Hello everyone! I'm back so soon! Well I don't have much to say since I just updated a couple days ago. So I will keep it short and sweet, thank you all for reviewing as usual and I do not own Harry Potter.


Monday morning was in simplest terms, long. Jess woke up beyond exhausted. She didn't want to run into Harry or Draco. Curling up in bed and telling the world to go suck an egg sounded wonderful, but sadly she had classes. Slowly she dragged herself out of bed and made her way down to breakfast.

Draco on the other hand decided to skip classes today. He was sure that the professors were informed of his mishap over the holidays and would understand. He slept through all of breakfast and his double Transfiguration class. Around lunch time, Draco decided it would be better to make his presence known at the lunch table then starve. Gingerly Draco got out of bed. After a long struggle of putting on his uniform Draco took small steps out of the room and down the stairs. At the bottom of them he ended up taking a break. The safest way to get to the Great Hall would be through the secret passages around the school. This would ensure people not asking him about why he was so tender and sore on his feet, as well as everywhere else on his body. He made his way to the exit of the common room and took a right. About halfway through lunch Draco opened the doors with his wand to further ward off pain. He figured he had enough of it when every step he took sapped his energy and made him want to yell out in pain.

When Draco had sat down Pansy practically launched herself at him. She narrowly missed causing him the utmost pain when Draco slightly leaned back. She pouted, "Draco why did you do that?"

"I have my reasons. Which one would you like to hear?" He retorted in his usual drawl.

Pansy ignored this comment. "How were you holidays?"

"Dull, lots of Quidditch practice." He figured if he mentioned that it would explain the constant throbs of pain that coursed through his body every time he moved.

Pansy giggled thinking of how hot Draco would be all sweaty while practicing Quidditch. He looked sharply at her. "What Parkinson?"

"Oh nothing." She smiled sweetly, too sweetly. Draco had an idea where her mind had ventured to but decided not to explore it, knowing he'd most likely vomit.

"Why weren't you in Transfiguration Drakie?"

"Didn't feel like it."

She giggled again. "You're so sexy when you break the rules."

He felt the need to gag but repressed it. Instead he looked Pansy in the eye and gave her a sexy smirk. Pansy had to grip the table so she didn't fall over.

Draco smirked triumphantly and started dishing up some food. He hadn't realized until now how hungry he was. Draco ate enough to almost rival Ron if they were to have a food eating contest. Now that he had a full stomach Draco felt marginally better. It was the sight of a brunette Gryffindor that made him completely forget about his injuries.

Jess was at the Gryffindor table discussing with Ron. Hermione and Harry were having a separate conversation beside them. His eyes honed in on the necklace around Jess' neck. There was the gift he got her around her neck. Draco's face broke out into a boyish grin, which almost made Pansy swoon. Well at least that was going for him, Draco-1, Scarhead-0.

Jess laughed as Ron explained one of Fred and George's new prank products. "I'll have to get one when they start carrying them." She looked over casually at the Slytherin table. A wave of relief came over her. He was alright, he wasn't being held hostage by his father and he was at school. That's all that mattered to her. A smile graced her face as she continued talking with Ron about what else his twin brothers had in store for the wizarding world.

Once lunch ended the students went on with their classes for the day. Draco slipped out and went back up to his room, content that he saw Jess. He had enlisted Pansy in getting all of his assignments for him, which of course she did gladly. Draco lounged around in his room, dreading the fact that he would have to show up for classes tomorrow.

Tuesday sure did prove interesting for a select group of students. After class around dinner time Harry, Ron and Jess were walking down a corridor when they heard a muffled noise. Ron pulled back a curtain and found his baby sister full out snogging with Dean Thomas.

"What are you doing?!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

"What does it look like to you Ron? Its called snogging. Ever heard of it?" Ginny retorted back.

"You shouldn't be doing that! You're too young!"

"I am not too young, Ronald Weasley! For Merlin's sake I'm sixteen!"

