Chapter 1

Being Locked Up

"Headmaster, that is completely unfair!" I argued to our new headmaster, Severus Snape. "And you know it! How is locking up the Head Boy and Girl going to be beneficial to the student body?"

"Miss Gregory," Snape said, "both of you have a price on your heads. The Dark Lord has ordered Draco to be, well, to put it bluntly, a toy of sorts, if the Carrows or any Slytherin student sees fit. And you have a price on your head because of your crown, along with your, ah, magical talents."

"Well, I don't want the damn crown! I never knew about it before now, and I honestly could care less about the damn thing! It's only caused problems in my family apparently!" I shouted at him as it started thundering outside. "However, if he wants me for my magic, then I will do as you said, but not with him! We'd have each other killed within 2 hours!"

"Gregory, you're the only one I trust to handle this situation," Snape told me quietly. "You're cousin, Susan, would have done it without hesitation. I know, however, you're not her, no matter how much you look and act like her. Please keep in mind, as Head Girl you would be doing your duty to the school by doing this."

"On two conditions," I said. Snape nodded his head and I continued, "I want to tell Ginny Weasley and my brother, Seth, where I will be and I want us to be able to get out at night."

"Very well," he said. "You both have 3 hours to gather all of your belongs and say goodbye to who you wish, only Miss Weasley and Mr. Gregory knowing where you'll be going, and report back here. Take Draco and leave."

It was then that I noticed that Draco Malfoy was lerking in the shadows of Snape's office. His almost white-blonde hair shined in the moonlight as he stepped in front of the window. His blue-gray eyes showed how upset he was of the "arrangement," where the rest of his face remained neutral. I didn't want to admit it (even if Ginny had gotten me to say it one time), but he was very handsome. However, he hated me because I was associated with, Harry, Ron, and Hermione (whom decided that they were going to look for Horcruxes instead of coming back to Hogwarts, even though Hermione actually couldn't because she was a muggle-born, but still); that and I was a Gryffindor, too.

"Are you sure we have to be put together? Can't we have different rooms?" He asked turning towards Snape.

"There is no other way, Draco," he said, waving his hand for our dismissal. "Three hours."

"Yes, Headmaster," we both mumbled as we walked out the door.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, but I knew it was only a matter of time before he broke the silence.

"Look, just because we'll be living together doesn't change anything, Gregory," he said, stopping in front of me. "You stay out of my face and things will be fine."

"The same goes for you then, Malfoy," I said, taking the moment to readjust my long dark brown hair in its ponytail. I pushed my thin-framed glasses further up my nose and continued, "I'm not too happy with this arrangement, but I do prefer to stay alive long enough to see the Dark Lord fall."
"Oh, and you're sure he'll lose this war then?" he smirked at me.

"I have Seen the Final Battle, Malfoy," I said as I started walking. "I KNOW he will lose this war. Now, head to your dorm and retrieve your items."

"Come with me," he whispered so softly that I barely heard him.

"Only if you explain what Snape told me when we settle into our new dorm room," I said, turning back around.

"Then you'll explain as well," he said, "about the 'crown' he was talking about."

"It'll be our secrets," I replied as we began walking towards the Slytherin common room. "And, before you say anything, yes, I know it won't change anything as well."

"Pureblood," he muttered the password. I hadn't even been aware that we had made it to the common room. We walked in, he in his Slytherin robes and I in my Gryffindor robes, both of our Head pins on our chest. Thankfully the common room was void of students, as most had gone to bed already, as it was past midnight.

"I'll wait here," I said. He nodded his head and headed in the direction I assumed laid the boys dorms. I only had to wait a few minutes, standing uncomfortably in the middle of the common room, before he returned. "Did you get everything?" He nodded his head and we started to walk out when a voice broke out.

"Where are you going, Draco?" Blaise Zambini asked, stepping in front of the fire place.

"Away," Malfoy answered shortly. "Now go back to bed."

"Be careful then," Blaise said. He then turned to me and said "you're going with him?" I nodded my head. "Take care of him then?"

"I will," I said. He inclined his head and walked back the way Malfoy had just come from. "Come on, we still have to get my things."

We walked out and started out way to the Gryffindor common room in silence. Now, I don't really like silences, comfortable or not, and decided I was going to break it.

"He sounded concerned about you," I said nervously.

"He's the only person that has stood up for me, and the reason my situation isn't as bad as it could be, but I'll explain more later. Did you know about anything?"

"I had no idea until tonight," I replied, knowing what he was talking about. "I just don't understand it though, but we'll discuss it later as well."

