The next few days passed with nothing out of the ordinary happening. However on Friday night something very interesting happened…

When Hermione entered the common room that night after classes something seemed to be amiss. Cautiously Hermione went to her room and when she saw nothing wrong she to see if Draco was all right. As she slowly crept down the stairs to the common room she began to feel incredibly worried, why she was worried though she couldn't figure out. When she finally was at the top of the steps she remembered not seeing Draco at dinner which made her really scared for him. She opened the door and to her relief saw Draco lying on his bed and appeared to be asleep. She silently closed the door and went back to her room feeling much better.

This time when she went into her room Hermione saw the not on her bed. Curiously she picked up the and smiled as she read it:

Hermione, sorry I missed your birthday. You should have told me sooner! Well I'm making up for it tonight. There is a dress hanging on the inside door of your wardrobe. Put it on and come onto the balcony. I have a surprise for you

- Draco

When she finished reading it she sprinted to her wardrobe and opened the door and gasped. She had found an exquisite red dress she had ever seen made of the finest silk she could imagine. She immediately put it on.

It fit every curve of her body. It was floor length with a slit running up almost to her waist, it had one off the shoulder sleeve, and instead of an open back it had red ribbon dancing back and forth from side to side.

After she had finished examining her self in the mirror, she put on some make-up. Just some eye shadow, some red lipstick, and a tiny bit of blush. Once she had finished she slipped on a pair of red strapless heels and admired herself once more in the mirror, she dashed out to the balcony as fast as her (now three inches off the ground) feet could carry her to the French doors that led to the balcony. When she got there she smoothed out her dress, checked her hair and finally opened the doors.

She was amazed at how beautiful it was. There were red and white unscented candles floating around a table set for two here a very handsome certain Slytherin was already sitting.

Upon Hermione's arrival Draco immediately stood up and walked over to her.

"You're looking beautiful tonight." He said with much splendor, "I didn't realize how wonderful that dress would look on you when I bought it."

"Thank so much for the gown, Draco, but, what's all this?"she asked gesturing to the candles and the table.

"Every girl deserves a special dinner for her eighteenth birthday. Don't you think?" Draco stated matter of factly.

"Well, yes but…wait, how did you know this was my eighteenth birthday and not just my seventeenth?" Hermione asked suspiciously as he led her to the table and she sat down.

" It wasn't that hard to figure out," Draco laughed, " It was on the nineteenth that you told me it was you birthday, and you have to be eleven by September first to go to Hogwarts. So I did the math and figured out your age."

"Oh, okay," Hermione said startled. No one so far had figured out her real age, even when she told them her birthday.

Just then chicken a la king appeared on the plates in front of them and wine in the glasses.

" Err…Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"Oh! Seventeen, I believe," he said rather smugly, " Why? Not up for a little illegal drinking?"

"I would prefer to not break the law." She said dignified.

"So I'm right then." He said smiling.

"Yes, I suppose that would make you right."

A few minutes later, when they had finished dessert of Hermione's favorite ice-cream mint-chocolate chip (AN mine too!) soft music began to play. Hermione looked at Draco questioningly

"May I have this dance my lady" he asked sweetly. Smiling, she agreed.

They slowly danced to the music for what seemed like hours and neither of them wanted to stop. When a song about falling in love against all odds, Hermione held onto Draco even tighter and rested her head on his chest and he rested his chin on the top over her head. All that mattered to either of them was Draco having his arms around Hermione's waist and her having her arms around his neck as they slowly drifted away from all worries, cares and any thoughts in particular about anything except the person they were dancing with.

When the song finally ended, Hermione said she needed to go to bed and thanked him for the wonderful time she had with him and that she would never forget it.

Then he walked with her to her door and before she went in she turned and kissed him passionately. She said she's wanted to that ever since sixth year, and he said he felt exactly the same.

"So, does that mean we're together?" he asked apprehensively, "Um, that is only if you want to be, if you didn't then-" He was cut short as she kissed him again.

"Yes, we're together," she stated smiling at how ridiculous he was acting moments before. And with one more kiss she said goodnight and went into her room so she could go to bed and dream about Draco.