Author's note:Hello all! I'm SO sorry, this chapter was a bit late. I usually update much faster than this, but I have another story plotting in my mind that I have (sort of) jotted down. I hope you will forgive me. Because my attempts to regain your love and support has taken a new toll: this is my longest chapter yet. Enjoy!

Draco

"I DID IT!" Hermione screamed. "I ACTUALLY DID IT! I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE! OH MY GOSH! THIS IS SO EXCITING!" Draco tried to hide his laughter as Hermione began to jump up and down. "Do you think we can take a picture? I have to write to mum and dad about this! They'll never believe I actually hit the target!" Hermione rambled on. Draco just smiled. The past few days, all barriers between Draco and Hermione had fallen, leaving two surprisingly good friends. They had not mentioned once about Draco's dream, which was fine with him. "-and Ron and Harry wouldn't believe it either! They know how bad my hand and eye coordination are, we definitely need a pictu-"

"Hermione! Calm down! You hit the target…once! And look, your arrow is no where NEAR the actual bulls eye." Hermione glared at him. "It was a lucky shot."

"Fine! Be that way, I'll do it again!" Hermione raised her chin. Grabbing the bow and arrow, she aimed slowly and let the arrow fly. "SEE! I DID IT AGAIN! THAT'S TWO TIMES IN A ROW!" She yelled triumphantly, a huge smile on her face.

"Ok, ok!" Draco said, holding up his arms in the 'I surrender' position. "Good job." He smiled.

"See, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" Hermione grinned. "Now say it again for the first time I hit the target."

"Good job." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Thank you! Now if you don't mind, I'd like some help cleaning up, so we won't be late for dinner." She laughed, gathering up the equipment. Draco just shook his head and followed after her. It felt weird, now that he was spending time with Hermione everyday. It wasn't much, just every afternoon. However, they did manage to really enjoy themselves. Just yesterday, he and Hermione had attempted to finish some of their summer homework. Off course, they didn't get much done. They were too busy laughing at the book entitled "101 Ways to Annoy Your Professors: And Why It Is Always Better To Claim You Are Crazy". It was one of the many useless, never-would-have-thought-been-in-the-Malfoy-library books that they stumbled upon.

20 minutes later, Draco darted out of his room and ran down the stairs. He dashed across the hallways and flung open the dining room doors. Behind him, the grandfather clock struck 7:00. Relieved that he wasn't late, he crossed the room and sat in his usual seat. Hermione, across from him, hid her smile behind her hand and looked amusingly at Draco. He threw her an o-stop-it-at-least-I'm-here look.

Dinner was expectantly quiet. His mother, who has not said any words to Hermione since their her first night, continued to remain silent. Every once in a while, Draco and Hermione exchanged glances, weather it be angry, playful, humorous, neutral, or silly expressions. When the last of the desserts were cleared away, Draco was about to stand up when he heard his mother clear her throat. Exchanging a questioning look at Hermione, he sat back down.

Narcissa cleared her throat. "You've been here for quite a while." She said, directing her comment towards Hermione. "I think it is time that I now put you to work." Draco's eyebrows shot straight up. What could mother possibly have in mind? Narcissa cleared her throat again. "In two weeks time, we shall have a social gathering here." She sniffed. "It has been a year now, and I daresay the Malfoy reputation has been tainted by, certain events." Draco's mind instantly thought of his father. "It is about time that we reacquaint ourselves with the social world. We will be inviting people from the Ministry, old family friends, neighbors, respected witches and wizards, and so forth. I want you-" Narcissa nodded to Hermione. "-to plan it." Hermione's eyes grew round. She nodded enthusiastically. "You will be handling the invitations, decorations, food, entertainment, floo powder, and such." Narcissa continued. "It will be held at our house, exactly two weeks from today, at 7 p.m. It will last until midnight. The party will be formal. I will expect you to be a host during the duration of the night."

Silence followed as Hermione jotted down all the details on spare piece of parchment. When she was finished, she hesitated before asking, "Mrs. Malfoy, I can't help but ask, about the evaluations of me to HOLF? I-I've been wondering, curious really, w-what you have been writing about me each week." Hermione bit her lip.

Narcissa stared at her with her blue silver eyes. "I have put in a good word for you every time."

"Thank you ever so much!" Hermione broke out in a wide smile. "I-I've been wanting to ask you for the longest time, I just thought it was rude to ask, you know?" Hermione rambled on. "I'll get started on the party right away!" And with that, she jumped out of the chair and darted out of the room. Draco turned and faced his mother. A slightly bemused expression was on her face.

"She won't fail, will she?" Narcissa asked.

"Most likely not." Draco answered. "She'll probably throw the best party this house has ever seen." A small smile playing at his lips.

"Oh, I expect she will." Narcissa peered at her son. "This has worked out then, I suppose. Her being here." Draco met his mother's eyes and nodded.

"It has," he said, ending the conversation.

Hermione

Hermione sat at her desk for the next two hours, finally stopping at 10:00 p.m. On the surface in front of her already laid a sketch of the invitation she had drawn out. Next to her drawing was the list of guests that Mrs. Malfoy had provided her.

"Come in," Hermione answered when she heard a knock. Draco entered as Hermione continue to draw out her invitation.

"Busy working?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"What do you think about this?" Hermione thrust her drawing to Draco. "It's just a rough draft. I'm not much of a drawer." Draco peered at the piece of paper and gave his nod of approval. Smiling, Hermione took back her invitation and got up from her desk. "I think I'm going to bed. Tomorrow, I'm going to make copies and send out the invitations. Then I have to book that string octet for the entertainment, oh yes, I'm going to have to make sure we have enough supplies for the decorations, and certainly the elves can't make that much food-so I'm going to have to find some way to get more hel-"

"Hermione! Calm down." Draco smiled. "You have two weeks to plan this thing. Don't worry about it." Shaking her head at him, Hermione pushed Draco out of her room and got ready for bed.

