"Longbottom, isn't it?" Malfoy practically charged at Neville after herbology class. He hastily came up to him and grabbed him by the scruff, dragging him behind the shed, out of sight of those who may be watching him.

"Just... leave me alone Malfoy." he shrunk. Malfoy'd gotten his old, mean self back. He unmanned him, but when Neville turned to leave quickly as he could, Draco caught his sleeve.

"Listen, I- damnit I'm horrible at these things... I need a favor, alright? You're the herbology geek, right?" Neville didn't much like the name, but he had to admit that he was teachers pet in that particular field.

"I suppose I'm the one to go to if it's got to do with plants, yeah."

"I need-" he groaned quite audibly here, unbelieving that he was really about to ask a Gryffindor, of all people, for a favor of this sort. "I need roses. red roses. The sort you give to someone you... like." Neville looked as if he was about to piss his pants in shock. But he pulled himself together.

"Well there are hundreds of varieties-"

"Listen, I don't care what kind. I just want roses, red if you can, if not, get me something different, like a blue or a green rose. Something not girly." with those kind of kisses, I dare think not... "Got it?" Without waiting for a reply, he scurried off to his next class.

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Draco Malfoy tossed and turned in his sleep. He'd been thinking about it for days now, that kiss with Potter. Was that why he'd always hated Weasley and Granger? Jealousy for them being so close to him? Had he liked Harry for some time now and just not known it? He stared over at Crabbe and Goyle's beds. They'd decided to go home to their families for once and hadn't been there with him over the holiday. Apparently, they'd both had family crisies over the summer and had become close to them.

He had been confronted with a fact that had never really occured to him as of yet in his life; he was lonely. His friends were fake and he was losing them anyhow, his family only loved him because he was their heir and the means to pass on the legacy, and all he'd thought he'd known was being challenged. He had always thought he'd hated Potter, his bloodline, famous story and the fame that it entailed, his gutts, his very existence. But ever since their lips had met, he could think of no one else.

He'd had to skip half of his classes, lately; he got nauseous everytime he was within sight of Harry. The very thought sent tingles up his spine. Needless to say, his grades weren't improving with the latest developments. Snape was also getting rather... suspicious of him. his jokeless, quiet demeanor had suprised everyone. Harry had noticed the lack of comments drawn between them.

Tomorrow was the day he'd present him with the rare navy colored roses Neville had gotten a hold of for him. Tomorrow, he asked Potter on a date. To where and when, he had absolutely no idea.

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Draco, Harry had noticed, had looked like a wreck. Practically the only class thet they had together that the blonde Slytherin hadn't skipped, was potions. Harry couldn't help but smirk constantly. Diverting his thoughts back to the cauldron infront of him, he added the instructed ingredients. He snuck a glimpse at Malfoy. He was paler today even then the palest he'd been all week. He was sweating, as well. Something was up.

A nervous looking Malfoy aproached him as he, and his friends exited Hagrid's hut. His robes seemed bulky and uneven as though something was hidden beneath them.

"Harry. Could I have a word with you?" Malfoy stared intensely at him. Hermione and Ron looked first at eachother, then to Harry. "Alone?" he added, he couldn't do this with them standing there. At the request, Hermione threw him a suspicious glare.

"What could you possibly want with Harry that you can't say with us here?"

"It's a private matter, Granger." he growled, instant regret flashing on his face. That's right. Being mean to them isn't going to get you your way. "It's fine guys." They were glaring at Malfoy still, "I've got my wand. I'll be fine." He grinned. They were concerned, but began to walk towards the school.

"Walk with me, will you?" Malfoy turned to leave, but paused after a few steps to wait for him. Harry came to his side. There was a slight pit pat, he noticed, following them from the trees.

"What's this about, Malfoy." the boy got red. "Go on, spit it out."

"I can't tell you untill they leave. I can hear them too, you know."Harry turned to face the spot in the trees he'd last heard the footfalls.

"Go on guys. I want to hear what he has to say and he's refused to tell me untill you leave. He'll wait all day, you know, untill you're gone. We aren't going to start talking untill we see you at the top of the hill, well out of earshot. Go on, now." Harry waited in silence for a few seconds, patiently staring at where Ron and Hermione were. He heard Hermione slap Ron upside the head and him reply with an "ouch". They exited the wood and looked back as they went up the hill. They turned once they'd gotten to the top and stared at the tiny forms that were him and Malfoy.

"So, you were saying?" They continued on, occasionally looking around them for any sign of people.

"Do you remember... the last night of holiday break?" Malfoy gulped. Harry grinned.

"I thought this might be about that. Yes, I remember it. Quite well in fact." He smiled over at him. "Something about that you wanted to tell me? Hmm?"

"Yes, but a question first. You didn't look all that drunk before I started tailing you, and then when I did you acted drunk. When you... when you pinned me, aferwards... for a moment, you didn't seem drunk at all."

"Yes, Malfoy, I was not drunk. A little tipsy, yes, but as pissed as I was acting, no. I had a fairly clear head when I... y'know... kissed you. I acted like that so that if you had acted like I expected you to, I could blame it on the alcohol."

"But, still... why?"

"Because it's a little known fact that I'm bisexual, I could, and, well... I like you. What was up with you, though? Are you...?"

"I didn't know I was, but even since then, I'm pretty sure I am, and... It scares the Hell out of me."

"I felt the same way at first. You get over it. Was, ah, was that all you had to say?" He eyed the bulky black robes Malfoy was wearing. Malfoy let out a deep breath.

"Harry..." he was looking down at his shoes and fidgiting with something under the garments. He pulled out, not his wand, but a deep, dark blue rose. A single rose. "Would you... y'know." Harry's smile faded as he took the rose. He hadn't expected this.

"Malfoy... I-I don't know what to say... I-"

"Just think about it, will you?" And with that, Malfoy ran into the distance.

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"He what?!" Ron yelled, attracting a stare from around the common room. Harry was telling him and Hermione about Malfoy's proposal.

"What are you going to do?" Hermione whispered. Harry got up and made his way to the portal exit; they followed. They cautiously made their way to a broom closet. Once in, Harry sat down heavily on an upside down tin pail.

"I think... I think I'm going to say yes." Harry looked confused, and yet, resolute. "That's it. I'm saying yes."

"What!?" The best friends yelled in astonished unison.

"I don't know, I really, reallylike him though. I always have. Even if he is sort of my polar opposite." Harry went back to staring at the floor.

"It's your funeral, mate." Ron turned and left. Hermione stuck around.

"Do what you think will make you happy. Just... promise you won't leave us for him."

"Never!" they left the cramped confines of the closet and scampered back to the dormitory. Harry would tell him tomorrow.