Look who's updating in less than a week... yeah.. be proud. ha ha. Speaking of which I totally got in my college's fall play so I'm super stoked for that. Just wanted to throw that out there. So I hope you enjoy this next installment. Here is my giant thank you to the few of you that reviewed this last time... it seriously keeps me chugging along (like the little engine that could! anyone watch that as a kid?). My personal thanks goes to the following awesome people for taking the time to hit that review button and make my day:

KaitlynEmmaRose, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, NobleAndAncientLineBlack, Rockin'ItMeStyle - You guys rock.

Okie.. la la la. Go ahead... Get on with the story!


"So you can't feed?" Beth repeats my words back to me.

"Not unless I want to start using Hogwarts as a vending machine... no." I just explained pretty much everything that happened over the weekend, and yet somehow she's focused solely on my appetite.

"But there has to be a way. Won't you go all rabid? Or will you shrivel away and die? Neither of which are acceptable."

"Listen, I'll figure it out. Right now my blood craving is pretty low." Although exerting as much effort as I already have this morning, what with the dementors and Draco, I might be a little more energy deprived then I thought.

"I'm not going to let this go. I agree with Snape. If you have to feed on some students while Carrow's gone all hyper protective then that's what you'll have to do."

I groan. They all act as if feeding on humans is totally cool. No big deal. I might kill someone, but hey, at least I'm not dying of thirst.

"Fine, new subject. What are you going to do about Malachi and Draco?" She repositions herself so she's sitting cross-legged in front of me.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. According to you Malachi's pretty much in love with you."

I interrupt her automatically, "I never said that!"

"It's obvious. And then here you are in love with Draco."

"I never said that either!" I shout a little louder.

She rolls her eyes, "Again, obvious. The question is..."

"No Beth," I stop her right there, "there is no question. You're engaged to Draco. And even if you somehow get freed from that bond, he'd never be with me. Not anymore than he is right now. If Malachi would be patient then I'd be back in his life soon. Not saying I'd jump the gun and be with him right away, but at least I don't have to worry about killing him every time I'm around him."

"You make love sound like a math equation. That it only works out if this and this matches up. It doesn't work like that. You think I meant to fall for Damon? It just happened. You can fight it all you want but one day you're going to have a choice to make." She says standing up. "Come on, we need to go to lunch," she adds holding out her hand to me. I take it and stand.

"I know you disapprove of my actions this weekend, but you understand why I did it right?" I ask maintaining eye contact with her.

"Yes. Both the rational and irrational reasons." She gives me a small smile and links her arm in mine.

"Irrational?"

"You'll figure it out eventually." She chuckles pulling me along.

. . . . .

"Mom! Damon says he won't let me sit with him on the train!" I squeal grabbing at her hand as she walks with a determined purpose towards the brick wall. I don't even flinch as we walk through it to platform 9 3/4.

"Moooommmmmmm!" I hold out her name in hopes she'd realize how important this was. Damon can't leave me to the wolves on my first day. He has to look out for me.

"Delilah, you are a big girl now. You have to start learning how to take care of yourself."

Her words were crisp and harsh. She's always been like that. But I know it's how she shows affection. She doesn't hide things from me.

"Oh come on little sis. I was kidding. I'll keep you safe from all those mean Slytherin." Damon laughs coming over to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I always feel safe in his presence.

"And the ghosts?" I ask looking up at him.

"You definitely don't have to be afraid of them." He smiles and squeezes my arm.

"Oh. Just promise that no matter what house I'm in you'll still be my friend."

He stops suddenly, turns around and kneels down so he's at eye level with me. He's only a year older than me but he's super tall and acts way older then he is. Probably because he had to be man of the house when he was really young.

"No matter what I will always be your brother. And to me that's ten times better than any friend. Ever."

I hug him automatically. I am so lucky to have him as a brother.

"Hey Damon!"

Damon lets me go and stands up looking in the direction his name was called.

"Go say hello to your friends Damon." Mom says. Before he runs off he looks down at me almost as if to ask my permission... or if I'll be okay... either way I nod. As long as I know he'll be there for me in the end I know I'll be fine.

"Okay, now you know the drill. Obey your professors and don't get into any fights."

"Mom! When do I ever fight?"

"You don't, but now would not be a good time to start. Be yourself and you'll be great." She gives me a hug and walks off towards a lady I think she meets on the weekends for tea.

