Hermione walked alone into Hogsmeade surrounded by couples, some obviously happy others awkward.

"Hey Granger, thought you had a date." Draco stopped her as she looked down an aisle of quills.

"He got engaged last night."

"Right." Draco shifted. "You have fun with Theo?"

"Um… yes." Great was this where they'd laugh at her?

"He did too." Draco sent her a tentative smile, "A lot."

"Really?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself.

"Yeah," Draco laughed, "He was grinning like mad when he came in, thinks you're brilliant, you know, not just with school stuff."

Hermione blushed, "He was very charming."

Draco snorted, "Blaise is charming, Theo's… relaxed."

"What are you?"

"A git."

Hermione laughed.

Draco was surprised to find her laugh really quite… pretty. "You know he's one of my best mates. Him and Blaise."

"Yes."

"We'd be around each other." Hermione blushed, "I just meant, maybe, uh, you know, we could be like this… not hexing and stuff."

Hermione smiled at him and nodded, "I'd like that… I mean, even if… well if Theo didn't ask me out again."

"He will… maybe."

"I, uh, he must have lots of dates, I mean, Daphne and Ginny are trying to find me options."

Draco snorted, "He's one date ahead of Blaise and I, well until Blaise goes out with you, then it's just me trailing the marriage race."

"How many do they…"

"You." Draco told her with a shrug. "We aren't exactly prime marriage catches these days, especially to muggle borns. I mean I made one witch cry, cry! Just because I asked her on a date." Draco sighed. "I'm doomed."

"I, um, what about…"

"Don't strain yourself Hermione. It's ok. I'll go on the three school dates and after Christmas the three of us are leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Yeah, we figure Veela maybe, a month anyways and then we aren't sure maybe into muggle London. Theo thinks Melanie might be able to set us up with a nice girl or two, not sure we'd get muggles to fall in love and marry us so quick but that will be our last hope."

"Oh." Hermione picked up a quill. "Did she really cry?"

"I don't know, she looked terrified and ran away but it looked like was going to. The other two laughed."

"Draco." Hermione sighed.

"Blaise I think got a partial agreement after Daphne let it slip you'd agreed to a date and since his family was neutral maybe he'll be ok. Theo has his dad to worry about but after being seen going out with you Daphne is sure his stock went up to last resort but a possibility on some muggle born radars."

"That's terrible. Theo wasn't a Death Eater."

"No, I was." Draco sighed. "Really, you've helped them both though. Its wonderful of you even if you didn't want to marry either of them or you know, give Theo a second chance at courting you."

"I don't get the whole courting thing." Hermione admitted.

"I suppose it's like muggle dating but we do it specifically with marriage in mind. I mean, I'd have had to court Pansy even though it was a done deal and Theo would have had to court Daph, it's tradition."

"Right." Hermione sighed.

"You ok Hermione?" A Ravenclaw called from the end of the aisle glaring at Draco.

"Of course."

"I should go." Draco sighed and then turned back to her, "I never said thank you."

"Sorry?"

"The final battle… you saved me from the killing curse… I… thank you."

Hermione watched him walk up to the till.

"What did he want?" The Ravenclaw stepped closer to her.

"He… uh…" Hermione evaluated the witch and then squared her chin and spoke loud enough for Draco to hear at the till, "We're on a date."

"You… and Draco Malfoy?" The witch repeated shocked.

"We're all trying to move forward from the war and past prejudice Sarah. Draco was on the right side in the end, his mother even saved Harry's life and he's very contrite for the past. He's smart and a talented wizard and our friends thought we'd be a good match so we are giving it a chance. Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to the Three Broomsticks." Hermione spun around and went to the till to buy her quill before taking Draco's arm and leading him out of the store his mouth still gaping open.

"Did you just tell the biggest Ravenclaw gossip we were on a date?" Draco finally managed to get out.

"Yes." Hermione hissed spinning on him, "It isn't right the way she was looking at you, you are a prat and I don't like you but that doesn't mean you should be treated like a leper. Now try to be civil and lets go get a butterbeer."

