I had totally been looking forward to fourth year. You know, we're all grown up, we can go to the Ball, we can …well that's about the extent of our new privileges, but still. We're not the bottom of the food chain anymore.

But as I sit here at the Gryffindor table during our first feast, I realize nothing will be different. It's just all the same people doing all the same things. Andie and Frank are debating over something. I think Andie is trying to explain why she thinks Charlie Hobbson is cute and Frank clearly isn't having any of it. James is teasing Al about something, and Al is getting defensive. Roxie and Jake are discussing Qudditch tryouts, because Jake is planning on trying out for Beater, while Dom flirts with some hot Slytherin. Malfoy is leering from the Ravenclaw table. Sigh. Just like all the other years.

However, my first day in Transfiguration was met with quite a few surprises actually. Professor Weber, my favorite teacher, announced that she would let us choose our own partners for the term. This was new, usually we were partnered with people from the other Houses. Something about the "inter-House unity" all the teachers loved to blab about.

Before I could even ask Al, Andie or Frank to be my partner, Gene Spry tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I'd like to be partners. He was a Gryffindor, but I didn't really hang out with him. He was close to Charlize and those kinds of people. But he smiled friendly enough and I would feel bad turning him down so I reluctantly smiled and said, "Sure."

He sat down next to me, smiling and said, "I just felt stupid having gone to school in the same House as you for four years and never really making an effort to get to know you. Plus you are one of the smartest girls in our year so I'd be more than happy to be partners with you." He chuckled.

I was a little taken aback, so I just smiled and agreed. Gene was good looking I suppose. He had dark brown hair that was neatly parted, green eyes and a nice enough smile. He was kind of skinny and lanky, but over all he had a pleasant appearance. Plenty of girls liked him.

After class, Andie yanked me into an empty corridor and commanded me to explain.

"Honestly, I have no idea why he wanted to be partners!" I said.

"Well there must be a reason why he's suddenly taken interest in you, did you talk to him at all recently? Or anything of the sort?" she asked. Andie was always trying to get me to go out with guys, but for some reason it doesn't fall into place for me like it does for her.

"Whoa there, he doesn't have an interest. He probably just wants a good grade in Transfiguration." Transfiguration was my best subject.

"We'll see. I will be monitoring this closely," she looked excited about the possible prospect of romance for her spinster friend.

I rolled my eyes. Please. Gene? Yeah right.

---------------------

Before I knew it, November was upon us. Things had been so busy lately! Classes, all the Quidditch games…Ok it doesn't sound like much but it feels like a lot!

But the only thing anyone could talk about these days was the Ball. Headmaster Hunt loves celebrations, so he throws two Balls a year: one at Christmas for fourth years and above and one at the end of the year for sixth and seventh years.

"Weasley!" called a familiar voice. I rolled my eyes. We had just gotten out of a particularly grueling Herbology lesson and I was not in the Malfoy mood.

"Bad manners, Weasley, " he said catching up to me. "I'm trying to talk to you."
"You never just want to talk to me Malfoy. Every conversation is shrouded in put-downs and insults."

"Not this one! This is totally different. Its about the Ball actually."

I stopped and turned to face him, looking perturbed.

"I'm asking you," he said, smiling broadly.

I dropped all my books. "What?!" I exclaimed. He began gathering my books up and putting them back in my hands. I was totally frozen in shock.

"Yeah. I figure it's the best solution. You see, all the other girls in school would get into a riot over who I chose and that girl would be insufferable and expect some serious relationship or whatever. I don't want to have to worry about my date being clingy or everyone getting all jealous. This is the perfect arrangement!"

"And what makes you think I'll agree?"

"What are your other options? Al is going with Katie Fisher and Longbottom is taking Jade Barnes." He gave me a pointed look. But he was right. My guy friends already had dates. I had kind of been hoping Gene might ask me- we had become friends in Transfiguration- but he had asked a Hufflepuff girl a year younger. Other than them, I didn't really know any guys well enough to think they'd ask me. What's worse, not going out of shame or going with Mafoy?

"Weasley, I'm a popular and attractive guy. I'm sure your little friend Spry would get pretty jealous seeing you strut in with me."

"Merlin, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I guess you're right. But you have to help me too! I wouldn't mind seeing Gene get a little jealous," I said blushing, "so you have to do everything in your power to make sure that he does!"

