Draco's words echoed in my brain the whole time I was in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good girl. Just the thought of him saying it made my toes curl. It was a great effort to push it from my mind and pay attention to Snape's lecture- but just looking at Snape reminded me of the secret Draco had coerced me to keep.

Shady bastard, I thought, gripping my quill with unnecessary force, using my attraction to him as leverage in keeping his dirty secret. And as a consequence of using my book as evidence that cleared him from blame, Snape and McGonagall now believe he and I are… together. Perhaps intimately.

I cast a shifty look at Penny to my right. She was mindlessly doodling spirals and moons on her parchment. It seemed no one in the student body was aware of me and Draco's supposed fling. Good; it was my intention to keep it that way.

"For homework, read pages 240 to 259," Snape drawled, tapping his wand in the palm of his hand, "You would be wise to pay close attention to the footnotes. Class is dismissed," he raised a brow, the lower half of his face unmoving. "Except for you, Miss Thorncroft. A word, please."

I couldn't conceal the wide-eyed expression of shock that was plastered on my face. Penny leaned over to me, interested.

"Why is Professor Snape asking to speak with you?" she asked in a hushed voice, her eyes suspicious.

"I-I suppose it could be about the last exam," I replied. I didn't attempt to hide my nervousness as I gathered my things into my bookbag, for any student would be scared if Snape asked them to stay behind class. Even though he was my head of house, my interactions with Snape have been few and far between. Honestly, I tried my best to stay away from the gloomy, intimidating man.

Penny wished me pitying words of good luck which I don't think she really meant at all and then went off to the dorms with Evelyn and Greta. Alone in the Dark Arts classroom with Snape, I made haste to come to the front of the classroom where he waited for me with a displeased expression.

Words began to spill out in wake of my nervousness. "Professor, about the recent exam," I began, "I promise I've been studying. I don't know why I continue to get such bad marks. It's truly my own fault, and I apologize- It is not my intention to be a poor reflection on Slytherin house- I wish to become a healer, you see, and Madam Pomfrey informed me my marks are of utmost importance- and so I've been devoting extra time to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I really have-"

Snape waited until I was finished. When I was done berating myself, he spoke.

"Your exam was acceptable, Miss Thorncroft," Snape informed me, moving only his lips, "It is an improvement from last term." He clicked his tongue. "Your effort is evident."

I relaxed, smiling to myself from the relief. "Thank you, Professor."

Snape blinked slowly. "I wish to speak with you on the matter of Draco."

"O-oh." I believe my face flushed a shade of red that would have made an apple look white. I tried to keep myself composed. "What about him, sir?"

Without turning his head, Snape's eyes shifted across the room to make sure we were truly alone. Maintaining his hard stare, he uttered, "You've become quite close to the boy, haven't you?"

I wanted to say no, but remembered that Snape saw the paintings I had done of Draco in my book. To him, we were friends- possibly more than that. I stammered on my reply.

"I-I suppose so."

Snape's stare became lethal. I began to perspire under my cloak. From his taut mouth, he said to me, "I know that you are lying on his behalf." My throat closed, panic-stricken. Snape paused as if to allow me an opportunity to come clean. When I remained quiet, he added, "You do not know what you are involving yourself in, Miss Thorncroft. You would be wise to distance yourself from the boy."

"W-we are not… I-I mean…"

Snape's eyebrow twitched with irritation. "I do not usually involve myself in the romantic affairs of my students. If that is what this is. Which," he scowled, "I am not so certain it is. Nevertheless, you should not have contact with Draco," He lowered his voice until it was almost a growl. "Whatsoever."

He said the last word with lingering emphasis. The gravity of his words sunk into me like I had just been doused by a bucket of ice cold water. I wrung my hands behind my back. "Yes, sir."

Snape turned away from me, which I assumed was my cue to leave. I gripped the strap of my bag if only to give me some sense of security as I exited the classroom to the corridor. I wasn't sure where I was going next, but I chose a direction and walked.

I soon found myself alone in the halls of Hogwarts. Maybe everyone is by the Quidditch pitch for the game today. It was Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Cade mentioned it to me whenever he could but I never gave him a promise to attend. I would have thought after the party when I ran out after he kissed me that he would get the hint that I wasn't interested. But he persisted; leaving me to wonder what it was about me that Cade found so enticing.