The days passed quickly as Hermione busied herself with the upcoming party. She booked a string octet for classical entertainment; and also hired back, temporarily, the old house elves that were related to the delighted, Tinky and Olfie. After the invitations were sent out, letters flowed back steadily, all accepting the invite to their home.

One week before the party, Draco had to drag Hermione outside onto the yard.

"Come on Hermione! You've been at it all week! Give yourself a break!"

"No! I can't! Draco, please, let go! I have to reply to the Kilpers that there will NOT be fish for the main entrée- they're super paranoid or something and they won't come if it's served!" Hermione struggled against Draco's strong hold.

"Hermione, please! You need a break. Let's go and practice archery, I bet you can't make another shot!" Hermione growled at him. "Ok fine! Fine! Then let's go horseback riding, it's nice and hot today." Hermione quickly shook her head. "Well come on Hermione! You have to cool down somehow! Ok, THAT'S IT! YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!" Draco picked up the struggling Hermione and headed straight for the pool.

"Draco! Let me go this instant! I have to reply that letter! And I have to confirm with the strings and settle on a price, and then I have to make sure that the house elves know they're suppose to clean the ballroom and- DRACO! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Hermione tried to wiggle herself free, only to find herself failing. The pool was drawing dangerously close. Hermione struggled harder. "DRACO! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! IF THIS PARTY IS A COMPLETE DISASTER THAN I'M FULLY BLAMING YOU! DRACO WAIT- NO, NO!" She screamed as Draco threw her unceremoniously into the chilling, ice-cold water.

She saw helplessly as Draco roared with laughter, pointing at her soaking body. She winced as the water went straight threw her clothes and drenched her skin. "Oh, you are going to pay!" Hermione hissed. She slowly turned around and WHOOSH, a huge wave of water splashed onto Draco and engulfed him into terribly moist, wet water.

A small laugh escaped her lips. Draco's eyes flew straight towards her. "Oh, you think that's funny do you? What about THIS!" He lunged more water at her. "And THIS!" He cried, splashing her more. "And you can't live without THIS!" He threw off his shirt and jumped into the water next to her, causing huge sprays of water everywhere.

"Aghh! Draco! Don't!" Hermione cried, splashing water hopelessly at her adversary. Draco pushed down on Hermione's shoulders, despite her fruitless efforts. Water filled her ears as she swam frantically around, finally pulling down on Draco's leg. "HA!" She gasped for air. "That's what you get for messing with me!" Hermione darted out of Draco's reach and swam as far away as she could. Draco raced after her and grabbed her by the stomach, plummeting both of them down into the water. "Fine! Fine I give up!" Hermione let out a large laugh, after she resurfaced. Swimming to the diving board, she quickly hoisted herself up and laid flat on her back.

"No more stress?" Draco grinned, swimming next to her.

"No, not anymore." Hermione laughed. "I will admit, that was a good idea. Not the most dry idea, but a good idea nonetheless." She sat up and shook her head wildly, spraying Draco once more with water,

"Hey! Cut it out! I thought we were done." Draco shielded his face. Hermione stopped and laid back down on the diving board. She closed her eyes and let the sun's heat warm her face. Draco slipped out of the pool and towered over Hermione. "Hey, you wanna go for a ride?" Hermione shook her head dreamily, too lazy to answer. "Come on! You'll dry faster that way." Hermione shook her head again. "Ok fine! I see how this is going to work out." And for the second time, Draco picked up Hermione and threw her over his wet shoulder.

"Draco! Stop! You're all wet!"

"So are you! So stop wiggling and let me take you to the stables!" Hermione sighed and gave up. She had a perfect view of his wet, bare back.

They arrived quickly at the stables, and finally Draco put Hermione down. Thane was already saddled, due to the fact that Draco was riding him before he talked to Hermione. He quickly got on the horse and held is hand out.

"It'll take too long if you saddle Calida." He answered her puzzled expression.

"Didn't you say Thane was really, um, rough?" Hermione asked nervously.

"Yes, if you're not a good rider. Now I, happen to be a good one." Draco beckoned her to grab his hand. Finally, Hermione settled herself in the saddle, in front of Draco. "Ready?" He asked behind her. She nodded. Draco gently kicked the horse and it moved forward out into the sunshine. One of Draco's arms held tight onto the reigns, while the other one held Hermione securely around the waist. He urged the horse to go a little faster.

The two friends continue to ride Thane for the majority of the afternoon, even after they had both dried from the water. An onlooker would be able to see these two people enjoy each other's company for hours. When Thane the horse stopped to chew on a blade of grass, this spectator would see Hermione Granger, the party forgotten, lean back comfortably onto Draco Malfoy, who safely guided the horse anywhere she wanted to go.

Author's note: Hello all again! I'd love to take this opporunity to thank the following people for their CONSTANT and SUPPORTING reviews!
Firefly Phoenix
Lovin' Olivia
younglanawitch
gabby
You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for the others that have taken the time to review as well. It really gets my morale going! romance starts next chapter, btw. Anyways, I will be gone this satruday for about a week, so I'm hoping to get chapter 10 written and posted before then. though i'm not making any promises. Remember, I love constructive critism! So please do not hesitate to give me a review!
Love,
essenceoffantasy

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