Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Alright wonderful readers, update time. I started writing this chapter and it seemed I couldn't stop. So this chapter is really really really long. I hope you enjoy it though, its pretty good. It's actually more of a filler for between chapters. The next one should be really good too.

Okay so I just wanted answer some question that I've already gotten to this chapter. Maybe it will clear things up if you read to the end. My view of Harry is I guess a little different from some peoples. I love him, don't get me wrong, but he does have his faults. Its obvious he has a hero complex which woud account for his obsession with Isabella. Draco is his enemy and he sees Isabella as being trapped and in need of his help. The easiest way for him to do that is by love, or what he believes is love he has for Isabella. And that's why he does what he does. Don't worry nothing bad is going to happen, the couple will have much bigger things on their plate in the future. So there you go.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed: lovegreys and Airlady! This super long chapter is dedicated to you. Read, review, and enjoy! Magnolia

Chapter 36 Damsels, Knights, and Dragons

Isabella's dream was one not worth leaving.

She and Jason were lying together on the beach watching the sun come up. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her, enveloping her in his warmth.

Isabella sighed and snuggled deeper into his embrace. His fingers played against the small of her back, rubbing her from back to hip.

She nuzzled his neck and released a warm breath.

"Isabella," he whispered.

She couldn't help but moan his name, a long guttural, "Jason."

"Isabella," he said again as he nudged her shoulder.

"What?" she asked and rolled her head to meet his eyes. But they weren't a deep hazel green she was accustomed to but a steel gray.

Isabella shook the dream away with a yawn and a long stretch. She heard the crack of her back and smiled, it was a good morning.

"Good morning Draco. How are you today?"

He didn't answer right away but Isabella proceeded to get out of bed anyway. She climbed out of bed and her feet made splat sounds on the hard wood floors as she walked to the fireplace. The house elf must have already been by and stirred last night's fire back to life. Isabella grabbed the poker stroked the flames.

"Draco?" she called over her shoulder.

He sat, hair disheveled, arms crossed in front of his bare chest.

"Did you have a good dream dear?" he spat at her.

"Yes, why do you ask?" She heard him growl at her answer as he wasted no time in getting to the point.

"Who's Jason?"

Isabella's heart raced and her hand nearly dropped the hot poker. How did her know? She had been careful, so careful. How had Draco figured it out? Maybe he was a legilimens or…no…Blaise wouldn't have told him. Isabella thought quickly because she had little time as she stabbed the fire once more.

"Jason?" her voice was weak and Isabella damned herself for her nerves.

"Yes fucking Jason. You moaned his bloody name this morning. Who is he?"

Draco was in a near rage. He has pushed back the covers and charged her in only his boxers. Draco stood before her, his eyes blazing in anger. His hands were clenched at his side to stop his own desperate want to grab her.

"Oh…Jason. Really I moaned out Jason? That's weird," she lied expertly.

"Who is he Isabella?" Draco hissed.

"Just a friend from California, one of my very best friends actually."

"You moaned his name like a lover, how good of friends were you?"

'Keep going Isabella,' she coached herself, 'you've got him right where you want him.'

"Why Draco, are you turning green with envy? You know jealously does not become you."

"Damn it Isabella! Was he your lover? Has he spoiled you?!?"

"Spoiled me Draco? What the hell is that suppose to mean? Just because I'm a woman I can't have sex till marriage because then I'll be spoiled? There's no need to be a chauvinist pig because I know you aren't a virgin. God that's just like a man. Just so you know there was nothing in our marriage contract that said I had to be a virgin. And if it did I guess our marriage is null and void because I sure as hell am not. Draco we live in the 21st century. You'd have to be an idiot to think like that."

"Who Isabella? Tell me who!"

"No! No, because my one doesn't exactly match up to your hundreds. Fuck off Draco I don't need this," Isabella turned and stormed towards the bathroom.

Before she closed the door in his face Isabella screamed, "And just so you know Jason was not my lover. He's gay you insensitive prick."

The slam reverberated throughout the tower and was enough to wake head girl Hermione from a dead sleep.

Isabella paced through the bathroom, occasionally throwing her hands up in frustration. What was supposed to be her alibi quickly turned into another fight.

Isabella didn't know why Draco made her just so angry or why he said just the stupidest thing.

"Stupid man," she cursed, "stupid jealous man."

He had every right to be jealous, Jason was his only competition but Isabella knew that the winner had already been chosen in that race. And what gave him the audacity to call her spoiled? Christ, it was like she lived in the middle ages where Draco played the knight in shining armor and she the damsel clutched in the talons of a dragon named Jason.

