I was completely stuffed as I made my way up the stairwell to the common room. I flopped onto my bed and kicked my shoes off, sprawling out. Luna turned on her bedside lamp and opened up her trunk to unpack, giggling at my gesture.

I shifted about, trying to get comfortable. There was a lump under me. Silky fabric touched my fingertips as I tugged, the light catching the emerald green of Draco's cloak. The house maid must've found it while cleaning our rooms over break. I couldn't help but grin as sandalwood still radiated off of it.

"You're delusional," Luna replied. She tried to stifle a grin as she pulled her pajamas on.

I rolled over onto my stomach and faced her. "I saw him over break you know." Luna raised an eyebrow. "He gave me a gift." I laced the silver chain around my fingers and pulled it out from beneath my shirt. The silver struck the light.

Luna's eyes became wide as she slowly walked over to my bed. She took the vial in her hands and looked back up to me, mouth agape.

"Lyra, this...this is unicorn blood." She stared back down at the vial. "How did he... get this?" her voice trailing off. She seemed almost entranced by the blood, turning the vial in her fingers. "Such is said that one lives a cursed life to whomever kills such an innocent creature," she murmured. "Do you think he did it?"

I only shook my head. Draco wouldn't sacrifice his own life to provide for another. That thought was preposterous.

"Let's just hope I don't have any near-death experiences," I joked, rolling back over. Luna got under the covers and propped herself up on her elbow, looking at me.

"Do you think what Harry said is true?" She asked. Honestly I had no idea. Death eater or not, Draco possessed a skill that I needed to master. I couldn't believe I was saying this but I needed him.

I wondered what would happen after our sessions were over. He surely didn't need me. I would be just another person to pick on. Another girl to succumb to his every touch. Memories of our time together flashed before my eyes. He was slick; he was a charmer.; and I had completely fallen for it. I pulled the robe closer and blanketed myself.

I finally turned to Luna and responded, "Well...even if he was, not all death eaters are horrible. Look at my uncle! He was trying to look out for his family when he contacted my father." And then it hit me. Draco at least knew about the death eaters and were in communication with them. He did know about my uncle before I even had a clue. He was our secret link.

Luna seemed to make the connection the same time I did. "You have to ask him Lyra."

I was very hesitant about this. I barely wanted to be involved but here I was dead center of the entire revolt.

I sighed as she turned off the light. I sat there staring into the darkness. "Ya, I guess..."

The next morning my nerves were completely shot. Not only did I need to find a way to approach Draco, I also had my first apparition class. This class was typically held by the ministry in Hogsmead, however, due to the recent occurrences and ever growing number of people missing, a representative was teaching a class at Hogwarts in the Great Hall for only an hour at a time. All aurors had to complete this class and it usually ended in at least one instance of splinching per student. Useless pain was not on my typical to-do list.

After breakfast, Luna headed off to her first class, leaving me with a free period before Apparition. I found myself heading to my safe haven, the library. No amount of friends or family could comfort me like books could.

I found myself a little nook between two bookshelves in the Magical Creatures section. I leaned up against the shelf and closed my eyes, breathing in the smell of musty textbooks and parchment. I placed my hands against the row of books and let my fingers caress the spines. I melted as my mind cleared temporarily.

I heard a chuckle coming from the end of the row and opened my eyes to see none other than Draco Malfoy.

"You need to stop creeping up on me like that," I glared. Way to ruin a relaxing moment, prick.

"Oh did I intrude on something?" he smarted off. It was almost as if he read my mind.

"Actually, yes." He raised an eyebrow. I sighed in frustration. He wasn't going anywhere. "If you must know, I am very anxious and I can't shake it."

He smirked and made his way over to me. Draco propped himself against the bookshelf with an arm, blocking me. "Oooh...anxious? Do tell."

I sighed, putting my hands on my temples. Pain shot through my brain and from under my eyelids. His eyes met mine and then landed on my chest. He gently took the vial in his other hand.

"I see you like my gift," he grinned softly.

"Did you...?" I asked. I had to know. Draco chuckled again and dropped the vial. He leaned closer and whispered, debitum amorem in aeternum. I looked at him puzzled as he smirked. Our close proximity made my heart fly out of my chest. What was he doing to me?

Draco pushed off the bookshelf and changed the topic, pulling me out of my fantasy. "So, when are we going to practice again?"

I suddenly remembered my task at hand. This was my chance to ask for his help. The notion almost made me laugh.

"Tonight?" Then I remember my other task at hand, surviving class. "That is...if I don't splinch to pieces today."

Draco was taken aback momentarily. "Apparition, huh? You mean to tell mean your parents are aurors and you can't apparate?"

I crossed my arms and gave him a glare. "What? Can you?"

The librarian walked by the bookshelves and shushed us.

Draco rolled his eyes. He looked back at me and smiled a playful boyish smile. I stood there staring at this boy. The same one who could kill me and melt me all in the same. It was no denying I was lunatic at this point. He leaned in again to whisper, "There's a lot you don't know about me." My breath caught. "Well then show me,' I wanted to say.

"Meet me on the seventh floor left wing corridor at 9 tonight," I said as I headed back to the Great Hall, hoping Draco hadn't noticed me blushing as I left.

That evening I ran through the corridors up to the seventh floor. I had questioned Luna prior to figure out the magic behind the door. Her answer was extremely vague, but having a permanent place to practice without fear of being seen was exactly what we needed. It was worth the risk and so much was weighing on this meeting for a third party to ruin it.

As turned the corner, I spied Draco examining a suit of armor in the corridor. He lightly ran his finger down the blade of the battle axe. He was completely mesmerized by the weapon.

