Dinner was a disappointment. Draco was rather put out that Harry didn't seem to be the slightest bit interested. Draco had even stooped to sucking and licking his fingers after his charming Smile-that-Never-Fails failed. He never had to resort to bad table manners before. Plus, he wasn't even eating anything finger food related. Okay, so they were fries, but he usually insisted on using the fork anyway. Finger foods were just not done, unless they were desserts because dessert is always the exception to the rule.

Draco sighed when Harry just went on laughing with Ron. When Pansy came by to check on how they were doing, Draco turned down dessert, another occurrence for Draco that he never experienced before.

And on the way home, Draco was silent for the whole trip. He couldn't think of a single think that he did that would have prevented him from getting what he wanted. He only wanted Harry.

Draco thought back to when Ron had first introduced them. And, okay, something a little less than perfect happened. As it turned out, Draco had politely informed Harry that Ron had went on and on about him the whole day, and that he simply could not wait to meet him. The minor slip-up occurred when he decided to call him by name. Apparently, he got that bit wrong.

"Actually, it's Harry, not Henry," Harry had said, smiling politely. "Don't worry though, lots of people get my name wrong," Harry had offered, but Draco could tell that he was obviously lying.

Draco had nodded and smiled in reply. He couldn't trust himself to say anything more at the moment. "Actually, it's Harry, not Henry," Draco had repeated under his breath, when Harry passed him by to sit where Ron suggested, the vacant seat next to him, and across Hermione's.

And Draco had berated himself for forgetting a name like Harry, Harry was such a nice name, Draco thought.

Draco then kept to himself the rest of the night, and was all the more disappointed that even the waitress got along better with Harry than he did.

As soon as they arrived to Hermione's (and his) house, Draco couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"I don't see why you're so amazed of this Harry person, seems rather arrogant and picky to me. Aside from that, he drinks like an elephant."

"Oh, Draco, you're only ranting because he didn't fall at your feet. And I believe the phrase is drinks like a fish."

"No, no, I'm quite sure it's elephant."

"Actually, a fish-"

"'Mione! We're talking about me here."

"Hmmm, that's strange. I thought we were talking about Harry." Hermione grinned.

"Do pay attention, 'Mione." Draco rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation. "Harry took no notice of me, so, naturally, the point of the matter is that I was being ignored. Me, Hermione. That's just... that's just not natural."

"Natural?" Hermione repeated. "Draco, people are not born and then naturally acquire-Wait, could it be..." Hermione's eyes narrowed in speculation of her long time friend. "Oh. My. God. Are you- You're not-Oh, Draco, you are!" Hermione clapped her hands together. "I must tell Ron!" She said excitedly.

"'Mione, what on earth? Have you gone mental? Because last time I checked, we complete our sentences."

"Oh, Draco, I do believe you found him!"

Draco sighed for what felt like the billionth time. "Harry is obviously, not him. First of all, did you see how much he ate? It should be humanly impossible to consume that much in one sitting. I would want for my one and only to be human, you know?" Draco said, matter-of-factly. He then got out his notebook and scribbled out a few lines.

8. Human
9. Is completely and irrevocably interested in me
10. Doesn't drink like a fish

On second thought, Draco crossed out the last word and wrote in 'elephant' instead.

"See." Draco flipped his notebook around to show Hermione.

"Hmmm, something tells me you are just upset that for the first time in your life there is someone you want, and that person may not be interested," Hermione sing-songed.

"Honestly, Hermione, I have no clue as to what you are on about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be getting to bed."

Hermione smiled to herself and wasn't at all surprised that Draco came running back. "'Mione, who uhhh... who was responsible for putting my... errm... night things away? I thought only boxes were to be moved? Who advised people to take things out of boxes and touch things?"

Hermione couldn't help herself, and laughed. "Hmmm, I do believe that was Harry who had put away your clothes."

"What! Why? What!"

"Oh, relax, Draco. As you pointed out, it's not as if you like the guy." Hermione grinned. "So why would it bother you? I think it was rather nice of him to go out of his way and all."

"Why! What? Why?"

"Well, you did label your boxes as 'Dresser - first drawer', 'Dresser - second drawer' and so on."

"'Mione!"

"What?"

"Just... nevermind," Draco muttered and walked up the steps again to his room.

Two minutes later Hermione heard him descend the stairs yet again.

"Do you think I should thank him? I mean, the dinner was intended to show appreciation for moving boxes, and now that, well, there are more things to be appreciated..."

Hermione grinned. "I'll call Ron."

Draco sighed.

TBC