As always, I own nothing, and JK Rowling owns everything!
The next week flew by quickly for Hermione, every time that Draco would try to talk to her, she would just go into her bedroom and lock the door. He didn't try to talk to her when they were outside of the common room, and even if he did Pansy made it her life mission to keep him away. She was sick of Hermione getting hurt by him, and till he grew some bollocks and told her how he felt, Pansy wouldn't let her get wrapped up in him. Hermione was thankful for Pansy, but she was even more thankful for Theo in her life. Ever since she heard Draco with another girl, she has been clingy to Theo more and more each day, as if he was the only one who could take the pain away he was feeling. Even though Hermione was sure Draco knew Theo and her were faking their relationship, Pansy wanted them to keep at it, to show Draco that he couldn't get Hermione down.
"Pansy, he already figured out that me and Theo aren't together by the way I blew up at him." Hermione argued with her.
"No," Pansy stated "he just thinks that he did, but if you's act like you are still together, he will think differently!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, but decided not to try and argue any more with her, she would never get her way when it came to Pansy and her plans. Theo joined them shortly after, and even though he agreed with Hermione, he said he would go a long with Pansy's plan for a little while longer.
It was Friday, and the second Hogsmeade trip was the next day, and Pansy decided that she wanted to 'double date' with Blaise, Theo, and Hermione. Though Hermione was reluctant at first, Pansy assured her that Blaise knew all about her predicament, and wanted to help her with Draco. Hermione was pleasantly surprised, not knowing Blaise all that well, she had heard over the years that he wasn't the nicest person ever, especially being best friends with Draco Malfoy, but she usually kept her mouth shut especially now, even though she still heard murmurs in the hall, her best friend was happy, and that s all that mattered to her.
The next day, Hermione woke earlier then usual, hoping to shower quickly without having to deal with Draco for more then a few seconds. She changed into her favorite jeans, a cute blouse, and her jumper. Even though it wasn't to cold out, it was October and you never know about the weather. She grabbed a bowl of cereal and ate it as quickly as should could, putting her bowl in the sink, she grabbed her purse and was out the door before Draco even moved from his bed. She knew that she would be early, so she sat down on a bench in the great hall and started reading a book while she waited for her friends. All of a sudden, she heard a loud whisper in her ear, and she jumped around quickly drawing her wand.
"Theo!" she screamed, once she calmed down a little.
"You should of seen your face 'Mione, priceless really" he said, almost out of breath from laughing so hard.
"That was certainly not funny Theodore Nott! I almost hexed you into next week!" She huffed at him. He gave her the puppy dog looked, and she eventually gave in and smiled at him.
"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me" He chipped, before kissing her on the cheek.
Pansy walked in right at that moment, and smiled at the two people who she came to be best friends with, and was happy to know that they still had the year a head of them for getting to know each other.
"Well hello there loves, what did I miss?" She asked.
"Only Theo scaring me till I almost peed my pants!" Hermione said with wide eyes, "wheres Blaise?"
"Oh, he'll be here in a few minutes, Draco wanted to see him for something before we got on with the day" Pansy replied.
Blaise joined them a few minutes later, and they made their way to the carriages to carry them to Hogsmeade. They made small talk along the way, and Hermione realized that Blaise and Pansy were actually perfect for each other. They complemented each other the way that Hermione had hoped Draco and she would. She should of realized that her dream was far fetched, but the thing about Draco was he made you feel important. Just by being his friend for a few short days, Hermione had felt like she was on top of the world, but couldn't let herself get down on it now. Even though Pansy was still out for revenge, Hermione found herself more hurt then anything, and just wanted to forget about the whole thing and find solace in her friends by her side. The only thing that she had to thank of the incident was the fact that it brought not only her and Pansy closer, but also brought Theo to her, who was a better friend and fake boyfriend then she could of ever imagined. Once they made it to Hogsmeade, they all went to the three broomsticks before going into the shops to have a glass of butter beer.
They split up first, Hermione and Theo going into the bookstore, while Pansy and Blaise stopping by Zonkos joke shop to pick up a few games a such. They met up later, after Hermione bought 6 new books which she was excited to start reading right away, at the quill shop. Theo and Blaise waited outside while the girls bought a few more things around Hogsmeade and eventually they all made their way back to the three broomsticks to get some more butter beer and have a quick snack before making their way back up to the castle. Hermione thought it was a pretty successful day, she had a great time with all of her friends, and didn't see Draco once. She spoke to soon, as a second laughter she heard a shrill laugh and seen Draco with non other then Daphne Greengrass. Hermione didn't know her very well, but she never heard anything bad about her, this of course didn't stop Pansy from talking about her, seeing the look on Hermione's face made her want to make it better.
