Monday was a day Hermione focused solely on schoolwork so she missed the shock of Slytherins offering a friendly game of Quidditch… and it really being friendly!

"Hey Ginny!" Daphne called hurrying over with a bright smile, "Did you hear how well Story's date yesterday went?"

"Mione told me, she also really hit it off with her date. I caught her smiling into her book instead of writing notes twice in class today."

Daphne's smile faltered only a second but Ginny wasn't watching so missed it. "Its great." She lied. "Listen, I was thinking, since we're spending so much time and trying to help each other I thought maybe the guys could try to be civil too. You think your friends would be up for a friendly game of mixed team Quidditch?"

"Mixed team?" Ginny frowned.

"Yeah, like Draco, Ron, Goyle and you against, Blasie, Theo Harry and I."

Ginny shrugged, "Sounds good I guess. Let me find the boys and see. Meet you by the pitch in ten?"

"Great!" Daphne shot her a grin and hurried away, "I'll tell my guys."

By the time the two mixed teams had lifted into the air the bleachers were crowding with students.

"Nice save Weasley." Draco called his teammate, rolling his eyes a little at the other boys theatrics, there was no love lost between them but it was the end that mattered and the end would be Hermione wed to one of his best mates.

"Come on Harry mate, we know you can get that snitch before Drake!" Theo called diving away from a bludger hit at him by Goyle.

"Duck!" Blaise shouted as it raced at Ginny.

The crowd was cheering sometimes but mostly watching in shock as the teams played fair and encouraged each other. By the end of the match Harry caught the snitch.

"Brilliant catch." Daphne praised him.

"Yeah mate." Blaise agreed. "We should celebrate."

"Butterbeer by the lake?" Theo suggested. "I've got a load in the dorm."

"I've got snacks!" Daphne bounced.

"You played really well Daphne, I never knew you could." Ginny offered.

Daphne shrugged, "I can't really, I'm just a good flyer, the boys did the rest. You were amazing though, I swear you made more scores on Blaise than all of us made on Ron."

Ginny blushed, "Thanks."

"Rematch sometime?" Draco suggested, "I was a heartbeat from beating you Potter."

"Sure but I'll beat you then too."

"Not a chance." Draco rolled his eyes, "Though I want to know that loop thing you did, it was a little risky but brilliant."

"Hah." Harry laughed, "That loop by the post? That was an accident, I almost fell off my broom."

"Serious?" Draco raised his eyebrows surprised he was admitting this and not claiming it a special move.

"Yeah." Harry laughed, "I thought I'd hit for sure."

"Looked great when you pulled it off though." Blaise agreed.

An hour later, they were all sat by the water as curious students still peered at them from a distance.

"You figure we maybe missed out on some friendships the last seven years?" Theo asked Ron as they played out a game of wizard chess.

Ron shrugged, "Wouldn't have minded playing you before, Harry's not a big challenge."

"I'm not that bad." Harry huffed from where he sat with Ginny.

"Couldn't be worse than Blaise." Theo snorted.

"Bugger off." Blaise retorted tossing a snap card down to the game he was playing with Ginny and Neville, who'd joined them moments before.

"You know Neville, you'd make a good match with Story." Ginny suddenly mused.

"Me?" Neville blushed.

"Hermione said she loves gardening."

"She does." Daphne agreed with a smile, She's so shy being around her flowers is where she feels the most relaxed, and her herbs. She grows her own for potions."

"Really?" Neville smiles, "I'm bunk at potions but Herbology is my best class."

"Neville's pure blood Mione." Ron reminded her.

"Nah," Neville smiled, "Not technically I mean, dad was a half blood."

"The law says more than three generations of pure blood but a case can be made for under five." Draco agreed. "You should set them up Weaslette."

Ginny smirked at him, "Brilliant, how's tomorrow Neville?"

"So soon?"

"Thursday a boy from Durmstang starts courting her." Daphne informed him.

"If she's already taken." He blushed.

"She's not." Blaise insisted, "She just has one bloke she thinks she might be ok with marrying but if she had two, well she'd have a better chance of being happy."

