She's your girlfriend now, Severus, it's easy. She's not going to tell you, especially when she wants to go to." Lucius encouraged.

"I don't want to screw this up, it's her first time, I want her to have a good experience." Severus replied.

"She's not going to want to go with anyone else. You are her boyfriend." Lucius answered.

"Just don't make it too extravagant. It's her first time so yes she wants it to be special but it's not a big deal. Get some flowers, find somewhere private." Narcissa chimed in.

"You're all acting like he's asking her to marry him, it's just the Yule Ball." Regulus rolled his eyes.

"You're just bitter that you don't have a date." Lucius remarked.

"I can get a date whenever I want but I'd rather go alone and dance with as many girls as I want without having to be attached to their hips the whole night. Which means while you're all stuck on the dance floor I can get plastered as I please. Thank you." He snubbed you all.

"Oh please we all know you just didn't want to ask anyone because you were worried they'd say no." Severus rolled his eyes.

"At least I'm not scared to ask my own girlfriend." He sassed.

"I'm going to ask her. I just want it to be perfect. She told me she never went to dances at her old school. This will be the first dance she's ever been to and I know she's excited. I want it to be as special as she wants it to be. She deserves it after everything she's been through."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna do like Narcissa said and get her a bouquet of her favorite flowers and ask her by our tree. I think she'll appreciate it since it's the place we first started to develop feelings for each other. At least it's the place where I first started developing feelings for her."

"Well if she started having feelings for you under that tree like you did for her then it will be very special and she will love it. She seems very sentimental so I think that's the best place to ask her. Even if she didn't necessarily start developing feelings for you under the tree it's still the place where you both started hanging out. It's as we said, your tree, you can't go wrong asking her there." Narcissa told him.

"She's right mate. That tree is special to both of you. She'll love it either way." Lucius agreed.

"I planted some of Y/N's favorite flowers in Mrs Sprout's greenhouse. I was saving them for a special occasion. I think this is a perfect use for them. Lunch will start in less than half an hour. I'll go get some flowers, put them in a vase and set them under the tree. I think I can get to the great hall early enough to gather some things for a nice picnic. Could you guys distract her for a few minutes then tell her to meet me under the tree for lunch?"

"That would be perfect Severus. The bell rings at 12:15 it's currently 11:55. Go get the flowers and I'll keep her talking until 12:25. What class is she in right now?" Naricssa asked.

"She's in transfigurations. I'll let you guys know how it goes later when Y/N's at quidditch practice."

"Alright we'll see you then." Lucius nodded and the three went in the opposite direction of Severus who was basically running to Sprouts greenhouse. Once he got there he tried to sneak past without getting asked many questions but he wasn't that lucky.

"Severus dear, what are you doing here?" Ms Sprout asked.

"I um, I need to pick some of the flowers you let me plant a few weeks back." He stuttered, feeling embarrassed.

"Ah." She nodded her head. "Giving them to a certain Potter?" She teased making the Slytherins face go bright red.

"The Yule Ball is approaching and I wanted to ask her in a special way." He confessed.

"Flowers mean a lot even though not many people know the meanings of them. The fact that this is Miss Potter's flower says a lot about her."

"Why, what does this flower mean?"

"It symbolizes singularity as well as partnership. A lot of people believe that celious is someone's favorite flower, it means they are powerful on their own but when they find the right person they will prosper in ways they never imagined they could. Prosper with her Severus and you will both be able to do amazing things." Those were her final words before she walked back out of the greenhouse. Severus did not take this information lightly.

Once gathered himself he started picking the best looking flowers and put them in a vase. After they looked the best he could get them he went straight to the great hall and gathered some food he knew you'd like. He got some chicken salad sandwiches, grapes, banana muffins and apple cider. Once he was out by the tree he accioed a blanket for you both to sit on and waited with the flowers hidden behind the tree so you couldn't see them.

************************************

"Hey Y/N, can we talk for a second?" Narcissa asked as she ran up to you after you left transfigurations.

"Sure what's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go with me and the boys to Hogsmead this weekend. I know you were excited to go last weekend before everything happened with your brother and Lily."

"I'd love that. I'm still excited to go there." You smiled. "Let's walk to lunch, the boys are probably waiting for us."

"Good idea." Narcissa made sure they walked really slow. At one point she stopped to tie her shoe, then she stopped to talk to someone. When the clock finally reached the agreed time she picked up the pace and they entered the great hall together.

"Hey everyone. Where's Severus?" You asked, immediately noticing his absence.

"He actually wanted to have lunch by your tree. He told us to tell you to meet him there. He already grabbed you both some lunch. We'll meet you guys later in our common room." Lucius explained.

"Oh that's nice. I'll see you guys later then." You nodded to them then skipped outside to meet Severus.

He was sitting by the tree. It was nice to be back here. You both haven't spent time here in a while. Part of you knew it was because Severus knew how much you loved spending time with Narcissa and the others so he wanted you to spend as much time with them as you could. Especially since they graduated this year and you had another year left. McGonagall said you could skip a year next year and move straight to your last year at Hogwarts. It did worry him since you would be losing not only him but Narcissa, Lucius, Regulus even Remus and your brothers stupid friends. He hasn't seen you make many other friends besides your roommate Jane.

"Well, this is a wonderful surprise. I have to admit, I missed this old tree." You smiled down at him as he sat on a green blanket looking up at you.

"I thought it would be nice to go back to where it all started." He replied.

"You mean the place where you were insistent that you wanted nothing to do with me as we played 20 questions." You teased and he chuckled.

"Well lucky for me you didn't listen."

"Because I didn't believe you. Besides, I had fun learning about you that night."

"Well I got your favorites. Chicken salad, banana muffins and grapes."

"Thank you, this means a lot to me."

You spent a lot of time talking, joking around, kissing, cuddling sometimes Severus would tickle you and you'd throw grapes at him. He was currently laying on his side facing you with his hand up your shirt tickling you as you thrashed back and forth on the ground giggling like crazy. You grabbed his shoulder and flipped him onto his back and buried your face into his chest.

"I missed this. Being able to lay with you, kiss you, it just feels right." You told him as you tried to catch your breath.

"Because it is right." He added.

"This is the perfect date." You started playing with his hair. "Narcissa said we're all going to Hogsmead this weekend. I can't wait."

"I'm glad you're excited because we will have some shopping to do."

"For what exactly, because I'm excited for honeydukes!" Severus loved seeing this. Not even 2 months ago you wouldn't go near chocolate, he had to fight with you to eat and now you were excited for sweets and eating regularly. Yes some days were better than others but you powered through and he couldn't be prouder.

"Well I had something to ask you." He stood and walked around the side of the tree. You tried to look at where he was going but you lost him until he came around the opposite side of the tree carrying a vase full of your favorite flowers.

"Severus." You gasped at the sight of them.

"Y/N, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?" He asked, crouching down in front of you holding the vase out to you. You took the vase and set it to the side then cupped his face and kissed him then pecked his lips several more times.

"Is that a yes?" He chuckled.

"That is an absolutely." You giggled, going back in to kiss him again.