Disclaimer: I only own Liliana Grey and some of the plot. The rest belongs to J. K. Rowling. I am not making money off of this and have no intention of doing so. This is just for fun. :-)

*Chapter Eight*

"I've got dinner with the Slytherins," said Liliana, as she made her way to the Great Hall after Potions.

"Sounds like fun," said Dean Thomas, running to catch up with her, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Hey Dean, I think we did really well on our potion just now, high five," she said, slapping Dean's palm with her own.

"Maybe Snape'll use it to de-grease his hair," he joked.

"We can only hope," said Ron, "but I don't think that Harry and I did too well. Our degreaser is bound to put more grease in than it'll take out."

"But if Hermione had helped us," started Harry, throwing a sidelong glance to her.

"It's not my fault that Snape made me work with Parvati."

"I think it's best that you did Herm. It was her potion that gave me the freckles," laughed Liliana.

"What're you talking about?" asked Dean.

"I had detention last night and Snape made me test all of the Gryffindor potions," she pulled a face, "there were a lot of side effects, and hers gave me freckles."

"But weren't they supposed to change your eye color?"

"Exactly."

"That's definitely a problem. Well I'll see you all at later. I'm headed up to the Commons room."

"I'll come with you," she said, "I've got to grab my cloak before the elves move my stuff."

 "Alright milady," he said as he extended his arm. She received it elegantly and blew exaggerated kisses to her friends.

"Are you going back down to dinner?" she asked. 

"I don't know. I was going to get started on the foot-long parchment that I was supposed to give Binns today, but…" he trailed off, turning to see her reaction.

"Great choice, food should always come before education," she laughed.

"Remind me again, why do you need your cloak?" he asked once they were climbing back out of the portrait hole. 

"I'm staying with the Slytherins now," she began, taking Dean's arm again, "and I've learned from experience that the dungeons are cold as hell."

"Hell isn't all that cold," he said seriously.

She laughed again. "All right, the dungeons are as cold as hell is hot…" she grinned smugly at him. 

"This is some cloak," he said, once they were making their way down the stairs and back to the Great Hall.

"It was a birthday present from my uncle this year," she said, taking it back from him. 

"Oi, Dean," called Colin Creevey, running down the stairs behind them.

"Hullo Colin."

"Hi Colin," she said, nodding in his direction.

"Can I ask a favor?" he stammered, looking from Liliana to Dean. They nodded. "I was wondering if I could take a picture of you for the paper."

"What paper Colin?" asked Dean skeptically.

"My brother Dennis and I are trying to get one started here this year," he said, beaming proudly. "Well, can I have the shot?"

"Why not?" asked Liliana as she hung her arm around Dean's neck. He grinned as he draped his arm casually around her hip. 

"Thanks a lot," squeaked Colin after he took the shots. "I'll send you each a print once I develop these." With a final "thanks," he literally jumped down the rest of the stairs.

"You're a bold kid Dean," said Liliana, tapping his hand that still gripped her hip.

"My girlfriend tells me that all the time," he said, taking his hand away.

"Your girlfriend? You're kidding right?" she asked, none too sure herself.

"Don't worry, I'm not serious," he laughed. "But you can never be too sure. Last year it turned out that I had a girlfriend all along and I didn't know it until she broke up with me. Good times, good times," he said, teasing her. Liliana just laughed and shook her head.

"It's six o' clock, I'm officially a Slytherin," she said, absentmindedly toying with her house badge, watching it change from the Gryffindor crest to that of the Slytherins. "There's my table," she said solemnly, looking to the Slytherin table. 

"Sorry, guess I can't talk to you anymore," he said finally, flashing her a huge smile before walking over to madly waving Ron.

Liliana went over to the Slytherin table and sat next to two harmless looking blonde girls that she recognized from her Potions and Transfiguration classes. She performed a shrinking charm on her cloak and tucked it into her pocket.

"Pansy Parkinson," said the smallest of the girls, without even turning to look at Liliana.

"Hullo Pansy, I'm…" she began.

"You're Liliana Grey, we know who you are. I'm Alison Parker," said the larger girl.

"Millicent Bulstrode," said an even larger brown haired girl as she sat down uncomfortably close to Liliana.

"Did you like the other houses," asked Pansy, almost daring Liliana to say yes.

"Yeah, I did."

"That's nice," she said, reaching for the pitcher of pumpkin juice.

