"So, today's the day huh?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes at the stare Blaise was giving him.

"I'm just going on a date with Granger, Blaise, so quit looking at me like you're going to lose me forever. I'm not yet getting married so rest assured your chances of landing me are still-"

Malfoy screamed as a pail of ice water poured over him from out of nowhere.

"Blaise you fucking retard!"

Blaise raised his eyebrows in a look of innocence as he eyed his now drenched best friend. "What's the matter mate? Got cold feet?" With that, Blaise let out a thunderous laugh.

"Ha. Ha. The bloody bastard thinks he's so funny." Muttering a quick drying spell, Malfoy was back to fixing his tie.

"Oh I crack myself up." Blaise whispered to himself in between chuckles.

"Be thankful I'm not a vengeful guy." Malfoy stated as he combed through his platinum blonde hair.

"Yeah and I'm the richest wizard in the world." Blaise mocked.

"I'm not a vengeful guy to lackeys who serve me well." Malfoy corrected. This earned him another pail of ice cold water over his head.

"Bloody hell, Blaise! I swear to Merlin!" Malfoy was glaring death at Zabini's laughing form.

"Sorry mate! Hard to take you seriously when you're drenched from head to toe!"

Muttering another dry spell, Malfoy gave Blaise one last warning. "Do that again and I swear I'll hang you upside down in nothing but your birthday suit."

Blaise raised his hands up in defeat but the huge grin on his face made his surrender hard to believe.

"So, what's your plan for Granger tonight?"

Malfoy smirked. "Nothing."

"Oh come on." Blaise rolled his eyes as he made himself comfortable on the couch.

Wearing his coat, Malfoy simply shrugged his shoulders. "It's just a date. As simple as that. We'll eat, chat, dance, then go our separate ways."

Blaise narrowed his eyes, not believing a word the Malfoy heir was saying.

"Trust me, it's as normal as it gets." With a wink, Malfoy grabbed some floo powder then headed for the chimney.

"Whatever. Just fill me in after." Blaise stated with finality as he waved to Malfoy.

Turning around, Malfoy smirked at him. "No need to get jealous Blaise, you're still my number one."

Draco hurriedly threw the floo powder just as a vase was headed straight for his head.

Hermione smoothed the edge of her black cocktail dress to calm her nerves. Standing at the entrance of a rather shady establishment, she began to berate herself again for ever trusting in Malfoy in the first place. Here she was, dressed in a fancy little black dress with matching stilettos, standing in front of a rundown old shack named 'Slither In'. She rolled her eyes. She didn't know what the hell was running through Malfoy's mind when he chose such a place but if this was one of his pranks again, she would never let him get away with it unscathed.

Swallowing the rest of her apprehensions, she pushed the wooden double doors open only to be greeted by the sight of old drunk men gulfing down cheap liquor and what looked like things akin to food. She tried her best not to grunt in disgust. Before she could take another step in or out the door, one of the bartenders bowed before her.

"It's a pleasure to have you Ms. Granger. Please, follow me."

Hermione narrowed her eyes as the bartender began to walk towards the back room. Her eyes caught sight of the 'staff only' sign before she slowly began to head towards it as well. She didn't fail to notice how none of the drunks were paying her any heed. It was almost as if she, and the bartender before her, didn't exist.

Keeping the staff door open, the bartender gave Hermione one more nod of acknowledgement, as he motioned for her to continue on.

With an anxious nod, Hermione walked through the door and was now inside what looked like a storage room. She glanced back as she heard the door shut, followed by a resounding lock. She narrowed her eyes as she inspected the dimly-lit room. Piles of boxes were strewn everywhere, as were random bottles of liquor and a few wooden crates. She scrunched her eyebrows. Just where the hell was-

She couldn't help but scream when she felt her surroundings move. She watched in surprise as the floor began to descend. Gone were the boxes and crates as she descended further. The top of the makeshift elevator closed and she was inside a rectangular box walled by plush red velvet cushions and crystal lights. She blinked. Before she could form any more coherent thought, she came face to face with herself through golden doors. She stared at her wide-eye expression as the doors finally pulled apart. She blinked again.