Dean looked completely embarrassed. He grinned nervously and tugged on Ginny's sleeve. "Come on Ginny, lets go to the common room or something."

"You go if you want. I need to have a word with my brother."

Dean left without a moment's hesitation. Harry looked pleased to see him distancing himself from Ginny. He felt something crawl into his guy when he saw the pair kissing. The creature was currently trying to eat its way through Harry's stomach and out to Dean so it could kill him.

"Ron I can date who I want, when I want and you have no business in the matter!" Ginny replied while looking at Ron angrily.

"People will think you're a… with that mentality! I need to protect you from people like him!" Ron defended himself.

"Thinking I'm a, what Ron?!" She shot back.

"He doesn't mean anything Gin." Jess finally spoke.

"He's just jealous because he never gets any!"

"What?! That's a lie!" Ron yelled back.

"I'm surprised Lavender let you kiss her. If she had a brain she would have ran in the other direction!" The pair pulled out their wands and Harry stood in-between them as the yelling continued. Jess couldn't take it anymore and left quickly.

She knew it was over. Harry had fully come to grips with his feelings for Ginny and she knew it. They'll be happier together than Harry and I ever were, she bitterly thought to herself. Jess went up to the common room and sat in front of the fire. Her mind completely zoned out as she watched the lick of flames dance around, entrancing her. It must have been hours later when she snapped out of it. Hermione sat next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright Jess?" She asked, her brown eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine Hermione. Ron and Ginny are just fighting and I couldn't deal with it."

"Oh, would you like to go to the kitchens? You missed dinner."

"I'd like that." Both of the girls stood and made their way to the kitchen, which temporarily got Jess' mind off of the prospect of having to break up with Harry. She'd have to find the right time and think things through before she carried it out. But for now she could just enjoy a quiet evening, hanging out with Hermione. When they got back from the kitchens the two girls went up to the room they shared and ate while working on their homework. Once they were done they talked just the two of them. Jess always enjoyed her one on one conversation's with Hermione. The pair understood each other so well it was comforting. It was also a nice escape from the drama and how stupid boys can be. They went to bed late, having too much fun catching up.

Wednesday morning Jess woke up and got dressed. She walked down to the Great Hall to see Hermione there. The bushy haired girl smiled up at her and cleared her books off the table. "How are you Jess?"

"I'm alright. Our talk last night made me feel a lot better, thanks Hermione." Jess replied with a small smile.

"No problem, anything I can do to help."

Jess sighed and played with her food, pushing it around, not really hungry. She was still thinking of yesterday and how obvious it was to her that nothing would come of her relationship with Harry. But at the same time she didn't want to let go, though she knew she had to. About halfway through breakfast three people walked in, though it was obvious one of them wasn't with the other two. Harry, Ron and Draco all walked in at the same time. Draco snubbed the pair and went over to the Slytherin table. Jess watched him the entire way. She didn't take notice of Harry and Ron sitting down, or that Harry was trying to get her attention. He finally did when he covered her hand with his. "Jess?"

It was odd the sensation that went through her body. It was one of repulsion, how dare he touch her? It felt wrong, as if it had been wrong since the beginning. The next thing she thought scared her, it was Draco, decking Harry in the face and taking Harry's place at her side holding her hand. The thing that frightened her more was that it felt like that's how it should be. That no other man should hold her hand but Draco's that only he would be approved or allowed by her. She stood up quickly and grabbed her bag. "I'll see you later." Jess quickly left the room.

Harry watched her leave with curiosity. He hadn't done anything wrong had he? Something wasn't right and he didn't have a good feeling about it. Sighing, Harry turned to Hermione and asked her if she knew of anything bothering Jess.

Draco's eyes followed her out the door. He wondered why she had left as soon as her boyfriend came in but didn't pursue it. Instead he concentrated on the difficult task at hand of getting around to all of his classes due to his recent injuries.

