Disclaimer: No I don't own the Harry Potter series, just this story.

Chapter 2

The warmth of Hogwarts was welcomed openly by Hermione and Ginny, as they headed for the Great Hall, as it was lunchtime. Bundling onto the table next to Ron and Harry, Ginny began to ask the two boys about the Yule Ball – desperate to know who each were going with,

"Well I'm going with Parvati and Ron's going with her sister Padma…who's Hermione going with?"

Harry smiled at Hermione, who was now red with embarrassment. Stuttering she replied that she was going with no one, until Ginny piped in, her voice squealing;

"I SO BADLY think she should go with Draco Malfoy…they'd be so cute together! I mean…they are both good-looking and clever…and plus he's on our side now, so we don't have to worry about him being prejudiced and all that…what do you think guys?!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned away, beginning to eat her lunch, seething that Ginny would ask them, of course they're not gonna want me to go with Malfoy – even if I wanted to, which I don't!

Ron shifted uncomfortably, but Harry just smiled, and said that if they wanted to then they could…Harry is so forgiving, Hermione thought, spooning hot chicken soup into her mouth.

Shrieking in happiness, Ginny began hugging Hermione, telling her that she would go and talk to Malfoy about it…GREAT. Now he's gonna think I actually WANT to go with him…AARGH!

All she could do was watch as Ginny went over to the Slytherin table, and once she had began talking rapidly to Malfoy about the whole matter, Hermione buried her head on the table, wishing that she was anywhere but in that place.



The Hall was quite calm, and Hermione could hear every word of their conversation. Once Ginny had finished talking, the most dreadful sentence that Hermione had ever heard was spoken softly from Draco Malfoy's mouth:

"Oh ok, I'll think about that…thanks."

Beaming at him, Ginny spun round and ran to Hermione, who Draco and Blaise were now looking at, wondering why she was so upset, until she pushed Ginny away from her and fled the Hall, tears running down her cheeks. Ginny ran after her friend and pulled her into a hug, whispering her apologies, and telling her loudly enough for the Malfoy to hear that he would be a complete idiot not to go with her.

Pushing Ginny away from her again, Hermione yelled furiously,

"Why did you have to go and say that to him…why would I want to go with him? You know me and him aren't friends, he HATES me…PURE HATE Ginny…so why would he want to go with me? Now he's got something else to take the piss outta me for, you're such a good friend Ginny…"

Strolling away from her best friend, a few tear stains on her cheeks, Hermione climbed the main staircase, unaware that Draco was watching her retreating figure, wondering if maybe he should just ask her to the ball…I don't hate her, of course I don't…it's not my fault my father expects me to call her a Mudblood…Aargh what am I gonna do? Maybe I'll send a letter to mother…she'll know what do…

x;;

Dear Mother,

I hope you are keeping well, and I hope you don't mind me staying at Hogwarts this Christmas – there's a Yule Ball on and I was hoping to go…except I have a bit of a dilemma and was hoping you could help me because I really don't know what to do.

Right, there's this girl who I'm not friends with because father always taught me not to be friends with muggleborns…but now he's gone I can do what I want…



Anyway, this girl's friend told me today that she thought me and said girl should go to the Ball together, and I've been thinking whether or not I should. She's one of THE most beautiful girl in our year; she has the most amazing eyes in the world, like big golden coins, really shiny, like her hair which is a really curly and also a chocolate-brownie colour. She's also the cleverest girl in our year – me and her have always competed to be top of the class, except Snape doesn't like her because she's in Gryffindor.

I really don't know if I should, I would love to but I feel I can't because of the way I've treated her over the past few years…and she's said to her friend that I hate her intensely, which I don't, except I don't like her because I've never really got to know her…please reply back soon, the Ball is on the 24th…only six days!

Your loving son,

Draco

x;;

Dear Son,

I am keeping very well thank you, I hope you are too, I'm sure Dumbledore is doing a fine job of running that school…It's a shame Lucius didn't agree with him…

Anyway, I have thought about your situation and believe that you should ask her – there's no harm in doing so and she sounds like a lovely girl. Write back to me soon, telling me of who you going with (I hope it's her, she's the sort of girl I want you to be around, I don't want none of that Pansy Parkinson nonsense).

I hope you have a splendid Christmas Draco, I've sent your gifts so they will arrive on Christmas morning, I hope you enjoy them.

Love forever,

Narcissa

x;;

Reading his mother's letter for the third time, Draco decided that maybe she was right – I can try or I can regret it not trying…I'll ask her after dinner…I'll try and catch her when she leaves…Merlin, I feel so nervous…father would kill me if he 

was still alive…life's better now he's gone though…mother's happier…I'm happier…

x;;