Isabella eventually cooled down and realized this had worked in her hand. It wasn't about Jason, her "gay" friend anymore but her lost virginity. Isabella sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. She needed to apologize for overreacting again and then maybe he would be satisfied enough to let her down to breakfast.

The door creaked open letting her element of surprise slip away.

Draco was perched on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. He didn't raise his eyes at the sound of the door.

Isabella tiptoed across the room to him. She took his hands, forcing him to face her.

"I'm sorry again Draco. It seems all we ever do now is fight, almost like we're a real married couple."

He smiled slightly, "So Jason isn't you lover?"

"No," Isabella assured him but quickly bit her tongue.

"And you've only had one lover?"

She nodded yes.

"May I ask what his name was?"

Isabella's eyes turned a devilish dark chocolate.

"Oh I believe you know him. He goes to this school. A certain Italian who goes by the name Blaise Zabini."

Draco began heaving and turned a dark shade of pink. He looked ready to murder. He jumped from the bed and rushed to the door to extract his revenge.

"Draco, I was kidding. Draco!"

Isabella chased after him and was finally able to tackle him against the long couch in the common room. Isabella sat on top of him, her arms holding down his shoulders.

"I was joking you fool. God, you are too easy," she giggled.

His eyes lost their rage but turned suddenly to a dark lust.

"Good because I would have had to kill him."

"Now Draco "

"No, I would have killed him Isabella."

"No need to be so territorial Draco darling. You have me for life it seems unless not being a virgin does "

Draco cut off her cunning tongue with a bruising kiss. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and flipped her so he was on top. His kiss was demanding and he was in fact marking what was his in a desperate attempt to calm his fear.

"If you two could please take that into your own room, I would be very appreciative."

Both heads shot in the direction of Hermione's voice.

She stood at her doorway, hands on her hips.

"Sorry Hermione," Isabella mumbled pushing Draco off of her. She pulled Draco's hand with hers as Isabella stomped back to their rooms to avoid any further embarrassment.

By the time they reached breakfast Isabella was mortified.

Hermione had seen them…she probably thought that they…oh God.

Well that sure as hell didn't happen.

Isabella had thwacked Draco on the head so hard she was surprised little cartoon birdies didn't start flying around his head. But Draco being Draco never cared and wore that damn smirk that drove Isabella crazy.

"Bastard," she muttered as they walked into the great hall.

Everyone had turned up for the breakfast and the impending Hogsmeade trip and was surprised to see the Slytherin couple. It started with the Hufflepuffs who first noticed their arrival and cooed in delight. The Ravenclaws followed and Anthony Goldstein won three galleons in the pool. Slytherin next, the girls disappointed there was no chance of shagging Draco or more realistic, shagging him again. The boys couldn't have cared less and were concentrated on the next quidditch match. The Gryffindors were last, as they were the most oblivious, excluding Hermione of course who had seen everything first hand. The whispers soon filtered over the French toast and around the bacon. The Slytherin king and queen were back together and most rejoiced.

Isabella took her seat next to Blaise, obvious of the face he was making at her.

"Don't say a word Blaise, actually you should be thanking me right now. I saved you life this morning."

"Was this before or after Draco attacked your lips?"

"Before," Draco answered for her with a smirk as he plopped down beside her.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh you know you liked it love."

Isabella silently munched on her French toast before devouring three sausages, two think slices of bacon, and a pear.

"Wow was someone hungry Isabella? Did you work up an appetite last night?" Blaise joked.

"No, and I didn't even eat that much prat."

"Don't let her fool you Blaise," Draco interrupted, "we had a very good time last night."

"No we didn't, the sunset ended to soon, I didn't even get to enjoy it."

Blaise nearly spit his sip of coffee across the table with laughter. Isabella joined him while Draco pouted, "It did not end too soon."

"Don't worry about it mate," Blaise said with a slap to the back, "I hear all the time that sunsets are never long enough, especially when there spent with you."

Draco threw a bagel at Blaise's head which he easily caught and took a large bite of.

Isabella simply laughed between the two of them.

"Now boys, come on. Don't make me get you mothers. One of you has to show me around Hogsmeade, so let's go."

They all abandoned breakfast and bundled in their coasts headed to the quaint little village.

Isabella held her hand out the window of the carriage, catching snowflakes on their way to Hogsmeade.

Draco and Blaise had acquired a seemingly horseless carriage and they were all on their way. Draco and Blaise sat on one bench, deep in a quidditch discussion. Isabella's only knowledge of the game was the name of the positions and the balls. They were arguing over players, teams, and the various plays. She had quickly lost attention in the disagreement and took to watching the snow.

