February 14th, Valentine's Day, and Ivy was completely alone.

She leaned against the wall outside Dark Arts, and wallowed for a moment, knowing she was isolated from every other human, ghost and creature at the school. It was almost as bad as being at home with her Father.

Draco's sharp laugh broke through her consciousness and she allowed herself to steal a glance at him. Crabbe and Goyle were creasing over at something he'd said, and Draco was standing with his hands in his pockets, like always.

She yearned for him like a bee for nectar, but she couldn't have him. They'd spoken a handful of times, and he'd assured her that his feelings were still potent, but it was becoming harder to believe. He'd slipped into his role overnight, and his friendship with the Slytherin thugs was painfully easy to believe. Ivy watched as he gave Goyle a confident smirk, and her stomach flipped. She had no idea how she hadn't loved him the first time she saw him, he was perfection, and her feelings hadn't faded from their separation.

Draco happened to skim the crowd and their eyes met. Ivy felt a deep flush warm her cheeks as a smile curled his lips, barely noticeable, but there, all for her.

The door opened and Amycus Carrow ordered them into the room, and when Ivy passed him he beamed at her, displaying his jagged teeth. She didn't like that look. As she entered the room, the reason for his glee became clear.

After Christmas, Carrow had stopped practical demonstrations and nobody had been harmed in his lessons. Ivy predicted that Snape had come up with an excuse as to why torturing the students wasn't necessary. But today, the chairs were formed in the all too familiar circle.

Nobody sat at first. The pupils gathered at the edge, with pale faces and frightened eyes. Ivy caught Neville edge closer to Ginny.

Luna hadn't reappeared, and despite Ivy's best efforts she hadn't received any news from her. McGonagall refused to talk about it, but her lips pursed when Luna's name was mentioned. Ivy knew her friend was in trouble, but nobody would confirm it.

"What are you waiting for? Sit," Amycus chuckled, and rubbed his hands together.

Ivy felt eyes on her, but didn't turn around to check. Gradually people took their seats, and Ivy found herself squashed between Crabbe and Neville, but neither acknowledged her presence.

Amycus was almost hopping with excitement, and he cast his hollow eyes over the faces. "As you've guessed, we're having a practical lesson," he squeaked. "We've had to put it off because of someone not wanting me to damage future dark wizards and witches," he rolled his eyes. "But the Dark Lord has rightly said he doesn't want Death Eaters who can't cope with a bit of pain. Although I expect most of you will be dead before you get that far."

A few people exchanged nervous looks at his words, but nobody caught Ivy's eye. "Who shall we choose today," Carrow wondered, as he tapped his fingertips together and turned on the spot. His eyes locked on Ivy, and she tensed, waiting for the dreaded point of his finger. But it never came. Instead, still looking at Ivy, he gestured a few seats to her right, "You," Carrow said and moved his gaze from her at last. Ivy turned to see who the unlucky victim was and her mouth went dry. Carrow's bony finger was reaching for a blonde wizard, her wizard.

Draco felt a mix of emotions when Carrow picked him out; relief because it wouldn't be Ivy, but dread at the oncoming pain.

He kept his face hard and emotionless as he went to stand up, refusing to show fear. "No," a voice said forcefully, and he shot his eyes to Ivy. She was on her feet, and a fierce determination was glowing on her beautiful face.

"Sit down Green," Draco spat, but she didn't move.

Carrow giggled and strode to Ivy who didn't flinch. "What's this, are you protecting him?"

"No I'm not," Ivy disagreed, and folded her arms. Draco widened his eyes, silently begging her to shut up and sit down, what was she doing?

"Do you think there is something wrong with my choice?"

"I just think it's a bit of an easy pick, he's probably had this done to him a hundred times, we all know who his Father is. I for one would like to see someone else feel the Cruciatus curse, maybe somebody who will actually learn something from it."

The Gryffindors were scowling at her with an unbridled amount of hatred, but Ivy didn't care. She knew what would happen; it wouldn't be one of them who would take Draco's place. "Who do you suggest?" Carrow asked.

"Why are you letting her decide?" Draco snarled, and Goyle tugged at his sleeve.

"Sit down Malfoy," he hissed, "do you want to be tortured or something?"

Draco pulled his arm from his friends grasp. Ivy threw her head back, and looked around the room, "I don't know," she said, "most of them have already experienced it."

"You're right," Carrow agreed, "but I believe you haven't."

There it was. Draco caught a grim smile fleet across her face, and understood. She wanted it to be her, she couldn't see anyone else get tortured. His brave, stupid witch. Draco opened his mouth but Ivy fixed him with a hard stare and cut across.

"No, I haven't," she said.

"Well then, let's give it a go, shall we? With…Mr Crabbe performing it."

