Chapter Twenty-One

-1995-

Scarlett

I woke up warm and comfortable and not alone. Although I couldn't see him, from where I lay on my side, I was unmistakably being securely held by one Draco Malfoy, and the realization came as the kind of shock which sent all sorts of questions flying through my head. Firstly, how had this happened and why?

This was, it was bizarre. He was, for lack of another word, cuddling me. Who knew, Draco cuddled and as embarrassed as I felt to simply think it, it was kind of nice.

With that alarming thought, I decided I needed to get up. For a moment I remained still, figuring out if he was asleep or not. I could just detect the slow intake and exhale of each breath, his chest, my back was pressed and held against, rising and falling in rhythm.

Asleep then. Carefully I reached for his wrists, to un-circle myself and get off the chaise.

"Don't, I'm sleeping." His voice murmured drowsily. I paused and then tried moving his arms again. This time they locked around me and he shifted slightly, pulling me back, closer.

"Sleeping, stop moving." He sighed.

"Draco, if you were sleeping, you wouldn't be talking. I replied pointedly, unsure what was going on, what I should do.

"You woke me up."

"Why are you uh, cuddling me?"

"I'm not. Now go back to sleep."

"Uh, yeah you are."

"I'm not, I'm getting my way."

"By cuddling me?"

"Yes, no, no it's not cuddling." He insisted, a small yawn escaping him.

"It is."

"No, its part of my plan. Now will you be quiet and sleep."

"What do you mean, plan?"

"For Merlin's sake, my plan to convince Pansy I'm not interested."

"Woah, no, I'm not being your midnight excuse." I struggled to sit up, but his hold on me tightened, keeping me against him.

"You won't be, if I go back to the dungeons after a night away actually smelling like I've been with someone and in yesterday's clothes, she might finally take a hint. Salazar knows just being out the past few nights hasn't worked. She's a bloody harpy." By his tone, I imagined he was scowling.

"Smelling?"

"Like perfume, girly hair care, all florally and what not." He muttered.

"You're mad."

"Dedicated." I scoffed at that.

"So, I have to endure your... cuddling?"

"I'm not cuddling, but yes and for the record, witches across Great Britain would kill for such an opportunity, so do not scoff."

"Why me?"

"You are conveniently tolerable and you happen to smell nice."

"I'm uh, flattered." Completely confused was more the case.

"Besides, you owe me for spending the past three eves on this lounge looking after you, and for last night, specifically."

"So, you're holding me hostage?"

"Is it so terrible? Your warm, comfortable, its much quieter than the din of trying to sleep if we were in our dorms, and no one is going to disturb us, we can sleep in until lunch if we like." I had to admit, he made a very enticing point. Sleeping in was not exactly an option in the fifth-year dorm, and it was peaceful and quiet here. I couldn't exactly deny that I was warm and comfortable.

"I guess so..."

"Excellent, now please can we cease talking so I may go back to sleep?"

"One more thing?"

"Fine, what?"

"What happened last night for me to agree to this arrangement?"

"You were freezing and Umbridge tried killing you on Veritaserum."

"She what?" I remembered walking through her office door, taking a seat and the vial, she thrust at me, and told me to drink. I couldn't remember anything between then and waking up. "She gave me all of it." I found myself muttering darkly.

"She'll regret it." He whispered. Was there a fierceness to his words, a promise?

"Did I say if I told her anything I shouldn't have?"

"You didn't."

"Did I say anything else?"

"No." He replied firmly, his jaw pressing a little more against the top of my head where it rested. "Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Um…" I was having trouble coming to terms with our proximity, his reason was... strange. "Why didn't you just ask me to spray you with a bit of perfume or something, if you needed to smell, girly?" His whole body stiffened.

"Didn't think of it, besides you were cold and I was sick of sleeping upright." He replied after a moment. I nodded, deciding it was a more plausible answer. "Now let me sleep."

"Okay you can go back to sleep… and, I guess, continue your cuddling."

"No, I'm not cuddling. I don't do cuddling."

