Wednesday, December 22nd 1996

It had been over two months since Darcey was told of her prophecy by a centaur in the Forbidden Forest. Today was the last day of classes before the students five day holiday break. Scotland faced one of the most ruthless winters in history. Since November snow and blistering, cold winds were a daily occurrence. With the temperature descending to tundra levels, Hogwarts felt as if were facing an ice age. The oddest thing about the weather was that the normally dry winter air hadn't lost its summer humidity, causing icy sleet to rain down upon the castle, melting against the warm windowpanes. Though brutal, from the inside looking out it appeared to be a scenic winter wonderland. The grounds were covered in deep, fluffy, white snow that sparkled like diamonds in the sunset.

Darcey packed away the last of her belongings inside her trunk, preparing for her journey back home the next morning. Glancing at the clock she remember that the Slug Club Christmas party was in two hours and she still had one more thing left to do before she got ready. She needed to find Draco.

Her friendship with Draco had thus far has been a shallow one, barely deeper than the friendships she had formed with her dorm mates, the only difference being that he knew more about her. Yet she knew hardly anything about him.

Since he declared them friends after the wolf attack, to which she had a faint set of claw-like scars, Draco and Darcey began spending more and more time together. Draco chose to spend his time with her because she was the only student in Hogwarts who knew for certain his secret of being a Death Eater and didn't constantly nag him if he was ill, like Pansy did. Even Zabini had pestered him a few times about his lack of color and the dark rings encircling his eyes, suggesting that he seek Professor Snape out for a sleeping draught to help.

Darcey on the other hand, simply chose to hang out with Draco because she honestly enjoyed his company over that of her chatty dorm mates, whom she found she could only tolerate a set amount of time with. Draco was mostly quiet like herself, at least while they did their school work together, which was the only time they spent in each other's company outside of classes. She was pleased with herself for persuading Draco to complete his schoolwork, convincing him that it was easier to just do it than spending every single weekend in detention.

Darcey searched the common room for her friend to no avail, feeling irritated at the thought of wondering aimlessly around the castle looking for him. There must be an easier way. Perhaps somebody had seen him and knew where he was. She approached the two burly boys lounging on a set of black leather couches near the fireplace. Vincent Crabbe, a boy as round as he was tall chuckled loudly at something amusing the other boy had just said. Gregory Goyle, the taller of the two lads with baby fat still clinging to his cheeks glanced up at the girl approaching them, his eyes still squinted in the corners from laughter.

"Hey." Darcey greeted, standing between them. Her blue eyes locked with Goyle's brown ones from below her. "Have either of you seen Draco? I really need to speak to him." Darcey asked nicely, hoping that if she was charming enough they'd tell her where he is.

"He's around." Crabbe supplied vaguely, with a bored shrug.

"Should be back soon." Goyle finished, his eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. It was clear that neither of the trolls were prepared to tell her anything they knew about Draco's whereabouts.

"Thanks guys." Darcey replied flatly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at how extremely helpful they had been.

Just then the boy she was in search of briskly strutted through the common room, gliding across the space without so much as a glance around him, as if he were too superior to grant any of them his gaze. Darcey rushed over to catch him at the base of the dormitory staircase.

"I've been looking for you, do you have a moment? It's really important." She pleaded, looking up at him.

Draco hesitated briefly looking between Darcey and the top of the steps, making it clear that he had something else he was going to do and she hoped that it wasn't too important.

"I suppose I have a while." Draco finally replied coolly, granting her his precious time.

"Wonderful! Let's go." Darcey stated cheerfully, yanking his arm for him to follow her. She lead him from the common room and to the stony, windowless corridor outside.

Darcey pulled him into a secluded alcove near a statue of an unfriendly looking Salazar Slytherin scowling down at them and cupped her palm around Draco's ear as she leaned up on tip toes to whisper to him, not taking the chance of anyone overhearing what they were up to. When she pulled away he seemed reluctant to assist her, showing no signs of compliance.

"Please Draco, this is really important to me. I wouldn't ask you for your help if it wasn't." Darcey added quietly, putting all her hope in the boy, because if he refused to help her she had nobody else to go to.

