Chapter 11: The Big Date Fix Up

  Eight hundred and eighty-eight photos were laid out on the table. All of them beamed at Draco.

  This was not a sight for weak stomachs.

  "So what do you think?" Draco smiled. "The old boy still got it in him huh?"

  I faked a puke. "Is this what I'm thinking?"

 Draco grinned. "Yup. Applications to be my dance date."

"Frankly, I'm disappointed I didn't reach a thousand."

  If there was even a thousand girls in Hogwarts.

 I tried hard not to laugh. "You mean you set up a box where girls would drop in their applications, like a lucky draw or something?"

  "Actually I didn't." Draco looked pointedly at me. "Crabbe and Goyle decided to do that for me. I think they even had an administration charge for each application."

  This time I laughed, right into Draco's face. "This is crazy, even for your standards."

  "You never do things the normal way, do you?" I looked at Draco, shaking my head.

  "Of course not." Draco smiled sweetly. "I insist on doing things the most extravagant way so that I can waste everybody's time and effort."

  I waved Draco away, as I surveyed the photos. It was slightly disturbing seeing so many faces look at you. "So what do you want me to do?"

  "Well, you can help me narrow down the list of potential dates." Draco said, passing me a piece of paper. "I don't know how good is your taste, but I guess you will have to do."

  I narrowed my eyes at Draco. "Well I guess the great Malfoy just have to make do with me."

  Draco didn't even bother to look back at me as he started poring through the rows of photos. "We'll compare our top ten choices in half an hour."

  I shrugged as I started my big "mission". Did I even expect Draco to be grateful?

   God forbid.

   You know after going through rows and rows of endless photos of eager girls wanting to be Draco's date.

  It can get extremely boring and tiresome.

 So I have to admit I didn't really choose the girls that I think Draco would like, but decided to choose girls which I found interesting.

  Which would probably mean Draco would hate them.

  At first, it was pretty funny. The girls in the photos were winking their eyes flirtatiously, looking coquettish.

  Some even wore held banners saying, "I love you, Draco", "Marry me Draco", "PICK ME!", "I'm your soulmate!", "Draco is my idol!" and so on.

  You got to give credit to those girls.

 Well after half an hour, I had my list of ten girls.

  But I was pretty sure, Draco was going to kill me for them.

   Draco ran his fingers through his blond hair. "Well I'm done."

 He looked at me. "How about you?"

  "Ready as I'll ever be." I said as we sat down on the table to compare our lists.

  "Let's go through your list first." Draco said taking my sheet. "We should save the best for last."

  I shrugged. "It's your date."

I was quiet for a few moments. Waiting for Draco's response.

  "Hermione!" Draco cried.

 I cringed. "Er… yes?"

  "Were you even the teeny bit serious when you were looking through the photos?" Draco asked, arching his eyebrows.

  "Yes! I was." I said indignantly. "Those are the cream of the crop."

 "Well, let's go through it then." Draco said coldly.

 "Look at this one." Draco pointed.

  "She seems nice and she's very pretty, look at those eyes of hers." I said eagerly.

  "But look at her name."

  "Ok, so maybe her name is weird, but you can't judge people by their name." I said strongly.

  "I don't even know how to pronounce her name." Draco said, staring at the name on the sheet.

  "It's Bjark. According to the information written on the back of the picture, you don't pronounce the J." I said timidly.

  Draco looked as if he wanted to box me. "Bark?! You pick a girl called Bark?"

  "So you want me to say, "Hi, I'm Draco Malfoy. And this is my date, Bark."

  I frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe you could give her a pet name. Like precious or honey. It would be very you."

  Draco crossed his eyes. "Let's go to the next one on the list."

  "Er… ok." I said, looking at the ceiling.

  "Hermione, you said we weren't supposed to judge people by anything right?" Draco said coolly.

  "Right." I nodded.

 "Well then why must I add most of the girls on your list are Gryffindors and not a single Slytherin?" Draco asked with an innocent smile.

  "Well, it's because I know those girls better." I said truthfully. "And I know what nice girls they are."

  I paused. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to put those sweet girls on the list. I wouldn't want them to mix with Draco.

  "How come I have the feeling you put all these girls here, just to annoy me?" Draco said.

  I smiled. "You are too sensitive."

  I picked up Draco's list. "Come on, let go to your list now."

  I looked through the names and the photos. "Draco, can you name me the ten names you list here?"

  Draco looked annoyed. "And why should I do that?"

 "Because I have the feeling that you don't even remember the name of the girls you put on the list." I smiled sweetly, full of venom.

  "Nonsense." Draco said, looking at me with an icy glare. "I'm not going to play this silly game of yours."

  "Draco, Draco." I tsked. "Let Aunt Hermione give you a piece of advice, learn the name of your date before the dance or you are going to get a big red hand mark on your cheek!"

  Draco shrugged his shoulders coolly. "They probably wouldn't mind even if I forget their names."

  I sighed. Knowing the girls Draco would choose, that was probably very true.

  Suddenly, I looked at my watch.

 It was 11.45!

  "Draco, I need to go somewhere urgently. Would you please follow?" I said, in as friendly as voice as possible.

  "And where is that somewhere?" Draco said with a smirk.

  "Ok, ok." I glared at him. "It's the Venus statue. You know that infamous one. I want to check on Parry and Harry."

  Draco paused, as if to think for a moment. Then smiled. "Nah!"

 "Oh come on!" I said, getting up from the table. "It would be nice to get some fresh air."

  "And you do owe me a favour, I did help you narrow down a list of potential candidates for the grand post of being Draco's dance date." I said sweetly.

  Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh, very well. Just to see how Parry will slap Harry."

  "You are ever the optimist." I said sourly as I pulled Draco out of the torture chamber.

