-Chapter 7-

It stared when she walked into the Great Hall that morning, her eyes casually drifting over towards the Slytherin table, trying to catch a glimpse of the blonde-haired, silver-eyed boy in her dreams. She spotted him almost instatnly, her heart fluttering slightly at the sight of him laughing at his friends joke, she would feel a flush come across her face once she noticed what she was doing, and then turn back to Hermione and Ron's conversation and trying despretly to figure out what they were talking about before they asked for her imput.

It had been happening for the past 2 weeks, and it seemed to become a daily part of her routine, finding Draco Malfoy. Some mornings he wouldn't enter the hall till after her, and those mornings she found herself cranking her neck everytime the doors opened, much to Hermione's annoyance.

"Are you waiting for someone to come through those doors?" she would asked, a pointed look at her friends flushed face, "You have been doing this for the last 2 weeks Ally, what is going on?"

"Nothing!" Ally hissed, her face blushing an even darker red.

Hermione looked like she was about to continue on with her qustioning, when Neville came stumbiling into the table.

"You all right Neville?" Ally asked, her hand shooting out to steady the clumsy boy, silently thanking the boy for the distraction.

Sighing, Neville slumped down onto the bench, "This Defense project is going to be the end of me!" he commplained, barley suppressing a shudder, "Blaise is horrid, and is always talking about somebody in some house and the pranks he has done on them!"

"More like beats them!" Ron muttered to Ally under his breath, causing her to let out a giggle.

Hermione shot the two an annoyed look, "Don't worry Neville, it won't be so bad, Christmas Break will be here before you know it!"

Ally's eyes started to linger over Hermione's head towards a pair of silver eyes, that odly enough were looking directly back. Her breath hitched slightly, and her face instantly flushed.

She had been noticing this latley, how the twos eyes seemed to always catch, and she couldn't remember a time before their detention that that had ever happened, and it was very unnerving.

"Ally?"

Her eyes snapped away, her head turning to stare at Neville in confusion, "WHat Nev, I'm sorry I must have zoned out."

"Hows Malfoy and yours project going?"

Ally fought to keep a straight face, "It's going."

Ron snorted.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Neville just looked sympathetic.

And Ally just looked flustered.

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"You're late."

Ally let out a sigh as she threw her book bag against the ground, trying to catch her breath as she leaned against the desk, casting a small glare to the other occupant in the room.

His tall muscular figure was leaning casually against the wall, hands crossed across his chest, looking cool, calm, and collected, and reaking of the arrogance that only a Malfoy can pull off.

"As you have pointed out every other day of this project, I am always late." she pointed out, running a hand through her wind blown hair.

"Why?"

Ally looked up in confusion.

Rolling his eyes he continued, "Why are you always late?"

Shrugging as she started to pull her books and notebooks out of her bag she looked up with a sparkle to her eyes, "My friends."

Draco wanted to gag at the comment, "Weasel and Mudblo- Granger are that important?"

Ally glared, but didn't say anything as he quickly corrected himself, "They're my best friends." she said simply, shrugging again, "I don't want to miss out on moments that I think I can't get back."

Draco stared at her in surprise at the honest answer he received. It was honest, and sweet, and simple just like Ally was. He knew how much her friends meant to her, Merlin anyone in the world could see how much those two meant to her.

"Ready?" she asked, sliding onto one of the bar stools that were next to Draco's work table.

Nodding he sat down across from her, watching her as her eyes read through her notes.

"So we have to research none violent defense spells." she explained.

Draco snorted across from her, smirking as her eyes caught his, "What's the point of that?"

Ally rolled her eyes back, "Violence isn't always the answer Malfoy, sometimes people don't know what they are doing when they are attacking you."

"You think they don't know what they are doing?" he grunted out, "Potter you are more naive then you look."

Narrowing her eyes, Ally pursed her lips, " Imperio."

Draco just shook his head clearly still not understanding the point of a non violent defense spell.

The two worked for about an hour in silence, the only sound was of scribbling of words on parchment paper and their breathing.

Draco finished first, pushing his papers to the side and taking up his new obsession, Potter watching as he had taken to calling it.

