This chapter is short, but I just wanted to update it. School just started again and I am already weighed down with homework! I also need more time to think about which direction this story is going.

Again, Draco and Hermione do not know each other. I thought that it was better for the story.

It was just him and the beautiful woman now. Alone in her dressing room.

Draco turned to face the woman and took a couple of steps towards her.

His throat was dry, but he somehow managed to say, "This is for you."

This was entirely a new experience for him. He had never given a stranger a gift. He was always the one who received lavish gifts. Sure he gave gifts to his mother, but he knew that she would love anything that he gave to her. He could have given her dirt and she would have adored loved it. She just loved him too much. However, this person was not his mother. Who knew how Hermione would react to his rose? Would she love it or be offended by it? It was after all just one rose.

She gracefully rose up from her chair and took the rose into her delicate hands. She inhaled it deeply and smiled, showing off her perfect white teeth. Everything about this woman captivated him. His heart was beating so fast that he felt like it might explode out of his chest. This is what girls must feel like when they see him he thought.

He was so entranced by her that he barely heard her say, "Thank you. It is beautiful."

No, you are beautiful. When did he become such a lovesick fool? He was acting so unlike himself, but he could not help it when he was around her. Love must do this to people. If only his mother could see him right now. After repeatedly setting him up with failed blind dates, she would be delighted to hear the news that he finally found someone, whom he wanted to be with. She would probably bug him about all of the details about the mystery woman and then prepare a list of names for her grandchildren. In other words, she would never leave him alone. He loved his mother, but he needed space.

"My name is Draco Malfoy," he said and flashed her one of his drool-worthy smiles.

"I know who you are." She did? "I have seen you on almost every cover of Witch Weekly. Am I correct Mr. Most Eligible Bachelor?" she smirked, taking a couple of steps forward.

Draco took advantage of the little distance between him and her. He searched her face for any imperfections, but failed. She was too damn perfect. She had full pink lips, dark chocolate brown eyes, and a few freckles along her nose. Draco took a deep breath and inhaled her scent. She smelt heavenly just like vanilla and cinnamon. He loved everything about this woman.

He came back to his senses and noticed that she turned away to place the flower in a vase. He instantly missed being close to her. As he watched her tend to his flower, he became self-conscious, a feeling which he never felt before. Here he was standing in a room full of flowers and stuff animals all given to one woman. From what he can see, she had many admirers. How was he supposed to stand out? He had given her one mere rose, something that can be so easily forgotten. If he had known about her before, he would have showered her with gifts. There goes my chance to be with Hermione. He mentally cursed himself. However, he would not give up so easily.

There was a long silence in the room as the two occupants in the room stared at each other. He could not take it anymore, so he blurted out, "Would you like to have dinner with me?"

The corners of her mouth turned down slightly. This is it he thought.

She sighed and said, "I appreciate you coming here. The rose was nice too. Unfortunately, I am going to have to say no to dinner." Her response sounded like it was rehearsed a thousand times.

"Why not," he demanded, clearly showing his anger. Screw being polite. He had just been rejected. Draco Malfoy does not get rejected. He was so used to getting what he wanted that he felt like her response was a slap to the face.

"Because she has a boyfriend."

Draco turned around and came face to face with the person whom he despised the most.

CLIFFHANGER! :P