"Yeah, we're trying to get at least three wizards to properly court Mione."

"What about me?" Ron asked his sister frowning at the move Theo made.

"You and Harry need to find you at least one first Ronald." She retorted.

"Yeah, Mione's been on three dates already." Daphne agreed.

"I met with two Beauxbaton witches." He protested back.

"Those weren't proper dates mate." Theo shook his head, "Those were meetings."

"Why does Mione's count?"

"They spent the afternoon together." Ginny's voice resounding the duh.

"That's, Theo, Drake and the Durmstang. Three." Daphne insisted.

"I wasn't really a date." Draco protested.

"With Blaise tomorrow, Kiril at Durmstang Thursday and Oliver Friday." Ginny finished ignoring him.

"Six." Ron sighed.

"I wasn't really a date."

"What's wrong with Mione?" Ron growled at him, "You'd be so lucky."

"No shit Weasel and if I had her I wouldn't be dumb enough to send her packing." Draco hissed.

"Enough mate." Blaise reached over a rested a hand on his shoulder but Draco shrugged him off and stood storming away.

Theo shrugged, "Touchy subject." He sighed, "Rematch next time." He told Ron abandoning the game and standing to follow his friend.

"Don't go." Daphne sighed.

"You know he'll work himself in a state." Blaise sighed standing as well.

"Fine." Daphne sighed, "I should save Story from Pans anyways."

"You stay Daph. I'll get Story." Goyle stood as well. "Thanks for the snap and letting me win Potter." He nodded and started away with the other boys.

Daphne sighed.

"Daph?" Ginny questioned gently.

She shook her head, "It seems so hopeless sometimes."

"What does?" Harry prodded.

Daphne turned to him with a grim smile, "Escaping who we were, having a better future. I'm lucky, Ernie loves me, even if I say stupid things sometimes still. For them…" her voice trailed off as she shook her head sadly, "I'm sorry, we really did have fun and I hope it stays on like this since I really do like Mione and Ginny." Daphne turned to Ginny, "And not just because she's helping me learn muggle stuff for Ernie and his parents. I really like we're friends now."

"Wait Daphne." Ginny stopped her. "Tell me what's going on."

Daphne looked from her friend to the others and Ginny immediately got to her feet and led the witch away.

"Draco's the worst but not by much." Daphne admitted. "They're all just giving up. I mean, they give a token effort but its like they have no self esteem anymore. I heard Blaise tell Theo, Mione was just going with him tomorrow out of pity and Theo said he was sure that's why she went out with him. Draco snorted and said of course it was, she'd even taken pity on him and he'd hate her for it if it wasn't so damn noble and good of her, especially after…" Daphne sighed. "It really is good of her to help them be seen as dateable and I really did think she'd be a good match for one of them. I just want them to be happy. I mean Theo and I might have had to marry before and we don't love each other so its not something we ever thought we'd have but now's my chance and I want it for him too only its worse because if he doesn't find it or a girl like me who'd at least be a good friend, or any muggle witch to marry him he'll go to Azkaban." Daphne bit back tears.

"Oh Daph. It's not pity and Mione really did like Theo honest. She's agreed because she really wants to find someone compatible and honestly I think she thinks they don't see her as a serious possibility."

"They do, well, they'd like to." Daphne whispered.

"We'll just have to encourage them together." Ginny told her with a determined nod.

"Thanks Gin." Daphne hugged her. "I really better go."

"Make sure Blaise has something ready and tell Theo to ask her out!"

"I will." Daphne sent her a small smile and hurried away. That had been brilliant; today had gone better than she could have hoped; a date for Story, a truce between Gryffindor and Slytherin plus Ginny firmly helping to steer Mione towards Blaise and Theo. To bad she couldn't get the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw dates cancelled. Then again, maybe she could work something on the Ravenclaw here at the school.

The next morning Ginny was dismayed when her Ravenclaw backed out but she had lots of time to find a replacement and Hermione was doing well with possibilities, better than either of them had hoped, not that Ginny didn't think her friend would have plenty of willing suitors but that they'd be truly compatible with her.

