(AN) yay!! thx to all my reviewers for their nice reviews. I luv them!!!

SubliminalMsgs- thanx for clearing up my confusion. I'm gonna review again. also...e-mail....its alright ma homie!! he he

Tupz- glad u like it!!!

Seom- I no...school is gay. takesup too much time so don't worry about updating.

Miss. Wright- yup!! u did guess the follower. I tricked u...na na na na boo boo!!

AppleCrazy- thanks for luvin me...I luv u too.

tears-of-forever- glad to read urs...and thx for luvin mine also.

BebopQueen- that's it???

headstrongalways- ur name was deleted?? that is really gay. thx for reviewin.

noseyMCnosey- hey hey!!! I think I told u about ma name and deleting it cause of gazzy...lolz. and I like to give u big reviews...but I dun expect anything in return. also...ur right..too much chemistry ruins the story. I'm trying to keep it slow...but things have to start cooking yo!!

kole17- I'm glad ur excited for the ball!! I am too...lolz.

Mistress of the Red Kiwi- thx for putting me on ur fav list. I never use ma fav list cause only connect to stories throught ma review history. if they've updated it shows...if they aren't on the front page..i must not like their story!!!

friedrice025- OOOHHH!!! I c...u dun mind flames??? okay...I just thought it was weird and I'm sorry if I snapped or sum shiet like that!

NewSecretRose- I'm sory ur review was short...but thx all the same!

on to the story every1:

Chapter 18: One Step Closer

"Me?" Hermione squeeked, "The offer from that girl was my offer? So then you didn't day no!"

"I knew you were smart, Granger," Draco replied.

"Please, Draco. Call me, Hermione." Draco and Hermione talked for the rest of the evening. Hermione was feeling a little uneasy still. The ball was two days away, and she would soon have to explain to Harry and Ron that she was going with Draco. Either that, or make the whole thing a surprise.

Draco, on the other hand, was completely relaxed and looked rather satisfied with what he was doing.

"Oh my," Hermione yawned, "It's getting quite late. I think I should go to bed and get some rest."

"Yeah, me too," he agreed, "Tomorrow is Friday and that means we're going to get piled with homework for the weekend."

The two of them trudged up the stairway leading to their bedrooms. At the top, they parted and headed to their own rooms. After the sound of two closing doors, there was nothing but silence within.

*

"Hey, Hermione!" Harry called.

Hermione was descending a staircase where both Harry and Ron were waiting at the bottom.

"Hi!" responded Hermione.

"Hermione, I'm really sorry I pressured you into telling me who you were going to the ball with. I guess I wasn't thinking," Ron apologized.

"When are you?" Hermione mumbled. She knew that Ron had practiced this speech before actually telling her.

"Sorry?" asked Ron, oblivious to Hermione's comment.

"Thanks, Ron," she chucked and smiled.

"Sorry to wreck the Quibbler moment, but we're going to be late for Transfiguration," Harry interrupted.

With Hermione in the lead, the three of them went to Professor McGonagall's classroom. When they arrived, the classroom was noisier than the Great Hall was. Students were casting jets of red and blue light across the room, and screaming incantations at their friends.

"Honestly! You would think that people might mature in their seventh year," Hermione observed.

"No, Hermione, only you," Harry joked.

Just then, Professor McGonagall entered the classroom. The fooling around ceased almost immediately and she began the lesson.

"Today, you will be transfiguring your raccoons into goblets. This is a difficult incantation that will most likely require a lot of work. The spell is Transcoon. You will share a badger amongst two people. Begin," Professor McGonagall finished and began wandering around the room, helping students.

Harry and Ron were sharing a badger, and Hermione was sharing with Neville right next to them

"Have you heard from Fred and George lately?" Hermione asked Ron after successfully transfiguring her and Neville's raccoon.

"Yeah. Business is going super! It keeps them busy all the time, so they aren't at the Burrow too often. Mum still doesn't approve after 2 years; especially because they didn't take their NEWTs," explained Ron.

"I haven't been to their shop for a while, so I haven't had a chance to talk to them," Harry said, "We should probably write to them some time."

"Maybe they'll send us free samples!" Ron exclaimed.

"Please stay on task Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall interrupted, "I see you haven't managed to completely transfigure your raccoon. It still has black rings around the stem. Hermione's goblet, however, is not in one way, contorted," Ron scowled at a beaming Hermione. "By the way, Mr Potter, I would like to speak with you at lunch time...don't know why I didn't do it sooner..."

