All nine prefects along with the Head Boy and Head Girl sat around a round table in an old classroom that McGonagall allotted them to plan the arrangements. Ron sat with Michael and Hannah, Hermione sat between Neville and Harry who was naturally next to Ginny who was next to Michael. Next to Hanna was Ernie and next to him were Astoria and Draco. And between Draco and Neville sat Luna.

Hermione felt a bit uncomfortable since she, Ron and Draco sat in a triangle and Ron was continuously shooting daggers between her and Draco whereas Draco was trying hard to keep his eyes off Hermione since their relationship, whatever sort it was, was a secret but he was certain that it won't stay a secret for long since he was going to ask Hermione to ball.

"so why don't we divide the tasks. Starting from the basic?" Ginny said. Everybody nodded in agreement.

"good, me, Harry and Ron will see for the Beauxbaton room arrangement." She began. It was clear that she inherited Mrs. Weasley's management skills. "Ernie, Hannah and Astoria can see for the Durmstrang room arrangement." They all agreed. Leaving Luna, Neville, Hermione and Draco to be given the tasks. "now as far as I know Hermione and Draco have travelled more than either of us, right?", both Hermione and Draco nodded "so you better sort out the menu with the house elves in the kitchen, while Luna and Neville, you too see for the arrangements in the Great Hall" . Neville happily nodded and Draco was genuinely thankful for being given the duties with Hermione.

"so lets get started" Harry said clapping his hands "we'll meet here after two hours for snacks and to check to on the progress"

With this everybody got and started walking out with their group. Ginny quickly caught up with Hermione.

"oh by the way, don't forget about Viktor's room" she added with a wink.

Harry, Ginny, Ernie, Hannah, Ron, Astoria and Michael made their way towards the West side of the castle where there are spare rooms. Luna and Neville walked towards the Great Hall to see about seating and decoration arrangements for the welcome feast. Since it was on the way to kitchens so they accompanied Draco and Hermione till there.

Hermione and Draco walked quietly till they took a turn descending down towards the kitchens.

"a judge can't ask a student to dance, right?" Draco broke the silence.

"I don't think there is such rule, I guess you can ask anyone" she said "why do you ask?"

"just like that" he said with a sigh. He stopped abruptly and caught Hermione smiling. This proved that she understood where he was coming from.

"did you two meet after the tournament, EVER?" he asked.

"yeah" she said " we were constantly in touch till we had to go on a run. We even met at Bill and Fleur's wedding, stealing another dance together" she added.

"oh" was all he could say before they resumed their walk.

"last time you went with Pansy right?" she asked.

"I had no choice" he explained in the most simple way possible.

"well I was never anyone's choice. I mean Ron and Harry thought about me when they ran out ideas about any other girl that they might ask to go with them" she said sadly.

"but you were Krum's choice" he corrected her.

"yeah, he asked me as soon as the Ball was announced and what I liked was that he asked me as a first choice and not his last resort" she said smiling. Her smiling on thinking about Krum made Draco slightly jealous. He wanted to ask her for ball formally so he didn't press further on the topic. Soon they reached the doors/painting to the kitchen where Hermione tickled the pear revealing a knob.

Draco opened the door for her and held it like a gentleman.

Hermione smiled and entered the kitchen and saw the house elves working their like a perfectly oiled and programmed machine.

It was the first time since war that she came down here in the kitchen and while the kitchen was still the same there were some notable changes in the conditions of the house elves. Their clothes were clean, they looked happier than before and all of them wore mismatched socks.

"Dobby" the words escaped her lips before she could stop and so did a happy tear. The house elves were indeed free now. They were given salary and vacations and were allowed outings.

"Dobby?" Draco asked her. He quickly caught the tear that left her eye.

"he wanted them to be free. He was the first elf who was proud to be free." She said.

"Dobby worked here?" Draco asked. As his mother always kept on sending him supplies of cakes and cookies along with some snacks on regular basis he never had any reason to go down at kitchens.

"yeah, two years after Harry freed him, he came here" she smiled "and worked here as an employ and not as a slave. Dumbledore happily gave him salary and he had vacations and leaves too"

"really?" Draco asked "but how do these remind you of him? And how do you know they are free?"