Hermione received two letters with her breakfast and hurried to open the one with the Durmstang seal, one she recognized from letters Viktor sent her the year they met.

It was from Erik of course.

Hermione.

I am writing, as you gave me permission to. Yesterday I found my thoughts on you more than my studies.

Kiril and I talked a long time about you. He is keen to meet with you and Axel who was named a possibility is very upset, especially now it is known you are who you are. We hadn't last names until we arrived Sunday and it was a shock you were you. I am sure he will not be the only one to approach you after mid meal.

My mother has called me and Dane both foolish for withdrawing but we are certain we could find no one better to court. I have never seen Dane so taken with a witch as he is your Astoria.

I found two titles very helpful to me I thought you might look at. The first is Centering on the Animal Within by Danail Gora and the second is…

Hermione sighed as the letter continued on to discuss the books and becoming an Animagus as well as others she might enjoy. She folded the letter with a smile looking forward to writing him back when she got a moment alone.

The second letter was in a hand that made the small smile break into a grin as she carefully broke the seal, it had been a while since she'd had a letter and she scanned it quickly. It was a short missive but made her heart race.

Hermione.

It has been to long since we corresponded. I am well as I hope you are.

Forgive this note but it has only now reached me you are not engaged to the boy you were so recently photographed with. You were always such good friends I hope you and he did not part on bad terms.

I cannot help but feel hopeful at the news. Since I met you I knew you were special witch. Young for me then perhaps, many would have had it so but four years is not so great a time now we are both of age. Indeed it is very little and I am so very fond of you.

I hope you might consider my suit and with a word from you will arrange to stay in Hogsmeade where we can become again acquainted with more than parchment. I am not eloquent or brilliant as you might be expected to wed but I would love and care for you always, with unending encouragement to achieve all your dreams.

Your loving and hopeful friend,

Viktor Krum.

Hermione read it through twice, blushing brightly and her heart racing.

"What is it Mione?" Ginny couldn't wait any longer.

"Huh?" Hermione looked up with a blush.

"The letters." Ginny pressed.

"Oh, Erik wrote me, he wanted to give me the names of some books we'd talked about."

"Who else?"

"Viktor." Hermione admitted handing the second letter over to Ginny who grinned.

"I knew he always had it bad for you. I bet he has loads of witches after him and he hears you aren't engaged and wants to drop everything to come here just on the hope you might choose him!"

Hermione blushed. "He is a good friend."

"You could marry Ron for a friend though."

Hermione nodded, "I, well, I don't know about Viktor as more, I mean, maybe."

"So tell him that!"

"Should I?"

"Yes!" Ginny hissed, grinning broadly and practically jumping when Harry entered as she waved him and Ron over. "Viktor Krum asked Mione if she'd let him court her!" she informed them before they even had a chance to sit.

"Knew he had it for you." Ron snorted. "Friends. Right."

"We were Ron."

"You may be more now though." Ginny pressed.

"He's an option."

"You're happy you heard from Erik too."

"It's more than I hoped to have two wizards actually seriously considering me and I get along so well with them both."

"What about Theo?" Ginny pressed again.

Hermione blushed, "We had a wonderful time but…"

"What?"

"Well he hasn't asked me out again."

"You've been busy is all, I bet he does, soon." Ginny nodded.

"Maybe he's waiting till after Blaise gets his shot, they are best mates." Ron suggested, unusually perceptive.

"Yeah, it'd be like Ron and I going after the same witch." Harry agreed. "They probably worked out some rules.

"Maybe." Hermione conceded with a sigh. "He really was so… surprising and easy to be around. Erik was too and we really have so much in common, I think he likes the library as much as I do."

"But Theo?" Ginny pressed again.

Hermione shrugged and then blushed, "He made me feel… pretty."

"You are pretty Mione." Harry informed her.

"Yeah, Draco Malfoy even thinks so." Ron snorted. "He's got his wand in a knot over you since your 'date' last week."

"He does not." Hermione defended blushing.

"He actually does Mione." Ginny admitted, "I don't think he meant to reveal that to us though." She then went on to explain the entire previous day from Quidditch to what Daphne had told her.