Walking out, Hermione caught sight of a woman in an elegant long black dress who bowed at her arrival before informing her that her table was ready. She could only nod in response as she began to follow the woman through the hall. She could feel the soft red carpet through her heels as she inspected several works of art placed tastefully throughout the stretch. She narrowed her eyes. Whoever owned this establishment was one rich son of a bitch.

Rounding a corner, Hermione watched as two men in tuxedos opened up the golden double doors for the woman and herself. What greeted her next was beyond her expectation.

Standing at the top of flight of marble stairs, Hermione looked on at the ballroom before her. White pristine marble floors reflected the beautiful floating crystal candles. The ceiling was adorned by hanging purple and white orchids, crawling down the pillars, ending just before they hit the floor. A live band was playing at the end of the ballroom, with a few couples slow dancing romantically at the open space. Tables were stacked and stationed by the walls, inside spacious cubicles, giving guests as much privacy as possible.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"If you would please follow me?"

Hermione muttered an apology as she descended the flight of stairs. Her eyes kept darting around the luxurious ballroom as the woman led her to the corner most part of the first row of tables. There she finally caught sight of Malfoy conversing with a waiter.

"Pardon me, Mr. Malfoy? Miss Granger has arrived." The woman stated respectfully before bowing and taking her leave. Not soon after, the waiter followed suit as Malfoy stood up to greet his date for the evening.

"I'm glad you could make it." Draco nodded as he crossed the table to hold a chair out for her. "You look great."

Hermione could only nod in response, still slightly disoriented by the strange flow of events. She silently took the seat Malfoy offered her. Just as she settled down on the chair, she finally felt herself gain control again.

"So what exactly were you trying to achieve by not telling me of this place?"

Malfoy fought a smirk as he settled himself comfortably on his chair. He would definitely pay good money just to see Granger's expression on her face when she realized what kind of place she was about to head into. He knew he should have told her right from the start. But he didn't want to miss the chance to rattle the Golden Girl's nerves up a bit.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Bull shit."

Now Malfoy couldn't hold back a grin. "It's always amusing to hear you curse."

Hermione smiled tightly. "Want to hear another one?"

Malfoy held back a laugh. "I would rather see you smile."

Hermione blinked, slightly taken aback by how serious Malfoy was about taking the role of 'prince charming'. "Wow." She deadpanned. She knew they both agreed on being civil but this was something she was definitely not expecting.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"

Hermione released a long sigh, trying her best to swallow a biting remark. "No. Not really. I just find this version of you…" Hermione paused, trying her best to find kinder words.

Malfoy scoffed in amusement, not failing to notice how much effort Hermione was putting into being tactful. "Unsettling?"

"For lack of a better word." Hermione nodded. "In all honesty, I would appreciate it if you would be less complimentary, and bit more... professional."

Malfoy politely nodded in response. He wasn't surprised. It was just like the Gryffindor princess to keep things business-like. "I didn't realize I was making you a tad bit uncomfortable. I'll try to tone down my compliments then."

Hermione nodded once again, still not quite sure how to respond to a compromising Malfoy.

Malfoy raised a glass. "If I may, I would like to offer a toast." He paused, waiting for Hermione to take her glass.

Hermione stared at the sparkling wine glass hesitantly before finally deciding to accept the toast.

"To a memorable evening." Malfoy politely smiled, tapping his glass lightly on Hermione's own.

"To a memorable evening." Hermione reiterated through a tight smile, still feeling apprehensive. Never in her life would she have imagined she'd be going on date with Malfoy. And yet here she was, alive and well, and of her own free will.

"So, care to tell me about your journey-"

"No." Hermione glared at Malfoy's amused expression. She knew he did it on purpose, inviting her to a place like this without any warning. Narrowing her eyes in contemplation, Hermione began to think of ways to make him pay.

"But you have to admit the trip was worth it." Malfoy smirked knowingly. Thanks to his trusty sidekick Blaise, he knew most of what Granger had been spending her time on. Interior design and architecture were a few of her interests.

