Over the next few weeks, Draco and I had gotten into the habit of walking to each class together. Matter of fact, quite the friendship was growing between us. Hermione had gotten used to the idea that I was drifting to a new crowd, although she didn't approve, she stopped hassling me about it each day.

Today, I was to meet with Draco so we could work on our Astronomy project together. I walked down the halls after dinner nervously. Draco told me to meet him in the Slytherin common room. I had never been there, let alone been anywhere near that part of the castle before. Most people avoided it since it was by the Dungeons. I skipped down the staircase before it could change direction. Draco was waiting at the corner of the hall and I bit my lip to keep from smiling at him.

"About time," he said once I got near him.

"I've never been here before you git." I hit his shoulder jokingly, and he shoved me with his shoulder playfully. We walked to the Slytherins' dungeon wall. Draco uttered the password, and the wall opened. Draco climbed through, and I followed. The walls came together in an instant, almost shutting on my foot.

"Merlin," I breathed.

"You better watch out, Gryffindor," he laughed. I shot daggers at him with my eyes from behind him.

We got to the common room and I did a 360 as I looked around at the room. It was completely different from the Gryffindor common room; dreary, dark, and lifeless.

"Where is everyone?" realizing the room was empty except for us.

"What do you mean?"

"It's after dinner isn't it? This place is empty."

"We're not Gryffindor you know. This isn't some hang out spot. We only come here to pass through or receive letters. Seeing as you're a girl, and a Gryffindor girl, I can't let you up to the rooms."

"Oh." I said quietly.

"So where do we start on this bloody project," he plopped down on the sofa and gave the Astronomy book a wary glance. I sat next to him, and pulled the book into my lap.

"We should start by reading the chapter I suppose, then go from there," I said. Draco gagged.

"It's not that bad Draco." I opened the book and opened it to the first chapter. "Come on, let's get to it." He protested again, and I nudged his arm.

"Read," I commanded pointing to the book. He crossed his arms, and looked at the book. He might not have been reading, but it was a start. I couldn't blame him. I was too distracted to read too. Draco's leg was resting next to mine so that they were lightly touching. I debated on whether or not I should scoot over, but I didn't want to make it look too obvious. I turned the page, and my hand grazed his thigh. I looked at him from the corner of my eye, and he seemed to not notice anything.

I closed my eyes, and quietly inhaled to steady myself. Relax Artemis, I told myself, it's just your friend Draco. I opened my eyes and went back to reading.

Draco sighed suddenly, startling me and sending the Astronomy book tumbling.

"I'm bored." He fished through his cloak pockets and brought out two boxes of Chocolate Frogs. "Want one?" he handed me a box, and looked at me sheepishly.

"Draco! We've only just started working," I laughed.

"Fine, more for me."

"No wait!" I took the box from his hand. "I want one."

Draco smirked knowing he got his way. We both pulled open the little pentagon shaped boxes.

"I've never had one before…"

"What!" Draco looked at me like I had just told him his hair was on fire. "You've never had one before?" I nodded as I pulled out the little chocolate frog and examined it. "Well hold on to it or-" the frog suddenly wiggled to life, and hopped out of my hands. "Or that'll happen." Draco said as he bit into his own Chocolate Frog before it came to life.

"Oh no!" I got up to chase it, but it was too fast for me. It hopped to the window and squeezed itself under the window and disappeared, most likely falling to its death to the castle grounds. I sat back down miserably.

"At least I still have my card." I pulled out the card from the little box. It was Helga Hufflepuff. Nobody wanted to get Helga Hufflepuff.

"Who'd you get?" he asked, peering over my shoulder, but I stuffed it in my pocket before he could see it and make fun of me.

"No one…" I looked at him as my cheeks turned a shade of pink. Draco shrugged and took his last bite of chocolate but stopped. He turned the piece over in his hand, and then handed it to me.

"Here, take it."

I took the chocolate from his hand hesitantly.

"Go on, you didn't get any and you got a shabby card. It's the least I could do," he said with another smirk.

"Who's card did you get then?" I asked. Draco grabbed for his box, but I was quicker. I pulled out the card with one hand, and pushed Draco away with the other as he tried to take his card back.

"Fulbert the Fearful," I read. "Famous for being so cowardly to even leave his own house. Died when a defensive charm backfired and his roof caved in. Very nice Draco," I giggled.

"Oh shut up!" he snatched the card back. "Let's just get back to homework." I rolled my eyes at him and pulled the book back onto my lap.

"Artemis? What are you doing here?" Crabb and Goyle both walked in, sneering at me. Draco and I both looked up from our work.

"I'm just doing homework, is that against the law?"

"No Gryffindors allowed."

