Disclaimer: Hi, my name is Ashley Crystal Harrison! This means, of course, that if I were a published author, and decided to use my initials for my penname, I'd be AC Harrison. Like an air conditioner. Not JK Rowling. Like the abbreviation for 'just kidding'. (AN: Funny story on that. I was talking to my friend online and she said 'jk' I immediately said, 'Rowling'. ^_^)

AN: Quicker than usual! A little longer too. And, yes, I do know that there is a lot of yelling.... And a lot of surprises... Count how many time the word surprise is in here... ^_^

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

"Well, you see, Ron. I was going to try to ask someone else very soon." Hermione could see the disappointment show on his face and decided to cheer him up just a little bit.

"But," she continued, "there's a big chance he'll turn me down. So, if he does, I'd be more than happy to accept your offer."

She smiled at him, reasoning with herself, 'Yeah, if Draco doesn't want to go, I can go with Ron. There's nothing wrong with that.'

A lopsided smile appeared on Ron's face. "So, am I your last resort?"

Hermione blushed and laughed. "Nope. Just second choice. If I wanted a last resort, it'd probably be..." She paused. "I dunno, really. Probably Harry or something."

The way she said that made Ron laugh.

"Well, I'll go back to the common room now. See ya, Hermione." Ron smiled and headed back towards Gryffindor Tower.

Hermione sighed with relief and went on her way to the Swimming Pool.

Hermione opened the door to the pool in her blue bathing suit, and stepped in without looking to see if anyone was inside. When she did look up, she was surprised to see not only Draco, but the new Gryffindor, Scott. And the most surprising thing was, they were actually talking to each other and looked like they were enjoying the conversation.

A little confused on how she was supposed to act (Was she supposed to ignore Draco?), Hermione walked slowly towards them.

When she was about ten feet away, Draco looked up, saw her, and smiled. "Here she is," he said to Scott, and he too looked up.

Draco went over and met her, putting his arm around her shoulder possessively. "You two already know each other, right?"

"Uhhuh," Hermione answered, looking up at him curiously.

Draco smiled down at her confused face and said, "Scott's agreed to help us." Hermione looked even more confused.

Draco looked down at her again with a kind smile that could make any girl's (let alone Hermione's) heart melt. "But, first, I have something to ask you."

Hermione blushed. "Yes?"

Draco's stomach did cartwheels as he studied her face. "Would you be willing to reveal our relationship at the Masquerade Ball this Halloween?"

Hermione smiled sweetly up at him. "It depends... Are you asking me to go with you?"

Draco grinned at her mockingly and said, "It depends... Will you go with me?"

Hermione grinned. "Yes, I will."

Scott watched, trying to keep from laughing, as Draco leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.

When they broke apart, he announced, "That's gotta be the most sickenly sweet thing I've ever seen in my life!"

They both blushed and Scott laughed. "I'm just kidding, but anyway, aren't you gonna explain my part in this, Draco? I think I've got little Miss Granger a tad confused."

Hermione DID have to admit that the American slang, mixed with the slight Irish accent, and Scottish looks made Scott quite charming. She also had to admit that he was absolutely right; she was confused!

"Well, Hermione," Draco began. "I'm sure that your two best friends, AND the rest of Gryffindor would not be too happy if they knew you were going to the masquerade with me."

Hermione grinned wickedly. "Oh, they have to know?"

Draco smiled a grin identical to hers. "My thoughts exactly."

"But, then Scott came up to me, and he told me that he had found out about us." Hermione looked up in shock. "Who told him?" she asked, worriedly.

Draco laughed. "That's the funny thing about it; no one told him. He was in this room, one night when we were here, but he was up in the stands," he paused. "Trying to take a nap." Hermione giggled as Scott blushed.

"So, he decided he'd help us out on Halloween night, since he loves causing chaos, or at least that's his excuse..." Draco grinned at Scott, who was chuckling softly.

"And how could he help?" Hermione asked. She was thoroughly interested now. She'd take any way to dodge Ron's questions about who she was going with.

"Well," Scott began, sounding a little like he was brewing up a master prank. "When everyone asks who you're going with to the ball, you'd say me, but you'd really be going with Draco."

"Uhhuh..." Hermione nodded slowly. "But, would they believe it?" Scott shrugged. "If both of us say it, then they will." He grinned. "Plus, they wouldn't care enough to overly investigate, because they'd think you're going with a Gryffindor, and they have to find their own date anyway, so no one would have the time to think we're lying."

Hermione smiled. "I like it; it's an excellent idea!" She paused and frowned. "But if people think we're going together, you won't be able to get a date for yourself."

Scott grinned even wider. "I already have a date!" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "And she won't get a little mad when she hears we're going together?"

"That's the great part, she doesn't even go here! When Shaylee told me a student and a teacher couldn't go together, I asked Professor Dumbledore if I could invite someone I knew from home, and he said yes. So, my neighbor, who goes to school in France, is coming. And, she won't mind at all when I tell her what's going on!"

Hermione shook her head. "Now I can see why the twins never get caught; they think like you!"