We settled into another silence as we neared the Fat Lady. I said the password, "bubble gum," and walked in. I instructed him to sit, as I would take a bit longer than he had, and walked up to the girl's dorm. Thankfully, Parvati and Lavender were sound asleep as I gathered my things and placed them in my trunk. I shrunk my trunk and placed it in my pocket as I walked out. I found the 6th year dorm and walked in. I found my redheaded friend and quietly shook her awake.

"Rayetta," she said sleepily, "what is it?"

"Ginny, I need you to come with me," I said, pulling her out of bed. "I have to tell you and Seth something."

"Alright," she said, "but what's going on?"

"I'll explain in a minute," and we headed out of the dorm and towards the boy's dorm. We found the one I knew my brother to be in and woke him up. "Seth, you need to come downstairs with me." Luckily my brother seemed to know not to argue with me and the three of us walked downstairs.

"What's he doing here?" both of them asked as they spotted Malfoy.

"That's what I need to tell you," I said, motioning them to sit. They did and as far from Malfoy as possible. "The thing is, well, we have to go into, um, hiding. We both have a price on our heads."

"You WHAT?" Ginny said. "From who?"

"Shh," I said, "from the Dark Lord. I can't say a lot about it, but we'll still be in the castle; in one of the old abandon Head dorms. We'll be okay…I'll be able to send word to you once a week. I'll be okay, I promise. I'll explain everything after everything is over. I love you both. Please take care of each other and Neville too. Please make sure the students are protected. They'll need it."

Seth ran his hands through his dark brown hair before his bright blue eyes found my bright brown ones. Our eyes were the only things that were different about us. "How long?" he muttered.

"I don't know, Seth," I answered.

He then turned towards Malfoy. "Take care of her, yeah? I wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to her. And if it does, I know who to kill."

"I can do that Gregory," he muttered.

"Okay," I said, "we don't have much time left. Please take care of everything and everyone, okay?" They both stood up and I hugged them. "I love you both. Don't worry about me, yeah? I'm just like Mom…I can handle Malfoy here."

They nodded their heads and as they went, unwillingly, back to their respected dorm rooms, Malfoy and I made our way back to our Headmaster's office.

"They care about you, don't they?"

"Of course they do, their family…even Ginny is like my sister."

We walked in silence as we neared the Headmaster's office. We walked in and sat down in the chairs in front of Snape. We sat in silence as Snape eyed us. It was several minutes that felt like hours before he spoke to us.

"I know this arrangement isn't the greatest one," he said, "but at least you'll be protected. You'll find everything you need in the dorm. Once a week the house-elves will restock your food items. I assume you know how to cook Miss Gregory?" I mutter a yes and he continued, "Good. Now, as far as being let out at night, if you so wish, it will only be an hour, midnight to one; the wards I will place will only be down for that short length of time, so be sure not to linger. Also, once a week, I will stop and check to make sure you haven't killed one another," he stood up and we followed him. A silence settled over us as we made our way to what would be Draco and mine's new home.

When we stopped in front a portrait of two teenage girls, and one looked very familiar.

"That's your cousin, Susan, and Lily, Potter's mother. They used to be best friends," Snape explained to me.

"Susan, she looks just like you," the Lily in the portrait said to her friend. "You're taking care of them then, Sev?"

"Yes, Lily," Snape said almost lovingly.

"And any word of my son?" Lily asked.

"Not as yet, but I have eyes and ears looking for him."

"How is it no one has ever seen this portrait?" I asked.

"I moved it here just for this purpose," he answered. "They'll be able to keep an eye on you for me."

"You know I don't like this, Severus," the other said. Susan looked almost identical to myself, except she had shorter, lighter brown hair in the portrait. "It's not fair to keep these kids locked up, regardless if it's for their own good. However, I know some good will come of this, so I'll not fight you any longer."

Snape turned to me and said, "She has argued with me since I came up with this arrangement; she's just as stubborn as a portrait as she was when she was alive. I think some of her personality was imbedded in this picture."

"Oh, hardy, har, har," Susan said. "Anyways, we'll let you in, so the kids can get some sleep." And with that the portrait opened up.

"You'll find everything you need inside," Snape said. Malfoy and I walked inside. "I have to place the wards outside. I will speak to you in a week."

With that the door shout and a moment later glowed a bright blue, and I knew that we were trapped in this place.

"It's almost 4," I said, turning to Malfoy. "Let's just head to bed, and we'll discuss everything in the morning."

He nodded his head and walked towards one of the open bedroom doors. He entered and shut the door behind him. I walked to the other bedroom, deciding I would explore more after I had a few hours sleep in me, and closed the door. I changed into some pajamas and climbed into bed. I was officially stuck with Draco fucking Malfoy and I didn't know whether to be mad or, dare I say it, happy about it. I could only hope this little crush I had developed would be crushed, and soon.