Disclaimer: I went to my sister's graduation the other day. I was playing in the band. There were about three thousand people there (it's a small school). Strangely, not ONE of them came up to me and asked me for my autograph. Hmmm, wouldn't you think that if I were JK Rowling, and I was seen at a small school's graduation, I'd have people clamoring for my autograph? Well, that must mean, I'm not JK Rowling!

AN: This is a bit shorter, but the reason it took a while is because I had some problems with the order of what was happening.... Draco kinda had me a little confuzzled this chapter... But I got it! I decide to make it two chapters just to make U all mad with a cliffy! ^_^

~*~*~**~*~*~

Lucius Malfoy sat in the Slytherin Common Room, cooly surveying his surroundings.

He heard the door slide open and said without turning, "Nice of you to join me, Draco."

"Yes, sir." Draco came around and sat across his father.

"How is it going, Draco?" Lucius inquired, looking down at his son.

Draco looked up at his father and hesitated, knowing that he could very well hold Hermione's life in his hands this moment. "Well?" his father asked, expectantly.

Feeling the ever familiar guilt coarse through his veins, he said, "She believes that we're in a relationship."

Lucius smiled slightly. Draco stared at him, for the first time, feeling revulsion at his father's face. His wicked smile suddenly brought the urge to throw up to Draco's stomach. He'd seen that smirk many times, but now he realized that it was the same one found on his OWN face many times through the day. That face that was planning such evil, actually held a resemblance to his own.

Noticing something wrong, Lucius prompted, "And?"

Draco looked up at him, wondering what else he wanted. "Well, she's falling for me," he continued lamely.

Lucius stood up angrily. "FALLING? You mean she hasn't ALREADY?"

"That isn't what I meant," Draco said, backing away.

Lucius stilled himself, paused, and sat down.

"I hear that there is to be a Masquerade Ball this Halloween," Lucius said, as if he were making small talk.

"Yes," Draco said, already sensing what he was going to hear.

"You will take her."

"I was already going to ask her."

Lucius studied his son for a moment, until Draco said, quickly, "I already knew you'd want me to."

Lucius nodded, then stood up to leave. "Make this so-called 'relationship' stronger. So that she believes every single word you say. You will NOT anger the Dark Lord, Draco."

"Yes, sir." Still sitting in the same spot, Draco watched the father that he was no longer proud of, walk out the door.

~*~*~**~*~*~

Shaylee walked down the hallway with Severus. She sighed. "This is getting really old," she told him as they made a sharp turn.

"If you'd stop the bloody arguments and just let ME take care of it for once, we wouldn't have this problem. It gives the stubborn arsehole a chance to get away."

"WOAH! Wait, did you just call our mutual student, your PRIZE pupil, Draco Malfoy, a STUBBORN ARSEHOLE????!!!!" Shaylee clarified, pretending to look shocked.

"Though he is in Slytherin," Snape said, still speeding through the halls, "he's still a stubborn idiot."

He paused as he looked at her meaningfully. "Unfortunately, all Slytherins are like that. We won't stop until we get what we want."

Shaylee blushed and they started walking as they rounded the next corner, the one leading to the Slytherin Common Room.

Shaylee looked up at him coyly. "It's the same way with red heads. Especially if it involves a member of the opposite sex."

The noise of the sliding door of the Slytherin Common Room startled them, causing them to look up to see Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius walked up to them with a smirk on his face. "Hm, well, I hope I didn't interrupt anything," he said with a presuming chuckle.

Both Severus' and Shaylee's faces were red. "Of course not, Lucius. We were just on our way to the Common Room."

Lucius raised his eyebrows and chuckled again, not believing them for an instant.

"I understand, of course." Lucius looked at them with a knowing look. "Just trying to be a teenager again, are we, Severus?"

He looked Shaylee up and down, causing her face to redden and her eyes to grow angry and defensive.

"Not a bad choice... I must agree with you, as always, old friend. Too bad she's a Weasley," he continued, taking Shaylee's chin in his hand, studying her face.

Snape's wand was suddenly pointed straight in Lucius' face. "Get your filthy hands off of her, old friend," he spat angrily.

Lucius' gaze didn't move from Shaylee's face. He took one last good look at her, then thrust her away, pushing her back a few steps.

Severus quickly glanced at her to make sure she didn't fall, then put his attention back on Lucius.

"Get out of here, Lucius. Before I do something that I've wanted to do since 6th year."

Lucius glared at him. "Disgraceful traitor," he spat under his breath, straightening his cloak and briskly walking down the hallway.

Shaylee stared up at him with wide eyes. Snape brought his wand down to his side.