Jess eluded Harry the entire rest of the day, which of course heightened Harry's worry about what was wrong. She stayed in her room doing homework and mulling over what exacting she should do. After she had missed dinner Hermione came up with a plateful of food. She sat it down in front of her and took a seat. "Alright Jess, what's going on? And don't tell me nothing, I know something is wrong. It would be easier if you just told me what."

Jess looked up from her Arithmancy essay and sighed. "I'm going to break up with Harry."

Hermione's eyes widened as she grabbed for Jess' hand. "What?? Why?!"

"He loves Ginny."

"Did he say that?"

"No he didn't, but its so obvious Hermione. I should have known those two would end up together."

"But Jess, Ginny's with Dean."

"And I'm surprised its lasted as long as it has. Haven't you noticed the few boyfriends Ginny has had she goes through them pretty quickly?"

"Well yes, but what's the point?"

"My point is, that its because they're not what she wants. Hermione, she'd had a crush on Harry since before she went to Hogwarts."

"True, but do you really want to give up what you and Harry have?"

"What we have? We still act like the best of friends, only that we kiss each other. I'm not what he wants and he's not what I want."

"Oh… Wait, do you like someone else?"

Jess' cheeks tinted a light shade of pink as she looked away from Hermione. How could she tell her that she liked their sworn enemy? True, she had had a crush on him years ago, but that was buried quickly. "Its nothing, 'Mione."

"You do don't you?" She persisted, trying to get to the bottom of it.

Jess looked up and looked at Hermione right in the eyes. "Okay, so I do, but nothing's going to come of it."

"How do you know if you don't try?"

"Because he doesn't feel the same way!" She shouted while standing up and walking over to the window. Jess placed her hand on the cold glass and looked out on the wintery wonderland outside.

Hermione came rushing to her side and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Jess, I know what its like."

She shook her head as tears started to form in her eyes. Hermione didn't know, the boy she liked, liked her as well. But that wasn't her case. Jess was infatuated with the cold hearted prince of Slytherin. Nothing could or would ever come of the two. They were from separate worlds, and in his world she was scum. Hermione gave her a tight hug as Jess started to cry. "It'll be alright. If there's anything I can do let me know." Hermione offered, trying to comfort her as best she knew how. Jess didn't say anything in response. She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing her feelings would go away. Back in third year, when she had felt attraction towards him, had that been a sign of what was to come? But she had soon buried and dismissed those feelings; she could easily do it again, right?

In the morning Jess slept in and got dressed, skipping breakfast and headed over to Charms. Professor Flitwick was as cheerful as ever and spilt them all up into groups. Harry took this opportunity to talk with Jess. "Jess? Is there something wrong?"

She looked into his eyes, green meeting green. "I want to talk privately after classes. Are you free?"

"Of course." He gave her a light hug and they got back to work.

The rest of classes went by far too fast. It was as though time was against Jess as she walked out of professor McGonagall's room. Most of the students either went outside to enjoy snow or hung out in their common rooms. Jess ascended the stairs of the boys dormitory's and knocked on the door.

"Its open." Harry's voice responded. Jess walked in to see it was just him in the room. She walked over to Harry and sat down. "Now, what did you want to talk about?" He asked calmly.

"Harry, I don't think this is working."

"What isn't?"

"Us dating. We'd be better off as friends, both of us know that. I know that you like Ginny."

"Oh." He looked at her blankly. "I agree, I mean I don't regret it at all, but I think you're right."

She sighed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad. I was worried about what you'd think."

He smiled softly at her. "I could never be mad at you Jess. We're still best friends, no matter what happens."

"Promise?"

Harry chuckled and pulled her into a light hug. "I promise."

"I'm sure you and Ginny will be together soon."

"How do you figure?"

"She will always wait for you Harry. She has all these years."

"I should have realized it sooner."

"There's a lot of things we wish we would have figured out sooner, but I think when you finally discover it is the best time." She responded while standing up. "I'll see ya around." Jess gave him a small smile and left the room, leaving to her room and grabbed the Nimbus 2000; Harry had gotten her and exited the Gryffindor house. A broom ride sounded like the perfect thing to do to get her mind off of things. As she made her way down one of the lesser used halls, Jess heard a familiar drawl behind her.