"their socks" she said pointing at them. Draco looked at her for more explanation. "Dobby always wore mismatched pair of socks, he thought the people are fool who wear same sort of socks on both feet while they can have two different socks on both the feet"

Draco chuckled lightly. "we better get the work done right?" he asked before Hermione tears up again on thinking about Dobby. He too didn't wish to think about him since he was one of his childhood partner when he wanted to play with someone, but as he grew his father started filling his head with things like superiority over elves and all.

Hermione nodded called for Winky loudly so that she also gets the attention of other busy elves.

"Miss Hermione" Winky said popping out of the crown and bowing in front of her, stretching her frock in a courtesy way. She turned and looked at Draco and her expressions told that she wasn't please enough but then she remembered what Dobby told her about Draco and Narcissa and she bowed for him too with a light smile "master Malfoy" she said. What Dobby told her about Narcissa and Draco was that that they were not evil and how Draco adored him when he was a baby and how Narcissa would allow him to take a break from work and play with Draco.

"Winky we need to talk about the menu of tomorrow's lunch. I assume you'll be aware about the tournament taking place" Hermione said.

"Yes Miss Hermione, Headmistress asked us to wait for someone to come and discuss" Winky said.

"We'll need some French dishes" Draco said "since one of the school is in France"

Winky nodded making a mental note about this.

"rest, some of the best can be put up from our very own feasts since we have no idea about where Durmstrang is" Draco said, in away praising the feasts they put up.

"so Miss Hermione and Master Draco, what dishes do you have in mind. We can serve you a sample of those" Winky said. It was now that Hermione realized that all the house elves have stopped working and were surrounding them, waiting for the orders.

"for the French main course we can have Duchesse potatoes along traditionally cooked Ratatouille " she said looking at Draco for approval or improvement, if any.

"along with Ficelle and Croissant bread to go along" Draco added, his voice clearly telling the admiration he had for Hermione's detailed knowledge about food, just like she remembers her essays and stuff.

A few elves nodded and went on their stations to prepare these dishes for sampling.

"from our feast menu there can be roasted chicken along with mashed potatoes and a one or two more dished which you can decide on your own" Hermione said.

"leaving us with dessert" Draco said.

"mmm dessert" Hermione said smacking her lips.

"there can be truffle pastries." Draco said

"and pudding"

"and Fruit tarts'

"and cheese soufflés"

"and green apple sorbet"

"and cream puffs with dark chocolate sauce" Hermione finished. There were a few seconds of silence where the elves looked at them as if they have gone mad and then they both started laughing. The elves moved from there to prepare the samples for desert while the couple continued to laugh.

"I never thought you'll be a fan a desserts" Hermione said "or anything sweet"

"I grew up eating my mum's delicious cakes and other sweet desserts. How do you expect me to hate it?" he said "but I never thought that the bushy Gryffindor know it all will have such sweet tooth"

"desserts are my favourite part of the meal" she admitted.

"then I can assure you that you'll love my mum's" he said. And suddenly he had an idea.

"a..umm Winky…how long will the samples take to be ready" he asked.

"main Course will take an hour more sir and so will the desserts" she replied before resuming with the batter she was making.

"great, we will be back in an hour" he said taking Hermione hand and pulling her along with him, outside the kitchens and towards the Dungeons.

"Draco, why are we going there?" she asked seeing the Portrait that gaurds the Slytherin dorms and common room.

"shhh" he said keeping a finger on his lips "you'll find out soon" he said in a hushed tone and then said the password clearly.

Thankfully, the common room was quite and empty and he pulled her along fast but quietly towards his dorm. Hermione followed him with the confusion plastered on her face.

Draco pushed open the door and hurried her in and quickly locked it. Blaise was sleeping with the curtains drawn around his bed. He quietly sat her on his bed and opened the trunk in front of his bed. He pulled out a box and closed the trunk making the slightest of noise possible and sat next to her.

"get up" he said asking her to climb up the bed properly. She slid off her ballerinas and climbed up the bed. Draco to climbed up and pulled the curtains so that they are not disturbed and also so that they don't disturb Blaise.

"what are you upto?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

"try this" he said opening the box. In there was a delicious assortment of blueberry and lemon Macaroons and raspberry and Vanilla Macaroons and Victoria Spong Cupkaes sprinled with Blue and Green and Red sprinklers.

"where did you get these from?"

"my mother baked them. Came today morning only" he said.

"they look like they have picked out from the best bakery in London" she said trying to choose one.

"I told you she is amazing and they taste better than they look"

"it's confusing though, which one should I have first?"

"try Raspberry and Vanilla Macaroons" he said and she picked one.