"Absolutely, Red. This is a business arrangement. Also, you'll need to show me your dress robes so I can approve of them and we can color coordinate. Be in touch with you," and he strode back to the castle. What a girl.

This would probably turn out badly. Guess I better write my mum and ask for new robes. My old ones aren't exactly "Malfoy's Date" material. Ew, I'm Malfoy's date.

My friends and family were pretty confused about the situation, but I wasn't exactly going to tell them that I was going with him because I was a desperate loser with no better options. That would defeat the whole going with Malfoy thing.

"At least we don't have to worry about him taking advantage of our little Rose," James had said with a chuckle.

"Hey, that was a little mean," I said, but didn't contradict him. It was true, the last thing I was worried about was Malfoy trying something with me.

"Now now, we know Rose will be a great catch for some guy some day," Al said, smiling sweetly but a little patronizingly. I just wish I could have a boyfriend to get all this nonsense over with.

I got these pretty dress robes my mum sent out. They were green and Andie and Lily both said it looked great with my hair and everything. Jade, my roommate, curled my hair in pretty little waves as opposed to it's usual bushy mess and Andie did my makeup. Andie, of course, looks perfect with her tight, blue dress, straight, blonde hair and gorgeous fifth year date. Frank and Al clean up pretty good, too. They both looked a little uncomfortable, but charming. I saw Gene making his way to the Great Hall and blushed a little when he waved. He looked quite nice, too. But where the hex (hehe) is Malfoy, he's supposed to be here helping me make Gene realize his feelings for me!

I was standing awkwardly outside the Hall when he appeared. Ok, I am aware Malfoy is a good looking guy. But he's always been such a pest I never really thought of him as an attractive person. However, now, I must admit it. He really is gorgeous. He may be a lazy, arrogant scumbag, but he looks pretty darn good tonight. His hair has grown out fairly long and shaggy this year. It's not messy like Al's though, it's, I don't know…classy. And he just looks so suave and handsome. Ew, I feel like I need to wash my brain of these thoughts.

"Rose," he said with a nod of his head. His smile actually seemed sincere, or maybe I was still a little caught up.

"Aren't we being friendly. You actually called me by my first name." I said. I can't remember a time he ever addressed me as Rose.

"I thought we should be civil for tonight at least. Unless you prefer otherwise?"

"No! I would like to have a pleasant evening if you don't mind."

"Shall we?" he asked. He seemed torn between his natural instincts towards girls (charming and seductive) and his natural behavior in relation to me (something similar to how one might act towards a bug in their food).

We linked arms somewhat awkwardly and grimaced at one another before striding into the Great Hall. By now, everyone knew we were going together, but there were still whispers and stares as we took our seats. He surprisingly agreed to sit at a table with my friends, but Cam Wright and his date joined us.

When the music began to play and people started getting up to dance, we realized something we hadn't really thought of prior. We would have to dance with each other! That's pretty much going to be the most awkward thing in the history of Hogwarts.

He turned to face me and laughed at the look on my face. "Merlin, Weasl… Rose, don't look so excited! Come on, we agreed to pretend to be civilized for one night," he said, taking my wrist and dragging me to the dance floor.

I know all the elegance and grace I posses would lead one to believe I am an excellent dancer, but believe it or not, I'm not the greatest. I spent almost the entire first song sort of just shrugging my shoulders and bumping into people and being laughed at by my charming date.

"You dance like a drunk house elf!" he said over the music.

I glared at him. I would feel like such an idiot if I actually tried to mimic the exuberant and somewhat sexy moves of my peers. Also, how did he know how a drunk house elf dances?

Malfoy spun me around a few times and I started to laugh and relax, and by the third song ("Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Bash") I was actually having fun. Who would have thought?

Malfoy was twirling me around and trying to get me to trip into couples dancing intimately and it kind of felt like we were almost friends. We were dancing as goofy and dorky as possible, and it surprised me he played along. He doesn't seem the type to let loose and make a fool of himself, and yet here he was shuffling to the beat like a total geek.

We were already worn out by the fifth dance so we went to get something to drink. We stood on the outskirts of the dance floor, sipping our drinks and making jokes about Professor Binns, when Al saw us and waved us over to his table. But when I moved to join him, I couldn't. Malfoy seemed to be struggling in the same fashion, he was wriggling but was unable to leave the spot we stood.

