Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters, just the ones I've created. Their ownership is shared between Sgt Ducky and me. If you want to read more about Ella and the other Gryffindors see Sgt Ducky's story – it's this same world from the other side!

Author's Note: Hey guys sorry for the delay! Not quite as bad as last time right? Thanks for all the reviews and responses I've gotten so far! I really appreciate it. But you don't read these stories to hear me blab, so without further ado, the next chapter!

Chapter Ten – Wintery Adventures

Sometimes, late at night, I'll close my eyes and remember those times at school. Sometimes they intermingle with my dreams. When I wake up crying, I can't tell if it's from joy or sorrow. Probably both. So bright and warm. When she smiles, it's like someone turned on a light inside me. Her glow warmed me in a way no fire ever could. She was the sunshine in my cold existence. Every smile, every laugh, every happy memory is a treasure I keep locked safe in my heart. We spent our time hidden, away from the world, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. When I was alone with her…I could be myself. Instead of hiding, I was free.

After that day Draco and Avery started to spend more time together. In secret of course. Draco might have admitted to himself that he enjoyed spending time with Avery, but he wasn't ready to admit it to the world yet. Her social image continued to plummet as she spent time with Ella and the Gryffindor gang. Avery didn't mind though, all she really cared about was spending time with Draco. Well, her Draco. She'd come to categorize the different sides of Draco to better explain how he could be so different around her in different settings. There was her Draco, the one she grew up with and still spent time with her when they were alone, and then there was the other Draco that had sneered at her and now mostly just ignored her. Draco couldn't bring himself to spurn her publicly anymore, so to avoid it he just avoided her. Something, once he explained it to her, Avery agreed to go along with.

Winter was swiftly approaching the grounds of Hogwarts, coating the ground outside in layers of sparkling, white snow and freezing over the lake with thick, dark ice. The occasional student could be seen out ice skating in the areas that were safe enough, but more likely the wintery season was celebrated by an increasing number of snowball fights. Avery had a running theory that every snowball fight was actually secretly started by Fred and George. She just had no way to prove it. Yet. To avoid said fights, Avery spent a lot of time indoors or away from the general crowd if she did go outside. Of course if she ever went outside with Ella, Harry, and the group, all bets were off. Harry was a walking target for snowballs seconded only to his brother, Ron. Another reason Avery suspected the Weasley twins to be behind the attacks. Not that Avery minded the snow so much. She thought it was beautiful. But when you're soaking wet and freezing cold after being completely coated in snow or falling into a large pile of it, you begin to reconsider your love of the cold white stuff. The only person who was openly complaining about the snow was Kristy, who found the snow put a real damper on her fiery nature.

It was one of those rare weekends at Hogwarts where the sky was clear without a sign of a cloud in sight and fresh batch of snow lay on the ground, inviting to be trampled and scooped up. Since there weren't any classes, students were all outdoors playing around. Gryffindors and Slytherins being no exception. Avery trekked through the snow trying to contain her excitement as she approached the lake. He had promised to hang out with her today and teach her how to ice skate. When she saw a couple kids out on the ice she turned and walked along the edge of the lake, avoiding large piles of snow, hoping to find the more private section Draco had mentioned. Sure enough she reached a bend in the lake and around the other side there wasn't another soul in sight. After a minute she heard the crunching sound of crushed snow under boots that told her someone was approaching. She turned in time to come face to face with Draco.

"Hi," she said with a bright smile, eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Hi," Draco replied trying to hold back a chuckle. He lifted the pair of skates off his shoulder and dropped them onto the ground. "So you really don't know how to skate?"

Avery shook her head. "I moved when I was a little girl remember? I went somewhere where ice skating wasn't exactly a common recreational sport. Not to mention my parents would never have let me out on ice," she replied.

"I'm a little worried about that myself. Did you wear enough layers? Are you cold?" Draco asked in concern. Avery smiled and nodded. She was happy he was worried over her and more than a little flattered, but not even the blonde haired Slytherin would stop her from going out on that ice.

"I'm fine Draco, really," she replied and picked up her own pair of skates from around her shoulders.

Draco sighed and smiled. He must be going soft. Draco Malfoy didn't worry about others. And he certainly didn't let a girl win an argument. But this was Avery they were talking about and more and more he was beginning to see that despite everything, she was getting under his skin. He sat down on the bank of the lake and untied his boots to pull on his skates. Avery sat down beside him and mimicked his actions. Soon both had their skates tied on to their feet. Awkwardly Draco got to his feet. Once he was balanced he slid out over the ice and turned back to Avery.

"Need some help?" he asked, skimming back over.

