Disclaimer: Hogwarts and All the characters except Linda belongs to JK Rowlings.

A/N: Thank you to the people that reviewed: Angel-Hiragizawa32, Elenya, Malfoy-fan8888, Beccs, Crystal

Chapter 7: Business Deals

Draco was sitting in the library reading some of the textbooks that Dumbledore assigned to him. He was to read the first five chapters and understand the contents. It was quiet in the library since it was still early. While he was reading he remembered the events that occurred yesterday, especially the one that happened in the Headmaster's Office.

"You?" the boy asked.

Draco did not answer.

"Good-morning Malfoy," the boy said trying to sound brave.

"Good-morning to you too, Longbottom," Draco greeted him, "Look, Longbottom, since we're going to work together, do you want to have a truce? I would want to be fighting with you during the entire school year. I'm also sorry about the things that I've said about you."

Draco put out his hand. Neville looked at it cautiously, but then he shook it.

"There is another person that will join you boys, but I'm afraid he is running late," Dumbledore told them.

Then the door burst open and a boy ran in. When he saw Draco standing there, he looked shocked. Draco looked equally shocked; the boy standing before him was the one and only Harry Potter.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"The same reason you're here Potter, to train," Draco said with malice in his voice.

"Professor, are you sure it is safe to teach him? What if he uses the power against us? For all we know he is a Death Eater," Harry said matching the malice in Draco's voice.

"What did you call me Potter," Draco asked.

"Didn't you hear me the first time, Death Eater?" Harry said.

"Take that back," Draco said.

"Why should I? I'm saying the truth, aren't I? Is that why you're so mad? Do you expect me to think otherwise, after all the things you've said about them? You practically worshipped the ground those…those murderers walked on," Harry answered with spite.

"Guys I don't think that this is the right time to argue," Neville told them.

Harry chooses to ignore Neville. Draco clenched his fist, it took all his willpower not to go over there and attack Harry.

"What? Cat got your tongue Malfoy?" Harry asked when Draco did not say anything.

When Draco did not reply, Harry was surprised, he expected Draco to lash back at him. Draco surprised Harry even more when he calmly walked passed him and sat down on a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. The rest of the session was not very eventful. Draco and Harry did not say anything to each other at all. They mostly listened to the Headmaster talk, and sometime they would ask him questions. In the end, the Headmaster gave them textbooks to read.

Draco shook his head at the memory. Then he started reading again. Suddenly he felt a pair of lips kiss him on the cheek. He didn't have to look to figure out who that was.

"Good morning Hermione," Draco greeted her.

Hermione took a seat next to him.

"Good Morning Draco. How did you know that it was me?" Hermione asked.

"Your hair smells like vanilla," Draco answered, still reading the book.

"For all you knew, I could have been Pansy," Hermione told him.

"Pansy would never come to the library at this time. She's probably sleeping still. Who else would come here at (Draco looked at his watch) six o'clock in the morning?" Draco asked her.

"Well, it could have been some Ravenclaw," Hermione answered back.

"Name one Ravenclaw that would have the guts to kiss me?" Draco asked, still reading his book.

"You do have a point. What's that book you're reading?" Hermione asked.

Draco finally put the book aside and looked at her.

"Oh, it's a book the Headmaster assigned to read," Draco answered, "Hermione, about the things I said to you yesterday. The mudblood stuff, I didn't mean it."

Hermione reached to put her hand over his. When she did this, Draco looked up at her.

"Don't worry about it Draco. I know that you didn't mean all those stuff. I was a little hurt, but I know that it's all my fault. I did ask you to pretend like nothing has happened between us," Hermione assured him, "I have to ask you something about Ginny."

"What about her?" Draco asked.

"What was that kiss during DADA?" Hermione asked.

"What kiss?" Draco looked confused, and then it hit him, "Oh that kiss. What about it?"

"I'm sure that you guys are not in the girlfriend-boyfriend stage, so why exactly did you kiss her?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, I just wanted to have a little fun. You have to admit, the look on Weasley's face was priceless," Draco said.

Then Hermione kicked him under the table.

"What was that for?" Draco asked massaging the place on his leg where she kicked him.

