Letter Number 9

August 1st 1998, London Apartment

Hermione,

Thank you so much for your visit yesterday. You sure did help me eat the last of those cookies, but I never doubted that. Though your body might not show it I know you to be a notorious sweet tooth. My mother tells a lot of secrets about you. So also told me about your weird habit of eating a piece of 'victory-chocolate' after finishing a book. Okay, what's that about?! You actually need an excuse to eat chocolate? And then you choose to do it every time you finish a book, which happens every other day. So my point is proven, you really are a relentless sweet tooth. But I like that. Personally I prefer cookies, but you already knew that. Well, since I no longer have any cookies of my own, I think it's only fair that you either make me some more or invite me to your place for some freshly made ones.

I'm still waiting for that invitation you know. I expected you to invite me when you were here yesterday, but you didn't. Instead you just ate three of my five cookies, drank your milk and made conversation like nothing was missing. You stayed for an hour, got up, put on your shoes, shook my hand and left with a smile. Merlin, that smile bugged me! It felt like it was screaming at me, 'I've got something you want and you're not getting it!' Really Hermione, I didn't expect you to be a tease. I just figured you modest and shy. Which you also are. A very strange combination.

I don't think I'll ever forget the way you smiled at me when I first time said your name out loud to your face. I've never before seen anyone blush so hard. It was quite adorable actually. Pink is a good colour on you. Bloody Hell, I'm starting to sound like a woman! See, this is why I never wanted a female friend. They are a bad influence. Soon enough you'll be lending me your conditioner and telling me that I should start using moisturizer and night cream. Well, that's not going to happen. Ever!

Moving away from that topic and on to another, I fully expect an invitation to visit you after this letter. If I don't get it I'll invite myself. Just please don't force me to contact Potter and ask him for an invitation. Really, I don't even think he'd oblige. I mean, sure, he's your friend. But I made it pretty clear how I feel about him and I'm 100% sure that he feels the same way. Even if I did swallow my pride (if that was ever going to happen I would have a sore throat for weeks) and ask for the invitation he'd only laugh at me. Or even worse make me grovel and beg. Oh Merlin, that would be a sight for sore eyes. He'd probably invite Weasel to watch too.

Wait a minute, this is exactly what you were aiming for, wasn't it? I mean, not the whole begging Potter thing (but if that was what you were hoping for you'll surely be very disappointed) but you wanted me to at least beg you. Gosh, woman! You are one schemy witch! Well, mission accomplished. I'm officially asking for an invitation to your home.

When I come to visit (there is no if here since I know you can't resist my humble plea, I know, I'm too darn charming) I hope that Potter isn't going to disturb us. Or that baby you're living with. Really, I don't see how you can do it. Living with a baby and Potter. Don't you have your hands full all the time with two children in the house? Okay, perhaps that was a little mean, but funny as Hell either way and I'm not going to apologize. That still isn't my thing. And I don't expect it to become my thing anytime soon. You still remain the only person who has received a verbal apology from Draco Malfoy.

And come on, what is up with that?! Who would have thought that I, Draco Malfoy snake prince of Slytherin, would ever apologize to Hermione Granger, geeky Gryffindor nerd (no offense, but that really is who you are). I tell you (for, I don't know, the seventeenth time) people wouldn't ever believe how civil we are with each other. They wouldn't believe your feelings for me or all the things you've done for me. And they certainly wouldn't believe how nice I've been to you (I admit, I'm still no angel but I don't see myself becoming that ever).

Hey, Hermione, notice the date. Today is exactly one month till Hogwarts. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm quite looking forward to it. Of course it's going to be strange without Crabbe there. And I might not have any 'friends' in Slytherin or anywhere else. I mean, most of those Slytherin children have parents that are either in Azkaban or dead. They are probably going to see me as a traitor and they'll find my family weak for changing sides to escape Azkaban. And believe me they won't love me for saving Potter's life and yours as well. I might be a hero to everyone else, but to the Slytherins I'll be the worst traitor to ever walk those halls. Is it okay to say, that I'm actually glad I'll have you? Or is it too weird? What am I saying; of course you won't find that weird. You're probably giddy with glee right now, jumping up and don't as you keep on rereading those simple words. See, I already know you quite well, Hermione. Well, perhaps if your Gryffindor friends (and that Loony Lovegood from Ravenclaw; if she's that weird then why is she in Ravenclaw?) can tolerate me I can join you in your compartment during the train ride? Well, it was just a thought.

That reminds me, how are your parents? I meant to ask you when you were here yesterday, but I was just so focused on you not inviting me and you eating my cookies (granted, you made them but then you gave them to me, and even though I invited you over to help me finish them I didn't expect you to eat almost all of them) that I never got around to asking you. Are they coming home soon? I don't really know why I even care. Perhaps it's only because you care. Merlin, it suddenly sounds like you're my best friend in the entire world. Ooh, I care about the things you care about only because you care! Phah, that's not true! Like, I don't care one bit for babies and you won't be able to change that ever! Believe me! That's an incarnated dislike I've always had. And don't try to be miss smarty-pants and tell me that I also had an incarnated dislike for Muggleborns and that changed, because that is really not true. I'm still not big on Muggleborns. I only changed my mind about you. And a little about Muggleborns in general, but that was just because of you. Oh crap, here I go again!

You know what, I better stop this letter before I write something really stupid that'll come back to haunt me forever and ever. I'll be waiting for that invitation of yours and if I don't have it within three days you'll find me standing on your doorstep with a really angry face, and when you then invite me in I'm going to refuse. Yes, I will! And now you might call me childish, but that's just how I do things. It's my way or not at all. But I think you already knew that.

Draco

Okay, I hope this was to your liking. I really enjoyed writing this, for some reason that is totally unknown to me.

Oh, and thank you to all my reviewers, you are so great with your constructive criticism. It's really appreciated. And a special shout-out to jenniluz (I hope it's alright that I mention you) you've been a really great help and faithful reviewer along with broadwayb (hope you don't mind the mention) who's every bit as important for my writing as my computer (okay, maybe not but I really appreciate all the great reviews).

And with that said I can only hope for even more reviews that can help me make this story even better (Did that sound too cocky?)