"Sure you don't." I smirked as he muttered something under his breath and respectfully readjusted his hold on me before relaxing again.

"Just go back to sleep." He murmured lazily.

"Okay." I made myself relax, finding it to be easier than I initially thought considering. I guess spending the past three nights being looked after, having no choice but to unconsciously trust this guy, had left an impression. He wasn't so bad, like everyone always insisted. Although I'd already begun figuring that out days ago.

Soon, his breathing had changed, steadying to a peaceful rhythm. It was lulling. He'd been right, damn him, the peace and quiet, and the warmth of lying there with him, hidden away where no one would disturb us, was truly the perfect way to just sleep.

…

The antechamber was filled with much more daylight when I awoke again. This time, I remembered where I was and who I was with. He hadn't moved, but he was awake. He was, oh my gosh, why was he running his fingers through my hair?

"Good afternoon." He drawled out.

"What are you doing to my hair?" I stammered, shocked by how nice it felt.

"Playing with it obviously."

"Oh, um okay, why?"

"Because I was bored." He stated mater-of-factly. "It's exquisitely silky, akin to feathers." He mused, his fingers running through it again.

"Feathers?"

"Yes."

"Um, okay, thanks I think." That was the strangest comparison I'd ever heard, but I think it was meant to be a compliment. I guess feathers were nice and silky soft. "What's the time?"

"Last I checked, twelve-fifteen, it is likely half-past now." Merlin, we had slept until noon!

"We should go, it's going to be hard enough explaining where I've been all morning." I sat up, the single arm which had been draped across my waist, retracting back to its owner who sat up too. It reminded me again how strange this situation was, and how confusing this closeness was.

"I suppose." Draco agreed as I stood and stretched. I turned to him and he dropped his gaze, finding and donning his shoes. Feeling a little awkward, I pulled my own shoes on, manually tying them. "Right then, shall we? I have a grand entrance to make." He declared regally, but there was a smirk playing on his lips.

I stared at him, remembering his plan to throw Pansy off his case. "Did it work then; do you smell like you spent the night with a girl?" He lifted his arm and smelt his robe sleeve.

"Indeed." His smirk grew. "Pansy will not be pleased."

"What if she doesn't get close enough to smell you? I mean, if you're trying to deter her, you're not exactly going to be inviting her close enough to smell you." He frowned and then looked as if I'd crushed his plans for world domination.

"Damnit!" He ran a hand back through his hair, leaving it tousled. An idea struck me.

"You need to look the part if you want to convince her you've been, well you've been-"

"Shagging some witch senseless for the past sixteen hours?" I raised a brow at his choice of words but nodded. He smirked deviously.

"Care to help?" He waggled an eyebrow.

"Sure." I replied, without missing a beat.

"What, really?" He uttered.

"You wish." I snickered.

"Too bad, the authentic look would have been worth it." He smirked again and I shook my head, laughing quietly.

"Take off your robes."

"How forward, would you like to take them off for me?" He answered lowly. So, he wanted to play…

"I could…" I murmured, leaning down to take my wand from my bag. Smirking, I flicked it at him, causing the three clasps of his school robe to come undone. He stared at me in complete shock. "I'm sure you can manage the rest, I did the hard part."

"You're a tease." He muttered petulantly, shrugging off his robes to reveal a black button up shirt beneath.

"No, you have wild expectations." I grinned. "Now untuck your shirt and unbutton two buttons on the top of your shirt and one from the bottom, oh and the cuffs too." He raised a brow but did as I instructed.

"Better?"

"Not quite." I walked back towards him and reached up to his hair and gently began to mess it up. Catching on, he lowered his head, putting my nerves on end, the way his gaze locked suddenly onto mine.

"You know, while you're there you could ah, leave a couple marks." He whispered.

"Marks?" He tilted his head, exposing his throat. He couldn't be serious? There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, daring me. He was still playing his games. I kept my left hand in his hair and gently pulled his head down, bringing my lips close to his ear, simultaneously pulling my wand from my robes again.

