The Dreamer

A Word, Please!

---

“Hermione!” Padma shouted after the Divinations class had let out. “A word, please!”

“Yes?” Hermione heaved loudly, not even bothering to stop and turn around. She’d been trying to avoid Padma for days now. Word had it that Head Girl was intent on finding volunteers for Yule Ball activities.

Padma Patil threw her hands up once she realized Hermione did not mean to wait for her. Taking a deep calming breath, Padma resigned herself to chasing down the elusive Gryffindor she’d been trying to corner for far too long this week. The thought of hexing Hermione Granger still did cross the Ravenclaw's mind.

“Stop, would you!” Padma shouted after she couldn’t get past Dean, Ron, and Neville on the stairs. At the three bewildered boys she scowled and said, “Don’t worry I have tasks for the lot of you too, and don’t try to slither your way out of it because I’ll see you three at dinner and I’ll chew you out if you don’t show up to your Committees.”

With that she was able to pass them, each of the boys looking scandalized with exception of Neville who was smiling a bit goofy now.

Padma caught up with Hermione at the last few steps of the staircase. “Well, you’ve been hard to find lately!” She gasped out of breath. Clinging lightly to the banister, she eyed Hermione’s nonchalant posture.

“Have I?” Hermione said innocently, as she rummaged through her bag quite disinterested in whatever Padma was doing. Hermione was as obvious as a dishrag masquerading around like a fine table linen. She clearly could not play it quite that cool.

“Don’t play the stupid card with me.” Padma snorted, it was evident to her that she was going to have to strong-arm this one. “You know you’ve been avoiding me. Lying doesn’t suit you.”

“Well, I suppose I haven’t gone out of my way to say ‘hi’ recently.” Hermione mused, not falling for the bait. If the Head Girl wanted to play it that way, then so could she. Dropping the pretense of fishing her through her bag, Hermione sized up her opponent.

“That said, hello Padma, I’m very sorry I’ve been rude, classes as you know, but now I have to go. More of those classes we all love." Pointing down the hall Hermione added, “I have to go this way now. See you later then.” Giving a small smile and wave, Hermione hopped down a few steps before her escape attempt failed.

“Not so fast!” Padma nearly squealed with frustration, almost slipping down a step as she lunged for Hermione’s arm. “You know of all the people here, I thought you would understand how hard this position is. But apparently you’ve no consideration as to just what a royal pain in the arse planning for Yule Ball has been, hardly anyone wants to help! And I’m already behind in my own school work because of it, it’s bloody ironic you know. Are you not helping me at all, really?”

Hermione fidgeted restlessly under Padma’s grasp, a part of her really felt for the Ravenclaw. But she could also tell Padma was using guilt to try and trap her. What to say? This would be tricky.

“I can’t commit at this time Padma. I’m going through something, and I'm a little behind in my courses too.” Hermione stammered, a faint flush coming to her cheeks. "I just don't have the extra time, sorry."

Honesty was the hardest emotion of all to manipulate. Such raw power of the truth tampered by small lies of omission, it was a delicate dance.

“What are you going through?” said Padma, perking up. “I mean, it must be huge if it’s occupying so much of your time. Really, how behind are you?”

Shite. That had been handled too ham-fistedly, did she really not have any finesse for lying. It'd worked so well on Umbridge and oh... Hermione wondered dismally if it was just stupid people that fell for her fibs.

Looking at the other Witch, Hermione was hesitant. “Um, it's really personal. Largely, overwhelmingly, complicatedly - you know personal? So deep, and I just can't seem to really get a handle on it, would you stop!" She said with a grimace, Padma looked eager with each stuttering word. "Aren't you busy enough as it is?” Hermione finished waving the Ravenclaw off.

Before Padma could ask her to expound on her personal issues, Hermione quickly shrugged off the other girl’s hold and darted off to the side, just out of reach. “And how is it that Lavender Brown and others are not interested in helping with Yule Ball? Surely you can find at least half a dozen witches eager to help? I've heard nothing but the chattering of voices in all four corners of this school about it!”

“Yes, there have been some students as of late,” Padma replied flatly, her brow arched as she debated internally on whether to continue on with her first mission to get Hermione Granger on a committee, or explore those deep personal issues, but needing help, Patil decided on the later.

"That said, I do need some that are skilled in Charms past a Fifth Year’s ability.” Padma concluded, her hands coming to rest on her hips in an authoritative fashion. "For you it's child's play."

