Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, blah blah blah.

Last time…

"You must be Sapphire," She greeted. "I'm Hermione Granger."

Sapphire Malfoy smirked the 'Malfoy' smirk. "I know, my brother has told me about you."

Hermione paused and looked down. She could only imagine what Malfoy said about her. Mudblood, Bushy-haired Gryffindor, bookworm, plain-Jane. Well, she's changed! She's not the girl she once was before the war. She has a new style and she was going to surprise people this year, dammit!

She looked down at her outfit and smirked. It was sorta plain, she could admit. But her hair definitely made her stand out. She was wearing a light pink t-shirt that said 'Flower' on it with dark denim shorts. Her Victoria's Secret flip flops said 'Pink' on them and was also pink. Her eyes were highlighted with pink eye-shadow, mascara, and eyeliner. Her strawberry lips had lip balm on them and her cut-out lotus necklace finished off her new look. Yes, she's changed alright. If it was two years ago, she would have just threw the clothes on without any make-up or jewelry. But now she was trying. She was trying to live wild and free.

She looked up and saw Sapphire looking at her with a worried expression. She shook her head and regained her composure. "I'm sure he did." She said, darkly.

Sapphire put up her hands in a defensive gesture. "It's not what you think; he just said you were studious." She said, cheerily. "So am I." She confessed.

Hermione studied the 'new' Malfoy with careful eyes. She didn't know this girl and she didn't know if the Malfoy's have changed. She and Harry stood up for them so they wouldn't go to Azkaban, but since then they've been cleaning out their house. She didn't want to know what they're 'cleaning' out; she only knew she was never going inside that house ever again.

Sapphire was wearing a turquoise tank top with light colored denim shorts, flower sandals, a flower statement necklace, and her eyes had light blue eyeliner on them. She noticed she didn't wear bunches of make-up, like Pansy used to wear. Maybe this chick is different, she thought.

She looked away. "It was nice meeting you, Sapphire. I'm sure you'll be great in Slytherin." She complimented, heading off in her main direction.

Someone caught up with her and smashed her into a bone-crushing hug. "Hermione!" Pansy Parkinson screamed.

She laughed and hugged her back. "What?" She asked, pulling away.

The Slytherin girl looked panicked. "You have to hide me! The Greengrass sisters are grilling me about Ron!" She said, really fast.

She looked behind Pansy's shoulder at Sapphire watching them; she leaned in and whispered, "Yeah? Well, I just met the sister of the boy who bullied me for years! And that particular person is also your friend!" She said back to her.

Pansy looked behind her and then back at Hermione. "Sapphire? She's cool, don't worry." She said, patting Hermione on the shoulder. "Now, back to my problem," She looked around. "We need to hurry and get to our compartment."

Hermione planted her feet into the ground and crossed her arms over her chest. "Have they changed?"

"Are you kidding?" Someone asked. "Daph and Tori can't live without their cell phones. They've changed." She turned around to see Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott.

She gulped. This isn't what she wanted her first day back to be like.

Draco came closer. "I've seen you've already met my sister." He stopped in front of her. "It's none of your business, so don't ask her any questions." He glared.

Sapphire stepped up closer to them. "She didn't." She said, softly. She grabbed her brother's arm to get his attention. He looked down at her and smiled when she started shaking her head at him. "Seriously, I'm fine."

He paused and then moved away from Hermione. Pansy was glaring at him, and as usual the other two boys looked emotionless. Sapphire looked angry at her brother and embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I bumped into you," She told Sapphire. "As for you," She looked at Malfoy. "It was a horrible encounter." She smirked, what she called 'her' smirk and turned away with Pansy.

"Wait," He said, a little too panicked. "Nice hair." He complimented when she turned back around.

She and Pansy left them to make their way to their compartment.

Theo sighed. "That was close, Dray. You got eager at the end, like you weren't going to let her leave." He said.

Blaise nodded. "Keep it on the low next time."

He let out a deep growl and then a painful whine. "I need her."

Sapphire hugged her brother and then pulled back. "Don't worry. You'll get her; I'm going to make sure of that. I have a feeling Hermione and I are going to be great friends." She smiled, secretively.

"You won't hurt her." He said, eyes turning into molten lava.

She snorted. "Hurt her?" She laughed. "Do you remember who spent all of those years watching her? Protecting her?" She asked him, her voice had definite ice in it.

"Calm down, little fire." Blaise purred, pulling her into his embrace.

She looked up at him. "I'm the one who lived down her street all those years to watch and protect her. I gave up my life because she is his mate." She reminded all of them.

"I'm sorry." Her brother apologized.

"I'm going to live freely now. I feel like I already know her." She admitted. "Draco, I know she's your mate, I get that. But you don't know what it was like being down the street from her and not being able to talk to her. It's hard to explain." She turned away and picked up the rest of her bags off the ground. "You're not the only one, Dragon."

They boys looked confused.

She harrumphed. "Let me describe this in little words: I need to know her, too." She rolled her eyes at Theo when he licked his lips. "I mean, I want to befriend her."

"I won't stop you from doing that, Sapph. I only ask that you let me apologize to her first." Draco said with guilt. "In my letter I got from McGonagall, she listed me as Head Boy and Hermione as Head Girl. She explained that she didn't tell Hermione in her letter, because she wanted me to tell her I'm a veela this coming week." He told them.

Blaise looked skeptical. "How is she going to trick Hermione into being alone in the same room as you?" He asked.

Draco smirked. "Easy, she's going to tell her the dorms are separate." He shivered a second later and closed his eyes. "Mate is feeling confused and buzzy." He inhaled, searching for her scent. "Mine."