Author's Notes : im SOOO glad that most of you liked/loved the last chapter! -gives huggles-
sorry for the long wait : ( but i hope this makes everything up : )
EDIT (June 6, 2005) : Hey! I won't be updating ANY of my fics from June-July and/or August. Our household is going to be EXTREMELY busy because we're having a family reunion on my dad's side (imagine four computer crazy/obsessed people, including me, making it five, SHARING one computer... ONE COMPUTER!). So please don't hurt me! This A/N also goes to The Girl and the Ferret, Finding The Way Home, and Girl Power!
Draco and Hermione were incredibly busy with homework, duties, and their lives. It wasn't until McGonagall called to them after dinner…
"Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you in his office," McGonagall said; then she hurriedly walked towards the Gryffindor first years, who were trying to take some of the food up to the tower.
Draco looked at Hermione, only to see her staring oddly at the floor.
Draco cleared his throat, and Hermione jumped in surprise. Draco smirked at her.
"Granger, we have to go to Dumbledore's office now. Now if you don't mind, I would like to go there, act like I'm listening, and get this over with," Draco said. Hermione only nodded, but looked at him with a dazed expression on her face, as if she wasn't really listening to him. Draco rolled his eyes, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her forcefully out of the Hall. Hermione yelped in surprise, and scowled at him.
"Let me go, Malfoy. I know how to walk, you know." Hermione wouldn't stop complaining. Draco just kept a straight face and dragged her all the way to Dumbledore's office.
Finally, Draco was sick of Hermione's complaining,
"Let. Me. Go!" She screamed.
"Okay," Draco said and let go of her wrist. Hermione yanked so hard, that when Draco let go, she fell flat on the ground.
Hermione closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as her body came in contact with the cold, dirty floor.
"What? You told me to let you go," Draco said with an innocent look on his face; he was trying so hard not to laugh. Hermione sat up and glared at the smirking blonde in front of her.
"Malfoy, that was not funny," Hermione said through gritted teeth. Draco finally couldn't hold it anymore, and started crying of laughter and clutching his stomach for air.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Th-th-that w-was hi-hilarious Granger," Draco managed to say between breathes of laughter. Draco finally stopped laughing and looked Hermione's face of disgust and loathing. Draco went down one knee and knelt next to her. Hermione tensed.
What in the hell is he doing? Hermione's breathing became heavy.
Draco came in closer and whispered something in her ear. "It's so much fun teasing you, you know that, Granger?" Draco said in a deep whisper, which made Hermione weak in the knees. She thanked God that she was on the floor.
Wait! No, no, no, no, NO! Do NOT think that Hermione Granger.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, I'm glad that you could arrive in such short notice."
Draco and Hermione surprisingly turned towards the sudden voice.
"I'm sorry, was I disturbing something?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye. Draco and Hermione both looked at him in confusion. Then Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. Hermione was on the floor, and Draco was kneeling and oh, so close to her. Hermione blushed and stood up quickly, only making things look worse. Draco was kneeling on one knee, looking upat her in confusion. She was standing up and looking downat him.
Oh, great. Now, by what itlooks like,Dumbledore thinks that Draco is going to propose to me or something… Wait! When has he become "Draco?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Draco.
Sometimes Malfoy's a little slow… like right now…
Draco stood up casually and looked at Dumbledore questioningly.
"In my office please," Dumbledore lead them inside. Hermione went inside his office first, then Draco followed suit. They both sat in the teal and gold couches in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"Would you like anything to eat?" Dumbledore asked them.
"No, thank you, Professor," Hermione said. Draco shook his head, and then rolled his eyes at Hermione.
Teacher's pet…
"Are you sure? Would you like any chocolate? Pumpkin juice? Strawberries? They're in season now, you know," Dumbledore offered; his eyes were twinkling madly now. Hermione flushed while Draco shifted uneasily in his seat.
"No," Draco squeaked and cleared his throat. "No, thank you, Professor." Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Now onto business." Dumbledore leaned in from his chair.