"Oh" Hermione sat, unsure what to think when she'd finished. "Those poor boys, we really ought to help them Gin I mean, obviously they aren't so bad as we used to think really. Even Malfoy… Draco is matured and not the boy whose nose I wanted to re-break so often over the years."

"You're right. We should." Ginny agreed.

"Oi, can you stop with the Slytherin Projects, I need to find a wife too!" Ron protested with his mouth full.

"Surely a war hero can find his own wife Ronald." Ginny rolled her eyes at him, "You might simply try a little." She turned to Harry, "You are supposed to be helping him Harry."

"Right, um, let's go Ron. Lot's of planning." Harry grabbed a slice of toast, kissed Ginny and stood. Ron, shoveling bacon into a buttered roll and stuffing it in his mouth, followed him quickly.

"Ew." Ginny and Hermione both wrinkled their noses. "I bet Theo and Blaise would never do that."

"No." Hermione shook her head in agreement, "Not at all."

"You know I bet by the end of this week you have narrowed it down. Daphne really did good. Much better than I did." Ginny frowned, "I can't believe she knows you better and we've been friends with her only two weeks."

"She knows the guys better Gin, that's all. I mean you are with us so often and its not like you could pair me with Harry or your brother."

"No." Ginny shook her head, "You're right…" Her voice trailed off and then she jumped, "Actually I could!"

"Gin?"

"Charlie." Ginny hissed.

Hermione lifted her eyebrow, "I hardly think Charlie would be interested in the brainy friend of his little brother."

"That's because you don't really know Charlie." Ginny insisted. "Really, what do you think he does up at that reservation in the middle of no where when he isn't working?"

Hermione lifted a brow, "What?"

"Studying!" Ginny laughed, "He reads all the time, I bet he has a bigger library than you do and not just on Dragons either Mione. Charlie is really smart."

"I don't know Gin."

"You promised, three wizards of my choosing and you haven't had one date yet. I'm sure you'll get on with Oliver and Charlie, I swear they aren't how you'd think and besides you can only veto one and who knows who I'd choose for my third, maybe Draco."

"I had a nice afternoon with him Gin."

Ginny grinned, "Good to know, I'll tell Daphne and she can make him her third option, maybe I'll make mine… Goyle or no who is that sixth year Hufflepuff who turns seventeen next week?"

"Ginny."

"Come on, worst case and you spend an afternoon hanging out with Charlie as friends."

"Right." Hermione smiled. "Ok. Charlie and Oliver. Can we just make it two each then, it feels like it's already too much to think about. I didn't think I'd have so many wizards who would think I'd be right as their wife. I never even had a date but Viktor the one night and Ron."

"Ok, I'll talk to Daph, if you give Draco a proper date. He can be both our pick."

"Deal." Hermione agreed easily.

"So if it works out with Kiril, Oliver and Charlie that's at least eight possibilities plus there is the third school date."

"I think I wont do the third." Hermione shook her head.

"Eight is really good Hermione and its been a week."

"I haven't even been out with four of them yet Gin and Theo never asked me out a second time so really it's two."

"Not bad for one week. By two weeks you'll have it settled between two and eight suitors and they can start courting you and you can take your time to figure out which is right for you. Maybe you'll even be engaged by Christmas and the deadline wont be an issue."

"Let's not get ahead Gin."

"Fine but lets go find you something to wear for your date with Blaise, Daph is meeting us to help since she has an idea where he'll take you."

"We have class Gin."

"Astoria is taking notes besides today is focusing on muggle dating you know that stuff."

"No I don't." Hermione shook her head.

"Well neither do the Wizards after you." Ginny laughed tugging her arm.

Hermione let herself be led out and surprisingly down to the dungeons where Daphne was waiting to let them in the Slytherin common.

"Should we be here?" Hermione whispered as they looked around.

"No." Hissed Pansy.

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Shouldn't you be out with Ernie's friend?"

"His parents run a grocery."

Daphne sighed, "You can be such a snob."

"Whatever." Pansy flicked her hair behind an ear, "What are they doing here anyways."