I sigh and look around. My brother had left our cart sitting in the middle of the walkway. I begin to push it down to the loading area. I can totally take care of things by myself. I don't know why I was so worried. I'm going to Hogwarts now after all, to be a real witch!

Suddenly I crash into another cart bringing me out of my day dreams. "Oh my gosh. I am so so so so so sorry." I exclaim coming around to pick up a few items that had fallen off of the other cart.

"It's okay. I wasn't really watching where I was going either." The girl says nicely helping me pick up the stuff. I give her a small smile as we place the things back on her cart. She is really pretty with dark brown hair that almost looks black.

"I'm Delilah. The girl who can't seem to watch where she is going." I say holding out my hand.

"Beth, the girl who doesn't really mind." She giggles shaking my hand.

"Nice to meet you Beth. I'm a first year."

"Me too! What house do you want to get in?" She asks happily.

"Beth! Get over here right now you little demon. What did I say about wandering off? I have someone here you need to meet!" A lady grabs Beth's arm and drags her over to a family that all has bright blonde hair. Beth gives me a small smile over her shoulder but snaps back to focus on the boy in front of her after the lady pinches her arm.

I glare at the lady. She seems grumpy and mean. Beth seems nice though. At least she didn't get angry that I ran into her cart. I start pushing the cart again, more carefully this time. I get it down to the loading dock in one piece. I'm about to run off and find Damon when I see the coin purse on top of the cart. That is most definitely not mine. It must be Beth's!

I grab it and run back to the place where I ran into her. Maybe she'd still be there. I sigh with relief when I see her still standing there with the blonde boy. The blonde family and the mean lady are talking behind them.

"Here you go. Somehow it got on my cart. I didn't want you to think you lost it!" I say handing her the purse.

"Thank you Delilah! I would have been in so much trouble if we couldn't find this! Thank you!"

I smile, glad that I did something right for once.

"Ahem."

"Oh right. Delilah this is Draco. Draco, Delilah." Beth points to the boy. He looks cute but probably would look cuter if he didn't frown like that.

"Hi. Nice to meet you. Are you a first year too?" I ask.

"Yes. I was just telling Beth here that if she's not in Slytherin like her parents were she'll probably be disowned."

"That's a mean thing to say." I comment. If possible the boy seems to frown even more as he studies me.

"But he's probably right." Beth adds glumly.

"What house do you want to be in?" He asks raising an eyebrow. I almost tell him I've always wanted to be able to raise my eyebrow like that but stop myself just in time. He probably would have made fun of me or something.

"I don't care."

They both look at me like I'm a crazy person. Of course Draco looks alot more judgmental when he does it.

"Don't you want to be in the house your parents were in?" Beth asks somewhat amazed.

"Or are your parents muggles?" Draco's face turns into a prune like thing when he asks this. I want to laugh but think better of it.

"My Dad's dead. And my mom doesn't talk about him, or anything really. I don't know what house they were in. It was never important in my family. But my brother is in Gryffindor. So I wouldn't mind being in that house."

And to think I thought Draco's face was as scrunched up as it could get. At the mention of Gryffindor he turns absolutely ugly as he sputters, "You'd actually want to be in Gryffindor?"

"If that means that I'll be around nicer people than you then yes, I actually want to be in Gryffindor."

Beth laughs and covers her mouth immediately, even though I can totally tell she's smiling still. Draco just glares at me.

"Delilah!" I turn around and see Damon waving me over down the platform.

"I'll see you around." I wave goodbye to Beth and Draco as I run over to my brother.

"Making new friends?" He asks as I approach him.

"I think so." I say as I glance back at Beth. But she is gone. All I see is Draco still watching me with that permanent frown on his face. Maybe he's just nervous about his first day and doesn't know how to make friends yet I think as I board the train with my brother. Or maybe he's just mean.

. . . . .

"You've been ignoring him." Beth says as she plops down next to me in the library Friday night.

I make a disgruntled noise in hopes she'd leave me alone. I'm obviously studying.

"Don't give me that. If he's mentioning it to me... then we both know something is up."

"I am reading a book and taking notes in the library Beth. Now is not the time for idle gossip." I say without looking up from my book.

She grabs my notebook and starts reading it out loud.

"Things not to think about:"

"Beth. Give it back." I growl unmoving from my chair. I haven't fed in a week and my mood gets more sour every day.