Isabella fingered the new necklace lying in the hollow of her throat. It felt heavy and cold, not only physically but emotionally as well. She couldn't deny Draco the pleasure of seeing her adorned like a Christmas tree with the sparking jewels he bought of her.

The lie last night and the morning had been all she was able to stomach for now. Isabella didn't know many more lies, more secrets, would be told before he discovered the truth. It was inevitable that he would soon know of her "prior commitment" to a muggle in California. Draco would be murderous and even more so after he learned she had lied to him. Isabella just prayed she could keep the charade up a little while longer.

The sudden stop of the carriage jolted Isabella's thoughts from her mind and she pulled her hand back inside ignoring the numbness.

Hogsmeade really was something to see, especially at Christmas time.

All the shops pulled out their finest ornaments to decorate the fresh cut pines. Carolers sang the usual yuletide songs and Honeydukes handed out free peppermint sticks.

The three walked the length of the main street or High Street as they called it with Draco occasionally pointing out shops and inns. At the end of the road, they turned and retraced their steps back to the more popular stores.

In front of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop Blaise mentioned his desire for a new quill and left the couple in the street. The conversation quieted with Blaise's departure, and they were content to just window shop holding hands.

At two o'clock they all meet back up at the Three Broomsticks for some lunch. Blaise and Draco volunteered to order food if Isabella found a table.

The place was packed with students escaping the chilling cold but Isabella snagged a table in the far back corner.

She sat people watching while the boys got lunch. A table of Ravenclaws was arguing over the benefits of use ash wood shavings as opposed to birch in some advanced potion. A small table of Hufflepuffs bellowed loudly with laughter. And finally the largest group of all was the Gryffindors who took over nearly half the inn with different students running to the bar every ten minutes wanting more butterbeer.

Through the beer sloshing, Hermione caught Isabella eyes. She gave a small wave and a friendly smile. Isabella smiled in return but turned away as Hermione's friends questioned who she was waving at.

The boys soon arrived, their arms full of butterbeers and delicious bar food. Isabella moaned and groaned over every piece of fried food and easily drank two butterbeers on her own. They chatted happily about Blaise's plans for Christmas and their looming final semester of school. With Voldemort defeated the future they fought so hard for was fast approaching and it was brighter than ever.

With lunch finished the group split again, each going their own separate way to purchase Christmas presents. Isabella wandered around a bit, thinking mostly of what to get everyone. The only people she had bought Christmas presents for in years were Jason and her father. Now there was Draco, Blaise, Narcissa, and her mother. Oh that was going to be a hard one. What do you get a torturing pureblood mother? Isabella didn't think a year subscription of Cosmo magazine would work well in that situation so she went on the look out.

The jewelry store easily satisfied both her mother and Narcissa. Pureblood women couldn't deny emeralds, especially those in a dark Slytherin green. Blaise was easy as well. As soon as Isabella saw the brown dragon skin jacket Isabella knew it was perfect for Blaise.

Her father and Draco were a different story.

Alessandro Bucellini preferred the sentimental, handcrafted gifts as opposed to the material. Isabella could easily find him something nice in Italy, maybe a new painting that is if she was even able to see him this break. Hell, Isabella didn't even know if he knew she was married. It was going to be a fun Christmas break if she did see him.

Isabella could see how that would go… 'Hi papa, this is my husband Draco. You didn't know I was married because mom planned all this and never told you. Merry Christmas.' Draco wouldn't survive the firs hex and then her father would leave her to clean up the mess. Yeah it was going to be an interesting winter break.

The young couple hadn't quite decided though what to do about the break, but it was certain it wouldn't be spent here at Hogwarts. Maybe if they did go to the manor Draco would keep his promise to accompany her to muggle London and she could find something for her father and maybe even Draco himself.

Nothing it seemed in all of Hogsmeade could grab Isabella's attention that was until she saw a very interesting pair heading her way.

Hermione and Professor Lupin were quietly strolling close together through the narrow streets. They were too caught in each other to notice the stares they were attracting. And rightfully so, they both looked so happy. Hermione's checks were a rosy pink and Lupin's face aside from his scars was handsome and confident.

What Isabella saw before all other things were their shining eyes. Each held a small twinkle that only appeared when someone was in love. Isabella only knew the twinkle because Jason's eyes used to shine like that at her and hers at him.

She let a sly grin cross her face.

'Ah to be young and in love,' she giggled to herself.

Isabella shook her head of dirty thoughts and focused again on the couple.

