A/N: Thank-you very much to my reviewers! I really apologize for not getting this chapter up sooner, but now that I'm back at school I'm as busy as ever. So it might be another week until you get another chapter, okay? *I'm sorry, I'm sorry!! Please don't hate me!* ^_^ But again I'd like to say that I don't own anything except the plot and characters that aren't from the original HP books. Well, hope you enjoy this chapter! ^_^

Chapter 7: Secret Love

Ever since that night by the lake, Draco and Emily had secretly become a couple. They would see each other privately between classes (when time allowed it and when no one else was around), and Emily would often go visit him at night in his dorm (being careful to make sure that Hermione wasn't there when she snuck in). And during the day when they did have confrontations, they acted as if that night by the lake had never happened. Draco was still as rude as ever to Emily's friends, and although Emily didn't like it, she stood by and let him badmouth them - making sure that she stepped in whenever she could to make it look like, you know, that they didn't have anything to do with each other. And so this is how it was in the weeks that followed. So far, they didn't think that anyone even suspected that they were dating. And that's the way that they wanted it for now. Emily knew that Harry would be angry with her, as well as Ron and Hermione and she wanted to be able to tell them - but until she figured out how, she would just have to wait. But as for Draco, he didn't want to have to deal with the persecutions from the Slytherins for dating a Gryffindor - or from his father who would most likely send the death curse on him. Neither knew what to do. It was like they were between a rock and a hard place - and no matter what they did, they would lose someone they loved.

"Draco, are you sure that you can't stop harassing them?" Emily looked at him with pleading eyes. It was just after ten o'clock and she had snuck into Draco's private head boy's room to see him. Emily had on her blue sweater and sweatpants and was sitting on Draco's bed cross-legged. "I mean, they're my friends and I hate to see you fighting with them all the time." She looked down at her hands. "I just wish that there was another way."

Draco pulled off his shirt to reveal his muscular torso and threw it onto the floor. "I'm sorry but I just can't do that," he shook his head. "I've never liked those three, and despite my feelings for you," he took her hand and kissed it, "I still hate them."

Emily nodded sadly as Draco sat back against some pillows and she cuddled up next to him. "I feel so bad about all this…" Emily looked up at him.

"About what?" asked Draco while caressing her hair with his hand.

"About us. About keeping our relationship secret from those around us."

Draco smiled, "There's nothing to feel bad about. We have our reasons for not letting it out into the open just yet." He raised her chin so that he could meet her lips.

Emily couldn't describe it, but she felt so at peace when she was with him. She loved how he kissed her and how he made her feel like their love could survive anything. And she especially liked the fact that everyone was wrong about him. Despite their opinions about him, he could be kind and sweet.

Draco propped himself up on one arm so that he could look down into Emily's face. He just couldn't describe the feelings that he had for her. It wasn't lust like it had been with all the others. This time it was different. He was content with having her with him just like this and with no one else around to bother them. He gently ran his fingers down the side of her cheek as he went in for another kiss. Her kisses were soft and patient. As he deepened it, he felt her arms go around his neck and he was now on top of her - but supporting himself so that she wasn't hurt under his weight. But kissing is as far as it had ever went so far because he knew that Emily wasn't ready to take that next step yet. She had confided that to him herself not that long ago. For some reason, he didn't care. As long as he was with her - he just didn't care.

************

"Ron, I thought that Harry was going to come up with you?" Hermione asked as she looked under the cushions of the couch in the Head Boy/Girl common room clearly in search of something.

Ron shrugged, "He said that he was going to go get Emily. See if she wanted to come up too."

Emily nodded, "I hope she does come. She's been acting a little differently lately. Have you noticed?" She continued searching through the common room, walking circles around Ron.

Ron shrugged, "I haven't noticed anything. And what are you doing? You're walking around flittering around here like a broken Nimbus!"

"I'm looking for my Potions text book. I left it down here earlier but now I can't find it." She shuffled through some stuff on a table before looking at Ron. "I wonder if Malfoy picked it up. He better not have done anything to it." Hermione started to march up the stairs towards his bedroom.

"Can't it wait until morning?" Ron asked as he came up behind her. "I don't feel like talking to Malfoy. I've had a fairly decent day and I'd like it to stay that way."

