Bonjour!

I'd like to thank; Slytherinxprincess, annouska, carpe-diem-1299, L.A.H.H., vampire-angel1996, midnightsstar9212, ninjaa michaela x, Treacherous Darkness, and goldspleen for reviewing the last chapter. You're kind words really inspire me to keep going. Thanks!

And thank you to everyone that added this story to their alerts/favorites! That means a lot to me too!

This is a fairly large chapter. I hope you enjoy it! =)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that may seem vaguely familiar. But I do own Angeline. She is mine.

For the first time in his life, Draco would be completely honest and say he was livid when he received a letter from his mother two days before the start of the holidays, explaining how he just had to come home for the holidays because of a very important Christmas Eve dinner being held by the Jensens. He had planned to spend the holidays at Hogwarts to work on the Vanishing Cabinet and he thought she understood that.

Obviously not.

There was one thing she did understand though, and that was Draco never said no to her. Not really that is. He'd do just about anything to make his mother happy. Because well...for one reason and one reason only. She was his mother. So he was going home. Putting his plans on hold to attend some stupid party held by the parents of a girl who had made good work of staying out of his way.

The stupid letter had told him to ask her about the details of the party. And so he looked for her, to ask her if it was her that had insisted to her parents to invite his family to this dinner.

Just my bloody luck! Draco thought as he stormed the hallways. Students from his own house along with the ones from other houses moved out of his way probably afraid that he'd hex them or something if they didn't. Good. Draco liked to instill fear in other people.

He entered the library a lot louder than Madame Pince would have liked as she glared at him and shushed him. Draco flashed her a quick grin knowing it would irritate her before wandering further into the library. And there he found her in the far back corner of the library staring out the window at apparently nothing.

He marched his way over to her table and slammed his fist on the table. Angeline jerked and met his stormy gray eyes. Draco saw the shock and curiosity flash across her face before it was replaced with a look of indifference.

"Explain this," Draco said practically shoving the letter from his mother into her face. Angeline raised an eyebrow at the letter then looked back at him.

"That happens to be a folded piece of parchment, Malfoy. What is there to explain?" She asked. Draco didn't know if he should be annoyed or if he should have seen that coming.

"What's written on the parchment, Jensen," Draco saw as she opened her mouth to say something. "And yes, I can read thank you very much." He saw the corner of her lip tug up slightly as she took the parchment from him and read it quietly to herself.

Draco watched as she frowned down at the letter in her hands. When she finished she handed it back.

"It seems that my parents have invited you and your mother to the dinner that they planned. It also seems as though they've used me as part of the reason for your invite. And what was it your mother quoted from them; Angeline would find it an utmost delight to have Draco be with you." She said. Draco wasn't sure of the emotion that flashed through her eyes it had come so fast before it was replaced with amusement. "I'm not sure what details your mother assumed I knew, considering I myself just found out about this dinner just this morning...Is there anything else you needed?" she asked.

"You seriously had no bloody idea about this dinner," Draco questioned. He searched her face. In the past few weeks she had stopped being in his presence. Only doing so when they had classes together. And even then she acted as though he wasn't there. There were no moments when she'd meet his glance and look as though she wanted to say something. There were no moments when he'd catch her frowning at him a look of frustration evident in her eyes. She simply never looked at him.

She was slowly fading back into the void she had belonged to before the start of their sixth year, but he still noticed her. He couldn't help it. And right then, he noticed how she looked far too tired for someone their age. He knew he looked far too tired for someone their age too, but this wasn't about him right now.

She was standing now grabbing her things. She smiled a little at him but it didn't meet her eyes. "Absolutely no bloody idea," Angeline said walking around him.

Draco watched her leave, and couldn't help but think there was another meaning to those four words. He couldn't help but think that a little part of her was still playing that stupid little game of hers.

Angeline stared at her bright green eyebrows in the mirror during Transfiguration. It was the last Transfiguration class before break and they were working on human Transfiguration. According to Professor McGonagall it was difficult, but Angeline found the task quite simple, though Transfiguration was always her best class. Other than her bright green eyebrows her attention was on the dark circles under her eyes. She really needed to get some sleep, she thought of seeing Madame Pomfrey to help with her sudden insomnia, but the medi-witch would try to get her to stay a night in the hospital wing.