Draco swallowed as Crabbe stood up immediately, and again Goyle pulled at him to sit. "Malfoy," he growled.

Draco was staring at Ivy as she took her position opposite the squat boy. He didn't know what to do, he couldn't let it happen, he wouldn't. Carrow turned to him and smirked, "Mr Malfoy, perhaps it would be better if you left the room and waited outside. If you're too sensitive," he chuckled.

"Yeah, get out Malfoy," Ivy agreed. She didn't want him to watch, not if he didn't have to.

Draco didn't move, he noted how her hands quivered and the light had vanished from her eyes. Carrow blocked Ivy from his view, "I said get out," he snapped and waved his wand. Draco's feet were swept from under him, and the next second he was out of the room with the door slammed in his face.

"No!" he shouted and punched the wood with his fist, "Fuck," he yelled and hit it again, but the door remained closed.

From inside the room, Ivy waited until the banging had stopped and the room fell into uncomfortable silence. Crabbe was practically drooling with anticipation, and his wand was sparking in his hand.

"Off you go," Carrow pushed, and moved away to watch.

A bubble of panic swelled in her chest, but she refused to let it show. All eyes were on her, for the first time in months, and for once she wished she was invisible. Neville was leaning into his knees, and staring at her curiously, as if confused by her motives.

Crabbe grinned and a burst of laughter escaped his lips, "Crucio," he cried.

Ivy knew she had hit the floor, but didn't register the impact on her knees or her back. Every nerve in her body felt nothing but explicit pain, burning and cutting her as if her skin was being stripped and incinerated. It was worse than she could describe. She was screaming, but the sound was almost drowned out from the rush in her ears, they must be bleeding. Surely her insides were melting out from any gap they could find. Her eyes were blurred and watering, with tears and sweat streaming down her face. Then it was gone.

She gasped and her throat panged from the effect of her screams. Ivy gasped and her muscles twitched. At this point, students would be dragged out by their friends, usually unconscious, but Ivy didn't have any friends.

With shaking limbs, she forced herself to her feet, and faced the boy again. Carrow could barely contain his delight. "What's this? You want more?"

No, she didn't, but she couldn't let them think they'd won. She wouldn't be broken. From the corner of her eye, she saw Neville and Ginny look at one another.

"More it is."

Draco had stepped away from the door after her screams had ended, waiting for someone to pull her out and take her to the hospital wing. He'd almost screamed himself listening to her. He had pummelled the wall and tried to block out the sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

He waited, but the door didn't open. Ivy screamed again.

He shook the handle and tried to blast the door open, but he couldn't get in the room. They were never tortured twice, never. He needed to get to her. What kind of a coward was he? Letting the girl he had feelings for replace him? A shadow made him turn.

Professor McGonagall was striding up the hallway towards him. "What's happening?" She asked.

"It's Green," he said in broken sentences, "the Cruciatus curse," he had to yell to be heard over her ear splitting cries. "He's done it twice," Draco added and clamped his fingers in his hair.

McGonagall pushed him aside and waved her wand at the wood. The door was ripped from its hinges and exploded into thousands of shards.

Draco saw Ivy, writhing on the floor, mouth open and blaring. "Stop this at once!" McGonagall barked with her wand still in her hand. Crabbe dropped his arm and Ivy went still. Her breathing was hitched and she didn't look like she could move.

Carrow was glaring at McGonagall with pure hatred. "This is not your class," he snarled.

Draco stepped forwards to get Ivy but someone was already with her. Neville and Ginny picked her up and began to carry her out of the room. Nobody stopped them. Ivy's eyes were shut and her face was snow white and damp. Draco went to follow her but Ginny scowled at him, "Back off Malfoy."

Something about the way she said it, made him obey her. Ivy was better off with them; he only seemed to get Ivy hurt.

"Class, leave at once," McGonagall said and there was a rush of movement as pupils ran from the room. Draco followed them, and as he walked down the corridor, the two teachers began shouting.

Ivy awoke in a comfortable bed and wearing fresh clothes. She forced her eyes open and her entire body objected with dull aches and throbs. The memory of the pain made her shudder, and a tear wound down her cheek.

"She's awake," a voice commented and Ivy forced her head down a fraction to see who had spoken. Ginny and Neville were watching her with what appeared to be concern.

"Are you alright?" Neville asked and Ivy winced.

"Of course she isn't Neville," Ginny replied.

"What are you doing here?" Ivy asked and twitched her fingers, making sure they worked.

The Gryffindor's frowned at each other and Neville answered. "You knew that if you stopped Malfoy being chosen, you'd replace him." It wasn't a question. "You did it to stop him being tortured."

