Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger stood at the very edge of the Black Lake and the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress stood back watching the scene. The snow was starting to close in like it often did on a cold Scottish night but they daren't turn back now.

"What do I do?" Draco asked Hermione.

"I'm not sure – Maybe you should put a hand in."

"It'll be freezing!" He protested.

"Do you want her back or not?" She said eyeing him.

Draco nodded and crouched down obediently. He placed a hand in the water with his wand so she knew it would be him but nothing happened. He waggled it, making it ripple. 'She has to be somewhere in here!' He thought desperately. He closed his eyes shut and tried to block out all noise and the fact he was being watched.

'Marilyn? Are you there?'

Nothing.

'He-oo valdi-veo weh mi amos.' He sang in his head remembering she had sung it once in a lullaby.

'Wi alta wi mi amo.'

"Marilyn?" He whispered.

'Draconis?'

"Yes – it's me! Thank goodness! Can you speak English?" He asked the water.

'Yes but it hurts…it's harder for the water to say…'

"Can you come out? Can you return to me?"

'Yemay…Patronusss.'

"What about it?"

'Can you do it? You need to produce one…for me…'

"What will you do with it?"

'I shall use it…to reversia…ouwagh, Draconis, veetia.

"But I don't know how! That's advanced magic and I have no happy memories."

'Then use my kisses…they made you happy…think of me.'

"Ok." He whispered. "I love you by the way."

'Wai lo ah me. I know.'

Draco stood up and took a firm grip on his wand.

"Hermione, how do you do the Patronus charm?" He asked her quickly.

"You need practise for that – it's so hard." She returned.

"But she needs it! She told me to cast it. Please."

"Alright but I'm not the best. You need to have the happiest and strongest memory you have, let it fill you up – have you got one?"

"Yes." He spoke. Their first kiss, how her hair changed, how her eyes lit up. 'The most beautiful bright blue eyes I had ever seen!'

"Let every detail linger, remember every aspect, become the memory."

"Oh yes! I have it!" Her curves, her fur coat, her mesh blouse, the pointiness of her bra. Her voice her tears her smile.

"Now, the words are Ex-PECT-to Pet-TRO-num. Annunciate very clearly and circle your wand in a clockwise direction." Hermione demonstrated.

"Expecto Patronum…." He said trying out the words. Her giggle, her coy smirk her hands in my hair. He turned to the water, feet firmly planted in the ground. Tongue, lips, teeth…

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He shouted firmly whilst circling his wand with command. 'Draco, Draco, Draco! I love you too!' A wisp of white smoky light leaked from his wand but then it grew bigger when he thought of her voice, her silhouette and the way she had pressed into him. It flew out, spiralling in front of him and he swore snowflakes joined into the white light. His patronus was not the shape he had expected; he at least wanted a bear or a python. Instead a ghost like figure walked out of the lake towards him, without gender and strangely without any discernible limbs.

'Draconis co a du. I'm nearly there.'

He pointed his wand even harder whilst remembering the smell of her fur coat, her skin her hair. 'I've never been so deliriously happy! Bless you!' The white became darker and more flesh toned and he could see the falling snowflakes starting to swirl around the figure. It grew arms and hair but still no legs. 'We're so close Draco – I can nearly touch the air! Please hold on. Think of my body – the realer the more I become so!' She cried out into his mind. Face, hands, hair, nails, shoulders. How he loved her shoulders; arms, bosom, back, the ridge of her ribcage. 'Oh please come through! Your waist, your hips and your bottom for Pete's sake are so lovely!' He thought clutching at straws.

'I have them now! Keep going! Don't forget anything!'

Marilyn's shape was now forming through the white and he could finally see her face. She looked so pained but so relieved as well. She tried to speak but she couldn't.

'Your voice! I love it. Promise you'll always sing to me! Your-your legs, your legs could go on for miles my darling. Feet, internal organs, lady…things…plumbing.'

'You can just say genitalia my sweet.'

'Alright…Genitalia.'

"A-ha! I'm nearly tangible! One last push Draco!" She cried into reality.

'Eyes, teeth, brain, lips, cheeks, knees, neck, spine, bones; what else do you need?'

'I just need a kiss from my lover.' She replied as she finally glided down to him from on high and kissed his lips. Through the kiss the light around her faded and gravity took hold again.

"Thank you..! You were incredible!" She said noiselessly.

"You're back!" He cried as he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off of the ground, twirling around and collapsing into a long awaited embrace. "I've missed you so…"

"Ohh, my Dracie – I'm so sorry – I'm so sorry I left you." Marilyn said starting to cry into his collar.

"No, no, it's ok, you're safe now. I was worried sick but it's alright because you're back." He gushed silently into her ear before crushing his lips to her cheek. His arms would not let go. "It's ok. You're not hurt."

"I'm not, I just needed the time-"

"Please, explain later, I'll understand..." He soothed before his hands came up to her face to rub her cheekbones lovingly with his thumbs. Her tears were overwhelming to look at but they were happy.

"Oh Draco I've missed you – It was so cold and so dark –"

"Ahem!"