Draco nodded still stunned as she took his hand and led him across Hogsmeade. Word had beat them to the pub and everyone stopped talking when they walked in. Hermione led them over to the table Harry and Ginny were at and sat down.

"Um, I'll uh, get you a drink." Draco bolted for the bar still trying to get his brain to function.

"Are you and Malfoy on a date?" Ginny hissed leaning across the table.

"We are now." Hermione sighed and then groaned, "How did I get myself into this?"

"You tell us Mione." Harry said looking a little green.

"They laughed at him and Sarah Pint looked at him like he was trying to cast an unforgivable on me when he was just asking me about Theo and offering an olive branch and the way he looked when he said the witch cried and ran away when he asked her out it was just awful. I didn't even think."

"Now you're on a date… with Draco Malfoy." Harry confirmed.

"Yes, yes I am." Hermione nodded. They were silent until Draco returned and set a mug down hesitating before sitting down with his own.

"Potter." He nodded, "Weaslette. Congratulations on you know." He motioned between them.

"Thanks."

"How are you Malfoy?" Harry tried for polite.

"Fine, and you?" Draco reverted to his upbringing of manners.

"Fine."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Really guys."

"Ok" Draco rolled his eyes, "I'm shite Potter, my mum's alive and well so that's about all I've to be thankful for right now, that and you killed the slimy git invading my home and life, thank you by the way, not sure in all the praise and love anyones really said it but I meant it and say it almost as much as… well" he turned to Hermione, "I'm… sorry."

Hermione smiled at him, "That really was hard for you wasn't it."

Draco snorted, "Terribly."

"Git."

Draco smirked at her and Ginny laughed, "You might not be all bad Malfoy."

"Thanks Weaslette, how's the wedding plans?"

"Good. Busy. We're getting married in December and it's a lot of work especially with everything booking up."

"Mum's amazing with parties, if you know, you needed a hand."

"Your mum?"

"Yeah." Draco shrugged, "She loves all that stuff, be happy to help your mum and you out with it."

"That's… well that's really wonderful of you to offer Malfoy."

"Yeah, right, something for mum to do is all. You know besides stress about what's to become of me."

"Alright stop high-jacking Mione's date Gin. Let's go to the sweet shop."

"Harry." Hermione admonished blushing.

"It is the first one you've made yourself Mione. You should try to enjoy it." Ginny grinned at her.

"Yeah and the look on Ron's face when he finds out." Harry laughed.

"It's none of his concern." Hermione told him sticking her nose in the air. Draco snorted trying to hold in a laugh. "What?" She glared at him.

"Nothing." Draco chuckled, "You just look, well like a pure blood society witch when you do that." Draco burst out laughing at her shocked look to that statement, making Hermione laugh as well. Neither noticed when Ginny and Harry left, both surpsied at the exchange.

"So." Hermione blushed and looked at her lap when the chucking stopped.

"Um, listen, you know how you let Theo pretend his family history didn't matter?"

"It doesn't." Hermione insisted making Draco grin.

He took a breath and his expression immediately sobered, "You think maybe we could pretend our history didn't exist and just, you know, talk, I mean, Theo really did have a good time and well… Daphne really likes you, she doesn't have a ton of people and well, since you're friends we could, be, you know, civil, but also maybe… get to know each other."

"You mean try to be friends?"

Draco shrugged, "Why not?" He shook his head, "Don't answer that."

"I'd like to try that Draco."

"Really?" He looked at her like she grew a second head.

"I really do just want the war, the past to be over."

"Ok." Draco smiled at her. "Um, so Granger, what um, what's your favorite color?"

"Hermione and it's actually pale green, like apples. Yours?"

"Blue, will you call me Draco?"

"Of course."

"What's your patronis?"

"An otter. Yours?"

Draco colored and muttered, "Ferret."

Hermione laughed, "Really?"

"Yes." Draco hissed.

"Oh Draco, I'm not laughing at you really." She giggled.

"Right." He rolled his eyes. "Did you really have fun with Theo?"

"I told you I did."

"Would you help find a witch for him… or maybe… consider him?"

Hermione blushed, "We've only had one date."

"You'd agree if he asked again though?"

Hermione nodded, "I liked him."