"How did you come to know about this?" Hermione's eyes kept darting off at the beautiful interior of the hidden restaurant they were currently in. "And please don't tell me the name of this place is really Slither In."

Malfoy couldn't hold back a small laugh. "Out of all the things you could ask about this place you're going for that?"

Hermione looked at Malfoy through narrowed eyes. "Why would you name such a beautiful place with such an atrocious name?"

"Careful. You're this close to blasphemy." Malfoy raised his thumb and index finger to emphasize his point. "After all, Slytherin is a beautiful name."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I wasn't talking about Slytherin. I was talking about 'Slither In'. Those are two different things."

Malfoy nodded in both amusement and understanding. "When I suggested the name to Blaise I didn't think he would take it seriously. I just said a couple of innuendos to get him off my back about naming this place."

"Zabini owns this?" Hermione failed to hide his surprised.

Malfoy shrugged. "Just a small business we both started out of boredom."

Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes. Only two spoiled rich kids would think of constructing such a large scale project out of 'boredom'.

"Don't tell him I told you this, but he modelled this place after his ideal wedding reception."

Hermione tried to hold back a smile. "You're kidding?"

Malfoy shook his head. "He might look all dark, broody and mysterious, but that guy's all mush and romance deep down."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the statement. It went against her entire image of Blaise. "I find that hard to imagine."

"Oh you'll understand what I mean once you get to know him."

Hermione nodded at the prospect as she took a sip of her champagne. Her eyes met Draco's amiable ones for a moment before she looked away. She blinked. The realization that she was out on a date with Draco Malfoy and was actually feeling quite pleasant about it suddenly dawned to her. Her smile faded almost instantaneously, feeling a strange chill crawl down her spine. She cleared her throat.

"Um, if I may, may I head to the loo?"

"Of course." Draco tried to act as if he didn't notice the sudden change in Hermione's demeanor as he nodded towards the usher at the end of the hall. He let out an annoyed sigh as he watched Granger disappear from his sight. And just when he was finally learning how to be civil with her.

Hermione stared at herself through the mirrored wall of the marble bathroom. After checking if she was alone, she proceeded to lean both hands on the edge of the sink as she stared herself down. She couldn't believe that for a second she forgot who she was dealing with. This was Draco Malfoy before her. The Slytherin prince. Her mortal enemy. The face of prejudice and injustice in her life. Yes she had to be civil with him but she shouldn't have let her guard down that much. She even laughed at his jokes for crying out loud! She could tell that he's changed to some degree but she also knew how cunning he could be, and how much of a great actor he becomes whenever it would suit his interests.

Hermione released a long sigh. Malfoy's ability to shift their conversation and transform it into friendly grounds was definitely something to fear. Analyzing their earlier exchange, Hermione couldn't help but feel threatened at how easy it was for Malfoy to make her so comfortable in his midst. She couldn't even pinpoint which part of their dialogue changed the entire atmosphere of their 'date'. His skills were definitely admirable at best, but that only proved how dangerous of a foe he could be.

"Pull yourself together Hermione. And don't ever let your guard down like that again."

She knew this wasn't a contest, and that they were both in it for mutual benefit. But Herimone couldn't help but feel like she was losing. She needed to regain some control over their situation and she needed to stay sharp and analytical, despite having to learn how to treat Malfoy like a human being. She would try to respect him as much as she could, but she should never make a mistake of trusting him. After all, everything he's doing is for himself – to gain everything back for himself. She was just another pawn for him to make use of. But she'd be damned if she would let that happen. Just as he saw her as his own piece to manipulate, she would do the same to him.

With a nod of finality, Hermione left the room feeling some semblance of control in her grasp once again.

"Sorry I took so long."

Malfoy pulled out the chair for Hermione once again. "It's fine. You didn't take that long."

Just as they both settled in their respective chairs, an awkward silence enveloped them both. Malfoy could only sigh. He knew this would happen.

"So, what was the real reason for the bathroom break?"

Hermione could only stare at Malfoy with raised eyebrows. "I'm sorry?"