Darcey peered around the potions cupboard no bigger than a broom closet, it's top to bottom shelves cluttered with dusty phials of various potions. She scanned the nametags tied around the neck of each colorless bottle she saw but so far to no avail. The mission had been taking longer than anticipated and she was sure that Slughorn would return at any second, Draco's distraction only bought her a small amount of time to get what she needed.

Finally she came across a clear phial behind a blood replenishing elixir in a bottle marked 'Veritaserum'. She greedily snatched it, pulling out her wand and touching the tip to the glass bottle. 'Geminio' She performed the spell silently, copying an exact replica of the potion and placing it back upon the shelf. Of course, the twin serum was just a visual replica and wouldn't actually work if Slughorn used it, but Darcey doubted the old professor would need a truth serum highly regulated by the Ministry of Magic anytime soon and she was certain she could return it before it'd be missed.

Darcey poked her head around the door to check that the coast was clear and to her horror spotted Slughorn wobbling down the corridor towards his classroom, his round belly causing him to bear an uncanny resemblance to a waddling penguin.

Darcey moved aside, pressing herself back against the bookcase near the door. Maybe if she tried hard enough to blend in he wouldn't notice her presence. Slughorn crossed the threshold, whistling an upbeat tune when his blue eyes suddenly caught her slender figure trying to slip out the door.

"Miss Davis, what are you doing in here?" Slughorn asked in confusion, tilting his head to the side.

"Erm-" Darcey stuttered, her mind frantically searching for a reasonable excuse.

"Thank you again for your help, sir." Draco interrupted, appearing in the threshold with a charming smile igniting up his features, making him look much healthier without his constant scowl.

"No problem at all dear boy." Slughorn grinned, waving him away with his chubby hand. "Now if you'll excuse me, I was just about to hear what Miss Davis was doing in my office." Slughorn said curiously, still not sounding at all the least bit angry with her.

"I heard a vampire would be here- erm, at the party tonight, a vampire." Darcey blurted out the only thing she could think of, thankful that she paid attention to Daphne and Tracey's gossip at breakfast this morning.

"Ah, yes. Worple and Sanguini will be attending. From whom did you hear that, Miss Davis?" Slughorn asked, his tone merry.

"Some of the girls, sir. We've all been a little star-struck honestly. I hear he's quite handsome..." Darcey replied sheepishly, her face heating up in embarrassment. Darcey was mortified the she had chosen such a ridiculous lie. She'd never in her right mind be foolish enough to go drooling over a vampire. They were terrifying and highly dangerous creatures, you couldn't even pay her to be within a 50-foot radius of one and to her horror, the rumors were true, there would be a vampire attending the Christmas Party tonight.

'Is Slughorn out of his mind bringing a vampire into the school around a bunch of love struck, horny teenage girls? Surely someone will get bitten.' Darcey seriously questioned the old professor's judgment.

"You see," Darcey continued. "I was hoping I could get a look at him before the party, maybe talk to him. I find vampires to be extremely fascinating beings." She lied, feeling the urge to projectile vomit as she did so.

"No, sorry dear you'll have to wait until this evening to see him. I'll be sure to introduce you though." Slughorn beamed. "Now if you don't mind, there's a lot of work to be done here, I'll see you tonight Miss Davis." Slughorn lead the pair of Slytherins out the door. "Mr. Malfoy." He nodded in acknowledgement to the blond before he dismissed them. Once they were out of earshot Draco erupted in a fit of laughter, his gray eyes squinting in amusement as he peered over at the still blushing girl.

"For Merlin's sake, please tell me that was a lie. You're not really gushing over a vampire are you, Davis?" Draco snickered, holding up both his pointer fingers to his mouth like a set of vampire teeth and lunging playfully at her neck, pretending to take a bite.

Darcey lightly swatted him away, laughing along with him. When she finally caught her breath she responded. "No, of course not. I'm not an idiot."

"I don't know." Draco began cheekily, sobering up a little. "You do seem to fancy tall, pale, men with shadowy eyes. I mean, that would explain why you're so taken with me…" Said Draco smugly, with an arrogant smirk.

Darcey shoved him again in the arm, looking appalled. "Are you barking mad? What gave you the impression that I'm taken with you, Malfoy?" She demanded, feigning insult.

"You're always following me around like a lost puppy. We can't go a few hours without seeing each other before you frantically go in search of me." Draco teased, still smirking down at her.