And she hated hospitals no matter how small.

Her thoughts didn't linger long on her hate for hospitals until Hermione Granger let out a very unkind laugh. Looking at the predominately Gryffindor side of the classroom like the rest of the class was. Angeline was greeted with a rather amusing sight and laughed a little. Ron Weasley had managed to give himself a ridiculous handlebar mustache, however Hermione's laugh didn't phase the Weasley long as he retaliated by doing a cruel but accurate impression of Hermione jumping up and down in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question. Angeline hadn't found this funny, but Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil found it very amusing as they laughed at their housemate.

Angeline frowned as Hermione turned away tears in her brown eyes. Angeline never thought Lavender and Parvati were very nice to Hermione, which was quite a shame, because Granger would definitely be something big one day. Why not use that to their advantage? Then she remembered...They weren't Slytherins.... Then there was Ron who needed a few whacks upside the head.

The bell sounded and Angeline quickly changed her eyebrows back to their normal color as Hermione raced past her nearly causing Angeline to fall over.

What does she see in that wanker?

Angeline thought as she looked back at Ron. He could be very mean at times...Sometimes Angeline wondered how he'd of fared if he'd been sorted into Slytherin, but always banished the thought. The day a Weasley was sorted into the house of the serpent was the day a Jensen was sorted into the house of the badger.

"Well don't you look awful." Blaise had joined her in her stroll to the common room.

"I don't need to be reminded, Zabini. Hopefully I won't embarrass you tonight." She replied though she didn't mean a word of it. She could care less if she embarrassed him.

"I'm sure a little make-up could cure even your imperfections. Merlin knows you're going to need a lot." Angeline glared at him and he returned it with a smirk. "I'm only joking...some what."

"Careful, Zabini...I may just rethink going."

"You wouldn't," Blaise said it in tone that suggested it was a silly thing to say. "Now meet me in the common room at eight tonight. Don't keep me waiting" He said heading to another floor.

"Wouldn't dream of it..." Angeline mumbled just as Peeves went soaring over her head singing;

"Potty asked Loony to go to the party! Potty lurves Loony! Potty luuuuurves Looooooony!"

Angeline had dressed in a dark green dress for the occasion, she'd even successfully covered the dark circles under her eyes with make-up. She sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror. She definitely wasn't going to be the life of the party, but at least she looked decent and green was definitely her color. Glancing at the time she left the empty dorm and headed to the common room to meet Blaise.

She entered the room and realized Blaise wasn't there yet.

Just like him...

"Think you're pretty, hm?" Pansy's annoying voice asked. Angeline hadn't been in the mood to deal with her in the last two weeks. Angeline looked to where Pansy sat with Draco, and Daphne. "Not even a sack over her head would make her appealing." Pansy added. Angeline raised an eyebrow. She couldn't hold her tongue any longer.

"At least I can get the sack over my face. Considering the sack wouldn't even go over your face considering how ugly it is." Angeline bit out. Daphne hid her face and Draco looked away as though to hid the fact that he was smirking.

"Well she does have a point, Pansy." Blaise said coming up to stand beside her. "Perhaps you should do something about all that ugly." Pansy turned bright red as Blaise turned to Angeline. He stuck out his arm. "Shall we?" he questioned.

"We shall..." Angeline said taking Blaise's arm and throwing one last glare at Pansy on their way out.

"You clean up nice, Jensen," he said as he lead her up the Grand Staircase.

"So do you," she complimented. "Not going to spend the night calling one another by our surnames will we?" She asked. Blaise looked at her out the corner of his eye.

"Of course not...Angeline."

"Very well, Blaise. Now where is this party being held?"

"We're almost there."

They reached the sixth floor and Angeline realized the party was in Slughorn's office. The office had to be quite big considering she heard he was inviting quite a lot of people to this party. A lot of important people.

The music could be heard down the hall and Angeline wondered how he managed all this. But then again you can't doubt magic. Upon reaching Slughorn's office, they walked into the room and Angeline immediately took in it's stunning appearance.

