Disclaimer:: I no own Degrassi or Harry Potter. *weep*

A/N: Forgive me if this goes much too fast or the events seem overwhelmingly OOC. I really try my best.

Chapter 10: Battlefield

When I had managed to get out of Hermione's reach I hurried back to where I had left Clare. When I was close enough to see her though, I had a little surprise waiting for me.

Draco Malfoy was sitting right beside her and she seemed to be laughing at something he'd said. To top it all off, when . I took a better look, I saw that he was holding her hand. I didn't want to screw things up by acting jealous when I had no right to so I just took a breath and kept my cool as I walked to them.

"I see you have company!" I said to Clare.

Instead of her little voice, it was Draco's who answered.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" he teased.

"Sure. Mind if I join?" I didn't wait for an answer and sat right smack in the middle of them causing them to have to let go of each other and move over. I gave Draco a goofy grin and turned to Clare. "I almost lost my arm to a carnivorous plant. Would you help me out here? I really suck at healing to be honest." I pulled up my left sweater sleeve to reveal the blood stained white sleeve of my button down shirt. She gasped and gently reached to pull up the stained fabric.

Her slight touch sent pleasant chills up my arm.

"Eli!" her eyes widened and she started to get up quickly without letting go of my arm.

I had a pretty gruesome gash in my forearm which hurt awfully. I figured it'd be smarter, or more beneficial to my personal gain anyway, if I waited a bit and went to Clare before Madame Pomfrey. It absolutely paid off. Even if I had to strain a lot not to contort my face in pain.

"Come on we have to get you to Madame Pomfrey!" She urged me to get up. Of course, I had to play the more macho part before giving in.

"It's really not that bad Clare. Calm down." It was really starting to drive me crazy though and I slowly started to try and get up so as not to make any sudden movements that might make it worse.

"Eli Goldsworthy get your ass up now!" she yelled furiously.

"I love it when you talk like that!" I laughed.

"Don't mind him Clare. He's probably too much of an idiot to realize he might actually lose it if he doesn't hurry up" Draco offered.

"See? Even he knows it! Come on Eli" Clare said. She actually looked scared now. But the fact that she listened to him really ticked me off. Fully up now, I had to resist the desire to step on him like the bug he was.

"You know you wish it were you Malfoy. Don't deny it." I flashed him a mischievous grin before finally allowing Clare to drag me to the infirmary.

"Do you two always have to get into an argument?" she fumed.

"Yeah, I guess so. You should see how fun it is though." I gave her a smile but the only thing visible in her face was concern. It meant she actually cared about me and that was all the consolation I needed.

She let go of my hand as she said, "I'm afraid I might break it or something. Just hold it to your chest like if you had a cast or something."

I pulled my arm up against my chest and took her hand with my uninjured one.

"You didn't have to come with me you know?" I said. Inside though, I was actually thinking Of course you did. That was the whole point really.

We remained quiet the rest of the way while I held her hand for comfort. When we reached the infirmary she told me to sit in one of the beds while she went to get the old woman. Madame Pomfrey came fussing about Professor Sprout's clumsiness with students as I tried to tell her that I'd gotten my injury all alone. She ignored me of course and got to work.

If I had thought that the wound was awfully painful then I had been proved wrong. Apparently the plant had a certain kind of poison which couldn't be taken out magically. Madame Pomfrey had to do it manually and it hurt like hell. Clare just sat next to me looking worried. I couldn't believe a girl like her would actually care about someone like me. Or at least, I hoped I wasn't mistaken.

"Does it hurt still?" she said.

"A bit yes." I made a show of rearranging my arm as Madame Pomfrey poured something inside the wound. "Ouch!" I looked at the woman wildly. "I thought you said it wouldn't sting!"

"I said no such thing Mr. Goldsworthy. I believe I mentioned that it was to ease the pain and keep it from bleeding. Maybe if you paid attention more often you wouldn't even be here." She poured a few more drops. "There now, how's that?"

"'Tis alright," I said. It did take away the pain a little.

"Good now hold still. I need to stitch and bandage it. That blasted plant repels any kind of magic until the wound is healed. It's old fashioned stitching for you boy. I'll be right back."

When she was gone Clare moved from her chair and onto the edge of my bed.

"Thanks," I said.

"You know you should have come here first thing Eli. Must you insist on making me worried?"