But Hermione ignored him and rapped on Malfoy's door. After a few seconds she knocked again and after he still hadn't answered she yelled out. "For Merlin's sake, Malfoy, I need my book back! I know you took it!" And when there still wasn't an answer she turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. "Malfoy I-!" but she stopped short when she saw the sight in front of her. Ron nearly knocked her over when she abruptly stopped.

"Bloody hell-!" Ron's face flushed a little.

Both Draco and Emily were on their feet in a matter of seconds. The silence between them lasted for what seemed like an eternity before Emily spoke.

"Hermione…Ron…I…I can explain."

Hermione looked over at her with wide eyes.

"Well, I sure as bloody hell hope so!" Ron yelled.

"Shut the hell up Weasley," Draco seemed to have found his voice again and he stepped forward.

Emily grabbed onto his hand to hold him from advancing on Ron. "Please don't…" she whispered to him.

Draco's jaw stiffened but he stepped back to her side.

"Emily…you can't be…I mean, you're not…" for once Hermione was at a loss for words.

The look of guilt on Emily's face was enough to tell Hermione the truth.

"You are, aren't you? You're dating Malfoy?!" Ron was clearly very angry.

"Please, Ron, just listen to me-" Emily tried to explain.

"You just wait until Harry finds out! He's not-" Ron was cut off.

"Find out about what?" came a voice from behind them. Harry walked into Draco's room and took in the scene around him. No one spoke at first. Not even Ron.

Draco sneered at Harry and Harry looked over at Emily. "What are you doing here? What are any of you doing here? Why are you all in Malfoy's room?" He looked at Emily for an explanation.

"Harry, Emily and Draco-" but Ron was cut off by Hermione.

"Ron!" she snapped.

But Harry looked back to Ron.

"He has a right to know!" Ron said.

"Know what?" Harry's voice sounded a little impatient. He glanced towards Emily again and saw that her hand was grasped in Draco's hand. "What are you doing?" He started towards them. "Get away from her Malfoy!" He tried to pull Emily away but Draco intervened.

Draco gently pushed Emily behind him and stood face to face with Harry. "I don't have to do anything," his voice was cold.

"Move it now, Malfoy," he tried to reach for Emily but Malfoy pushed him back.

Harry was back in position right away but Emily was quick to place herself between the two guys.

"Stop it, both of you!" She pushed Draco away from Harry. "Please don't start," she whispered to him with pleading eyes.

Draco looked at her before continuing to stare at Harry with a hateful look.

"Emily, let's go." Harry stated matter-of-factly. He, Ron, and Hermione started towards the door.

Emily stayed put with Draco.

"Well, aren't you coming?" Harry had turned back towards her. Realization finally hit him. He knew what was going on. "Emily," he sounded firm. "Now."

Emily swallowed hard and shook her head. "I can't go Harry."

"Cut it out. Let's go." He came back and took hold of her hand but she didn't budge. He looked a little angry.

"Harry," Emily whispered, "I want to stay."

"There's no way I'm going to let you stay with him! What ever gave you the idea that you could even be with him?" He was definitely angry. "Sirius would not-"

It was Emily's turn to lash out now. "My father? How dare you bring him into this!"

"He told me to look out for you! I'm only trying to do that! And if I let this-"

"Oh? And I suppose that's the only reason that you're my friend? Because my father said to be? And the only reason you give a damn is because of him?" Emily demanded of him.

"Yes!- I mean no! Because of Sirius, I feel like this is my duty. I have to protect you like a brother would! And no sister of mine would be with someone like a Malfoy!" Harry pointed hastily towards Draco.

Emily was taken aback. She was hurt. Tears now started to form in her eyes. "Well, I'm sorry that I'm such a burden to you. How about I make your job a whole lot easier?" She was very angry now, "Wake up, Harry! You're not my brother, so why don't you stop trying to act like one?!"

Harry was stunned by her words and although he wouldn't admit it, they hurt him badly. He looked at her in silence and his jaw tightened. "Well," he said in a near whisper, "if that's the way you feel…so be it." He turned and walked quickly out of the room with Ron right behind him. Hermione gave Emily a sad look and turned and followed.

Emily couldn't believe that she had just said that. The tears were just coming now. She buried her face in her hands and felt her knees buckle. But thankfully, she then felt strong arms pull her back up and hold her close. 'What have I done?'