She wasn't sure if the room was built this way or if Slughorn himself had used some sort of magical trickery to make it look so large. It was much larger than the usual teacher's study. The ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson, and gold hangings, so that it looked as though they were all inside a vast tent. The room itself was crowded and stuffy and bathed in red light cast by an ornate golden lamp dangling from the center of the ceiling in which real fairies were fluttering, each a brilliant speck of light. Before she could look at those that were in the room Blaise had pulled her along.

"Blaise!" she heard Slughorn boom cheerfully. "And you've brought, Miss Jensen!" Even though he sounded cheerful, Angeline could tell from his expression he was a little...apprehensive. Politely she smiled.

"The place looks wonderful, Professor." she said. He nodded happily and turned to Blaise.

"Enjoy the party," Slughorn said heading over to the door where, Harry Potter had entered with Luna Lovegood. Where Angeline could hear his booming voice once again as he greeted the Boy-Who-Lived.

Blaise proceeded to lead her around the party. She was nothing more than just an accessory. So when Blaise found himself in conversation with a man whose name, Angeline didn't bother remembering she quietly excused herself and headed toward the punch. Blaise could have done that much. Five minutes and Angeline was already bored. On her way to the punch however she bumped into someone with long brown hair.

"I'm sorry...Are you alright...Granger?" she asked. The girl looked as though she was running from something...or someone.

"I'm fine...Who am I kidding, not at all really." Hermione said with a sigh. Angeline raised an eyebrow.

"Well, what or who are you running from?" she asked before she could stop herself. It really wasn't her business, but it was a party and they were supposed to be mingling, right? Right. Hermione looked as though she wasn't expecting Angeline to ask her at all.

"McLaggen." Hermione sighed. Angeline shuddered, she found that seventh year Gryffindor to be quite...disgusting.

"Hermione! Hermione!" Both girls turned to see Harry Potter dragging Luna Lovegood behind him.

"Harry! There you are, thank goodness! Hi, Luna!"

"Hello, Hermione. Hello...." Luna stopped in her greeting when her big eyes landed on Angeline. Angeline stuck her hand out and the Ravenclaw took it.

"Angeline...Nice to meet you, Luna. Hello, Harry." Angeline replied a small smile gracing her lips. Harry seemed shocked to hear her call him by his first name. She couldn't blame him, the last time she was in his presence she wasn't what one would say kind...

"Hi," Harry said before turning to Hermione again. "What's happened to you?" asked Harry.

"Oh I've just escaped—I mean, I've just left Cormac," she said. "Under the mistletoe," she added in explanation as Harry continued to look questioningly at her.

"I could always keep him...occupied if you want..." Angeline said as she spotted the said Gryffindor across the room. Hermione and Harry both stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.

"You're going to have a nice snog with a Gryffindor?" Harry questioned his dark eyebrow raised.

"Merlin, no!" Angeline nearly shouted. "I'd rather snog someone from you house who didn't act like a troll...But I will keep him busy for a good twenty minutes or so." Angeline said.

"No you should enjoy the party. You—" Hermione said.

"What do plan to gain from this?" Harry asked suspiciously. Angeline resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"A good laugh or two. Because you know us Slytherins are always up to no good. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a troll to talk to."

Why was she doing this? Well, for one she really was bored, and normally she was against bothering people from her rival house, but considering that no one liked this person. She saw absolutely nothing wrong with having her fun.

"Oh I'm so sorry," Angeline lied when she accidentally bumped into the tall Gryffindor seventh year. In that movement she turned him around and away from where the others had been before she left them. "Cormac McLaggen, right?" She asked feigning interest. "Gryffindor am I correct?"

"Who are you?" he asked her. Angeline smiled.

"Angeline Jensen...sixth year."

"And your house?"

"Slytherin," she replied automatically. McLaggen raised an eyebrow at her. Which she knew would happen. A Slytherin never acted this friendly to a Gryffindor and vice versa. "Did you come alone?"

"No. I'm looking for Hermione Granger. She's in your year...Gryffindor." Angeline smiled.

"Granger...You've just missed her actually. Heard her say she needed some fresh air before she headed out the door. I suspect she may have gone to the Astronomy Tower. That's where I usually go at least. It is...quite romantic on a night like this." McLaggen seemed to be weighing her words some. Trying to figure out if she was lying, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Thanks," he mumbled before heading for the exit. Angeline smirked as he disappeared the space he filled up however wasn't unoccupied for long when Blaise stood before her. A look of satisfaction on his face.