"I suppose I could…" I whispered. "Work my magic." His breath audibly caught and I smirked. Pulling back a little, I pressed the tip of my wand gently to his throat. "How many do you want?"

"Did I mention you're a tease?" He breathed out. I ignored him but I felt a surge of power knowing I had gotten to him. Murmuring the spell, we'd learnt in Potions to draw blood, I worked lightly to create small red and purple bruise marks on his throat and along his collarbone. Finishing my handiwork, I stepped back to survey him.

"Now you look like you've had a busy night."

"How ironic, I did have a busy night." He smirked. "So, how does Scarlett Asher know how one should look after a 'busy night'?"

"I've had a boyfriend." I shouldered my bag.

"Have you now?" He mused. "Not so innocent then?" I let out a derisive snort. "What happened if he is now, ex boyfriend? The move here?"

"We had different expectations." I murmured.

"Perhaps too innocent?" He raised a calculating brow. I merely laughed.

"One of my friend's back in Australia was a Muggleborn witch. I'd go to her house sometimes and Muggle houses have these things called televisions. Its like going to the theatre, but it's not live, its recorded like music, like moving pictures in sequence." He watched me in confusion. "So, there was this show, like an acted-out book series, which my friend used to watch, called Neighbours, and I watched it with her sometimes in the holidays, along with films which were the length of a theatre production."

"And your point is?"

"Sometimes there were scenes showing people, well muggles, after they'd spent a night with someone."

"Brilliant, so you've made me look like a Muggle?"

"No, idiot, I'm saying just because I had a boyfriend, doesn't mean that's how I know things."

"Well I do happen to personally know what one would look like after time spent between the sheets." He grinned wolfishly.

"That's uh, great." I didn't really need to know that!

"And, I believe your alterations to my appearance will suffice."

"Oh good." I rolled my eyes, making my way through to the main chamber.

"Do you think Muggles, do it different to us?" He asked, walking close behind me.

"I don't know, probably not. Go and find a Muggleborn and find out, or better yet, a Muggle." He snorted.

"I don't think so."

"Oh, not so changed in opinion then?"

"Well I, I don't know. That is a step too far, that's… it isn't right." I cocked my head, looking back at him.

"Between you and me, Purebloods and Half-bloods have better morels when it comes to that sort of thing, or so I've noticed.

"Your ex, he was a Muggleborn?" I nodded. "Wow, that's… wow." Draco looked utterly staggered at my revelation. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Go for a Muggleborn?" I shrugged.

"He was funny, hot, popular and a great Quidditch player."

"How very, deep of you." Draco drawled out sarcastically.

"Yeah well, that was all he was. I learnt my lesson."

"Which was, don't date Muggleborns."

"Well no, don't date guys a couple years older who only want one thing."

"How old were you?"

"Um, thirteen."

"How old was he?"

"Fifteen, nearly sixteen."

"What a dog. Sounds like something Blaise would do, although he hasn't tried shagging anyone under his year level." He made a noise of disgust. "You're right, Muggleborns have no morals, by Merlin, no wonder there are so many Muggles in the world, if they are shagging one another that young, worse than bloody pigmy puffs!"

"Draco!" I tried stopping his choice words on the matter, now we were in the empty corridor, but it was all too funny and I found myself reduced to laughter.

"Shh, you'll give our ruse away! He hissed, but he was grinning. Oh my gosh, he was genuinely grinning! The change in him was so startling, I abruptly stopped laughing.

The grin fell away, but he looked lighter, somehow. He observed me, distractedly scratching at the back of his neck.

"So ah, do you want to meet up later this afternoon, say four, to actually put in some practice?" He asked.

"Sure, I can do four." He nodded, seeming pleased.

"Excellent, now I must go and ruin Pansy's mortifying wedding plans." His devious smirk was back as we reached the end of the corridor which turned onto the main corridor.

"Good luck." I smirked back, wondering just how long it would take for the gossip to reach Gryffindor tower. I turned to go, making it all but five steps before he called out softly.

"Scarlett, this morning was nice." I turned back briefly to look at him, feeling warm suddenly, like I was wrapped up again with him on that chaise.

