Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter & co. - just write what could have been :)

Chapter Two: A/N: This is my first fanfic so please excuse any small typos! Reviews are always welcomed so don't hesitate to leave one I'll try to update at least once a week so stay tuned!

Hermione Jean Granger was used to feeling like the odd one out. In the muggle world she was known to be a swot and because she would rather be surrounded by books than people, that didn't leave her with much time to socialize. Due to this, Hermione carried on with her rather stand-offish attitude, but not because she didn't want to have friends, she just thought books were easier. Books didn't care if she was the brightest in class; books didn't care that she wasn't interested in social networking; however, her peers did. As an only child, she didn't grow up having siblings to play or talk with. She was always with her parents, Helen and David Granger, and while they doted on her, they didn't coddle her. Hermione was treated that her autonomy was the most important and her parents always respected her wishes. At Hogwarts, while she hoped she would make friends easier than in muggle primary school, she wasn't surprised she hadn't. Hermione was enthusiastic at first, and hopeful, but she quickly turned to books as her classmates were less enthused about learning. She often wondered if she should have let the Sorting Hat sort her in Ravenclaw, maybe there she would have made more friends at ease. While Harry was still her best friend, her failing relationship with Ron alienated her from the Weasley clan with the exception of Ginny. Hermione wasn't close to her roommates, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and Fay Dunbar, so her female friends consisted of Ron's younger sister and Harry's other female friend, Luna Lovegood. After the war, Hermione focused on her career and her relationship with Ron. While her career was going swimmingly, her relationship had failed. She was used to not having a lot of friends, she was used to not dating throughout her school years, but she wasn't used to not being in a relationship with Ron. He had been one of her best friends and while they didn't always agree on things, she thought they could push through. Hermione had thought that her career focused plan was on par to Ron's Auror's career, but she had been wrong. Ron was definitely focused on his career but assumed Hermione wanted to focus on a more marital aspect He had been wrong and so had she. Now at nearly twenty, her strong voiced opinions and headstrong actions didn't aide in making friends nor did it help her nonexistent dating life. However, it seemed that with Harry Potter's influence, there seemed to be two willing potential friends. While she wasn't friends with the Slytherin duo while at Hogwarts, Nott and Zabini didn't bully her like the rest of her classmates. Hermione would remember seeing a dark headed, blue eyed Slytherin in the library studying; Nott wasn't as tall as Harry, but he had reserved demeanor, sharp cheekbones, and a slim figure. Hermione remembered a dark skinned, brown eyed Slytherin with Malfoy's clique, but he never insulted her. Zabini was taller than Nott by a few inches, a defined jawline, lean, and beautiful brown skin. After the first time meeting them outside of Hogwarts when Harry introduced them, she thought she would be friendly when she saw them again. She didn't expect to see them so soon and definitely not in the confines of her own home. However, it appears they were also experimenting on their own version of being friendly. Now if I don't muck it up, Hermione thought to herself. She couldn't stop the soft laugh that escaped her at Nott's proposition.

"A muggle place?"

She asked him, eyebrows quirking up. Hermione untucked her hands from her pockets and leaned against her stove, opting to hold her hands in front of her. Zabini finally smirked openly at the pair before Nott started his short explanation,

"No witches or wizards, no staring, no fans, no front pages on the Daily Prophet."

Apparently Zabini was onboard with Nott's reasoning. The idea wasn't exactly unappealing with Nott's reasons, but there was only one thing. This time Hermione couldn't help biting the inside of the bottom lip and she started fidgeting with her fingers.

"That sounds actually fun, but – "

"No buts, Granger."

Nott interrupted, lifting one polished finger to her. She bit her lip harder and let her eyes fall to the old wooden floor beneath her. A bad habit she tried to get rid of, but the war didn't help her anxious tendencies. Hermione saw Crookshanks make his way towards her feet. He nuzzled her shins again before settling down beside her. She smiled softly at him before reality settled around her again. Hermione sighing and finally,

"What is it, Granger?"

Nott asked after a few, but suffocating seconds. She looked back up to Nott's blue eyes and flickered to Zabini's dark brown eyes before settling again on the floor.

"I can't dance."

She finally confessed. Hermione expected a laugh or a snicker at least but when she looked back up, Zabini rolled his eyes at her with a smrik on his lips. Nott's expression soften but he also smirked at her.

"Granger, we're about to get sloshed and you're worried that you can't quote-on-quote dance?"

Nott asked her. Hermione couldn't help the blush that fanned her face and she found herself crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well at a club people dance."

She explained her embarrassment. Nott answered,

"You're not getting graded, Granger. Everyone is out to have fun."

"And if any arsehole does poke fun, we know rather imaginative hexes."

Zabini winked at her. Relief flooded through her at the pair's nonchalance. They didn't care that she couldn't dance, they still wanted to go out with her to have fun. They considered her feelings and they reassured her. She fought the smile that wanted to break out and decided to nod once.

"Fine, fine. Let me go change."