Malfoy sighed once again. "Listen Granger. I understand that the two of us somewhat 'getting along' is a concept that is so foreign that you can not bring yourself to accept it. But like we both agreed upon, this is a compromise. I'm trying to look at you through fresh, unprejudiced eyes, and I hope you can do the same for me."

Hermione blinked for a moment, surprised that Malfoy would raise the issue himself. She released a tired sigh. "Don't you think I'm trying? It's just that throughout this exchange I can't help but think of you having some sort of ulterior motive. I can't help but analyze everything you do and say and try to connect it with something I'm supposed to expect in the future." She paused. "But like I said I'm trying. But I need time. Besides, it's not like you trust me either."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "What does trust have anything to do with having decent conversations?"

"It makes things more natural. Genuine." Hermione replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Having conversations that just let you speak your mind. Not having to decode words, phrases and not having to analyze exchanges. You need trust for those."

Malfoy was silent for a moment.

"Then there really is just one way to solve this lack of certainty."

(Flashback)

"Here."

Malfoy stared at the contract before him, scanning each page cautiously as to not miss anything. When he finally saw that the signatures were complete, he fought hard to contain his smirk.

"You already signed it." Malfoy did his best to sound nonchalant as he signed on the dotted line as well.

"Yes. Given that you were so kind as to consider most of my amendments." Hermione folded her arms as she watched him scrawl his signature on the paper. "I have to admit. I was surprised at how… considerate your initial contract was. You didn't give me much to amend."

Malfoy smirked as he continued to sign his name on the rest of the contract. "I'm glad you appreciate it then."

Hermione cleared her throat. "With this we're official then? Business partners I mean."

Malfoy finished his last signature before giving Hermione a look. He stood up and extended a hand to the surprised Gryffindor princess. "I look forward to a fruitful partnership."

Hermione stared at Malfoy's outstretched hand for a few more seconds before deciding to take it. "I hope I'm not making the worst decision of my life then."

Malfoy scoffed in amusement as he paused their shaking hands. "Taking up an opportunity for revenge is never a poor choice."

"So you really think I'm here for revenge?"

Malfoy blinked, still not letting go of their hands. "What else would you be here for?"

Hermione shrugged, her eyes never leaving Malfoy's in a silent challenge.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes for a bit before smiling slyly. "Care to enlighten me?"

"And what would I enlighten you with?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. In that moment, Hermione finally tried to take her hand back but Malfoy heir's hold was solid.

"Why." Draco's eyes were calculating and cold once again. "Why did you agree to my proposition? What's in it for you?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "What's it to you? My agreement is all you need, is it not?"

Malfoy clicked his tongue several times as he shook his head. "Granger, Granger, Granger. What kind of evil mastermind would I be if I don't even know the true objectives of my partner in crime?"

"I have my reasons and that's all I'm willing to tell you." Hermione finally pulled her hand out of Malfoy's own.

Draco was silent as he leaned forward, hands on his table, eyes intensely on Granger.

"W-What?" Hermione took a step back in discomfort, her hand darting towards her wand almost immediately.

"I can't trust you. And you obviously can't trust me."

Hermione scoffed. "Well you just stated the most obvious thing in the world."

Malfoy ran a hand through his hair as if what he was about to say was something he would rather not, if given a choice.

"Then we need to have some level of trust, in order for this partnership to work."

Hermione raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Truth serum."

"Like I said before, I am not taking a truth serum, Malfoy." Hermione stated with finality.

Malfoy stared at Hermione's glare unfazed. "Then what do you suggest we do then?"

Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Look. I know we're both uncertain about each other and I know it will take a long time to get this to work but can't we just try it the normal way first?"

Malfoy fought back a smirk. He knew Granger was just trying to sugar-coat her words. Her backing out of a truth serum challenge twice only meant that she had just as much to hide as he did. It was a gamble Draco was willing to take, betting on the fact that Granger would decline the offer. At least now, seeing as he suggested the ordeal more than once, Granger, no matter how small, would start to trust him more. "Fine. Given our past, I would still say that the two of us sitting here and not cursing or threatening to kill one another is a good start."

