Happy New Year everyone! Thank you for reading and reviewing. I know that Draco being forgiven so quickly was a little far fetched... but I really wanted him to be a good guy! Here's chapter 4. Enjoy. Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' etc.


Chapter 4

That weekend the students piled into the carriages to go to Hogsmede. The store was very crowded, mostly with other girls. The guys seemed more than content to wait. Draco and I went in. I only had to look at a couple before seeing the perfect one. It was crimson in colour with a floor-length skirt, patchwork and silky, and fit my form perfectly. Draco loved it as much as I did. He had already found his dress robes. There weren't too many variations between the male's robes. Most of them looked like any regular tuxedo. Even though I protested, Draco paid for everything. It was all part of the date, he insisted.

Finally it was time to meet up with Harry and Ginny. I held onto Draco's hand as we made our way to The Three Broomsticks. I could feel his nervousness as he grasped my hand. I slowly rubbed circles into his palm.

We entered the pub and were met by the chatter of students and the warmth of the tavern. I sat at a table in the corner far enough away from the stares we were sure to get, and Draco went to get drinks.

Draco appeared with four drinks of butterbeer and a warm smile.

Soon after, Ginny and Harry arrived and I stood and waved them over to our table.

"Ginny! Over here!" They smiled when we pointed to the two drinks and seats reserved for them.

"Hey! Thanks so much for this." They sat down and took a sip of butterbeer. I could see them physically relax as the warmth spread through their bodies.

I smiled was about to ask what they had been up to, when I saw Ginny had a rat on her shoulder.

"Ginny, I think you have a rodent on your shoulder." She looked worried, but smiled when she turned to look.

"He's a Pygmy puff," Ginny replied, laughing. "His name is Arnold."

"Pygmy puff?"

"Yeh. There're so sweet. They are literally fluff balls! You should get one."

Ginny explained to me about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It was the only place she knew of that they could be purchased. "But I think they started selling them here. I can't promise you anything, but it's worth a try. If you can find one, they're really worth having. There're very sweet!"

I smiled. "I'll make sure I get one."

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and catching up. Ginny was explaining about her family and how many of them there were.

"You're so lucky. It's only ever been just me and my parents. I've always wanted a sister." Draco confessed. "I guess that I'll just have to have loads of children."

Ginny giggled when she saw my face. I was staring at him with a jokily shocked expression.

"Draco Malfoy has a soft side... who'd have known?" He laughed and shoved me playfully.

"I'm still tough Bells, so don't go telling people otherwise." He put on his best manly face and I giggled.

After a while, Ginny and I went to the bathroom when the boys hinted at wanting to go.

"Harry's lovely, Ginny. When did you guys start going out?"

"About two years ago, but it was on and off."

When we got back, the boys were in deep conversation. As soon as we got close to hear what we were saying, I had to keep from laughing.

"The Holyhead Harpies? How can you like them?" Harry exclaimed.

Ginny and I exchanged amused looks at the topic of Quiddich and sat silently beside the boys. Draco, in mid conversation, wrapped an arm around me and brought me into a hug. I breathed in his scent and my heart leapt when I thought about how much Draco cared for me.

"Love you." I whispered. He gave me a squeeze and I leant closer into his embrace.

After we had finished our drinks and organised another double date, Draco and I made our way to the joke shop.

In the left corner of the store we found a large glass cage. There were loads of happily squeaking balls of fluff inside. I reached into it and took out a bright green one. I held it up and looking into its big, black eyes, and a long pink tongue licked my face. I giggled.

"Aw, he loves me!"

My Pygmy puff stuck its tongue out even farther and licked Draco's nose.

"Hey, keep the love restricted to Bella!" he laughed.

Draco helped me pick out a cage and toys to make my pygmy puff feel at home. We decided it looked rather lonely in there all alone, so I took out a pink one.

"There, now they're happy." Draco smiled.

I paid for the Pygmy puffs before Draco could even try. He'd already spent more than enough on me that day. We walked out of the shop and spent the rest of our time back at the Three Broomsticks. We sat in a corner booth. Draco ordered some Butterbeers for us. I set the Pygmy puffs' cage on the far side of the table. Draco pulled me next to him and he wrapped his arms around me.

Draco started to gently massage the back of my neck and I got my hand up the back of his shirt and rubbed his back. Draco kissed the top of my head.

"I love you, Bella," he whispered.

I looked up at him, beaming, and he brought his mouth to mine. His soft lips kissed me gently and I could feel him smile.

The Butterbeer came without us noticing. The green Pygmy puff wiggled up the side of the cage with his sticky feet and used his long tongue to grab hold of the straw. He and his new fluffy girlfriend lapped it up. When Draco and I decided to leave and turned back to our drinks, we were a bit confused as to where our previously forgotten Buttbeer had gone to. Neither of us noticed the fatter and very happy Pygmy puffs nestled in their new bed, hiccupping slightly.