Hermione could honestly say she was glad this week was over. It wasn't school of course, she was pleasantly surprised when she realized the jump in difficulty with some of her classes this year, except for potions. Instead, it's Daphne. She's been asking Hermione nonstop to go to the Quidditch tryouts next weekend and Hermione refuses. The last time she went to a match she just sat there bored out of her mind. So why bother going.

Daphne though is relentless. No matter where Hermione was Daphne was right there, asking her to go. So much so Hermione is actually hiding from her. Granted she is hiding in her bed so it's not really that great of a hiding spot. But with a simple detect-me-not spell, Hermione wasn't too worried about being spotted for at least 20 minutes. She hopes.

She really needs to get some studying done, OWLs are right around the corner. She has been trying to convince Daphne to start studying with her. But everytime Hermione asks her, Daphne gives her this are you crazy look.

"Hermione, those are 3 years away. We have other things to be worrying about. Like this for example, did you see those earrings that Pansy paired with my necklace. It was so last season." Daphne said one time when Hermione brought it up. Hermione didn't even bother with a reply only glaring at her, knowing what her friend was doing.

Hermione shakes out of her thoughts and looks down at her open potions book. Parchment is scattered everywhere on her bed. Professor Snape has her doing research work on the effects of Polyjuice, and so far with everything she has found she is really hoping that Professor Snape will actually allow her to brew this potion.

She loves potions, it's one of her favorite classes because of how exact it is. But she finds that she's already getting bored with the lectures and the not so difficult potions that they are going to be brewing in class this year, especially since she brewed all of them last year during her advanced lessons. So obviously she's extremely thankful for the jump in difficulty with this potion.

She's brought out of her studying haze when her curtains are torn open and a triumphant Daphne standing there.

Hermione throws her head back and groans. "Daphne."

The blonde rolls her eyes. "Come off it Hermione. You're going with me."

Hermione shakes her head. "Absolutely not. You know I detest that sport."

Daphne perches herself on Hermione's bed. "We have to go and show our support for Draco!"

Hermione gives Daphne a dead look. "Oh yes, I certainly want to go and support a boy who has caused most of my teasing throughout first year. Not to mention he's the one that made me the social pariah."

Daphne scrunches her nose. "Hermione I think you did the social pariah-ness all yourself."

Hermione waves her hand in the air. "That's true for the second half of the year. Everyone in our year are idiots. Except for you of course. I can't stand people who waste my time or try to use me. But the first half? When I was trying to be a good little mudblood so people would at least somewhat accept me. They didn't, because of him. So no. I won't go support him."

Daphne frowns at Hermione. But suddenly her eyes practically start to glitter mischievously. "But Hermione, aren't you usually the one that is preaching that people deserve a second chance? Or going on about being the bigger person? This is the perfect chance to try and start mending your relationship with Draco!"

Hermione simply raises her brow. Why did she decide Daphne would be a good friend to have. "You're not going to change my mind."

It was Daphne's turn to groan. "Fine." Daphne pouts. "I didn't want to use this but it's my last idea." She pauses, definitely doing it for dramatic effect. Hermione sighs as Daphne starts to talk again. "If you come to the tryouts and the first practice, I won't ask you to go to anything else Quidditch related for the rest of the year."

Hermione locks eyes with Daphne's. She waits until she sees her friend get impatient with Hermione taking so long to answer. Finally Hermione nods. "Ok. I accept." Daphne starts to grin. "But." Daphne's face falls and before she complains, Hermione is holding her hand out with her pinky extended. "We make a pinky promise." Daphne's face clearly shows her confusion.

"A what?"

"A pinky promise. It's something muggles do to show that they are serious in their promise. Because if you break it, I get to break your pinky."

"What!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh relax Daphne, I'm just joking. Sort of. It's how the promise goes. But I've never actually broken anyone's pinky. Then again, no one ever has broken a pinky promise with me." Hermione pauses and then shrugs. "Don't worry Daphne, I won't break your pinky."

Daphne just stares at Hermione for a minute but then she smiles and holds out her pinky. "Muggles are weird Hermione. But if it makes you come to the tryouts and their practice I'll follow your weird muggle rules."

Hermione giggles and hooks her pinky onto Daphne's. "It's a promise."


Hermione stifled a yawn as she walked beside her supposed friend. She was up late finishing the last bit of her charms homework, because a certain someone failed to tell her that they would be up early to catch the first Slytherin quidditch practice.

Why anyone would willingly wake up this early to play a silly sport was beyond her. Hermione took a side glance at her ex-friend, she was way too giddy for someone who hated mornings.

"What aren't you telling me?" Hermione muttered as she continued side watching her ex-friend.

Daphne just smiled at her, and then giggled behind her hand. "Oh don't worry Hermione. You'll see when we get there."

Hermione glared at her ex-friend, Daphne seeing the glare just giggled harder. "Don't worry Hermione, you're going to love it."