"What do you want in a husband?"

"I don't know." Hermione shrugged and sighed.

"Blaise is a really good bloke too. Maybe if you didn't want him yourself you'd know a witch who might, or you know a friend from home or something?"

"Why are you promoting them?"

"They find a witch and then they'll help me. It's self serving really."

"Of course." Hermione rolled her eyes, "I understand you but why would they have trouble?" She blushed.

"Slytherins, Theo's father and…"

"What?"

"Blaise has commitment issues."

"What kind?"

"The witches told him he's not good enough to be a husband or boyfriend all his life kind."

"Someone told him that?" Hermione hissed.

Draco shrugged, "His mother didn't do a betrothal contract because he was…" Draco adopted a high snotty voice intended to be Blaise's mother, "Born to be a lover and not a mate, the man a woman had before settling down."

"That's terrible!"

"His godmother told him he'd be a charming snake like his father, using women as they were meant but never succumbing to the lies of love."

"No!"

Draco nodded, "His first girlfriend dated him to make her ex jealous, she kissed his cheek and thanked him when he found them snogging."

"That can't be true!"

"The next girl he was with didn't want anyone to know they were together and when Daphne found out she told everyone they were shagging but not serious."

"She didn't!"

Draco nodded, "Every girl he's been with reinforced his mothers words, now he thinks no witch could want to marry him. They all say he's to charming, to good looking so he must be sleeping with a dozen witches and not take anything serious."

"Is he like that?"

"Blaise?" Draco almost spat with lifted eyebrows, "He's… well the gits a bit of a ponce with the romance stuff, he loves romance and the idea of falling in love with one woman everyday for the rest of his life and that crap."

"Not a romantic?" Hermione asked him dryly.

"Me? Not really no. Blaise isn't a girl about it all either he's just a bit whipped… he just needs to find the woman to be that for. You'll see. He loves to have fun and travel and learn new things by experiencing it, he's a live free guy but it makes people think he's a playboy and he isn't."

"What is Theo?"

"He's a casual, down to earth, book worm, real grounded where Blaise is real… not flighty… free spirited maybe? Theo would stay in London all his life content, Blaise wants to see the whole world, wizarding and muggle."

"What about you?"

"I'm the driven one, I want to succeed, build up my name, not just return the family name but my own name, to build something of my own or create something of my own. I want to become… somebody. Draco sighed, "not be known as the coward Death Eater brat."

"You aren't." Hermione told him setting her hand on his, "I bet you build or do something great, hopefully not terrible but great." She added on teasingly.

Draco grinned at her, "Thanks. Tell me about your best mates."

"Ron and Harry?" Hermione smiled, "Ron loves all things food but he's a brilliant strategist and Harry, well he's so… caring, I mean it really matters to him what happens to people and he's so loyal and really humble, he hates all the attention while Ron loves attention. He's the youngest of six boys though so that had to be hard, I mean Ginny is the baby but she was the only girl so it was different for her. She's my only real girl friend, before Daphne anyways. She's loved Harry forever, she's very smart and caring, she's very nurturing but really stubborn and kick ass when she needs to be, she's really good for Harry, gets him up and out of his own head."

"Why aren't you marrying Weasel… er Ron."

Hermione chuckled, "We're just better as friends, I loved him a long time but we didn't… mesh that way."

"Have you ever… meshed?"

Hermione blushed, "None of your business."

Draco laughed, "Sorry." He held up his hands and looked around, the place was empty. "What time is it?"

Hermione checked her watch, "Oh, its almost supper! We've been here hours."

"Really?" Draco confirmed the time surprised.

"It was nice."

"Yeah." Draco smiled at her, "Who knew?"

Hermione laughed. "I know!"

"Hermione?" He asked as he led her out.

"Yeah?"

"About Bella…"

"You couldn't have done anything, really, you did everything you could without getting yourself killed."

"I'm still sorry… for all of it. The Death Eater stuff and the stupid kid hexing bully crap."

"Thanks Draco."

"You know, my mates call me Drake."

"Am I your mate now?" Hermione asked with a blush.

"You might know almost as much about me as they do now." He responded with a shrug.

