Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

I decided to post another chapter because I got such nice reviews overnight! I was pleasantly surprised. I hope you like this, it's a little short and I didn't edit it as much as I probably should have. Ah, and the reviews I got gave me the motivation to possibly edit the previous chapters; I won't change anything big, I'll just edit small mistakes. Now I'll stop rambling, enjoy! (And review, of course)

A D.A. meeting had been scheduled for this Sunday, and instead of going, Kira and I decided to go down to the lake that evening. Honestly, I now understood how Harry felt sometimes. People snickered at me in the hall constantly rather than the other way around, and I found that for the first time I just needed to take a break from people. No doubt George would notice that both Kira and I were missing; I knew I needed to talk to him badly. Not being on good terms with my twin was bad poison for me and nagged at me constantly even though I didn't feel like I was in the wrong.

Kira cast a heating spell around us, so we wouldn't freeze as we sat together on the cold brown grass by the water. We ate sandwiches we'd nicked from the kitchens and lit off small Filibuster's fireworks we'd picked up in Hogsmade. I told her about Skiving Snackboxes and George and mine's plans to open a joke shop; Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

As I talked, Kira listened intently but seemed to be keeping her distance. Yesterday, at Hogsmade, she'd barely touched me; she'd kept a bit of a distance from me, and I'd wondered if I'd done something wrong.

"Do lots of people buy these Puking Pastilles?"

"Yeah."

She wrinkled her nose.

"You'd be surprised, Kira Malfoy, what some people would do to get out of class."

"Sounds like something you do a lot," she said and cast me a brief reserved smile.

Once again, she took me by surprise. She leaned over and kissed me so suddenly I didn't have time to think, not that I had any objections. It scared me to hell, making me feel like my heart was jumping out of my chest, but kissing between us felt natural, like breathing, and it didn't feel awkward with Kira like it had with Angelina.

As we kissed she pulled herself into my lap, her legs around my waist, and her elbows rested on my shoulders and her hands massaged the back of my neck, not in a sensual way, but in a gentle way.

I pulled my mouth away slightly, breaking the kiss but keeping my arms wrapped securely around her.

"Sorry," she mumbled breathlessly, "Too much?"

"I told you not to apologize," I said, kissing the side of her chin then hiding my face in her neck, "I just…er, I think we need to have a certain discussion."

She froze.

"Yeah, you know what I'm talking about."

She didn't reply.

"I've never, er, been with anyone before, Kira, I need for you to know that."

Her fingers in my hair tightened. "Fred, I…" I pulled my face back to look at her. She looked at me stonily, "Don't ask me to talk about this."

"Why?"

"Please, Fred," she whispered, resting her forehead against mine, "Don't ask me. I'm not saying I'm not, er, reluctant to do it with you. Just don't ask me about…about…"

"Your history?"

She nodded and swallowed, "This…isn't a very pleasant topic for me."

I cocked my head curiously. She got that otherworldly look on her face and I realized that this had something to do with it. And just as suddenly as it had flashed on her face it disappeared, replaced by a roguish glint in her eye.

"That's not to say that I wouldn't be interested in spending the night with you, Fred Weasley."

I blushed.

"You're not ready are you? It's okay, really." She took my cheeks in her hands and looked at me meaningfully, "I understand. We'll wait."

"It's not that, it's just…there's a bit of planning that needs to take place beforehand. I mean, I don't want to end up getting you pregnant, Kira." I didn't see the way her smile tightened. "And I don't want to make it awkward."

She kissed me suddenly, silencing me, and my pulse quickened the way it always did when I was with her.

"Mm, it's kind of backwards isn't it?" I laughed when our lips parted, "I should be the perverted boyfriend and you the chaste girlfriend."

"I thought—wait, girlfriend? Is that what I am?"

In one fluid motion I pulled us down the ground gently, still feeling toasty under the effects of the warming spell. Kira lay on her back looking up at me, surprised, as I lay on my side and rested my head on my elbow. I draped my other arm around her waist and pressed my body to hers.

"Yes. Unless you had another word for it?"

"So I'm the perverted one?"

"And I'm the chaste one." I grinned. "I don't mean you're perverted, either. I just mean you're a bit more…open."

She smirked, "I wouldn't call you chaste, Fred. Not after what you saw in the Hospital wing that night."

I felt my cheeks redden, "It was an accident."

"But you still saw my boobs."

I inwardly coiled at the word, but relaxed when her face broke into a wide grin.