"I better. I never would have agreed to this had I known it would be this early on Saturday."

Daphne waved her hand in the air. "Hermione you would be up this early anyway going over your homework." Daphne pauses and gives her a side-ways glance. "The homework that isn't due for another 3 weeks."

Hermione merely rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Daphne. "There is nothing wrong with being prepared, Daphne."

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Hermione, you -" She pauses and she begins to grin. "Oh, wonderful! We haven't missed anything!" Daphne grabs Hermione's hand and begins to pull her towards where her gaze was. "Let's go Hermione, you won't want to miss this!"

Hermione follows behind Daphne, brows furrowed when she realizes the direction that they are going. "Daphne, this is towards the entrance to the pitch. Not the stands."

"Oh trust me I know." Daphne turns towards Hermione and gives her a wolfish grin. "Just trust me." Daphne exasperatedly says as she begins to pull Hermione more aggressively over towards the entrance to the pitch. "If we don't hurry we're going to miss everything!" Hermione rolled her eyes, but allows herself to be dragged.

The twosome finally get to the entrance of the pitch and that's when Hermione finally notices the Slytherin Quidditch team standing there. "Why are we meeting the quidditch team?" Hermione asks Daphne, her brows furrowed with a frown.

"Did we miss it?" Daphne asks a random quidditch member. He was taller than the two girls, with shaggy black hair that hung in his face.

"Not yet, Flint is too busy talking." He said annoyance clear in his voice. Daphne can't help but to grin up at him and turn her gaze towards Hermione.

"Wonderful." She says as she brings her hands up to her chest and clasps them together. "We haven't missed the show." She says directly towards Hermione.

Hermione meanwhile is not impressed, she crosses her arms over her chest and begins to tap her foot. Daphne seeing this merely rolls her eyes and giggles. "Oh Hermione, relax." Daphne pauses and leans into her, whispering. "We're waiting for the Gryffindor team to take the pitch, that's when they strike."

Hermione sighs but nods, she leans towards Daphne, mimicking her. "Why are you whispering?"

Daphne shrugs her shoulders. "Cause it's fun." She continues her whispering.

Insane. Hermione thinks to herself. I have an insane best friend.

The two continue to talk to themselves and Hermione is just about to start complaining that this is taking far too long when a male's voice sounds out.

"Slytherins'." Is the only thing that the voice says and in just a blink the Quidditch team is lined up. Hermione assumes that they are in order of their positions, since Malfoy is at the end of the line and she knows that there is only one Seeker in the game. Which is the extent of her Quidditch knowledge.

Daphne hooks her arm into Hermione's and grins over towards her. "Finally."

The team and the two girls end up meeting the Gryffindors' in the middle of the pitch. The two stand off to the side and watch the volley of the back and forth between the team captains. While Hermione is watching the back and forth nothing is really going to her ears, she's thinking about the study plan she has for her OWLs.

I think I need to switch charms and potions on my timetable. I'm receiving plenty of practice when it comes to potions with Professor Snape's extra assignments. But charms I could use more practical practice. Not only that but maybe I need to cut down on my time studying Arithmancy, I haven't even step foot in that class. So all I'm aware of is the theoretical -

Hermione is taken out of her thoughts by an elbow to the side. She sends a side glare towards Daphne.

"It's finally getting good!" Daphne whispers and Hermione tunes into what's being said.

"-train our new Seeker." The captain of Slytherin said, Hermione realizes that she can't remember the name of him for the life of her. And just as he said that the team parts and Malfoy moves to stand next to his captain. Hermione couldn't really see his face from where Daphne and her where standing but if she had to guess he was probably looking like an insufferable prat, a smirk going across his face and a brow raised.

"Malfoy!" Potter ends up somewhat growling, his hands clenching at his side.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Weasley basically yells.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the idiocy, Malfoy she's sure did the same thing if the huff she heard from him was anything to go by.

"Is this why you're such a simpleton Weasley? Not only do you not know how to use your brain but you also can't use your ears? Pity." Malfoy bit back condesendally, he cut in before the other two could say anything. "I'm the new seeker for the Slytherin team. Obviously." He continued to boast. "As a congratulations Father sent the entire team new brooms, Nimbus 2001s to be exact."

Hermione knew the look on Malfoy's face was probably unbearable, especially if Weasley's face was anything to go by. If he turned any redder he'd end up being purple. She wondered briefly if she should tell him that his skin clashes with his hair when he goes that red.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team asked their daddy to buy them in." Potter snaps.

Hermione scrunches her nose, and decides to intervene. Afterall, what's fair with two against one? "That's absolutely rich coming from the likes of you Potter. No one bought their way in, unlike some who use their fame to get what they want." She stands next to Malfoy her arms crossed. Evidently she said the wrong thing because next thing she knows Potter is holding a rabid Weasley back and an arm is pushing her back.

