AN: I APOLOGIZE A MILLION TIMES FOR THE ULTRA LONG WAIT. I ADMIT, I WAS FRUSTRATED WITH MYSELF BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET MYSELF TO UPDATE. I'M SORRY FOR MAKING YOU ALL WAIT, I'M SINCERELY SORRY. I HAVE FINALLY UPDATED, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT. PLEASE LEAVE REVIEWS, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

I'VE MISSED THIS! I'VE MISSED YOU ALL:D

Draco woke up to a quiet Saturday morning, everyone around him was asleep. He yawned and stretched, and scratched his eyes. He had dark circles underneath them, for he had stayed up all night trying to figure out a strategy.

"..But all seventh year students are required to come with dates.."

"Crackpot old fool.. making us get dates.. and males have to do the dirty work.. wonder if he could do it…." Draco was mumbling to himself, hoisting himself to a sitting position as he unfolded a piece of paper.

He looked down at it. "So.. this is the plan..." He told himself, as he studied what he had just written the night before.

Saturday: No classes. Study her, find out what makes her happy, what makes her laugh, what makes her smile, etc. Be subtle. If you are noticed and/or suspected by absolutely anyone, you shall suffer eternal unrest.

Sunday: No classes again. Try to talk to people who know her well. DO NOT SETTLE FOR POTTER AND WEASEL. Look for Gryffindors you can bully and boss around. They're young and afraid, they won't suspect anything.

Monday: Buy, retrieve and look for all the things that you have discovered she likes. [Check answers from Saturday, and opinions from Sunday. Get all possible things/materials needed. Example: chocolates, flowers, cards, jewelry, candles, sweets, all that mushy crap girls like.

Tuesday-Friday:You are given four days to ask her the question. Damn it, Draco. Do not fail me, you are a handsome, sexy, in demand Slytherin. If you can't get this bookworm Gryffindor, you shall move out of the Wizarding World and live in Russia as William Jokoshov. JUST ASK HER. You have three days to plan and get ready, four days to execute.

Saturday: It is the night of the damned dance. GOOD LUCK.

Draco read it and chuckled. "I can't believe I wrote this last night." He said to himself.

"Mmmmmmmff." Someone nearby said. Draco immediately hid the piece of paper from view.

"Don't make me eat dat wun...Noooooo." Crabbe was saying, as he twisted and turned on his bed.

Draco rolled his eyes. He stood up and went to his trunk, rummaging for comfy clothes, and finally retrieved a simple blue sweatshirt and jeans. He quietly dressed up; he didn't want to wake anyone up. This was his only chance to do some 'investigation'.

He would never admit he was stalking her. He always said it was investigation.

He looked around. Something in the window caught his eye. Curiosity got the better of him, and so he went to check it out. Though the Slytherin common room was located at the dungeons, their windows were bewitched to give a quite, normal view of the outer school grounds.

The sky was amazing.

The clouds were light and the sun was up, but not scorching nor painful to the eyes. Draco looked around, the lake was beautiful. It seemed deserted, peaceful and untouched.

He saw a figure cross the grass; she was wearing a plain white shirt and jeans, she looked like an angel. Draco looked closely. She was with someone, he had dark hair, tall and lean.

Who could Hermione be with?

Dang! And so Draco grabbed a couple of books, a perfect excuse to say, 'I'm just studying.' He hastily made his way out of the room, being thankful that no one else was awake. He climbed the stairs, avoided notorious portraits, quickened his pace, and he finally stepped out into the glorious grounds.

The first thing that greeted him was the lazy sunshine, hitting him, making him feel warm but not scorched. He spotted them, they were walking somewhere near the lake. Draco quickly looked for a nearby tree where he could hide.

He spotted one that lay just a few feet from where Hermione and the boy were now sitting, and he quietly made his way, making sure not to make a sound, nor to be noticed.

"I never knew that!" The guy said as Hermione chuckled.

"Yeah, well, no one does know. But really, I only like daisies, and that's all. Roses are too overrated." She said as she put some stray hair behind her ear. "Why?" She asked conversationally.

The boy shrugged. "Curiosity, that's all. We don't really get to talk… I mean, aside from class and all." He said.