“And that’s why you’ve been hounding after me?” Hermione scoffed. She was not going to believe that Padma wanted her for her keen sense of fashion. “Again, I don’t have time Padma, and there are a lot of Seventh Years with talent as you know.”

Turning to leave Hermione was interrupted by Padma’s next attempt at bargaining.

“You wouldn’t be alone, and if you promise to sit on two committees,” Padma interjected at Hermione’s unenthusiastic look, “I won’t harass you to commit to anything else, not even for the Graduation Ceremony! I need the help, can't you see I'm desperate here if I'm hunting you all down?”

“Just the two?” asked Hermione skeptically.

“Only the Invitations and Decorations committees, you won’t even have to head them. Lavender and Pansy will head Decorations, and Ginny and Neville are in charge of Invitations. We just need people with the ability to Charm all the extra stuff since each set of group leaders can’t get it all done in time.”

“How many people and who?” Hermione sighed in defeat. She was going to let herself be dragged into this after all. Padma rarely sounded so accommodating, so that must have meant she was in a bind, and it wasn’t as if Hermione couldn’t sympathize. She resolved to do the very minimum by this point. Her Charm work would be perfect, but she wouldn't be caught dead sitting around and picking out colors and all other manner of accouterments with what little free time she had.

“I’m not sure yet. I’m still pursuing people, though if you all would stop running from me it would make planning a lot easier.” Padma exhaled in utter frustration. "Don't you all want this?! It's why they're doing it you know!"

“I’m sorry.” Hermione conceded, realizing that Padma had taken on quite a task. Everyone had high expectations, and someone had to deliver.

“It’s just I haven’t been getting much sleep lately," Hermione admitted little, "and I’ve been a bit short with almost everyone. And while I could live without the Yule Ball, I'm sure for some it's a really good thing.”

“Yeah, I've noticed you haven't been your usual self lately, your hand doesn't shoot into the air nearly as much anymore.” Padma snorted. "Anyone with eyesight can tell there's something off about you."

So other people were noticing her peculiar behavior as of late, somehow she should care more, but the thought of trying harder seemed counter intuitive right now. There were no clocks to race against, the world wasn't doomed if she didn't care to answer that Day Lily bulbs, when combined with a sprig of Colt's Foot, were potent additions in a Binding potion.

“Well, you try sleeping five hours scattered throughout the day and see what it does for your mood,” groaned Hermione, crossing her arms she couldn't help but to feel defensive. Really, as if everyone expected her to do the reading and fill in the blanks each class period!

“You’d all be dead.” Padma said not amused, her tone softening now, “I’d go mad with all this Head Girl business, and I’d just snap on each and every one of you.”

“You know they really ought to give you deputies to delegate to.” Hermione smirked, knowing that some people did not have such big heads that they wanted to do all the work themselves just to receive platitudes and the like. Padma was no Percy Weasley that much was certain.

A small smile began to spread upon Padma’s face, Hermione continued, “Well, if they expect you to do so much, it’s the least they could do. Don’t let all the glory chasing go to your head.”

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing in the Head position that I find worth any of the work of 'glory chasing'. If I had it to do over again, I’m not so sure I would say ‘yes’.” The other witch admitted ruefully. “And working with Blaise Zabini has proved difficult too. He’s hardly ever around, and when he is, he’s distant and less than helpful with this stuff. Oh, and even though he does his required work, he doesn't do one bit more!”

“Yeah, I have no doubt his appointment to the post is all politics. Alright,” Hermione said as she heaved her bag back onto her shoulder. “What time do I show up and where?”

Padma beamed, “I knew you’d come around, Granger. You never disappoint!” Whipping out a pad she commanded her quick quotes quill to dictate, “At 4:00 you are to go to the Great Hall for Invitations Committee, if you choose to stay on, you’ll stay to 4:30 to be on the Decorations Committee which meets right after the Invitations Committee gets out.”

Satisfied with her handiwork, Padma ripped the page out and handed it to Hermione. “That should do it, and I promise not to ask you ever again!”

"Um, thanks. I'll hold you to it." Hermione blushed and accepted the note. Looking up into the Head Girl's eyes, Hermione felt hesitant again, but resolved to be honest in her dealings. “I’m sorry if I seem very oppositional, Padma, it’s just you know, these things take time. And I’ve been adjusting slowly.”