Scott grinned, evidently taking it as a compliment. "Being a prankster is hard work, milady!" he said while bowing.

Draco stepped in front of Hermione and said jokingly, "YOUR lady? Oh really? When did this happen?"

Scott raised his eyebrows, trying to be seductive, but looking too goofy. "Why, just now, mate! Weren't you watching?"

Draco chuckled. "For someone who grew up in America, you sure do know how to use British slang!"

For a brief second, Hermione could have sworn there was a glimmer of discomfort in Scott's eyes, but then it disappeared and he began teasing Draco again.

Finally, Draco playfully slugged his arm and said, "Get out of here, mate. My lady and I need some time together." He winked at Hermione as Scott pretended to barf in the pool.

"Well, I'll leave you to it then. See ya later, guys!" Scott waved as he walked out of the room, leaving the two still laughing.

"That guy is an absolute nutcase," Draco said, looking after him.

Hermione smiled up at him. 'This is the happiest I've ever seen him. He's never really had a close friendship like most people do.'

It was at that moment that Hermione decided that she wasn't only going to be Draco's "lady", but she was also going to be his friend.

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

The next day at lunch, Shaylee plopped down at her seat, fashionably late, as usual.

Snape looked up at her dryly. "How do you always manage to miss the Headmaster's Noon Announcements?"

She grinned. "Well, if anyone asks, I tell them I was grading papers and I forgot it was lunch time. Then, there's always the 'I got locked in the loo' excuse... Ummmm... Lesse..." She paused and thought of more excuses. "Oh! How could I forget? My two favorites: 'My psychiatrist held me in late' and 'I was counting the dots on my ceiling, and after 1,341,003, I looked at the clock and noticed it was lunch time'."

Snape shook his head and decided not to even ask. Shaylee looked a little put out that he hadn't made any comment, then leaned over so that she was whispering in his ear, "Actually, I was in the lavatory, making myself all beautiful, just for you!"

Snape sighed, exasperated, "Weasley, wou-"

"Shaylee."

Snape shook his head and corrected himself, "Shaylee, would you just shut up?"

Shaylee's mouth dropped open and she said, "Why Sevvy, I am VERY offended, and I would slap you-" Snape flinched as she raised her arm slightly. "-if I didn't know that you have this problem of seeming like you have a fruit up your arse after you have the Gryffies and Slytherins together."

Snape looked at her cynically. "Why thank you."

Shaylee followed up by taking a "The Thinker" pose and saying, "Well, it was an apple the last time. Today, I'd say it'd probably be a pineapple!" She paused, looked up at him innocently and exclaimed, "Or maybe even a watermelon!"

Snape groaned and pretended he didn't know her.

Shaylee went around to his other side and popped her face in front of his. "What's the matter, Sevvy???" she cooed. "What happened in class today that caused your watermelon-ey mood?"

Snape shook his head. "Longbottom again." "Ahhhhh! That poor boy..." She paused and looked up at him with conviction in her eyes and he actually thought she was going to say something serious, until she said, "You should see him try to play volleyball!"

He groaned and went back to his lunch.

Shaylee snickered and glanced around the Great Hall while she ate her sandwich. Today was the day Fred and George were pulling that prank and there was something they were hiding from her. She couldn't find them, which, from experience, was very bad.

She had started scanning the Gryffindor table again, when she heard a tremendous amount of laughs coming from the students.

She looked up at Severus, where, if they DID do what they said they were going to do, there should have been a pink chicken sitting. However, there wasn't.

Instead, there was a perfectly normal looking Severus Snape, except for the fact that he had a miniature rain cloud above his head and was looking even sourer than usual, considering that his whole upper body was getting soaked.

She joined the laughs, until she realized that Snape was looking at her with a slight smile on his face.

She immediately looked up, where she found a mini sun with a smiley face and sunglasses on. She threw her sandwich to the table and stood up, looking the maddest that anyone in the room had ever seen her.

"FREDERICK AND GEORGE WEASLEY!!!" There were even more laughs as Shaylee looked around the room, not finding them at all.

Shaking her head, yet knowing what to do, Shaylee yelled out again, "You IDIOTS! I practically INVENTED that spell myself!!" There was silence, as Fred and George Weasley popped out from under a table and yelled, "WE HELPED!!"

Shaylee supported herself with her hands on the table and leaned across it, yelling, "Yeah, with the sun's design! I did all the work!!"

For the first time that most of the people had ever seen, the Weasley twins looked ashamed about a prank that they had done. It seemed that most of their pranks were original works of art, but their cousin had ruined any and all chances of taking credit for this one.

Shaylee smiled evilly. "Not only that, but I not only created, but REMEMBER the cure!"

This was when Fred turned and stamped his foot, cursing, with George hissing at him, "It isn't my fault! YOU were the one that said she'd forget!"

Shaylee laughed and looked down at Severus, where she immediately laughed. "So, Sevvy," she said, as if she were talking about the weather (no pun intended!). "How do you make rain go away?" "You can't," Snape answered cunningly.