"She such a whore 'Mione, she tried to get with Blaise before too, she'll take anyone she can get" Pansy said, "Don't even worry about her, he deserves dirt for the way he treated you, and that's exactly what she is."
"You don' t have to lie to me Pans, I never heard anything bad about her," Hermione replied, "and I don't even care, if he's happy with her, then fine. I'm happy too, with all my friends, I don't need anyone else."
Hermione, for once, actually felt that way. She thought this was a change for the better, and that she would forget about Draco, she didn't need a boy to make her happy, and she would prove it.
Three days later, she was in the head common room when she heard a knock at the portrait. Knowing it wasn't any of her friends, as they all knew the password, she figured it was for Draco. She walked over to the door, and prayed to Merlin it wasn't Daphne. Though she was trying to be happy for Draco, seeing her all the time didn't help one bit. She was surprised when she swung open the picture and Ginny Weasley was standing on the other side.
"Ginny? What on earth are you doing here?" Hermione questioned.
Not that she wasn't happy to see Ginny, but they've been in school for almost two months, and this is the first time she had sought her out.
"Hi Hermione, sorry to just show up like this, I know I haven't been a very good friend, but I missed you" Ginny said.
"It's okay Gin, We've all been really busy with school, and I've been busy with head duties, no need to worry. You're not a bad friend, so don't you dare think that!" Hermione exclaimed to her as she pulled her into a bone crushing hug.
Though she had Pansy and Theo, she still missed her old friends and the Burrow. She still wrote to Harry now and then, but it wasn't the same. Christmas was in a few months, and though she was going to stay at Hogwarts, she decided to see if she could go to the Burrow for a few days, to see her second family again. Maybe they would make her feel like herself again, plus she missed Molly's cooking and Ron's jokes. Realizing that they were still standing out in the corridor, she quickly invited Ginny inside, and started making tea for both of them. They talked for half the night, about Hermione's life now, and Ginny's. Ginny told her that she and Harry were still together, and since this was technically Ginny's last year at Hogwarts, Harry and she planned to move in together after this year was over. Hermione was really excited for her, she knew that her two friends were perfect for each other. Ginny also told her that Ron was now dating Vicky Frobisher. Right after the war, Hermione and Ron dated briefly, but quickly decided that they were better off as best friends, and she didn't want to ruin that, so she was happy for him.
Hermione told Ginny all about her life as head girl, and about how great of friends Pansy and Theo were. Ginny did not judge them for their past, and that was one of the reasons Hermione loved her, she didn't care who they were before, just as long as they were good friends to Hermione. The one thing that Hermione didn't tell her was everything about Draco, she wasn't ready to talk about it with anyone besides Pansy, plus there was nothing really to tell. Before they knew it, it was already well past midnight, so Hermione suggested that Ginny stay here tonight, so she wouldn't get caught for curfew, and Ginny agreed. Hermione was dead tired, so she transformed the couch into a bed a got Ginny night clothes before saying goodnight and falling into her bed.
The next day, Hermione's mission was to reconnect with her old friends. Ginny invited her to sit with them and even told her that her friends could come too, so that day found Hermione, Theo, Blaise and Pansy all at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was pleasantly surprised that all her friends got a long together, but after going through something like the war, it didn't matter what house you were in anymore, it just mattered what side you were on. All through potions and charms she wrote letters to her friends back at the Burrow. Normally, this wasn't something that Hermione did, as she didn't like to get away from her studies, but she didn't want get caught up in something else and completely forgot. She wrote to Harry, Molly and Arthur, George and Ron. She wrote three paragraphs each, even to George, who she didn't have a lot in common with to begin with. At dinner, she sat with Ginny again, but her friends decided to sit at the Slytherin table instead. Hermione missed the familiarity and felt herself falling back into place with all of her old friends, talk about things like she was there all along. She decided that this year, maybe it wouldn't be hell after all.
ps, get ready possibly some Draco POV I'm thinking of adding a little in the next chapter to see it through his eyes a little in what he is feeling!