“Don’t worry. Me too. We're not alone. And things like the Yule Ball will help, you'll see.” She said gently, giving Hermione a small pat on the shoulder before stepping past her. “Thanks again!” Padma waved. And with that the Head Girl was off to hound another fellow classmate. Though it made Hermione queasy to see Patil was now bearing down on Draco Malfoy.

“That’s really not going to end well.” mumbled Hermione, quickly veering off in the opposite direction.

---

After a pretty uneventful day, Hermione made her way back to the Great Hall, albeit at 4:20 instead of 4:00. The crumpled note in her hand was damp. She really didn’t want to step up to the task; people had been too much of everything for her recently. She wasn’t going to just be the same old bookworm standby anymore, she’d done a lot to save the bloody world with everyone else, shouldn’t they notice that?

And yet what was she doing here if not being recognized for her skill? It was a double-edged sword she decided. Hermione hadn’t even settled on the idea of going to Yule Ball, not that the last one had ended that well for her either, and now she was about to help put it together. Hermione placated herself with the notion that should she choose to skip it this year, at least she’d know exactly what she was missing, and that was a small comfort in itself.

With a sigh, Hermione shoved the page back into the pocket of her bag and opened the door to step into frenzy she was sure would soon greet her. No doubt there were many flouncy witches with high breeding sure to be prancing and preening about. She was really going to hate this.

Her eyebrows shot up at the scene that greeted her. She was surprised to find a rather subdued atmosphere. Ron, Ginny, Neville, Lavender, and Harry were present. That shocked her, she hadn’t thought Harry the type to volunteer for this sort of thing, but with that, she thought seeing Ron was hardly a surprise if both Ginny and Harry were there. And that’s when it hit her. "Harry and Ginny, but of course," she remembered quickly. With a little smirk, Hermione made her way over to go sit by Ron.

“Hello.” Hermione whispered discreetly under the excited tones of Ginny’s justification for the use of elegant and formal font Charms, the likes of which would adjust the characters of the font to the recipients’ specific tastes upon the opening of the invitation. Hermione was sure Ginny agreed to this whole scheme of Padma's in order to get some practice in for The Wedding of the Century.

“Hey, I didn’t know you’d be coming.” Ron greeted her softly; the others had agreed to Ginny’s proposal, and moved onto the discussion of paper stock.

After looking around to see if anyone was paying attention to them, he mumbled to Hermione, “It seems Padma hunted you down like some Yule Ball crazed Dementor too?”

“Yes, hardly seems like an innocent coincidence, does it?” Hermione mused sourly, “I’ll have to hand it to her; she’s in Ravenclaw for a reason. Look how she’s arranged us. I can’t wait to see where’s she’s placed Malfoy.”

Ron snickered quietly at the thought of Malfoy being placed somewhere girlier than Invitations, and Hermione realized quickly what had just slipped out. She quickly worked out what her boyfriend would have been thinking, had he a reason to suspect her of anything, although why she should feel guilty at all was another thought also not touched upon, mainly because ‘why should she care where Padma put Malfoy?’ was the prevailing concern. But as long as Malfoy was far, far, far away from her as possible, then it would all work out just fine. She was sure of it.

“Saw Patil hunting him down did you?” Ron hissed in repressed laughter, his eyes twinkling with tears that welled up as his body shook again, “Did that git try to hex her? What did she do to him, can he still walk?”

“I don’t know.” Hermione bit out quite perturbed with Ron’s immaturity on the subject. “I didn’t want to stick around. He’s harmless enough, and as you've observed, she’s more than talented. I figured she knew what she was doing if she was going to approach someone like him.”

“Like who, Weasley?” Draco said from behind them, which of course startled both she and Ron.

Hermione inwardly cringed. She should have come earlier for Invitations Committee, because clearly it was over now if Malfoy was arriving. She quickly concluded that Padma had asked him to be on the Decorations Committee. Double Shite, since that meant they were going to share even more time together in spite of the fact they nearly shared all their classes!

“What are you going on about, Malfoy?” Ron said cheerfully. Too cheerful, Hermione noted with annoyance. “I see you’re here for Decorations Committee, that ought to be swell. Have anything dark and ugly in mind? I ask because if you're going to suggest wee heads of Medusa, I'm just going to say 'No' right now.”

"Are you giving me a lecture on taste?" sniffed Draco. "Charming, but that's not why I'm bothering with the likes of you."

Hermione didn't need to look at Ron to feel him going from jubilant to tense. If she felt like hazarding a guess, she was sure he was probably scowling at Malfoy now.