"Trouble in paradise, Anderson?" Draco asked sarcastically from behind her. He could tell by her body language that something was up.

Jess didn't turn around to look at him. "Shut up Malfoy, I don't want to deal with you sickening presence right now." She kept walking down the hall.

But she wasn't fast enough as Draco firmly grabbed her wrist and twirled her around to face him. "Nice necklace, where'd you get it?" He asked off handedly.

Jess looked up at him puzzled. "My parents got it for me, for my seventeenth birthday."

Draco couldn't help but give a snort of laughter. "Right, like they could afford that. Or they understood the importance of turning seventeen in the wizarding world."

"I'll have you know that they do know the significance." She replied in a clipped tone. "Now let go of me."

"I believe I can't do that. Can't have you going around misinformed any longer."

She was getting very impatient. "What are you talking about?"

"They didn't give you the necklace."

"Oh? And who did then?"

"Well I thought that would be obvious by now." He replied dully.

"You? Ha! Why in the world would I think that?"

"Who signed the card?"

"My mom and dad." She replied, not knowing where he was going with this.

"So, on the card it specifically said mom and dad?" He questioned with curiosity.

"No, it said D.M. The card was pretty small though, so they were running out of room."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Don't you think they'd have enough room for, four more letters?"

"That's beside the point."

"I think not." Draco replied while releasing her wrist. "And what did you say the initials were again?"

"D.M."

He rubbed his chin. "I think I know someone else with those initials."

"Do tell Malfoy."

Draco looked at her. "What's my first name?"

Jess looked at him. "Draco."

"And my surname?"

"Malfoy. I don't see the point of this."

"What would my initials be then?"

Jess thought for a moment before answering. "D.M."

"Hmm, what a funny coincidence, no?"

It clicked in her head. "I don't believe it."

"What me to find the receipt?"

"You're not going to fool me." She replied stubbornly.

Draco dug in his pocket and handed her a small piece of paper with hand writing on it. "Read it."

Jess looked at it and began reading it to herself. "Out loud." Draco added as an after note.

"One silver and emerald dragon necklace three thousand galleons paid for in cash by Draco Malfoy. And then there's you signature." She looked up at him in chock. "Three thousand galleons?!" Her hand instantly grabbed onto the pendant and she began fingering it. "Why Draco? Why did you buy this for me?"

"I was looking for a thank you actually…"

"But it doesn't make any sense!"

"Sure it does, you open your mouth and say, 'thank you.'"

"No not that! Draco… Why did you buy this for me? I mean we never have gotten along and that was really expensive."

"I have plenty of money to throw around as I please." He reminded her.

Jess ran a hand through her hair. "Yes, but it still doesn't make any sense. I'm incredibly thankful, as I was when I got it, but why?"'

"Because I wanted to."

"How did you get it into my purse?"

"By purposely running into you."

"At the Leaky Cauldron…." She finished for him.

Draco walked over to her and gently placed his hand on her arms. "That would be correct."

Jess looked up at him, confusion evident on her face. "Draco but why?"

"I told you, because I wanted to."

"But why did you want to?"

He sighed, knowing he'd have to explain himself. "Ever since we endured that project I've felt differently about you. During the project it became tolerance. Afterwards it became actually liking you as a friend in some weird way. But then it became more. When Weasel got hurt I saw you snogging with Potter in the hall. It was then I realized something was going on but I couldn't explain it. I can't call you a mudblood anymore without getting a bad after taste. When I saw you and Potter, I wanted to strangle him for touching you, let alone even thinking about it. Those new and foreign feelings have been waging a war inside me until during the holidays I realized what they meant." Draco paused and looked deep into her eyes. "Jess, I love you."