In simultaneous horror, we both slowly looked up. Enchanted mistletoe hung merrily above us, taunting us with the jolly little song it sung. My stomach plummeted to the ground and turned into a little puddle on the floor. I knew I was blushing furiously.

James skipped over to us happily. "Howzit, lovebirds?" He had the most infuriating smirk.

"Did you do this, Potter?!" I asked, trying to attack him, but falling over. No use of the legs, you see. Malfoy helped me into standing position again.

"No, Weasley, they're just attracted to couples in love. Haven't you ever read anything about enchanted Christmas objects?" James said, beckoning Andie and a kid with a magical camera over to us.

I racked my brains for everything I read about wizarding Christmases. Frantically, I began wringing my hands and breathing deeply. I never read anything about enchanted mistletoe!!

"This must be some kind of mistake!" I said hysterically.

"Relax, Rose I'm joking. I did put that there. And you have to kiss or you wont be able to move." Smug son of a basilisk.

I looked at Malfoy helplessly. "There must be another way."

"Nope, 'fraid not," James said bluntly.

Hesitantly, Malfoy and I leaned towards each other, both with looks of repulsion on our faces. We managed to work out an awkward little cheek peck in which I started instinctively bending away from him and by the time the two second kiss was over, I was half bent over.

And yet, nothing. I fell over again trying to get away.

"Come on, that's no kiss," the kid with a camera said.

I glared at him with a look that could have Petrified him.

"I, I refuse. I will not ever- please James remove this at once! I will write to your mother! I don't even- why would you want this? Andie do something! I can't just-"

My frenzied speech was cut off because my mouth became otherwise occupied.

Malfoy had taken my face in his hands and kissed me. Kissed. Me.

Once I sorted out what was happening, I sort of…well I am ashamed to admit this, but I kind of enjoyed it. Part of me was furious. I didn't want that slimy git to be my first kiss! And I certainly didn't want to enjoy it and (heaven forbid!) kiss him back. But the part of me that was in control of my brain at the time (actually I felt pretty out of control) concluded that there was nothing wrong with a gorgeous classmate whom I was getting along with very well tonight snogging me a bit.

It was surprisingly…tender. I hate that I used that word to describe anything at all, let alone Malfoy, but it was. His lips were really soft and the kiss was slow and sweet and my stomach seemed to have regained solid form and then exploded a thousand times over.

And then it was over. I stood there shell shocked, staring at him.

"What?" he said. I remained frozen.

"Its not a big deal," he said, rolling his eyes and grinning. "Just a kiss."

I didn't think I'd ever regain consciousness, but yeah, no big deal. James was whistling and cheering, and then ran for it when he saw our faces.

"Lets get away from here," he said, grabbing my hand this time as opposed to yanking at my wrist like before. I trotted alongside him, still not recovered.

As we sat down at Al and Frank's table, we both wordlessly agreed that that never happened. For enemies, we were excellent at reading each others minds.

"Dates bail on you already?" Malfoy asked, smirking as he took a sip of butterbeer.

"Come on, have a little faith Scorpy." Malfoy sneered at the nickname. "They're in the bathroom."

"That's what they told you," Malfoy said.

"How's it going with your date?" Al asked. "That red head from Gryffindor, right?" he said, pretending to be oblivious to the fact that I was right there.

"Eh, so so. She sure can dance, though. That's pretty much the only reason I asked her, cause of her extraordinary moves. And her smokin' hot bod, of course." Despite the sarcasm, I blushed. My heart was still racing and I kind of needed to catch my breath.

After smacking Malfoy on the head with my purse for making fun of my dancing and lack of a "hot bod", I excused myself to go the restroom.

I ended up running into my cousin Roxie in the bathroom and talking for a few minutes and then tripping and ripping my dress a little and enlisting a random older girl to help me mend it with magic and then relaying the whole story to Andie at the drinks table.

"I couldn't properly reach it and wasn't well going to take off my dress to fix it, so I found this girl who was able to repair it. Its not noticeable is it?"

"Nah, you're fine. Would never know. But who cares, get to the interesting stuff! You looked like you've been having a really good time with Malfoy!" she said, bouncing excitedly.

"Oh it was fun enough. 'A really good time' seems like an exaggeration." I said, trying to avoid the kiss conversation

"You kissed for like, eight seconds. Eight seconds!" She shook me.

"It couldn't have been eight seconds," I mumbled.

"You should have seen your face," she continued. "Not to mention you haven't been able to keep your eyes off him all night."