"Before you begin eating," came Dumbledore's voice from the doors, "I have a few last minute announcements." He walked quickly up to the teacher's table before continuing. "The first trip to Hogsmeade will be the weekend of October the eighteenth. That is about six weeks from now, but I've been assured that the students like having something to look forward to. On a second, and more saddening note, Professor Severus Snape will be away this weekend and the greater part of next week. Therefore, his classes will be canceled until further notice." The Gryffindors let out a collective whoop of applause. For them, Snape being out was good news.

"I wonder what's going on," said Pansy, thinking out loud.

"I'll tell you lot what's going on," said Blaise quietly, as he sat down across from the girls.

"Hold your tongue Zabini," said Draco sharply from behind him. "There are those at this table that cannot yet be trusted."

"Who?" asked Blaise, looking menacingly at Liliana, "our little friend from yesterday? She wouldn't say anything, would you little girl?"

"I'm not a little girl. And what could you possibly have to say that would be that important?"

"Relax," cooed Draco, filling his goblet with water. "Remember what that old crackpot said at the start of term feast, 'house unity,' we mustn't fight." Blaise cocked an eyebrow at him and Draco cleared his throat, "as I was saying, we mustn't fight with each other. Because it's so much more fun to fight with everyone else."

Liliana rolled her eyes, "whatever."

"Yeah, that's exactly how it works here. Whatever I say," he said finally, before switching the subject to Quidditch.

"What kind of broom d'you have?" asked Blaise, through a mouthful of mashed potatoes and leeks.

"A Firebolt," she answered, spreading butter on her potatoes.

"D'you fly?"

"Did you not hear me? I have a Firebolt. Why wouldn't I fly?" she asked.

"What Blaise here wants to say is, do you fly well?" interjected Draco, sipping his water carefully.

"Better than some."

"Meaning?" asked Pansy.

"I fly well," she said, turning to face the other girl in exasperation.

"Which house are you choosing?" asked Millicent from her other side.

"I don't know yet."

"Draco was telling me earlier how it'd be a waste, ow!" began Blaise.

"What?" asked Liliana.

"Nothing," finished Draco placidly.

"Oh come off it Draco, just tell us," pleaded Millicent.

Draco looked up from his goblet and gave Millicent the finger. He then looked to Liliana as if to ask, "you next?"

"What kind of chicken is this?" she asked later, pointing to the half eaten leg on her plate.

"I don't know, onion and garlic something," said Draco lazily, sniffing the air. 

"There are tomatoes in it too," said Blaise, through a mouthful of the very chicken.

"Why?" asked Alison.

"No reason, excuse me," said Liliana, getting up quickly. She seized her twitching fingers and tried to ignore the snickers following her out of the Great Hall.

"What's the matter?" asked Dean, jogging slightly to keep up with her. "I saw you leave the Slytherins, I thought they'd jinxed you."

"I'm allergic to tomatoes," she answered sheepishly.

"Then why are you headed to the Commons Room?" Liliana turned and looked at him, obviously confused. "The hospital wing is in the other direction, do you want me to come with you?"

"Yeah. Thanks," she said, turning to follow him and shaking her head at her own blunder.

"Tomatoes eh?"

"Yeah. It's a stupid gypsy thing. Everyone in my family is allergic… deathly allergic, did I mention that?" she asked, her right hand shaking ferociously.

"No, but keep talking. Why are you all allergic?"

"In early some-teenth century France, everyone believed that tomatoes were the food of the devil. Thought that if you ate them you'd die. Eventually people realised that that wasn't the case, but the gypsies never ate them. Too superstitious. Now, whenever anyone in my family eats them, this happens… It's really cold. Did I mention that as well?"

"Then put your cloak on… where is it?"

"My pocket." Dean took her cloak out of her pocket and reversed the shrinking charm. He helped her into it and then held her close while they walked.

"Do you see the humour in this? Or is it just me?"

"I think it's quite funny. Just the fact that I could be dying sort of scares me."

"Understandable."

"Yeah, I'm really…" she couldn't finish her sentence however, because she collapsed in Dean's arms.

"What happened?" screeched Madam Pomfrey, as Dean came into the room, carrying a limp Liliana.

"She's allergic to tomatoes, deathly so," he said casually.

"That all?" she asked, standing up from behind her desk. "Set her down on one of those beds then." Dean did as he was told. "When did she lose consciousness?"

"One the way down here, not too long ago."

"Wait here, call me if she moves," she said, walking off to one of her large medicine cabinets. She came back holding an extremely large pill.

