Chapter 18! Enjoy![Nothing is owned by me]!

Hermione woke up the next morning feeling completely fresh and energetic. "I called Malfoy by his first name last night!" she thought. "So weird.. I never thought I would do this." She looked at her calendar. "We have a Hogsmeade trip today!" she said to herself. "I do hope Ginny isn't going to drag me to go shopping with her."

"Of course I'm going to!" came a voice from the doorway.

Hermione turned around to see Ginny standing at her door, leaning against the doorframe.

"Er.." Hermione said. "Good Morning Ginny."

"I came here to tell you that we will be going shopping for makeup supplies today." Ginny said. "I also felt a bit sympathetic for you, so I was thinking that we might shop for only half the time we usually do. But hearing you say that you don't want to go shopping with your sister slash friend, I thought we could go full-time today. What do you think?"

"Umm.." Hermione stammered. "Sure."

"Very well!" Ginny smiled. "Come down soon!" she said and left.

Hermione was now bubbling with anger. She was angry with herself.

"If only I had shut up!" she thought angrily. "Why did I have to say that out loud? And why did she have to come to my room just then?" she sighed. "It's just my fate I suppose."

Draco was being shaken awake by Blaise.

"Wake up Draco!" Blaise yelled. "Wake up pal!"

"Huh?" Draco mumbled in his sleep.

"We're going to Hogsmeade today!"

"Oh, really?" Draco asked, yawning.

"Yeah!" Blaise said with excitement.

"Ok." Draco said and went back to sleep.

Blaise was about to smack him hard on the face while he saw a midnight blue owl at the window.

"Narcissa's sent a letter!" he thought and went over to the window to let the bird in. He then untied the letter from the bird's leg and gave the bird a few owl treats that were lying on Draco's dresser. The owl flew off happily. Blaise went to Draco's side and poked him hard.

"Ow!" Draco sat up suddenly. "What is it Blaise?"

"You've got a letter!" Blaise said, waving the letter in front of Draco.

Draco snatched it from him and turned it around only to find the Malfoy crest. He had already sent his mother a letter saying that the Gryffindorks had accepted the invitation. "What does she want now?" he said as he opened the letter.

Dear Draco,

I hope you are doing well. I heard that you have a Hogsmeade trip today. I shall be there to give them all a formal invitation. I was so happy to read your letter. I shall be waiting for you at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Be there with the others. I'm looking forward to seeing you.

Your loving mother,

Narcissa Malfoy.

"Oh damn!" Draco cried.

"Don't worry Draco!" Blaise said. "I'm coming to meet Narcissa!"

"How did you read the letter?" Draco asked Blaise.

"I peeked over your shoulder of course." Blaise said cheekily.

Draco glared at him. "You're not supposed to do that you know."

"Well, I wouldn't be a Slytherin then, would I?"

Draco grinned at Blaise. But then his expression turned to a worried one. Blaise sensed the cause for Draco's grim expression.

"Don't worry Drake." Blaise comforted him. "Everything's gonna be fine."

"But.." Draco said. "How am I going to tell them that they have to meet my mother at Madam Puddifoot's shop?"

"Shall I tell them?" Blaise asked.

"Will you really do that for me?" Draco asked.

"Of course Draco. We're best chums, are we not?" Blaise smiled. "Now, shall we go?"

Draco nodded and they went down to the common room. Luckily, all the Gryffindors were there. Ron and Pansy were talking excitedly about something. Theo and Hermione were playing Wizards chess against Harry and Ginny.

"Listen up everyone!" Blaise said. All faces turned towards them. Draco suddenly imagined how the Gryffindors would react if he didn't invite them. They would insult him that he couldn't even do such a simple thing. Just as Blaise was about to speak, Draco stopped him.

"What?" Blaise asked.

"I'll do it." Draco said to him.

"Ok."

Draco took a deep breath and started.

"I had invited you all to tea at our home yesterday." Everyone nodded. "Well, it appears that my invitation alone is not enough. My mother would like to give you all a formal invitation. We're meeting her today at Madam Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade." He finished.

"Great!" Theo exclaimed.

"Yeah. I was looking forward to seeing Narcissa." Pansy said.

Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were just staring at Draco, their mouths wide open.

"Well?" Draco asked.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"Are you coming or not Red?" Draco asked her.

"I will not come if you call me that." Ginny retorted.

"Okay, okay. Are you coming?"

Ginny turned to Harry.

"Of course we're going!" Harry said.

Draco was surprised. He didn't think Harry would be the one to accept first.

"Well, I'll come too then." Ginny said.

"Thank you Harry and Re-. Ginny." Draco said. "What about you Weasley?"

"What about me?" Ron asked.

"Will you come?"

"I.. Well…" Ron said.

"Of course he's coming!" Pansy said. Ron didn't say anything.

Now Hermione was the one who hadn't said anything. All eyes turned to her.

"What?" she asked.

"Are you coming Hermione?" Draco asked, tired of asking the same question again and again.

"Yes Draco."

"I think I'll go have a shower." Hermione announced and left.

"Boy!" Harry said loudly as he went towards Draco so that Hermione could hear. "Since when are you two on first name basis?"

"Oh that.." Draco said. His cheeks were turning slightly pink.

"Hmmm?" Harry asked as the others laughed. "I can't hear you!"

"Since last night."

Everyone laughed as they went to do their work.

Hermione, having heard everything, felt herself blushing. "I really am going mad!" she thought furiously.

Draco, meanwhile was feeling really stupid. "I guess I have some problem in my cheeks." He thought. "They change colour for no reason."

"I hope today turns out okay." He thought hopefully.

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