"Where are we going?" Leila groaned as she stumbled through the dark. She watched Draco's silhouette, cast against the filmy blue light he carried, as he marched along determinedly a few steps ahead of her. He had lit the tip of his wand and it served, now, as their only real source of light. The sky was congested with grey-black clouds which lingered still from the storm that had so mercilessly ruined the day before.

"If I told you, there wouldn't be any point in going." He hissed and laughed once.

Leila sighed and glanced behind them. As late as it was the castle's windows had all long gone dark, it loomed over them as they stole away into the dark. Leila could feel it's disapproving glare on her back, she hated sneaking out. It wasn't as though she exactly had a choice, though – Draco's will was law. If he said jump the whole world would obey.

Still, anxiety shook her. The note in the pocket of her sweat jacket burned, impatiently awaiting its delivery. Leila ran her finger back and forth over a corner, silently willing Draco to be done with whatever it was that he was wanting to do.

"Alright, here. Stop here." Draco commanded suddenly

The chosen spot seemed unremarkable and modest. There weren't any landmarks which really stood out. The night swallowed all but the outlines of the plain little meadow. The surrounding trees were identical to all the others which engulfed the grounds. It was nothing special, but still, Draco stood smiling in front of her. he put out his wand and in the same moment the very air seemed to vibrate and hum as a blue glow arose from the Earth. Miniature globes of light floated blissfully about. Leila was awestruck at the sight. It was as though he'd somehow brought the stars down for her. she grinned and watched as a cluster of the globes drifted between them.

"I love you, Leila. From now on, I don't want anyone else to have you." Draco said, his voice low and smooth. He took her by her shoulder and hip and pulled her into a kiss.
Draco always got his way.

***

I like your hair today. It looks incredibly sexy. You're going to start affecting my studies. All I can think about is pinning you to a wall or dragging you off to my room and doing things to you that would make you never able to look into your mother's eyes again!
Lustfully loving,
Secret

"Dear God, if you don't want this girl I would be more than glad to take her!" Liam laughed. His eyes nearly popped from his head as he read the note

I glared at him and snatched the parchment away. He was the only person I had told about the series of secret admirer notes I had been receiving. He was the type of guy to accept things like that and I know he would keep his word if he told me it would stay between us. I didn't want the whole school knowing about this girl. Liam had already proved his loyalty, anyways.

"Whose to say I don't want her?" I grunted, "She's probably insane, you know? She won't even tell me her name."
"Would you say who you were? She's being braver than anyone one else I know. You expect her to be even braver and tell you who she is? You expect her to take the risk that you might tell everyone everything she says?" Liam practically shouted. I hadn't expected him to be so upset with my comment.

The truth was that I desperately wanted to meet the girl who was open and inventive enough to tell her thoughts in such a…provocative note. The truth was I envied that sincerity. The truth was I wanted her madly.

"What'll you do if it turns out she's a guy?" Liam chuckled evilly
"I'll tell him that he seems very nice, but I'm not interested in guys. I'll turn him down gently just like I do with girls who ask me out." I shrugged plainly. Liam had asked me this same thing only a week before and he had asked it after I showed him the first note as well.
"What if she's the most beautiful girl you've ever seen?" Liam paused and created an hour glass shape with his hands on the air and even threw in a sultry little wink.
"That's pretty obvious, isn't it? I'm not an idiot." I laughed and gave him a shove forward.

We picked up our pace, racing and shoving and tripping each other on our way to our common room.

Three hours later I sat on the floor with my back against my bed, the note lay open in my lap. I ran my hands up and down my thighs and drummed my fingers on my knees. I had been sending the perverse messages back and forth with Secret for a little over a month. For a week or so, she had made sure to send me at least one every day. I was beginning to think I might really get to meet her, soon.

***

Weeks passed aimlessly.

Draco's hand was soft and warm on Jamie's. He had a women's hands, but as the only son of the Malfoys you couldn't blame him. She never would have told him she thought this because she knew how he would react. Draco was often a little too sensitive to what people said.

They were sitting in a hall just outside the dungeons with Draco's oddly omnipresent fan club standing around us, gawking. He never actually told any of them that they were a couple – at least not while Jamie was around – it seemed his habit of pulling her into kisses at random intervals was enough of a declaration for them. They had never really liked her before, but when Draco tangled his fingers into hers it flipped a switch that turned her into some sort of queen. Silently, she wondered what they would do when Draco tired of her and she was demoted or maybe even abandoned.

