I paced the floor of the Astronomy Tower, slightly agitated. I'd gone up there just after I'd finished eating, telling Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle that I would be in the library finishing a Potions essay. As if I needed to make excuses to them. I simply didn't want them accompanying me.

But where was Greyson? I hadn't actually counted on her not showing up. She was so damned curious, I was positive she would come. But what if she didn't? What was I to do then?

I continued to pace, wondering, also, what I would say to her. I'd begun trying to piece together different scenarios in my mind.

"Greyson, there's something I need to say."

"Just save it, all right? I don't want to hear about how I'm such a nasty blood-traitor. If you really hate me that much, then stop trying to get me alone."

"But that's just it. I don't hate you."

"Ha! That's rich! And here I was, thinking you were going to try and hex me. What, are you going to tell me you love me now, too?"

"Actually-"

"No. Stop right there. You'll never be good enough for me, Malfoy. You're never going to get me. Accept that and leave me alone."

Granted, the scenarios I thought of never actually ended in her accepting the way I felt. I just needed to tell someone of what I was constantly thinking about. I'd even considered buying a love potion from those two Weasley twins, Bob and Steve, or whatever their names were. But I'd quickly disregarded the idea on several occasions, knowing it would be wrong to force her to love me. And I knew she'd never actually come out and say I would never be good enough for her. She was the sort of person who just kept believing that one day a person could change, that their good side would be brought to life.

I paused by one window and looked out at the quickly darkening sky, breathing in the cool evening air. I closed my eyes and tried to picture her in my mind, the way her red hair was so long and smooth and shiny, the way her eyes were brown with flecks of gold, and the way they sparkled. Her smile, white and straight, with smooth pink lips. Her freckles that were scattered over her nose and cheeks. I smiled a little, thinking about her beauty.

"Yep. I knew it would be you."

I turned to see Greyson standing there, looking prettier than any image I could conjure up in my mind. For a moment, I blanked and couldn't think of words to say. Then, "Greyson. Good. You're here."

She folded her arms, looking mildly irritated. "Yes. Mind telling me why?"

Here goes, Draco. Now or never. "I – I wanted to talk to you. A – about..." I trailed off, not knowing how to begin. I looked at her expectant face and summoned my courage. "I'm sorry about how Pansy treats you." Moron! Moron! Why are you making this about Parkinson?

Greyson narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"Why?" I asked incredulously. "Because she doesn't need to do that. You don't deserve it, and she's not even funny anyway."

She wrinkled her adorable nose. "I don't deserve it?"

"No, Ember, you don't. You never did anything to her until she started being horrible."

There was silence for a moment. "You just called me Ember." she whispered in surprise.

"That is your name, isn't it?" I asked nervously, hoping I wasn't wrong.

"Yes, it is. But you always call me Greyson."

"That's also your name, isn't it?"

"Yes, but – Look, I don't think you understand. You never call anyone by their first name. Ever." she said.

"Well, yes, I did get a little tired of Greyson, seeing as the name is mentioned around my house all the time." I said.

Anger crossed her face and suddenly I was pinned against the wall next to the window. "Never mention my parents again, got it? I don't need reminding that they're Death Eater scum."

I nodded calmly. "You have no idea how often I want to say that."

Her expression turned confused, but she still held me to the wall. I couldn't help but notice how the moonlight shined across her face. "But...you pretty much worship Voldamort, I thought."

I shook my head. "Not me. My father, yes. My mother, maybe. My aunt, well, I think she sleeps with him."

She snorted then, an odd expression coming over her face. It was something between relief and understanding, a tiny smile tugging at her mouth. "So...you're not going to become a Death Eater?"

An uncomfortable feeling crept over me. "No." I lied. "I'd never do that."

She let go of my shoulders and took a step back as I straightened my robes. "Well, Draco. It seems there's a lot I don't know about you."

The corner of my mouth lifted up in a small, confused smile. "You just called me Draco."

"That is your name, isn't it?" she retorted with a smirk. She walked over to the window and looked out over the grounds. "So what else don't I know about you?"

I took a deep breath, still leaning against the wall next to the window and looking the opposite way from her. "I insult you as a cover."

Her smile slipped, but she didn't look at me. "You...what?"