Albus Dumbledore had cleared his throat and was approaching the newly reunited couple. Draco's arms dropped until he was just only holding her hand; there was no point hiding it now since their Headmaster had seen it.

"We need to get you inside Miss Gray, I'm sure you don't want to be in the snow for the night. You shall stay in Madame Pompfrey's care until you're fit for school again. Are there any complaints from Mr Malfoy?" He asked eyeing the shell-shocked boy.

"There's none at all Sir, none at all." He beamed rubbing her knuckles affectionately and smiling gently.

"Good. Well I think for your own sake Mr Malfoy you should do with a night in the hospital wing too. Miss Granger, could you be so kind as to set rumour that we have our Slytherin girl back please?"

"With pleasure Headmaster, I'll do it right away." Hermione grinned before enveloping Marilyn in a tight platonic hug; "It's good to have you back. Take as long as you need to see us."

"Thank you Hermione, and thank you for looking after him for me." Marilyn said showing deep appreciation. The group then shivered into action, going back inside after Hermione accepted her thanks. "You look gorgeous by the way…" Draco purred into her ear whilst walking back into the castle. "Do I?" Marilyn asked as she looked down. She was wearing a gown which seemed to be made of snowflakes it sparkled and glittered that much. It was blue dusted white and floor length and quite sheer in the train like skirt. There seemed to be no visible neckline but snowflakes created a gradient between her shoulders and the bodice of the dress; "Thank you, although, it might melt off soon; I might have to transfigure the hospital bed sheets for something more tangible-"

"I've your night gown in my pocket if that makes life any easier." Draco said helpfully as they now completely entered into the shelter of the stone walls and ferried themselves away to the Hospital wing with Dumbledore in front.

"Thank you darling. Is it the gossamer one?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Err, yes… you like to wear a lot of sheer things don't you?" He chuckled semi-seriously. Marilyn blushed and said she'd give him an answer later. They had come to the doors of the hospital wing and Madame Pompfrey beetled them inside, finding two separate beds. Pompfrey was just about to put Mr Malfoy in a very separate bed far away from his lady but Professor McGonagall whispered something into her ear which changed her mind. Draco was soon given pyjamas and a bed adjacent to Marilyn's. After he handed her night gown to her she promptly slipped into it behind closed curtains. Draco had changed too in the privacy of hung cloth and by 9pm they were settled into bed facing each other and shut off to the outside world. They spoke softly with one another, afraid of really asking what happened; he feared it was too soon after and too raw whilst she didn't really want to upset him. In desperation around half nine she got out of bed and stole into his, placing kisses onto his brow and cheek in comfort.

"What… happened to you?" Draco asked gently.

Marilyn took a while to collect her words: "What happened to me is what I never wanted to do, but something I had to. Parkinson attacked me, along with Greengrass and Bulstrode and I screamed…I was calling for you primarily; I didn't ask for the water in the first place but it came regardless…I could have stopped it and told it to go but I was so scared – so scared – I felt so raw with power too– I couldn't control myself! The lake just felt so cooling and calming like a giant hug that I needed… your hugs are the best by far but being immersed – there's nothing better to heal me."

"So you just went with it?" He asked with the slightest hint of venom.

"Well yes, and no… I wasn't in my full mind…I could feel myself being overcome with the magic of my element; it's something I must always submit too, no matter its causes or consequences. It's a primal need; I might be a water witch in that my magic has the power over water but it has the same effect on me." Marilyn explained calmly, "In my heart of hearts it broke me to see you reaching out for me and cry my name – I was terrified for you more than me… I wanted to take you with me at one point to spare your misfortune. But in that possessed state I had no control over my element's actions. It took me into its being and I became the lake."

"So you became water?"

"Yes, every fibre became a drop. That way I couldn't cry or sing or scream and that made me truly sad. I tried to plead with the water to let me go but it wouldn't. I told it I couldn't heal because I couldn't feel and that's when it turned me into a spirit – a nymph almost – and then I could cry…" Marilyn explained delicately.

"And so when the lake took you that is why I couldn't really hear your singing… The song that I could hear terrified me; it gave me nightmares to hear you so alone and afraid. I felt helpless Marie." Draco sighed sorrowfully. Marilyn brushed the hair out of his eyes and cooed; "Well I'm here now and nothing is going to change that; I'm your Patronus after all –"

"You are?" He gasped brightening up.

"Yes, I couldn't come back otherwise, well, not in a form you would like to love. The Lake did try to persuade me to stay and become one of its Mer…" Marilyn shivered; "I really wouldn't be able come back if I did that."

"So it tried to make you a mermaid?" Draco asked wide eyed and blushing lightly.

"Yes and I refused… I knew you'd figure it out eventually… I was just holding on for you."

"Oh Marie, if you had gone – really gone – What if I never figured it out? What if you were really stuck there?" He freaked out mouthing the words in horror.

"Please! Draco, please stop panicking!" Marilyn shushed forcing a kiss onto his cheek before clasping him to her bosom, "I'm here. I'm here. You did it and nothing will change that… You don't need to worry about it any-more my darling."

