Author's Note: Okay, so on to chapter two. We'll see if I can vamp this up really nicely. Oh, and I refuse to write another disclaimer. I wrote one for the first chapter and it continues through the whole story. I didn't magically come to own any of these characters or places, whatever.

Chapter 2: The Softer Side of Draco

Draco watched intently as Cordelia made her way down the hall. It was inconceivable to him that she was even talking to those people. They were Griffindors for Merlin's sake! Cordelia stopped just inches away from him. She continued to smile at him and her blue eyes danced. It was quite mesmerizing. "Out of all the people on this train, Cordy, you HAD to pick the Potter bunch to talk to? Didn't I tell you about them, so you would stay AWAY from them?" Draco had managed to stay a little peeved at her. It was hard sometimes, but talking to them was a big offense in his book.

"Draco." She stopped to think about what to say next. She knew that she had an effect on him that made him a little softer toward her, but she also knew that he had an explosive temper much like his father's. "You know that I have to work with Harry while I am here. Working with him is the entire reason I am here." She watched him for any reaction. She had given up on reading his body language years ago, and now could only wait until the reaction came. There would be no forewarning if he were angry.

"I know, but it doesn't mean you have to befriend him." Draco glared at her, almost challenging her to contradict his statement.

"Who said I was befriending him?"

"Well, you did refer to him by his first name."

"How would you like me to refer to him as?" Cordelia began to challenge the blond.

"Potter." It was simple enough.

"Fine, Draco, I'll call him Potter. It still doesn't change the fact that I'll be seeing a lot of him though."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore. Want to go sit down?" Cordelia nodded and they sat in an empty compartment. Draco had given up the argument. It was the truth that the only reason she was even there was because of Potter. Over the years, Potter had proven that he was going to be the key in the battle against Voldemort. Cordelia was brought over as sort of a security system for him. She had the power to sense Voldemort's signature and also the power to help fight against him. This mission that Cordelia was on brought a lot of tension to her life. She was a paradox. Draco knew that. She was half dark, half good. Her father was a Death Eater, but Voldemort killed her father. Her best friend and future husband was the only son of a Death Eater. In a sense, she was brought to England to fight against her future father-in-law--a man that she loved like a father, was loyal to, and feared. This clash going on inside her was intriguing to Draco. He had often thought about what would happen to his relationship with her if she had killed his father, or what would happen to his relationship with his father if he killed her. It was hard to predict an outcome to either situation.

"You've gotten more handsome since the last time I saw you." She smiled at him again. He adored that smile. "It's been more than a year." Cordelia sat down by the window and started watching the landscape creep by.

"Thanks. You've gotten more beautiful." He flashed another genuine smile. "I'm glad to see that you didn't cut your hair." He sat down beside her and waited for her to turn to him.

"I'm glad to see that you did cut yours." She reached up and stroked his gelled hair. "And that you still use more hair care products than I do." Still stroking his hair, she rested her head on his shoulder. Draco pulled her closer. The scent of lilacs tickled his nose. This was her scent. She even smelled of lilacs the first time they met twelve years ago. He loved this scent, although he would never admit this to anyone.

"I wouldn't want to be too much like my father, would I?" This statement was truer than anyone in the Malfoy family wanted to admit. He spent much of his life idolizing his father, but in the last few years, he had found himself disliking him more and more. It started when Voldemort began to rise to power again. His father had become even crueler. It was like he didn't have to hide any more and all of that pent up evil burst through.

"No. We wouldn't want that." There was a long silence as the two just enjoyed each other's company. This was the first time they had been with each other outside of the walls of the Malfoy Manor. Whenever Cordelia came over to visit, Lucius made sure that they never ventured outside. He never gave them any reason as to why they couldn't leave, but they always obeyed. The entirety of their relationship developed behind closed doors.

"Cordy. I was thinking . . . "

"Oh no. That's dangerous." She poked at his side and smiled.

"Funny." He seemed to not be enthused about her joke and went on. "What house will you be put in?"

"I don't know. I suppose I'll have to be sorted like everyone else. I don't need to be in the same house as Har - Potter to do what I need to."

"I hope it isn't Slytherin." This statement caught her by surprise.

"I would have thought that you wanted me there."

"It isn't for you. Everyone is out to prove themselves. They all are back stabbers, even I am. You don't need to prove yourself."

"Where would you want me to be?"

"Ravenclaw first, Hufflepuff second, Griffindor third, then Slytherin. Those other houses would be better for you, trust me." Nothing else was said on the matter. Then something dawned on Cordelia.

"How did you know that my father was a dead Death Eater?" Her blue eyes intensified as she searched his eyes for an answer. When he didn't say anything, she went on. "I mean, I knew that he was and that he and your father were friends. I was always under the impression that you didn't know anything about my mother and father."

"I still don't know anything about your parents. I just knew about him through that textbook." If Lucius had had his way, Draco wouldn't have even known about Cordelia. However, he had signed that contract and it was binding for all eternity. The truth was that he needed heirs and Cordelia Jacobs was a powerful pureblood. Osiris had become a shame to the Death Eaters when he faced off against their Lord.

"Well, it seems that neither of us knows a whole lot about them. I just know the basics." She sighed and stood up. "What is it about them that makes them so taboo to talk about?" She started ranting. This was something that Draco adored about her. When something bothered her, she let the world know. Her temper was almost as short as his. "Are they afraid that the minute I know anything about my father that I am going to follow in his footsteps? Don't they realize that I also have my mother's blood too?" She stopped when she noticed him grinning at her. "What?"

"I was just admiring that temper of yours." She stood up and kissed her lightly on the lips. "As much as I would love to continue watching this display, we are almost at the school." Draco watched her as she spun to look out the window. He was right. The train was slowing down.

Author's Note: Okay. Yes, our dear Malfoy is a bit out of character, but it's my story and I say that he's like this. I swear he isn't this nice all the time.