"Psh, that is so untrue," I said distractedly.

"Look at you! You're looking for him now!" It was kind of true, I was scanning the Hall in search of him.

"Solely for date obligation purposes…where is he?"

"I don't know, but I think he's growing on you. You look like you're more than happy to be obligated to stay by his side."

"Andie, one hour of getting along and playing nice cant erase years of hate. And why are you so pro me and Malfoy all of a sudden?"

"Cause its so romantic! Like your Pride and Prejudice book! Stop pretending you hate him anymore, if you ever did! Look at it logically, you like to do that."

"If you ever compare Malfoy to Mr. Darcy again I'll hex you." I said.

She laughed and trotted off to find her date.

Speaking of which, I couldn't seem to find mine anywhere. I inspected the Hall thoroughly, and then wandered out into the corridors, wondering if he had gone to the restroom, and then reluctantly outside to the garden area. But what would he even be doing out here?

Ah, how soon I found out. As I turned a corner, I nearly smacked into Malfoy and the girl he was passionately kissing. They broke apart for a second and he hazily seem to recognize me.

"Sorry, Rose can we er get some privacy?"

I just stood there, fuming. I don't know why I was so mad. Wait, yes I do. Cant leave that boy alone ten minutes without him running off and snogging someone else.

Malfoy sighed, recognizing all the signs of a Rose Weasley Angry Fit. "Whats the matter?" he said this like a parent asks a child why they wont eat their food.

"I helped you out by coming along and you've completely ditched me and have yet to fulfill your end of the bargain! Not to mention its just plain rude! Date obligation, Malfoy! Date obligation! You owe me!"

The girl, who I noticed as Amanda, his ex-girlfriend cleared her throat. She traced circles on his neck and asked all seductively, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No, no. Weasley was just on her way, now. Because she knew this wasn't a real date and therefore the obligations don't apply."

I could feel the tears coming. Anger swelled through my stomach. I was angry with Malfoy, for being such an ass, angry with myself for nearly crying over him, angry with Amanda, for being such a slut, and more angry with Malfoy for pretending he didn't do anything wrong!

"It wasn't a real date, but it was a "business arrangement" and you didn't come through!"

He just stared at me with slightly raised eyebrows.

"Did you do this on purpose? Invite me just to ruin my night?" My words sounded strangled.

"Weasley, I brought you along because I didn't want a clingy date that was obsessed with me, so I consider your end of the bargain unfulfilled as well" he said coldly, turning back to Amanda.

"Obsessed? Wha…? Obsessed with? I- I am not! You… I'm leaving!" I stuttered, shoving him as I passed.

"No, please stay," he mumbled sarcastically.

I walked as quickly as I could back inside and as I turned into an empty corridor, I burst into tears. I cursed myself for crying over him, why am I even crying over him? Its not a big deal. And yet I sat there under the portrait of Barnabus the Barmy, sniffling and marinating in self-pity and anger.

I finally composed myself and tried to regain some semblance of composure. As I passed the Great Hall on my way up to my dormitory, I saw Gene. He waved and ran over.

"Rose!" he hugged me enthusiastically. "I haven't seen you all night, are you having fun?"

He then noticed that my eyes were red and glossy and I was clearly upset.

"Whats the matter, what happened? Did Malfoy hurt you?" he said, puffing out his chest.

"No, he was just being a jerk. He totally ditched me," I said laughing feebly.

Gene snorted. "Why'd you even come with that moron in the first place?"

"Long story," I said, waving it off.

"You deserve to be shown a real date by a real gentlemen." He puffed his chest out more.

"Who's that?" I said yawning. I just wanted to crawl into my sock drawer and sleep for days. (AN: Ten points to those who recognize this reference).

"Me of course, " he said, his voice dripping in bravado. He reminded me of the princes from the Muggle cartoons I used to watch with my grandma. "How would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me after the holidays?"

I just looked at him confused for a little bit. "What about that girl you're with tonight?"

"Oh I'm not actually interested in her, we just came together."

All too familiar.

"Alright, I'd like that then," I said awkwardly.

"Great," he said. "I better get back in there, but have a happy Christmas!" he said, waving as he ran back inside.

I made my way back up to my dormitory, got rid of all the make up and threw my robes in my trunk. I shut my curtains and curled up under the covers. I can't believe he was my first kiss. What rubbish.