We looked at each other for a moment, enjoying the comfortable silence. She brought her hand up to my face and traced my lips with the tips of her fingers.

"You're beautiful." I finally said.

She frowned, "I am not."

"You'd have to be stupid to think that."

"Well, I guess I'm stupid then."

I leaned down and pressed my lips to her cheekbone, "In fact," I said, ignoring her comment, "You're so beautiful, that girls cry into their pillows at night in envy."

"Fred Weasley, if you keep flapping those lips of yours I'm going to assume that they merely have nothing to do, and I'll be forced to give them a chore."

"I dare you."

She grabbed my collar and pulled me to her, wrapping herself completely around me as our lips moved against each other.

"Here's a scary thought," I said breathlessly in between kisses, "You sounded like my mother just now."

"Shhh," she whispered and pulled my lips back to hers.

"Come on, Draco. No one's in my dorm right now. We could slip into my room and you could subject me to fornication," Millicent giggled.

"I'm not in the mood," Draco said cooly.

"You're never in the mood these days," she pouted.

"Go away."

Crabbe and Goyle pretended not to watch as she crawled into the Malfoy's lap and wrapped her thighs around his hips. "You're just being coy, but I know you want to bury the bishop with me again, Let me give you the release you need." she murmured seductively. She pressed her lips to his ear and whispered, "I'll give you head."

"Were you not listening to me?" Draco seethed. "I said go away," he shoved her off his lap onto the couch next to him.

Humiliated, she stood up off the couch and straightened her robes. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Her voice was no longer seductive, it was angry.

Draco glared up at her, "I don't want to have sex with you, Millicent. Go fuck yourself, or better yet Crabbe! He looks interested!"

At the sound of his voice Crabbe turned his face away from the fight, exchanging a look with Goyle. The two sat on the floor at the table in front of a roaring fire, pretending to play wizard's chess as they listened to the fight.

She glared daggers at me, "From what I've heard you haven't been with anyone in the past few weeks. It wouldn't have something to do with your fucking sister would it?"

Draco craned his neck to look at her with a deadly calm, "Mention my sister to me again, Millicent…I dare you."

She paused, seeming to catch on to the warning, then turned away from the group and marched up to the dorm, stomping her feet for dramatic effect. "I'm not done with you, Draco Malfoy!" she screamed before shutting the dorm door behind her.

Draco turned back to Crabbe and Goyle, gritting his teeth, "Stupid bint."

It was past curfew when I entered the Slytherin common room, trying not to be seen, but Draco was there, sitting with Crabbe and Goyle as they laughed amongst themselves about something. I didn't know what it was, but whatever it was it wasn't very nice, not that I cared.

From the couch where Draco sat, he had a clear view of the portrait door.

As I slithered across the room he looked up at me curiously and his amusement was wiped from his face; his eyes widened and as if to get a better view he stood up briskly. I tried to duck my face so he wouldn't see me, but by the time I realized he was looking at me it was too late. Without a single look back I charged up to my dormitory and threw myself into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

My chest heaved as I sobbed; I was so disgusted with myself. How could I have done that to Fred? I lied to his face and then I'd kissed him like there was no tomorrow, which was shortly followed by the happiest outing I'd ever had in my pathetic little life. I'd tried to tell him the truth, but another lie had spilled out of my mouth. How long was I going to be able to keep this up?

At least we hadn't done the deed.

Feeling sick in a way that morning sickness couldn't even begin to describe, I rushed to the toilet and emptied the contents of my stomach, which wasn't much. As the door opened behind me I heard Millicent's voice shrieking from the room: "Wanking cur! What the hell are you doing in here? You back for more? Well too bad!" And then her voice faded as the door closed and the lock clicked.

Then I felt calm hands rubbing my arms and neck, pulling my hair back from my face and stroking my back soothingly with the tips of his fingers.

"It's going to be okay," Draco said tenderly, as he crouched down next to me with a distressed look on his face. He moved his hand off my back and I heard him shuffling behind me then was back, pressing a cool wet rag to my neck as I sobbed. He continued to hold my hair as I braced myself then heaved again. He caressed my back, murmuring gentle words to me.

He didn't remove his hands from me as I continued, for which I was very thankful.

Finally, I stopped and pulled away; my eyes were swollen and watering and my whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Draco flushed the toilet and came over to me, running his fingers over my forehead. I stood up unsteadily and moved to the counter, calming slightly at the sound of running water in the sink. With shaky hands I brushed my teeth—twice—and rinsed cold water over my face. When I was done I collapsed on the floor dejectedly and let my brother pull me into his arms, needing some kind of contact.