Hermione is shocked to see that the arm pushing her back belonged to Malfoy, but she doesn't let the shock show. She puts her attention back on the red haired dog.

"-stupid bloody mudblood!" The Weasley yells. The Gryffindor team is filled with gasps, while the Slytherin's without Hermione's knowledge all take their wands out and was holding them to their sides. Hermione's attention was split, she kept an eye on the Gryffindor team but her other eye was on the clenched fist of the Malfoy heir.

What in the name of Merlin? She thought, she quickly looked back to the Gryffindor team. That's when what Weasley said finally got to her brain. Not being able to help it she throws her head back and laughs.

It's not her usual laugh either, the one where she keeps her manners and her etiquette in check. This one is a mouth wide open, teeth showing, head thrown back full belly laugh.

Everyone is suddenly silent and staring at the curly haired Slytherin.

Then she stops and she quickly pretends to start crying, in order to really sell it she puts her hand to her heart. "Oh my poor, poor feelings. Whatever will I do? I've been called a mudblood of all things. The most horrid name and I've been called it. What am I supposed to do?" Apparently her on the spot acting was too convincing because a couple of the Gryffindors looked severely uncomfortable. She continues to pretend to cry and Daphne comes over and lays a hand on Hermione's shoulder, pretending to comfort her friend.

As if rehearsed, Daphne drops her arm and Hermione drops her crying act. They both then glare at the duo, Daphne with her hand on her hip and Hermione standing with her arms crossed, her head tilted up so it made it clear she was looking down to them.

"If you really honestly expect me to be upset about being called a mudblood of all things. You really are far more daft than I thought. I have been called that since I started, not only by my fellow housemates but by basically every single student that walks Hogwarts halls." She pauses and puts a thoughtful expression on her face. "Honestly, I'd really love more creative insults." She sighs and places a hand on her cheek as she turns her attention towards Daphne. "It makes it all the more glorious when I can tear someone down and actually have to use a portion of my brain that I usually don't get too in order to do so."

Daphne giggles behind her hand. "Oh Hermione."

"Now leave Potter and friend. The Slytherin team needs to practice, and I don't feel like breathing in the same air as you spawn." Hermione said with a dismissive wave, a somewhat sneer on her face.

Malfoy cackled, and leans against his broom. "Run along now Potter and Weasley. You heard what she said. I'd hate to catch anything from your hand me down filth." He says with a sneer in Weasley's direction.

Wealsey ends up saying a bunch of ineligible words and pulling out his wand, shoving it in the direction of both Hermione and Malfoy. Hermione lifts a corner of her lip up, when she notices the state of his wand.

"Weasley, I wouldn't recommend-" She starts but is cut off when the red haired idiot starts to finally speak english.

"Eat slugs!" He bellows and flicks his wand with an incantation. Hermione doesn't even bother with a counter, already knowing what's going to happen.

"If you would have let me finished, I would have told you-" She's interrupted again by the red haired dog doubling over and throwing up a couple of slugs. "Disgusting. But I would have told you casting any sort of spell with a wand fixed with spellotape is an awful idea. It's only going to backfire on you." Hermione said and fixed the younger Weasley with a disgusted look as he throws up yet even more slugs.

"You should probably get that checked." Hermione adds. Potter starts to drag his friend out and the rest of the Gryffindors follow. Two identical Gryffindors stay back, looking as though they want to say something but they too leave.

Hermione looks towards Daphne. "Now can I please go back to the common room and study? I've already wasted enough of my saturday."

Daphne giggles. "Oh fine." Daphne turns her attention to her childhood friend. "Have a good practice Draco!" She then looks to the rest of the team, and wiggles her fingers at them. "Bye boys." She ends with a flirty wink.

Hermione glares at Daphne, she really does not want to say goodbye to these people. "Have a good practice. Goodbye." She ends with a curtsy and a head tilt. She then begins to walk away, Daphne quickly catching up and hooking her arm through Hermione's once again.

They are a little ways away from the pitch when Daphne separates from Hermione, skips ahead of her a little ways and turns around to walk backwards, her hands clasped behind her back. "Well that was interesting."

Hermione decides to play dumb. "Mmm, what was?"

Daphne rolls her eyes. "You know what."

Hermione sighs. "I have no idea what that was. Malfoy is an enigma." She shrugs her shoulders, honestly not really caring about the blonde heir.

Daphne hums in response, then adds. "I think it's because of his mother and father."

Hermione cocks her head to the side. "Why?"

"They obviously threw him when they were actually…" She pauses, looking for the right word. "Cordial." She nods to herself. "They were cordial to you back at Diagon Alley. Clearly that wasn't what Draco was expecting of them."

"Why do you think they were?"

Daphne stops walking backwards and returns to walking besides Hermione, she doesn't answer for a minute. "Because. Ultimately, Slytherins' stick together."