Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or world, everything belongs to JKR, etc. etc.

... ... ... ... ...

Chapter 4

Hermione returned to Zabini manor with a horde of new clothes, ranging from frilly summer dresses to formal interview-style dress robes. She figured she'd pick the most practical things to fit into her trunk for Hogwarts- which reminded her, she needed to go get her trunk from her flat before school started. Wait, am I really considering fully moving into the Zabini manor?, she thought. I suppose it feels the most like home anywhere's ever really felt, aside from maybe Hogwarts.

It took her a little over an hour to get all her new clothes set up in her closet, during which time she felt rather overwhelmed by her new environment. She knew she'd have to owl her friends at some point, and while she'd gone to grab Lark from her flat earlier, she couldn't help but put it off. She wasn't sure how they'd feel, and it really felt selfish to be showing off her family when they'd all lost such a big part of their own. She'd received a response to the letter she'd written Harry the week before:

Dear Hermione,

I'm doing fine, or as fine as I can be. Grimmauld Place is coming along decently, though the portrait of Sirius's mother remains up. I hope you're well.

Best,

Harry

The letter didn't tell her much, but she was happy to hear from him even if she couldn't help but fret over his mental state. She was relieved when she heard a knock on her door and answered it to find her brother with a big grin on his face.

"Hermione, I have some friends over and we're going down to the pool for a few hours before dinner", he said, slinging a towel over his shoulder. "I can wait a few minutes for you to get changed if you'd like to come with".

"Alright, Blaise, that sounds nice. It's quite hot today", she replied, wondering which friends she was about to see. If Parkinson's there, I swear to Merlin I'm getting up and leaving. Hermione closed the door with a promise that she'd be out in a few minutes and hurried to find one of the bathing suits she'd just bought. It was quickly located in her closet, as well as a few accessories. Pulling everything on, Hermione took a quick glance in the mirror as she grabbed a towel. She had to admit, she looked great. A year on the run had toned her muscles, and the red bikini complemented her light tan quite nicely. She'd paired this with a sheer brown cover-up that tied around her waist and fell to around mid-thigh. As Ginny's voice echoed in her head: an outfit's never complete without some bling, she strung on a gold necklace and matching hoops.

She found some chunky sandals in her closet and hurried out the door to meet Blaise.

"Good to go, oh sister of mine?", Blaise asked with a cheeky grin.

"Ready as I'll ever be, oh brother of mine", Hermione responded sarcastically. "Could I get a warning on which of your friends will be here? Do they know that I'm your sister?". Hermione was starting to fret over this- she didn't want to start any fights with old classmates and ruin Blaise's pool day.

"They've all been informed and promised that they'd act cordially, none of us want to keep forcing petty house rivalries. The war changed a lot for many Slytherins", Blaise said reassuringly. "I invited Draco, Daphne- Greengrass, I assume you know her-, and Theo Nott. Just a small get-together. You're more than welcome to owl any of your friends to come, too".

"That's alright, I haven't actually told any of my friends about any of this yet", Hermione replied. She was still feeling rather guilty about that and promised herself to write to Ginny when they returned from the pool. Blaise was looking at her with an interested gaze, apparently unaware that she'd not contacted her friends.

As they maneuvered through the manor, Hermione's thoughts shifted to Blaise's friends. She'd already seen Malfoy, he was a prick as always. But Greengrass and Nott were harder to predict. They'd never been integral parts of the bullying she'd often seen from the Slytherins, leaving that for Parkinson, Malfoy, and his sidekicks. She shelved her thoughts on this, deciding to try to start anew with her old classmates.

When they reached the pool, she saw that the Slytherins had already arrived, and were lounging by the pool. Daphne was stretched out on a lawn chair, lazily braiding flowers into a chunk of her long blonde hair. Nott and Malfoy were, to her surprise, fiddling with a muggle radio. She kicked herself when she found her eyes lingering a bit too long on Malfoy's broad shoulders and wavy platinum hair. Prick or not, he does look good.

She watched warily, slightly tucked behind Blaise as he greeted them. Daphne was making determined eye contact with Hermione, a friendly smile on her dainty features.

"Granger", Malfoy acknowledged, turning a knob on the radio.

"Wouldn't it be Zabini, now?", Nott said, giving Draco a glance. "Hermione, a pleasure to see you again. I hope we can all give things a fresh start". The radio started humming and Nott turned back to it rather hastily.

