I couldn't sleep. The muse wouldn't let me. I entirely blame it for this chapter. Which is brilliant for you all, and a mixed bag for me.

So far it seems like the people who've read this story so far like it! I'm so glad :D

Ash-castle and M1sch1efManaged, you both are amazing and I love you. Don't worry Ash, I'm almost positive the Mermaid fic will be out by the end of the week, only because the muse will insist upon it :P

I know I only just started this story and I told you I had no idea when I would be updating, well apparently the muse decided that no sleep could occur until this chapter was written and edited.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think :)

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line is mine.

Saturday, 5th June, 1999

Hermione Granger's Flat

Draco Malfoy's Birthday

Hermione found herself thinking about her meeting with Luna and Daphne a few months back for the sixth time that day. It was utterly frustrating.

Since that meeting every conversation she had with Luna had been nice, pleasant, safe. She ignored the feeling she had whenever Luna's hand accidentally brushed against hers. Taking slow, measured breaths to calm her racing heart. She told herself that she was being ridiculous, she couldn't possibly meant to be with not only one, but two women.

"What would I even tell my friends?" Hermione wondered aloud, pacing about her living room, hands on her hips, nibbling on her bottom lip. She was home alone, so she hadn't bothered putting on anything too fancy since her shower about twenty minutes ago, only one of Harry's dark green shirts that reached about mid thigh, and a black lacy panty.

Her question of course was a pointless one since she avoided being in proximity with either witch when she could, as a matter of fact, the last time she had seen Daphne was their graduation ceremony over a week ago now. Before that she evaded both of them when she could around the castle. Ducking into dark alcoves, often interrupting a shag or two, running up stairs, hiding behind bookshelves in the library. Harry told her she was being absurd; of course she had refused to tell anyone what had happened in that classroom that day. If she told anyone then it would become more real. Which it wasn't she told herself over and over.

Her friends had noticed that something was off; she had a sneaking suspicion that Ginny had figured it out from the smug looks she sent Hermione's way whenever Luna sat with them during meals and she stiffened instinctively.

The main reason why she was so worked up today however was because it was Draco Malfoy's birthday. He was having a fancy soirée, practically everyone was invited, everyone. Which of course included Luna and Daphne.

"This is ludicrous, get a grip Hermione! They are just girls, you needn't be afraid of them," Hermione stomped her foot in indignation.

"I think you should be afraid, Granger." A voice from her floo startled her, and she had her wand drawn in the split second it took her to turn around. Scowling darkly when she saw exactly who it was who had entered her flat without permission, and was now standing leaving against the fireplace mantle with a smug, little smirk on his face.

"You know Granger, green really suits you. If I wasn't engaged, and you weren't currently in your present...situation, I think I may have attempted to woo you," Draco smirked, grey eyes sparkling with amusement. Dressed as impeccably as always, shiny black dragon hide shoes, black trousers and a slate grey jumper. Astoria's influence she imagined. Since courting the petite, dark haired beauty his wardrobe didn't only consist of the colour black.

"You? Woo me?" Hermione snorted gracelessly, pulling a hair tie from around her wrist and hastily throwing her curls into a ponytail. "Do you want tea or something?" Hermione made a mental note to revise who she let the wards allow in, but then she remembered that Draco was her friend, sort of.

"That's right, I'm not your type," Draco teased, pushing off of the mantle and headed towards her kitchen.

It didn't take him long, Hermione knew her flat was small, but it suited her. Kingsley had offered her a job when she graduated, Harry and Ron as well, had also insisted on giving them all a heap of galleons for their 'service' to the Wizarding World. Hermione had taken only what she would need to get herself a nice, quaint flat in Diagon Alley. Once she would have gotten one in the Muggle world, but there was nothing left for her there. Finding her parents had proved impossible, and any friends she once had were so different from her she found she couldn't relate. Not really at least. She had seen death, so much death, pain and suffering. Whereas most of their problems seemed so mundane, pointless.

Harry had politely declined, instead asking McGonagall if he could be taken on as an apprentice and teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. The Scottish woman had smiled at him proudly and told him he would start come September.

Ron on the other hand was thrilled, immediately accepting a position in the Auror program, he was going to spend the next two years training to become a full fledged Auror. He had been a bit put out when he found out that neither Harry nor Hermione would be joining him; but he was happy for them.

