A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! Glad you are proud of Hermione for standing up for herself. This (obviously, from the first chapter) isn't the last we will hear of him though.

Please let me know what you thought of chapter eighteen and be on the lookout for chapter nineteen soon!

February, 2000

In the weeks since Hermione had broken off her ill advised relationship with Lucius, she'd made herself as busy as possible, but she still hadn't been able to get over it. She always arrived at her desk right on time, and always left to walk to the apparition point with Daphne when work was over. She didn't want to give him a chance to approach her while she was alone.

Hermione wanted to be strong, but she knew that Lucius was slick. She didn't want to get sucked back in with his promises and sweet words. Still, she hadn't been able to get rid of the emerald pendant, and it sat on her dresser in her bedroom, glinting at her expectantly.

She knew that she should return it, but something was making her hold onto it.

In her evenings and during the weekends, she spent as much time as she could with her friends. She had a standing dinner with Luna and Rolf once a week, which was refreshing and always made her laugh. Rolf was quite shy, but eager to learn about Luna's friends. He was a Hufflepuff who'd already graduated by the time that Hermione had started at Hogwarts.

Daphne took her to regular happy hours, sometimes just the two of them and sometimes with her other Slytherin friends. Theo was always so nice to her, but Hermione got the impression that Millicent Bulstrode and Blaise Zabini were never very pleased to have to deal with an annoying Gryffindor. Millie also always stared at her like she was imagining snapping Hermione like a twig.

Daphne had tried to set her up on a few more blind dates, but eventually Hermione had to shut her down. She knew that Daphne was just trying to help her get over Lucius, but she wasn't really ready to get back in the dating scene, after her last two relationships had been such epic failures.

As for Cassius...Hermione saw him whenever he came back to London for a Quidditch match, which happened often, but sporadically. It was nice getting to know him better, but the two of them were firmly friends, always splitting the check for dinner and never doing anything more intimate than a fierce hug goodbye, and perhaps a kiss on the cheek if Hermione had had too much to drink.

Hermione had even taken to spending time with Harry and Ginny, provided that Ron wasn't around. They'd had her over once and Hermione had had them around to her flat as well for dinner. It was pleasant, but still strained, and mostly spent discussing their upcoming nuptials. Ginny had asked Hermione to be one of her bridesmaids, and she'd accepted.

She split her lunch times between Daphne and Harry, not leaving any time for her to be pulled into lunch meetings with Lucius. She was trying so hard to just ignore the blond man, but he was harder to forget than she'd like to admit. It was odd. Previously, she'd been trying to avoid her friends by spending time with Lucius, and now she was in the exact opposite situation.

He was trying to wiggle his way back into her good graces, no matter how frosty the reception that he got. Last week, he'd given her approval to go to Bulgaria - finally - in what Hermione thought was a peace offering. Little did he know, she planned on staying with her old friend Viktor Krum. She spoke about it loudly in the office once her trip had been approved, and did take a little delight in seeing his neck turn a bit red.

It would take time, but Hermione was sure that she would be able to move on from Lucius eventually.

"I just can't believe her." Daphne said for the third time since they'd sat down together for their lunch at the cafe in muggle London just outside of the Ministry. It had taken some cajoling one Hermione's part to get Daphne to venture out with the muggles, but it quickly became a favorite to the pair.

"Did she say why?" Hermione asked, a bit interested. "She's not pregnant is she?" Astoria had moved her wedding to Draco up over the Easter holiday, and it had made Daphne spitting mad for some reason.

"Oh, no! Daddy would kill Draco, Malfoy or not." She said solemnly, flipping her dark blonde hair over her shoulder. Hermione giggled at that. Those purebloods had such firm values on somethings it seemed, and then were highly lax about others. "Apparently Aster Fawcett announced that she was going to get married the Saturday after graduation."

Hermione scrunched her nose up in confusion. "So why would she move her wedding up then? What does it have to do with Aster Fawcett or anyone else, really?"

Daphne rolled her eyes, completely annoyed with her sister. "They have some kind of rivalry going, what with their names being so close. And Astoria can't abide by anyone in her class getting married before her, especially not Aster. So...Easter holidays it is."

Stabbing a bit of lettuce with her fork, Hermione had to agree with her friend that Astoria's reasoning was ridiculous. She was acting like a spoiled little brat, and if it were Hermione's own parents, they never would agree to moving the wedding after everything had been sorted. "So, what will she do once she's married? Go back to school."

"Well, that's just it, isn't it?" Daphne replied. "Astoria isn't going back to school after Easter, she's going to drop out. She won't even be sitting for her NEWTs! It's completely ridiculous, even for a society wife. I mean...she's worked very hard up until this point to get good grades. Mother doesn't think they are necessary, though, and so they aren't pushing it."

Hermione gasped. "I couldn't imagine not taking my NEWTs!" What would happen to Astoria if she separated from Draco? Wouldn't she need money to support herself and any children that she might have?

"Well, whatever princess wants." Daphne said, looking quite sad and upset. "She's the perfect one who follows orders, not the fuck up like me, who can't just fall in line and marry who they've picked for me."

Reaching across the table, Hermione squeezed Daphne's hand tightly, feeling quite sorry for her friend. Though Hermione thought that Daphne had made the right decision, she knew that the other girl's family were quite good about rubbing in the fact that they didn't approve of Daphne's choices one bit, and it did really affect her. "You aren't a fuck up, Daph. And you're parents should be over the moon to have Theo has a son-in-law."

Daphne sniffed and laughed at her friend's words. "Yeah, I just wish that they could see how ridiculous they are being, after all. I mean, Theo checks all their boxes, but he checks my boxes as well, and we love each other. It's as if they want me to be unhappy."