As soon as she took a bite the break and cream along with the tangy taste of raspberry kind of melted in her mouth "mmmm" she said, a bit louder than she should.

He quickly placed his finger on her lips "shhh"

She opened her eyes "that's amazing, actually more than amazing" she said controlling her volume this time.

"I told you that you'll like them"

"I love them" she said "you are so damn lucky" she added taking another bite.

Draco moved his thumb over the corner of her lips and wiped the crumps and cream which she failed to lick.

"you keep this box' he said.

She looked at him "no I can't, she sent it for you…and you too love them" she said.

"I'll tell her to send more, she loves baking you know" he said taking a Cupcake for himself and taking a large bite.

"awww you got a cream mustache" Hermione laughed "that to with sprinklers"

Draco faked a frown but as he saw it had no effect on her other than making her laugh harder he too joined in.

"I can't even say you two to get a room" came Blasie's annoyed voice.

"ooopsie" Hermione said like a child caught doing something naughty making her look too adorable for Draco to resist.

"you are so cute" he said in a low tone leaning in to kiss her with his cream coated lips.

She leaned back thinking that it might be a mess to kiss with so much cream on his lips as she has never tried anything like that before. A point came where she was lying flat on her bed and had no more space to lean back and then finally Draco leaned closer and placed his lips on her. He licked her lips asking for an entrance and soon she responded and she had to admit that the cream with sprinkles just made the kiss sweeter. She wrapped her arms around his neck while he too allowed his body lie down slightly on top of her from one side and moved his hand to her waist, not breaking the kiss once. It was slow and sweet, the one that takes your breath away but doesn't leaves you breathless.

He pulled back slightly and looked at her. Her eyes were still shut and her lips parted as if not expecting this break. She slowly opened her eyes and found Draco's face close enough to kiss again but still at some distance that allowed her to see in his grey eyes which looked so soft, like the sky on a pleasantly cloudy day and its just about to rain.

Blaise cleared his throat popping in his head. Draco moved to side, resting on his elbow. Hermione blushed, her cheeks resembled the shade of raspberries she just had.

"I thought you were asleep" Draco said, frowning and annoyed that Blaise interrupted such a perfect moment.

"I thought I smelled cupcakes and Macaroons" Blaise said.

"oh c'mon, you intentionally sneaked in"

"if you don't mind me asking, what are you two doing? Specially you Granger, here in Draco's bed after the curfew" Blaise said ignoring Draco's comment.

"we…I…we..umm have some work to do together…umm school work" she managed to speak out.

"really? Hope that school work is not providing school with more students, future students"

"Blaise…"Draco said with a warning look as Hermione lowered her eyes turning red due to embarrassment and blushing.

"Blueberry Macaroons" he said simply.

Draco handed him the box "now don't you dare peek in" he said pushing his head out.

"I am sorry" Draco said looking at Hermione.

"its okay" she said biting her lower lip.

"so where were we" he said again partially lying on top of her and bringing his face close to hers.

"why don't we start over" she said and once said even she couldn't believe herself that she could speak something this flirty so Draco's surprise was way beyond her imagination.

He gave a small peck on her lips and asked the very question which both of them have been waiting for "Hermione, will you go on a date with me?"

She looked at him, confirming if its real or just another dream and once she was sure that it was really happening she nodded "of course I will" she said smiling brightly.

"Saturday?"

"where?"

He thought of a perfectly elegant place for their first date "there is this amazing new restaurant in Diagon Alley" he said

"so we apparate together or meet up there?"

"as you say"

"we'll meet up there only" she said after thinking for a while.

They lied like that in silence for a while when Hermione asked him something, something he wasn't sure about himself, yet he knew what will happen.

"what will your parents reaction be Draco? You know, when they find out about us?" she asked.

"I don't know" he sighed "my mum won't be mad or anything I guess but I am sure about my dad, that he won't be happy"

"oh, I am so-"

"don't be" he said "it doesn't matters really"

Hermione could see the sadness on his face but she didn't press on the topic.

"we should go and taste some food now, right?" he said before he could suggest the same herself.

"yeah" she said and she sat up after he got off of her. She fixed her hair as she was sure that they must have been a mess and then she slipped in her shoes and they both quietly left his dorm.

"well, well look who do we have here!" said the annoying voice of Pansy Parkinson.

Draco and Hermione ignored as they made their way towards the portrait.