"Yeah, it was." I flashed him a quick smile, before hurrying down the other corridor, towards the stair, wondering just what I was going to tell the others.

Draco

Before entering the Slytherin dungeons, I steeled myself away in a dark corner behind a suit of armor and for a moment, grinned to myself.

Who would have known how incredible simply sleeping next to someone else could be? To hold them like that? I could have remained like that all day, no, all week!

Scarlett was something else. I was finding it to be so more now than ever. She wasn't just a pretty face and a drool worthy body. I couldn't explain it, last night, I'd had an overwhelming need to keep her safe and a burning desire to get even with Umbridge for hurting her. This morning; blissful and fun with the banter and teasing which I hoped was also flirting on her part, I couldn't exactly be sure.

I was both glad, and disappointed it was her last detention. Perhaps I could persuade her into the odd lie in, every now and then on a weekend? Merlin, how would I explain that without the excuse of unconsciousness?

More importantly, no Muggleborn buffoon had had his way with her like I'd first feared. How on earth she'd decided to date one, despite his supposed merits, was beyond me. Clearly, according to my correspondence with Raven, they were alright, very mildly alright, but getting close to one, ugh!

Why though, did it bother me if someone, anyone, had had their way with her? It's not like I, well I did, I had wanted to and I guess I still did want to, she was bloody gorgeous in my opinion, but now, it was different, I just needed to either figure out how, or ignore it. Ignoring it seemed preferable. Besides, I was waiting on important information from Raven to help sort the utter catastrophe my mind was in.

Pushing everything to the back of my mind, I left my hiding place and sauntered into the Slytherin common room like the Sex God I was pretending to be, although I was quite sure, given that French girl, I already unofficially owned that title because that had not been a once off affair.

To my delight, the common room was full and there was Pansy, staring absolute daggers at me, roving jealously over my perfectly disheveled appearance.

"Salazar, Draco, you look like you had either a rough night, or a brilliant night!" Blaise chortled as he left one of the lounges, to greet me.

"A bloody fantastic night!" I smirked. "And morning." I added for good measure, knowing Pansy was listening beside Daphne, on another lounge. Blaise gave an approving whistle.

"You have been busy, so, who was it this time?" He smirked as I purposely yawned and then ran a hand through my hair, making sure Pansy would cop an eyeful of my neck. I'd never let her leave a mark on any part of me, she'd be greener than the lounge she accommodated soon!

"Can't say who, unlike you, Zabini, I don't kiss and tell."

"Anyone I know?" He pressed with a wink and I scoffed.

"Wouldn't go sullying myself with your previous conquests." I laughed derisively. "No, much, much better." I openly bragged, noticing I had the attention of the seventh-years too.

"Older?" Montague called out?

"You'll never know." I smirked smugly, letting him think he was possibly right. He grinned patting me on the back as he walked past.

"Four witches in four nights, that's a Hogwarts record. Well done, mate!" Smirking, I began making my way to my dorm to shower, yawning again. I needed to eat too, I was starving.

"Draco!" Oh, here it came, the harpy herself!

"Yes, Pansy?" I stared boredly at her.

"Is that really where you've been all night, all day, shagging some dumb witch somewhere?" Her voice was high, painfully so.

"Yes. Although, I wouldn't say dumb, clever thing really, brilliant imagination, fit, if you catch my drift." I smirked down at her.

"What about me? What about us?" She practically shrieked and this time I winced.

"Will you cease your horrid shrieking, I've had a busy night, my head is sore." I turned to open the door. "As for an 'us', how many times will it take before you get it, there never was an us. Stop deluding yourself, its embarrassing to watch." Before she could say another word, I slammed the door in her face.

…

As I suspected, rumor spread like Fiendfyre and as I strode back from an afternoon fly, donning my Quidditch gear, there were whispers and giggles and wishful gazes from plenty of witches. It was all too funny, and so I winked at one of the prettier Pureblood fourth-year's, passing from the courtyard, holding down a snicker as she gasped and whispered excitedly to the friend by her side.