"It got you to come with me right? So I guess a few extra minutes of searing pain didn't quite bother me so much." Despite everything, I couldn't retain a smile.

"You're out of your mind, did you know?"

"Of course. And I get to thank you for that." I stared at her, into her eyes. They were piercing and earnest. I loved it. I glanced at her lips and tried my best to fight the urge…she was so close…

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I opened my mouth but no words came out. I couldn't stop staring into his eyes. I was lost in them. If he leaned in…just a few inches…

"I…"

The doors flew open.

"Eli!"

Hermione Granger came running towards us.

Well hell.

He didn't turn around. Instead, and now quite unexpectedly, he closed the distance and crashed his lips against mine. He put his good hand delicately under my chin and pulled me closer. Before my eyes fluttered closed, I caught a glimpse of Hermione with a stricken expression, frozen halfway through the infirmary. I was surprised at how it made me enjoy the moment all the more.

He slowly moved his lips against mine and I followed. Once. Twice. Then he let go.

I opened my eyes slowly and he caressed my cheek with his thumb before putting his hand down. He turned his head but not before I saw his face clearly. He was smiling wide.

"Hello Mione."

Her face went dark, menacing.

"My apologies Elijah. I didn't know you had run off to find yourself some… cheap company," she huffed. "Anyway", she went on, "I'll let Professor Sprout know you're alright." She gave me a murderous look. "Obviously," she snapped. Then she turned around stormed out of the room.

"Well she's real peachy isn't she." I said. He laughed lightly.

"I guess she can't stand I've paid attention to someone else over her, yet again."

"For how long has this been going on?" I didn't want to find myself dealing with a capable, psychopathic ex.

"Just since last year. She was with the Weasley boy but he took a liking to Parvati Patil. She didn't handle that well."

"I can see that," I laughed.

At that moment Madame Pomfrey came out of her office carrying some utensils.

"Well I hope you've had enough chit chat because I'm afraid you won't be able to talk for a couple of minutes."

"Why?" he asked with a fearful look.

"You'll find out in a minute. Lay down." To me she said, "be a good girl and give him a pillow. He'll need something to bite."

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I was looking for Blaise when I found her. She was sitting on a window sill with her arms tightly crossed and she was furious. Or maybe that last was an understatement.

"What're you looking at Malfoy?" she snapped at me.

"Granger?"

"No! The Queen of England!"

"Look who got some humor," I chuckled.

"Oh sure. Now why don't you go find someone else to bother? I haven't the patience to deal with you."

I snorted. "I can see that."

"Oh get lost!"

She hadn't so much as glanced at me for a fraction of a second.

"You know…if I'm not mistaken as to what your problem is, then I think I might be able to help you."

"Oh really? Does that mean you're considering suicide?" she replied coldly.

"Ouch Granger! I didn't know you hated me so much."

"Well now you do." She stood up and started to walk away. I grabbed her arm and spun her around. That didn't make her very happy.

"Let go of me or I'll scream!" she yelled.

"You might want to listen closely" I said before pulling her close and holding her chin so she didn't turn her head. "I have a… proposition."

"I'm not interested," she said through clenched teeth.

"Oh I think you might be Granger," I said in a low raspy voice.

"You know I think there are more than a few girls who might agree willingly to this Malfoy but I'm not one of them."

"You want Goldsworthy," I said simply and waited for her response. She came to look frightening after a minute but finally, she answered.

"What's that have to do with you?"

"I want Edwards."

"The pure looking slut? Why would you want her?" she looked outraged.

"Are you offering yourself to take her place?" I asked mockingly.

"You dirty little-"

When she opened her mouth I thought she might start kissing back but I was smart enough to anticipate the bite and I pulled back.

"Just keep Goldsworthy distracted. Get him alone, plan it out carefully. Let me know too. I'll make sure Clare sees it. After that, you'll have a clear road and I a lady to comfort." I let go of her completely and took a step back. She looked at me with a thoughtful expression.

"Alright, just one last thing."

When she took a step closer I thought I was getting my nose punched inside my brain. However, she surprised me by doing something entirely different.

Her kiss was hungry and lustful and I didn't hesitate to return it. Her hands were under my shirt and my body pressing hers against the wall before we broke apart. I gave her one last quick rough kiss before walking away.

"Malfoy!"