He sat against the counter with his legs on either side of me and my back against his chest as he held me tightly.

Though I'd been mad at him I momentarily forgot about it, welcoming this side of Draco. I let him nurture me back to calm and let him hold me even after my body stopped trembling. As we breathed, I closed my eyes feeling my chest and his moving in unison.

After another long moment he broke the silence. "Do you need anything?" His voice was low and quiet.

I shook my head, unable to speak.

I heard him move then his hand slipped over my shoulder; I recognized the bottle in his hand.

"Firewhiskey?" my voice came out sounding a bit cracked and ragged, "You just happened to have this?"

"Puh-lease, Kira. You know me, I must always have something illegal in my pocket or I'm not a bad boy."

It was such a Draco kind of comment but I was too weary to retort or even smirk; I pulled the bottle out of his hand and took a rather large swig of it, masochistically enjoying the way it burned down my throat.

When I brought the bottle up to my lips again Draco pulled it from my hands, "Ah ah, no more. You're still with child, or had you forgotten?"

I stiffened and leaned back into his chest.

He brought his hand up to stroke my cheek. "Is that what this is about? The baby?"

I didn't move.

"Ah," he said quietly, "I see." He kissed the back of my head and pulled me tighter against his chest.

My fingers found his, intertwining with them. "It hurts me, Draco," I finally whispered, "when I have to lie to him."

He stiffened, "Oh, so this isn't about the baby it's about bloody him."

"Don't-"

"You don't want to lie to him Kira?" he interrupted. "Then find someone better," he sniffed, "someone you don't have to lie to."

I shook my head, "I want him."

Draco rested his forehead against the back of my neck, "When are you going to get it into your head? After we go back to Malfoy Manor you'll never see him again."

I tried not to think about Dumbledore's proposition; if Draco found out he'd purposefully tell Lucius just to ensure that I never saw Fred again.

"But, Kira, I'd be there for you, I could take care of you in ways he couldn't."

I froze, "You…are my…my brother."

"We're not even remotely related," he said calmly, "and you know it. Lucius said so himself, and mother told me the same thing."

I released his hands immediately, struggling to get out of his grip; he kept his arms locked around me. "You couldn't take care of me! How could I possibly depend on you if I can't even expect you to apologize over trivial things?" My voice steadily grew louder as I spoke to the point that I was shouting. "And like it or not, Draco Malfoy, I still think of you as my BROTHER!"

He flinched, "Even though I'm not?"

"YES!"

His arms slackened and I jumped to my feet unsteadily, pulling away and turning to face him and I backed toward the door.

His mouth was drawn in a tight line as he stood up briskly and looked at me defiantly. "So what, you don't want me because you can actually have me?"

I turned toward the door and put my hand on the doorknob, "I don't want you like that."

"You shouldn't have to lie to him in order to be with him."

I glared at him through acid tears that had snuck up on me, "I know, but telling me that doesn't change what I want."

I opened to door and slipped into the room, dodging a pillow thrown by Millicent, and leaving Draco standing there.

It was quiet as I sat at my table alone, waiting for Potions to start. When Fred clambered into the room by himself, the room was already full except for the seat next to me. He cast me a somber smile and strode across the room to sit with me, not bothering to look at all the stares he received when he did. I caught a glimpse of George's face from where he sat with Lee Jordan, and it wasn't very pretty. He gave me an extremely dry look before turning his attention back on Lee, looking like he had just swallowed something sour.

"Your brother seems to be, erm…" I struggled to find the right word to say.

"Bitter?" Fred laughed, "Yes, it's not something I'm used to seeing. It's kind of alarming. He, erm, didn't like that we skipped the meeting together, apparently." He paused and gave me a crooked smile, "You doing okay today?"

I nodded blankly. After my fight with Draco I'd gone straight to bed but didn't fall asleep till late; he'd given me quite a lot to think about.

Snape chose that moment to step out of his quarters to the front of the classroom. His eyes lingered on me for a too-long moment before sweeping across the classroom and starting the lesson. For the rest of the period, I noted, he completely ignored me, which was different. He did not step in when the Slytherin girls from before jeered at me about Fred.

Most surprisingly he did nothing when Alphie Ackley tripped a random Gryffindor behind me into her own cauldron, spilling the entire potion all over me, to which very painful red bumps started forming on my face and arms. He did however, interfere when Fred yelled profanities at Alphie and shot a hex at his back.

