Mwahaha! I actually own this, you know. This has nothing to do with Hogwarts or anything related at the moment.. just the people, WHO ARE NAMED DARIAN AND HANNAH. insert evil laugh here

thanks for the reviews, by the way.

As Darian Malton promised, he bought the dress, new black high heels, and accessories to match. And she barely new this man! After they had gone shopping, he showed her a different restaurant—a much nicer one, an expensive one at that.

"I like to spoil pretty girls," was his reply when she asked why he was doing this.

"That makes you sound like a man-whore."

"I know, but I do not let what others think of me bother me too much."

"What a horrid thing to say! How can you not care? I just called you a man-whore, or implied it so, and you do not care. And you expect me to go to this dinner and ball with you?"

"But we made the deal, you are going."

"I don't have to, if I don't want to."

"You are such a child," he laughed.

"Stop it, I am not!"

"But you are!"

He was right, what she had said sounded so childish, it embarrassed her. "I hate it when others are right," she pouted.

He turned his head so fast to face her, she thought she heard a pop in it, but he didn't move. "What did you just say?"

"I said, 'I hate it when others are right.'"

His eyes narrowed, searching her eyes. "Oh…" he looked away. Neither said a word as they sipped on their drinks. The night progressed on, as the two sat there alone in that fancy restaurant.

"So when is this dinner and ball?"

"In two days."

"Two days!"

"Yes, two days. You will still be here, correct?"

"Yes, of course I will. But it's such short notice. I wonder what my friends would think…"

"Friends? Hopefully not the same babbling brats as before?"

"Excuse you, those 'babbling brats' are quite nice. But no, these two are entirely different. They have been my friends since my school years. They are both boys, too."

"And I bet you've never kissed either one of them," he laughed.

"That is none of your business!"

He leaned his elbows against the table, smirking at her. "So? I was only joking with you, Grayham-- Miss Grayham."

Sighing, she finished up her drink, and he did too. "I should be going," she muttered. "It's getting late."

"Do come have some fun with me before hand."

"I won't go clubbing."

"I never said one thing about clubbing."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"Just grab your bag and come with me."

"Last time you told me to come with you, you lead me into trying on tons of dresses and you buying all of this," she held her bag up.

"But I told you, I don't mind spoiling pretty girls."

"Shut up! Now where are we going?"

He smirked again, "Just follow me."

She did follow, wondering what the heck this would be about. He led her down city streets, down dark alleys (which she stayed close to him in), up stairs, down stairs, across a park or two, somewhere…

"Darian, I'm getting tired and sore."

He stopped abruptly and turned to her. "We are almost there. I'll help you back to your hotel, I promise. Just trust me."

"Oh," she sighed, "Fine then, if we are almost there."

True to his word, he stopped after climbing a set of stairs onto a roof within ten minutes. They had to be at least six stories up, the way the building was set, and the stairs were. Behind him, she about fell over, if he hadn't moved quickly to help her stand.

"It's… its beautiful…" she gasped in breaths. The sight she saw, how everything was. It was late, and lights were shining so brightly. You could see for a long way off, even at this height. The stars twinkled in the night sky, seeming to reflect the simmering lights of the city. There was a park before them, filled with blossoming trees and fireflies beaming their small lights throughout the entire park.

"Isn't it?" he smiled, but he wasn't looking out at the landscape, he was looking… looking at her. When she realized this, she returned his glance. For the first time ever since she saw him that night at the club, he was truly smiling, his eyes not so stormy cold pools of grey.

"Darian," she whispered.

"Hmm?"

She looked away at the park below them, pushing a thought out of her mind. "I need to go to the hotel."

Literally, she felt him frown. "Alright, come along," he helped her down the stairs and down a few roads to her hotel, all the way up to her room.

"Remember what I said earlier."

"About what?"

"About the potion, don't take it tonight."

"Oh, yes, I won't."

"But go to bed right away."

"Okay," she muttered, feeling like a child again.

"I won't see you tomorrow, due to some business. Relax tomorrow, I've worn you out today, haven't I?" he chuckled. "So rest, and then the day after, you'll have to prepare for the dinner and ball."

"Yes, yes, I know. Good-night to you, and thank you so much."

"Good-night, and thank you," he waved as he went down the hall to the elevator, but she would swear to this day she heard a pop as if someone Disapparated, before she heard an elevator ding.