Please be advised the third section of this chapter involves dark, perhaps triggering scenes.

Chapter Thirty Six

Malfoy's affections were annoying at first. He would purposely seat himself behind me in classes and I could feel his eyes on the back of my head. I felt like a gazelle under the lions hunt. He would then kick my chair trying to get my attention and when I would finally turn to him he would just flash me that devilish smirk. At breakfast, he would prepare my cup of tea and have it waiting by his side, prompting me to sit beside him. I was flattered he knew how I liked it; maybe Daphne told him, there was no way he had studied it after all these years at the breakfast table. It was soon becoming an expected tradition each morning, I had started to expect my tea ready and waiting by him. Then at night in the Common Room, he would almost sardonically wish me a good night sleep. I played with it though, accepting the good fortune.

Things became harder to ignore when he seemed to grow impatient. The next few weeks he would spend every chance he had vying for my attention. We were in transfiguration and he unceasingly kept showing off his skills. Daphne believed he was being a show off to the class, but I caught the glimpses of those silver eyes seeking my attention.

"Come to watch me, Taylor?" He would tease before the Quidditch practice Daphne would force me to come watch. The next hour would consist of him purposely doing tricks on the field. But that wasn't the worst part of it all, it was the sly subtle comments he dropped here and there that made me red. Nevertheless, he was always the gentleman. I grew quite accustomed to him holding doors open for me, pulling out my chair for me or just the simple manners he displayed. His parents had taught him well. Then it all reached the tip of the triangle one afternoon as we were leaving D.A.D.A class.

"Taylor," his voice called down the hallway.

A groan rumbled in my throat and I told Daphne and Nott I would catch up with them later. I turned on my heel and looked at him, peeved and raising my eyebrows in a what-do-you-want-now fashion.

"Don't be like that, you know you're loving this," he said smugly as he strolled over. "What are you doing this weekend?" He asked with a glint in his eye. "Actually, never mind, I know what you're doing. You're coming with me to Pucey's party."

"I'm not going to Pucey's," I said with distaste. "I don't know if you haven't noticed, but Payton has been keeping her distance. As well as Pukey."

"Doesn't mean you're not invited and even if you weren't, you are now."

"Regardless, I don't want to go." I tried to take a step away to continue leaving, but his hand stopped me.

"Please let me take you," his tone was too honest, almost a trace of beseeching. "School has been stressful and with everything you're dealing with-"

I put my hand on my chest and acted a gasp, "are you considering my feelings for once, Malfoy?"

He rolled his eyes in response and through gritted teeth said, "-you deserve a break."

"If Pansy sees you with me she will go on a rampage," I teased.

"Pansy can't do jack shit," he spat, offended I even brought her into the equation. "Stop making excuses and just go with me. I'll even make you a deal."

I quirked a dark brow. "I'm listening."

"One night with me at Pucey's and I'll take it easier," he offered with the raise of his head. That Malfoy pride working its magic to negotiate.

"Deal." My eyes travelled on his body, looking him up and down as a cocky smile developed on his face. "You know," I smirked, "if you keep crowding me people are going to know you have this thing for me."

Malfoy threw back his head with a careless smile – hands slipping into his pockets as he took three steps closer - oh so slowly. My mouth went dry, the smirk faltering, and I couldn't help but inhale a shaky breath.

His tall form towered over me until he bent down and quietly spoke. "Good."

The heat was sucked out of the situation the second he rolled back onto his heels and left. His footsteps echoed down the hall while I stared wide eyed at the ground. How did he have that effect on me? An effect that not only stopped my insides from functioning, but managed to warm my heart – igniting a fire and heating everything within me. It was different from what Cedric had made me feel, not the same light fluttering that made me melt. No, this wasn't delicate butterflies hovering by, this was dragons plunging and smouldering me with a fierce combustion. I closed my eyes, yearning myself not to ponder it, to ignore and not explore the evident feelings.

But those molten silvery eyes were growing more alluring by the day and I wanted nothing more than to swim in them.

"Does Malfoy like you?" Faye asked randomly during one of our study sessions in the library.

I almost knocked over my pot of ink while dipping my quill. "What?" I said louder than intended, receiving a few harsh glares around us in the quiet library.

"Does Malfoy-"

"No, I mean, I heard you." I didn't want to hear it again. "What makes you think that?"

"Ummm," she looked at me as if I was a Muggle. "Maybe how he was practically hanging off you today at lunch?" The memory of Malfoy repetitively reaching past me at the table so he could keep rubbing against my shoulder flashed in my mind. "Or maybe the salted caramel sundae incident."

I frowned at her. "What salted caramel sundae incident?"