  When we reached the Venus statue, they were quite a number of lovey-dovey couples, but no sign of Harry and Parry.

  I sighed. "Perhaps we were too late."

  Draco looked around to see the couples around us. "This is quite the kissing spot."

  I nodded. "I think the rumor that a couple who kiss here at midnight will remain together forever is hogwash though."

 "Come on let's go." I said turning around.

  Draco pulled my hand. "Wait a minute, Hermione."

  Hermione looked up at me, a little surprised.

 "Hey, I just noticed that you have starting calling me Hermione." She said, laughing.

  "Oh yeah, Hermie." I shrugged. "What can I say? I got bored with the boring Granger."

  "Right, Malfie." Hermione rolled her eyes.

  "Come on, let's go back." Hermione yawned. "I'm sleepy."

  "Didn't I tell you to wait?" I said annoyed.

  I looked at Hermione's watch. It was 11.55.

  "What are you trying to do?" Hermione said, narrowing her eyes. "Not another crazy scheme I hope."

  Five minutes to 12.

  "Are you sure you want to know?" I grinned madly.

  3 minutes to 12.

  "I'm going to see if the tradition is true."

  2 minutes to 12.

  Hermione looked at me stunned.

  But she didn't run away.

 I take that as a good sign.

  I bent down.

  About to do the most frightening thing in my whole life.

  I knew I shouldn't have come to the Venus statue.

  Who cares if Harry breaks up with Parry anyway?

  Why must I always be such a caring person?

  Great. Now I'm really in trouble.

  I looked as Draco bent down.

  His face getting closer and closer to mine.

  God, I think Draco is going to kiss me.

  Should I run away?

  Should I punch his teeth out?

  I paused for a split second.

  Then smiled.

  Maybe, just maybe.

  I will let him.

Haha, what a funny chapter. I really hope you guys will like it.

I think everybody will be pretty shocked at what happens next.

^_^ Although I don't know if I succeeded, I hoped to make this story a little unpredictable… ^_^

*SHAMELESS PLUG* ^_^ if you like to see Hermione and Draco squabble, you get check out my new fic 7 days of hell! ^_^ It's my weak attempt of trying to make Draco darker. ^_^ It's quite fun though… *END OF SHAMELESS PLUG*

Now time for my dedications!

Fire Soul – your so nice! Give you a lollipop! ^_^

Krissy – hey thanks! ^_^ It's true I'm updating faster now! Cos I can't wait to finish the story! ^_^ And write all the silly Hermione Draco parts…heehee

AlyBaby – Congratulations! You guessed correctly. ^_^ It was not that cliffie! ^_^

Girl-named-Belle – heehee! Actually I was wondering if it should be 999 instead.

Beckie13 – I'm so glad you liked it! ^_^ Good luck with writing your own fics!! ^_^

Attaasa – your so nice! Give you a chocolate candy! ^_^! And your correct about the applications! ^_^ And I'm so glad you said it made you laugh, ^_^ that's one of the nicest things someone can say to me!

Rei-Chan – thank you so much! ^_^ Your very nice too! Give you some candy floss. I agree, I love it when Draco is mean. Though, I haven't made Draco really evil in my fic… ^_^ I will keep trying!

ChaoticSytherin – hahaha! No no dead muggle baby pictures! ^_^ haha, oh yeah I agree. Draco should play a prank on Hermione back! I will see if I can write a positively evil trick in! ^_^

Xtreme Nuisance - ^_^ hahaha yes your veri funny you know! Hope you like this chapter…

Jocelyn Padoga – aww your so sweet! Give you a diamond ring! ^_^ hope this chapter clears your confusion…

CHANZO654 – I agree chapter 10 was a bit short. ^_^ so this chapter is double the length!! ^_^ yup, they are getting along now… well sort of. But the spell wouldn't break now, because they haven't really accepted it. It's going to though ^_^

Slytherin5 – hahaha! ^_^ I hope I don't disappoint you… but there's going to lots of talking! Sorri! ^_^ hahaha

Sai – oops! ^_^ ok, I promise no more cliffhangers. I surrender all my cliffies to you! ^_^

Angelofsmartness – yup! They are applications to be Draco's date. ^_^ heehee, hope you like this chapter…

Chocolat elf – look an update! I don't want to sound proud, but I'm getting really fast with updates! ^_^ hahaha, and I always love your funny comments!

JMS – yeah! Somebody laughed!!! ^_^ haha, ok hope you like this chapter too!

Dawniky – heehee! ^_^ I agree!!!! I don't know why but I like writing about Harry hiding from Parry…hahaha

Hpdancer92 and eb1981 – you guys are so sweet! ^_^ the answer is revealed in this chapter… pretty lame answer though…heehee

Wyrm – is this soon enough? Say yes! ^_^ heehee, yes good ol bickering…

Sim – thank you so much! ^_^ Your comment is really sweet and helpful! I do hope you like this chapter! ^_^

DemonWitch666 – heehee! Yup, thank you so much for your wonderful comment! ^_^ Say hi to the flying monkeys for me…

Roswellwbfan – aww so sweet! Gotta give you a teddy bear! ^_^ haha, I'm so glad you found it funny. Heehee, a folder of Draco's fan club members? Now why didn't I think of that? ^_^

Stormy Phoenix – thanks for your comments! ^_^ no you wouldn't die because the next chapter is out…

Jasmine85 – haha! Thanks for your comments! ^_^ I haven't seen interview with the vampires (which is a sad thing) and only read some of Anne Rice's books.

Critic – that wasn't really a cliffie! ^_^ it was a fake cliffie! This chapter is a real mean cliffie. Hahaha… ^_^ I am the evil one…

Aku-neko – kudos to you for your sweet comment! ^_^ hope you like this chapter…