"Ginny and I are helping her get ready to go out with Blaise."

Pansy snorted, "Better to start early it will take all day to deal with that nest." Pansy pointed to Hermione's head, "I'll get my conditioner, she'll have to start with that and probably the leave in after and some sleakease." Pansy was muttering to herself as she walked, "It was so pretty that one time for Yule Ball."

"That's Pansy pretty well rolling out the welcome matt." Daphne told them with a giggle, "Come on."

Hermione was buffed and polished between classes, her hair washed and knotted in a bun she wasn't to touch until Pansy took it out after last bell. Finally they seemed satisfied and Daphne and Ginny were grinning while Pansy pouted.

"You're not supposed to be pretty." Pansy huffed leaving the room.

"Let me guess, raving praise from her?" Ginny asked rolling her eyes at Daphne.

"Spoiled, self centered but not completely horrible is she?" Daphne offered.

Ginny shrugged, "I wouldn't want to be besties but I only wanted to hex her twice today."

"Speak for yourself." Hermione muttered.

"Its not much work if you keep at it Mione." Daphne offered consolingly.

"Why would I want to?"

"Look." Ginny waved a mirror over and Hermione gasped.

"I look… I look…"

"Gorgeous." Daphne supplied.

"Stunning." Ginny agreed.

"Who knew you had such nice curves and your cheek bones are just, I mean your whole bone structure its really so pretty."

"Yeah Mione but I swear your eyes done like that make them look so sexy."

"Blaise is going to meet his match that's for sure."

"Hardly." Hermione snorted still examining her reflection. "Is that really me?"

"It really is." Ginny sighed. "The real you. I did promise we'd show Hogwarts the you behind the books."

Hermione blushed, "Thank you."

"Its time to be off though, you're almost late."

"Oh no!" Hermione hated being late.

"Almost, you have enough time to get there." Ginny hushed her.

"Daphne?"

"Yeah?"

"Where is he taking me?"

"Honestly I have no idea, with Blaise it could be anything." Daphne laughed, leading them out of the Slytherin girls dorm. They'd ended up visiting both houses through the day so the students didn't stare as much this trip through the common room. Except Draco and Theo who stood in the shadows with Pansy, their breath caught as they saw her pass.

"She really is surprisingly beautiful." Pansy whispered before huffing at her two friends and disappearing to the girl's dorm again.

Blaise was waiting outside in dark wash jeans and a black button down rolled at the elbows.

"Hermione." He offered her a charming grin. "You look dazzling."

"Thank you." Hermione blushed, "You do too."

Blaise laughed and held out his arm, "Shall we?"

Hermione nodded and took his arm letting him lead her across the lawn to where they could apparate. "Where are we going?"

"Dinner first." He sent her another charming smile, "Ready?"

Hermione nodded and felt the familiar tug of apparition. She blinked as she found herself in Diagon Alley outside the Leaky Cauldron.

Blaise led her inside and to a fireplace where he tossed in some floo powder and led her inside before calling out something in Italian.

They arrived in a beautiful courtyard strung with twinkle lights.

"Where are we?"

"My home." Blaise smiled at her.

"Your home?"

Blaise nodded, leading her through a door and into a large sitting room and through to a large kitchen.

The smells were making Hermione's mouth water. "I wasn't able to spend as much time as I'd have liked with classes today, another time I would bring you to the market with me."

"You went to the market yourself?"

Blaise nodded, "I don't like to cook if I haven't gotten the ingredients fresh."

"You've cooked for me?" Hermione asked surprised as he poured her a glass of wine.

Blaise smiled, "You aren't disappointed then?"

"Disappointed?" Hermione stuttered as she took the wine.

"Come and I can show you around and then the main course will be ready."

Blaise led her through the house and Hermione marveled at how open the layout was, how warm and inviting. She was even more amazed when he showed her the vineyard and told her the wine they had was from it.

Blaise led her back to the kitchen and sat her at a table in the corner before magiking the salad over, it was tomatoes and mozzarella with fresh basil and drizzled with olive oil. Next he'd made her seared scallops with risotto and then followed it with profiteroles.