Darcey's mouth hung open, she was truly shocked by his words and wondered if he really felt that way. Had she been giving off the impression that she was lost without him? That he was her only friend. She thought back to the past couple of months and realized she had been a bit clingy, but only because he was currently the only person she could tolerate being around all day. Perhaps she should put some distance between them, before he got the wrong idea.

'Too late, he already thinks you have a silly school girl crush on him.' Darcey mentally groaned.

'Maybe because you do have a silly school girl crush on him…' Another voice in her mind observed, the voice reminded her of Tracey and she could practically see her winking at her from inside her head.

Darcey remembered suddenly reading somewhere that the first sign of insanity is talking to yourself, and although not out loud, Darcey's pretty certain conversations in your head weren't very promising.

"I suppose I've been up your arse a lot lately. Sorry about that." Darcey sheepishly apologized.

"I'm not objecting. I've had worse company." Draco shrugged, as Darcey hit him lightly in the arm for the third time.

"Stop saying rude things." She scolded, casting him a half-hearted glare.

"Calm yourself, Davis. I'm only getting your knickers in a twist." He smoothly reassured her, wrapping a strong arm around her boney shoulders and pulling her into his side as they walked.

Darcey didn't want to admit to herself how good Draco's embrace felt. It felt oddly natural being this close to him, which was a bit frightening for Darcey considering she had zero experience in the boyfriend department, not that Draco's was her boyfriend, it's just that, well shouldn't it feel more foreign and awkward being this close to him? She wondered, and before she could over think it, like she did everything, Draco pulled back his arm and she realized that they had already made it back to the dungeons.

"In case I don't see you later, have a good holiday." Darcey bid him farewell, smiling warmly at her friend.

"You too." Draco replied stiffly, his carefree mood from moments prior suddenly vanishing and a somber one masking it.

Darcey cast him one last look, her blue eyes glistening with concern as she gazed softly up at him. She realized she hardly remembered what his normal complexion looked like, having become so used to seeing him like this, stressed out and ill. She wondered if it weren't for the morbid circumstances drawing them together, would they have ever became friends to begin with?

Probably not, Darcey decided, remember what a prick use to be to her. The old Draco Malfoy was an arrogant, immature, bully, someone Darcey honestly couldn't ever see herself befriending unless he matured. Becoming a Death Eater had aged Draco, he was still that arrogant, stuck-up prick beneath the surface, but that side of him emerged now in much more tolerable doses than before.

He seemed more down to earth too; capable of having an actual meaningful conversation with, where as before he was superficial and only capable of witty banter. Everything in life had been a joke to him, something to poke fun at and laugh about. He put on a mask of arrogant superiority that prevented anyone from ever getting to know Draco beneath the surface.

Although, Darcey still knew hardly anything about him, finding it difficult to break through his cold, aloof shell. She knew him well enough to decide that she had liked him. He was now somebody with whom she would call a friend. Which spoke volumes, as she was extremely selective with the friends she kept, hence why she hadn't any.

Darcey glanced over at the clock, realizing that her mission with Draco had taken much longer than planned and Slughorn's party was in half an hour. Bounding up the steps two at a time, Darcey rushed to take a shower and change into her dress.

Crimson, emerald, and gold sheer curtains adorned Slughorn's office, giving it a tent-like quality, except much more sophisticated than camping outdoors. It seemed that he used an Undetectable Extension Charm to make the room appear larger, it was now half the size of the Great Hall, which was impressive.

The party was packed to the brim with witches and wizards, mostly older, notable folks whom Professor Slughorn had invited to come, some of which were previous students of his. Mixed in with the adults are the most modern collection of students to join the Slug Club and their dates.

Bringing a date was required of them, something that mortified Darcey. It had been so embarrassing when she had to approach some random boy and ask them to be her date. She wasn't going to ask Draco; afraid it would be too obvious and assuming he'd decline the invitation anyway, being too occupied with Death Eater activities and all.

The next obvious choice would have been Blaise Zabini, but being a handsome and popular lad he of course already had a date, his new girlfriend Daphne Greengrass.

Her third choice would have been Theodore Nott but Tracey would never let her live it down if she had brought him, convinced she was still madly in love with him.

