Well today was the last day of term… YAY! Not that it means I don't have work to do. I looked a right sight on the bus today with two art folders one A3 and the other A2 plus an absolutely heaving backpack. I looked worse than Rory in that episode where Lorelai say's "Behold…the thing that reads a lot '(or something similar anyhow). The awkward part was getting to my purse for change on the bus. I didn't have any hands free…lol.

So anyway enough of my rambling time for the chapter right?

Chapter 11- A Date begins

Rory got out of bed slowly on Saturday morning. She didn't want to wake any of the other girls in the dorm. She sneaked on a pair of jeans and a T-Shirt. Added a jumper in case it was cold in Hogsmeade and slipped on her trainers. As she was leaving she grabbed her coat, and spotted her Ravenclaw scarf- that would annoy DuGrey wouldn't it? She picked it up too. She walked stealthily towards the door to the Common Room just as she turned the handle- she was caught.

"Where do you think your going?" a voice came from behind her. Rory winced and turned to face Lane, who was sitting at the foot of her four-poster. Hands on her hips and an accusing expression on her face.

"To breakfast with my mum then out. Why?"

"You can't go on a date looking like that" Lane exclaimed.

"Why not?" Rory demanded.

"It doesn't even look like you've made an effort."

"I haven't" Rory retorted.

"Look trust me you want to put a little effort into this" Lane told her.

"What would you know about dates anyhow? Your mother would kill any guy who came within five feet of you who wasn't family or a platonic friend" Rory said exasperatedly.

"Well what she don't know won't hurt her."

"Are you hiding something from me Lane Kim?" Rory asked suspicious of the cunning expression currently residing on the face of her friend.

"Very possibly" She replied mysteriously.

"Oh my God. Who is he? Details."

"I'm not saying anything" Lane said.

"Spoilsport" Rory pouted.

"I'll tell you what, you make a little effort for this date and try to have a good time with Tristan today and I'll tell you all about it ok?" Lane bargained.

"Blackmail will get you everywhere" Rory stated.

"And the few places it doesn't get you is what concords were built for" Lane quipped back.

"Ok. First things first. To look like I made an effort I need. My black jeans and Blue sweater- it flatters my eyes according to my mum. Secondly I need my make up case which we will take downstairs to my mother who will graciously help me…I hope"

Rory and Lane dressed and headed downstairs with enough make up to make Pat Butcher (A/N English soap opera- Eastender's- star) jealous

XXX

Meanwhile Tristan was sneaking out of his own dorm room, with more success than Rory. Under his arm were various items of clothing. Of a sort that he dreaded his fellow Slytherin's seeing him in but Jess had told him it would help him score points with Rory and right now any thing he did to improve his image in her eyes was worth it. Last night had been a disaster he'd thought that his going to the movie night and showing that he could be around her friends and try and get along with her mother would show her he wasn't a complete creep. OK maybe he did have a few bad characteristics but if she knew the way she affected him he was sure they wouldn't matter. Of course he wasn't going to tell her how hard he'd fallen so quickly. He was ashamed of the fact himself. Tristan DuGrey, Prince of Slytherin, All round player and bad boy had not only fallen for a girl but she was an innocent, intelligent Ravenclaw. Nothing like the tarts people were used to him dating.

He reached the prefects bathroom where he'd decided to change into the outfit Jess had lent him. Putting his hand out and knocking on the painting of a beach landscape he muttered "Hippogriff Talons" cringing slightly as he said it. He'd witnessed Malfoy's scrap with one of these a few years ago. It wasn't a pretty nasty affair and Malfoy had deserved it but Tristan had no intentions of ever approaching one of these animals himself. Unless of course it was a case of life and death.

Tristan stepped inside the bathroom and stared critically at the clothes as he laid then out in front of him. Sighing he picked up the black combat trousers and put them on. Then picking up the tight green T-Shirt he grinned. At least that Jess kid had picked appropriate colours. He topped these of with a nice black jacket not leather or muggle like the other items of clothing. No this was his own, finest dragon skin jacket, very high quality and as highly expensive. But what was the point of having a high status family if you weren't allowed to take advantage of it once in a while. He stepped out of the bathroom after a last agonising look at himself in the mirror. He looked rather good but the knowledge of what his father would say if he could see him made him wince.

It was five to ten so he had a few minutes to make it to the entrance hall. Coming around a corner on the second floor he met a sight that made him want to turn and run but it was too late, she'd seen him.

"Tris?" A tall, slender girl with long blond hair sauntered up to him smiling. But as she got closer her face assumed a quizzical look, then one of disgust. "What in the name of Merlin are you wearing?" she asked looking him up and down.

"Oh part of a scheme to piss of Finnegan. I have to get him back for that bat bogey hex on the first day of term." He lied convincingly.

"Oh. Well do you want to do something today. I'd hang out with Malfoy and Paris but they're working on this thing and they're being terribly secretive about it. So I thought maybe you'd like to hang out for a while" she babbled sneaking a hand around his waist.

"Look, I have plans of my own Summer. Please just go find Nott or something you seemed to get along just fine last term."

"Oh come on Tris, you know he's nowhere near as good as you were" she whispered in his ear.

"Summer. You need to get over the past. It was a mistake and that's it. I have to go." He pushed he aside and walked speedily away.

Little did he know that Jess had seen the whole little episode and smiled. He was slowly starting to trust the guy. He'd come to Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor's to ask for help. And had pushed away one of the most attractive, if easy, girls in the school. Rory was luckier than she realised.

XXX

Rory Jaw dropped, literally dropped as she saw Tristan walk down the staircase. She's expected him to come from the dungeons but he was walking down the stairs. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. A pureblood wizard wearing muggle clothing. And he suited them too. She unconsciously found herself thinking how attractive he looked and smiled up at him.

Little did she know the same analysis was going on in his head. He noticed the way her jeans hugged he waist and showed the curve of her waist. How the blue top reflected the clear blue of her eyes and hugged her chest enough to show she had ample curves here too. His eyes then roamed her face. She wore a little make up. Unlike with many girls he knew she hadn't used it to cover flaws but to enhance her features. He grinned broadly as he approached.

"Mary" he greeted "Ready?" he asked.

"I'm not sure" Rory admitted

"Too late to turn back now" he told her holding out his arm

Taking his arm she commented, "Is that a dragon skin jacket?"

"Yes"

"You know they had to kill an endangered and innocent animal to make that right?" she question.

'Great start DuGrey' Tristan mentally kicked himself.

So I know I've not relied to your reviews again I will try to in the next chapter titled 'the date continues' with the ideas I have for this day it's going to take a few chapters chapter 13 is going to be called 'a date with Luke Danes' so maybe you can see what I mean.