"As you may know, October is nearing, and the Halloween Ball is coming soon." Draco and Hermione quickly looked at each other simultaneously, their own words ringing in their heads.
"Well, I was thinking that we would go together…" Hermione said.
"Sure," Draco said.
"And since both of you are our top students, both of you will be in charge of the Ball. You will be in charge of the decorations and food menus. The prefects will also help you both. I will take care of the invitations and the music. A dear old friend of mine has a beautiful daughter that sings like an angel.
You have Hogsmeade weekends to go shopping for your supplies. You and the prefects also have permission to have Tuesday's and Thursday's off to plan and buy the necessary items for the Ball. Please use your time wisely.
Like the usual tradition, Heads are supposed to accompany each other. Although this year is an exception: you are allowed to go with other people. That is all. You may return to your business and I will see you around school. Have a good evening." Draco and Hermione nodded respectively to Dumbledore and quietly walked out of his office.
When they were out of Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head.
"Better keep a close eye on those two."
"Well that was… interesting," Hermione said, breaking the comfortable silence as they were walking towards there common room. Draco nodded.
"At least we get to miss Tuesday's and Thursday's lessons," Draco said. Hermione nodded sadly.
"We have to have a meeting with the prefects tomorrow," Hermione stopped and leaned towards the wall.
Draco stopped too and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Okay. I'll get the Slytherin prefects---"
"And let me guess, Draco…"
"You said my name…" Draco said; it was more of a question, though.
"No, I didn't," Hermione rolled her eyes at him. Inwardly, she cursed herself. Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted…
"I'll inform the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff prefects?" Hermione rolled her eyes sarcastically at him.
"Ten points to Gryffindor---not really." Draco smirked and Hermione chuckled lightly.
"I like it when you laugh," Draco blurted out. Cursing to himself---that was supposed to be a thought, not a compliment!
Hermione blushed. "Anyway," Hermione coughed. "About the Ball, are we still going together?"
"Well, since you asked…" Hermione hit Draco on the arm.
"Of course… f-for house unity," Draco added hastily. Hermione absentmindedly frowned, blinked, and nodded hesitantly.
"Y-yeah. House unity," Hermione stuttered.
What are we going to do? Hermione thought.
"We're just going there, making an appearance, dance a little, and all that stuff," Draco said, taking Hermione by surprise.
"Okay." Hermione backed off against the wall and stretched. Draco looked at her oddly.
"What? It's not like we're going to stand here be civil to each other all night, you know." Hermione teased him.
"You wish, Granger," Draco said. He said the password, and the door opened.
"After you, Hermione," Draco teased, offering her to go first. Hermione tensed the moment she heard him say her name. It sounded so… foreign. She raised an eyebrow at him and slowly went inside.
"Good night, Malfoy." Hermione said, walking towards her room a little quicker than her usual pace.
Hermione stopped in her tracks. He was so not going to have the last say, if she didn't do anything about it.
Hermione turned around and winked at him. Draco smirked at her.
"Tease."
"You started it."
Author's Notes : i thought that this was another good chapter!even though it only took me about an hour writing it..
AAAEVEILCHEESEMONKIES : "supposedly strawberries cause cancer" --- i agree, it IS bullcrap... but they probably CAN cause cancer if its not washed, its rotten, or if theres a sign that says "cancerous strawberries for sale"
WannaBArtist : it was hermione that had the dream, not draco. im sorry for the confusion : )
foxeran : well, i agree that people seems to be a little OOC, but thats the whole point. draco and hermione are "acting." and as for the other characters, they are getting older and the older you grow, people change.
a little side-note, every time i read a fic and someone says that the character/s are a little ((or very)) OOC, i strongly disagree. oh yeah, another side-note, that when the chracter/s seem a little ((or very)) OOC---this is called fan fiction---meaning made up : ) im not mad or anything, i just wanted to say that
in the upcoming chapter : (edit : july 22, 2005) the upcoming chapter has changed and im suffering through a major writers block. e mail me if you have any ideas.
oh yeah, if you dont get the whole "proposing" thing, dracos kneeling down on one knee and looking up at hermione, and hermiones blushing