"I didn't know Gryffindor know it all was a slut. Now its quite clear what she did during camping with those boys. No wonder why they didn't mind seeing her ugly face."

Draco's wand was at ready and by the look of it he won't have gone for a normal hex but Hermione stopped him and pulled him out of the common room.

"what does she think about herself" he said through gritted teeth.

Hermione cupped his face "calm down" she said though the comment did hurt her but she ignored it coz through the years she has grown used to and kinda immune to Pansy's comments.

"how can you expect e to calm down? And how can you stay so calm when he just said those things to you?" he said.

"I am used to it" she said simply and took his hand as they made their way towards the kitchens.

Once there, they sat on the table identical to the one above in the great hall and were served with the dishes and then later desserts they decided.

"they were amazing" Hermione said as the elves gathered around for the reviews on the dishes they prepared "make sure there is more than enough for everyone"

After finalizing a few more things Draco and Hermione left to go back to the meeting room. They were the first one to get back.

"oh no! I had to get Viktor's room ready" Hermione said bolting up suddenly.

"what so special about him. You just have to get a bed and a table and chair and he should be happy with that" Draco said.

"oh c'mon Draco, he is our guest so we have to show our best to him, now shouldn't we?"

Draco simply shrugged. He agreed that she was right but he wasn't particularly excited about seeing Viktor with Hermione on daily basis thing.

"Come lets go, we still have half an hour before they all come back" she said and walked out of the room fast. Draco had a hard time keeping up with her.

She found the room that was supposed to be allotted to Viktor Krum during the games.

It was a big room with red curtains and a bed with red covers. There was a study table, chair and a cupboard.

"it already has what it requires"

"they need to be arranged" she said "and cleaned too" she added taking out her wand.

She did some quick spells with so much ease and elegance that it was only after she stopped doing it and smiled admiring her work did Draco take his eyes off her and saw the room. It looked NOWAY like it did a few minutes back. The curtains hung sidewards giving a clear view of the night sky and the lake from the window. Bed was on the side of the window. The chair, table and cupboards on the other side and then there was a new addition of a comfortable looking couch in front of the fireplace.

"looks nice" Draco said.

"thanks" she said pleased with her work. She walked to the table and pulled out a piece of parchment, quill and ink and wrote a note.

Hope you like the arrangements Mr. Krum. Feel free to contact us in case you need anything.
-Hermione
(P.s. you BETTER like the arrangement ;) )

She placed the note on the table.

"lets go" she said. Soon they were back in the room, only this time everyone was already there enjoying some snacks.

"got everything done?" Harry asked.

"yeah. Feast and Viktor's room are all set. What about you guys"' Hermione asked

"Beauxbaton students are going to love it" Ginny said with a proud smile.

"more seats arranged for the guests and even added a bit of decorations to keep away Nargles" Neville told them winking as he said the last part.

"hopefully Durmstrang people like our arrangement" Astoria said.

"great so everything is done" Micheal said stretching lazily.

"we better head to bed then." Hannah said looking tired.

"yeah sure, we'll meet again tomorrow before lunch" Harry said.

Hermione too yawned tiredly "good night guys" she said making her way towards the Gryffindor tower along with Neville and Ron.

"good night" said everyone in chorus and made their way towards their respective dorms.

The morning came by quickly and lunch time even quicker. As students settled down for lunch Headmistress McGonagall stood up.

"before we begin with our lunch" she began " I would like you all to to move out to welcome our esteemed guests from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang for The Triwizard Tournament that will take place in Hogwarts this year"

There was the very much expected cheering and chaos as the students made their way towards the main door to see the magnificient arrival of the students and their Headmaster/Headmistress from the guests school. The Durmstrang ship rose from the silent waters and the Beauxbaton horses flew down the clear sky.

From the Durmstrang ship first came a tall man with neck long black hair, fairly pale skin, blue eyes and a not so intimidating expression unlike the previous Headmaster they have seen. He was followed by very well built boys who looked like they were in their late teens.

From the Beauxbaton carriage stepped down Madam Maxime. Hermione was sure she saw her searching for someone in the crowd and that someone was not really that hard to find. I mean how can you hide Hagrid now? She was followed by the group of lovely ladies and handsome men but one person caught her eye. Gabrielle Delacour.


A/N: So Gabrielle is here in Hogwarts?What will happen now?

Rate the chapter out of 10 ~DG

(P.s. please ignore the typo/grammatical errors for now :) )