"I am sure they don't want you to be unhappy." Hermione consoled her, though she wasn't entirely sure that was true. "They just had a future envisioned for you, and well...things change. Give them time. I am sure it will get better."

Hermione swallowed the thick lump in her throat, thinking that her advice hadn't really worked for herself so far.

March, 2000

Cassius met her at an Italian restuarant not far from her flat, wrapping her up in a tight hug. "Hey, you. I missed you last week." He'd been there the week before, but had been informed by Daphne that the witch was traveling. "Daphne said you were traveling."

Once they were fully seated down, Hermione nodded. "Yes, I was in Bulgaria for a trade deal and then I spent the weekend with Viktor." It had been so lovely to see her old friend again. He was happily dating a very nice, but very posh Bulgarian witch, so there was no lingering feelings between them. It didn't stop Hermione from thinking what if, though, while she was there.

"Viktor?" Cassius asked, before realizing who it was. He'd been a sixth year when the Triwizard's Tournament had taken place, so he knew all about the relationship between Hermione and Krum. "Krum...of course. Are you two…?" He tried to ask delicately.

Hermione's cheeks were bright red, but she shook her head no. "No, Viktor and I are just friends. I actually got to meet his new girlfriend while I was there, but it was just great to catch up with him while I was there." Desperate to get the topic of conversation off of her love life, she asked about how his Quidditch match the previous weekend had gone.

Cassius launched into an animated, but blessedly short description of the game. He knew that Hermione only asked out of politeness, and really only needed the highlights of the game. It was the same way that she left all the details of her day to day work out of their conversations. "So, did you hear that Malfoy moved up his wedding date?" He asked casually.

"Yes, Daphne was quite annoyed that Astoria is dropping out of Hogwarts." Hermione said primly, still on the same side as her friend.

"Well, I was wondering...if maybe you'd...if you'd like to go with me to the wedding." He stumbled over his words completely, nervous for her reaction.

"Oh, Cassius...I thought we were on the same page, but...I just don't feel that way for you." She told him, her brown eyes staring at him with so much remorse. Hermione really did wish that she could like Cassius that way at times like these.

It was his turn for his cheeks to go bright red. He'd been so nervous that she'd misconstrue his words, and then that exact scenario had come true. "No, no! I don't...just as friends. I had another date for the wedding when it was in June, but well, she won't be available for Easter." It was a bit embarrassing to tell a witch she was your second choice.

"Not even for the wedding of the century?" Hermione teased playfully, all tension evaporating from her shoulders, glad that he wasn't trying to make something more out of their relationship. "I'd be delighted to attend the wedding with you. As friends."

"Great - owl me the color of your dress, so that I can dress to match." Cassius said with glee. While he didn't have any romantic designs on Hermione Granger, he couldn't pretend that showing up with the brightest witch of her age wasn't a huge ego booster.

Hermione, on the other hand, was wondering just what she'd signed up for. What was she thinking agreeing to go to a party where she'd see Lucius again, especially as he'd be with Narcissa? Hopefully, he'd be much too busy to even notice she was there, and she could rely on Cassius and Theo to distract her.

April, 2000

When she'd first told Harry and Ginny that she was going to the Malfoy wedding with Cassius, they'd been shocked. "That's pretty serious, isn't it Mione? I mean, taking your girlfriend to a wedding is a big step." Harry had asked, obviously concerned, because he still hadn't met Warrington officially.

Hermione tried to tell them that Cassius wasn't her boyfriend, but they weren't having any of it. Ginny immediately asked to help her pick out a dress, which Hermione knew was a combination of wanting to spend time with her friend, annoyance that Hermione was always shopping with Daphne, and jealousy that she hadn't been invited to the wedding of the century. Hermione had agreed.

"What do you think about this one?" Ginny asked, holding up a green dress so that Hermione could look it over. Hermione had pretty much gotten over the fact that Ginny was never going to apologize for what happened with Ron, and wanted to salvage the relationship as much as possible, which was why she was standing here trying on dresses for the Malfoy wedding.

Hermione shook her head, not wanting anything to do with the color green. "I don't think that green is really my color." She told Ginny, knowing that Lucius loved seeing her dress in his house colors, and she didn't want to do anything to suggest that she was dressing up for him. "What do you think about this?" Hermione held up a red satin gown that went all the way to the floor.

Ginny shook her head. "I don't know, don't you think that's a bit covered up for a spring wedding?" Seeing Hermione's disappointment, Ginny was quick to compliment her. "But that shade of red looks so gorgeous on you. I think that's your color."

The two Gryffindor girls went through the racks, pulling some dresses for Hermione to try on, and some for Ginny as well, Ginny chatting the whole time about how she didn't think Ron and Romilda were going to last much longer. Finally, it was time to try them on. She tried on Ginny's choice first, before stepping out of the changing cubicle.

"Wow, you look hot." Ginny said. The red dress was lace and quite see through in certain places, but covered up the essential bits. Still, Hermione really thought it was much too tight and much too short for a wedding.

"I don't know, Gin. I don't think it's really appropriate for a wedding." Ginny agreed, though still argued she should get it for a hot date some time. Hermione wished that she had Daphne here with her. The blonde would be able to tell her right away if it was tacky or just right.

In the end, the pair of girls decided on a sleeveless dress, with a tight bodice that showed off Hermione's tiny waist, before flaring out in large pleats. The skirt was short, but Hermione thought it looked nice on her, and it showed off her legs, which Ginny thought was a must. Hermione had already decided to pair it with nude leather heels.

Briefly, Hermione wondered what Lucius would think of her showing up in this dress, showing her Gryffindor pride to the world. It was somewhat of a coup to show up in a den of snakes dressed in quite such a bold red color.

In the end, Hermione tried to push from her mind any agonizing over what he might think of her.