I crept along in the shadows, brushing the ground lightly with my boots. This was the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack. He had done one to many on me. Revenge was sweet. I slowly approached him from behind.

"Don't" he turned to gaze over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow and producing a smirk.

Bloody hell! I growled in frustration. Draco wiped his hand on his robes and turned to look at me.

"How did you know I was here?" I shot at him. He smiled.

"I have a keen sense of perception, what can I say?" he shrugged. I looked at him with a queer expression. He chuckled and crossed his arms. "So where exactly are we going this evening?"

I giggled, "I'll show you." I motioned him to follow as I headed at a brisk pace down the corridor toward the room of requirement. I stopped in front of the broom closet.

"It's...here?" I turned to look at Draco who had a nervous expression on his face.

"Yes. Just watch." Draco rubbed the back of his neck. I turned to look at the broom closet and closed my eyes. According to Luna, I had to picture exactly what I wanted the room to be. One filled with random tactical items for our practice. A room where no one could find us. Completely secret and safe. I opened my eyes to see the door grow high above our heads. I smiled at Draco feeling accomplished and giddily pushed to open the doors.

The room was filled with piles upon piles of broken furniture, old textbooks and many rusted trinkets. This was perfect! I went over to one pile and picked up an old golden goblet. I wiped it clean to reveal images of dancing goblins etched in the side. This room contained treasures that could amuse for days. I almost had forgotten the purpose of the evening when Draco cleared his throat.

"Erm... this place looks quite occupied, don't you think?" he said, still posted up outside the door.

"What? Are you serious? This place is just what we need." I motioned for him to enter. Draco frowned and proceeded to follow.

I looked around for an empty clearing and found one near the right hand side of the room. I grabbed a bench and turned it right-side over while grabbing a rotted textbook and ripping a piece of paper clean out. Draco slowly stepped over as I folded it into a paper crane as fast as I could. I felt childish, being so excited, but I had so much to show him.

He stood there, arms crossed, watching me patiently as I placed the crane on my hand and closed my eyes. I could feel the crane lift off. I peeked one eye open to Malfoy smirking at me. The crane then flew past his face, barely missing it as he ducked backwards.

"Careful there, Carrow. Can't wreck the winning feature." I laughed. He was so full of it.

The bird flew in circles up to the top of the vaulted ceiling. Focusing, it burst into flames, tumbling to a dramatic death. I smiled smugly at Draco. He raised his eyebrows and did a slow clap.

"Ok, ok, so you can levitate. You spent all of your break learning one thing?" He shook his head. I grinned.

"Oh, I just got started," I giggled. "My mother taught me this one." I grabbed his hands and turned them upwards. Little tiny sprouts of green growth started to form on his palms. The leaves were quickly accompanied by small, dainty, yellow flowers. The stems slithered around his long fingers, tracing his veins and wrapping around his wrists, quickly growing in size. Draco started to get antsy but I held tight, reassuring him I had it under control.

I gently blew on the rapidly spreading greenery. Small ice crystals started to form; cold penetrating the vine. I kept blowing until it was completely frozen. The stems then cracked into a million pieces, falling to the floor.

After a long silence, Draco finally spoke. "I thought you weren't much of a green thumb." He rubbed his wrists where the vine had been.

"My mum and Professor Sprout have been friends for a long time." I thought of my mum and dad. They promised their safety as they saw me off on the train yesterday but I still worried, especially with death eaters using the imperius curse all throughout the ministry.

I looked up at Draco. He could very well be in on this. Would he even tell me if he knew my parents were in trouble? Did he even care? Probably not. He left me feeling confused after our time together. He was heartless according to Harry and everyone else under the sun. But the way he looked at me in the Slytherin stairwell, the girls bathroom covered in blood, right now?

Draco had been staring at me this entire time. I was too deep in thought to notice and now I just looked like an idiot.

"Something on your mind?" He took my hand in his. I looked down at our fingers entwined. Was I just another project for him? Could I trust this boy? At this point, he was our only lead on our hunt for Voldemort. If he was indeed using me, I was about to return the favor.

"I need your help." I blurted out. Here goes nothing.

"Is this not what is happening right now?" he questioned, letting go of my hand.

"No, like a favor." I grimaced. This was such a complete shot in the dark. He just stared at me, not looking convinced. I couldn't believe I was about to beg.

"Please. It's about my uncle."

"How do I have anything to do with your uncle?" he scoffed.

"Oh please. I know you know where he is. You say you have a way in with the death eaters." I persisted.

"I pay my debts Lyra, not give favors. I'm not a charity." he replied, heated. I had to cool him down if I was going to get this.

I pulled him down to sit on the bench. I strattled it, looking him dead in the eyes.

"I need to talk to him Draco. About my father; family matters really. I need your help. Please." I had to lie. Who knows what would happen if he found out the real reason. Draco looked down to avoid my gaze. I look his hands in mine, hoping to get some sort of positive reaction.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he looked up at me with a somber expression on his face. He wasn't going to do it. I had one last shot. I yanked at his hands, making him topple closer to me. I took advantage of his instability, grabbing his face and kissing him deeply. My hands slid up, grabbing his hair, putting all of what I had into it.

He grabbed at my leg, pulling me in closer. His hand wrapped around my neck, massaging the base. I started to melt into him but I had to pull myself back together. I bit his lip and pulled away. Draco held his breath for a few counts and finally exhaled, shaking his head. God dammit he said under his breath and sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

I squealed. I DID IT! I did a victory lap in my brain as I hugged him.

"You owe me one," he replied. The silver in his eyes flashed. I knew what he wanted.

"Not now. We've got work to do." Draco laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Fine. My turn to show you some tricks."