The rest of the Slytherin male population were intimidating fellows, and Darcey was a quiet girl who'd rather not be humiliated when they rudely rejected her, so she decided to go with an easier target.

To her dorm mates horror, Darcey had asked Hufflepuff sixth year, Zacharius Smith to accompany her this evening, after having talked to the boy once at The Three Broomstick's pub while under Draco's Imperius curse. Not the most thought out option, but indeed an easy one. She had gotten hell from her classmates for the entire week leading up to the party but she felt confident with her decision. Zach was a nice guy, he was Hufflepuff, and had been either too scared or hadn't the heart to reject her.

"Thanks again for coming." Darcey offered, awkwardly rubbing her arm and feeling extremely uncomfortable. They were strangers and not even in the same house, what was she thinking? What could they possibly have to talk about?

Zach was dressed in a set of handsome, black dress robes, with a silver vest and bow tie beneath it. His fluffy, golden hair, that usually hung in his eyes had been neatly slicked back for the occasion, showing off his best features like his prominent, square jaw line and dark, blue eyes that reminded Darcey of the sea.

She had decided to go with a silver strapless gown that clung to her in just the right places, accentuating her figure without revealing too much. The dress showed a modest amount of cleavage and was ankle length. The only skin exposed was her back where the gown dipped into a low V, exposing her shoulder blades and the small of her back.

Darcey had allowed Tracey to assist her with her hair, without using magic of course. Her hair was still curly, only now it was pulled into an almost elegant updo with a few loose, stubborn curls framing her face. Tracey did her makeup, giving her a smoky eye look that made her eyes appear stormy blue, much darker than usual.

For the first time in a while Darcey actually felt confident in her own skin, when she put this much effort into her appearance she was quite stunning, but it wasn't something she was willing to put time into everyday, it just seemed like such a waste of time.

A house elf scurried past her, carrying slender glasses of champagne. Darcey grabbed two, offering one to her date as well, who she was sure was feeling equally as out of place as she was at the party. Both students took a long sip, but as Zach pulled away from his glass, Darcey continued, quickly chugging hers.

When she finished the entire glass she wiped the corner of her mouth clean before she cast her date a cheeky grin, having noticed him watching her in amusement.

"I like a woman who can handle her liquor." Zach smiled back at her. "Seems I have some serious competition tonight." He said, turning the glass to his lips as he easily chugged the rest of his not wanting to look like a lightweight.

"I'm not normally much of a drinker, I just need a bit of help tonight. I'm a nervous wreck. I'm hoping a few drinks will help me to relax." Darcey explained, glancing around with her stomach in anxious knots at the crowded room.

"Not much of a socialite then?" Zach asked lightly, doing his best to make his date feel at home. Zacharius Smith was raised to be a gentleman, and what sort of gentleman would he be if he allowed his date to have a lousy time tonight.

"Not at all." Darcey laughed. "Seriously, I'll be the crazy gnome lady who everyone will keep assuming dead because nobodies ever seen her leave her house." Darcey joked, half-truthfully.

Zach gave a warm, hearty laugh. "Come on, Davis. You can't possibly be that reclusive."

"Oh, but I am." Darcey admitted gleefully. "What's your weakness?" She wondered when their laughter had died down, already feeling the effects of one drink, it was suddenly much easier for her to have a proper conversation as her anxiety melted away.

"I suppose I'm a tad bit competitive." Zach offered up.

"That's not so bad." Darcey shrugged, unimpressed.

"Okay, I bluffed, I'm really competitive, as in I go mad when I lose at something. You should see me throw a fit when we blow a Quidditch match. It's quite scary." Zach admitted with a sheepish grin.

"Let's have ourselves a competition then!" Darcey suggested excitedly, having a competitive streak herself, though all Slytherins were competitive by nature, it came hand in hand with being ambitious.

"What did you have in mind, love?" Zach flirted. Obviously the champagne had had some effect on the boy as he quickly gained confidence.

"Let's see who can have the most fun tonight. Let's make the most of this awful party." Darcey suggested, swapping another set of champagne glasses with their two empty ones off the tray of a nearby house elf.

"To lame supper parties." Darcey rose her glass to Zach's.

"To lame supper parties." He agreed as they clunk their glasses together in toast. Once more they chugged the clear, bubbly liquid, this time Zach winning.