"Some people mingle at a party...you send people on wild chases for someone who's standing a matter of twenty feet away from them. Impressive. Though why'd you do it for someone such as Granger is beyond me." He said.

"I was bored. She presented a problem. I took it and sent it on its way. I had my fun." Angeline said. "Is there anything wrong with that?" Blaise studied her for a moment.

"What goes on in that head of yours?" He questioned.

Before she could reply there was silence in the room as Draco was being dragged by the ear by Argus Filch. They were headed in the direction that Slughorn stood with Harry and the others. Angeline raised an eyebrow. Ever since that night in that classroom, she had kept her distance from the sole heir to the Malfoy fortune. Yet she still kept him in her view at all times, but she never let him know that. What he had said to her may have shaken her a little, but she did know at least one thing about Draco Malfoy. And that was he used anything...anything to get what he wanted and that included pointing out others fears, but there was one thing he didn't know about her. And that was she didn't give up that easily. That she would find out what the hell was going on if it were the last thing she did.

She heard Blaise sigh as he gently pushed her toward the small crowd. As much as she knew he hated how she treated Draco as a puzzle, he'd given up at trying to reason with her so she wasn't very shocked when she stood in hearing and seeing proximity and Blaise no where near her.

"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch, his jowls a quiver and the maniacal light of mischief-detention in his bulging eyes, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

Lurking on the seventh floor? Angeline thought. Malfoys don't lurk.

Draco pulled himself free of Filch's grip, looking furious.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

From the seventh floor? You used to be a better liar, Draco...

"No, I'm not!" said Filch, a statement at complete odds with the glee on his face. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn, waving as hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay, Draco."

The facial expressions that Angeline saw were...very odd. Filch predictably looked outraged and disappointed yet Draco looked just as unhappy. And then there was Snape whom Angeline had just noticed, looked at Draco both angry...and...afraid? And as soon as the expressions were there they were gone.

Filch had turned and shuffled away, muttering under his breath; Draco had composed his face into a smile and was thanking Slughorn for his generosity, and Snape's face was smoothly inscrutable again.

"It's nothing, nothing," said Slughorn, waving away Draco's thanks. "I did know your grandfather, after all...."

"He always spoke very highly of you, sir," said Draco quickly. "Said you were the best potion-maker he'd ever known."

Angeline studied Draco. She hadn't studied him like this in weeks and she realized just how much she had miss. Not even when he found her in the library the day before did she really take in his appearance. She merely had stayed focused on his stormy gray eyes, and wondered what those emotions were that flicked through them. And now that she watched him now it became apparent that he looked a little ill not the fake ill either. Truly ill. He had dark circles under his eyes and a distinctly grayish tinge to his skin. It made her stomach upset and she felt like she needed to talk to him. Despite that small voice in her head screaming at her not to.

"Draco—" she began her hand outstretched to touch his arm.

"I'd like a word with you, Draco," said Snape suddenly.

"Oh, now, Severus," said Slughorn, hiccuping, "it's Christmas, don't be too hard—"

"I'm his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be," said Snape curtly. "Follow me, Draco."

They left, Snape leading the way, Draco looking resentful. Angeline stood there frozen for a moment. Her hand falling limply by her side.

"I don't mean to pry."

"But you can't help it,"

"Going to follow?" Blaise asked his warm breath tickling her ear. Angeline turned and looked at him. "You clearly want to."

I do want to...

"You're ridiculously curious." Blaise said. Angeline said nothing. "Curiosity killed the cat, Angeline."

"Satisfaction brought it back." She mumbled. She glanced at the door before looking at him again. "Satisfaction brought it back nine times." she said.

And you Angeline...Are no cat...

"Let's just go get some punch, hm?" She questioned. Blaise apparently wasn't expecting her to say such a thing.

Draco noticed Angeline the moment he was dragged into Slughorn's Christmas party. He noticed how she managed to stand near him yet far away enough as she listened to what was going on. He noticed how she sounded concern when she said his name reached out to him only for Snape to come and drag him away. He noticed how she watched him leave, conflicted between keeping her space or following.