Without looking at me he'd quickly counteracted the effects of the potion on me with his wand and gave Fred two weeks worth of detentions, reasoning that Alphie had done nothing, that it had been an 'accident' as Alphie had claimed.

"Git," Fred muttered as we left the room. "I already have a row of detentions with Umbridge this week." He pulled me to a stop at the side of the crowded hallway. "Let me see, did he get all of it off?" He held my chin and tilted my head up, then inspected my arms for any bumps that might not have gone down.

"It's fine, Fred," I said shortly, "I'm fine."

"No you're not, look at you."

I smiled reassuringly at him, "I'm just…shaken. It's okay, really."

His thumb stroked my chin. "You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?" he asked quietly.

A deep sickly feeling cramped in my stomach, "I'm fine, let's just move on."

"Can I kiss you first?"

I smirked, feeling the eyes of several students passing by us, and nodded.

He stepped toward me, my chin still in his hand, and kissed me very explicitly, drawing the eyes of even more passerby. He pulled back and grinned nervously.

As we strode down the hall together we stood so close our arms touched.

I caught Pansy glaring at me and chose to ignore her. She'd said nothing to me since she'd run into me and Draco arguing in the hallway, staying off to the side silently and giving me nasty glares when she could catch my eye.

"Perhaps we should skip Defense Against the Dark Arts," Fred suggested.

I gave him a dry look, "I'd rather go to class than another detention with her."

I laughed, "You were only in detention with her for ten minutes."

"Well I guess I'm a wuss, Fred." I smirked.

"Fine, then let's skip Binns class."

I looked at him questioningly.

I was once again reminded of how much taller he was compared to me as he looked down at me. Then I noticed a devilish glint in his eye.
That look answered all my questions.

"I thought we were taking this slow."

"Oh, come on!" he said exasperatedly. "I don't mean it like that, I just, I don't know…" he ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "I just want to be around you."

"You're with me…right here."

"I mean somewhere not in the confines of a classroom under the eyes of our teachers and gossipy peers. I want to be with you, but I don't want to be with you with them. You know?"

That sinking feeling in my stomach was growing heavier.

I took his hand, looping my fingers in his and looked up at him, forcing myself to look him in the eye. "We'll skip Binns."

It was inevitable when I ran into Draco on my way up to my dormitory; he'd been leaving with Crabbe and Goyle. When he saw me his expression became a bit apprehensive. "I'll see you two later," he said quietly, and chased after me to my room.

I was sitting on my bed with my knees up to my chest when he found me.

"What did he do this time?"

"Draco, just shut up and leave me alone."

He sneered, "Fine, I won't talk about him right now if you don't want me to." He took a seat on the side of my bed and looked down at my stomach, "How's…it doing?"

"I've, er, been feeling it move."

His eyes widened slightly, "Really?"

"Yes," I ran a hand across my stomach, "It—er, she was kicking."

"She?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, she."

"Are you sure about that?"

"No," I admitted, "But I have a very strong feeling."

He snorted, "That's promising. You know what I think? You seem more like the mother of a boy."

I raised an eyebrow, "Would you like to bet on it?"

He grinned, "Yes, I think I would."

"If I'm right and it's a girl you'll have to apologize for every bad thing you've ever said to me."

"That's quite a long list. Alright, if I'm right, you'll do one thing for me."

"What?"

He looked at me intently, "Kiss me."

I forgot how to breathe, not sure if I was disgusted or embarrassed, "You want me to…"

"Yes," he said firmly, "If it's a boy I want only a kiss from you."

"B-But…" I stuttered, feeling flustered.

"It's just kiss, Kira."

"To me it might be, but to you it wouldn't just be a kiss."

"Are you agreeing to the terms of the bet or not?" he asked impatiently.

"Draco, kissing you would be…weird."

"Not to me."

"I…er, fine," I said, wondering how I got myself into these situations. I agreed only because by the time I'd had the thing, I'd already be long gone, in hiding, and would probably never see Draco again for a long time.

"Good. I look forward to that kiss."

I scoffed, "And I look forward to a very long apology."

He shook his head, "You really are something, Kira Malfoy. Not many girls would put up with me like you do." His hand came up to stroke my cheek very subtly, but I turned my face away, dodging his touch. His jaw tightened and he stood up. "I'll see you around."

I wiped my cheek with my hand as he slipped out, as if wiping it off would erase the fact that I'd almost let him touch me.

Once again, I'm reminding you to review. :)