"One) Anything associated with the Carrows. This includes but is not limited to classes and their disciplinary tactics. Reason: There is nothing stopping me from killing either one of them when I do. Two) Blood. Reason: Obvious. Three) Potions. Reason: I am so behind on my potion homework that I'm sure Snape with skin me alive when he finds out. Four) Malachi. Reason: He's a jackass that deserves to be punched in the face and it just stresses me out. and Five)"

"Beth! I said give it back!" I shout standing up.

"Draco."

I lunge for her lazily thinking she wouldn't be fast enough, but she is.

"Reason: Because I'm staying as far away from his as possible. And if I don't then he's dead and I'm screwed." She finishes giddily and tosses the notebook back down on the counter. "Those are some fine notes you have there Lila."

"Just go away." I snap as I close the notebook and stuff it in my bag.

"Okay, I will. After I talk to you for a few minutes."

"Fine." I mumble lying my head down on the counter. I picked the farthest spot in the back of the library in hopes I'd be left alone but that has failed miserably. And it's not just because I'm in a bad mood; I'm also thirsty. It's easier to resist temptation around Beth because I would rather starve then hurt her, but it's still mighty uncomfortable.

"You really need to feed." She starts but I cut her off.

"You know my feelings on this; they haven't changed. And if that's all I guess I'll be going." I sit up and grab my bag.

"Not so fast." She grabs my arm. Her skin sends electricity of feelings to every part of my body. Worry and annoyance are the strongest. But along with those feelings is the increase in volume of her heart beat. Not to mention I suddenly remember exactly how she tasted all those weeks ago when I fed on her to get that potion out of her. She must have noticed the growing stiffness in body because she let's go and I can breathe with a little more normalcy.

"Sorry. I'm just worried about you. Frankly so is Draco. So either you need to talk to Snape again or we need to figure something out."

"We already talked. He is trying to create a synthetic blood substitute. I'm just going to wait until he's got it made."

"That could take weeks if not months. It's never been done. You need blood now."

I don't disagree with her. She is right. I do need blood, but I'm not turning into a monster. I've done that enough already. This a second home to most of these students. And a first home for some. I'm not taking advantage of any of them.

"Draco and I were talking. He mentioned that even though you drank from him you don't feel an over bearing need to feed on him like you're supposed to."

"Great. Now you two are getting all buddy buddy? Chatting it up about your monster vampire best friend."

She chooses to ignore my comment and continues, "Why don't you feed off him? He said he's willing. Which shocked me mind you, but it just proves you guys really are becoming friends. He wouldn't do that for anyone. I can promise you that."

"Anyone? Who else needs to drink blood for a living? No one Beth. This is absurd. Did he also tell you that after one or two feedings I could have an urge so great that I couldn't help but kill him. I wouldn't think twice."

"You would though. You love him."

"God Beth! Stop being so fucking naive. It doesn't work like that. Why do you think Damon never drank from you? It wasn't because he didn't want to... it was because he could kill you. Love you or not it doesn't matter. A vampire's nature, my nature, only cares about one thing. Blood. So stop trying to make it sound like there is a simple solution. There isn't."

She stands there in stunned silence. A part of me wants to apologize for losing my temper and raising my voice. She's only trying to help. But I don't. I don't even try to stop her when she turns around and leaves without saying a word. Boy, am I one giant bitch today or what.

At least now I'm alone.

I look around the desolate library. Damn it. I can't believe I said that to her. I leave my stuff there as I take off down the stacks. I know I can catch her as long as she didn't start running or something. I see her exit the library doors just as I turn a corner. Just a little farther and I'd be able to grab her. I don't know what I'm going to say, but I'm not about to let her leave thinking I'm the world's worst friend.

"Beth!" I shout gaining on her.

I can tell she contemplated not stopping, but she does. She doesn't turn around though.

"I am so sorry." I say as I come around to face her head on. She looks upset, but not livid. Which is good.

"For what? For being mean? For not listening? For not realizing that I'm just worried about you?"

"All of the above. I'm awful. Seriously though. I'm a complete wanker."

"Not completely." She smiles a little bit signaling my forgiveness. "Just promise me you'll stop fighting me so much. I get it, you don't like your current choices. But if we work together maybe we'll think of a solution."

"Deal. Thank you." I give her a quick hug.