They stood in front of Honeydukes, whispering sweet things in each others ears. It was a beautiful thing, love. But love came with consequences, and many more for Hermione and Lupin. It was common knowledge he was a werewolf and twenty years her senior. Their relationship would not be easily accepted by the wizardy world. Isabella only hoped they possessed the strength to hold onto this, their love, because in the end it was more precious than any jewel.

The couple dreamily moved from in front of the store window and Lupin's arm steadily guiding Hermione from the small of her back.

When Hermione saw Isabella she smiled lazily, "Oh hello Isabella. How are you this wonderful day?"

"Hello Hermione, Professor. I'm just fine. Doing a little Christmas shopping before break. And what are you two doing together?"

"We're just taking a walk, enjoying the beautiful winter day."

"Lovely, well I must be going. Do enjoy yourselves."

They both nodded and went upon their happy way.

Isabella meandered around Hogsmeade for another hour before opting to explore the quiet forest surrounding the town. The worn trail was lost beneath the falling snow but Isabella paid no mind on her journey and moved on an unbeaten path.

It was so peaceful, so calm out here away from all civilization as compared to the hustle of even the small town. All her thoughts flew from her head and Isabella just spent some time unwinding and enjoying the scenery around her.

That was until Isabella heard a pair of footsteps before her.

She spun sharply, her wand at the ready but there was no one behind her, no imprints in the snow.

Isabella gave a sigh of relief and turned to continue her walk only to stare into dark green eyes.

"Hello Isabella," he said calmly as he took hold of her wand, "there will be no need for that."

Isabella was too shocked to react and let him take her only line of defense.

"How are you today Isabella? Enjoying Hogsmeade?" he asked cordially as he stalked her like prey.

"What do you want Potter?" she spat.

"Nothing, just wanted to see how my favorite girl was doing."

"Cut the shit Potter, what do you want?" Isabella held her ground but just only as Harry continued to circle her.

"I've been watching you all day, waiting and then at lunch I saw your sign."

Isabella's mind reeled. A sign? What in the bloody hell was he talking about?

"Potter I have no idea "

"Please call me Harry, there's no need for formalities here."

His grin frightened her and Isabella tried desperately not to show it.

"The sign dear, I saw it. The smile at the Three Broomsticks and I understand, I understand completely."

"Potter "

"Harry."

"Harry, you've misinterpreting my smile. It wasn't a sign, hell it wasn't even for you."

"Oh but it was love, I know it's hard to admit when you need help but I'm here now there's nothing to fear."

He swiftly pulled her in his arms and kissed her. Isabella acted automatically, pushing him away but her arms were no match for his. His kiss was hard and punishing far worse than any of Draco's.

Isabella was only able to escape when she bit down hard on his invading tongue causing a rush of blood in both of their mouths.

He jumped back quickly, anger and lust swirling in his eyes. He licked his lips perversely, "You taste so good Isabella. I can't wait till we don't have to hide our relationship, when we can kiss and parade around all we want."

Isabella's eyes widened in shock, "Relationship? We don't have anything even resembling a relationship. You've lost it Potter."

"But my love when I save you from that evil dragon you won't help by love me. That's how the story goes. I'll be your knight Isabella; I promise I'll save you."

He was becoming more and more insane by the minute and Isabella needed to find a way out.

"Yes, Harry," she purred, "please save me. Promise me, promise me with a kiss."

Harry's hungry eyes shone as he pulled her back into his arms. Isabella quickly pulled up her right knee bringing him to the sodden ground. She grabbed her wand and ran as fast as she could, not once looking back at the screaming Harry.

By the time she reached the town, Isabella was heaving, trying to fill her lungs with air. But the cold winter had made the air sharp and like little knives they stabbed her as she continued on.

Isabella had to find Draco. She raced like a mad woman through the streets, rounding corners with amazing speed. She stumbled once or twice but was quick to get back on her feet.

Isabella found Draco exiting Honeydukes a small box in his hand. She launched herself into his arms. The box fell forgotten to the ground.

"Isabella, Isabella honey what's the matter?" he soothed.

She only buried her face deeper into his warm chest.

"What happened?"

She gave no answer.

"Please, you're scaring me. Tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.

Isabella lifted her head to look into his concerned eyes, "Can we please just go back to the castle now?" she asked as calmly as she could.

"Of course," he said as he kissed the crown of her head.

Draco moved to leave but Isabella stopped him.

"Draco your chocolates."

"You mean yours. I got them for you. I didn't know what kind you liked "

She thanked him with a kiss. His eyes lit up and handed the box to her, "Now let's get you back to the nice warm common room."

Isabella nodded in agreement and eagerly accepted his hand and they walked back up to the castle after a long hard day at Hogsmeade.