"I hope that you're referring to Ron," Hermione said, "Draco, you don't kiss girls just for fun."

"You didn't seem to mind it when I did that to you," Draco replied with a smirk on his face.

Hermione blushed and kicked him again.

"We're not talking about me," Hermione said.

"You know, you're lucky that you're such a good friend of mine, or else I would have retaliated," Draco said sarcastically.

"Draco, that was her first kiss," Hermione told him.

"Really?" Draco asked seriously, seeing that she was serious about this.

"Yes, a girl's first kiss is supposed to be special. When I stayed at her house one summer, we were talking about first kisses. She said that she wanted her first kiss to be with someone special. She wanted her first kiss to be something that she will always remember. It was supposed to be with Ha…" She stopped talking. She was wishing that Draco didn't catch what she was about to say.

"Finish what you were saying Hermione," Draco asked angrily, Hermione didn't answer, "You were about to say Potter, weren't you? She wanted her first kiss to be with Scar-face didn't she?"

Hermione could see that Draco was getting mad. Everybody knew how much those two despised each other. Draco once told her that he envied Harry. Harry was everything he couldn't be. Harry always beat him in Quidditch, Harry was the good guy and Draco was the bad guy. The thing that Draco envied the most was that Harry was surrounded by friends and that he was always happy. Hermione looked at Draco; he has been silent for awhile.

"Draco?" Hermione asked.

"Why did you come here Hermione? Did you come here to tell me that I ruined something for her? You know if you told me that she didn't like the kiss, I would have accepted that. Why did you have to compare me to him?" Draco was practically yelling at her.

"Draco, I'm sorry. I was not comparing you to anyone, especially not Harry. I just wanted to say that you shouldn't do anything spontaneously. Don't move to fast, you're going to scare her," Hermione said.

Draco was silent again. Hermione went over to him and gave him a hug.

"Draco? I said I was sorry. Come on, say you forgive me," Hermione said on his chest, "I know you want to."

"Fine, I forgive you. You should go back to your seat, someone might see us," Draco said. Hermione feigned hurt.

"You don't want to anyone to see us together?" she asked.

Draco just smiled at her. Then Hermione went back to her seat.

"You know you should smile to Ginny more often," Hermione said.

"Anymore tips on how to win the weaslette's heart?" Draco asked.

"Well, you could ask to accompany her on the Hogsmeade visit," Hermione answered, "Don't call her names Draco."

"I don't think that the girl will mind," Draco told her, "It will probably motivate her on operation show-everybody-that-Draco-is-a-nice-guy-and-be-his-friend. Where did she come up with that anyway?"

"I'm not sure," Hermione answered, "You probably did something that affected her during her encounter with you on the train."

"What else can I do?" Draco asked.

"I don't know, do something romantic or whatever," Hermione answered.

"Romantic? How about lunch by the lake?" Draco asked.

"That would be nice, but…" Hermione said.

"But what?" Draco asked her.

"Wouldn't Ginny get suspicious if you ask her out of the blue?" Hermione told him.

"I could just tell her that I don't like the noise in Great Hall, and I don't want to eat alone," Draco told her.

"Why her?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, I'll make up some reason along the way," Draco said.

"Okay, you walk her to class don't you?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Draco answered, "I have some other plans."

"What are they?" Hermione asked.

"I could show her some places around the school," Draco answered.

"Places around the school?" Hermione asked curiously.

"You know places, like…um…" Draco tried to think of something, "Never mind that idea. What about star gazing?"

"That's pretty good. How about…" Hermione started but Draco interrupted her.

"You have to go. I just saw Potter and the sidekick walk in the library, probably looking for you," Draco told her. Hermione said good-bye and told him that she would owl him. Then Hermione left him. Draco looked at his watch and saw that it was already seven o'clock. Draco gathered up his books, put them in his bag, and then he left the library.

Just as he turned a corner, he bumped into someone. The person fell in front of him.

"Hello Ginny. I knew that you would eventually fall for me, but I didn't know that it would happen so soon," Draco told her.

Ginny glared at him. Draco helped her up and he picked up her books that she dropped.

"Thank you Draco," She told him.

She tried to get her books from him, but he told her that he would carry it for her.

"Where are you going Ginny?" Draco asked her.