"But just as a warning, you're going to have to deal with Draco tonight, so try not to be so hostile."

"Thanks mother." I laugh walking away.

I run back to the library to grab my stuff. I might as well head to our room now. I'm going to have to face him sooner or later.

I open the door slowly in hopes that, just maybe, he'll be asleep.

"Nice to see that you're still alive."

I expect his voice to send shockwaves of blood lust through my body but nothing happens. He just sounds kind of sexy. Ugh, stop. See? This is why I stay away from him. Until I can get a handle on these hormones Draco is bad news.

"Alive and kicking." I say shutting the door behind me. He is standing in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of water. He's shirtless.

"Want something to drink?" He asks taking a sip of water.

I glare at him. He continues to smirk as he waits for my answer. Of course we both know he's not referring to water.

"Could you put a shirt on?" I ask as politely as possible.

"I could." He let his sentence taper off into nothing.

"So will you?" I push, still unmoving from my spot in front of the door.

"Will I what?" He puts the pitcher of water back in the fridge.

"Put. A. Shirt. On." I growl.

"Oh that. No, I don't think I will."

"Why not?" I try to keep my voice even. Try being the key word.

"Because you ignored me all week and I'm feeling a bit vindictive right now. That's why."

I stare at him as he walks around the counter and goes to sit on the couch.

"I didn't ignore you." I lie, walking to my room so I could drop off my stuff. And maybe lock myself in there. If he's trying to seduce me he's going to fail. So what if he has great abs and defined arm and back muscles? Who cares? Not me that's for sure.

"So how long can a vampire go without feeding?" His voice carries into the room. I grind my teeth together to keep from responding. Beth had warned me this would be coming. I change into sweats and a t-shirt thinking of ways to get him to leave me alone. Yelling at him like I did to Beth will do nothing. If anything he'd feel encouraged.

"Does it hurt?"

I whip around to see him leaning against my doorframe with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Does what hurt?" I ask as I start to tidy up my room. I just need to act like his presence doesn't unnerve me at all and then he'll go away. I like the potential of this plan.

"When you don't drink blood."

I stop and look at him. Really look at him. Is it only weird to me that Draco Malfoy is discussing my need for blood like it's a doughnut? Or that his normal icy demeanor is nowhere in sight. Sure he's egging me on and being manipulative walking around looking as yummy as an apple pie... but it's like he's doing it for me... which is weird.

"Yes it hurts. Worse even, when half naked boys stand so close to me." I explain, but I don't go back to pretending to ignore him. There's no point; I hear the thrum of his heartbeat as loud as his own voice. Can't exactly ignore that.

"I don't want you hurting Lila."

I want to shout at him to leave me alone then. Mind his own damn business. Because either I'm going to deal with the burning pains in my chest and throat or deal with the emotional upheaval when I can no longer be around Draco without wanting to kill him. I can't take the chance that I'd lose him. Geesh, I really do love him. This is ridiculous.

"Listen, I know you want to help but please, I'll be fine."

"For how long? Two weeks? Three, maybe? I didn't risk my life to save yours so you could throw it away because you're too afraid to drink my blood."

I growl and rush at him, pinning him against the nearest wall. My fangs extend automatically being so close to his flesh. Touching his skin sets fireworks off in my body. But it doesn't cool down my temper. I tighten my grip on his shoulders when my eyes land on the tiny pulse on his neck. I could just drink a little bit. He is incredibly willing.

"I like my women aggressive." Draco chuckles lifting his head exposing his neck even further.

"Damn it Draco!" I shout backing up from him as fast as I attacked him.

"Oh come on! You were so close." He runs his fingers through his hair tousling it a bit. Oh hell, this is torture.

"Why are you doing this to me? What do you get out of it?" I growl.

"I finally care about someone more than myself. That's why."

"You care about your family." I argue.

"That's different. Familial obligation and all that." He starts approaching me slowly.

"But we're just friends." I say suddenly frightened by what is about to happen. What I am about to do.

"Friends care about each other. Or do you not care about me Delilah?" His voice is mocking like he knows exactly how much I care for him. But he can't possibly know.

"You know I do." I continue to back up to try to keep my distance from him, but I hit the wall in no time. I feel like a rabbit getting trapped by a coyote, which is ironic if I stopped to think about it.

"Then why won't you let me do this for you?" He whispers stopping inches from me.

