Over the next month Hermione and Malfoy avoided each other as much as they could. Doing their project work in the Great Hall instead of the library and making sure to sit as far from each other at the desk as possible. Halfway through October McGonagall called Hermione and Nott into her office. "We are holding a Halloween event." She told them.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"I thought, after the year we've had, we could host a sort of party." McGonagall explained. "To help people find their matches and to generally cheer people up."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Hermione asked.
"Are you questioning my judgment?" McGonagall asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, of course not," Hermione exclaimed. "It's just, we already have to separate people in empty classrooms." Nott nodded. "Are you sure it's wise to introduce more matches?"
"I see, and do you agree with this Mr. Nott?" McGonagall asked him.
"Honestly, I'm happy I found my match, and I want others to share my happiness," Hermione glared at him. "So I think a party is a grand idea."
"Is this what we needed dress robes for?" Hermione asked, suddenly remembering that item on her list.
"No, we will be holding a Yule Ball again this year. A tradition I want to start as Headmistress." McGonagall explained. "Now, you two have classes." Hermione and Nott nodded as they left the room.
"I can not believe you disagreed with McGonagall." Nott shook his head.
"Not everyone got as lucky with their soulmate as you Nott." Hermione stated.
"What are you talking about? All the matches I have seen have been so happy. Wait, did you finally meet your soulmate?" Hermione just shook her head.
"I have to go, I'll see you in class." Nott looked at her in confusion as she rushed down the hall.
"A Halloween party." Ginny gushed. "I can't wait, do we get to dress up?"
"As far as I know." Hermione sighed, looking at her friend. "Will you return to studying please?"
"What's with you?" Ginny asked. "You've been in a mood for a month."
"I don't want to talk about it." Hermione stated.
"Come on Hermione." Ginny insisted. "What's going on, you can tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it." Hermione snapped.
"Damn, ok, well when you get ready just let me know." Ginny said, closing her books.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"Somewhere else, you evidently need to calm down." With that Ginny left the library. Hermione groaned as she laid her head on her book.
"Problems Granger?" Parkinson asked, appearing from a few aisles down.
"Go away, Parkinson." Hermione groaned.
"Really? Because I thought you would like to know a certain blond housemate of mine is in just as bitchy a mood as you and it started around the same time." Hermione turned and looked at the Slytherin girl.
"Really?" She whispered.
"Yes, Nott was complaining about how working with you has become more stressful than ever and he mentioned it around the same time Drake started snapping at us." Hermione groaned.
"So I take it you two are mates and are refusing to accept it." Parkinson said as she sat down across from Hermione.
"Do you blame us?" Hermione asked. "You know our history."
"And I know sometimes anger sex is better than regular sex." Parkinson stated, chuckling at the blush that engulfed Hermione's face. "I take it you have not done anything with anyone?"
"I've kissed Krum, but that's it." Hermione admitted. "And I don't want my first…anything to be out of anger."
"Trust me, if you start slow and actually get to know him it won't be out of anger." Parkinson winked at Hermione as she got up. "Have fun." She sang as she left the library.
The rest of the month passed quickly for Hermione, her thoughts on Malfoy and what Parkinson hinted at. "Do I have to go?" Hermione groaned as Ginny dragged her through the castle.
"Of course, you're Head Girl, how would it look if the Head Girl wasn't at the party?" Ginny asked, earning a sigh in response. "Come on, you'll have fun, this way you can meet your soulmate too."
"I don't want to meet my soulmate." Hermione grumbled.
"Why?" Ginny stopped and looked at her, at Hermione's refusal to look at her the hints clicked into place. "You've met him!"
"Sh, and I have." Hermione sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not? I thought you would be happy to find your soulmate."
"I was…" Hermione trailed off with a sigh. "Can we please not talk about it?"
"Who is it? I haven't seen you this off-standish since you had a crush on my brother."
"Ginny, please," Hermione begged. "I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to even think about it."
"Fine," Ginny said, eyeing her friend. "Let's continue to the party." Hermione groaned as she followed Ginny to the Great Hall.