Hermione smiled. "Yeah well, I'm glad you asked. No one's ever asked me before! Ha ha, if you count Harry and Ron, oh and Viktor."

The boy laughed. "I forgot you went out with Viktor Krum. How was he like?" He asked calmly.

Hermione played with the lake water in her hands. She seemed to concentrate, but when she spoke it was as if she knew everything by heart, and there was no need to look for the words in the first place.

"He's a good guy. He's a whole different person when you think about it. I mean, sure, he's famous and all, but inside, he's really sweet and sensitive. He can get really secretive, but, he always opened up to me. Oh, and he'd send me flowers and chocolates and little love notes all the time. Daisies, never roses." She chuckled.

The boy laughed with her. "Oh, so you're like all those other girls who like getting that kinda stuff?"

"Well, I'm still a girl." She said.

"Of course you are." He answered.

Deyuuuuum. Draco thought. So Granger likes what everyone else likes… flowers, cards, chocolates, those love notes… all the gay stuff Pansy begs for. Ha. This is easier than I thought! He hid behind the tree trunk again.

"Are you still going to wait?" The boy asked.

Wait? Wait for what? Draco thought. He couldn't relate.

Hermione shrugged. "It's taking so long. I don't know if I'm waiting in vain or not. And I'm getting really tired." She said.

The boy put his hand on her shoulder.

Dang! Draco almost said. Is he her boyfriend…?

"It's okay. I'm glad you told me though." He said.

"Well, I trust you. And, Dumbledore said I could tell you anyway." Hermione said. She looked at her watch, and turned to the boy. "Hey, I have to go now, okay? See you." She said.

The boy nodded, and they hugged good-bye.

"Take care." He said, and Hermione made her way towards the entrance, until she became a figure no more.

Draco kept silent. He was determined to find out who he was.

Finally the boy stood up, wiped his pants and turned around.

Draco gasped so hard at the sight of the boy that the boy's eyes grew wide in seeing Draco Malfoy behind a tree.

"Draco?! What are you doing there?!" Neville asked, his eyebrows raised.

Draco shut his gaping mouth. "Me!?" He asked, frantically searching for words. "I'm-I'm studying! Why, can't I study here?!" He said; his chest out, head held high.

Neville gave a weak smile. "I never said you couldn't stay here, I just wondered. Well, bye." He said, and he slowly, slowly started to walk.

Draco's mind was racing. Neville… Neville.. Neville and Hermione!?!? What?! He just had to ask. There was no way he'd ask Hermione to the dance when she was already with someone, and Longbottom to make it worse.

"Longbottom!" He said in his most Slytherin-proud voice.

Neville turned around slowly, his expression as though he knew this was coming.

Draco put on a cold expression. "I never knew you went out with Granger." He smirked. "You finally found yourself a girlfriend. Never thought I'd live to see that happen." He said smirking once more.

Neville smiled a sort of all-knowing smile. "I'm not with Hermione of course. We're just friends. Anyway. If she was my girlfriend… I'd be so lucky." He said.

Draco looked at him and shrugged. "Why is that?" He asked monotonously.

Neville gave Draco a look like he pitied him. Draco was surprised at the sudden confident Neville that he was seeing.

"Don't you know?!" Neville said, talking as if Draco knew nothing at all. "A lot of guys actually like Hermione. They just never let anyone else know; and they especially do not approach Hermione because they feel inferior. They're intimidated by her, to them, she's too good to be true." And it was Neville's turn to smirk.

Draco took some time processing the new information. "I never knew." He said quietly. He looked up at Neville and smirked. "So many losers run after the Beaver after all." He said.

Neville shrugged. "Yeah well. A lot of guys are gonna ask her out to the dance, I can feel it." He said.

"Why are you telling me that?!" Draco snapped.

"Nothing, I'm just saying."

"Yeah well, I'm not planning to ask her, if that's what you think!" Draco said.

"I never said you were going to. Don't be too defensive Malfoy." Neville smirked. He turned around and hummed as he made his way back towards the castle.

Oh damn. Draco thought. If he was going to make a move, he had to make a move soon.

It was now Sunday morning, and Draco decided to skip the ask-a-Gryffindor-about-Hermione scheme. He decided it was too risky, and way too fishy if he went around asking about his most disgusted rival.