He noticed how she didn't follow.

Snape had dragged him into the last classroom in the corridor. Draco was very tempted to tell him to go to hell and leave Snape there. But he knew he couldn't. Snape had finally gotten him cornered and he would have to listen to the man he'd been avoiding as much as possible all term.

"You screwed up once Draco, earlier this year. You most definitely cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled—" Draco had to cut him off. As if he didn't know this already! As if it wasn't constantly on his mind!

"I didn't have anything to do with it, all right?" Draco hoped that would be the end of it and he could be on his way. He didn't want to deal with this. Not now.

"I hope you are telling the truth, because it was both clumsy and foolish. Already you are suspected of having a hand in it." Draco glared at Snape.

"Who suspects me?" Draco asked angrily. "For the last time, I didn't do it, okay? That Bell girl must've had an enemy no one knows about—don't look at me like that! I know what you're doing, I'm not stupid, but it won't work—I can stop you!" Again Draco's glaring at him. He's beyond angry.

You have no rights to my thoughts!

"Ah...Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occlumency, I see. What thoughts are you trying to conceal from your master, Draco?"

"I'm not trying to conceal anything from him, I just don't want you butting in!"

Only half true...

"So that is why you have been avoiding me this term? You have feared my interference? You realize that, had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them repeatedly to be there, Draco—"

"So put me in detention! Report me to Dumbledore!" Draco jeered. He was riled up by then. Nothing could be said to bring him down now.

"You know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things."

"You'd better stop telling me to come to your office then!" Draco knew his voice was beginning to rise, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Listen to me," said Snape, his voice had gotten low. "I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco—"

Oh, cry me a river Snape. That's your bloody own fault!

"Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I'm doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"

A bit is an understatement, Draco...

"What is your plan?"

"It's none of your business!"

"If you tell me what you are trying to do, I can assist you—"

"I've got all the assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone!"

Yet, I am...

"You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes—"

"I would've had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention!" His voice was louder now. So much louder.

"Keep your voice down!" Snape spat at him. "If your friends Grabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing pres—"

"What does it matter?" asked Draco. "Defense Against the Dark Arts—it's all just a joke, isn't it, an act? Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts—"

"It's an act that is crucial to success, Draco!" said Snape. "Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance in assistants like Crabbe and Goyle—"

"They're not the only one, I've got other people on my side, better people!"

Anyone is better than Crabbe and Goyle...

"Then why not confide in me, and I can—"

"I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!"

Draco's eyes were narrowed into slits as Snape glared at him. He didn't care how he sounded just then. He just wanted to be left alone. But what Snape said next angered him only because the truth hurt.

"You are speaking like a child." Draco recoiled a little at Snapes cold voice. "I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but—"

Draco glared again as he pushed himself away from the desk he was leaning against and headed for the door. He flung the door opened and headed down the hall. He had no intentions of going back to the party. Just as he was about to pass the open door of Slughorn's office, Angeline walked out of it.

He knew she was watching him as he walked past and turned a corner. He thought she wouldn't follow him until he heard the clicking of her heels on the stone floor as she ran after him.

"Draco!" she called.

There it is again...That sound of concern!

"Draco! Stop! Please!" she managed to catch him and make him stop by grabbing a hold of his arm. Draco wretched his arm away from her as he turned and glared at her. His anger wasn't gone from what Snape said. And apparently it was enough for her to take a small step back.

"What?" he hissed.

"I just..." she swallowed and glanced sideways. "Are you okay?" She asked looking him directly in his eyes. Draco studied her face. There was no pretending. She wasn't being nosy, she didn't want to know if he was okay just to know. It was as though she actually cared if he was fine.

Why do you care? He wanted to ask her. But instead he turned away from her and headed in the direction he was going before she stopped him.

"Everything is just peachy, Jensen," he called over his shoulder. "Everything is fine..." he mumbled to himself.

Everything is falling apart.

Well, that's the end of that chapter. I actually liked it. I hoped you did too!

A good amount of both Draco and Angeline's point of view right?

So go on! Tell me what you thought! Tell me what you think will happen! Tell me what you want to happen!

Ask me questions. Whatever you want! I'll be waiting! :) All you have to do is click that button! ^_^

Au revoir,
TR