Hermione nodded. "I guess we have some more time to get used to one another. I mean, it's not like this will get out in the open the next day. After all, you and Zabini own this place so I guess we can rest assured that no one will leak this out in the public."

Hermione watched as Draco's smirk slowly grew wider. "I guess you're not as perceptive as you claim to be."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Draco leaned forward. "I'll let you in on a little secret, just promise me you'll keep your eyes on me the whole time."

Hermione subconsciously leaned back in withdrawal. "What?"

Malfoy smirked at the reaction. "There's someone here, in this very restaurant, who has a great view of our table." Hermione began to turn her head but Draco was quick to get a hold of her cheek. He shook his head.

"Now, now. Didn't I tell you to keep your eyes on me?"

Hermione blinked. Feeling awkward with the Slytherin prince's hand on her cheek and his eyes intensely on her own.

"I won't look anymore. So you can let go of me." Hermione tilted her head slightly out of Malfoy's grasp.

Bringing his hand down, Malfoy kept his eyes on Hermione. "Thank you for using your words and not slapping my hand off your face. That would have been a cause for concern."

"Well if you weren't stupid enough to forget to let me know we needed to put on a show, you wouldn't have to worry about such trivial things, now would you?"

Malfoy smirked. Good old biting Hermione was back. "Hate me for it or not, but this was a test for you. And an important one at that. I was betting on the fact that you would be civil with me despite not having the pressure of being forced to."

Hermione gritted her teeth, annoyed by the fact that Malfoy was the one calling all the shots. She understood his point and again, he was right to test her, given that she wasn't exactly good at hiding her feelings of disdain towards him. But that didn't change the fact that she hated him for it.

"And did I pass?" Hermione mocked.

Malfoy couldn't help but scoff in amusement, preventing himself from making a remark about Granger's obsession with grades. "Just barely."

Hermione let out an annoyed sigh. "Who are we putting on a show for then?"

"Now, where would all the fun be if you knew?" Malfoy couldn't help but wink as he got up his chair and headed straight for Hermione. "Now that you know our situation…" He paused to offer her a hand. "Would you care for a dance?"

Hermione smiled as she glanced at his outstretched hand. "Tell me who's watching, then I'll accept your offer."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow, as he moved his outstretched hand closer to Hermione. "You do know how weird we look right now, don't you?"

"Then I guess you better give me my answer."

Malfoy sighed, before getting down on one knee. Hermione failed to hide the surprise and embarrassment on her face.

"W-What the hell are you doing?"

"Astoria Greengrass." Malfoy stated as he took Hermione's hand and brought it to his lips. "She was my fiancé up until after a few months ago. She's here on one of the many marriage interviews she's been having since the disintegration of our engagement." Malfoy moved to stand, bringing along Hermione as he did. "She can't seem to find anyone to her taste though."

Hermione did her best to keep her expression neutral, replying through a tight smile. "That gesture wasn't necessary to answer my question."

Malfoy smirked at the Gryffindor princess's annoyance as he moved them to the dance floor. "Oh but your expression was perfect! After all, genuine reactions are always better than fake ones." Twirling Hermione into a Waltz position, Draco made sure to hold her close. "Rest assured." He paused, keeping his lips near Hermione's ears. "This gossip will spread like wildfire."

Hermione stared at the piece of paper before her, as she cradled the cup of hot chocolate on her lap. It was one of the tabloids Rita Skeeter was running under an alias.

A NEW POWER COUPLE IS ABOUT TO BE BORN

Hermione closed her eyes in disgust at the article. She didn't know what offended her most, the constant mentioning of Malfoy being the most eligible bachelor of his generation, or the fact that she was stated as having had relations with both Ron and Harry in the past. She didn't know what it was about Skeeter and her adamant attitude about her and Harry.

Harry.

Hermione released a sigh. Now that his name was dragged into all this, she knew she would have to face him sooner or later. Grabbing hold of the useless tabloid, Hermione threw it towards the flames.

"Honestly, who would buy this crap?"

