Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowling.

"How about this design, do you think it works out with the rest of the theme?" Draco looked up, his eyes grazing over the design Hermione was holding up. He rolled his eyes, "If you want everyone at the dance to say, 'Oh, wow I love the tackiness of this!', you're right on track."

Hermione huffed in exasperation but turned back to keep sifting. If someone told Draco a couple years ago that he would be with Hermione Granger, the mudblood book-addict, in Hogsmeade, he would have burst out laughing, and hexed them for even daring to think such a thing. And yet here he was. Of course, it was only because of the planning of the ball. Not because he actually enjoyed spending time with her. Or anything of the sort.

They meandered down Hogsmeade, occasionally ducking into shops to get away from the cold, or when it looked interesting. Draco and a couple of his friends had switched over to the "side of the angels" near the end of the war. Yes, at first, it was a complete disaster but soon they all began to get along. And, even after the war, they still sometimes talked, although none of them would actually admit to getting along with all the Gryffindors.

"This tablecloth or this one?" Granger held up two. Draco scrutinized both of them, his silver eyes scanning each one and mentally holding it up to what else they had bought.

"That one." he said, flicking a finger at the one on the left. Granger's whole face lit up, and she grinned, "Great!" Draco felt a small smile coming to his face too. He couldn't help it. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Of course, he wasn't enjoying his time here at all. Nope. Not at all. They stopped at Honeydukes, and Hermione spotted her friends. She gave a random hand gesture and ran over to them. Draco rolled his eyes, and headed over to his friends. And since when was she "Hermione" anway?

"Hey guys." Draco drawled out as he came towards Blaise and Theo. They both turned to him, smirks alighting their faces.

"Draco."

"Malfoy."

To anyone else, it would have looked like it was just a greeting among colleagues, but Draco could see the twinkling in both of their eyes and he knew it was alive in his too. They had all been through a lot in the war.

"I finally got away from Granger, the crazy bookworm." They both smirked at him, as if they knew something he didn't.

"Poor dear." Theo said, grinning. Blaise looked sympathetic, but there was a mischievous glint in his eye. Draco raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow.

"What are you implying?"

"Oh, nothing at all.."

"Except that you fancy her." Draco quirked an eyebrow, and chuckled.

"Whoa there, you two. No need to get ahead of yourselves…" he said, still laughing. The very thought itself was preposterous. Yes, she wasn't that annoying any more. And yes, she was one of the few Gryffindors who he could have an intellectual conversation. And yes, she did fill out those school robes very well. And yes, she had become quite…. Merlin's beard.

It seemed that Blaise and Theo had realized what was going on through Draco's head and they gave him suggestive looks.

"What was that, Draco?" Theo asked.

"You were just about to admit that you...like...Granger…" Blaise said, drawing out his words.

"Are we twelve? I do not 'fancy' her." The two of them grinned evilly, obviously not believing him. Draco groaned. He knew that since the war, the three of them had become even closer and warmer towards each other in public, but really. This was entirely too much. He glared at them. They gave him knowing shit-eating grins.

"Guys…" he sighed. Theo put a hand up to his ear.

"What's that I hear Blaise?"

"I hear it too Theodore. Sounds like denial."

"Was this rehearsed and choreographed? Because great cooperation you two."Draco snarked. They fixed him with looks, like Spill. He gave them his best glare, usually reserved for first years who got in Draco's way. They didn't budge. His rescue came in the form of a bushy-haired, candy-wielding maniac in blue.

"Draacoo!" Hermione cried, sailing in holding up a box of candy. "These are so perfect! Look! They-oh hi Theodore. Blaise."

"Granger." they said simultaneously, Blaise her a courteous smile and Theo sending him a wink. Draco scowled at them.

"Look, Draco." she brandished the box at him. "It has sugar roses. We can use them as dessert. Or we can tie them in ribbons and use them as corsages, maybe?"

"Ask the house elves if their doing something similar. If not, owl order them. But don't buy them just now." Draco said, completely bussiness style. She grinned.

"Fantastic. I also got some other ideas from Harry and Ron, so we should probably go check them out if you're done here…" she said, looking at Blaise and Theo.

"Any ideas from the Weasel and Scarhead are bound to be terrible." she whacked him with the box. "Be nice! Anyway, meet you at the entrance of the shop!"

And she was gone. Draco turned and looked at his friends, who both smirked. He turned to go, but Blaise put out an arm and cleared his throat. He turned back.

"Look, mate, I know this sounds sappy, but we want you to be happy. After the war…" Blaise said, his crystal blue eyes completely serious.

"Just go for it." Theo said, clapping Draco on the back and beamed at him. And, coming from a Slytherin, such a show of affection was incredibly rare. Draco smiled back. Then he hurried after Granger.

She smiled at him as he approached, and as her hair was blown into his face, he caught a whiff of peppermint.

"New scent, Granger?" she flushed pink. Draco couldn't help but grin at how her emotions always were put out on display.

"It was too expensive for me anyway. It's 'Whiff of winter.' I just wanted a sample." she shrugged, but he could see how much she'd wanted the perfume. He made a mental note. Whiff of Winter, eh?

They strolled along Diagon Alley, Hermione blathering on about a bunch of random nonsense and Draco making noncommittal noises whenever she paused. His mind raced, as he looked around at all the shops, and made mental notes on whatever he liked and dragging Granger along too. Eventually, Hermione realized she wasn't being heard and kept quiet, letting a comfortable silence blanket them, only interrupted as either Hermione or Draco spotted something that could possibly be useful for the ball.

It took a couple seconds for Draco to realize that Hermione was no longer next to him. He turned back, and saw that she was going in to a shop. At second glance, it was a jewelry shop. Did they need chandeliers or what…?

When he went in, Hermione was looking at a necklace, which she put down the minute he looked at her.

"What..?"

"Forget it. Too expensive anyways." she gave out a wry chuckle. "I don't even need such flashy jewelry anyways." Draco quirked an eyebrow, and went to check the price. Expensive, but not really. It was a pretty little thing too, a peacock made out of amethyst and lined with silver, its feathers made up of diamond and emerald. He looked up at Granger. And of course, she was gone. Huffing, he locked eyes with the owner of the store who gave him a slight nod and a wink. Putting the necklace down, he looked down the street. Where was she? Damn it. Women…

(A/N: And there's a Dramione fic! I've always loved this pairing. How do you like it? Please R&R!)