"Mione."

"Huh?"

"Harry, Gin and Ron all call me Mione."

Draco bit back a smile, "Guess this means we're sort of friends."

"I guess it does."

They walked in silence the rest of the way back to Hogwarts, at the Great Hall he stopped and turned to her, "Thank you."

"It was…" Hermione struggled for a word.

"Informative?" Draco offered with a laugh.

"Yeah, that." Hermione chuckled with him. "See you later… Drake?"

"See you later Mione." He agreed with a grin and a wink, heading over to the Slytherin table.

"What?" Ron spat as she sat down and immediately blushed.

"He wasn't mean was he Mione." Harry asked gently.

"He was… nice." Hermione admitted, "We… well we talked, a long time and we…"

"You aren't marrying him." Ron hissed.

"Relax Ronald." Hermione glared at him, "We had one drink."

"Several hours ago." Ginny murmured.

Hermione sighed, "We just… talked." She blushed, "We've decided to be friends."

"Friends… with Malfoy?" Harry asked gently.

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "Friends, with Draco." She turned to Harry, "I thought we agreed to let the past be the past Harry?"

"We did." Harry sighed, "I still don't trust him."

"He deserves the chance to earn our trust though doesn't he? Just like Daphne and the other Slytherins."

"I suppose." Harry muttered grudgingly.

"What did you talk about?" Ginny asked quietly, aware the whole dining hall was still talking about Hermione and Draco's 'date'.

"Everything." Hermione told her with shrug, "His friends, you guys, our likes and dislikes. Did you know his favorite class isn't DADA, it's Charms."

"Really?" Ginny frowned, "Charms?"

"Yes." Hermione nodded, "Charms."

"So it was ok then, Seamus bailing?"

"Yeah." Hermione smiled, "I had a nice day."

"Nice." Ron grumbled with his mouthful. "A nice day with Malfoy."

Hermione ignored him, "How'd it go with Astoria?"

Ron blushed and shoved another bite in his mouth. It was Ginny to sigh and fill her in, "We met up with them for a bit, she's really shy and sweet but I still don't know much about her, maybe Ron wasn't the best idea to find out what might be the right type of bloke for her, maybe we should talk to Daphne and have like a girls night or something."

"Good idea." Hermione nodded.

"So Astoria is going to be your new project? What about Mione?" Ron interrupted.

"Mione has several dates lined up and is doing just fine on her own, you on the other hand Ronald need to step it up." Ginny reminded him turning to Harry. "Do you think I should suggest mum get some help with the wedding Harry? She sent me three owls today about it."

"I thought she was doing ours so quick so it would be less stressful?"

"Yeah but George is engaged to and he's going to get married New Years, mum wants him settled because there's still Charlie and Ron to go and she's trying to budget everything."

"Doesn't the witches family pay? I mean, it's traditionally the brides family in muggle tradition."

"No." Ginny shook her head, "I mean, yes for some stuff but not for everything. The Wizard pays for the wedding to welcome the new bride into his family, the witches family pays for the honeymoon as a goodbye gift. Traditionally.

"Really? I have lots of money for our wedding then so it's not a problem." Harry assured her.

"Yes but it's the planning and the honeymoon for us and mum doesn't want to just wrack up a bill for you being as you're her son already too she feels like its, I don't know she wants it special but its so fast Harry. Maybe we should elope? It would break her heart but she's so stressed!"

"What about Mrs. Malfoy? Draco said she loves planning parties." Hermione interrupted.

"You think I should suggest it to mum?"

"If you don't think she'd be offended I'd hand the whole thing over to someone else so she didn't have to worry." Harry admitted. "She has to much on her plate."

"I'll talk to her."

"Maybe she could help with yours too Mione and George wants something super small so its just Ron and I'd bet Charlie would elope."

"Mine?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, you're still family too Mione." Ron nodded.

"That's…" Hermione sniffled and smiled at them. "I'll talk to Draco about asking his mother as soon as you ask yours if she'd be ok with the help."

"With a Malfoy? Who knows." Ron hedged, "Let's just focus on what we can do here though right. We need to get married Mione. Who is your next date?"