Shaylee sighed, exasperated. "Well, how does the rain go away?"

"Do I look like a meteorologist?" Snape asked, sourly.

"FORGET THE STUPID WATERMELON AND ANSWER ME!!!" Shaylee took a deep breath. "What comes out when the rain goes away? Is that easy enough?"

"The sun." Snape seemed a little peeved about the whole watermelon thing and how the whole student body had heard.

"Exactly! So, if you just sit still, I will get rid of your raining problem, Mr. Wet Robes."

Shaylee grinned as Snape sighed and crossed his arms, looking the other way.

Suddenly, there was absolute quiet in the room, as even the teachers watched them, looking amused. This worried Snape quite a bit, and he turned back to see what Shaylee was ding.

Unbeknownst to him, while he was so pointedly looking the other way, Shaylee had been slowly inching towards him, causing the rain to decrease. Finally, at the same moment that he turned her way, she jumped straight into his lap with a kamikaze yell.

"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME?!" Snape yelled, taken VERY much by surprise.

Shaylee grinned at him, pointed out to him that there was no more rain OR sun, and then gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and bounced off, winking at him while she exited the room.

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

Snape knocked on Shaylee's office door.

"Come in!" was the cheerful greeting.

He opened the door, and saw her laying on the floor in front of the fireplace wearing green flannel pajamas and reading a book.

She looked up and grinned. "Well, hello, Sevvy! To what do I owe this surprise?"

To Shaylee's surprise, Snape didn't say a word, but came and sat down on the floor beside her after carefully shutting the door.

She put a bookmark in her place and looked up to see Severus looking at her with a serious, but soft look on his face.

"You're bad for my health, you know," he said suddenly, still looking at her.

"Oh, really? Why is this?" Shaylee asked, sitting up.

"Obsession," was the only word he said, but she understood and blushed.

"You know, I have the same problem..." She said slightly blushing.

Snape seemed a little awkward. "Would you- I mean... Well...." Shaylee grinned at him. "Yes, Sevvy, I'll go to the Masquerade with you..."

Severus grinned as he stood up and headed to the door, with her following. "I swear, you're either psychic or my soul mate."

Shaylee smiled as she looked at him standing outside her door and said softly, "Maybe I'm both."

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

R/R please! I actually liked most of this chapter for once! I usually don't like the stuff I write! I need someone to knock me out of it! ^_^ Oh, yay, by the way!!! ^_^ I got MORE than 100 reviews! YAY!!!

Deese Rouge Cheveux: Heehee, thanks! It's written that she's in local, but I really don't know anything about competitive swimming sooo.... ^_^

shadowcat: It's right that it was Lily. i was trying to show Sev's hatred of class clowns. The whole Lucius thing is just cuz he's a pervert and yeah.... ^_^

Cute-kitty: LOL, thanks!

JohannakaShaylee: LOL, I don't live there no.... ^_^ But, I agree with you about talking a mile a minute. I tried timing myself once, but the person timing got tired of it... ^_^

I luv Capernwray: LOL.... Um, wow.....

Morgan: Unfortunately, you've gotta wait a little while for the reaction... I wasn't gonna tell him this early on!! ^_^

DraconisGirl:(chapter 16) I agree with you totally!! And, thank you sooo much!!

DraconisGirl: (chapter15) Heehee, I know. the chapter was based on trying to teach my little sister and cousins... Ugh... A nightmare... i wonder if they're witches and wizards?? ^_^

Pris: ^_^ Thanks! I love 'originality compliments'! They keep my imagination alive!

Danric-Lover: LOL, I use threats too... But, they DON'T work, it's true... And, I dunno if I'm gonna kill Lucius or not... I hafta figure that out... ^_^

darkmarkgrl: Heehee! I don't do it very often!! Thank you soooo much! I wish I was better, but then, I bet every writer does.... I'll do that; I have so many days where I just sit there, staring at the computer, thinking, 'What should I write?' ^_^

Livii: Thank you! I'm becoming attached to this fic, so I won't stop anytime soon!

Girl-named-Belle: LOL, imaginary cookies can be better than real ones, because thay can be as big as you want it to be!! ^_^

Fallen-Angel: Thank you! Gosh, I love reviews!! ^_^

Ryo Kaoru...~: Thanks! And, yeah, I'll email you! ^_^

Draco-Malfoy-Vegeta-luvr: Yay! I feel remembered!! ^_^ Thanks a bunch! And I'm thinking up a bunch of reactions for Ron and Harry, and I'll probably choose the funniest ones...

Super Geek: LOL, yeah, that's all I think about: food! LOL, that sounds like what I do when I can't think of what to write... ^_^

Sabrina: Yay, I feel special!! ^_^ And, I've been staying up til 5 AM every night typing, so don't worry, the updates will come quicker!

Water demon: Thanks; I've got that whole page memorized. My sister and I like to act it out when my other sister is arguing with my mom. ^_^ Ah, mocking family members is fun! Oh, I reviewed your fic. Very good!!