Finally a new chapter!

Unfortunately it's taken way longer than we thought to get the chapter out.

Thank you to all of you who reviewed!

Disclaimer:This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling. The cards used are copyrighted by Lynn Gordon/ A Spark! production and published by Chronicle Books.

No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's Note: When we were on one of our shopping spree's in Amsterdam, we ran into several card decks…. This story sprang forth from the '52 Ways to find your true love' card deck. The idea is that we each take a POV and write alternating chapters, as you will see when the story develops. – Veer and Nat –

Thank you to our betas Tip and Keikokin!

Draco's mood never reached the heights of the start of breakfast. He'd been fuming to Blaise and Pansy every opportunity and it had gotten so bad that Pansy had cornered Hermione after their Ancient Runes class.

"Granger, can I have a word?" She'd asked, in a serious tone.

"Sure," Hermione packed her bag and met Pansy at the door. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Breakfast," was all Pansy said, keeping her eyes on Hermione, who caught on fast enough.

"I take it Draco saw the owl and the letter?"

Pansy nodded, "He's in denial, but he's very jealous!"

Hermione smiled, "Good!"

"So, do you know who the letter came from?"

"Well, before this summer I would have known, but since the start of term Harry hasn't been talking to Ron and me. At least not like he used to."

"So, before this summer had the owlalready been carrying post from the same sender?" Pansy asked after thinking over Hermione's answer

Hermione thought about it, "Now that you mention it, I have seen it before. But not on a regular basis, if you understand? I know I've seen the owl more than once before, but that was only when the mail came during breakfast. I'll ask Ron if it has ever come to the dormitory."

"And if it is that particular owl? Whose is it then?" Pansy pressed on.

"As far as I know, it's from a good friend of Harry's." Hermione answered slowly, not sure if she should tell Pansy any more. She felt that it was Harry's job to tell Draco who the letter was from and not hers. "Look Pansy, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but Harry has this thing with his privacy. I really feel that he should tell Draco who the letter is from and that Draco shouldn't have to find out this way…I will ask Ron when I see him next, all right?"

"All right," Pansy agreed, "And you're right; Draco shouldn't have to find out like this."

While talking, they had reached the Great Hall. After entering they split up and went to sit at their House tables.

Pansy's entering the Great Hall with Hermione Granger didn't go unnoticed over at the Slytherin table. But since Draco wasn't going to ask, Blaise did it instead.

"Pansy?" He asked her, as she filled her plate.

"Yes?"

"Why did it just seem like you and Granger have been friends for at least five years and not just got friendly since the start of term?"

"That's because I've just talked to her about a topic that we both have an interest in."

Blaise looked at her questioningly. "Which is…?"

"Breakfast," Pansy answered, before sipping her pumpkin juice. She then looked at Draco, who was stubbornly eating his lunch, but she knew that he was listening.

"What about it?" Blaise asked.

"Well, I asked her about that black owl we saw and if she knew who it belongs to. She thinks she knows, but she isn't sure."

"What do you mean, she isn't sure?" Blaise exclaimed. "They move in a pack for Merlin's sake!"

Pansy looked smug, "Apparently, the pack has had a bit of a split. Something has happened this summer and now Potter isn't talking to them like he used to. She said she'll ask Weasley though."

Draco had been listening, just like Pansy had suspected. He highly appreciated his friend's concern and her actions. So what Harry had told him was true then; he and his mates hadn't talked all that often. Suddenly he recalled the night that he'd run into Harry outside the Owlery and the goofy smile that the Gryffindor had been wearing on his face. His proud, inner-Malfoy struggled with inner-Draco on the subject of whether or not to cave and ask Harry about the letter and the owl. Inner-Malfoy argued that Harry ought to tell him about it. Inner-Draco countered, stating that he should trust Harry to tell him himself. His inner struggle made him not look up and so he missed two green eyes searching for his.

Draco made it through afternoon lessons but he got progressively crankier. He made himself busy with his homework, deciding that that evening's meeting with Harry wouldn't leave any time to do it. He hoped that Pansy would hear from Granger before he went out, but when he saw her, she only shook her head. Bugger! both inner-Malfoy and inner-Draco piped up in his head. With a pathetic sigh to himself, he finished his Arithmancy homework and started on his D.A.D.A. essay that was due in three days. It would certainly keep him busy until it was time to go. When he came to a dead end, he decided to stop for a while, hoping that that would help him gather his thoughts on the essay.

As he looked around his room, his eyes fell on the latest issue of his magazine. He picked it up and started leafing through the pages. He almost automatically stopped on the page with the column.