Shocked didn't even begin to explain how Jess felt. Sure she was shocked, but she was also flabbergasted, confused, surprised, happy, sad, full of the purest joy, and oddly regretful, regretful that she hadn't known before now. Crystal tears slowly rolled down her cheeks as Jess was rendered speechless. The Nimbus in her one hand dropped to the floor but neither of them noticed. This all felt like an alternative universe. It was too good to be true. She had to be dreaming, but she wasn't. She searched his ice blue eyes for an answer, and what she found was the truth. There was such raw emotion held in his gaze that Jess knew it had to be true. It took her a few seconds to find her voice, when she finally did she spoke. "Draco I… I love you too."

Elation crossed over Draco's face as he pulled her closer and planted a firm but tender kiss on her lips. Her arms slipped around the back of Draco's neck as his arms wrapped around her waist. The child and sensations his lips against hers gave Jess were unreal. She had honestly never felt that way when she had kissed Harry. It felt like she was hovering in mid-air. It was as though it touched her very soul, making her feel alive as it melted away any fears, worries or protections on and around her heart. Her heart gushed and felt like it was going to explode from too much joy. If there was a small fraction of heaven on earth, she had found it.

Draco had similar reactions. He too felt all of his cares and worried melt away. All the sorrows in his life and the restrictions and regulations as to what he could and could not do were gone. Draco felt as though this one simple kiss liberated him from all he didn't want to be. He felt himself coming back and the mask he had worn crack and fall on the wayside. His true heart was functioning and beating once more after many years of unused. Her rose petal soft lips felt perfect against his, as though he had been incomplete without them. Draco held her tightly, never wanting to risk losing this. But he felt her arms slide away from his neck and her lips part away from his.

"Draco, this is wrong." Jess said in the most confident voice she could muster.

"Then why does it feel so right?" He asked before kissing her again, both of them getting lost in the moment. It was Draco's turn to pull away this time. He looked at her, waiting for her to say anything.

"Maybe because views of what right and wrong are have been skewed." She replied with a smile.

Draco couldn't help but smirk. "That's very true in some cases. Jess, I don't care about blood, what I 'should' believe according to my father. It's a lord of rubbish and lies. What matters is I've overcome them and I don't want to lose you."

Jess smiled, taking his hand in hers. "I know. I've always known you were never truly like that."

Draco wiped away the remainders of her tears with his thumb. "Don't cry I hate to see you hurt. I hate myself for so many years of hurting you."

"I know Draco, though it did and sometimes still does hurt. I forgive you."

"Thank you, its much more than I deserve."

"This had to work. There's no other way, we can't go back to the lie we were living."

"I know, we'll figure it out in time."

"We can't be seen together because it'll endanger both of us." Jess replied while thinking. A light bulb went off in her head. "I got it!"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "What would that be?"

"We can meet up in the room of requirement a couple of times a week."

He smirked, "I should have thought of that." Draco then realized where they were. "I should go."

Jess looked at him but didn't want to let him go. "I know."

Draco placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "I'll send you an owl when I can."

"Alright, see ya." Jess watched him leave. Even thought he was gone she was happy. Jess noticed her broom lying on the floor abandoned and picked it up. The need for a broom ride was no more and she went back to her room. After spending hours on homework and sneaking food from the kitchen Jess settled in for the night. Hermione noticed that she was very bubbly and happy this evening. It caused her to smile since Jess had had a rough couple last days. When the time came for bed both Jess and Draco fell asleep with ease, now that their consciousness were cleared, and had many happy dreams involving one another.


IT HAPPENED! IT FINALLY BLOODY HAPPENED! Are you all surprised?? I mean it was kind of obvious it was coming really, really, REALLY soon. But still, it was amazing right?? Gosh Draco is positively sexy, isn't he? I thought so. Well I hope you all liked the BIG MOMENT. It just gets better from here so please stay tuned! I've noticed we're within five or four reviews of 500! I think it fitting that with THIS chapter we break that and have a party! What do you all say? Well thank you again for the reviews! Please R&R!