"I'm only a man," Draco said. "So remember that the next time you throw your body at me." A chill went down my spine. Draco wanted me for my body; so perhaps Cade was the same.

I continued walking by myself and contemplated turning around, as it seemed I was headed for a dead end. This castle was much too large for the amount of students in it. Being alone inside was just as dangerous as being outside, as you never knew what lurked in the shadows-

An arm suddenly shot out, grabbing me by the wrist and yanking me into a hidden corner. I gasped, preparing to scream- but soon realized the person who pulled me aside was none other than the black-clad Draco. I wrenched my arm from his grasp.

"What is your problem?" I demanded, looking up at the tall man, trying to make out his features in the dim light. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question," he hissed, keeping his voice low. It seemed like he was trying to be covert. Sneaking around the castle, doing who-knows-what.

"I was just going for a walk," I replied. "Not particularly looking to bump into you."

Draco put his hands in his pockets. "Oh? Had enough of me, have you?"

I scowled. "I'll have you know that Snape just had a very strong-worded conversation with me." Draco's eyes widened. "He told me to stay away from you. That I didn't know what I was getting myself involved in," I glared at Draco with skepticism. "Care to explain what it is that I don't know?"

"Keep your voice down," Draco ordered, his eyes darting to the main corridor often. He put a hand on my arm and led me further into the dark nook that was about the size of a broom closet. I waited for Draco to explain.

"I-it's complicated," he said with a frown.

"So? Try to explain."

"Snape is a family friend, you see," he said, "He's been butting into my business in my father's absence. I'm sure all he's doing is trying to make sure I don't have any… distractions this year."

I digested his words. "So Snape, as your… temporary father figure, is voicing his disapproval of our supposed relationship." I paused. "Doesn't that bother you at all?"

"Not really, no."

I didn't understand Draco's self-assurance. "We shouldn't even be speaking right now," I said in a hushed voice, "What if he were to catch us?"

Draco shrugged, somewhat amused. "I don't particularly care," he smiled. "If he is so upset about the girls I'm snogging, that's his problem."

"We are not snogging," I said firmly. Draco seemed to be only pleased by my discomfort, and moved closer to me in a teasing way.

"We could be." Draco's deep tenor tingled through my bones. He loomed over me, close enough to where I could smell his cologne. "I don't see what's stopping us."

I scoffed. "You're incorrigible."

Draco leaned in, his eyes playful. "And you are…"

I flicked him in the ear. He recoiled from me, cursing.

"I bet you get off on this," I spat to him as he clutched his ear, his eyes wild with annoyance. "I am not a toy. You can't just play with me whenever you wish."

Draco straightened himself, his intimidating aura sliding back into place. "You have no idea the stress I'm under," he hissed. "Must I remind you that you serve me. I can do what I want with you."

Standing my ground, I retorted, "I agreed to heal you. I never agreed to any of the other shit."

"Oh, please. I know you must enjoy this."

"Not as much as you, it seems," I said with raised brows. Draco didn't have a response to that; we just stood looking at each other for a moment, me glaring and him gazing at me smugly.

"I'm leaving," I announced, making towards the main corridor to go back to my dorm- but Draco stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

"Do you think you could retrieve a book for me?" he asked. I turned.

"Why can't you get it yourself?"

"I can't go to the library," he replied as if that should be obvious. "Potter's bookish friend practically lives there. It would raise suspicions."

"So send Crabbe or Goyle."

Draco laughed. "Them in the library? That would be even more suspicious."

I crossed my arms. "What even is this book that you need?"

Draco leaned in to me once more, keeping his voice at a whisper. "The Compendium on Toxins and Magical Blights."

I furrowed my brow. "What-"

"Don't ask questions," he interrupted. "It is in the restricted section. I've gotten a signature for you to take."

He forced a piece of paper into my hands. Snape's signature was printed in ink. I looked up at Draco with uncertainty.

"I don't think I can do this," I whispered. "Whatever you're plotting… I don't think I want to be involved."

"You won't get caught," Draco assured me. "If anyone asks, say it's research for your medical training. Deliver it to my dormitory. You have one week."

Reluctantly, I slipped the piece of paper into my robes. I gave no words of affirmation, nothing of reassurance to Draco; I wasn't even certain if I would follow through on this order. I left wordlessly. I had a week to decide.