Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine…

"So." Nessa started that night, as I was trying to sleep. "The potion didnt work."

"Shut up Nessa." I snapped. I had known this conversation was going to come up sooner or later, but I really didnt want to talk about it. At all. Ever.

I actually heard Nessa smirk. "I wonder in Draco's worked. He didnt say much at dinner."

"Nessa!" I said through my clenched teeth. I really didnt want to talk about this.

Nessa laughed, obviously thinking it was a joke. "Just admit it, Ebony. Admit it and I'll leave you alone."

I sighed, then quietly muttered, "I love Draco."

Nessa smirked once agian. "Sorry. Didn't catch that."

I scowled in the darkness, hating my best friend at the moment. "I love Draco."

Nessa squealed loudly and I saw her jump up, staring at me. "Yay!"

"Yeah yeah." I groaned, then told her to go to sleep. She sighed, lying back on the matress, and I listened as her breathing became steadier. I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Draco's face. Did his potion work? And if it didnt, that didnt mean it was because he was in love with me. He could be in love with...Parkinson. The thought made me choke. That was gross. Though, I do think Draco dated her at one point- Still, really gross.

After another hour of not being able to turn my mind off, I finally gave up and headed down to the common room.

I walked in, then stopped when my eyes met a pair of grey ones.

"What are you doing up?" Draco asked me quietly, looking back at the fire.

"I couldn't sleep." I said, moving to sit by him on the couch. I grabbed the blanket at the end, curling it aroudn me. "You?"

"Just thinking."

We sat in silence. I watched Draco out of the corner of my eye. He looked different tonight. Not as hard as usual. Like whatever he was thinking about- was something he actually cared about.

"What?" Draco finally asked, turning to look at me with a small smirk on his face.

"Nothing." I told him softly, not wanting to give away what I had been thinking. "What are you thinking about?"

Draco was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly. "My family. Anna...you."

I bit my lip and frowned, not sure if that was a good thing or not. "What about me?"

Draco just shook his head, then sighed as his eyes closed. "It's just a lot."

"What is?"

"My mother. She's been so out of it since father...and now she seems so happy. And, it's just hard. I love Anna. The only person I have ever loved was my mother...and now..." He sighed again, then turned his eyes to me fiercely. "Merlin, Ebony. I just found out about Anna a month ago. I love her. And now you-"

He broke off and returned his gaze to the fire.

"Draco-" I started, my throat suddenly dry. "What happened when you took that potion?"

He stood quickly, the hard expression back on his face. "I really don't think that's any of your-"

"Mine didn't work." I cut in, hoping so see some expression on his face. Anything that said he understood what I meant. "At all."

He stared at me. I stared back. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Are-are you saying you love me?"

I swallowed hard, then nodded. Draco stared at me, his face completely impassive. I started to grow more and more nervous as he just stood there.

Then he said the three words that changed my life forever.

"The potion worked." He met my eyes straight on. "The potion worked for me. I don't love you."

His words slammed into me. He didn't love me. My eyes slowly started to fill with tears, tears I fought back. "Fine." I cleared my throat, looking toward the stairs. "That's that then."

Draco moved forward to touch my arm. "Ebony-"

"Don't touch me." I moved out of his reach, tears streaming down my face. Well, there goes what Slytherin pride I have left. "I'll see you tomorrow." I said quickly, heading up the stairs.

What I didn't see was Draco put his own head in his hands and slowly sink down onto the couch.