I had everyone fooled and my reputation was not just intact, but it had succeeded itself!

Sauntering victorious back to my dorm, I re-showered, threw on clean clothes and fixed my hair, before wrapping my school scarf, which smelt like peppermint and something else nice, thanks to wearing it Friday eve when Scarlett had fallen asleep against it, once about my neck.

I'd now be spending the remainder of the afternoon with her, and provided I could convince her to stay, we'd have dinner as well. With one departing glance in the long wardrobe mirror to ensure I was every inch the good-looking wizard I was, I made my way to the Finer Arts chamber.

Scarlett was already there, and I paused leaning against the doorway, listening to her play. She didn't know I was there, I could tell by the way she played, with pure abandon, throwing that fieriness of hers into the music she created.

I knew the song, it was relatively new. The way Scarlett played it, was different, it was like I was hearing it for the first time. She'd conjured a smoky red ribbon of sorts as she played, and it twirled about, twisting and looping, blossoming and shrinking above her open lid. It was beautiful.

I waited for her to finish before I made my presence known, striding in, closing the door with an audible thump, behind me. She looked up and towards me, startled.

"How long have you been here?"

"Long enough." I smirked and she looked immediately troubled.

"Is that a problem?"

"No, I guess not, you startled me, I thought I was alone."

"It seems you play better when you are alone." She narrowed her eyes at me. "I meant that as a compliment." I added, reaching my own piano and unlocking it.

"Which one do you want to start with?" She asked once I'd finished a quick warm up of scales.

"Let's work on Ocean and Atlantis, first." And so we did, creating swirls of colour, akin to the sea as we played. We then went on to play the Muggle song, followed by creating the fieriness of our last piece, Light Up.

"What's the time?" Scarlett asked after we had practiced through a third time. I took out my pocket-watch.

"Just gone six. Would you like to just eat here, relax for a bit and then we could continue if you want?" I asked casually. Her eyes met mine, filled with consideration.

"Okay, but only if you are nicer to Pippa, thank her."

"I do thank her." I bit out.

"You do?" She seemed surprised.

"When I feel like it." I shrugged. "So, you'll stay?" She nodded and I very carefully held back just how pleased I was. "Sunday roast with all the trimmings?"

"Why not, I daresay it's what everyone else is having."

"Pippa." With a crack, she appeared.

"Greetings Master Malfoy, Miss Asher." She stared with those disproportioned eyes of hers, up at us.

"Can we please have two serves of dinner brought to us here, along with pumpkin soup, and hmm, blackcurrant juice."

"Yes, sir!" She chirped, round cheeks flushing before disappearing again.

"Blackcurrant juice?"

"It goes well with roast, and I felt like pumpkin soup, not pumpkin juice." She merely nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

"What?" I demanded, levitating a table closer to our pianos and setting two chairs on either side.

"Nothing." She replied, absentmindedly playing a small tune, I didn't know. Pippa returned within moments, with a serious looking Hogwarts Elf in tow, each carrying a tray. She was intuitive, my Elf, quickly seeing the table I had set up and placing the tray on it. The other Elf followed suit and then they vanished.

I stared at the space they had been in. I hadn't wondered this since I was quite young, and I wondered it aloud now.

"What do you suppose House Elves do when they run out of work for the day?"

"My families' spend their free time in the gardens. No one's ever home, so they can do whatever they please." Scarlett murmured.

"I doubt my parents ever run out of chores for ours."

"How many does your family have?"

"We had five, one of father's, was freed, no thanks to Potter's meddling." She laughed quietly and I sent her a narrowed look.

"Ours are free, we have three. Huh, that rhymed." She chuckled to herself.

"Let's eat." I decided, gesturing her towards the table of food. At the last moment, I thought to pull a chair out for her.

"Oh, thanks." She smiled sweetly up at me, but there was a faint trace of worry there too.

"You're welcome." I murmured, taking my seat across from her. The Elves had set the plates out and taken the trays away, making it a decent enough lay out, for a meal set up on a mundane school desk.

