Draco held the trembling woman. He knew she needed to let the emotions out. He also couldn't blame her for not wanting to. She had always been a symbol of strength and leadership to her peers, but he knew the truth. He had been there the evening after her beloved pet died, holding her as she cried. He had also been there to see the worry in her eyes when Hagrid had been taken away to Azkaban. He still remembered how angry she was with him after the incident with Buckbeak the Hippogryff.

"I'm sorry," she moaned.

"Don't apologize," he countered. "I've seen every emotion that you hid from your friends. This is nothing." She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Remember all those evenings spent talking?"

"When I would tell you what I would never tell my friends?" He nodded. "How can I forget? You're the only one who knows how much everything affected me."

"Like when your pet died? You kept trying to hide how hurt you were. I could tell before classes were even done."

"We were twelve. I had taken care of Shadow since I was five." He kissed her forehead.

"Our first year, all I heard about was that stupid horse." She giggled, making his heart flutter. He leaned in and kissed her. "I will tell you this, it hurt like hell to see you cry."

"What about when I'm mad as hell," she asked.

"Anything aside from you smiling hurts," he answered. She smiled through the tears, and he couldn't help but kiss her again.

Then, she opened her mouth, allowing him to slide his tongue in to twist around hers. He graoned, hoping she wouldn't notice. They had kissed many times, but never like this. He felt her cling to him, and a wave of desire washed over him. He ran his fingers through her dark hair. His head began to spin, and he pulled away before he lost control. Her dejected whimpers reached his ears.

"Please," she begged.

"Not tonight, love," he answered. "Not tonight."

"If not now, when," she almost sobbed. He rested his forehead against hers. In truth, he wasn't sure. He couldn't explain how he felt, but for soem reason, everything felt off.

"I don't know, Serenity," he replied. "But when everything feels right, for both of us, I promise I'll go further." He could feel her quivering with need, and he decided he could at least give her some release. He gently unbuttoned her jeans and slid his hand down towards her heat.

"What are you doing," she questioned nervously.

"Just trust me," he whispered. He rubbed her through the cotton panties, and when she reacted just as he had hoped, he pushed his fingers under them and slid two fingers into her.

Her nails dug into his bare back. He grinned, pressing his thumb to her clit. She gasped and clung to him even tighter. He repeated the action, and after a few minutes, he felt her convulse under his touch. He pulled his hand away and stared at her sweating, exhausted form.

"Feel better," he intoned. She nodded, panting as her eyes met his. "Good. Now, lets get some sleep, love." He pulled her close and gently rubbed her back.


A few days later, he felt the desire rush over him again, but something still didn't feel right. He tried to hide it from her, but when she slithered her hand into his trousers and began stroking his manhood, he lost all discretion and allowed her to use her hand to pleasure him. He whimpered as he floated down from his climax. She kissed him, and he didn't hesitate to kiss her back.

"Merlin, Serenity," he murmured. "Could you be any more perfect for me?" She giggled at his words, causing his heart to flutter.


Two more days went by. Serenity was getting physically stronger each day. Draco could tell, though, that something was on her mind. He had tried to get her to talk about it, but she kept saying that everything was fine.

"No, it's not," he insisted when they laid down to go to sleep. "Something's on your mind, and if you don't tell me, I'm afraid I'll have to pour some veritiserum down your throat." She laughed half-heartedly.

"I was just thinking," she began, "what if Dad knew all along?" Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, and he brushed her hair out of her face.

"He wouldn't have done something like that to you, Serenity," he soothed. "You were his baby girl." In his mind, Draco knew she had made a good point. What if her father had known all along? What if he had been the one to set this up? Draco held her close as his thoughts ran circles in his head.

Suddenly, he noticed she was crying. He gently squeezed her.

"Serenity, it's ok," he cooed. "Don't cry, love." He whispered more soothing words in her ear. Before he could think, he was serenading her, like his mother used to do for him when he was just a child. Her sobs began to slow until they were simply hiccups.

"I never knew you could sing," she whispered. He very gently kissed her cheek.

"Not something I would want the rest of the world to know," he answered. "Since it's just the two of us, I figured it wouldn't hurt." She smiled at his words.

"You should sing more often," she stated softly. "You have a beautiful voice." He rested his head against hers.


The next morning, they packed up their things andleft the valley. She had agreed that he would pick the location, and he did.

"Hogsmead," she asked as they ducked into the Three Broomsticks.

"I couldn't think of anywhere else," he answered in a hushed whisper. "I figure if we're surrounded by people, they won't try to attack you." They sat in a dark corner, away from the strange stares. She stared at the wooden table.

"I want to go home," she murmured forelornly, "to Godric's Hollow. I want to see my parents graves." He grasped her hand and gently stroked her fingers.

"Are you sure, love," he questioned. She nodded, and let out a sigh of defeat. He had hoped that she would avoid their graves until she had completely come to terms with their deaths. "You already know what you'll see."

"But I want to see them up close," she insisted. "It might help me heal a bit." He kissed her cheek.

"We'll go tomorrow," he answered. "Once we've slept in a proper bed."