"These I must admit I did not make." Blaise told her as he poured her more wine. "It's a bakery in town. You'd like the town, so much history. Not one building is under two hundred years old. We wont see to much from the square but you'll at least get an idea."

"The square?"

"There is a concert tonight. I will take you after we finish. I had tried to think of a more glamorous date, something to charm you totally like bringing you to the Library of Volare which is the oldest and largest library in all of Italy. Or to sit the Gondola's in Venice or an Opera in Rome. I thought instead I'd show you what my life is out of Hogwarts, or at least a small part of it."

"This would be a normal thing for you? Going to the market and cooking?"

"Yes." Blaise nodded. "In the summer it is."

"What else do you like?"

"You mean like cooking?" Hermione nodded, "I enjoy Quidditch, flying and reading, the vineyard, sailing and the bustle of market days." Blaise shrugged, "I have a lot of hobbies I suppose."

"What about work? What do you want to do?"

"I'd like to cook." Blaise admitted with the blush, "To open this house as a small restaurant vineyard, something like Mela's where I change what is made everyday or almost everyday and just offer two or three choices and pair it with the wine, maybe have soft music and dancing in the courtyard."

"It sounds so beautiful Blaise."

He sighed, "Maybe one day. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." Hermione shrugged, "I suppose I'll work for the ministry."

Blaise sent her a smile, "I suppose I will to but what is your crazy little dream? If there were no limit?"

Hermione blushed, "I'd like to make a difference somehow, maybe a charity or foundation, like the Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare. Or I could just spend my time researching and trying to find a cure for werewolves or something better than wolfsbane. You know, something that really helped people."

"I did that once."

"What?"

"I went for a month on the excursion to feed underprivileged orphans. It felt really good to watch some of these kids gain enough weight I couldn't count their ribs from across the room."

"You did that?" Hermione asked amazed at him.

"I did, that's where I was over the war. We worked to protect and keep fed the children. I actually had several living here with me last year."

"Blaise, that's really wonderful of you."

"It wasn't much. I never even took a stand in the war and out here a child was a child it didn't matter what side the parent was on when they were alive or before they abandoned the kid."

"Oh Blaise." Hermione hugged him.

He smiled at her, "Come on, let's get to the square and not ruin the evening talking more about the war. Tonight's not supposed to be about the past." He held out his arm and apparated them to the middle of a small square with a large fountain. Musicians were playing in one corner of the square, some people sat on steps or leaned out windows while others stood about like her and Blaise and someone handed her an espresso. Hermione sipped hers making a face and handing it to Blaise who gave her a wide smile and sipped it easily. "The whole town is here." Blaise told her in a whisper. "That is Lucia, she's the one who mde the profiterols." He went on to describe a few other people and then they fell silent listening to the music. After a bit Blaise pulled her into his arms to dance.

"No one else is dancing Blaise." Hermione told him blushing and looking around.

"They are to stunned by your beauty cara." He whispered spinning her.

Hermione laughed at him blushing, "See." He nodded over and she saw another couple dancing, others joined but Hermione's eyes were glued to the ones who'd begun after them, they were the oldest couple she'd ever seen.

"They've been married a hundred and nine years." Blaise whispered in her ear. He told her their history and they talked and danced until the town clock struck midnight and the music stopped. "Our time is up Cara." He kissed her hand tucking it into the crook of his arm, "Walk back with me? It's not far."

Hermione nodded and let him lead her down the winding streets of the town to a small building. Inside was a bare room and a large fireplace. Moments later they were back in London and then at Hogwarts walking up to the steps, slowly.

"Thank you Blaise." Hermione smiled at him, her voice low though there was no one near.

"Thank you Hermione, spending tonight with you has been very special." He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back.

Hermione blushed and on impulse leaned up and kissed his cheek before running inside and up to the Gryffindor common room.

The others were waiting up of course but all Hermione could do was blush at them and then sigh before smiling to herself and walking up to her room, the soft tune of the last song they danced to drifting in her mind with an image of the ancient witch and wizard dancing together after a century of marriage.