Potter watching was simple, it required just that, Potter watching. Draco wasn't stupid, he was raised in a group of people where you had to watch and observe people without that person knowing. Potter was beautiful, there was no denying that, and Draco didn't think he had ever heard a boy say other wise. What captured Draco's attention though was her attitude, she was always laughing, always happy, and for someone who had the weight of the world on their shoulders, she was the most down to earth person he knew. Her loyalty was something to admire too, her friends and family she would do anything for, they were her life, and Draco found himself jealous that he wasn't apart of that.

"This project is boring." Draco grumbled as she continued working.

"It's not that bad, remember last year when Umbridge had us studying about the lumos spell all year?" Ally said, straightening as she started to mimic her Umbridge voice, "There is no need to practice spells when you can ready about them!"

Draco smirked at her, "That toad face's class was a waste of my life that I can never get back."

"What are you talking about, I thought you just loved Umbridge with that squad you joined!"

Draco scoffed, "That was to make a point."

"You do love to be the king of everything don't you." Ally said, rolling her eyes in amusement, "All your titles are king something."

"I'm surprised you know all my titles."

"It's hard not too."

"They are all true." he grinned as the flush crossed her face, knowing exactly which one she was thinking of.

It was a well known fact that Draco was the king of Slytherin, the king of his friends, and the king in the bedroom. His reputation started around 3rd year, with girls practically throwing themselves at him for once night with him. He enjoyed his titles, and he enjoyed that it appeared Potter had heard them too.

Ally blushed and looked down at her book, trying to concentrate on her readings.

Draco knew Ally's reputation too. Perfect Potter, loyal, somewhat studious, always mischievous. Everybody loved Potter, even though she had her select close friends, she was always friendly to everyone. She only had a few boyfriends that he could recall, and only one of them lasted for a long time, and if rumors were true, which they normally had some truthfulness in them when they spread around Hogwarts, the idiot had cheated on her. Since then he hadn't heard of any new guys in her world, and from his understanding, Potter was a virgin. A virgin that any guy would love to claim.

He watched her carefully as her eyes scanned her book, he knew he had somehow gotten himself intertwined in Potter's life, that day in the Ministry started that. He hated to admit it, but there were no other way to look past it, he liked Potter, and he wanted her to himself. That's why since school started, Draco had set about making Potter uncomfortable, feeling her out when he spoke. And unless he was wrong, which Malfoy's were never wrong, Potter liked him too. He would claim her soon enough, because what a Malfoy wants a Malfoy gets.

"Potter?"

Her blue eyes that were scanning a book looked up, locking onto his silver ones, and he hide a smile as the small blush broke out across her face.

"You done?"

She nodded, biting her lip slightly, which Draco found quite attractive. Closing her book, and paper pad she started gathering her belongings, dropping a few books in the process.

Sighing dramatically, Draco bent down and picked a few up, inspecting the picture that was on one of them.

It must be one from the summer, it was Potter with her Golden Trio friends and a few more Gryffindor's, smiling and laughing about something, Potter was grinning and had Weasel's arm thrown around her shoulder, while hers was around Grangers.

Ally stood fidgeting in front of him, clearly waiting for him to hand over her book.

"Your friends." he said, placing the book in her hand.

"Yes."

"You're close to them."

Ally nodded, stuffing the remaining books into her bag, "I imagine much like Crabbe and Goyle are to you."

Draco scoffed, "They aren't my friends, they are more like goonies I have do my dirty work."

"Well you must have friends, you're Draco Malfoy the king of Slytherin, they practically worship the ground you walk on."

Draco smirked at the comment, "Clearly."

Ally rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically as she placed her bag across her shoulder, "Who are your friends, and I mean real friends, not your so called goonies."

"Blaise, Pansy, Theo." he stated, watching her carefully.

Pursing her lips, Ally and didn't say anything, it wasn't her business that all three of those were known Death Eater supporting families, but for some reason it bothered her knowing those were his friends. NOt that it should matter.

"They aren't." was all he said.

Ally knew what he meant, and couldn't hide her surprised face, and was horrified to find herself blushing. How easily he could make her feel out of control. He always seemed to know what she was thinking, and it really unnerved her.

"Good." she squeaked out, blushing more at the sound of her voice.

Why it mattered she wasn't quite sure, but it did, and it made her feel a sense of relief.