"I was going to the Great Hall for breakfast," Ginny answered.

"I'll walk with you if you don't mind," Draco said.

"I don't mind," Ginny told him.

Together they walked to the Great Hall. When they entered together people started whispering: 'is that Malfoy and a Weasley?' 'Did you hear what they did during DADA?' Draco didn't mind what the other people were saying about them. He walked with Ginny toward the Gryffindor table. He pulled out a chair for her in front of her brothers, Harry and Hermione.

"Thank you," Ginny told him.

Ron was agape. Then they saw a flash. When Draco looked to see where it came from, he saw another flash. Colin Creevy was taking pictures of the scene.

"Don't you go anywhere without that camera Creevy?" Draco asked him.

Then Draco pulled the seat next to Ginny and sat down. Everybody in the Gryffindor table seemed to protest when he did that. Ginny looked surprised when he sat down next to her.

"Is something the matter Ginny?" Draco asked her.

"Um… beside the fact that you're sitting in the Gryffindor table, no," Ginny answered.

"Do you want me to leave?" Draco asked her.

Everybody in the table seems to nod. Then there was another flash.

"Colin will you put that bloody camera away?" Ginny asked getting annoyed.

At that Colin immediately stopped taking pictures and followed her orders. He knew better that to mess with a Weasley. He learned the hard way that a mad Weasley equals a dangerous and scary person. Draco laughed when he saw this, everybody in the table turned to look at him, shocked. Did they just see Malfoy laugh? He didn't even harm anyone. Then Ginny turned to Draco.

"No, I don't want you to leave Draco. I'm actually glad that you're sitting here," Ginny told him. Everybody stared at her.

"Ginny, you can't do that, that's against the rules," Ron said.

"Really? I never knew that, I thought that Dumbledore supported inter-house relations," Ginny told him calmly, "Draco do you want some bacon?"

"Yes, please," Draco answered playing along with her.

Ginny took the plate with the bacon and passed it to him. Draco politely said thank you as he took it from her. Everybody watched them with shock, wondering what exactly those two were playing at. Hermione watched the scene with amusement.

"Hermione, do something," Ron pleaded with her.

"What do you want me to do Ron? Ginny does have a point, Malfoy is not breaking any rules," Hermione told him.

"Are you siding with them?" Ron asked her.

"I'm not siding with anyone, I'm just stating the facts. Come on Ron don't ruin the day. Just leave Malfoy alone. If he insults you or does anything to provoke you, I give you my approval to go and attack the Ferret, until then please Ron, just leave it," Hermione told him.

Ron seemed to follow her advice, probably because he did not want to make her mad. Ron remembered all the times he had fought with Hermione. All those times they didn't talk for how many days. When that happened he felt like he lost some part of him. He did not know how to explain it. He finally figured out how he felt about Hermione during their fourth year. One day he was watching Krum and Hermione walking side by side along the lake and she seemed so happy. He was sadden by the thought that she was never like that around him, he felt a pang of jealously as he watched them. Ever since that moment, he knew that he could never think of Hermione just as a friend. He wanted to be more than just a friend to her; he wanted to make her happy just like Krum did somehow.

"Ron, are you all right?" Ginny asked him.

"Oh. Yes, I'm all right. I was just thinking about something," Ron answered.

"Really? You were thinking. I didn't know that you were capable of doing that Weasley," Draco taunted Ron.

Ginny kicked Draco under the table. Unfortunately, she kicked the same spot that Hermione kicked early that morning. Draco immediately started to comfort his leg. He was thinking about how big his bruise has gotten.

"What is wrong with you people? Why does everybody seem to want to play kick Draco-on-the-leg-and-see-him-wince-in-pain? Because right now I seriously doubt that I can walk," Draco told her.

"What are you talking about Draco? Did somebody else kick you?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Yes, just this morning in the library…" Draco started but stopped after Hermione kicked him.

Draco glared at her.

"What's wrong with you Malfoy?" Hermione asked trying to look innocent.

Ginny looked confused even more. What was going on between Hermione and Draco? Just then, Fred started talking.

"Are you guys playing a game, I want to join too," Fred said.