"No I've got it," Avery replied and tried to push herself up onto her feet only to go falling backwards, arms flailing, back into a pile of snow. She grunted at the impact and brushed a bit of snow off her knee with a pout. Draco tried. He really honestly tried not to laugh. But he couldn't help himself and burst into laughter, holding his sides. Avery peeked up at him with shy embarrassment. Slowly a smile spread across her face as she watched him laugh. His cheeks grew red and his eyes sparkled brighter than any star she'd watched in the sky. She liked it when he laughed. She only wished he did it more.

"Was it that funny?" she asked as he skated over and offered her a hand.

"It was cute," he replied and pulled her gently to her feet once she took his hand. Avery wobbled but managed to keep her balance with her arms straight out on either side of her. Now she was more focused on her feet than his face, otherwise she probably would have blushed.

"Okay….now what?" she asked. Draco offered his hands to her again. After a moment she looked up at him when he was silent and this time did blush. Slowly she placed her hands in his and felt the secure warmth of his touch. He held her hands tight as he began to skate backwards, pulling her along. Avery struggled between focusing on her feet to make sure they stayed under her and getting utterly distracted by Draco. He even made ice-skating handsome. He smiled to her.

"Think you've got it?" he asked. Draco didn't wait for her answer though, and let go of her hands, sliding away from her.

"What? No wait!" Avery gasped, flailing her arms around her again trying to keep her balance as she continued to skim across the ice. "Draco that's not fair!" She could hear him laughing even though he was out of sight.

"How do you stop these things?" she demanded as she continued at a steady pace towards a bank piled high with snow. Suddenly warm hands rested lightly on her waist, steering her away from the bank of snow. She gasped and felt her face grow warm again.

"If it came to sinking or swimming, you'd sink, Avery," Draco teased lightly. He was so playful today Avery could barely keep up. The more relaxed he became around her, the more he took her breath away. She was becoming dangerously in trouble of falling in love with him.

"Hey now, I'm still on my feet aren't I?" Avery retorted, attempting to keep her mind focused on the task at hand – remaining on her feet.

"Only because I'm holding you up," Draco retorted.

"Oh yeah?" Avery asked.

"Yeah," he replied with a smile that she could hear in his voice even though she couldn't see.

"Well check me out now." Avery pulled away from him, beginning to get the concept of how to move her legs to keep skating and remain on her feet. She began to pick up speed and soon was zipping across the ice, a feeling of freedom building in her chest that she'd never felt before. She wanted to yell. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to throw her arms out and bask in the sunlight on her face and the bright laughter bubbling inside her chest.

Draco watched Avery skate with a smile. His childhood companion was practically glowing with pride. She had always been a fast learner and this was no exception as she skated across the lake, steadily gaining momentum. It wasn't until a few minutes had passed that he remembered something she had shouted at him. She had no idea how to stop. She changed directions and was now speeding towards him…and the bank.

"Avery watch out!" he held up his hands to stop her.

"Draco!" her eyes had widened with panic as she realized she was on a one way crash course towards the ground. She sped past him and grabbed onto the only thing she could reach, his hand. With a jerk he turned and started skating beside her, caught off-guard by her momentum. His weight caught her off balance and she felt herself toppling towards the ground even before her skates left the ice. Draco yanked on her arm, pulling her towards him just before the crashed into the snow bank.

Avery found herself, instead of lying on a pile of icy snow, lying atop a very warm body, snow gathered around them. She looked down to find she had fallen on top of Draco and turned redder than strawberry. Draco blinked, taking in their new state and burst into laughter. After a moment it caught and Avery began to laugh too. She managed to sit up and roll to the side, collapsing in the snow beside Draco as their fit of giggles continued. It was minutes before either could speak again.

"I think we've tested our luck with skating enough today." Draco chuckled and brushed the snow out of his hair. He hadn't felt so mirthful in years and he couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun. Slowly but surely he was growing more and more relaxed around Avery and allowing himself to enjoy himself around her.

Avery smiled to him. "I think you're right," she agreed and flopped back in the snow. "We should call it a day. Lunch will be soon anyways I think."

Draco shifted to look at her. Her light blonde hair looked darker in contrast with the snow and her eyes seemed to reflect the same color as the sky. Her cheeks were bright red from laughter and the cold. She looked so different from the little girl in his memory crying because she was sickly and going away. This girl looked so much more alive. And in a sense she was. Now she was actually getting to live, to experience things and do things, where before she'd been confined to a bed. A feeling was growing in his heart, a feeling he was entirely unaware of yet, that told him secretly that he wanted to share more moments like this with her. He wanted to see her live.

A.N.2: A very corny end to the chapter, but it was a corny, cutesy chapter anyways. I hope you guys enjoyed a little fluff! You could say this was the beginning of the ice around Draco's heart beginning to melt. ;) Haha. Hopefully I will have the next chapter up soon! I promise!