"Millicent tried to take the last one, but you wanted it and Malfoy kicked up a huge fuss over it." She reminded me. My mouth made an O as I recalled. "Or maybe his insistent nature on sitting next to you every class lately." She added and then frowned, "or maybe the fact he simply won't take his eyes off you and checks out your behind every chance he gets!" Her volume had risen to an alarming capacity by the end of her sentence. Her small nostrils flared as she breathed a disgruntled sigh.

I stared at her, my brown eyes were dinner plates and my lip dropped, completely taken aback by her sudden outburst. Then a green greed clawed within me, did Faye like Malfoy? Was she jealous? The amount of worry that began to grow in my chest concerned me, but it was the possessiveness tingling on my fingers that distressed me the most.

She closed her pale eyes and did a laboured breath. "I'm sorry," she said calmly. "I'm just jealous."

"Do you like him?" I asked with knitted brows

"No!" She shrieked. "I mean, he's gorgeous." She admitted and the little green monster inside me grew bigger until she continued, "but he's not exactly the prince charming I'm after." Her posture slumped, and her bottom lip pouted. "It's just, Daphne has Theo and Payton has Adrian and now it's looking like you have Draco," my heart flipped at the words being spoken by someone else. "I feel lonely, Mel. I'm not usually the lonely one."

"Faye, your value isn't measured by what guy is on your arm. You mean so much more to the world than that." I gave her a soft smile.

Her light blue eyes shone and a small coil on her lips told me she felt a little better. "Anyway, this isn't what I wanted to talk about really." The small coil unravelled into a delicious grin. "Malfoy?"

My eyes screwed shut as my throat wanted to reject what I was about to say. "He's mental." I said and looked at her amused expression. "And evil and cruel and arrogant and spoilt and-"

"Okay," Faye laughed, "I get it."

I smiled, satisfied and returned to my reading. We were quiet for the following minutes, nothing but the flicking of our parchment and scratching of our quills making a sound.

Bitterly cold yet humid - such an enchanting combination that confused my skin on whether to shiver or sweat. The combined wind blew across my skin like the lacy tide on a frigid winter beach. Hogsmeade was filled with an ominous brittle silence that we had never encountered before; granted we had never been here so late in the afternoon. We were all trekking our way to Pukey's party. Daphne, Nott, myself, Malfoy, Blaise and the fabulous Crabbe and Goyle in tow. Again, I was wearing Daphne's clothes as she offered me a simple khaki green dress, one that fell a little too low on my chest since I didn't have the volume she did.

"I'm so glad you're coming," she said to me as we walked down the cobblestone paths.

"I feel like I need a drink," I confessed flatly. "Or ten."

Blaise rubbed his hands together, "there better be birds at this party."

"Knowing Pucey they'll be nesting there." Nott said.

The rough wind brushed against me again, causing goose bumps to raise over my skin. Soon a warm, smooth material was felt draping over my shoulders and I looked to see Malfoy throwing one of his cloaks on me. "Don't be prideful, just take it." He scoffed.

I saw the small smile on Daphne's face, she was a huge advocate on Malfoy's attempts to court me which was bothersome. I had explained to her thoroughly the dangers of what could happen, but she was adamant Malfoy wouldn't do that to me.

We continued walking to the Three Broomsticks Inn, the conversation of Pukey's party the topic on everyone's lips. Apparently, he had rented out the largest suite possible that took over the entire top floor of the inn. When we arrived, I was surprised at the effort he had put in to pretty up the room, but a quick sighting of Payton checking everything looked good told me it was her efforts. Music boomed loudly from the walls, a spell charmed on them whilst the lights were dimmed to make it a cosier atmosphere.

Payton went to great lengths to avoid me the entire time which made it harder to spend time with Faye who was feeling conflicted between us. So instead I third wheeled with Daphne and Nott at first, the two of them drunk on love as they slowly sipped their way through a bottle of firewhiskey. Considering I thought Malfoy would be hanging off me all night, I was quite glad to be a boring third wheel. But watching him entertain Pansy and her friend instead made me itch for his attention. My knee was subconsciously bouncing anxiously as I started to pother. I mean - not that I cared - but wasn't he meant to be my date?

Faye soon got me up and over by the punch bowl, feeding me drink after drink. The cherry flavoured juice starting to stimulate my brain in relaxing and exciting ways.

"Another," she said after downing a third cup. I forced down my last sip of the drink.

"Faye, I don't think I can." I said.

"No, you're not drunk enough." She scolded and started pouring me more.

"Why do we have to be drunk?" I asked.