I turned around to find her right behind me. She clutched my belt with two fingers and pulled me closer.

"Didn't get enough Granger?" I teased.

"I guess I have to give you some credit." She laughed in a very low sexy way and whispered into my ear, "You're good."

I ran my fingers up her spine making her shiver. "You too Granger. Not bad at all."

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After a couple of weeks my arm healed completely and I was relieved to say that everything with Clare was going greatly. We were nothing officially but I guessed she liked things casually since she hadn't protested.

I was supposed to meet her after breakfast to go to Enchantments but I didn't get even a glimpse of her as I watched the Gryffindor table grow emptier.

I'd been standing by the door for several minutes until I was resigned to just go ahead by myself when Hermione came up to me.

"Hello."

"Hello Hermione."

She appeared to be struggling with words until she finally said, "I think there's something you should know…" she said trailing off as if for dramatic effect.

"Well?" I urged impatiently.

"I'm not so sure that Clare is just as pure white as she appears to be."

"Nobody is Hermione. Now if you don't mind, I have a class to get to."

"You know what I mean. And if you need confirmation you can, by all means, ask Malfoy."

"Malfoy? I thought you hate his entrails after he ruined your chances with Zabini," I chuckled.

"It's beside the point. I haven't talked to him in any case. But I did see him very cozy with your little girlfriend." Venom, poisonous malice dripped off her every word.

"She's not," I replied through clenched teeth.

To my surprise, she laughed, a stereotyped witch's cackle. "Oh then I'd say you're doubly a fool. She's free to do as she pleases and you don't even get to be angry about it." She laughed her hideous laugh once more and walked away. "Good luck Goldsworthy!" she added without turning.

I heard the gong of the clock. The hall was empty except for a few students hurrying into their classrooms.

"Shit! I'm late."

I set off running to Enchantments class.

When I got there I was lucky enough to find that Flitwick hadn't arrived yet.

Clare was already there…

…sitting next to Malfoy.

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I was utterly starved! I had skipped breakfast because I had an unfinished assignment and when I was on my way to meet Eli, Draco caught up with me first.

The door opened and two more students came in.

One of them was Eli.

"Oh no…"

"What is it Clare?" asked Draco.

"It's just…" I didn't even know what to say. I didn't regret being there with Draco but it still hurt seeing Eli looking at me that way.

He hated me…

Draco saw him sit with Blaise and chuckled.

"You know this isn't a joke Draco."

"Do you want me to trade seats?" he asked mockingly.

"Would you?" I doubted it but I still hoped.

"Of course not." He kissed my cheek and turned his attention to the little man climbing up the stool.

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I wasn't interested in old Flitwick the least bit. I'd already read most of the book and was able to perform plenty of enchantments without his teachings. Clare, though, hung on his every word and scribbled furiously on her notebook the whole time.

I hadn't known she was supposed to meet Eli after breakfast but thanks to Hermione I had been warned. I was just about sure that she'd taken the opportunity to try to score some with the guy. I hardly believed he paid her much attention. He just as, or even more so, determined to get Clare at all costs and he probably wasn't about to be ruining his chances so easily. That just made my job, and Granger's, all the harder.

I looked at Clare, really looked at her, and noticed that the furrow on her brow wasn't because of her deep concentration on the class or Flitwick. I could easily guess hurting Eli bothered her.

I stretched out my hand and rubbed her back softly to try to get her attention. She snapped her head up as if she'd been awakened from a trance. The effect he had on her… it was maddening!

"Stop," she pleaded. I retrieved my hand and set both of them on top of the desk. I stared forward not to have to look into her eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said finally, stubbornly.

She put her hand on my arm and I looked at her. She smiled warmly. "It's okay. I'm just not-"

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Edwards, you can go about ogling each other during recess but not in my class. Now Miss Edwards, if you will, perform the Enchantment I've just demonstrated."

Clare of course, did the exercise perfectly and Flitwick moved on. She looked at me with a severely sad expression and once more lost herself in Flitwick's rant. I sneaked a glance at Eli and, sure enough, he was furious even if he had an expression that betrayed no emotion. However, his eyes looked murderous and I was afraid.

Eli Goldsworthy would have my head soon enough.

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I looked to my right and caught Blaise shifting his eyes between me and Draco.

"Pick a side Blaise. This is war."

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~Slytherinian