Just then a pair of chubby arms scooped them up, snaking around each of the student's shoulders and leading them deeper within the crowd. "Glad you could make it, Miss Davis, and Mr. Smith, I know your mother, she's tailored all my robes." Professor Slughorn beamed.

"As promised, I'd like to introduce you to Sanguini." Said Slughorm, stopping in front of a tall, lanky, emaciated man with coal black hair and dark rings around his eyes. He was wearing a black and white, striped tuxedo, with a chain linking the two breast pockets together.

He glanced down at Darcey behind a large, hooked nose and she noticed that although his skin was colorless and gray his lips appeared rosy, as if stained from all the blood he had consumed over the years.

Darcey visibly shivered, her stomach clenching in a mix of revulsion and fear. She had been frightened of vampires since she was a small child and felt faint being this close to one.

"This lovely young lady is Darcey Davis, an exceptional student of mine." Professor Slughorn introduced the two to each other, Sanguini eyes locked hungrily on her exposed neck as his tongue darted out to flick against his pale lips.

"Here, m'boy, have a pasty." Slughorn offered merrily with a nervous chuckle, catching the look he had been giving his student and handing him something much less human to keep him occupied for the time being.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Darcey forced her very best polite smile as she felt Zacharius stiffen beside her. Sensing he was just as terrified as she was, she made up an excuse to get them both far away from Sanguini.

"Sorry to greet and run but I saw my friend Daphne over there." Darcey pointed to a random spot in the crowd of dancing couples. "And I'd like to introduce her to my date." She politely dismissed herself from her teacher, leading Zach away deeper into the party.

"I've never met a vampire before." Zach informed her once they were out of earshot and Darcey noticed just then how suddenly pale he had become.

"Disgusting creatures." Darcey muttered, crinkling her nose in disgust as if she'd just encountered a foul smell.

"I whole-heartedly agree." Zach said glancing over his shoulder to ensure the vampire hadn't been following them.

Three drinks and an hour later, Darcey and Zacharius found themselves heavily intoxicated. The pair of teenagers were sprawled out on the floor in a secluded corner behind the buffet table, a layer of sheer crimson curtains concealing them from view.

Darcey was currently giggling at something hilarious Zach had just said about Slughorn resembling a giant olive in his green dress robes. Darcey took a bite out of her vanilla cupcake that she'd snatched from the nearby desert table.

"Mmm this is wicked. Taste some." Darcey demanded, shoving the half eaten cupcake into her dates face. He opened his mouth enthusiastically like a baby bird being fed a worm and Darcey pressed the entire cupcake into his mouth, laughing as she did so.

"That is delicious. Let's get more." Zach happily suggested, rising up to stand but feeling suddenly dizzy with the sudden movement. He fell back ungracefully on his arse causing both teenagers to erupt in a fit of giggles.

"Merlin you're drunk." Darcey observed with an amused grin.

"Merlin I'm drunk." Zach full-heartedly agreed.

"You've got a little-" Zach began, pointing to the corner of Darcey's mouth.

"Hmph?" Darcey asked, slapping at her face in an attempt to wipe the food away.

"You got it." Said Zach, moving his oceanic gaze from her blue eyes to her full lips.

"Would you slap me if I kissed you?" Zach mumbled in a husky tone that made Darcey's stomach twitch in excitement. She had never had a boy talk to her in such a needy way, like they found her utterly irresistible.

"Depends if you're any good at snogging." Darcey teased with a sly grin that Zach returned.

Leaning in, he closed the gap between them, his warm lips pressing gently against hers. She moved her hand to rest on the nape of his neck as she timidly deepened the kiss. The handsome Hufflepuff boy tasted of butter cream frosting and this caused Darcey to smirk against his lips.

When they broke apart for air, Darcey noticed how dark his eyes has suddenly become, glistening with lust. "You taste good." Zach slurred before diving in for another kiss. The kisses were messy and wet, both teens too drunk to control themselves, but Darcey wasn't complaining. It was a good enough first kiss and she was having loads of fun, so she didn't care if it was sloppy. Zach groaned into the kiss, clutching her closer to him and Darcey felt a warm hand slowly slipping up her gown and stopping at her upper thigh where it gave a light squeeze. Darcey seemed to come to her senses, a rational part of her screaming at her to stop before this became a night she would regret. She pushed Zach gently away, casting him an apologetic look.

