A MONTH LATER and our two Heads are being kept busy...

"The flowers need to go-"
"No! The banner goes across the front of the teachers-"
"Stop! That's the wrong-"
"HERMIONE!" Draco yelled from across the room. Hermione stopped in her tracks, looking over at the boy, who was now rubbing his temples firmly. Crossing her arms, she huffed over to him. Standing in front of him, she tapped her foot impatiently. Behind her, the great hall was being decorated by an array of house elves, most of which were waiting for her instruction.

"Hermione, when we arranged this, what was the first thing we agreed on?" Draco asked, his head starting to ache horribly. Hermione turned around and sighed. The flowers were finally in the right spot. Two house elves were in the middle of the floor, fussing over the banner that floated above their heads and four more were standing under the wrong chandelier, looking confused.

"That I don't get carried away," Hermione said dejectedly. "But Draco! I want it to be perfect!" a chuckle came from behind her and he slung a lazy arm over her shoulder.

"Well, it almost is," he said. "All we need is people dancing and a bit of music," looking around he sighed heavily. "Now instead of fussing about what needs to be done, how about grabbing your wand and helping out,"

Hermione nodded and rolled up the sleeves of her robe. She set off towards the house elves below the chandelier. Muttering an enchantment that Draco couldn't quiet hear, she changed it from a small simple thing to a magnificent work of art, before lifting it up to the ceiling. Sighing, Draco directed the house elves with the banner towards the teachers table at the front of the hall. The clock on the wall struck 5pm as the final decorations were put in place. The school would be eating in their commonrooms tonight, so that the hall would be in top condition for the Masquerade.

A gasp came from the middle of the hall and Draco turned to see Hermione racing towards him.
"Draco!" she said hurriedly. "I just remembered... I don't have a dress for tonight!" Draco groaned and glared at the girl in front of him.
"You're telling me this NOW?!" he asked, his voice becoming louder. "How could you forget to buy yourself a dress?!" Hermione, now used to these breakouts, just grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

"We've been busy," She said. "We've been studying, getting this thing together, I've got five assignments due on Tuesday... it's been hectic, and I haven't had time to shop for anything... my dress from 5th year was borrowed by my cousin for her formal, and I haven't got another," Draco sighed and rubbed his temples again.

"Alright, I'll finish up here while your gone... wait!" Hermione turned to look at him. "Neither of us have dates," Hermione thought for a moment and shrugged.

"Now we do," she said. "Meet me here at 7, so we're here for when the teachers arrive," With that, she left the hall. Draco stood there, a little confused, but shrugged. So he was taking Hermione to the dance... fair enough...

Hermione rushed through Hogsmead in a frenzy, searching for a dress shop. Seeing one, she raced ahead and stopped at the door. Opening it, she looked inside. A breeze blew from behind her as she stepped in. The store was a small boutique, dark, yet welcoming, sort of like an old cottage. Dresses lined the walls, many looking so wonderful, so graceful and formal, she didn't dare touch them, lest she ruin them.

"Hello my dear," a young woman stepped out behind the counter, her own rich red and black dress reaching the floor. The dress had a black bodice, the colour reaching to half way down the sleeves, where another piece of rich red fabric joined just above where the black finished. The bodice flowed and joined in the same way with the rich red skirts. The woman herself had long brown hair that reached her waist, yet her face was covered in a black sheen veil.

"Oh! Hello," Hermione said, a little shocked at the womans sudden presence. "I'm, uh... looking for a dress for a Masquerade... what would you suggest?" The woman studied the girl for a moment, before walking gracefully around the counter to where Hermione was standing.

"Turn," she said. "Turn slowly," Hermione did as she was asked, a little nervous with this woman studying her. After a moment the woman smiled and disappeared into the backroom. Waiting where she was, Hermione shifted nervously from one foot to the other. Time seemed to go quite slowly as she stood there, looking around, wondering what the woman had in mind for her.

Finally, the woman returned, and Hermione gasped. Resting on the womans outstretched arms was a dress, a beautiful dress. It was the most wonderful dress Hermione had ever seen. Reaching out, she stroked the magnificent fabric carefully, as if it were delicate porcelian.

"Oh... it's beautiful..." Hermione said, yet she sighed and stepped away. "I couldn't possibly afford it..." The woman smiled and beckoned for her to come closer.

"You know what? I'll make you a deal... you're the first customer I've had since I opened a year ago, so if you can advertise my shop to the lovely girls at your school, I'll sell this to you for... mmm... say... 10 galleons..." Hermione's mouth opened and she couldn't help blinking. Once... twice...

"What?!" she asked, shocked at the woman generosity.
"Alright, 9 and 2 sickles, but no lower," the woman said, looking at her, a deck of business cards in one hand. Hermione gaped at her.
"Oh! No! That's not what I meant! I couldn't... this is... I mean... thank you," The woman smiled and flicked a business card at Hermione.

-/-\- Mistress Reillyn's Dress Boutique -/-\-
Located in Hogsmead
Last shop on the right
-/-\- Come and see us, for the dress you've only dreamed of -/-\-

"Deliver one of those cards to anyone who asks, and the dress is yours," Mistress Reillyn said, smiling. "And maybe I'll offer you a part time job, for the holidays, just until you get a proper one," Hermione thanked the woman again, placed the cards in her handbag, and took the dress, which the woman had shrunk magically for her convenience. Saying her goodbyes, Hermione raced back to the castle.

Reaching the Heads Common Room, Hermione raced up to her room, closed and locked her door. Grabbing her hairbrush and wand and sat infront of her dresser.

7pm THE GREAT HALL...

Draco paced the floor anxiously. Hermione hadn't turned up yet, and he was getting worried. Maybe she hadn't been able to find a dress, maybe she didn't want to go with him after all... maybe-

"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," a soft voice said from behind him. "You're looking very smart tonight," Draco turned and smiled at Dumbledore.

"Hello sir, um... have you seen Hermione around?" He asked, getting more nervous by the second. Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I seem to recall her coming out of the Heads Commonroom, not so long ago... she should be here soon, so I wouldn't worry," Draco nodded and continued pacing.

2 minutes passed...

5 minutes...

When he had been waiting for ten minutes, Draco heard a huffing and clicking on the stairs.

"Sorry I'm late Draco!" Hermiones voice flowed from the stairs. "It took longer to get ready than I thought!" Sighing in relief, Draco straightened his suit (the same one he'd worn to the Quiddich world cup 3 years ago) and turned to meet his date. When his eyes fell apon her, his mouth fell open at the beautiful sight before him.

TBC...

A/N: Hey! It's been so long since I updated. I've had writers block and school to attend to... but now I've rolled my ankle, so I can't actually WALK for a while... and school starts tomorrow, oh joy /... so I may be updating while I'm on the mend... but only if you beg me!! evil laugh Anyway...

- Yes, a month. I don't remember how long it has been since they started school... but now it is mid-year, and there is no romance yet. ( shame that, eh? Still the show must go on. Nothing happened in the Month. Blaise helped plan and they studied... exciting, not.