"Yeah Draco, tell your girlfriend to leave," Crabb chuckled. Draco shot up from his chair.

"WHAT? Artemis is not my girlfriend," I pretended to work on my homework, with the tiniest bit of hurt feelings. Crabb and Goyle stopped laughing immediately. Draco looked at me, then back to his friends. "Besides, you all know its Pansy I fancy," Draco said lowering his voice. My heart sunk as soon as her name escaped his lips. Did he really just say Pansy? Or was I just imagining it? If she was so great, then why wasn't she here with Draco helping him with homework? Why wasn't she spending every moment between classes with him? Oh that's right, because I was.

I closed my Astronomy book and packed my things while the boys talked about Pansy and Draco.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Draco said, finally noticing I was leaving.

"No Gryffindors allowed remember?" I said sarcastically.

"No, wait- I er…still need your help with the Astronomy assignment!" Draco looked up at me.

"Rules are rules though," I said smugly, and then I walked out of the common room.

"So, what's this about Pansy Parkinson then?" I said poking Draco's side. He glared at me. We stepped out of the castle and into the chilly morning air as we walked to Herbology together.

"Its…nothing really."

"Oh come on, just tell her you like her."

"Well its not that, I could have her if I want. In fact I could have any girl I want!" I raised my eyebrows at him. "Well anyways, you shouldn't be talking."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I heard you fancy Dean Thomas."

"What?" he nodded his head smugly. I stopped walking and stared at him open mouthed.

"Who gave you that idea?"

We walked into the greenhouse just then and to prove his point Dean and Seamus turned around and waved. Dean pointed to a seat next to him. I pretended like I hadn't seen him, and sat in the chair nearest the door. Draco laughed, and took a seat next to me.

"Looks like you have two lovers,"

"Oh shut up," I rolled my eyes at him. "It's the other way around, and you know it,"

"You should go out with him," he snickered.

"Ugh, he's like my brother though. It'd be like going out with you," we both looked at each other and suppressed a laugh. My heart thumped nervously at the thought of going out with Draco. Holding his hand, holding on to him, bragging to all of the other girls in Gryffindor and Slytherin…

"Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Trimble, do you mind?" we both looked up and saw Professor Sprout glaring at us. Draco gave her a threatening look, and I looked down at my feet.

"Sorry Professor Sprout."

Once she turned back around Draco scooted closer to me and lowered his voice.

"If you go out with him, I'll ask out Pansy."

"Are you mad!" I said harshly.

"Come on, it'll be funny-"

"Yeah, for you!"

"Come on, please?"

"Fine, just for the week," I narrowed my eyes at him. He held out his hand and we shook hands to make it official.

"Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Trimble, must I ask you once more?" Professor Sprout said with her pudgy hand on her hip.

"I think we need to move seats so we don't talk," Draco grinned.

"Wonderful idea, Trimble, please move to the empty seat next to Mr. Thomas."

I stuck my tongue out at Draco before moving next to Dean. I smiled at Dean once I got there and he chuckled.

"Can't keep out of trouble eh?" he whispered.

"I guess not," I turned around to look at Draco who was trying not to laugh. I made a face at him, and then turned back to the front.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did you ask her out?"

Draco rolled his eyes.

"Yep. Did Dean ask you out?"

"Yep…" we stood next to each other awkwardly. "Well aren't you happy?"

"Oh, there you are Drakey!" as if on cue, Pansy came prancing out of the Great Hall and wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened.

"Hey…Pansy,"

"Why are you with her?" she tried to say quietly in his ear, but I still heard her clearly. "Come on, let's go to the Common room," she dragged him away and gave me a disgusted look before leaving.

I was standing there by myself staring at them leaving until Hermione and Ron came out of the Great Hall.

"Artemis?" I turned around. "When were you going to tell me?" Hermione frowned at me.

"Umm-"

"I thought I was your best friend!"

"Malfoy's her new best friend, remember?" Ron said with pursed lips. He hadn't been fond of me ever since I became friends with Draco, his and Harry's enemy.

"Oh shut it Ron. Well, er congratulations?" Hermione attempted a smile.

"Thanks, but it wasn't really my choice…Draco sort of forced me, see we have this bet-"

"Oh, so you're just going out with Dean for a good laugh with Malfoy, are you?" Ron said venomously. "I'll see you later Hermione, I've got homework to do." With that he shrugged past us and headed to the Dormitory. I looked away sheepishly.

"Oh Artemis," Hermione sighed and followed Ron. Dean and Seamus were coming my way now, and I wanted to go joke around with them, but I realized Dean was technically my boyfriend now and I had to go hug him or something. Things wouldn't be the same.

What had I gotten myself into?