I hold my breath as he reaches up and caresses my face. He lets his fingers trail down to my neck and all the way down my arm. His lust, as always overwhelms my emotions, but so does his worry and acute fondness for me.

"This is why I ignored you."

He leans down and kisses me. Sure it was soft and hesitant but there was passion. A whole lot of it. And of course, I melt in it. For a brief moment I forget my thirst and the danger I'm putting him in and just kiss him. I close my eyes and pull him closer to me, entangling my fingers in his hair.

"I won't force you," he sighs into my mouth, "but I won't back down either."

"Fine." I take a deep breath and raise the white flag, "Fine. I will, but tomorrow morning. After you're well rested and ..."

"I'm not going to change my mind, but okay. Tomorrow morning then." He kisses me again and then wraps his arms around me pulling me into his embrace. The hug lasts for longer than I expect. He pulls away slowly.

"Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." I tell him.

"But..." He begins to protest.

"Just go. I can only resist you for so long. And I can tell you're tired. So please just go to sleep." I say pushing him towards the door. He doesn't argue with me as he walks out the doorway.

"Good night." He gives me one final smirk as I shut the door behind him.

I didn't sleep a wink last night. I tried but that only earned me an onslaught of nightmares. So I decided to stay awake. And now I'm sitting on my bed, hyper aware of every sound, movement, and so on. Draco woke up about ten minutes ago and has been taking a shower. A few students have walked by outside our place. And I could go on with the details but it just makes me more nervous. I can just say I was joking. I'm not that thirsty and that I can at least wait one more week. I think that will work.

This is supposed to be second nature to me... I can just put him to sleep, heal the wound, and he won't even know what happened. Then again if I just let things happen naturally... and then one thing will lead to another and I can have sex and feed at the same time. What a ladylike thought. I groan into my hands. This is hopeless.

For the first time this morning I hear footsteps slow near our door. I get up to check it out before I even hear the knock. I open the door expecting to see Beth and Gretel or something, but instead it's a young Ravenclaw boy.

"Headmaster Snape sent me to you." He says politely.

I look at him in shock. Snape wouldn't have hand picked a student and sent him to me to feed on. He couldn't have!

"He told me to tell you he needs to see you in his office as soon as possible." He adds smiling.

"Oh thank you." I say, relief washing over me.

Th boy turns to leave but I yell for him to stop. "How did you know the message was for me?"

"You're Delilah. Everyone knows who you are." He answers and then walks back down the way he came. I close the door. That was odd.

"Who was that?" Draco asks coming out of the bathroom.

"Some kid sent to come get me. Apparently Snape wants..." But I don't finish my sentence because there's Draco standing in front of me in nothing but a towel. Water droplets run down his chest and arms and neck from his wet hair. The towel is positioned so low on his waist it leaves barely anything to the imagination.

"Wants what?" He asks.

"Me. To go to his office. Which I should do. Now." I say turning back around and opening the door.

"See you after then." He laughs. I close the door tightly behind me and heave a sigh of relief. I don't even care that I'm still in my sweats and t-shirt or that I'm barefoot. Better walking the halls looking like this then staying in there with him. I will pay him back someday for all this that's for sure.

I rush off to Snape's office only semi-curious as to what he could possibly need right this minute. Most of my mind is too busy trying to get the image of half-naked dripping wet Draco out of my brain. I get to his office and go on in. I honestly doubt that whatever we're about to discuss is going to help my current situation at all. And if it's about blood then that will only help remind me of what I told Draco we'd do when I get back.

"Miss Kane, glad you took the time to get dressed this morning." Snape drones when he sees me. He's standing in the far corner of his office with a few books piled on a table next to him.

"I realize this may come as a shock to you, but it's Saturday morning. You're lucky I'm even awake." Or that my roommate likes to traipse through the place practically naked, because that's the real reason why I came here so fast.

"Even so, I'm sure our guest would prefer a little more decorum on your part."

"Guest? Who are you talking about?" I stop mid stride and gauge the room. There is a presence I didn't notice when I first came in. Apparently I can't multitask. Thinking about Draco is about all I can handle. How depressing. The weird thing is though, he's not human. At least I'm not sensing any type of blood craving for him.

"It's not a problem sir. I'm sure she'll dress more appropriate next time." The all too familiar voice declares right behind me.

I turn around so fast I almost fall over. In front of me stands Malachi.


That's called a cliff hanger.

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