"The school is appointing someone tomorrow."

"Right. For me too. I hope she's pretty."

"Come on you lot, let's go up to the dorm." Harry stood up taking Ginny's hand, "Tonight we can just be regular students and friends."

"Oh, that's nice." Hermione smiled, "I can study for a bit."

"Let's play a game of Chess Harry."

"I'll paint your nails while you study Hermione and I want to look through some magazine's for date wear for you too."

The four friends made their way up to the common room ignoring all the eyes on them as they passed.

"You had a date with Mione!" Daphne whisper yelled excited.

"How did you manage that?" Theo frowned at his friend.

"She announced it to that bint Sarah Pint in Ravenclaw."

"What?"

"I saw her in the supply shop looking at quills and you know said hello asked her about Theo and tried to be, I don't know, civil. Pint saw us and looked ready to hex me so I moved off and Hermione told her we were on a date and then dragged me to Three Broomsticks while I tried to decide if it was all a prank or not. She really is quite brilliant."

"Yeah." Theo nodded with a smile and then frowned.

"We've decided to be friends."

"Friends?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah, friends. She even admitted she liked you mate and would say yes if you asked her on a second date."

"She'll let him court her?" Daphne grinned.

"Second date, yes, courting not yet. She did seem keen on getting to know Blaise and not at all disappointed her date today was cancelled. I have hopes for you two yet and maybe she'll have friends, either way you have to admit being seen with her is good for us."

"Yeah." Theo nodded, "Blaise might have a date with Katrina Gallows, she said she'd think about it."

"See." Draco smirked. "Good thinking making her a friend Daphne."

"I like her." Daphne insisted, "So don't you lot go mucking it up by using her!"

"I like her too." Draco insisted "but you have to admit we need every hand we can get, sneakily or otherwise."

"Fine." Daphne sighed. "Story does too. She barely spoke to Ron apparently and all she could say was he was pleasant to her."

"Come on, let's just go back to the common room."

"Um, Theo?"

"Yeah?" He turned to the pretty witch behind him. "I'm Juliette." She blushed. "Ginny said, um, well she said you'd like to ask me for a date tomorrow and well I said no but its only because I already have a school date so maybe," She blushed brighter, "Maybe you could just ask me a different day?"

"Tuesday?" He offered, not sure what was happening.

"Great." She grinned at him. "I'll wait for you in the Great Hall."

"Ok."

She hurried a few feet away and then turned back, "Um, what time?"

"Right, ah, after last bell?"

"Ok. See you!"

He turned back to the table, "What just happened?"

"I told you." Draco smiled at him, "Being seen with Hermione."

Daphne rolled his eyes, "That and Ginny is trying to help us, you know they really are good friends to have."

"Yes, yes they are." Theo agreed with a smile. "Now I have a date for Tuesday, do you think Hermione is free Wednesday?"

"We have late class on Wednesday Theo and she's not free for second dates until after next week but you might ask her before another wizard does, she really is a catch."

"Brilliant." Draco agreed. "You couldn't do better."

"Not many witches better." Theo agreed with a smile.

"Please don't pin all your hopes on her."

"If not for Theo then for Blaise. We'll make her a Slytherin Daph and then we'll all be set. Astoria too."

Daphne sighed, "Come on, if we're going to plot let's take it downstairs but if my friend gets hurt I will hex you all."

"You know me Daph, I'd treat her like a Queen and Blaise would treat her like a goddess."

"Where is Blaise?"

"Sulking like Pansy."

"Why?"

"That bint Holly Jacobs had him on today about how she was mad for him and didn't admit it before because he was Slytherin and she was a muggle born and not an hour later she was engaged to a previously hesitant Dean Thomas who she praised for saving her from the playboy charmer snake."

"Slag." Theo hissed.

"Pansy really needs to get looking as well, people aren't waiting to court properly." Draco sighed.

"So why are we?" Theo asked.

"You are proper gentlemen and they will, its' just new and feels desperate now. They'll all court and a few couples will change but the choice will be limited and she ought to start looking." Daphne insisted.