"THAT is why I don't want you to supervise their meetings. Lucius is a stubborn, perverted creep, arsehole."

Shaylee didn't answer, but tilted her head and kept looking at him. "What's wrong?" he asked her worriedly, not putting it past Lucius to have cursed her.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Thanks." She smiled at him. "Thanks a lot."

~*~*~**~*~*~

Hermione dropped her bookbag beside her bed and thumped down the stairs.

"I'm off to the-"

"Swimming Pool. We know," Harry said.

"Oh, Hermione, can I walk with you? I need to talk to you," Ron said, standing up.

A million thoughts raced through Hermione's mind. She saw herself in a precarious position.

"Um, OK," she said, hoping that he'd just walk with her until they got there, then leave.

Ron smiled, looking a tad preoccupied. "Well, shall we go?"

Hermione nodded and they exited Gryffindor Tower, leaving Harry grinning behind them.

Ron glanced over at the silent Hermione, who was staring straight ahead. "Uh, Herm?" he asked tentatively.

"Yes?" Hermione said, looking at him for the first time, but still walking.

"Well, remember last year after the Yule Ball?" Ron asked, embarrassed.

Hermione inwardly groaned. She knew this would happen. "Yes, and actually, Ron-" she began, but was cut off.

"No, Hermione, I have to do this."

He stopped walking. "You said that I shouldn't use you as a last resort. And, Hermione, I've been thinking about that. I think that you should definitely not be considered a last resort."

Hermione opened her mouth again, but was stopped when Ron continued. "That's why, Hermione, I want to take you to the masquerade ball."

There was silence as they stared at each other. "Well?" Ron prompted. "Will you?"

Hermione battled with herself what to say to him. Finally, she decided. She'd tell him the truth.

~*~*~**~*~*~

Haha!!! ^_^ Well, aren't I special? Don't worry, I'll post ASAP, which for me is...... Um, yeah.... ^_^ Thanks awesome reviewers! I love you all!!! (And you can tell that, because this is one of my very FEW cliffies)

Danric-Lover: LOL! Thanks, Snape will soon appear to be very nice.... And, um, nice threat...... I like threats too.... ^_^

Morgan: Yay; thanks!

Draco-Malfoy-Vegeta-luvr: Wow, thank you so much!

Water demon: Here it is! I'm trying to speed up the updates. Thanks bunches. You're complimenting my imagination! Yay; it thanks you! ^_~

Demongurl872007: LISA!!!! Yay, you finally read it! Yay, well, thanks bunches. Shaylee DOES change him a lot. Thanks for the suggestions, and keep reading it!

Unruly_critic: Thanks for the honest review. I read through it again, and I agree with you about the beginning. I'd rewrite it, but I don't have very much time, obviously, as you can see because I can hardly find the time to post this. WOW! You're the first person to diss Shaylee. ^_^ I can see what you're saying tho... I'll try to do something about that. Thank you. I need a little constructive criticism now and then. ^_^

Jenna-chan: Thanks! And, you might think I'm lucky, but I'm too young to have my drivers license and all my friends live at least 15 miles away. And I live in a tiny town. School's the only time I see them. But, thanks and good luck with any final tests you might have!

Girl-named-Belle: Awwww.... Just cuz it isn't your day, you can have a cookie, OK? ::pats head::

Super Geek: Thanks, and I'll keep writing until no one reviews or the fanfic is over. You're number 80! Your prize is any food item of your choice!! ^_^

Jenna-chan: Wow, thanks for telling your friends. ^_^ And tell them I said thanks too! You guys made my day! And, I'll read it when I have time or if I can't sleep. I'm sure it's great!

Principessa Squish Aldkivina: Alicia, why do you sign in to review? It makes my job so much harder. I hafta type your friggen name. ^_^ And, I WON'T work on the house!!! ^_^

KEL-71E: Hehe, wow, good job. How'd you manage that? And, as long as you get along with the other guy, that's ok. Hehe, this is a little late, but hope you do (did, actually) great on your exams!

Wibbles: Well, um, one of your guesses is right! I can tell you this much! ^_^

Water demon: Hehe, sorry I can't tell you that. But, you'll see soon enough!

GenieJanelle: LOL, that's funny. Hmmmm, maybe I CAN become JK Rowling after all..... ^_^

PsYcHoJo: LOL, that's wierd cuz that's how my family and friends describe ME and everything I do and say. ^_^ I guess that just goes on to my fics! ^_^

Hildie: Thank you! I won't stop writing unless either me or my computer dies.... ^_^

I hope that's everyone!!! ff.net still won't let me see my reviews, but I get them in my email, but I might've deleted one. But, if I forgot anyone, you have my apologies, thanks, and a cookie! ^_^