Without even looking at Hermione, who’d managed a disinterested glimpse over her shoulder, Draco went on as if she wasn’t even there. “I believe someone said ‘someone like him’, am I to understand I’m not actually wanted here?”

“No one’s said that Malfoy.” Hermione said softly, blushing crimson that he’d heard her talking to Ron.

“I’m sorry, someone will need to speak up if I’m supposed to know what’s being said behind my back.”

“Lay off,” Ron sneered, “I don’t know what gives you the right to go on like an arrogant twat in here. You're lucky to be back at all and you know it.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it, Weasley, unlike some I am capable of learning all on my own.” taunted Malfoy. “And if there’s an arrogant twat to be had, I’m sure you’d know right where to find it.”

“Ron, stop it.” Hermione hissed, her boyfriend’s glare was nothing short of murderous now.

Hermione caught Draco’s eyes, and offered her form of amends, “Please stay, the Head Girl sees us working together, so she must know what she’s doing. Ron and I aren't going to ask you to leave.” Nudging Ron in the ribs he grunted and got up to leave.

Hermione rolled her eyes, and looked back down at her notes, or scribbles really, resolving to ignore Malfoy for now.

“And do you know what you’re doing, Granger?” Draco whispered into her ear now. The world went black and everyone but the two of them had vanished.

“What just happened?” Hermione demanded as she looked around in a panic. Was she dreaming or had he done something, she couldn't be sure just yet.

Suddenly he appeared by her side, and with skeptical once over he decided to cut to the chase. “I've been watching you the whole time. Why do you keep thinking of me and bringing me here?”

“What?” Hermione asked completely perplexed. “I’m dreaming. Shite!” If there was a desk nearby she was sure her forehead would be on it now, with a few little thuds thrown in. How could she be so stupid, of course this was a dream! “Oh dear Gods, you’re just a figment of my overtaxed imagination.” groaned Hermione, her face heating with embarrassment for coming so far into a dream again without recognizing it for what it was, “What good is a lucid dream if you can’t control it?”

“You really feel like you have no control, do you?” Draco asked coolly. "That ought to be a first."

“What other reason would you be here?” Hermione shot back, she angrily pointed at him now. “Clearly, I can’t control the content, can I!”

Hermione walked around in the circle of light that seemed to separate them from the dark. “This is great, now I get to have a long drawn out with you.” She threw her hands up before deciding to rub her temples, apparently one could get headaches even within their own dreams. This sucked.

“Who says I want to talk, and that if I did, it would be with you?” mused Draco. Looking around the perimeter he sighed, apparently not much happier with their soundings either.

“Believe me, if I could figure out what you represent then I could banish you from appearing in my dreams with the addition of the proper ingredient added at the right brew time.” Hermione laughed manically, “And then I’d finally get some well rested sleep for once!”

“Oh, poor you.” Mocked Draco, he's voice taking on a hard edge. “Did you ever think that others might have as hard a time getting sleep too?”

“You don’t suppose that you are talking about the waking version of you?” asked Hermione, amused with idea that she would know intuitively how other people acted within their bodies, and the real Draco Malfoy had seemed a bit tired lately.

Surely not a lot of people analyzed these things, it made her very smug in the knowledge that she, however, did. Now there was an interesting thought, was the whole of Hogwarts being inhabited by a sleep deprived race of student zombies? She shuddered at the nightmare that would have been.

“Yes.” He said flatly, no longer bothering to hide his frustration with her obtuse observations. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“There’s no need to be rude.” She rebounded, her fists coming to her hips. “I’m sorry if I don’t often sit and think about my dreams.”

“What?!” Draco said nearly outraged, “How do you not think about them? Don’t you want to know where you’re going? Or for that matter why you seem to be dragging me into your dreams?”

“Interesting point.” Hermione said thoughtfully. She bit her bottom lip as she thought on it, because why should she be lucid in all this if not to ask things? His foot began to tap impatiently as he waited on her.

“But I have no idea where I’m going and I really don’t know what you're meant to represent!”

“Well, evidently that explains so much.” said Draco, crossing his arms and looking around the confines of the lighted area. “And why I am the lucky one? Oh, I don't know, perhaps I'm a) evil, b) therefore dangerous, c) ergo I'm up to something and d) all of the above? I don't have time for you and I don't want to set aside any either.”