Have Patience – That great Bordeaux didn't mellow in a day. You built that fabulous wardrobe belt by belt. Your career took years of training and perseverance to evolve into what it is now. And love, as the song says, don't come overnight. Even if you're a chronic overachiever, a speed demon on the job, and a type-Adriver on the freeway of love, you've got no choice but to observe the legal speed limit. So take a few deep breaths, and take it slow. Remember, you can't hurry love.

So far Harry had been very honest with him, Draco reasoned. He'd been fighting with this all day, trying to not jump to conclusions. Finally, after some deliberation and a deep sigh, he made his decision. He'd keep his date with Harry and if Harry didn't tell him, he'd ask.

Dinner came and he was able to get through it because Blaise and Pansy blocked his view of the Gryffindor table, engaging him in conversation. Due to them it was over fast enough that he could get ready.

When Draco reached the Astronomy Tower, he heard Harry pacing. He took a deep, calming breath and walked into the room, closing the door and putting up locking and silencing charms.

"Draco!" Harry smiled at him and awkwardly took a step forward. The smile did it; Draco had to hug him. This time, though, Harry hugged him right back. Not as tight as Draco would've liked, but he recognized the gesture for what it was.

Harry seemed…nervous, Draco thought. He was fidgety and couldn't sit still. Finally, it got on Draco's nerves.

"Want to tell me what's gotten you so that you can't seem to sit still?" He finally drawled.

Harry was startled out of his pacing, looking upat Draco with big, green eyes and fidgeting some more. Draco sighed.

"I want to, but don't know exactly how you'll react," Harry admitted, to Draco's surprise.

Draco gestured impatiently, "Well, we can start with you sitting down. Over here, for instance." And he pointed to the seat next to his. Harry nodded and plopped down.

"Harry, if you don't know how to say it, just blurt it out, all right? You're killing me with the suspense here." Draco dragged a hand through his hair.

Harry gulped and Draco could hear it.

"Okay," He then whispered, "This bloke I've been owling with for a couple of years now has just asked me out for the fourth or fifth time in a row, and I'm not sure how to handle that."

Draco wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or feel threatened. "And is he a good friend?" he softly asked Harry, who nodded in answer.

"Not that I've seen him much the last few years. He's a Quidditch player and travels all the time…."

Well, that partly explained it, Draco thought. Then another thought hit him. "Why did you tell me now?"

Harry blushed. "Well, after our talk yesterday I didn't want you to think I don't appreciate what you've told me, and also to let you know that I want to try this, even though I don't know how."

Now Draco was filled with a warm feeling. "Come over here, Harry," he said softly and held out his arms. Harry walked over and stood in front of Draco, not understanding. Draco pulled him, so that Harry was sitting in his lap and tucked Harry's head underneath his chin. At first Harry tensed up, but then relaxed against Draco.

"I don't want to pressure you, but if it was up to me I'd have you write him that you are very much taken. If that's going too fast for you, you can just tell him that you've just started dating and that you're sorry, but you only have friendly feelings for him." Involuntarily, his arms tightened around Harry, who shifted and burrowed closer into his arms. "And while we're on the subject of dating, Harry, the next Hogsmeade weekend is coming up and I'd like to spend it with you. What do you think?"

Big, shining green eyes were now looking at his face. "You mean that?"

Draco huffed. "Of course! I wouldn't ask it if I didn't, now would I?" He felt Harry's head nod and was tickled by his hair. Somehow, he wanted to make sure that Harry understood he meant it, so he pushed Harry back a bit. This way, he could lift his chin and make sure that he and Harry were eye to eye.

"Harry, I mean that okay? I hardly ever say these things unless I mean them," He pressed.

He saw green eyes fill with hope and start to shine, "Okay," Harry whispered, but didn't look away.

"So, Hogsmeade," Draco stated, deciding to go on and get this settled. "Do you want to meet me somewhere or should I pick you up?"

He felt Harry's body tense and now those green eyes showing apprehension. "You'd come to pick me up?" Harry sounded incredulous.

Draco nodded.

"At Gryffindor Tower?"

Draco nodded again, silently thinking that he couldn't think of another place to pick Harry up.

"Where everyone can see you?"

Draco nodded, sighing, "Harry, I would come to pick you up … To take you for our Hogsmeade date. Nobody else."

"You know that there won't be anywhere to hide? That everyone will be watching? They won't stop until… until…."

Draco felt Harry's body go rigid. "Well, we'll see about that. I'm here now and they'll have to deal with me, too. And we'll take care of it when we need to."

He felt the tension leave Harry's body, but not completely.

"We'll see," Harry whispered.

TBC!