"Trust me, if you want to put up with some of the guys at this party, you need to be drunk." She gave me serious eyes and then flickered them over to the underwhelming Anthony Goldstein who was rubbing against Parvati Patil's behind. I then saw Tracey Davis and Stephen Cornfoot going for it just behind them and physically shook.

"I don't want to put up with any of that, really." I admitted as she shoved another sticky cup into my hand.

"Mel, we're young and single." She knocked her elbow against my side. "Loosen up, it's a party." And just like that, she threw her head back, downing more of the cherry bomb liqueur.

I only drank half the cup, tossing the rest when Faye wasn't looking. I couldn't stomach the same volume of alcohol as she could.

Faye then stumbled off to join the other drunk students dancing while I struggled to remain upright on my quest to the bathroom. There were so many bodies around me, music blasting from the charmed walls. Usually I'd be warier of who was touching me and where, but with such tight confines, I didn't care whose hand was squeezing my bottom or whose chest was knocking against my face. I finally clawed my way through the crowds until I found one of the few bathrooms connected to the large suite.

The Three Broomsticks wasn't a lavish inn like many others in England, it was actually a little shabby, so I wasn't surprised by the simplistic style of the bathroom. I may have been wobbly on my feet, and maybe my movements a little delayed, but I could still see straight. I contemplated splashing water on my face to freshen myself, but my makeup stopped me. The sudden slamming of a door jolted me, making my eyes snap to the bathroom entrance.

"Melody," Pukey gnarled as he swung the door shut.

I'll show you, you little snake.

The fright immediately sobered me, and I attempted to walk past wordlessly, but he managed to stop me even in his drunken stupor.

"Melody, Melody," he said and placed his hands on my shoulders before pushing me back slightly.

Maybe my vision was a bit off as I only just noticed the state of him at our new proximity. His hair was messy, hands had definitely been running through it. His lips had a sheen from their wetness while a rose red touched his cheeks. The harsh scent of firewhiskey emitted off him and as I stared up at his half-lidded eyes, it was obvious he was hammered.

"Mmmmh," he hummed and dipped his head into my neck as he half stumbled onto me. "Melody," he slurred into my hair before inhaling deeply.

"Pucey," I struggled to push him off, half his weight anchored over me. "Get off, you're drunk."

"You're stunning," he slurred against me.

I swayed him off me, stepping back, further from him, but also further from the door. "Let's get you to Payton," I said, hoping he was drunk enough to only think of her.

He scrunched his face up, "Payton," he legitimately spat on me. "Melody, you're all I can think about right now."

His looming drunk presence started to make me worry so I reached for my wand. His hand snapped around my wrist to stop me and he laughed. "Not today, darling." The worry multiplied just like that. "Not," he growled, "today."

"Okay," I said slowly, afraid of angering him while he was this drunk and he smiled slightly.

"Good girl," he then drank in my scent again as he stumbled over me." Now, I'm going to do a few things to you that will feel better for you if you cooperate." He said lowly into my ear.

That worrying multiplying in my chest? It quadrupled into fear. The oxygen was flooding in and out of my lungs now as he started to back me into the wall. I tried to reach for my wand again, but his grip was too tight. So tight it forced a whimper out of me which seemed to energise him.

Adrian Pucey was a seventh year who was far more advanced at magic than me. He wandlessly silenced the room as he shoved me harder. The bare parts of my skin pressed against cold tiles. His rough hands slinked their way up from my shoulders and into my hair, pushing my head by a fist full of hair into the tiles.

"Stop," I muttered against the white ceramic.

"What did I say, Mel?" He grunted. "This will feel better if you cooperate."

"Please," my voice was anxious, pride had gone out the window. His clasp around my neck tightened before he pulled my head forward and then slammed it back into the tiles hard enough I saw stars. Fresh tears started welling up against my lashes as I started to lose track of my bearings. The sound of wood falling and rolling across the tiles told me he had discarded my wand. I blindly clawed at his wrists, but Pucey was stronger than me in every way. My efforts were useless.

Desperation choked my nerves and I called out for some higher being to save me. I wasn't religious, in fact I knew nothing of the Muggle's belief, but I prayed it would spite me right now.

"I'm hurting you, aren't I?" His mouth curled into an ugly snarl. "Believe me, darling. Once I'm done with you, you'll know what it means to really hurt."

I tried to kick him, but his knees locked my legs against the wall. "You can try," I spat.

I despised the laugh that followed. "Tell me, Taylor. Have you ever been fucked before?"

An all consuming dread wrecked me. Sheer and utter panic encompassing every part of me as Pucey's words made my ears bleed. My legs suddenly felt cemented to the ground, like my whole body was a thousand pounds heavier and I couldn't move. A panic attack was about to dominate my being.