Draco was inside the Slytherin common room, isolated for everyone else was asleep. He had a cell phone in hand; something his father gave him so everything he needed was just a call away.

He hesitated for a while, thinking of what he was going to do, considering his options, pondering his next move.

He was not sure if he wanted to do this.

Should he?

There were a lot of other guys out there.

He wasn't exactly friendly to Hermione ever since... why ask her?

He sure had no chance… they've been enemies for so long.

And, who the hell is Pansy going to go with!?

"Alright." He decided. He sat up straight, took a deep breath, and started dialing.

He knew he wanted to do this.

"Hello?" A familiar voice said on the other line.

"Hello, yes. Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes?" Draco said as politely as he can.

"Jumping Merlins! Is this Draco Malfoy?!" The twin said. Draco couldn't tell the two apart.

"Yes, it's him."

----Holy Cow Fred!! For real?! That's him?! Damn! I want to speak to him!!!—Another twin said. Draco could now tell the one he was talking to was Fred, and the extra voice was George.

"Shut up George! I'm doing business here!" Fred said. "Anyway, yes? How may I, or, we help you?" He said.

"I need the best flowers you have there, and not the prank ones, okay? I want the nice, romantic flowers. Daisies if possible. And I need the sweetest chocolates you have there, I know you guys have chocolates. I also need those little love cards or whatever that you write on. No pranks, okay? Just give me the best flowers, daisies as much as possible, chocolates and cards you've got. I don't care how much it'll cost." He said in his proud Slytherin voice, making it clear that he wasn't up for any foolishness.

He could tell Fred was trying to stifle his laughter, or control the questions that were about to explode.

"Okay. Flowers, chocolates and cards. Check. When do you need it?" Fred asked.

"I need it by tomorrow. And you can't tell anyone I've ordered from you—"

"-Why not!?"

"Just don't! Don't tell anyone, okay?! It's top secret. I won't pay you if I find out someone knows. Deliver it by owl directly to my room, okay? At this time on Monday, while everyone else is asleep. Got it?" He asked, getting impatient, and getting very nervous.

His plan's actually pushing through. He was scared.

"Alright. Done!" Fred said. Draco could feel his question coming. "So, who's it for?!"

Draco smirked. "It's a secret." He said.

"Foshizzle man!!! Come on!! Damn it!! Suspense here!!! Who?!" Fred was saying repeatedly.

"Draco? Who are you talking to? And what's that on your ear?!" Pansy Parkinson suddenly said, as she made her way down the stairs.

"Gottagobye!" Draco hastily said as he shut the phone, hearing Fred's last pleading words.

"Talked to important people, important matters." Draco said stiffly.

"Oh." Pansy simply said. She made her way and sat down beside Draco.

"How are you, Drakie-poo? You don't talk to me anymore." She cooed.

Draco kept a straight face. "Yeah…" He said vaguely. "Lots of things in my mind."

"Like what?" Pansy asked, and she looked directly at Draco.

It was the first time Draco noticed how sincere Pansy's eyes could get. It only happened rarely, but when it did happen, something in Draco's stomach turned.

She was sincere at this moment. And it made Draco feel uncomfortable.

"Just… things." He said, and forced a smile.

Pansy smiled and leaned on his shoulder. "I know you'll get over it." She said in a soothing voice. "I've missed you Drakie-poo." She cooed.

Draco was spacing out. "Yeah…" He said slowly.

He started thinking. Though he convinced himself, and convinced others too, that Pansy was only there for lustful reasons and nothing else… something told him now that there must've been a reason for him to even consider going out with her… And it went on for so long, if he might add.

He looked at the girl resting her head on his shoulder. When she wasn't psychotic, bitchy, or plain Pansy, she was actually… okay.

She wasn't ugly, she was quite attractive really.

Maybe it was just her character of coming off too strong that drove the guys away.

Draco spaced out again. Pansy was quiet today. She didn't cling on to him, force him to speak to her, or just be plain annoying.

It was as if she knew Draco needed space and time to think, and she was actually giving it right now.

He sighed deeply, thinking deep thoughts, focusing on nothing in particular.

He did care for her.

Even if she was psychotic and freakishly annoying most of the time… there were times when Draco was glad she was just there.

This was one of those moments.

