AN: Alright! Okay, so I'm just really not happy with the last chapter. I had a bad case of writers block, and it was almost a week since I'd updated, so I went and quickly typed that up, hope it was alright!

And, I noticed it didn't get that many reviews, and I don't blame you! Although, there were a lot of alerts and favorites, so I thank you all for that!

I'm really excited, since I have the next chapter pre-written, that means quicker update for you guys! Sooo many alerts... again, thank you! And hello to any new readers!

creativewrtier17 and xXMizz Alec VolturiXx! Thank you, as always!

And Gamnut7, thank you for reviewing! Keep it up! Please?

Disclaimer: I'll probably never own HP, so Jo still has the rights.


Last chapter:

Suddenly his smile faded as he stared at something over my shoulder. I frowned and, thinking I'd done something wrong, asked, "Something wrong?"

"Are you sure you came here alone?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked slowly, trying to figure out his point.

He raised his arm and pointed to something behind me, "That bloke has been staring at you for the last few minutes."

I turned my head quickly, making a pain shoot up my neck, but at the moment I really didn't care. Across the street from the Three Broomsticks, Draco Malfoy was leaning against the brick wall of the bookstore, watching me.


I gaped at the slender figure leaning against the wall nonchalantly. In an instant, we locked eyes. Green met grey. A shiver went through my body, goosebumps beginning all down my arms.

I smirk played on his lips. I felt like melting.

I need to go to him. That thought blocked out all others, going front and center. I rose up off my stool and took a step toward the door, not taking my eyes off of the blond.

Outside, a large group of seventh year girls massed in front of the store, blocking him from view. I took more steps, steps away from the bar and the person I'd just met. I stretched out my hand, even though the door was still feet away.

Finally, the gaggle of girls moved on down the street, and Malfoy was gone.

I stopped, and let my hand fall back to my side. I looked out the window, up and down the street. But he had disappeared. Nowhere in sight. Gone.

I slowly went back to the bar. Josh sat there, a little miffed at my reaction, clearly wanting to know who the guy was and why I'd acted like that. I numbly sat down, grabbing my butterbeer and taking a large gulp, trying to clear my mind before remembering that butterbeer wasn't that alcoholic.

"Who was that guy?" Josh asked, irritation lacing his voice.

I held my glass between my hands on the counter, my gaze to the golden liquid and I mumbled, "No idea."

That night I stayed locked up in my dorm, lying on my back, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts were going a mile a minute, rebounding in my skull.

What's happening to me?

Why was he watching me?

Why am I feeling this way?

I kept asking myself those questions, over and over again. But I couldn't come up with an answer.

I groaned and stuffed a pillow over my face as I remembered that tomorrow we have classes. I couldn't hide from him forever. We were Potion's partners.

Okay, game time, Jennifer. Confrontation? No, I can't just go up and ask, "Oh, hey, Malfoy. Can you explain why you're stalking me so much lately? Oh, and while you're at it, can you stop being you for a couple seconds? I'm trying to figure out my complicated feelings for you."

Oh yeah, that would go great.

But what else can I do? Ignore him completely? Not possible. Not only are we Potion's partners, but, the farthest that I would admit right now, I was somewhat… attracted to him. At least physically. Let's hope it's only physically. But what else could I be attracted to him for? His sparkling personality? Ha!

I screamed into my pillow and sprang to my feet. I stared at the pillow clenched tightly in my trembling hands.

Why is this so difficult? Feelings shouldn't be this hard to decipher. Come on, happy, sad, mad. Those are easy. No, in depth, personal emotions have to be buried so damn deep that it takes so much not to cause an avalanche and cause them to be buried again. Damn!

With a frustrated yell, I lobbed the pillow at the wall. It hit with a thump and slid to the floor. I held my face in my hands and sat down on the edge of my mattress.

I am so confused.


The next day, I was rudely shaken awake by a frazzled Hermione, saying that I was going to be late if I didn't get up soon, panic in her voice. I groaned. Great, time to face my executioner, namely Malfoy. And worse, I was going to face the day's classes with an empty stomach. I quickly showered and get dressed, putting on my tie and shrugging into my robes.

I had to nearly run to make it to Charms on time. I could barely focus, and I found myself doodling a dragon into the notes I was supposed to be taking.

The rest of the classes weren't much better. And then came Potions.

I slipped into the room. I groaned when I saw the tall blond already at our table. I took a deep breath and slowly walked over and sat down. I kept my face turned toward the front, avoiding looking at the center of my battling emotions.

"Well, good day to you, too, Williams."

I let out an exasperated breath and turned my face toward him. Merlin forbid, was that- a smile?

Was that even physically possible?

I stared at him wide-eyed and made some sort of noise that sounded like, "Uhhhhhmm."

His smile instantly twisted into his infamous smirk, "What, Williams? Have I left you speechless?"

I shut my mouth and looked away, hiding the revealing blush that was slowly creeping up my neck.

He doesn't know how right he is.

I was spared any further torture when the door opened and Snape swept into the room, robes billowing behind him.

He assigned us the potion we were brewing that day, and I jumped up to get the ingredients before Malfoy could do or say anything.

I hurried across the room, entering the dark and musty ingredients cabinet. I quickly set to searching, rifling through the ingredients, looking for the ones we needed. I was grabbing some flobberworm mucus when I heard a cold voice to my left, "Well, well. Look what we have here. The golden girl, the Gryffindor mudblood."

I sighed, turning to face the pug-faced brunette, "What do you want Parkinson?"