Hermione was a bit lost as to what she wanted to do now. McGonagall had suggested she sign up for the apprenticeship program like Harry but to become her replacement as the Transfiguration teacher. "I don't trust anyone I've interviewed to transfigure a spoon into a teacup, much less teach young, impressionable minds." Hermione hadn't had an answer, and McGonagall had patted her shoulder comfortingly, "you'll figure it out Miss Granger. If you do however ever wish to apply for the position, I'll be more than happy to take you on. You are more than qualified for the job."

Whilst she was lost in thought, staring at her feet with a slight frown, Draco had put the kettle on to boil, and was now waving his hand and having two teacups fly down from the cupboard and land neatly on the counter in front of him, snapping his fingers he got the milk bottle from the ice box to join the cups.

"Granger?"

Hermione's head snapped up, and she hit her forehead. Gah! I'm an idiot! "I'm so sorry Draco! I should be making that, it's your birthday. That should have been the first thing I said. Happy Birthday!" Hermione moved forward until she was hugging his back, Draco tensed momentarily before relaxing, turning around in her arms. Tentatively he wrapped his arms loosely around her, chin on top of her head.

"Thanks, Granger," Draco said in a warm tone. The mere fact that he was hugging-touching her indicated how much things had changed since the War.

"So what am I supposed to wear tonight?" Hermione worried her bottom lip between her teeth, she hadn't really been to any 'Pureblood' events, only things that the Ministry had put on, and outfits were always provided for her much to her relief and disdain. She hated being in the limelight just as much as Harry did, Ron didn't mind it as much as they, but he also didn't seek it out either.

"Why do you think I'm here?" Draco teased, "I brought you a dress that Stori got you." Draco had pulled back and saw Hermione's forehead crinkle and spoke again before she could protest, "it was her pleasure, a gift, and no you cannot give it back."

"Fuck you Malfoy," Hermione sulked, pulling out of his arms and when she looked back in the direction of her living room she saw a black garment back laying across her armchair.

"Right, go try it on so we can make sure it fits," Draco commanded, at Hermione's droll look and quirked eyebrow, he ground his teeth together before adding, "please."

Minutes later Hermione emerged from her room, and Draco grinned. "Lovegood and Daphne won't be able to keep their hands off of you." Before Hermione could say anything else, Draco drank the last bits of tea in the bottom of his cup, whispering something to clean the teacup before placing it in Hermione's hands and kissing her cheek. Smirking as he ducked into the floo, disappearing in a swirl of green flames.

"Stupid Ferret," Hermione sighed, heading back into her room to get changed out of her dress. Tonight was going to be interesting, that was for sure.

...

Hermione arrived at Malfoy Manor half an hour late, her stomach tied into a billion knots for more than one reason. For starter's she was back at Malfoy Manor, the place she was tortured just over a year ago, and secondly, two very attractive women that she had been trying to get out of her head all day - to no avail - were inside.

Hermione nervously smoothed down the front of her dress as she finished climbing the stairs to the front of the house where the hired help for the evening took her black outer robes. Underneath she wearing a floor length periwrinkle dress, that fit all of her curves, and had a dangerously high slit on the left side. She had almost not worn the dress at all because of it, but chose to be brave and try something a bit new. The dress was strapless and had a square neckline, in the middle there was a small cut out which made a 'v' shape. She had gone for simple four inch black heels with a thin heel and silver dangly earrings adorned her ears. She had opted to go for a messy look for her hair, piling it in an elaborate bun that was just messy enough to get away with, her curls framing her face.

One of the men led her through the house, and thankfully the Ballroom was nowhere near the Drawing room where she had been tortured and carved into by Bellatrix.

It was just her luck however that the first people she bumped into were Harry and Luna, who were having an amiable conversation. Hermione noted that Harry looked very well put together in his formal robes, but she only had eyes for Luna.

There was something ethereal about the fair haired girl in her dress. Like hers it was floor length, but that was where the similarities ended. Luna was wearing an off the shoulder frosty blue dress, the arms had large slits in them, so whenever she raised her hands, the fabric shifted to show her creamy white skin, the dress clung to her until it reached her waist, from there it was flowy and light and trailed behind her beautifully. Luna's long hair was freely flowing down her back, and for once she had in diamond studs in her ears, and Hermione suspected that Luna's feet were most likely bare under her dress.