"Leila, we're going to get some butterbeer later. Just us." Draco told her, though it seemed obvious that he was telling the others, as well.

She leaned her head on his shoulder and nodded. She was nearly a head shorter than him and enjoyed the difference. She seemed so small, or rather he seemed so large, it made her feel secure and protected. It was the only thing about Draco that felt safe.

***

I'm starting to fall for you, I think. I'm always thinking about you. I'm dying to know you in person. You seem so wonderful. I don't know what to do with myself. This feeling is insane.
Love,
Cedric

I read and reread the short letter and frustration burned an angry torrent in me. I bit the inside of my cheek and crumple the parchment. How can you tell someone you've never met that they are the most amazing person you know? Is it even possible to be in love with someone you haven't met? My mysterious little Secret was entirely brilliant.

I pulled out the box I had been using to keep her notes in and rifled through them. We head recently spent our time and spare parchment learning about each other.

I asked what house she was in at least five times before she gave in and told me she was a Ravenclaw.

When she asked why I liked Quittich so much, I told her how I loved the freedom of flying and how my dad thought my knack for it was going to be my glory. I didn't even tell Liam that much.

I asked if I had met her. She told me I had only spoken to her once before.

She wanted to know what I would change about my life if I could change anything. No one had ever asked that before. I told her that I want, more than anything, to feel as though I am more than just a trophy. She said she thought I was everything.

I had a few guesses at who Secret really was, but not a single one of them seemed to fit. I found myself watching the Ravenclaw girls during classes and glancing up every time I passed their colors. I imagined I would catch her writing a note one day. 'What's this?' 'Oh no!' 'So, you're Secret, huh?' 'Are you mad?' 'No. I am absolutely not mad.' I want you. God, I wanted her.

I plodded through Hogsmeade with a mood sour enough to infest Honeydukes entire stock with mold and age. I could hear a group of kids barking up a storm inside the three broomsticks. Just as I was passing the door flew open and the crowd burst out in front of me.

One stood out in particular attention. He was a third year who happened to be the seeker on the Slytherin team; Lucius Malfoy's son. At that moment he was drooling all over some poor girl who looked reluctant to be in his arms.

"Diggory! Look, Malfoy, it's Hufflepuff's seeker!" a boy standing near Malfoy yelled louder than he needed to

Malfoy seemed annoyed with the interruption while the girl whipped around to stare at me so fast she should have gotten whiplash. She was uniquely pretty, with a kind face and a long dark braid hanging over her shoulder. I wondered what any girl would want with a Malfoy.

"What are you doing alone, Diggory? Where's your team?" Malfoy snapped
I sighed to myself and shoved my hands into my pockets, "I don't need to have a bunch of people backing me up. I'm just taking a walk."
Malfoy ran a hand over the side of his hair, the pale blonde strands didn't need to be slicked down anymore than they already were. "Maybe your friends just got tried of you." He quipped and coiled his arm around the girl again. She was still staring at me. I couldn't understand her expression, but it unnerved me.
"At least I don't have to buy my friends." I called
That seemed to strike a chord. The boy moved as though for his wand and I set to take mine. The girl flinched and grabbed at Malfoy's arm.
"Draco, love, he's an idiot. You would let him riled?" she cooed, her voice was soft and feminine compared to her wretchedly pubescent counterpart. "C'mon, you said we could be alone today."

Malfoy glared venomously at me, glanced at the girl and turned. He shouted over his shoulder for his little pack of followers to leave him and the girl be. What would a girl like that want with Slytherin? Why would she want a Malfoy?

I went back to Hogwarts after that. My mood ruined to the point I didn't even want to be outside. As soon as I reached my room I spotted the note waiting for me on my bed.

I saw you in Hogsmeade just now. You're not the type to get in fights. You should keep your distance from Malfoy. He doesn't like people who go against his way. Slytherins are a nasty bunch.
Lustfully loving,
Secret

My spoiled mood brightened immediately with the words.

Are you worrying about me, then? It's alright, I can handle myself. What were you in Hogsmeade for?
Love,
Cedric

I waited impatiently for her return. The room seemed too big and too empty in times of waiting. I was really too hopeless.