Chapter 4

As they walked towards the elevators, their path cleared. The bell rang and people sprang out of the way to avoid sharing the elevator with them. When it opened, it emptied, and Draco marched inside, with Granger limp in his grip. She wasn't even struggling. This was almost as disturbing as the clerk's hugely erroneous mistake.

" Where are we going?" She asked weakly.

" Up to the lobby to have some tea. You seem a little weak to me, soul of my soul," To emphasize, he dropped her arm. She didn't even flinch.

" You're going to hold off on yelling at me for a hundred and forty five floors just to be dramatic?" She half laughed, " Try that, see how it works out for you."

" At least you have some fucking fight back in you, Granger. What was that? What is this thing?" He smacked the paper with his open palm.

She rested her head in her palm, " Just calm down, okay."

" Tell me this is a joke. Tell me you and Potter and the Weasel cooked this up to make a joke at my expense," He turned her so she faced him, " You got me okay, humiliation complete."

She met his eyes defiantly, " Your humiliation, Malfoy, are you kidding me? If anyone is embarrassed, absolutely mortified it is me, alright?"

" So this isn't a joke?"

" Oh, it's a joke alright, but I'm not sure who's playing it." Her voice sounded weary.

" Then explain this to me, how you… you put some charm on me."

" I didn't fucking put a charm on you, I performed the charm. Ginny and I were trying it out to see that's all. It's not as if I knew there'd be consequences. We just wanted to see who our soulmates were. You think I'd purposefully pick you of all people?" She sneered, " I don't have to defend myself to you. It was just supposed to be some fun."

He stepped into her personal space, and she stepped back, " When was this?"

" At school, fourth year, just before Christmas Break. We were blowing off some steam after exams."

He stepped into her again and she backed up against the elevator wall, " So you did it, you admit it!"

" It wasn't on purpose, Malfoy!" She was brave to a fault, even as he towered over her, " Think about it for just one moment."

Draco's anger, despite himself, began to falter. More than anything, he was filled with a profound helplessness. She could be lying. The slytherin in him knew that. But why would she? He had to study the law, consider his options. He should take his own advice and see what he was up against. Instead he'd behaved like a Gryffindor fool, charging in without a thought of the consequences.

He backed away, " I'm sorry. Fuck… sorry, Granger."

" Never thought I'd hear you say that."

" I have said I'm sorry plenty of times!"

" Well, I don't remember it," She crossed her hands over her chest triumphantly, " But if you want to apologize to me I'm all ears, Malfoy."

How could she not remember? It was etched into his memory. Every one of her sobs, every one of his useless, cowardly broken apologies. How dare she refute it like it was nothing. He almost resisted the urge to one up her. He knew rationally that he was in the wrong. A better man would not rise to her baiting. But Draco was no Potter.

Draco pinned his hands on either side of her body. She startled, but looked up at him with enough malice in her eyes to make a weaker man back off. But he was no Longbottom.

" Floor One! Lobby!"

The door opened but they didn't move a muscle.

" When you are on your back. Under me. Screaming my name. Coming again and again. Then I will apologize. Soulmate."

She blushed right up to the roots of her frizzy brown hair.

And he smiled, and left her on the wall. Take that, Granger.