Disclaimer: It's obviously not mine.

A/N: Okay, I'm back. Forgive me if this story is shorter than the other chapters. Let's just say this is a filler chapter. Nothing really great happens here. I'm sorry but I know it is appropriate to put this chapter. I promise to all of you, though, that the next chapter will be longer. I already finished typing it and well, it is longer. Anyway, back to the story.

Invitation


May 28, 1990

Hermione was walking towards their meeting place, feeling very eager. These past few days, the brunette had grown very fond of the 9-year-old Draco Malfoy. Honestly, he was more tolerable than the 17-year-old jerk. The brunette contemplated the reason why he had become like that in school. But then again, he was living with Lucius Malfoy, the most loyal Death Eater of Voldemort. Hermione shivered, thinking what could have this poor excuse of a Father did to his son.

The brunette now was wearing another turtle neck long-sleeved (this time, it was color red) and jeans. 'A Gryffindor color,' she thought, brushing off invisible lint. 'I wonder what Harry and Ron are doing right now,' she thought. 'I wonder if Harry succeeded in killing Voldemort.'

Hermione sighed. If she wanted to know her answer, she had to accomplish her plan. She then tied her hair into a high ponytail while continuing to walk. Thinking about her friends made her more depressed and lonely. She missed them very, very much.

She then let herself smile once she saw the little blond waiting for her, clutching Mr. Beady close to his chest. Every time she saw Draco, her nostalgia just miraculously disappeared without any reason at all. But at the same time, he also let her remember that the person she really, really liked ever since first year had killed her. Her smile faltered a little. What if this little boy discovered that she was already dead and his 17-year-old form was her murderer? Hermione was sure he would be shock which was good since she knew that there was still kindness in his heart.

Draco looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps and smiled. Hermione was approaching him and apparently, she was thinking. His smile faltered. He had a feeling that she was thinking about her friends and her home.

He hated to admit it but he was afraid that she would soon go away and leave him. Draco had been attached to her and he was afraid their attachment would break once Hermione finished her 'Head Girl duties' and she went back to Hogwarts. She had been his only friend – goodness, he considered her as his best friend already. And also, he knew he had a crush with this beautiful teenager. He might be almost 10 and she was 17 but, who cares? He liked her only. There was nothing wrong with that.

"Good morning, Draco," she greeted as she sat down on the bench beside him. "Good morning, Mr. Beady."

Draco grinned. "Good morning, Hermione," he greeted back. "I'm glad it didn't rain. I don't want you to get sick again."

Hermione grinned. "I'm glad, too."

They both fell into a comfortable silence, both thinking about different things.

Hermione was thinking about, of course, her life before this particular incident happened. She thought about her friends, her fellow Gryffindors, the Slytherins, her teachers, classes, HOMEWORK… everything. Her mind then drifted to the 17-year-old Draco Malfoy. As absurd as it sounded, she missed him. Yes, she did miss her parents and best friends but she missed this arrogant jerk more. Funny, huh? But it was true. His insults, his hurtful words… she missed all of them. She missed the rush of excitement and pleasure every time she made him speechless. She missed the feeling of embarrassment and defeat when he wasthe one who made her speechless (he was the only one who had the ability to do that). She missed the way he made her feel every time he was near. His body heat, his blond hair, beautiful silver eyes, pointed nose, pink, soft-looking lips… she blushed a little. Every Quidditch matches, she knew she only watched to see a dot in the sky wearing green Quidditch robes with blond hair. Harry and Ron would kill her if they discovered that fact.

She missed him badly, and that was stupid. But still, she missed him. Hermione sighed. She didn't really understand why she liked that stupid, albino jerk. For crying out loud there were a lot of boys in Hogwarts! But her heart chose him, and that was really, really stupid. The brunette sighed again. She didn't know what Draco Malfoy's reaction would be if he discovered the know-it-all Mudblood bookworm liked him, the rich Pureblood. Sometimes, she also daydreamed in classes about him (Hey, everyone had a right to daydream! Even Hermione Granger!) She also mused if Draco had feelings for her, too… which was preposterous, right?

