"So…did 173 show up?" Hermione asked later on.

"Yep."

"Well? Who is she?" Ron asked desperately.

"Or he." Hermione corrected.

"Oh, please. Like Harry's perfect date would be a bloke." Ron stared as Harry slipped out of the chair he was sitting on.

"Y-you're going with a guy?" Ron asked incredulously. Hermione squealed.

"Not just any guy. Draco Malfoy." Even Hermione was shocked by this.

"Harry!" she yelled shrilly. "You can't possibly be going to the Yule Ball with Draco Malfoy!" Immediately, everyone in the common room turned and looked at Harry.

"Thanks for that, Hermione. But yeah, I mean…there's nothing I can do about it. Dumbledore said…" Harry trailed off. He wasn't exactly thrilled about going to the Yule Ball with Draco, but he wasn't dreading it. And by the way Draco acted, he wasn't dreading it either. In fact, he seemed strangely…happy. Harry was probably imagining that. But then again, why would he be? When he came back from his thoughts, Hermione was staring at him as though she expected an answer from him. Not sure what she had asked, Harry mumbled "Yeah, sounds great."

"Oh, thanks, Harry! You won't regret it, and neither will Draco, trust me!" Harry looked at her in suspicion.

"What did I just agree to?"

"You'll let me inspect your dress robes and do your hair!" Hermione said happily. Looking up at a clock, she shrieked something about there not being enough time, and she grabbed Harry by his wrist. Dragging him upstairs to his common room, Hermione demanded that he go and put his dress robes on. When he returned, she sighed.

"This will take longer than I thought."

Draco looked up at the clock in his common room. It was 7:58. After making sure he was looking nothing less than perfect, he headed out the door, ready to pick up his date. Harry. Draco smiled to himself. His date was Harry. And whether Harry liked it or not, Draco was his perfect date. And he would make sure that Harry liked it.

Harry stood behind the portrait-hole. He didn't know whether he should wait outside for Draco, or if that would make him seem desperate. And excited. Like he was looking forward to going to the ball with Draco. Hermione and Ron came down the staircase together, earning a smattering of applause. Hermione looked beautiful, and Ron looked…well, at least Hermione had been able to transfigure the lace off of his robes. But they looked happy together, so Harry applauded with the rest of the common room. "Harry? Has Draco not shown up for you yet?" Hermione yelled across the room. Harry groaned, and shrugged. They made their way down to the portrait hole with Harry, and Ron spoke.

"You know, he could have stood you up, mate."

"I don't think Dumbledore's "ancient magic" allows that, Ronald." Hermione said exasperatedly.

"Actually, I haven't looked outside yet."

"Nervous?" Hermione asked soothingly. Ron mimicked throwing up.

"Yeah, a bit. I don't know what might happen." Hermione stared at him.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" Ron caught on and started laughing. Hermione opened the portrait hole, and peeked her head out.

"Oh…" was all she could say. Harry stepped out nervously, and immediately saw Draco, leaned casually against the stone wall opposite the portrait hole, lost in his thoughts. He was…gorgeous. Harry couldn't believe he had just thought that, but it was true. His robes were very formfitting, black with a thin green and silver stripe along the bottom of his shirt. His cloak was brushed behind him, giving Harry a full view of his pants, which hugged his hips and legs perfectly. Draco had styled his platinum hair to fall in front of his eyes, and…was he wearing eyeliner? Harry finally managed to tear his eyes away from where they had traveled without his knowledge, and he spoke.

"Draco?"

The blonde looked up, and saw Harry. Draco silently praised the Mudblood, because she was the only person with enough sense to dress Harry like this. Draco bit his lip, and held back a soft moan, as he noticed that Harry's robes left less to the imagination than his did. And someone, probably the Granger girl again, had styled his hair, so that instead of looking like an untamed mass of bed head, it looked as though he had just been caught fervently snogging someone.

"Hey, Harry. Love your robes." He indicated with his head to Harry's pants. Harry blushed, and covered them up with his cloak. Draco walked over to Harry, and snaked his hand around his waist. Harry blushed again but didn't say anything.

"S-so…should be get going then?" Harry was finally able to speak.

"I suppose so. Unless," he whispered huskily into Harry's ear, "You'd rather be…fashionably late?"

"Wh-what?!?" Harry yelped, pulling away from Malfoy. Ron and Hermione, who were still watching from the portrait hole, started laughing, but stopped at a glare from Harry.

"Only joking, Harry." Draco drawled. "Although, now that I think about it…"

"No, Malfoy." Harry spoke, finally able to look at his date. "Let's go."

"Alright then." Draco firmly wrapped his arm around Harry's waist again, pulling him even closer than before.

"Have a great time, Ron, Hermione!" Harry was able to shout over his shoulder before Draco whisked him around the corner.