"So what if I did?" Ivy croaked.

"Luna said something to us before she left at Christmas. She said that we should trust you, because you were more like us than we realise."

Ivy swallowed down the lump in her throat, she missed her friend.

Ginny continued instead of Neville, "What you did for Malfoy was brave, even if it was for him. It's something we would do."

Ignoring Ginny's comment about her boyfriend, Ivy remained quiet.

"Are you a Death Eater?" Ginny whispered.

"Not even close," Ivy replied.

Neville nodded and sighed. "If you really aren't bad, you play it well."

"Yes, I do," Ivy said, and her lips cracked painfully when she tried to smile.

"We can't stay," Ginny said as Madame Pomfrey appeared. Ivy nodded as they stood; wondering if this was all a joke. The red head turned back to Ivy and rubbed her lips together. "Look, I don't know if I trust you or not. Luna did, but she was easy to deceive."

"No she wasn't," Neville disagreed.

"Sometimes," Ginny continued, "but I trust her. So from now on we won't carry on treating you like Slytherin scum. But if you ever give us reason to doubt you…"

"I get it," Ivy breathed.

"We'll try," Neville said and his expression was considerably softer than Ginny's.

"Come on Neville, we have to go," Ginny goaded. The boy nodded and smiled shyly at Ivy, before they left her alone once more.

It was just before midnight when Draco slunk towards the Hospital wing. He'd waited all night to leave, but Crabbe and Goyle had stayed up discussing class. Draco had managed to convince them that he wanted to show his worth, and that was why he had fought against Ivy replacing him. No matter how evil they were, they were still morons.

His footsteps echoed as he entered the white room, and he slowed to mute them. A body stirred and his attention settled on Ivy.

She was watching him and smiling gently. Despite her happiness, she looked awful. Her hair was matted and her skin had a sullen sheen to it. Still, he'd never seen a better sight.

With four steps he was with her, and he leaned down to kiss her firmly on the lips, she winced beneath him as he pulled away. "Did I hurt you?" He asked.

"No," she lied and he raised an eyebrow.

"Why did you do it, Green?" He asked bitterly, and she looked away from him.

"I couldn't see it," she answered, "I couldn't have coped."

"And you thought I could?" He said and gripped the edge of her mattress.

"You weren't even in the room."

"That made it even worse!" He raised his voice a fraction and she tapped his hand to quieten him. He continued in a restrained voice. "I had to stand there, listening to you being tortured and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. It was the worst moment of my entire life. Not being able to…" He trailed off and hung his head.

Ivy reached out with a shaky arm to stroke his face, "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wasn't thinking. But if I could go back, I'd make the same decision." Draco shot his head up. Ivy met his gaze, both soft and serious. "I never want to see you hurt. Even if that means you hate me for it, I will always choose you over me."

Draco sighed and shook his head. "Don't you think I feel the same?"

"It doesn't matter, your life is more important that mine."

"Don't you dare say that," he snapped.

"Draco, you are going to be somebody. You're smart and strong, and have coped with more trauma than any boy…man should have to." She cupped his face in her hand and he let her bring him closer to her. "I'm sorry you had to see that today, but please don't be mad for too long."

Draco rested his forehead to hers and curled up beside her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. "You're wrong about me," he mumbled.

"No I'm not. I've never been more right in my life." Ivy stared up at him and a spark lit in her eyes, "We don't know what is going to happen, so I need to say this, and I don't expect anything back." Draco tensed but let her carry on.

"Draco Malfoy, I love you." She said and his fingers gripped her tighter. "I love you more than any joy in this world. You are my only reason to exist. I don't know how I survived all these years without you, waiting to find my purpose. I will love you until I take my last breath, and there's nothing anyone can do to change that."

She stopped and her jaw clenched as if waiting for him to mock her. Instead, Draco bent down and kissed her, passionately and slowly. She yielded to him and pushed aside her pain in order to press him closer to her. He wouldn't say it back, they both knew it. He wasn't ready, and he wasn't the type of man to be lead into a confession as important as the one she had made. But that didn't mean it didn't make him infinitely happy to hear it from her. Nobody had loved him like she did, and a part of him doubted that anyone ever would.

Once they'd broken apart, Ivy lay in his arms and savoured every swell of his chest beneath her. He knew he couldn't stay long. Soon he would have to break free from her and go back to pretending they weren't the centre of each other's universe. But for now, they could be together. Even for a little while longer.

A clock dinged and told them it was midnight. Valentine's Day was over.

A/N: As usual, I would love reviews on this! On the topic, I had a wonderful review from a guest! No idea who you are, but thank you very much! There will be more interactions with the Order as time goes on. We're well over half way and the end is in sight sadly! Thank you again :)