Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. JK Rowling owns it all.

The day Draco Malfoy smiled

It was tradition for the seventh years of Slytherin to start courting as soon as the Welcoming Feast was over. Anyone and everyone was fair game.

Other Houses scoffed at the tradition. It was outdated and pointless, or so Hermione said as she explained the frenzy going on in the Great Hall to Harry. Ron had already known of the tradition ever since someone had tried to court Ginny in her fifth year. He had blown a fuse and many refused to approach his sister after he punched someone out. He was rolling his eyes and snorting to everything Hermione was saying. And the bushy haired girl really couldn't blame him.

Basically, the people doing the courting would be anonymous until Valentine's Day, when the accepting/rejecting would occur. The one that was being courted had to stand up sometime during dinner, and say 'yes' or 'no' or something to that affect. Whether the person wanted to reveal who they actually were was up to them. Hermione said that if they were rejected, chances of revealing their identity was close to zilch. If they didn't say anything(the ones being courted), a broken-in-half heart would appear like a tattoo on their forehead and would last until the end of February. That same thing would happen if someone accepted and the courter decided to remain anonymous.

Harry was appearing to absorb all the information as he nodded.

"So, is it just the seventh year Slytherins who do this?" Harry asked curiously.

"Well, technically, any House can do it. It's just that we refuse to. It's degrading!"

Harry nodded in comprehension. "And they can court anyone?"

"If they are within the age limits and they are someone who can give consent… then yes…"

"The age limits are…?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "If they are already 17, they can only court people who are of age, like them or older. If they are under 17, they can't court anyone older than them but they can court someone younger."

"And it can be ANYONE? As in… a boy can ask a boy? Or a girl can ask a girl? Or a Gryffindor can ask a Slytherin. "

"Yes… you are awfully curious about this… why are you asking the specifics?"

Harry shrugged. "No reason."

Hermione didn't see his smirk as he drank his pumpkin juice. She was too busy scolding Ron for making a mess on his shirt from eating.

Hermione got a rose one month after term had started.

Lavender saw it and she told everyone she could. Someone was obviously courting her, and like always, it had to be a Slytherin because, to their knowledge, only Slytherins were doing that ridiculous tradition.

Lavender didn't say the latter part out loud for she didn't believe it. She thought it was ridiculously romantic and was extremely peeved at Hermione for being chosen by someone.

Harry had snorted in amusement as he heard everyone's conclusion. It wasn't only Slytherin doing it. And he should know.

"Who could ever choose Hermione? She's not a pureblood!"

"Well…"

Ron continued. "This has to be a joke."

Harry winced as he saw Hermione standing behind Ron. Even though she didn't like the attention she had been getting, Harry didn't doubt that Hermione was offended and maybe hurt by what Ron had been saying.

"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"

Ron gulped as he realized that Hermione had heard. He cringed and turned around. "Erm… I didn't mean it that way.. it's just that… you know… Slytherins are always going on and on about blood purity…"

"So what? Perhaps I have other qualities they are looking for! Blood doesn't matter!"

"I know that! But they don't…"

"So you are categorizing…"

Harry quickly left their dormitory and took out his wand to cast a tempus charm. He had a couple of hours. He could still go to Hogsmeade and buy something for tomorrow.

______________________

Whispers were going around the school. Apparently, someone was courting Severus Snape. Many thought it was a silly rumour. Half the school, however, did believe it to be true and were holding a betting pool. Most thought it was Madam Pince, for they seemed to have a similar temperament as of late. Others thought it was McGonagall. Since they always seemed to hold a conversation at the Head Table.

Harry had felt incredibly annoyed. The whole ordeal was absurd. Yet, he joined the pool.
______________________

Hermione had been getting letters from her courter/admirer. As the days went by, she seemed to distance herself more and more from Ron… and every day during breakfast, when she got her letters, there would be a blush on her cheeks.

Many were surprised at the turn of events. Everyone thought that Hermione was passionately against this, and here she was, seemingly warming up to the idea.

Harry, on the other hand was getting a bit peeved at Ron. Ron should be in jealous rages and should have claimed Hermione as his own when the rose first appeared. He hadn't so much asked her out! He was now with Luna… LUNA!

_____________________

Months passed and the Holidays were now here. Courtings were still going strong and in Halloween, a couple of Gryffindors found out they too had admirers. It seemed that because Voldemort had now perished (by Harry, of course) people were happy and wanted to join in this silly love tradition. It was something to do now that there was not a care in the world. Hermione got a diamond necklace, 'simple yet beautiful' the card had said. Harry, when he saw it, rolled his eyes at the unoriginality. Harry himself got some broom stickers so he could decorate his Firebolt. Harry had scoffed. How stupid.

_____________________

There was now only 9 days until Valentine's Day and all would be revealed. Harry felt like throwing up.

It turned out that there had been 4 people courted in Gryffindor. Hermione, Ginny, Seamus and Harry. Harry hadn't told anyone about it, but Hermione had suspected it. How could someone NOT try and court The Boy Who Lived?

Pansy Parkinson didn't even stand up and claim it was her after Harry stood up and said 'no'.

Seamus had been courted by Theodore Nott and Ginny by Blaise Zabini. Both of them accepted.

Everyone seemed to be excited to see what Hermione Granger finally decided. Ten minutes before dinner ended Hermione stood up and closed her eyes.

"Yes."

Everyone gasped and waited to see what would happen next. Who was Hermione's secret admirer?

Draco Malfoy stood up and walked over to the Gryffindor table. He grabbed Hermione's hand, who obeyed due to her shocked state, and gave her a big kiss.

He smiled. "I just knew you couldn't resist me."

Hell broke loose right after that. It had been a pure coincidence that it happened right after Hogwarts saw a Malfoy smile and not smirk. And a genuine smile too, not a malicious or menacing one. This one was warm and truly happy for getting the girl he had been pinning over since he was 16. What caused the Great Hall to go into chaos? Right after Malfoy claimed his woman, Severus Snape stormed in angrily into the Great Hall. "Whoever dared to court me," He gave a hateful glare to the entire Great Hall. "I REFUSE. If I ever find out who did it, because, rest assured IT WAS NOT ONE OF THE STAFF. Will get DETENTION UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR FOR DISRESPECT."

Harry groaned. "And here I thought I was going to be detention free this year."

The Great Hall had heard what he said. Everyone froze and for about a minute, everything was quiet.

"POTTER!"

Harry gulped.

That's when a group of seventh year Hufflepuffs started screaming threats at Harry. Harry had won the betting pool, but because it was him, he technically cheated. Dumbledore and McGonagall were trying to calm Snape down as he too was threatening to kill Harry.

Ron had passed down on the floor. He had too many shocks for one day.

Then other people finally understood what Hufflepuff was saying people in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were now turning on Harry. No one took Harry's courting seriously. They all thought it was a joke. And basically, Harry cheated them out of their money!

At least he had next year to convince his professor of his sincerity. After all, Dumbledore offered him the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, which he accepted.