Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does

Chapter 19: The Coming of Winter

The following couple of weeks Alina avoided David. Eventually she she started to talk to him again, but distantly. Draco wouldn't tell her everything that he had said to Draco that day but from what she had seen in his thoughts that day in the bathroom she had a pretty good guess. Alina looked forward to the ball as a distraction as as the day of David's departure. By day Alina occupied herself with studying and she forced herself to spend time with David, while he was still there. By night she snuck into Draco's bed and let him be her substitute for a blanket as he wrapped his arms around her.

The peace, Alina knew, was only temporary. She was eager to let the storm come and pass already. Finally, classes let out for the last time that year. She rushed to the common room, knowing that that would be where he would be, waiting for her.

As soon as she got there she was joined by the Golden Trio. Upon seeing Alina Draco kissed her, even with the audience.

"Draco-let them have the room today-" Alina protested.

"We will. We can just go to the prefects' bathrooom..." he smirked.

"Ugh- pig." she hit his arm.

"The name's Draco, MIss Alina," he smiled and kissed her deeply again; Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all staring.

"Sorry," Alina said to the three, blushing. "I'm positive it's his hormones out of wack," she explained.

"You wish," Draco replied and picked her up.

"Aagh Draco Lucius Malfoy put me down!" He started to whistle. "Draco I'm afraid of heights- put me down!" she squirmed.

"I will. Soon." he said in response. The trio watched as he continued to carry her out of the room.

"Hermione, how are you always right?" Harry asked, shaking his head in disbelief. She only smiled.

Meanwhile Draco carried Alina all the way to the Quidditch field and set her softly down on the grass, underneath all the stands that were covered with long tapestries.

In a moment he conjured a blanket and two pillows. Sighing with joy she set her head back against a pillow and closed her eyes. Draco watched her breathe, observed her while she smiled in her thoughts. He placed a hand underneath her shirt, tracing a ring on her stomach, the cool touch of his fingers sending shivers up her body against her warm skin. Her eyes fluttered open and in a bold, uncharacteristic move she rolled over on top of him, straddling his waist.

"This is different," he remarked, grinning.

"Oh shut up," she leaned forward to kiss him.

"Uh uh uh-" he wagged his finger. "What would your mother think?"

"So now you're the goody goody. Well in that case I'll sleep in my own room tonight-"

"Now hold on there-" Draco laughed. "I think I've had a change of heart."

"Of course," she rolled her eyes and laughing they lay together in the grass, listening to the quiet sounds of early winter. Snow had yet to fall, but nonetheless the temperature was decreasing steadily. Together they made their way inside to the Head's common room.

"Great. It's still occupied." Draco said as they walked in.

"Calm your ass down- you've had my sister all alone for long enoug." Selena replied. All, including Draco, were somewhat taken aback by her response, but they recovered quickly. "So, my dearest, we have to all get ready togehter for the winter ball."

"Um.. I think it's better if we go separately," Alina said nervously.

"I promise I'll be good," Draco whispered.

"Still..."

"I won't do anything to ruin your night,"

"But-"

"Just trust me."

"But what about Harry and Ron?"

"If they have any objections they can just kiss my-"

"Okay, okay. So we're going together," Selena said firmly. "It'll be great," she added as reassurance for Alina.

And from that point on Alina's life was chaos- constantly hectic with things to do. Slowly she began to forgive David, and he even seemed to be lightening up a bit. Tension was still thick between him and Draco, but any encounter with each other was avoided by both.

Ginny and Selena both forced Hermione and Alina to sit for hours to try out different hairstyles. By the time Ginny and Selena had selected the perfect one for each, their arses were numb. Alina rushed to complete all extra work, along with Selena, and she began to research jobs for after Hogwarts. So far nothing seemed available or appealing, but she continued to pour over the ads in the Daily Prophet.

At the same time she tried to spend as much time as she could with Draco. Weekdays she spent the nights in her own room with Selena, on weekends with Draco. He seemed more quiet than usual, but when asked he simply said that it was the change of weather, although it was a perfectly amazing winter outside. Alina shrugged it off and didn't ask again. Soon, Christmas morning arrived.

"Morning Alina," she felt a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Gohereeng yoo too tu." she mumbled. Draco stroked the hair out of her face and simply stared. Feeling his gaze she opened her yes to find Draco crying. Immediately she woke up.

"Draco, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Alina, get some more rest." He tried to force her back down.

"You know me better than that- what's wrong?" Draco said nothing and leaned back down onto his pillow instead, staring at the ceiling. She was starting to become agitated.

"What's wrong Draco? What happened? Come on already, tell me-"

"My mother's gone missing, alright!" He yelled suddenly. Somewhat frightened yet angered by his voice she replied roughly:

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," More softly she added "You should've told me sooner."

"Why would you want to know? Or even care? You know nothing about my family, about what I've done or about what I've been through."

Biting back a cruel response, she said "How can you say that? How can you say that I don't know? And even before I met you I knew- did you think I was completely ignorant of your history and that was why I liked you?" he turned to look at her, slightly confused. "David's uncle is an auror in the US and he used to keep us up to date-"

"Did David tell you that his uncle killed my cousins?" Draco said bitterly. She looked down. "I'm guessing he did then."

"No- he didn't Draco. He did tell me one day that his uncle had gotten rid of two traitors- he seemed proud and excited. And honestly, I was too." he looked at her incredulously. "I know it sounds wrong, but it was like I was acquainted with a hero, with someone who helped stopped Voldemort from succeeding. I had no idea at all that they could ever be related to you. And I didn't know you then," she added. Draco sighed and said nothing.

"I'm sorry Draco-" she paused, with a pained laugh. "It seems like I've had a lot to be sorry for." she shook her head, trying to get herself to calm down. "I'll see you later," She got up and left, pausing at the door. Draco turned to look at her. This was the second time where a part of her wanted so badly to run to him, to embrace him and console him and to give in to the desire of being with him. The first time had been with David, but she had too much on her mind to give in so easily. Staring at him hopefully he returned the stare, but made no effort to move or to say or do anything. So she left. Draco later realized that he should've gone after her, but he didn't. And deep inside he knew he was going to seriously regret it.