Draco woke up in a cold sweat inhaling shakily. He had not moved from the spot. The thing hadn't come back that night, but he wasn't sure how to feel about that. He felt more alone now than he was before. He ran his hands through his platinum hair letting his forehead rest on his knees. He replayed last night's debacle over and over in his head, recalling every detail of the kiss. It was so full of passion fueled even more by his desperate desire.

The thought of the thing excited him, but scared him beyond belief. He wondered if it would come back that night, preparing himself, mulling through his mind every possible outcome. Finally growing tired of his racing thoughts he got up and ran a cold shower. It would help calm him down for now. He stood under the shower head letting the water wash away all his thoughts and feelings.

Helena had already left when Harry woke up. He hated when she did that. It made him feel useless. He loved waking up having her beside him. It was a great way to start his day. He could watch her for hours as she slept. She did this frequently even though they had quarreled about it many times. Sometimes she could be unbelievably stubborn. He'd let this go though. It was too trivial a thing to argue over. Besides, the important thing was that he had her. He showered, put on his school uniform and headed down to the Dining Hall for breakfast. Ron and Hermione waved him over to the table. He glanced at the Slytherin table, but didn't catch sight of Helena. He sat down and started putting food on his plate.

"Have either of you seen Helena?" he asked Ron and Hermione.

"No, we haven't seen her at all actually," Hermoine said before taking a bite of her waffle.

Ron simply nodded in agreement, mouth full of various things. He took another glance at the Slytherin table and found someone else was missing, too. Draco and Helena were missing. He scanned the table three more times before finally believing it himself. They were both gone. Merely a coincidence, a part of him thought, but the other possibility ran rampant through his head as well. He stabbed at his food with his fork. [i]Where could she be?[/i] he thought.

He loved her with all his heart and was sure she meant it when she said she loved him, too. There was no doubt in his mind he adored Helena and would die for her in a heartbeat, but would she? Did she really love him just as much? Or was he simply the rebound that stretched on for nearly two years? He couldn't help but wonder all these things. He had been to pick up the pieces, but what happens when the problem is fixed? Did it not matter? Would she simply move on?

Ron snapped his fingers.

"Oi! Earth to Harry!"

Harry looked up.

"You okay, mate?" Ron asked filling his late with another mountain of food.

"Yeah," Harry smiled taking a bite. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She hopped on one leg trying to put her shoe on while simultaneously trying to brush her teeth. She was running late and would have no time for breakfast. Every time she spent the night at Harry she would overcompensate and sleep too late. He didn't seem to understand that. She understood completely how nice it felt to wake up with Harry by her side, but she couldn't do it every day. People would start catching on more than they already had.

She quickly spit out her toothpaste and brushed her hair before heading down to the Common Room. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she heard someone's footsteps in the Common Room. Draco stood in front of the fire his back to her. He was barely dressed although it was almost time for first lessons. She looked at him as she tried to cross the room completely unnoticed, but she couldn't help but notice him. He wasn't wearing a shirt. As he dried his hair with the towel his perfectly chiseled muscles flexed with every movement. His pants perfectly accented his waist. He threw the towel off to the side and then stretched as much as his body allowed him.

"I know you're there," he said in a barely audible whisper.

This snapped her out of her trance. So much for getting out of the Common Room unnoticed. She began to walk away, mad for letting herself become spellbound. Mad at him for knowing her too well. He walked after her grabbing her hand before she reached the portrait. He stared at her with those penetrating grey eyes. Today they were more grey than blue. She hated herself for noticing that. His eyes said it all.

Draco said everything with those eyes; those beautiful, tormented, endless eyes. He smirked knowing what he'd done. He knew what he was capable of and was confident of his abilities. It was one of the few redeeming qualities of his. She tried to break away from his gaze, but just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights, doomed to its fate.

"Humor me," he said after what seemed like forever.

She only looked at him. He took it as an open invitation to continue.

"Tell me that you love him," he said simply.

"Who?" she asked.

He pulled her up against him.

"Don't play dumb. You know full well who I'm referring to," he said silkily.

She stayed quiet, but answered after a moment.

"Yes," she replied. "Yes, I do love him."

He smiled cold, grey eyes twinkling. He chuckled. His sweet breath hit her face, captivating her for a moment.

"Now, do you love me?" he smiled again.

"No, of course not," she answered immediately.

He shook his head as he laughed quietly, platinum blond hair covering his eyes. He finally released her and started to walk back towards his room.

"What's so entertaining?" she called after him still rooted to the spot.

"The fact that you'd stay with someone you're unsure of rather than be with someone who you at least have sure feelings about. The first step to true love is denial," he said as he looked over his shoulder.

"Maybe in your sick and twisted reality," she said loudly.

"You know it's yours, too or else you wouldn't have let me ask you anything," he smiled and was out of sight.

She stood there, dumbfounded. Embarrassed knowing she had nothing to say back to that. He was right.