"Oh, Hermione! You look marvellous" Luna's silvery blue eyes shone happily once she spotted the brunette, and disappointment welled up in Hermione that she could no longer freely admire the blonde. Heart thumping loudly in her ear she walked towards Harry and Luna, hugging Harry briefly but tightly and then smiling in greeting at Luna. She didn't trust herself around the petite girl. Hermione was still having trouble admitting to herself that she found Luna highly attractive, the desire to grab her hand and leave the party only to find out exactly what Luna tasted like was getting stronger by the minute. It was thoughts like that which terrified her.

"Thank you...you look lovely as well," Hermione smiled. Utterly delightful might I add. Stop it Hermione! Think of something else, think of something else.

"Shit," Hermione heard the muted whisper from behind her, and spun around only to see Daphne trying to get away without being seen.

"Why Daphne, that colour suits you," Luna called out, just loud enough for the honey blonde to hear. Daphne froze, obviously weighing her options of whether she could still try to leave, thus being rude now that she had been directly address: or facing the two women she had been avoiding just as much as Hermione had been avoiding her.

"Thank you, Lovegood," Daphne said with what looked like a cross between a grimace and a smile.

If Luna looked ethereal, then Daphne looked like sin. Hermione's lips parted unwittingly as examined the blonde. She was wearing an Oxford Blue dress that came about mid thigh and hugged her tightly, six inch stilettos that only seemed to accentuate her long legs, it was a halter neck dress, and Daphne was wearing Sapphires that glittered against her fair skin, strikingly matching her deep blue eyes. It wasn't just the dress though, it was the way she stood, casual yet confident with impeccable posture and the look in her eyes said even though she wasn't sure how to act around them, she sure as hell wasn't going to cower now that she had to face them. Hermione admired that Daphne had worn her short hair out, it barely brushed the bottoms of her ears, shorter in the back than in the front. She remembered images of Daphne two years ago with hair even longer than hers or Luna's.

Harry cleared his throat and Hermione vaguely heard him excuse himself, saying something about spotting Ginny at the entrance.

"We're all wearing shades of blue," Luna said absently, stepping closer, and Hermione could feel the heat radiating off of her body.

"It appears so," Daphne nodded, pink lips pressed into a thin line.

Hermione swallowed, her mouth dry, the three witches stared at each other for a few pregnant moments before Hermione had had enough.

"What the bloody hell is going on between the three of us?" Hermione hissed lowly so they wouldn't be overhead by any of the other guests.

"I don't know what you're referring to Granger," Daphne responded coolly, "if I did however, I would tell you to ask the catalyst behind the whole thing." Daphne gestured towards Luna with narrowed eyes.

Luna laughed lightly before looking at Daphne endearingly, "Daphne, this would have happened if I brought it to your attention or not. I've told you already. We're meant to be. Eventually we would've been drawn together."

"Rubbish," Daphne dismissed the notion with a flick of her hand, but Hermione saw the flash of doubt in her eyes. Not knowing where her brazenness was coming from, she fixed Daphne with a heated stare.

"Is it? I usually don't believe and fate and all of that hogwash, but you have to admit you feel it too," Hermione whispered in a sultry tone. Daphne's eyebrows shot up, taken aback by Hermione.

"I don't have to listen to this," Daphne shook her head, turning to leave when a loud voice boomed around the Ballroom. "Welcome!"

They all turned to look to the source of the sound, and saw Draco standing at the top of a staircase at the far end of the room, his wand pointed at his neck, clearly using a Sonorus charm. "I only wanted to thank you all for coming and I'm pleased that you could be here to celebrate my birthday with me. This is mainly to announce that Astoria Greengrass," Draco gestured to the dark haired girl next to him, who curtsied neatly and smiled primly, "is officially my fiancee." Draco smiled cordially. Hermione tuned out for the end of his speech, but when he finished, she clapped politely regardless. Smirking when she saw how Draco smiled wickedly at Astoria and made what was most likely a crude remark, the tiny girl subtlety elbowed him and he winced. Good. She'll keep him in check.

Hermione turned back to resume her conversation with Daphne, but the space she had previously occupied was empty.

"At least you're starting to accept it, Hermione," Luna said from her side, tiptoeing and kissing her cheek before smiling dreamily and skipping away, heading towards the refreshments table.

This is going to be a very long night indeed. Hermione sighed, spotting Harry and Ginny, deciding that she needed to get away from blonde girls with pretty eyes and nice skin for as long as possible.

They are slowly but surely 'coming to terms' with everything. Oh this is going to be fun to write.

Love,

Indieblue xxx