She smiled sweetly, "Nothing, really. I'm just here to warn you."

"Warn me-" I was cut off when she shoved me into the cabinet door, her arm across my throat. I clawed at her forearm, which was blocking my airway.

"I'm warning you to stay the fuck away from Draco. He's mine," she hissed. I shoved roughly her away from me, gently massaging my neck and slowly finding my voice.

I sneered at her and said in a low, serious voice, "Well, Parkinson, you can have him. What even gave you the ridiculous idea that I want him? And, even if I did, last time I checked the gossip line, he dumped you half a year ago. What makes you think you can put a label on him, huh? Only clingy bitches get all freaky possessive like this."

Next thing I know, her fist collides with my face. I stumble backwards into the shelves opposite, clutching my nose with my hand. I feel blood drip from my nostrils and I surge toward Parkinson. I grab her hair and yank her out of the closet.

Most of the students in the room were gathered around us now, having heard the crashes of bodies colliding with shelves and vials of ingredients breaking.

She rammed her elbow hard into my stomach, causing me to double over. She tried to get away, but I still had a death grip on her hair, keeping her in place. She snapped back to place with a yelp, trying to pry my hands out of her hair.

I didn't hear the door t Snape's office open. I was too fueled by rage to notice anything except for the brunette who's hair was currently clenched tightly in my hand. With all the force I could muster, I shoved her to the stone floor.

"You want him? You can have him, bitch," I spat at her.

"What is the meaning of this?" came the low growl of the Potions Master.

I gasped and looked up, noticing for the first time the wide-eyed crowd gathered. I looked down and saw Parkinson trembling at my feet. Realization slowly trickled in.

What have I done?

I could only imagine what this must look like. Me, standing over a battered, trembling Parkinson, slightly panting, fists clenched at my sides, blood running down my face. I must look like a monster.

I was completely horrified by what I'd done. How could I let this happen?

Snape crossed his arms, glaring at me, "Mr. Nott, please assist Ms. Parkinson to the Hospital Wing." Theodore Nott hesitantly stepped forward and helped Parkinson off the floor, who flashed me a smug look before letting Nott support her weight and lead her through the crowd to the door.

Snape turned back to me, a cold sneer taking place on his features, "Now. Ms. Williams. I think that a detention is in order, as well as twenty points from Gryffindor for attacking a fellow student." I lowered my head, hands clasped tightly in front of me.

"Detention. Tonight. 8 o'clock. Here. Don't be late." I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, my eyes misting slightly. I was furious with myself. I had let Parkinson get to me. And even worse, she had won.

Snape dismissed the accumulated audience and strode back to his office, signalling for the class to continue with their potions. I slumped back to my seat, graciously taking the kerchief Harry held out for me. I sat down, wiping the half-dried blood from my face.

I could feel Malfoy's eyes on the side of my face. I spun around glaring at him, "Listen, Malfoy. I suggest that you keep your eyes on the cauldron. I don't want any more of your ex-girlfriends fighting your battles for you."

He shut up after that, surprisingly. We worked the remainder of class in silence. In fact, the entire class was silent, all except for the soft bubbling of the potions.

I couldn't have been happier when Snape finally dismissed the class. I quickly gathered my books and stuffed them into my bag as the rest of the class filed out the door, chattering and gossiping. I froze when I heard a familiar voice at our table.

"Well, Malfoy? What the hell was that about? Why did one of your Slytherin cronies attack Jennifer like that?"

"It wasn't my doing, Weasley. She acted completely of her own accord, I had nothing to do with it," Malfoy hissed.

I knew where this was heading, knowing Ron and his short fuse. I approached Ron, hands raised in a pleading gesture, "Ron, please. I don't want to start anything-"

"Too late," I heard Malfoy mumble.

"This git told Parkinson to attack you, Jen! I'm sure of it!"

"Ron! Please-!"

"I didn't do a damn thing, Weasley! Get your facts straight before you accuse me of anything!"

Ron launched himself at Malfoy, punching every part he could reach. Malfoy reacted fast, managing to block most of Ron's sloppy punches. He grabbed Ron by his red hair and kneed him in the stomach, causing Ron to double up. Malfoy pushed Ron to the ground and kicked him hard in the gut, shins, any part his foot could find.

"Stop it!" I cried, clutching my hair, sincerely afraid for my friend. Malfoy stopped, looking at me with troubled eyes, panting and clutching his side where Ron had landed a rather heavy punch.

Ron moaned from his position on the floor. I looked down at him, my breath coming in gasps. Snape appeared over my shoulder, "Mr. Malfoy! Although it brings me pleasure to see Weasley's hot head brought back to size, I still must give punishment. Perhaps you should join Ms. Williams here at 8 o'clock."

I gaped at the professor, silently begging him to not do this. He only sneered and said, "8 o'clock it is. Don't be late. Ms. Williams, take Weasley somewhere. I can't have him whimpering on my floor all day."

I glared at Snape before carefully helping Ron to his feet. I glanced at Malfoy, who was just standing there with his arms crossed, glaring at the stone floor. I led Ron from the room, taking him to the Hospital Wing before running to my dorm, and locking myself away, ashamed and extremely timid about my detention later tonight with Malfoy.


AN: Another chapter, hopefully better than the last! Again, so sorry. Darn writers block!

And I noticed that I'd gotten out of naming the chapters. I should probably fix that later...

Anyway, I watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes today. Mmmmm... Tom Felton :) I couldn't help but think, 'It's like Draco reincarnated into a tan slob who works at a primate sanctuary.'

Review! Thanks!