"Sorry, I'm not that easy." Darcey supplied flatly, fumbling to stand. She gripped the wall for support as she swayed. Zacharius stood up too, looking horrified and worried that he had upset her with the bold move.

"I didn't mean to push you. Things just got carried away. I hope I didn't offend you..." The blond apologized sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Not offended. Just have to pee. Excuse me." Darcey managed shortly, brushing past him and out into the lively party. Suddenly Filch, the Squib caretaker, burst through the door clutching Malfoy by his collar. All eyes of the party fell on him as Filch's lips curled up into a mocking sneer.

"Caught this one lurking about in the upstairs corridor, says he was invited to your Christmas party. Is this true?" Filch asked, his eyes glistening with delight at the idea of catching a student out of bed past curfew.

"Okay, I was gate crashing, happy?" Draco sneered, struggling against the ugly man. "Let go of me you filthy Squib!" He growled, finally tearing himself from the Squib's hands.

"He's my date!" Darcey blurted out from somewhere within the crowd, pushing her way up front to get closer to Draco.

"I thought you arrived with Mr. Smith, Miss Davis?" Slughorn asked with a loud hiccup making it apparent that he too had had a little too much to drink.

"I did, after Draco and I had a row earlier today, but Draco was my original date and I told him if he changed his mind and realized he was being a wanker to come and find me here." Darcey lied easily, stepping forward and hooking her arm with Draco's.

"Perfect timing, Malfoy. I was just leaving, wonderful party, sir. Happy Christmas!" Darcey bid her professor a hasty farewell before leading Draco from the office and into the deserted corridor. Together they walked the short distance to the common room.

"Are you drunk?" Draco inquired once they were in the deserted, dimly lit common room, having smelt liquor on her breath.

"Yes." Darcey answered bluntly with a girly giggle.

Darcey collapsed in an ungraceful heap near the hearth, fumbling for her wand that was holstered to her leg, not realizing that she was exposing a lot of skin in the process as she hiked up her gown. Draco reached out to stop her, snatching the wand easily from her loose grip. "Hey! Give it back!" Darcey wailed, reaching up to try to grab it back from him.

"You're not using magic in the pathetic state you're in." Draco replied firmly, sounding very parental. He safely stowed away her wand in the pocket of his blazer before lighting the fire himself. He then came to sit above her on the end of one of the black, leather sofas, watching closely as Darcey gazed intently into the fire, a giddy smile plastered to her face.

"What's got you in such a pleasant mood?" Draco demanded with the incline of his light brow.

"I had my first kiss tonight." Said Darcey dreamily, shifting herself so that she was kneeling in front of him.

"Is that so?" Draco sneered. "By whom?"

"I can't remember." Darcey admitted with surprise, her eyebrows furrowed together as she tried desperately to remember. She'd remember in the morning.

Draco leaned back, looking satisfied. "Must have been a lousy kiss then." He remarked.

"Yeah it kind of was…" Darceyfrowned, all previous excitement vanishing from her tone, now she just looked exhausted.

Darcey stifled a yawn before curling up on the couch beside Draco, leaning into him and resting her head on his firm shoulder. He did not object to being used as a human pillow, as they both silently gazed into the fire, enjoying the warmth radiating from their shared body heat.

Darcey's eyelids felt heavy and droopy and she finally gave in and closed them, feeling so comfortable that she began to doze off. Draco glanced at the clock as it struck midnight and a series of low chimes echoed through the common room. He peered down at the arm that Darcey clutched lightly with both of her slender hands, noticing that one of them sat directly over his dark mark.

His mind turned morbid, his lips formed hard, thin line as he recalled the excruciating ritual. Feeling exhausted, Draco rested his head atop of Darcey's mane of unruly hair and shut his eyes, letting out a deep, contented sigh. He knew that he shouldn't be getting so cozy with Potter's sister. The girl was doomed to die at any moment, as soon as the Dark Lord discovered who she was so it would be foolish of him to get close to her. Even befriending her was a foolish risk. She was a ticking bomb with a short amount of time to live before she self-destructed.

Draco knew this, so why couldn't he untangle himself from the warm girl beside him? Why did she feel so bloody good?