I felt eyes on me and focused on her deep green gaze, noting the smirk playing on her lips.

"Yes?"

"This is all very chivalrous and proper for one who has effectively slept his way through four witches in four nights. I hear the last one was, and I quote, 'A bloody fantastic night, and morning.'"

"Nothing travels swifter than a rumor through the corridors of Hogwarts." I grinned. "As for this, a way to avoid the dinnertime hall and eat my first real meal of the day in peace. It's also my way of atoning for my make-believe sins." I smirked again and she laughed. I liked her laugh. It made her whole face light up. It wasn't teetering like Daphne's, nor was it painfully high like Pansy's, it sounded nice, and always genuine.

"Well you better eat, you poor famished soul." She murmured, starting at her own plate after a sip of juice.

We dinned in comfortable silence, no words needed. I wondered if she was enjoying the quiet we had together as much as I did? It again crossed my mind to try convincing her to stay here tonight again, but I had no plausible reason without her coming to conclusions I was not myself ready to come to.

I guess if she tested Umbridge again, there would be more detentions, but after what she had unknowingly told me she had remembered and recalled, and thank Merlin, forgotten, I hoped there would be no more. Umbridge, I had yet to get even for what she did.

"Should we practice for a little while longer?" Scarlett spoke up, finishing off the last of her lemon tart. I looked up from my finished meal, to catch her licking her bottom lip of the taste of desert. My mouth went dry at the thought of what those lips tasted like. Quickly I finished my juice.

"Draco? Are you okay, you look, well I don't know, peaky? It's okay if you want to head back to your dorm or whatever you'd usually do on a Sunday eve." She hurried out, looking confused. Oh Merlin, now she was biting that bottom lip worriedly. Damn it, she was hot, what would it be like to kiss her...? I imagined it would be as fiery as her wit, but sweet too, like the way she smiled sometimes. I nodded mutely, lost momentarily for words as I stared at her mouth.

"Draco?" I forced my gaze to her eyes, seeing only more confusion there and she shifted nervously, running a hand through her hair.

"Yeah, uh, I should head back, you know, catch up on sleep, I'm tired." I finally formulated words and stood. Salazar, how was it she managed to reduce me to sound so foolishly intellectual? It was downright embarrassing. I needed to get away from her! I stood and so did she, looking apologetic.

"I, well I'm really glad you've been around to help me the past few nights…"

"A coincidence, conveniently for you." I replied, although we both knew that was a lie.

"Well, thank you. I mean it." She did, I could see it in her tentative smile as she closed her piano for the eve and picked up her bag.

"I know you do, thanks for uh, helping me get Pansy off my back." I replied in kind, packing away my belongings, shouldering my own bag and locking my piano.

"That's alright, the rumors alone will keep me amused for the next week or two." She flashed me a grin, walking to the exit.

"Ready for Potions tomorrow?" I asked casually and she nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, can't wait. Easily my favorite subject. "She chirped away and I scoffed.

"You are officially the first Gryffindor to ever say that."

"Really, why?"

"Snape."

"Oh, he's okay, considering all the Gryffindors do hate him. I wouldn't want to cross him, but he's a very thorough teacher, and I like his challenges." I nodded, completely agreeable.

"I'm glad we have that in common. He is my favorite Professor." I confessed. She smirked up at me as we reached the spiral staircase.

"Of course, he is, he lets you get away with tormenting everyone else in class!" I shrugged.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"Goodnight, Draco." She smiled cheerily and the strangest thing happened, she lightly touched my forearm before proceeding up the stairs, but that wasn't the strangest part, it was that my heart seemed to jolt.

Reviews always welcome, they give me motivation to update faster.

Thank you to the following:

starlightning0 - Welcome to the story, glad you like it! Yes, Vegemite has an acquired taste, I love the stuff, so much, but I really like salt though!

.2017 - Thanks.

Samantha - Fangirl away, here is another one, great to know its not getting dull!

Pottermouth17 - Ha ha, here is more, but I'm not going to make it that easy, their figuring out who they are. They are smart, but unfortunately not that smart!