Huffing, she took a seat back on her couch, feeling more anxious than usual. She was thankful it was a Saturday. At least she had some time to figure out a way to deal with the rumors, especially at work. Running a hand through her hair, Hermione took another sip of her hot chocolate. She honestly didn't expect things to progress this quickly. The tabloid had no proof except for an anonymous tip and yet they published the story in the front page. What ever happened to responsible journalism? She hated to admit it but Malfoy really was right. How hungry people were for these types of scandalous gossip was unfathomable.

"Speaking of Malfoy." Hermione sighed. It seems she would need to have yet another meeting with him soon. She didn't want to admit it herself, but her evening with the Malfoy heir wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Now she was somewhat beginning to understand why the girls back at Hogwarts were after him. He was easy on the eyes, rich and was the heir to an influential family. He was smart, being only second to her in a lot of classes back then, quite athletic, and well a good dresser as well. Sure she was well aware that he was on his best behavior that night and that most of what she saw was a façade, but she was still surprised how much of a gentleman he could be if he wanted to. Hermione scoffed. There it was, the operative term 'if he wanted to'.

Hermione shook her head. She was well aware that it was all an act but she still couldn't help but bring herself to appreciate the level of effort Malfoy put into their first date. She wasn't stupid enough to delude herself into thinking that he was doing it for her. Obviously he was doing it for his own personal gain, but the thought of Malfoy putting that much effort into their fake first date still made her smile bitterly. This was by far the best date she's ever been to her entire life. And to think that Malfoy would be the one holding that title, Hermione was beginning to get a sour taste in her mouth.

Malfoy stared at the tabloid before him in contemplation.

"Well? Is it just me or do you not seem pleased?" Blaise raised an eyebrow as his gaze drifted from the paper to Malfoy.

Malfoy released a long sigh. "I shouldn't have been surprised. But I never really thought Astoria would have the gall to tip Skeeter about it."

Blaise shrugged. "What's the problem then? Isn't this what you wanted?"

Malfoy released another long sigh as he twirled another glass of fire whiskey on his hand. His hands never failed to get a hold of the burning liquor. "Things are progressing a bit faster than expected. This would be a problem for Granger."

"What about Granger?"

"She's still incredibly skeptical about me, and this plan. She still hasn't fully accepted things despite her already signing the contract. With the sudden turn of events, she'd be forced to deal with the reality of our situation earlier than expected."

Blaise gave Draco a confused glance. "But this is Granger we're talking about. I refuse to believe she would ever enter something half-heartedly. She signed the bloody contract and even amended portions of it. I'm willing to bet she even has the damn thing memorized."

Malfoy chuckled at his best friend's last statement. "Likewise. But don't forget, she's human too. She'll fall victim to sudden rush of emotions. I'm not going to lie. I am well aware she accepted my proposition out of anger towards weasel. And the strength of our alliance rests on the basis of that anger. I'll just have to be careful. I need to keep fanning that flame for as long as possible."

"But she does trust you now, right? Even just a tiny bit?"

Malfoy shrugged. "I would simply have to bet that my truth serum proposition helped alleviate some level of doubt. But other than that I am unsure."

Blasie folded his arms on his chest as he leaned further on the couch. "Then what are you so worried about? Everything seems to be falling into place from where I'm standing."

"Have you got anything about Potter?"

Blaise sighed dejectedly. "Unfortunately mate, I have nothing on him and Granger, only the fact that they are never seen alone together and are only ever present in the presence of common friends or during work-related meetings."

Blaise took out his wand, conjuring up a stack of folders. He began to expertly scan through them, as if he had memorized the files by heart. "This contains all the events Potter has attended for the last three years. Prior to the fallout of Weasley and Granger, there was a steady stream of meet ups between the two. Those continued and increased in frequency up until three months after the break-up had been publicized. After those three months, they were only ever together during reunions and business-related agendas."

Draco released an annoyed sigh as he stood up from his chair to head towards the window. Staring out into the star-filled sky, he took long sip from his drink.