Then George tapped Fred on the shoulder. He showed Fred a letter and then they started conversing quietly. After they seemed to reach an agreement, they turned to Draco.

"Hey, Malfoy. We need to talk to you," Fred told him.

"What about?" Draco asked.

"Just business," George said as he dragged Draco up and pulled him outside.

When they got out of the Great Hall, Draco struggled away from George.

"Let go of me Weasley. I'll follow you," Draco said.

George let go of Draco and told him to follow him. Fred was right behind them. After they got inside an empty classroom, Fred closed the door and put a silencing spell around the room. Then George took out the letter he just showed Fred and held it in front of Draco.

"What's this about Malfoy," George asked him.

"Did you read it? It's a business proposal. I heard that you guys wanted to start your own joke-shop," Draco told them.

"How did you find out about that? And why would you want to help us in the first place?" Fred asked.

"I heard about it from someone. I just want to do some good from the bottom of my heart," Draco said.

"Really? Do you expect us to believe that there's no catch?" George asked not believing what Draco just said.

"Okay, there is a catch," Draco said.

"That's what we thought," Fred said.

Then Fred got then on his knees and started bowing down towards Draco.

"All hail King Ferret," Fred was chanting, "Do you need anything?"

Then still on his knees Fred went over to Draco and starting kissing the hems of his robe.

"What do you think that you're doing?" Draco asked getting away from him, "Get up, get up. That's not the catch. There is something else that I need."

Fred got up and straightened his robes.

"You should have said so," Fred said, "What do you need Draco?"

"I need help with your sister," Draco answered.

Fred and George were surprised and they did nothing to hide that.

"You need help with little Gin-Gin?" George asked, "Do you fancy our little sister."

Draco thought about what he was going to say next. He hated lying, but he couldn't say no. He knew that eventually he would have to fall for her; he figured that out after thinking about his situation. He couldn't have the twins thinking that he was only using Ginny. Draco tried to fake a blush and actually succeeded. Fred and George's eyes bulged.

"Yes…Yes, I fancy Ginny," Draco said.

"Are you shagging her?" Fred asked.

"WHAT!" Draco asked, "Where did you get that idea. She doesn't even know my feelings about her."

"Good, just wanted to make sure," Fred said.

"If you were, you do know that we would have to kill you," George added.

"Yup, but first we would have to torture you," Fred added.

"Yeah, your insides will become your outsides," George said.

"Yeah, while we do that we will have a smile on our face enjoying every moment," Fred said, "Oh yeah, after we're done I'm sure our other brothers will have to deal with you also."

"How did you people end up in Gryffindor?" Draco asked.

"What exactly do you want with Ginny?" Fred asked.

"I would like to court her," Draco answered, "But not just yet, right now I just need your support. Tell the sidekick to lay off."

"That we can do," George said, "Is that all?"

"Can you guys tell me how to get Ginny to return my feelings?" Draco asked them.

"Okay, we can try," Fred answered.

"How exactly can you help us?" George asked.

"I have connections in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. If you want to start a business in one of those locations, I can help you. I can get a building and help with advertising. I could also provide you with all the things you need. The thing that you need to make new jokes and if you need some money I can provide you with that," Draco told them.

"You would help us with all of that, if we help you with Ginny?" Fred asked seriously.

"Yes," Draco answered.

Fred and George got together and started discussing about what to do. Then Fred turned to Draco.

"Okay, we have a deal," Fred said.

Then Draco and Fred shook hands.

"Okay, so is this it?" George asked.

"Yeah, if you want. I can start helping you now," Draco told them.

"Thank you, we would appreciate it," Fred said, "We have to go now, classes are about to start."

"Wait, can you keep this a secret," Draco asked them.

"Sure," George said.

"Call me your mysterious benefactor. Make up some name to refer to me as," Draco said.

"Any name?" Fred asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Fine," Draco said.

Fred and George left the room discussing what name they were going to call him.

'What about Malferret?' 'No too obvious.' Draco heard them say as they were walking. Draco stood in the classroom for awhile contemplating about what just happened. He hoped that his plans would work out. Then he looked at his watch; he had only three minutes to get to class. Draco wished that someone took his books with him or her, his class was in the other side of the castle. Draco started running, when he turned a corner he bumped into somebody.