“Are you mocking me?” She seethed with a hiss, cheeks flushing, “Listen here, this is my dream and if you incur my wrath I’m not responsible for what happens next. I can't seem to control it all can I?”

At this his face darkened, “Are you actually threatening me?”

“Don’t look put out, but yes, if you try to attack me or something else that's very stupid, I’ll put you down or lock you in some dark closet and throw away the key. I have no idea what you’re supposed to represent, but I rather deal with the fall out of losing more sleep than letting you harm me in whatever twisted fashion or curse you've set upon me that causes me to dream of you. There I said, it," Hermione threw her hand up frustratedly, "clearly this is all your fault.”

“Who said I was here to harm you? It’s a bloody dream! I don't even speak to you in waking life, when would I have cursed you?” Draco demanded crossly, he began to pace now. “And all this time I thought I was the one being threatened, you do realize you were the one to threaten me first, dark closets and all, so I guess technically that makes you the one in the wrong here!”

“Apparently, this has turned into a shouting match,” Hermione said calmly, changing tactics for who knew what he was capable of doing to her in this strange dreamworld, “Another subject perhaps?”

“No.” He turned to step outside the light, “You’re not ready to have a proper conversation with me yet. So just leave it.”

She crossed her arms, unsure if she should stop him or ask him to stay, although what happened next puzzled her.

Either he didn’t seem to hear her, or purposefully ignored her, the latter the more likely scenario, but, in the moment it took her to say “I don’t think that will be necessary, we can talk.” He crossed the threshold of light and was gone. Damn him and whatever the hell he represented!

She felt herself being roused from a half sleep in the next moment.

---

“Hermione?” Ginny asked again, more loudly. “Hermione? Oh, come on, we have to be down for Invitations Committee in the next ten minutes, wake up!”

“I’m not late?” She said drowsily, “It’s not over?”

“Obviously.” Came Ginny’s annoyed observation. The red head threw back the curtains letting a lot of light in. Hermione groaned at the thought of it not even being nighttime. Blast it, there would be more dreaming later, she was certain.

“Sorry, it’s just I had this dream I’d already gone and you were there, so was Ron, and Harry – and oh,” Hermione said suddenly, bolting up right. “Ginny you’re on the same Committee so does that mean they’re on it too?”

“Yes.” Ginny replied rather impatiently, trying to pull Hermione up by an arm, “Your powers of deduction astound, even while you sleep. Luna’s been predicting all sorts of lovely things too, but we won’t actually run into her if we miss both Invitations and Decorations. The latter being the one meeting that would cause us to actually not meet up in real life. And as she’s already informed me that we’ll be there," Ginny grunted as she yanked on Hermione again, "I’d hate to be the one to shatter her streak of predictions.”

“I'm good.” Hermione said, shaking Ginny’s hold off. Ignoring Ginny’s ramble about Luna, Hermione yawned loudly before she got up. Moving her neck side to side, she popped a few of her vertebra. She really wasn't in the mood for these silly Committees now. Fate had dealt her a cruel hand indeed, not only was she stuck dreaming about her these vapid meetings, but it was like doing the same thing twice.

“Are you?” Ginny clipped impatiently, apparently Ginny had been having a day herself, “I’d like to see you try that standing up thing. I get that you’ve needed time to wander about the whole of Hogwarts when you think I don’t know about it, but keeping yourself up late isn’t going to solve your problems. It’s just going to make you late, and that’s the kind of thing people notice.”

“All right!” Hermione said exasperated, swinging her legs over the side of the bed to stand with a stretch, “I’m getting up, see?”

“I’ll be waiting at the portrait for you.” Ginny sighed. Perhaps the other girl just wanted to get down to Harry, Hermione concluded. Deciding that Ginny’s temper being short was not enough reason to quarrel with her later, Hermione quickly scrambled to grab her things before leaving her room.

Invitations Committee happened much like Hermione dreamed it had, only it proved to be more dull because she seemed to have guessed right about the outcome. Which was a slightly disturbing discovery in itself, but easily ignored because this time she made it a point to refrain from mentioning Malfoy at all. Not that it did a lot of good for he never showed up early as he had in the dream.

Excusing herself for a quick bathroom break between Committees, Hermione now faced a bathroom mirror trying desperately to reason out why she was confusing her real life and her dreams. Why she expected him to show up at all, she couldn’t fathom.