Blaise shrugged. He knew Malfoy was pissed at not knowing what Potter's role was in all of this but the paper trail could only tell him so much. "Why don't you just ask Granger about it?"

Malfoy chuckled. "Of course Blaise, why haven't I thought of that?"

Blaise gave Malfoy a knowing look. "You already did."

Malfoy turned around momentarily to bow in mock reply.

"Well, you'll think of something." Blaise replied casually as he flopped down the couch. "How was your date by the way?"

Malfoy scrunched his eyebrows, confused by the question. He gave Blaise a look. "I'm pretty sure you are already well informed of all the details."

Blaise sighed, his gaze never leaving the ceiling. "I'm not talking about your plan. I'm asking about the time you spent with Granger."

Malfoy simply gave Blaise an incredulous look. "Why the bloody hell would you want to know that?"

Blaise sat up to give Malfoy a surprised look. "What? Don't tell me you never once thought about what could happen if things get serious between you two."

Blaise narrowed his eyes as he watched his best friend lose it. He was laughing so hard he fell on the floor spilling his whiskey in the process. Slamming his free hand repetitively on his thigh, Malfoy couldn't seem to form any coherent sentences for the next few minutes.

"Yeah. I guess I really have what it takes to make it out there as a comedian." Blaise deadpanned, which only made the Malfoy heir laugh harder.

"Crazy asshole." Blaise shook his head as a smirk finally made its way to his lips. He laid back down on the couch, both hands under his head. He couldn't remember the last time Malfoy laughed out of genuine mirth, and not because of some sick joke only he could bring himself to laugh about.

"Oh mate, I knew you were a romantic, but I never thought you'd be one to this extent!" Malfoy finally collected himself and sat back down the chair adjacent to Zabini's couch.

"There's nothing wrong with being a romantic."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Yes, because falling in love and staying loyal to only one woman your entire life is ideal."

Zabini stayed quiet.

Malfoy closed his eyes in annoyance at his lack of tact. "Mate, I didn't mean-"

"It's fine." Zabini cut him off. "It's a long time ago."

Malfoy ran a hand through his hair. "Do you… Do you still miss her?"

Blaise chuckled at the question. "Do you even have to ask?"

Malfoy stared at the long forgotten whiskey on his hand. "Was it… Was it worth it?"

"Every second." Blaise's eyes were on the ceiling, as if staring hard enough would conjure up an image of her.

A long suffocating silenced followed.

"Well!" Malfoy stood up to try and ease the sudden tension in the room. "I for one, only have one wish when it concerns the matters of romance."

Blaised raised an eyebrow in interest as he gazed at his longtime best friend. Up until now he still didn't know how things turned out this way – how someone like him and someone like Malfoy would end up like brothers – but he was glad they did.

"I want to live my entire life with one person. Love only one person. And share all my riches with that one person." Malfoy paused as he nodded with satisfaction.

"And that person is yourself." Blaise summarized, knowing all too well how Malfoy's romance speeches end.

The Malfoy heir could only chuckle.

"I, for one, wish I would live to see the day you fall in love." Blaise shrugged as he closed in eyes, making himself more comfortable on the couch.

Malfoy scrunched his nose in disgust. "Well, I guess you'd have to ensure you live a long life then."

Blaise could only grin as he shook his head in response.

"Well what do you know, there is a god."

Blaise opened one eye in interest. "What is it?"

There, at the corner of the room, by the messaging station, was a very familiar owl holding a very familiar beige envelop.

Blaise sat up in surprise and anticipation. "Well fuck me."

Malfoy chuckled as he headed towards the owl. "Maybe some other time Blaise. I would much rather fuck with the sender of this letter first."

End of chapter 10!

I have no excuses for leaving this story for such a long time, other than the fact that I lost interest. Having a real difficult time trying to progress with it now. Will probably edit some stuff as I go. But like I always say with all my stories, I will finish them. It's just a matter of when. Also, to those who are having a hard time with the flow of my story or the manner in which I write (i.e. putting flashbacks in the middle of present events), I would have to apologize but for this type of story I will be utilizing a lot of those.

Thank you for reading and a constructive review would be appreciated!