A/N: Here's another chapter. Enjoy:))

Chapter 123: First date

"So, Harry, we forgot to ask, what did you talk about with Dumbledore that night? You know, when you were supposed to come to the Slug Club party."

"Oh, right, I guess I did forget to tell you. Well, it was weird and I still don't understand much of what happened."

"That's quite normal for anyone who meets him."

"Yeah, I know. So, you know about the Pensieve, right?" we nodded "Well, we both went into it, to see a memory of someone named Bob Ogden, some Ministry official. It was a memory from when he went to the house of the Riddle family, back when Voldemort hadn't been born yet. "

"And what happened then?"

"Well, to say that they were a weird family would be an understatement. The daughter, Tom's mother, she was treated like Cinderella; even worse, the poor girl seemed frightened any time her father so much as glanced towards her. Her brother seemed like a classic Slytherin though, proud to be a wizard, considering muggles scum. That's why Ogden was there actually, he used his powers in front of non wizards, even hexed one pretty bad. And his father, well, he talked about purebloods more than Malfoy's. Pretty much out of their mind, all of them. Dumbledore said that the girl, Merope, gave the muggle that her brother cursed, the one she was enamoured with, a love potion. Made him elope with her. When she got pregnant, she stopped giving it to him, thinking that he actually loved her back. He left her and she died on the steps of an orphanage, after giving birth."

"Well, that is all sorts of messed up."

"Indeed. Now it's not the time for this though. It will probably make more sense after he tells you more about this or shows you another memory. I mean, this can't be all that he wanted to show you." Hermione told Harry.

"I suppose not."

"Well then, let's go to sleep. Tomorrow is a Hogsmeade day."

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. We have to stop at Honeydukes first, I finished my stash of chocolate frogs. And then Zonko's, obviously." The three of them started making plans, arguing over where to spend the most time.

"Actually guys, I can't go tomorrow."

"What? Why?"

"I, erm, have to do some things around the castle, and it's the perfect opportunity, now that most of the kids will be gone. But you go and have fun. Oh, and bring me back some sugar quills."

"Okay then. That's too bad, but next time I guess."

"Yeah."

Hermione and I went to our dorm, and ten minutes later, we were in our beds, ready for sleep.

"Hey, it's the first Hogsmeade day tomorrow."

"I know, I just remembered actually."

"So, you still wanna go with me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I believe the Mark on your arm is a good enough reason."

"It's not, and I told you that so many times. I want to go on a date with you Draco."

"Well, that's all I wanted to hear. Thank you. "

"There's nothing to thank me for. When do you want to leave? "

"Well, we'd better leave before everyone else. So, eight?"

"Perfect. I don't think most of the others will even wake up before nine. I'll meet you at the gate?"

"Yes. Now, go to sleep. If we're going to spend an entire day together, we need rest."

"Good night."

"Sleep tight."

There were no dreams that night, no nightmares, no bits of anyone's mind. Just the peaceful bliss of dark nothingness.

We managed to get out of the castle without anyone noticing and to slip into a dark corner of the Three Broomsticks right as a small group of Ravenclaws were entering. I managed to alter my appearance a bit, just to be sure.

"I see you can still morph. How are the rest of the powers?"

"Well, I don't want to risk and test the poison immunity, but it's getting harder to change my looks. Though I still have the scars under control."

"Just, stay safe, ok? Now, what do you want to do today?"

"Well, I was thinking we should eat something and then go around the village. Maybe go to the antique book shop. You know, the one next to Madam Puddifoot's." I shuddered at the name. I could understand why couples went there and even I had entered once when I was little but all that pink and the sickeningly sweet smell inside combined with the heat, it was too much for me.

"Sure we can go. And maybe we can grab a bite for lunch as well."

We somehow managed not to bump into anyone we knew on our way to the bookshop. As soon as we entered it, the smell of dust and old books, of parchment, ink and leather and maybe even a subtle hint of violet perfume filled my nostrills. Yes, this was definitely my kind of place.

"You know," I told to Draco while we were searching the shelves, his arms already full of some books on Northern and Greek mythology, a couple of muggle encyclopedias and even a first edition of Hogwarts, A History in great condition. (That one I was planning on giving to Hermione as a Christmas present.)

"What?"

"I never actually managed to browse this shop properly."

"Really? But you said you've been here a lot of times."

"I have, yes, but Ron and Harry mostly wanted to leave, the twins made so many jokes and were so loud the owner almost threw us out a couple of times and Mione, well, she might like all kinds of books but she inclines mostly towards science. And she drags me along every time, so I don't get a chance to get any books for me."

"Well, then it's a good thing that we came."

After buying the books, and grabbing lunch, we spent the rest of the day walking around and talking, before eventually heading for the castle.

As he couldn't walk me to the Gryffindor tower, we separated at the Grand staircase.

"Thank you. This was a really great day. It was nice to go on a date."

"Yes it was. And hopefully, we'll be able to do that again soon." Leaning down, he placed a kiss on my cheek and then pulled back to look at me, his soft smile reaching his eyes.

"Good night."

"Good night Draco."