When lunch arrived, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed for the Great Hall together. They sat down when Harry jumped out of his seat.

"I almost forgot! I've got to see McGonagall. I'll see you after lunch," Harry said abruptly and darted through the Hall doors.

"Bye," Hermione said.

"I wonder what McGonagall wants?" Ron though out loud.

"It's sort of obvious Ron. I mean, I'm surprised she didn't ask you to her office in Transfiguration too," Hermione answered matter-of-factly. "Oh yeah! Really obvious Hermione. How could I be so stupid?" said Ron sarcastically.

"I know," Hermione stated, ignoring his sarcasm," I wonder when you're going to start?"

"Whatever," Ron gave up. He went back to slurping his soup.

Hermione and Ron were headed to their afternoon class when Harry sprinted towards them.

"Hiya, Harry!" Ron said casually.

"Yeah," Harry panted.

"So, what did McGonagall want?" questioned Hermione, already knowing the answer.

"As you know, the Quidditch season is approaching and we'll be starting soon," Harry began.

"I know," Ron said. Hermione glared at him maliciously.

"Anyway, McGonagall told me that she's made me the Gryffindor team's captain!" Harry explained with a monstrous grin and a note of excitement in his voice.

"That;s great, Harry," cheered Hermione.

"Super! Can I help you with planning the first practice?" Ron asked eagerly.

"Sure, why not? I'm going to be needing a lot of help with ideas. McGonagall did give me a few pointers, but not enough," Harry said.

Discussing possible training strategies, the three friends headed to their next class; Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Settle down class," Professor Figg said as the class filed in.

"You know what?" Ron began, "This class is really dull. Because Figg is a Squib, we never get to have any practical lessons anymore. She's going to have us work on our dragon essays. You watch..."

"I am going to give you in class time to complete your dragon essays. At the end of the double period, I would like you to hand in your work," the Professor announced.

The whole class groaned, Ron's being the loudest, and began to work tirelessly. By the end of the class, everyone except Neville, was finished. Gryffindor lost points for that.

Before anyone knew it, the whole day was over! Everyone headed back to their common room to finish homework (Hermione had none), plan Quidditch practices and talk bout the ball.

Hermione still hadn't told Ron and Harry she was going to the ball with Draco. They both seemed to be in such a good mood, that telling them about Draco might reverse that. Instead, she followed them to the Gryffindor common room.

"Hey Harry," Ron began, "When are you going to tell the rest of the team about you being captain?"

"Tomorrow. I want to make sure that I can tell them I'm captain along with when the first practice is going to be. I want to look organized," he explained clearly.

"When is the first practice?" Hermione asked.

"Next Saturday," confirmed Harry.

"Gr-r-r-eat," Hermione said, failing to stiffle a yawn, "I'm really tired. I think that I'll go to the Head common room―"

"With Malfoy?" Ron snapped suddenly.

"What makes you say that?" she said flatly. Hermione kept a stern appearance.

"No reason," Ron stated quietly," No reason..."

"Okay then!" she said brightly, "See you guys la-la-la-tor. Oh my!"

Harry laughed out loud, "Bye Hermione. Er...Ron?"

"Bye then," Ron grumbled.

Hermione quickly left their common room, escaping the tension that was lingering in Ron's face. He obviously knew or suspected Hermione was going to the ball with Draco. There was no other possibly explanation for his remark.

"Peppermint Sticks," Hermione hadn't forgotten the password after her mishap with Draco. She stepped inside the portrait entrance casually, like she had done it a million times.

"Hey!" a friendly voice called to her. "Hi, Draco. I was on my way to bed―"

"This early? It's Friday night and you're going to bed at 10:30?" Draco asked, "Don't you have homework to finish?"

"Nope, I did it in class," responded Hermione, "Besided, I―we―have a big day tomorrow."

Draco smirked and turned away.

"Night Draco," Hermione whispered. Draco looked up.

"Night Hermione," Draco did another gentle smile and then got up silently from the couch he was sitting on.

Hermione could see him coming close and closer. She hesitated as he was almost a foot way. Trembling, they both leaned in.

(AN) ooo!! did I leave ya hanging!! review pls...mwah ha ha ha ha ha!

gazyXOXO