Before I could choke out some sort of answer, he sealed his lips over mine, forcing his tongue between them. I gasped, trying to wrench my head back away, but the solid wall made it impossible. One of his hands had a death grip around my throat whilst the other pinned my right wrist against the wall. I used my free hand to try push him away, but his actions weakened me. The unmitigated shock exhausting my energy.

He licked into my mouth and over my teeth with his tongue, slimy and sour tasting, it made me believe I was going to be sick. Then he removed his hand from my neck back to my struggling hand, grabbing it vigorously. He was sure to leave a reddening print over my throat. And if his strangling didn't, his next action with his mouth surely would. He moved his mouth over it while he heaved desperate breaths, licking, sucking, biting and covering my skin with saliva.

I whimpered again at the disgust, finding it within me to push him forcibly again. It worked for a moment and I saw the thunder dark glare over his features. It didn't make me stop, I pushed again and he stammered, too drunk to stay straight. This was my opportunity. I straightened and was about to make a break for it when a pounding at the door halted both of us.

"Adrian?"

It was Payton's voice and I desperately called for her. "Payton, please help!"

"She can't hear you, you stupid bitch." He said and grabbed me again.

"Don't fucking touch me again," I spat with venom.

He was forcing me against the sink this time, its cold and round shape digging into my side painfully. His hands were on my shoulders as he leant in for another kiss, but my hands on his chest were pushing him back. It was at this moment, Payton opened the door to see us.

The wave of relief that enveloped me was cooling. Pulling me straight out of the heated situation. I was about to beg for her assistance to get her drunk boyfriend off of me, but the darkening look on her face caught me off guard. It was then I realised, I was half on the sink, my dress ridden up so high it barely covered my underwear. The already low dress had pulled even lower, messily revealing the tops of my white bra. My hair must have been chaos and my face probably flushed in the deepest pinks. The cherry on top was Pucey's body half on top of mine. No, this didn't look good.

Her nose flared as her chest raised and dropped deeply. "What is this?" She croaked.

Pukey moved off me straight away. "She was so desperate for me babe, dragging me in here."

"What?" I shot at him and slid off the sink. "Payton he pretty much tried to rape me!" I exclaimed.

"Sure looked like you were hating it," she sneered cynically.

"I was!" I said. I then looked past Payton to see the whole party behind her was coming to a pause. Everyone was staring into the bathroom, even the couples who had been making out had stopped to watch. "Accio wand," I said quietly, the wood returning to my hands as I kept my eyes on Payton.

Her eyes were glassy with tears now and she sniffed, it looked like the ultimate betrayal. Weeks ago I had warned her against Pukey, now she thought she had caught us together in the bathroom. "Get out," she swiped.

"Payt-"

"Out," she screamed now which made my body jolt.

I shot Pucey my own look that could kill before exiting the bathroom. Everyone was still staring, but my eyes found Daphne's by Nott in the corner. She looked confused, as did most people, a strong frown moulding her pointy face. Then as I made my way through the still crowd, my eyes connected with ones I wish I hadn't seen. Silver eyes that resembled prowling clouds in a thunderstorm, my heart ached at the sight of them. I had never seen Malfoy so still, so out of his element, but mostly, so devastated. The way his eyes fell over me showed me how destroyed he was feeling. They didn't look at me in that predatory way they often did, no, they drifted over me painfully.

I adjusted my dress, feeling particular eyes examining me before rushing out of the room. The tears fell the second I was alone and hurriedly walking down the path back to Hogwarts. I sobbed quietly at the whole ordeal. Pucey's mouth in places no one had ever been before and I repulsed he was the first one to kiss me like that. Slobber, more like it. Then Payton's heartbroken face as she discovered us. Then the final thing that caused my heart to truly sink into the deepest pits of despair.

I had no doubtedly broken Malfoy's heart right there and then. The look on his face successfully brought my whole existence crashing down. The tears started to flow heavier as I outrightly cried. My hands rubbed over my neck, I almost didn't want to touch myself. I was disgusted by what had just unfolded. And it ruined me that it took this horrific exploitation for me to realise just how strong my feelings for Malfoy were. For while I broke down on the cobblestone path on the way back to Hogwarts, all I wanted was him there, holding me, cuddling me, keeping me safe.

I wanted Malfoy.

Phewf - take a big breath after that chapter, I know I needed it after writing it. I know things are looking quite disastrous, but I promise things will take a positive turn. Thank you to everyone reading and favouriting. And bigger thank you's to my reviewers! haleyamazing13, Katkloss, Slytherin1993, ElinorSinclair and BraziaRios - I am so here for all your excitement! x