Little Draco, in the other hand, was thinking about the 17-year-old Hermione. It had been a long time since he had a friend… and a crush. Actually, he never had a crush. He had girlfriends (friends that were girls, of course) like Pansy Parkinson… he shivered. Pansy was a close friend but he would never, ever imagine having a relationship with her when both of them grew up. He knew that his father was making both of them close for a particular reason – Lucius Malfoy wanted his one and only son to marry a Pureblood.

He sighed. He remembered yesterday when Hermione was talking in her sleep. He remembered that she missed home. Wasn't she happy here? Or specifically, wasn't she happy with him? Draco frowned. It seemed like it. Hermione missed her own best friends.

"So, Draco," Hermione said, snapping Draco out of his reveries. "Are you excited about your Mother's birthday ball? It will already be the day after tomorrow."

"Not really," the blond said, frowning.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Why not? It's your mother's birthday. It's a special day, you know."

Draco made face. "I don't like balls. And besides, all mother will do is show-off another beautiful dress that was made by some famous designers." He then placed Mr. Beady at the middle of him and Hermione. "And, she would spend an hour of… let's say… tantrum because she's old and whatsoever."

The brunette frowned. "It's a special day for a special person," she answered. "Aren't you excited?"

"Nah," the blond said. "Why should I get excited?"

"A special day for a special person," Hermione repeated. "Don't you have any surprises for her?"

Draco just frowned.

Hermione sighed. "When I was a kid, my dad and I usually make surprises for my mother on her birthday. It's fun, you know. We will all celebrate while talking some fun things about my school… their work… just anything. We make my mom feel special that day because it's her birthday. Don't you do that to her, too?"

The blond shook. "No," he said. "Mother hates surprises."

The brunette just gave him a small smile and patted his head.

"Oh, by the way, Hermione," he said as he rummaged inside his pocket. He pulled out an envelope and gave it to the brunette. She looked at it curiously and sniffed the envelope. It smelled like roses. "It's an invitation for my mother's birthday ball," Draco explained.

"I'm invited?" the brunette asked.

"No, your pet dog is invited," Draco said with dripping sarcasm.

"I don't have a dog," Hermione shot back, frowning.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Of course, you are invited. That's why I gave you an invitation, right?"

"But… why?" she asked.

"You're my friend," Draco simply said. "Remember to bring your invitation on her birthday. My father made a rule that wizards or witches without any invitations won't be allowed to come inside." He then leaned a little closer and whispered, "There will be a lot of famous and well-known magical people there, you know."

Hermione frowned. "I don't have anything to wear," she said.

"Oh," Draco said. "Well, it's not my problem. It's yours."

The brunette scowled. "Then, I guess I won't come, then."

"No!" the blond exclaimed. "Please, Hermione, come to the ball! It will be boring! And besides, Pansy will annoy me to hell the whole time."

"Pansy Parkinson?" Hermione asked.

"You know her?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, having a lie in her head already. "Her family's famous, too, you know."

Draco nodded. "Now, please come, Hermione. You will be a great company!" he said.

The brunette smiled. "What if I really can't go?" she asked. She hated balls, too. Except, of course, the Yule Ball in their fourth year. She was the date of the great Quidditch Seeker Viktor Krum.

"Then I'll refuse to talk to you forever," the blond threatened, voice dropping into octaves.

Hermione looked horrified. If he didn't talk to her, then, her mission would fail! "All right, all right, I'll come," she said. If she needed a dress, maybe she could ask Merlin. He would greatly help her.

Draco gave her the brightest smile she had ever seen. "That's great!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands.

"Do I need to bring a date?" she joked.

The blond rolled his eyes. "No, it's all right if you don't," he said. 'Because I'll be your date!' he added in his thoughts, grinning.

"Who else will come?" she asked.

"Well, I only know a few," Draco answered. "The Notts, the Crabbes, the Goyles, the Zabinis, the Bulstrodes, Cornelius Fudge, the Parkinsons (he made a face), the Greengrasses, the Puceys, the Flints, the Montagues… that's all I know. But there will be a lot of guests."