He smirked to himself.

Here he was, Draco Malfoy, alone in the Slytherin common room after calling Fred Weasley for flowers, chocolates and cards that he would use to ask Hermione Granger out to the dance. Now Pansy Parkinson is right beside him, and it was the first time, in a long time that Draco knew he actually loved her.

"Draco?" Pansy cooed.

"Yeah?" He asked, snaking his hand on her waist.

"I love you." She said.

"I love you too." He said slowly. His words seemed strange to him, it's been so long since he heard himself say that.

He spaced out again.

He needed to get his mind straight on who he was actually giving the things that would come tomorrow morning to.

"What did he say!? What did he say?!!?!" George was urging Fred.

"I told you already!" Fred said. "He called, demanding the best flowers, he wanted daisies for some reason, the best chocolates and love cards!!" He said excitedly.

"Damn! Did he say who it was for!?" George asked impatiently.

"I already told you George! He wouldn't tell me!!!" Fred said impatiently. They were currently experiencing unnecessary emotional excitement.

They started to think.

Then, as if he was stricken by a lightning of thought, George spoke.

"AHA!!" He said.

"What?!?!" Fred said annoyed. "What do you know that I don't!?!" He demanded.

Geroge gave a smirk. "Remember what Ginny said?! She wrote to us! She said that they have this dance thingy on Saturday. They're not required to get dates, but the seventh years are…" He trailed, leaving the next part to be completed by his twin.

"…and Draco's a seventh year student! So is Hermione! MERLIN'S BEARD! You don't think---?! HOLY COW!!! FOSHIZZZLE BROTHER!!!" Fred exclaimed.

George was smiling stupidly. "Uhuh! Uhuh! I KNOW!!!" He said.

"Ginny wrote to me, she said that Hermione told her Draco's finally showing some signs, but she doesn't want to jump to conclusions… But I mean, hello! If it was for Pansy… he wouldn't be getting all that crap because Pansy clings to him like some parasite! But if he had to convince the girl…." George trailed.

"…he'd need all those flowers and stuff. HA!!!" Fred exclaimed.

"And." George added. "If it was a girl who was hard to please… he'd want the best…" He trailed.

"Hermione." Fred simply said. "He's trying to ask Hermione out!! And he knows he can't get her that easily, so he has to try real hard! And so he's getting the best flowers and the best chocolates and the best love cards… AAAAH! FOSHIZZLE!!!" Fred exclaimed.

"Calm down boy!" George was saying, though he too was red with excitement.

"I—can't---believe---it." Fred panted. "After months. He's finally back, George! He's coming back to Hermione! I can't believe it! I'm so happy for them!!" He said in such excitement, his eyes seemed to burst with any more addition of joy.

"I knew sooner or later they'd get back together. I mean, with a love like that, it's bound to return. Dumbledore said so too. I mean, they loved each other too much! It can't just be forgotten! Ha ha!" George said triumphantly.

"I have to write to mum! She'd be so happy to hear! I can't believe it!! They're on their way! I can picture them already… dancing hand in hand… everyone gets shocked… Pansy cries in a corner… it's gonna be summer love all over again, George." Fred said excitedly.

"I know!" George nodded. "We have to be there! Let's write to Dumbledore! I don't want to miss Draco and Hermione's reunion!" He urged his twin.

"Of course, of course!" Fred approved. "Ah! My dear twin! I think it's time!!" He said, his hair flying as he bounced up and down.

"Time for what?!" George asked, bewildered and confused from all the excitement.

"GEORGE! The thing we worked on! We promised ourselves we'd give it when we knew they were reconciling and getting back together… We made that because we knew it would bring back everything they ever had… and they'd be the madly in love Draco and Hermione we knew during the summer!! Remember?! Don't you remember?!" Fred urged impatiently.

George spaced out for a second; then his eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh yes! Yes! No doubt about it! We should give it along with the flowers and stuff we're going to send him tomorrow!" He nodded, getting busy and fixing everything up.

"I still can't believe it dude." Fred said.

"I know." George confirmed.

"After all this time, Draco's finally coming back to his senses." Fred said as he waved his wand and flowers appeared.

"Mhmmmm." George said as he waved his wand and chocolates appeared. "And they were the perfect couple, too." He said.