Splashing water on her face a fifth time, Hermione used a drying spell to freshen up. It disturbed her how she was coming to expect him to be around and then he wasn’t, or if he did show up, he neglected to pay any attention to her. Which ordinarily would seem like a blessing, so why did it not?

Squinting at the mirror, which she’d charmed still rather deal with its uppity nature, Hermione determined she hadn’t gone mad quite yet since crazy people rarely thought themselves so. Sighing wearily, she quietly slipped back out of the girl’s lavatory headed for the Great Hall.

Much to Hermione’s surprise she realized must have spent some time “freshening up” as the next Committee was now forming.

Off to one corner she noted Pansy and Draco arguing in hushed whispers that hissed but brought forth very little in the way of distinguishable words. Opting to ignore them, she made her way over to where Ginny, Luna, Mandy, and Susan had gathered. The girls seemed to be talking animatedly at one of the Ravenclaw tables.

Still curiosity got the better of her and she soon found herself glancing cautiously at the same fight Lavender Brown seemed to be observing too. Chastising herself for succumbing to the same inclinations as one of the school’s most notorious romantic gossips, Hermione looked around for other familiar faces.

Harry and Ron were ignoring everything, as they were quite busy arguing vehemently with Zacharias Smith about the updated rankings between the Houses according to last weekend's Quidditch matches. At this Hermione rolled her eyes, honestly, they should know better than to sink to that pompous moron’s level.

She observed Dean and Ernie staying out of it in favor of playing exploding Snap off at the Hufflepuff tables, which were largely abandoned of most gathered for the committee.

Scanning around the room of faces Hermione knew well, and of others she couldn’t place, she took note of Parvati arriving and giving Lavender a small wave. As if watching two magnets attract, soon the two Gryffindors had their heads together, only coming up to look back to Pansy and Draco over on the Slytherin side of the Great Hall.

No, that wasn't conspicuous or anything, she thought while rolling her eyes yet again. It was amazing to her that they ever got any information at all, considering their skills in espionage needed serious work.

Hermione hadn’t realized she’d followed the twosome’s gaze until she realized that she happened to be staring into a pair of familiar eyes. Which was right about the time, Draco was walking out on one very pissed off Pansy Parkinson.

Embarrassed to be caught in his gaze, Hermione quickly looked around and found herself staring at Ginny who'd been watching everything. Shite! Hermione gave her friend a careless shrug before pulling out her quill and parchment to make notes.

“Let’s start before we lose another committee member to scheduling conflicts.” Pansy clapped abruptly, catching everyone’s attention but Draco’s.

One of the Great Hall doors slammed loudly, but Pansy quickly recovered, “Yes, there is the matter of garland, table center pieces, oh, and we did get a list of approved Charms that we’ll need to sort through and assign.”

“Oh, what are colors?” Luna asked dreamily. The drama of Malfoy's turbulent departure was apparently lost on her.

“Red and Gold!” Ron exclaimed jovially, happy to ignore Zacharias as Harry continued to whisper heated exchanges with the arrogant git. Although Pansy’s withering glare did nothing to silence Ron. “Perfect holiday colors if you ask me.” He continued on, "Really brings a sense of occasion to the party."

“I don’t believe anyone asked you, did they, Weasley?” Growled Pansy, her limited patience showing. She cleared a table and set up a chart. Headings appeared for each the groups, one for garlands, table ornaments, and so on.

“I’m sure we could work in Silver, Green, and any number of other House colors.” Hermione quickly added after she recovered from Draco’s curt departure. Looking at the tables, she wondered how they were going to sort everyone into these apparent 'work groups'

Pansy’s face was growing darker by the second. It seemed Pansy had been restraining her inner bitch, but that was about to come out full force, given the way the Slytherin Witch's eye had just twitched. Parkinson was clearly still mad about something.

“Or…” Harry started, unsure if he wanted to be involved at all, “we could keep it simple. Maybe something like Silver and Gold, in line with that old saying, make new friends – ”

“Oh, I know this one!” Shouted Parvati excited to finally get the meeting under way, “but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold!”

“Uh, yeah.” Finished Harry not unkindly, “It seems fitting given the purpose of the Yule Ball itself.”

“I like it.” Dean added quickly. “And with only two colors we can focus more on our Charm work.”

“I’ll take the stars!” Zacharias Smith declared. “I’ve got a real gift when it comes to producing them.”

“Yeah, he thinks everything he pulls out of his arse is magical.” Was Ron’s sniggering comment whispered to Harry, but heard by all.

