Pigwigeon's leg and sending him off. He hoped that Hermione would say yes, because no matter how much he denied it to everyone, even himself, he really did love her with all his heart, and couldn't stand to be away from her.

Pigwigeon arrived back at the burrow at around noon two days later, with two rather long letters strapped to his leg. Once again one was addressed to Ron and the other addressed to Ginny. They both went to their rooms to read their letters in private.

Ron,

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write back, but unfortunately I've had a lot on my mind lately, and I needed to figure out how I wanted to tell you and Harry. So, I've decided to just tell you what I've found out and then explain it all later, when I see you tomorrow or Saturday at the masquerade. First off, I'm adopted, secondly, I'm apparently a pureblood, and thirdly, I'm supposedly traditionally betrothed to someone, so I'm sorry to say that as much as I want to I won't be able to go as your date with you to Malfoy's party.

Please don't be upset with me, I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out but I've been so busy trying to get things ready for our last year at Hogwarts, that I haven't really had time. You, Harry, and Ginny are my best friends, and I never intended to keep this from you for so long. I love you all too dearly.

Love,

Hermione

Ron was infuriated, how could she keep such vital information from him for so long? (He is of course assuming that she had known for quite a while when in fact she hasn't.) Why had she let him make such a fool of himself for so many years if she knew that she was going to be marrying someone else? Why had she led him to believe that he would be able to take her to Malfoy's party if she was engaged? This just wasn't possible. 'If she didn't want to go with me all she had to say was no, she didn't have to make up a whole engagement story for me to get the message,' he thought bitterly as he crumpled the letter and stormed into Ginny's room.

"Hermione's engaged Ron, isn't that exciting? Don't be upset with her Ron, she would say yes if she could you know that right?" Ginny asked as she observed the look of pure rage plastered on her brother's face.

"What the fuck ever, if she didn't want to go with me all she had to say was 'no', not make up a story to make me jealous and feel horrid." He snapped.

"She's not making it up Ronald, now stop being such a dope; you and I have been invited to go shopping with Hermione tomorrow for costumes."