"Right and you have Hermione, she's brilliant but we'll have her happily wed to you or Blaise before she can think to much and marry some worthless twit who couldn't match her brains and would bore her in a week."

"Or who would treat her like a house witch to cook, clean and have babies." Daphne shuddered.

"Right, none of that." Theo rolled his eyes, "Except you know, the babies part is required."

"Right." Daphne sighed, "Can you just picture a little Ernie?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "Focus Daph. You're an insider, we have to plot how to get her to fall in love with one of them. Hell both of them and then she can have a back up against any other gits who think they have a chance."

"She seemed agreeable enough to you too Drake."

"Shut up Theo." Draco growled and shoved his friends shoulder.

"Why are Blaise and I any more possible? I tell you we aren't."

"She told me she likes you."

"She might like you after today." Daphne encouraged gently.

"Tortured. Malfoy Manor. While I watched."

Neither of them could say anything to that so they continued to the common room in silence.

"I'll get Blaise." Theo said as they walked in and sat.

"Daph drag Pans out of bed too." Draco ordered with an eye roll, "It's time we all took this seriously and started acting like Slytherins about it."

"To true." Astoria agreed with a nod.

"Yeah, that means you too Story." He told her with a lifted brow making her blush.

They assembled in the common room minutes later Pansy pouting at Draco. "It's ridiculous."

"Stop being a bleeding heart Hufflepuff, you don't even love me." Draco rolled his eyes at her.

"Of course I do Drake-y, we were good together, happy."

"We were miserable."

"Fine." She hissed. "I was supposed to be Lady Malfoy not some nobody and I would have been the perfect wife to you."

"Right now, anything Malfoy isn't worth much, better to be some nobody and build from scratch."

"It's not that bad Drake." Astoria whispered.

He turned to her and his expression softened, "I suppose it could be worse Story, certainly no one would associate you with your father or anything he thought or did."

"I'm a Slytherin Drake, I know you all think I'm weak and maybe I am afraid of lots of things but I can be just as sly and sneaky as the rest of you and I'm certainly not totally free from my name."

"Its different for you, you can marry anyone so long as its not a pureblood, I have to marry a muggle born. I don't even know any." Pansy interrupted.

"Then its time to get to know some." Daphne rolled her eyes at her friend, "It's going to be ok Story and we don't think you're weak, just shy."

"Painfully." Pansy agreed.

"Pans." Draco snapped at her.

"What! Have you ever even seen her talk to a bloke that wasn't you, Blaise or Theo? And don't say Goyle he doesn't count. I mean she isn't even in our year."

Astoria blushed and stared at her hands, Daphne frowned at her friend, "Story just always had us to hang around, she didn't need many other friends and father didn't want her talking with boys, he thought Theo would watch out after me here but her betrothed was at Durmstang."

"It's ok Daphne." Astoria hushed her protective sister, "Let's just focus on now, not the past ok?"

"Story is right, all of us need to get married and Daph is the only one with a fiancé, the only one with any prospect." Blaise sighed. "Maybe we should just move on to another species or muggles?"

"No, you and Theo have Hermione."

"I also have a date with Juliette." Theo smiled.

"Let's at least give it to December." Draco agreed. "Pansy hasn't even started."

"You think I have a chance with anyone?" Goyle asked looking up from the odd creature in his lap.

"Hagrid?" Pansy suggested cruelly.

"Pans." Draco growled.

"Maybe Ginny and Mione will know, they just need to get to know you, like they are trying to help Story."

"I think we need to help ourselves." Draco smirked "and Hermione is going to help us with that."

"Going to get her to fall in love with Theo?" Blaise asked sitting up.

"Or you." Daphne smiled at him.

"Better both of you." Draco grinned.

"She seemed very happy with you too Drake." Story spoke up quietly again.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Let's not go insane here, friendship was hoping to much so I wont hold my breath on more, besides we'd like to kill each other before long and then I'd be up shits creek no matter which of us killed the other."

"Why?" Pansy frowned at him.

"He'd be dead or in Azkaban." Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Ok you lot, time to get serious about this." Draco ordered. "Time to act like Slytherins about all this wedding crap and get what we want."

"Right." They all nodded.