She said, quickly making her way towards her bedroom. Hermione didn't make friends easily; she was always worried that they would see through her stubborn, bold attitude and see the insecurities that laid there. She was constantly worried that Harry didn't really care about her and just figured he was stuck with her since the fall of Voldemort. Her fears rang true with her friendship with Ron when he ended the relationship and hadn't tried to reach out since. Now she had another chance to make new friends, friends away from Ron.

"Are you sure she wants to go with us?"

Nott asked Zabini after he cast a quiet Silencio. He placed his wand on the counter and he desperately wished he already had some type of alcoholic beverage in his hand. Zabini nodded once, leaning against the counter on his elbows, straining his posh suit's fabric over his arms.

"I don't think Granger is the type to do go out with old classmates just for the sake of being polite."

Zabini answered Nott. They both were waiting on Hermione when they heard a loud groan coming from her bedroom. Zabini's eyebrow quirked up and Nott couldn't help snickering.

"Everything okay, Granger?"

Nott asked loudly. After more seconds of her loud noises, Nott made motion to go to her, but Zabini placed his hand on his shoulder. He shook his head but the ever-present smirk was back, and he reached for his wand again. He flicked his wand quickly, the counter charm second nature to him, and yelled this time,

"Okay, Granger?"

Nott rolled his eyes and Zabini's hand fell off, remembering that Zabini had cast a Silencio just in case.

"How is that I have no ruddy thing to wear?"
Hermione asked herself out loud. She hadn't meant to let her frustration come to light, but she could have sworn she had more to wear than just jeans, jumpers, and her office attire.

"I have nothing to wear."
She said loudly, leaving her bedroom. Hermione could tell her hair was not frizzing with anticipation and frustration, but she didn't care. She frowned at Nott and Zabini's smirks, letting her arms cross over her again. She stood beside her bedroom doorway and was on the verge of telling them to go away, when Nott shrugged.

"Fine. Let's go to my place to get equally inebriated but with much better drinks and a much more lavish setting."

Nott's offer definitely cheered up Hermione and she uncrossed her arms. She wouldn't have to wear anything proper, even though she would feel out of place with these two anywhere. And she didn't have to cancel their impromptu plans. Zabini's expression changed for a few seconds before smoothing out to annoyance.

"No, my place is better."
Zabini countered. Nott scoffed,

"In your dreams, Blaise. My noble estate is way better than yours."

"Nott Manor?"
Zabini asked curiously and Nott nodded at him, a smile on his lips.

"Nott Manor."

He answered. Longer than she wanted, Hermione knew they were having a nonverbal conversation between the two of them while they stared each other down. While curiosity usually got the better of her, she opted to squash it down for once. Nott and Zabini had passed Harry's "People-To-Socialize-With" test and surely they weren't thinking of anything sinister; she wouldn't push as to why Nott insisted on drinking at his ancestral home and she wasn't going to back out now. Gryffindor bravery meant she needed to face her fears which included fears of new friends despite their Pureblood background.

"Are you sure nothing will attack me?"

Hermione joked, turning back to her bedroom to at least change into a nicer jumper. She didn't hear the silent argument that Zabini and Nott had while she slipped on the dark green jumper over her white, thicker camisole, and chose her black converse trainers. Hermione pulled out her wand, casting a nonverbal warming charm on her Vinewood as she walked to her personal restroom. There she flicked on the lights and began curling some wild curls around her face. When that was done, she put most of her in a loose bun, but the now tamed curls around her face made it seem like the curls on top of her head were just as perfect. Slipping on a dark gray peacoat, English winters were horribly freezing, she closed the door behind her, muttering a darkening spell to her restroom lights.

"Ready?"

She asked the boys as Zabini turned his back to her and Nott faced her. He dazzled her with another toothy grin and Hermione had to force herself to not blush in his appearance.

"Granger do you even have to try?"
He asked her as he approached her. Hermione tilted her head slightly, couldn't help chewing the inside of her bottom lip, while she stuffed her hands in coat pockets.

"What do you mean?"
She asked him cautiously. Is he sarcastically saying I can't dress? Was Hermione's first thought but before she could guess more or Nott could reply, Zabini turned to them. His smirk was back, and his eyes roved her form from top to bottom; Hermione couldn't help her blush then.

"Hermione Granger in Slytherin colors – how visually alluring."
Zabini winked at her and Hermione couldn't help her jaw dropping. Shite! She screamed to herself and glanced down at herself. Hermione had just chosen this jumper because it was one her nice ones and she had just worn her ivory colored one yesterday and her gold one was dirty. She also had chosen the gray peacoat when she went coat shopping a few years ago because she thought it looked nice. Now she wished she had gotten the classic black or maybe the soft blush one she thought was too childish.

"A vision, truly."
Nott accompanied Blaise's compliment and Hermione couldn't have been more mortified.

"L-Let's go! Before I change my mind."

She stammered, marching past the two smirking Slytherin duo and towards her door. While she knew they weren't apparating outside her flat, she still needed space between the flirting men. Harry didn't flirt with her and Ron's attempts were a thing of the past; she wasn't sure how to respond to them.What am I getting into? Was the last thought before being sucked into nothingness for just a brief second with both her hands on an arm each.