But her words fell on deaf ears as he carried on panicking: "But it must have been awful in that lake – you told me what lives in there and –"

"Shush… I wasn't bothered by that; I was more hurt by what my so called 'house mates' did to me!" Marilyn spat bitterly, "Do you have any idea how horrible that was? That is what you should cry over, not my absence. I thought they were going to kill me – I didn't realize I'd stolen you – You never told me about your ex!"

She broke down a little, turning to lie flat on the bed, hands clasped over her eyes; "Why didn't you tell me to look out for Parkinson?"

"Pansy? She's nothing to me –" Drsco hissed seethingly as if her name was dirt; "Marilyn I never had anything close to what we have, with her. I never even kissed her – She's simply delusional and jealous." He grunted.

"And crazy; she was that hateful towards me. She called me a bitch and a mudblood…" Marie moaned. She curled up into a little ball on her side away from her Prince; "Maybe I have stolen you… and my magic…" Her tears came streaming now as her heart started to break; 'They know, they know, they're going to kill me.'

"Marie, shh, shh, Marie, please stop crying… Oh please stop… You've stolen nothing; I'm yours, willingly and always. They're full of shite those bitches!" Malfoy chuckled trying to lighten the mood after kneeling over her, "And your magic, I don't care where it comes from! From water, from me - I don't give a hoot anymore!"

Marilyn smiled nervously at him as she slowly uncurled; her irises were blushing pink with embarrassment amongst the blue and many tears.

"That's my girl! I don't want you ever to feel bad because of me. I want you to be happy and safe; and I'm sorry that I failed you." Draco said sourly, "I should have taken you in for the night and kept you out of harm's way-"

"But you would have never known – I didn't know they'd be there waiting for me and I get the feeling they'll always be waiting for me; always on the hunt for the next time I'm vulnerable."

"So let's change that. No one deserves to be preyed upon, especially my girl." He charmed before kissing her brow a little possessively.

"Then how do you propose we do that?"

"Well my dear, I do have one suggestion."

Professor Snape looked at Malfoy as if he just suggested that Muggles should be handed out Liquid Luck before entering a job interview at the Ministry of Magic; "You want me to do what?" He spat.

"I…I want you to give Miss Gray her own room." Draco repeated bravely; his godfather wasn't exactly the accommodating type and his office felt unbearably hollow and unforgiving so early on a Saturday morning. Even the stool which Draco sat upon felt like it would transfigure into a viper at the drop of a hat.

"Malfoy, I can't give your fellow schoolmate her own room because it will look like favouritism; there are rules when it comes to this. All students are expected to sleep in dorms of 5 and if I were to give Miss Gray her own, soon everyone else will be asking for the same." Snape replied tactfully.

"But Sir, after what's happened, surely she needs privacy? She obviously has enemies –"

Snape cut him off with a seething glare; "We all have enemies Draco and some of them we must live with, figuratively and definitely. Tell Miss Gray to handle the situation-"

"But she can't sir!"Draco snapped back, "Her aggressors still haven't apologized to her and she's worried sick they'll attack again."

"Then strike them where it hurts – don't wait for another blow to hit!" Snape ordered standing up and as he calmly approached he said; "I'm sorry I can't do any-more but I can't give your acquaintance anything other than that."

"Not even for one week?" Draco asked as he stood up to stand in front of his teacher.

"I'm sorry Draco but no. Tell her to either ignore them or make peace."

"But I'm begging you, don't do this because I asked, do it because she needs it. I'll play no part, I just thought if I were the one asking you'd do it." Draco spoke defiantly. Snape stood back an inch, hand to his mouth in thought and then sighed in an exasperated way. He looked heavenwards and then turned around and sat back down at his desk. Through barred teeth he said; "There is an abandoned Slytherin Prefect room in the dungeons that no one has seen in many a year...If Miss Gray has no quarrels with it she can move in with the Headmaster's permission. It will be her responsibility to furnish it and attend all House activities as normal; you will have no access and you will not divulge its location to anyone. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear sir. Thank you." Draco said finally letting out a breath he didn't think he was still holding onto.

"Whilst I discuss it with Dumbledore at today's match in the meantime Miss Gray will spend tonight in Madame Pompfrey's care. Tell her not to worry; I hear that makes things worse." Severus commented with something that looked akin to a smile.

"Thank you! Thank you sir! I'll tell her right away." Draco beamed before rushing out of the Potion Master's office and off to the hospital bedside of his 'acquaintance'. Snape leaned back in his chair and furrowed his brow. His godson had been acting strangely but he hadn't realized it was this bad and because of that particular witch. Snape couldn't actually put his finger on what made her so likeable to the heir and wondered even about telling his real father about their closeness. But maybe it was nothing; young love is always fleeting but perhaps, like himself, the first is always the worst to relinquish...

And if he did tell Lucius, what then? Falling in love was never part of Draco's plan for either side; it would doom either him or the Dark Lord. It was now his decision and if he told the family that its history was about to repeat itself - 'well,' Snape thought, 'I don't want to be the one who breaks the bad news.'