The two stood in an awkward silence, that seemed to only bother Ally, as Draco always looked in control.

"You look good in that picture." he stated, "The one with your friends."

Ally blushed even more if possible, "Thanks."

Malfoy seemed to enjoy making Ally blush, and his grin only widened as the blush continued.

He swung his bag over his shoulder, striding towards her spot frozen in front of the door.

His smell intoxicated her whole surrounding as he passed her.

Hot breath on her neck had her shivering as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"You look sexy when your flustered Potter." he whispered, enjoying the shiver that swept across her body, standing up straight he continued to the door. "See you tommorrow Scar Head."

Ally leaned her forehead against the now closed door, trying to settle her fast beating heart, and her shaking figure.

Once she had finally entered the Gryffindor common room, she found herself plopping down next to Ron, sighing dramatically as she lifted her feet onto his lap.

"Tough time with Ferret Face?"

Ally blushed again, hiding it with her hands as she rubbed her face and nodded.

"Don't worry Ally, it can't be worse than Neville's, Zanzabi and he got 2 months detention for some prank Zanzabi pulled, really unfair actually, as Neville didn't even do anything."

Ally giggled at Hermione's disapproving tut from next to the fireplace, and Neville's groan.

The group chatted for a while longer before heading to bed.

Ally climbed into her bed, sighing in content as her head hit the pillow.

"Are you okay Ally?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Yes why?"

"You seem flushed and quite since getting back from your project, did something happen?"

"No!" Ally answered, maybe too quickly, because she heard the rustling of sheets as Hermione sat up. "I mean nothing besides Malfoy's annoying arrogant comments, but I feel fine, just don't think I got a lot of sleep last night."

Hermione's sheets settled again once she laid down, "Alright."

Ally let out a sigh of relief.

"Ally?"

Wincing, Ally answered, "Yeah?"

"Is something going on with you?"

Her heart sped up a bit at the question, because how could she answer that truthfully. She was dying to express her feelings, but she wasn't even sure what those were herself, so how could she express that to Hermione.

"What do you mean?"

She could practically hear Hermione rolling her eyes at the statement.

"You have been acting strange lately."

Ally pursed her lips, trying to come up with a reason for her actions.

"Are you still upset about your Dad?"

Ally could have screamed with glee at the statement, "Yeah."

"Oh Ally."

She only felt a slight remorse for lying to her best friend, but until she figured out what was going on she wasn't going to go confessing about that.

"It's okay 'Mione, I'm tired I'm going to sleep, goodnight."

She could tell Hermione had so much more to say but stayed silent.

"Night Ally."

Ally sighed in relief, and rolled over, burying herself in her comforter.

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"What's got you smirking?" Pansy asked as she saw her best friend with a grin plastered across his face.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit, something clearly has you pleased." she pointed out, glaring as a few first years passed by and stared.

Draco just smirked, resting back in his armchair and staying silent.

"Well don't hold out on us Malfoy." Theo said, closing his book for the night.

"Isn't it clear?" Blaise said from his spot on the couch, "He's got himself a girlfriend, or almost does."

"Oh so I was right a few months ago, somebody has captured your attention." Pansy squealed, ignoring all three boys as they glared at her.

"Stop acting like a Hufflepuff Pansy, show your Slyhterin decor!" Theo growled from next to her.

Pansy just rolled her eyes as she jumped up, "Who is it Draco, we an help you get her!"

Draco scoffed, "I don't need anybody's help to get a girl."

The two boys laughed at his clear arrogance, and knew that there was truth in that saying.

"You are going to meet you match one day Draco," Pansy commented as she cast him a knowing look, "I'm going to bed."

The three boys muttered their goodnights, and stayed down a bit longer.

"So going to tell us who this girl is?" Blaise asked curiously.

Draco grinned to himself, making sure to keep that blank expression on his face, "None of your concern."

"Scared of a little competition?"

Draco threw the two an annoyed look, "What is this the Hufflepuff common room, is the next thing we are going to do is talk about our feelings and hold hands?"

His two friends looked at him in horror at the mer thought, and he smiled to himself at the clear distraction. After all it was none of his friends business what was going on with him and Potter.

Because there was going to be a Potter and him, he just knew it.