"I covered for you in Potions the other day. Didn't you wonder why? Or when I yelled at Pansy for taunting you?"

She looked confused, but she still didn't look at me. "Why?"

"Why do you think?" I asked. I'd moved away from the comforting wall, and now all I had left was to move forward. I reached over and gently pulled her chin towards me. She turned, her face full of bewilderment. I moved slower, hoping she'd understand what I was about to do and stop me. If I did kiss her, then everything would change drastically for both of us. But at the same time, I didn't want to stop. By this time, she was turned all the way towards me, her back against the window sill. Hesitantly and slowly, I leaned in. About halfway there, she realized what I was doing. All confusion left her features, and her eyelids drooped a little. She tilted her head up towards me. She wanted this. Somehow, she was about to kiss me of her own will.

And then it happened.

The feel of her lips on mine was nothing like what had occurred in my dreams. The way her body felt as she pressed against me was unlike any other girl. I leaned her slightly out of the window as I held onto her waist, keeping her close to me.

Suddenly, she pulled back with a gasp. "Oh, my God! Did we just-"

"What? What's wrong?" I asked as I took in her horror-struck face.

She pulled out of my grasp and somehow made her way back into the main part of the tower, her hand on her mouth. "I can't believe I just snogged Draco Malfoy!"

My heart plummeted. "Well, it's not like you did anything to stop it." I mumbled.

She shook her head. "This is bad. This is so very, very bad. I have to go."

"Ember, wait!" I called as she took off towards the stairs.

"Uh-uh. No. Don't you dare follow me."

And just like that, the most amazing girl I'd ever kissed was gone.

. . .

The next day in Potions, I tried to catch Ember's eye. She, though, was pointedly refusing to look at me. I sighed and returned to my potion, making Parkinson give me an odd look. "What's wrong, Draco?" she asked in a baby voice.

I sighed again, not having the patience to deal with her. "Nothing." I grumbled, crushing up a dried root and tossing the powder into the cauldron.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" she asked, her voice strangely suggestive.

"No, no I can't." I told her, removing the arm she'd snaked around my shoulders. "Please, continue to concentrate on your potion, and don't mind me."

She pouted. "Oh, Draco, why are you so difficult?"

"I'm difficult?" I asked incredulously. "What about you? You can never let anyone keep their business to themselves, you constantly act as though you're above everything, and your face looks like a pug's. You're always on my case about everything, and you're so involved in being stuck-up and gossipy you can't see that I don't like you!"

For the first time, I saw Pansy look sad. Her eyes welled with tears, and her already scrunched-up face scrunched up even more. She grabbed her bag and dashed out of the dungeon, sobbing. I closed my eyes and shook my head in irritation. Why must every girl run from me? Granted, Pansy was someone I wanted to run from me, but not so the entire class could see. Fortunately, Snape turned a blind eye, as usual, so I was able to continue with my potion as though nothing had happened.

Suddenly, Snape announced to the class that he would need to be stepping out for a moment. "And I hope all of you will behave yourselves. If not, there will be...unfortunate consequences." With that, he swept from the room. Not five seconds later, the class hummed with whispered conversation.

"So you can't limit your nastiness to yourself, can you, Malfoy?" Potter called from across the room. I decided not to turn, for he was hardly worth my notice.

"Of course he can't." I heard Ember say lowly. "What do you think he's taught at home? Respect for others' boundaries? Not likely."

I turned in my seat to see her looking at me with a meaningful expression. I said nothing, preferring to not make things worse for myself.

"It's probably because his parents are murdering Death Eaters." Potter said, rather bravely, I'll admit.

"You watch your mouth, Potter." I said in a low, dangerous voice. "Wouldn't want you going to the hospital wing in a match-box, would we?"

"I knew it." Ember snorted, and I could feel myself going pale. "I knew you'd succumb to the bait, no matter what. You're despicable." She shook her head and picked up her bag as the clock announced the end of class. I tried not to show my hurt as she flew past me. She'll never know how hard I try for her. She'll never see how much I want to be the man she deserves. But I want her so badly, sometimes I don't care who I am, as long as she'll look at me without distant pity or burning hatred. She'll never love me.