"My thoughts exactly, Theodore. I'd love to get to know you better before we go back to Hogwarts this fall, Hermione", Daphne said, getting up to extend a dainty hand in Hermione's direction.

"Thank you, Daphne. Are you going back to school, too?", Hermione said, shaking Daphne's hand lightly.

"Of course, I'll need my N.E.W.T. certifications in order to pursue a Healer career. Draco's coming too, but Theodore will be busy taking over his father's estate and businesses", Daphne responded, laying back down in her lawn chair with a small smile.

"My father was imprisoned for his activities during the war and will remain in Azkaban for life, as will Draco's father", Nott explained. "I'll need to take over all family accounts and business, so there won't be much need for me to return for schooling this year".

"It's impressive that you're able to take on so much responsibility at our age, Nott", Hermione said amiably, trying to show the Slytherins she was ready to move on from their schoolyard rivalries.

"Do call me Theo, please", he responded smoothly. "I'd be honoured to be on a first-name basis with a woman as beautiful as yourself".

Hermione blushed and turned away, trying not to seem affected by the boy's charms. She didn't notice as Theo's blond-haired companion looked on, steely-eyed.

The teens settled back into having a relaxing pool day with Blaise and Theo jumping into the water causing matching splashes, and Daphne offering Hermione her tanning oil she'd sourced from an apothecary in Diagon Alley the previous week. Hermione tried not to pay attention as Malfoy clumsily fiddled with the muggle radio, though she noticed that he eventually got a scratchy tune playing through.

She also noted how Daphne gracefully lowered herself into the pool moments later, realizing she too would probably be expected to possess the grace and manners of a pureblood now. Perhaps her mother could arrange for a short lesson on pureblood traditions for her, so she wouldn't feel out of place when Blaise brought more unfamiliar friends over.

Realizing she hadn't yet opened up the tanning oil Daphne offered her, she pulled open the stopper. After the last year, it was relaxing to be able to lie around without a care in the world and do something as mundane as tanning. As she lathered it onto her arms and legs, she realized she had no way to get it on her back, and the only one still out of the water was one Draco Malfoy. She couldn't help but imagine his strong hands massaging into her back- but Merlin knew that was a horrible idea. I am NOT opening that can of worms, she thought, deciding it was better to risk an uneven tan than have Malfoy anywhere near her. The prat had barely even apologized for the constant harassment she'd faced at his hands growing up. Giving his sculpted back a glare, she moved to sit down on the edge of the pool overlooking the frolicking teens.

"C'mon, get in the water, 'Mione", Blaise laughed, giving her shins a gentle splash.

"It's cold!", she exclaimed with a yelp, as the chilly water splashed up her legs. She wasn't feeling too interested in getting into the water, the smooth white tiling surrounding the pool was beyond comfortable in the heat.

What she didn't notice was a conniving Theodore Nott sneaking out of the pool and creeping up behind her, at least not until she was smoothly grabbed and thrown over one of his broad shoulders. She screamed as he jumped into the pool, pulling her in with him. She burst into laughter as she rose out of the water, and started splashing the poor boy who'd had the idea to surprise her in such a way.

"Have mercy, have mercy", he yelped, trying to dodge the water flying at him.

"Pay for your sins, Nott", she yelled back, trying not to double over with laughter.

The pool day proceeded quite swimmingly, with no issues arising over past rivalries. Hermione must admit she hadn't interacted much with Malfoy, but she'd tried to be vaguely amicable at the very least, a sentiment he'd been returning. Hermione felt a friendship blooming between her and Daphne, who'd been nothing but friendly throughout swimming and dinner, and even Theo seemed to be fun to be around.

Overall, she was quite happy she'd joined Blaise and his friends for the day. However, making new friends was making her feel quite guilty about not having talked to her own friends about such an important event in her life. Deciding to just get it over with when she got back to her room after dinner, she set about writing a letter to Ginny.

Dear Gin,

How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't written recently, but I have some really important news to share. If you're free, please come see me at the Zabini manor tomorrow morning. I promise I am not being held hostage, so don't bring in the whole order. I hope you're well.

Love,

Hermione

Deciding that was an adequate letter, she sent it out with Lark. Tomorrow would be a long day.

... ... ... ... ...

Let me know what you think!