Clearing her throat at Zacharias, Lavender quickly retorted, “We are in agreement then, Silver and Gold? All in favor say 'Bertie Botts', and those whom are not in favor say 'Dung Bog Beetles'!”

There was almost a unanimous call for Bertie Botts save for one lone Dung Bog Beetle nomination coming a disgruntled Zacharias Smith.

“I think we should narrow down the list of ideas before we start assigning Charm work.” Ginny interrupted. “There is the theme to consider.”

“I like the idea of stars or perhaps something more along the lines celestial bodies,” Susan Bones commented readily. “It fits with making new friends since it’s the turning of seasons, new constellations arise and we never really lose the old ones. Oh, plus in our new and old friendships we grow each year, it’s fitting.”

“Yeah, well Malfoy doesn’t seem to think it’s important does he?” Zacharias cut in again, not happy that he seemed to be stuck doing work that at least one person considered beneath them. “We should give him table ornaments.”

“I've had enough from you. Malfoy had perfectly good reason for missing this meeting.” Pansy defended, her voice shrill and rising.

Astoria Greengrass also felt the need to defend Draco, “It's none of you business Smith, you big hypocrite! You were supposed to show up for the Refreshments Committee but got out of it because you sprained your wrist in Charms, of all places, and then went to Pomfrey’s and hung around for the better part of three hours. What, did the petite fours tasting seem too sweet a task for you?”

“Shut it, Greengrass, you have few friends here!” Zacharias snarled at the younger of the two Slytherins. “Come on, Pansy, out with it, where did Malfoy scurry off to?”

“As I said, he had his reasons.” Pansy bit back, annoyed that Smith seemed intent into prying to her fellow Slytherin’s affairs. If he didn't watch himself, Hermione was sure that Pansy would hex him at any moment, and then the Prefects would have to intervene. Hermione supposed if it got too far someone would stop them, personally she'd let Pansy get one good hex in before she got up to do anything herself.

Ron pointed out, “Then why is it you two had a row if it was so legitimate an excuse?”

Hermione rolled her eyes, naturally her boyfriend would jump in for a round of kick the Malfoy.

“That’s not really helping!” Mandy hissed at Ron and Zacharias. “You two should remember the point of the Yule Ball and keep our discussion to that.”

Pansy was stunned that Mandy had said anything at all, but shrugged her shoulders before ending the discussion of Draco’s whereabouts.

“It’s not our business what Draco Malfoy has scheduled today, but he will be here for every meeting we have afterwords, so it would be wise to not talk about our new friends behind their backs, after all, if we don’t set the example who will? You two, that’s a pitiful prospect isn’t it?” Pansy sneered at the two annoyances that seemed just too dense to let the subject drop.

“Wow, Parkinson!” Ginny exclaimed. “I find myself agreeing. Well said! Ron, take note, what she said made real sense even if it seems like a contradiction coming from her.”

Pansy rolled her eyes in disgust, changing times hadn’t improved upon her likability much, and Harry chuckled giving Ginny a pat on the shoulder.

“Oi,” Harry added, highly amused at that Pansy Parkinson had even returned to Hogwarts, much less volunteered to head a Committee much less put up with them all. “Let’s stay on task. It'll go much more quickly if we do, is everyone in agreement here?"

Ron huffed but nodded, and around the room everyone but Zacharias Smith either nodded along or smacked their tables making it known they wanted to move to the next point of order, which happened to be the long list of Charms they had yet to sort through. This signaled the start of divvying up tasks and assigning work groups.

Hermione grimaced behind the parchment she'd picked up to read, if not conceal her disgust and sneak another look around the room. Making new friends, she hardly thought this day could get any worse. And yet again this week Hermione found herself wishing for a wandless spell to help her sink into the floor and somehow then transport her back to bed. Malfoy had been lucky to escape this charade. It was more than obvious that not everyone had completely settled on making new alliances.

---

Author's Notes:

Hope that satisfies for now, I'll be updating within the next week again. Thank you for the reviews and patience.

Kazfeist: I like where you train of thought is going, but you'll have to stick around to see if Obliviation is a part of the deal. ;-)

Oh also, I did read Hermione was the only one of three to return to Hogwarts to get her N.E.W.T.S but for my purposes I've brought back Ron and Harry too, along with anyone else I deemed necessary to the story. Though the dead shall remain so, unless they make a cameo in one of Hermione's dreams, which I haven't decided one way or the other yet.