'Hmm… all are studying in Hogwarts except Cornelius Fudge, of course,' Hermione mused. 'I wonder if the Weasleys will go… oh yeah, they aren't invited. The Malfoys hate the Weasleys, anyway.'

"What are you thinking, Hermione?" he asked, snapping her out of her musings.

"Oh, I'm thinking of the dress I'll wear," the brunette casually lied.

Draco nodded. He then looked at his charmed watch. "It's 12 noon already," he said and then looked at Hermione. "Do you want to eat in the Manor, Hermione? My parents are not yet coming back. And, Dobby will be pleased to see you again."

Hermione immediately shook her head. It was not that she didn't want to go but she had some things to discuss with Merlin. "No, I think I'll just go back to my house," she said. "Thanks for your offer, though. But I'm sorry I have to refuse."

"It's okay," the blond said, which really wasn't

Hermione heard the hint of disappointment in the blond's voice and smiled.

"I can't see you tomorrow, though," Draco added. "My parents will start to decorate the banquet hall. They also want me to try some dress robes or tuxedos to wear for the ball."

"Tuxedos?" the brunette asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, my parents decided to allow people to wear Muggle clothes," Draco explained. "Which is surprising, mind you."

Hermione just nodded. "Well then, I think we'll see each other on the 30th."

"Unfortunately, yes," the blond said.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. Unfortunately? She didn't imagine in her whole 17 years here in this world that Draco Malfoy would think it unfortunate if they wouldn't see each other for a day only. The young boy really looked disappointed. "Don't worry, I promise I'll come on the 30th," she said. There, she promised. No more backing out. "What time's the ball?"

"6:00 pm," he said, giving her a smile.

Hermione just nodded. "Well, I think you need to go home now," she said. "You don't want to go home seeing that Dobby has a lot of bruises on his body because of worry for you. He might bang his head in worry, you know."

"How did you know he does that?" the blond asked, surprised. "You know, when my father punishes me because I'm being a bad boy, Dobby would punish himself for not looking after me properly. He ends up having bruises and sometimes bloody ears and nose."

"Oh, I just know that," Hermione said, thinking about Dobby banging his head against the wall when he offended Harry. That made her smile.

"I'll go now," Draco announced and stood up. He clutched Mr. Beady. "Say bye-bye to Hermione now, Mr. Beady. We won't see her 'til the 30th." The blond waved Mr. Beady's right arm, making the brunette slightly laugh.

"Goodbye," Hermione answered. "See you on the 30th." And with that, she turned around and started to walk towards her temporary house.

"Hermione!" Draco said, stopping the brunette. He watched as the brunette turned around and looked at him. The blond smiled. "Wear something beautiful on the birthday ball," he said.

"I will!" the brunette shouted back. She waved and then continued to walk back to her temporary house.

Draco's smile widened and walked back to the Manor.

He couldn't wait for the birthday ball.

"Mr. Malfoy invited you to his Mother's birthday ball?" Merlin asked as he watched the brunette eating her lunch.

Hermione nodded her head since there was food inside her mouth. She then swallowed it. "Yes, he invited me," she said.

"Surprising," Merlin said, clearly amused.

"Yeah, he did surprise me when he gave me the invitation," Hermione said, showing the envelope. "I have one problem, though."

"Let me guess," the old wizard said, smiling. "You don't have anything to wear?"

Hermione nodded her head. "How did you know?"

Merlin just shrugged. "You don't have to worry about that, Miss Granger. I can help you," he said.

"How?"

"Well, by using magic, of course!" Merlin exclaimed. "It will be easy, Miss Granger. Piece of cake."

Hermione frowned. It was not that she doubted Merlin's magic abilities… she doubted his fashion sense. Merlin lived a hundred years before she was alive in this world. Maybe his fashion sense was… well… a bit bad and old fashioned. "Are you sure?" she asked, watching Merlin carefully.

"Of course!" he exclaimed. Hermione frowned when she saw a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Just trust me.'

Hermione just nodded her head.

End of chapter! Now time for your reviews!

With love,
2booklover4