It was halfway through the party and Hermione, after giving the welcoming speech, had done nothing but stand at the wall, ignoring the looks Ginny and Neville were giving her. "Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall said as she approached the girl. "You must dance at least one dance."
"No offense Professor," Hermione said. "I am not in the dancing mood, if I wasn't Head Girl I wouldn't be here."
"I understand that, but you ARE Head Girl, and because of that you are required to set an example."
"Fine," Hermione sighed as the music changed to an upbeat song and Hermione made her way to Ginny. "I've been required to dance, dance with me?"
"Of course." Ginny said, handing her drink to Neville before following Hermione to the dance floor. "I'm going to take a shot in the dark that you still don't want to tell me who your soulmate is." Hermione just glared at her as she swayed in place. "Hey, just checking, maybe they aren't as bad as they seem."
"That's what Parkinson said but I doubt it." Hermione muttered.
"Parkinson? You told her who your soulmate was?" Ginny asked, clearly offended.
"No, she figured it out." Hermione clarified, then sighed as she watched Ginny trying to connect the dots.
"Holy Merlin, is your soulmate Malfoy?" Ginny gasped.
"Yes, but again, Ginny I don't want to talk about it." Ginny just stared in shock, before looking around the room then smirking. "What?"
"Oh nothing, I just have to go to the restroom real quick. I'll be back." Ginny said before walking off the dance floor leaving a confused Hermione. With a sigh Hermione returned to her spot at the wall where she spotted Ginny and Parkinson talking.
"This can't be good." Hermione groaned watching the two girls leave the Great Hall.
After a little while Hermione had moved to one of the tables, absentmindedly playing with a napkin. "Bored?" Neville asked as he sat with her.
"Beyond, I don't want to be here." Hermione sighed.
"Then why are you? Ginny said you found your soulmate, you technically don't have to still be here."
"I do, because Nott left with his a few hours ago and we need a Heads presence or people might do something 'unwholesome'."
"Hi." Luna said as she sat down. "How are you two doing?"
"Miserable." Hermione replied as Neville responded with "Okay."
"Where did Ginny go?" Luna asked, looking around.
"I'm not sure," Neville admitted. "I know she left after dancing with Hermione but I'm not sure after that."
"She went somewhere with Parkinson." Hermione told them. "But that was thirty minutes ago."
"Parkinson?" Neville asked. "As in Pansy Parkinson?"
"The one and the same." Hermione shrugged. "I let it slip that Parkinson figured out who my soulmate was and Ginny told me she 'had to use the restroom' but I saw her talking with Parkinson. I have a sneaky suspicion that I don't want to know what they are planning." The other two agreed as they watched couples dance on the dance floor.
Hermione sighed as she was left alone once again. Neville had gone in search of Ginny and Luna had gone to sleep. "Hermione!" Ginny called as she walked up to her. "I need your help."
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked the redheaded girl. "Neville has been worried sick."
"I'll make it up to him," Ginny said. "Come on, a first year snuck out of their dorm and got cornered by Peeves." Hermione sighed as she got up and saw Nott walking back into the Great Hall.
"Why don't you ask Nott to help?" Hermione asked as she followed Ginny out of the Great Hall.
"You do a better McGonagall voice, I'm sure Peeves will listen to you." Ginny explained as she led Hermione through the castle.
"Where is this first year?" Hermione asked as they climbed another set of stairs.
"In here." Ginny said, opening a classroom door.
"Ginny, what do you mean?" Hermione asked as she peered into the dark classroom before Ginny shoved her into the room and closed the door. "Ginny! Ginny Weasley." Hermione could hear chuckling from the other side. "Ginevra Weasley you let me out of this room."
"Sorry Granger," Parkinson's voice said through the door. "You're stuck there till morning."
"Wait, Parkinson?" Hermione asked.
"Having a good night Granger?" Malfoy's voice asked from behind her. Hermione turned around and gasped. "Looks like our friends are quite sneaky." Malfoy commented as Hermione groaned, not missing the laughter coming from the hallway as it faded.