I am so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time, I've got exams and what not so I'm really focused on them. But yes, I hope you like this chapter. Thank you for all the encouraging reviews and subscriptions. Hopefully the next chapter won't be a long wait.

(EDIT: Sorry for the re-upload but I have added a major part to the end of this chapter so please read)

~Shakeitup

Draco couldn't sleep that night. Not that he slept a lot anyways. Lucky for him, it was finally the weekend. There was something about Zara that haunted him, something he couldn't figure out about her. She was making him feel emotions he had never felt before, and it scared him.

Draco did what he always did when he couldn't sleep, read. Even though the words didn't sink in, there was something about his eyes seeing the words that calmed him down and took him into another world. He felt peaceful. This was the only time you would ever see Draco so focused on a Potions book. But now even reading wasn't calming him down. As his eyes gazed over the words, almost a faint image of her face would appear, then suddenly it would fade back into the page and the words would be back.

He scowled and threw the book off the bed. The sky outside was slowly becoming a shade of orange, indicating to Draco that the sun was coming up. Draco dragged himself off the bed, and got changed into his simple black attire. He threw a scarf and fur hat on, and left to go outside. Draco was intent on getting the girl off his mind, and assumed maybe a walk would suffice. Draco stepped out of his dorm; he made his way into the common room where he saw a silhouette of a figure sitting by the fireplace. He knew who it was, it was her. He prayed that she would not notice him, his heart thumped along his ribcage but he kept composed, he was almost by the large wooden door when her soft voice called out.

"Draco?" His body froze on the spot and his heart fell into his stomach. He was so close to ignoring her and just leaving, but his heart had decided against it. He spun her head around to reveal to her it was truly him. She looked at him with her large dark eyes that the glistened from the fire. The dark bags that hung under her eyes indicated she hadn't slept either. He didn't say anything to her, he just stared back. "Where are you going?" She muttered.

"For a walk." Draco's voice was monotone and blunt. Zara broke her gaze from him; his harsh grey eyes making her feel uncomfortable. She picked at the plush carpet and glanced back up at him.

"Can I come with you?" Her gaze once again shot away from him, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. For a moment Draco felt his heart skip a beat, not expecting her to ask that particular question. He still kept a straight face; he hadn't mustered up enough energy to show any emotion yet. He contemplated, although he wanted to go on a walk to get away from her he found his head craning up and down in a nodding motion.

Zara looked back up at him in shock; she had expected him to make a snide comment and reject. She quickly fumbled off the floor.

"I'll just go get my coat."

She didn't bother to change out of her pyjamas, not wanting to make Draco wait. She returned in a thick pea coat and some fur boots. Draco didn't move an inch; he remained in exactly the same spot with exactly the same blank stare as she left him. Like a statue.

The walk on the Hogwarts grounds had been a pretty silent one so far. The cold breeze nipped at any exposed piece of skin making the two students thrust their hands under their armpits. Zara kept her eyes on the beautiful sunrise whilst Draco's eyes had been fixated on the girl. Zara's locks thrashed wildly, and her nose had changed into a predominant shade of red. A question lingered in Draco's mind.

"How comes you weren't sleeping?"

Zara's head instantly whipped around. She seemed caught off guard by the question, but answered. He eyes trailed back to the sunrise.

"Bad dreams."

Draco's curious persona seeped through, and he couldn't catch the words as they shot out of his mouth.

"About what?"

He mentally slapped himself, of course he wanted to know but he knew it would be rude to ask. Again he mentally slapped himself, since when had he cared about being polite to Zara? The girl paused, making Draco also freeze in his tracks. She turned to look him dead in the eyes. Her eyes searched the grey ones, looking for a reason to trust him, almost probing his mind. She didn't remove her gaze from his.

"Getting the dark mark."

Draco felt a pang in his stomach. He realised how truly innocent and trapped the girl who stood in front of him was. Could he really imagine Zara living the life of a Death eater? He knew she feared the pain of gaining the mark, but as well as that, the mark meant entrapment. You became the dark mark, it was who you were.

Zara had fought all her life to not be somebody she wasn't, she didn't look to please people and to have her whole persona taken away from her frightened her more than anything. She wanted her parents to proud of her more than anything; becoming a death eater seemed like the only option. It's not like she had a choice anyway. She couldn't say no to Voldemort.

"You probably think I'm pathetic." She broke the eye contact, Zara knew she was weak and was ashamed of it. She wished she had more of a backbone.

"No." Draco muttered. "I get scared too. Just because I don't show it doesn't mean I don't fear it." Draco was taught not to wear his heart on his sleeve. "If you didn't fear it, then that would make you pitiful." Zara stared at him wide eyed. "You're stronger than you think Milani. If you were a coward and weak you would have run from everything."

Zara was truly taken aback by the words that flowed out of Draco's lips. They were having a civilised convocation, and he had actually in a way complimented her. With her lips ever so lightly curved, she sent him a nod. Zara took a step forward, and froze when he realised Draco was not following. His eyebrows furrowed and he had a frustrated look on his face.

"Are you coming or…"

Draco quickly broke from his thoughts and begun to carry on walking beside Zara again. The stroll became soundless once again, the two students embracing each other's presence without speaking. Zara could tell Draco being very pensive, and didn't want to disturb him but the quiet was slowly beginning to kill her.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Draco's body flinched as he once again broke out of his trance. He turned to the girl. "I'm sorry, what?"

A small laugh escaped Zara's mouth. "You just seem very deep in thought." Draco's eyes focused on Zara's lips that curved into a small smile. They were a shade of rose pink, full and looked soft like velvet. He knew he was disappearing from reality again when he could hear Zara's voice fading away. His hand involuntarily went to her face, cupping it. He pressed his lips to hers tenderly, while she stayed frozen in his grasp. Her lips were so plush and soft he didn't want to pull away. It surprised him when she responded to the kiss. A few seconds later, Zara broke from her trance. She pulled back. She noticed as her heart pumped in her throat and a lightness took over her head. She stared at him wide eyed while Draco couldn't help but smirk at her reaction.

"I think we better head back now." He spoke, the smirk still plastered on his face.

Zara no longer could feel the bitter cold biting against her skin, she felt hot and her nose was no longer the only part of skin that had turned a shade of red. "Draco." Her voice cracked. "Don't mention this to Blaise."

Draco let out a quiet laugh and gave Zara a nod. The two carried on walking in complete silence their thoughts lingering on the experience they had just shared.