"We need to stop meeting like this," Ginny said sitting on the floor.

Draco muttered an apology and helped her up. He also picked up her books for her.

"Thank you, I brought your books with me," Ginny said.

She gave him the books.

"What are you doing walking in the hallway, classes are about to start," Draco asked.

"I was looking for you," Ginny answered.

"What class do you have next?" Draco asked.

"History of Magic," Ginny answered.

"I'll walk you there," Draco told her.

"Won't you get late for your class?" Ginny asked.

"I have potions next. I don't think that Snape would care if I walked in late," Draco told her.

With one arm around her books, he took her hand with his other hand. Ginny was surprised when he did this. She didn't know how to explain it, but she actually enjoyed being near Draco. They walked towards the classroom in silence. Draco was starting to feel uncomfortable at the silence.

"Ginny?" Draco asked.

"Yes?"

"I was thinking about eating lunch by the lake, I don't want to eat at the Great Hall. I was wondering if you would like to join me," Draco asked.

"I don't know," Ginny answered.

"Oh," Draco said.

Ginny looked at Draco when he said this. He sounded a bit disappointed that she didn't say yes. When they reached, the door to the classroom Ginny turned to Draco.

"Yes, I would like to have lunch with you," Ginny answered.

Draco smiled at this.

"You know, you should smile more often. You look handsome when you do," Ginny told him. She blushed when she said that. Draco smirked at her.

"Thank you, so, meet me by the lake at lunch time," Draco told her.

Ginny nodded. After he handed her, her books Ginny quickly kissed him on the cheek and then she opened the door to the classroom and went inside. Draco stared at the door in front of him. He can feel heat radiating around the spot that she kissed. It felt different from the kiss Hermione gave him. He shook his head; he didn't want to think anymore about it. Looked at his watch, he was already late for potions. Slowly he walked toward the dungeons. When he reached the room, he opened the door.

"I'm sorry I'm late Professor," Draco told Professor Snape.

"It's okay, just take a seat. I'm sure that there is a good reason as to why you are late," Snape told him.

Harry whispered to Ron, "That's not fair, stupid git."

"Did you say something Mr. Potter?" Snape asked him.

"Nothing sir," Harry answered.

"I believe that Potter insulted you sir," Draco told Snape.

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. Take your seat," Snape told him.

Draco nodded and took his seat next to Pansy. Everybody was surprised when Snape did not take any points.

"Oh, yes and ten points from Gryffindor," Snape added.

The Gryffindors groaned it was too good to be true. The potions class resumed as normal. Neville melted a cauldron, Snape took off more points from Gryffindor, and Hermione tried to help her friends but was caught. Finally, after a few hours the class ended, it was lunchtime. Draco immediately started walking towards the kitchen. After he tickled the pear on the portrait leading to the kitchen, he entered. He was immediately greeted by elves. He recognized one of his old house elves Dodie or something like that.

"Good-afternoon Master Draco sir, how can Dobby help you sir?" Dobby asked.

Dobby was his name Draco thought.

"Dobby I was thinking about having lunch by the lake. I was wondering if you could give me some food," Draco told him.

"Yes sir Master Draco sir," Dobby told him.

The house elves started preparing the food for Draco. When they were finished, they gave him a picnic basket and a blanket.

"Thank you Dobby," Draco told him.

"It is no problem Master Draco sir. Dobby like helping Master Draco," Dobby told him.

"Thank you again," Draco told him.

"Please visit Dobby again Master Draco sir," Dobby told him.

Draco nodded, and then he started walking to the lake. When he reached it, he put laid the blanket along the floor. Then he sat down; he looked inside the basket to see what was inside. When he looked up he saw Ginny running towards him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Ginny told him.

"It's okay, I just got here, do you want to eat?" He asked smiling at her.

She smiled back and nodded.

A/N: So, what do you guys think? Again, Draco and Hermione have a brother and sister relationship, but I hinted that something happened between them during the summer. I will not go into detail what happened. I put Neville in the story because I think that he is an under-appreciated character. With training, he can become something great.

Next Chapter: Draco and Ginny's lunch by the lake. Probably another Darien and Gwenivere dream sequence.