"What are you going to do with that?" exclaimed Dean once she returned.

Madam Pomfrey broke the pill in halves and poured all of the powdery substance that it contained into one half. "Hold her nose so she'll open her mouth, then tilt her head back," she instructed.

"She's got really smooth skin, you know," he noted, feeling it under his fingertips.

The older witch just tutted in disapproval. She poured the glittering powder into Liliana's mouth and sat back expectantly, Dean did the same. Liliana sat up quickly, coughing, the sparkling dust coming out in clouds.

"Did you know that you were allergic to tomatoes the whole time?" asked Madam Pomfrey impatiently.

"MmmHmm," she answered, once she'd finished coughing.

"Then why would you eat the chicken? It was clearly basted in a tomato paste!"

"I don't know. I just wasn't thinking."

"Wasn't thinking is right, you silly girl," she said, going back to her desk to retrieve something.

"What's she on about?" whispered Dean. Liliana shrugged.

"You can go," said Madam Pomfrey, tapping Dean sharply on the shoulder. He looked hesitantly at Liliana but acquiesced. "And you," she began, "are going to tell me all about your other medical issues, your file is empty!" she exclaimed, showing Liliana the blank piece of parchment with her name at the top. After half an hour of reliving every medical mishap and malady that she had ever encountered, Madam Pomfrey let her go. "And if I were you, I'd thank the young man that was in here earlier. You're not as light as a feather you know." Liliana was a bit taken aback but nodded.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to do that," she mumbled as she left.

*~*~*

"You're not Blaise," said Draco loudly. He had been waiting at the base of the staircase that led to the dungeons. He'd stayed coiled in his position, waiting until he heard single footsteps. They were his signal to strike. He had shot out from his hiding place and wrapped his arm around his victim's neck. He now stood behind them, arm still in a death hold, his wand to their temple.

"The hell I'm not!" she exclaimed.

"It's you again," he declared, once he had produced an eerie green light from the tip of his wand. He thought he'd seen a flicker of fear in her eyes, or perhaps it was a reaction to the light in her face. "What's the matter little girl? Are you scared?"

"Of you?" she asked, silently struggling with his arm on her neck.

"What are you doing down here?"

"I have detention, again," she snapped, swinging her hair back sharply so that it hit him in the face. She took the opportunity when he reacted to break away from him. "Honestly Malfoy what is your problem?" Her voice was low yet dangerous once again. "You cannot do that! Lurking in dark corners, waiting for people to come down the steps so that you can try and scare them to death."

"I thought you were Blaise," he said, not a single trace of apology in his voice.

"Well look at me!" she exclaimed, spinning around, "I'm not your little friend. Now if you'll excuse me."

"I'm coming with you."

"Why?"

"I have detention again too."

"Liar," she spat, speeding up her pace.

"I do. I was waiting for Blaise to come down so we could go together. You'll do though."

"Gee thanks," she said, pushing open Snape's door. His classroom was surprisingly bright and full of students.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Grey," he said icily.

"Professor," began Liliana, "why do I have another detention? Did I do something else?" she asked bitterly.

"The two of you left detention last night without my permission. You also stole some parchment that I had lying on my desk." At the mention of the parchment, Liliana sighed and glared at Draco. "Are you aware that this constitutes a violation of my privacy? That violation warrants another detention here tonight."

"What do we have to do?" asked Draco, who seemed an expert at detention policy.

"Come with me," commanded Snape, leading them over to a group of surly looking seventh year Slytherin girls. "You can use one of these students for your testing. Take your pick," he said, looking from Draco to Liliana.

"We need a girl," said the one closest to the cauldron.

"Wait, are you a virgin?" asked another, quite loudly.

"What?" asked Liliana indignantly.

"Answer the question girl," barked Snape, a tiny curl playing at the corners of his lips. Liliana looked from Draco's obnoxious smirk to the expectant expressions on the faces of the girls.

"Yes."

"Then Draco'll have to do," replied the same girl brusquely, grabbing Draco by the arm.

"Alright," mused Snape, "that's it for the Lust Brew, and none of the other groups need a test subject, so you can help me." He led Liliana over to a wall at the back of the classroom that sported shelves upon shelves of jars containing Merlin knows what. "Clean them. You may use magic if you must, but you then have to label them, by hand. There are some rather old markings on the bottom of each that'll tell you what they contain. After that, you put them in alphabetical order, in subcategories of their expiration dates. Enjoy," he said finally, turning to help one of his precious Slytherins along with their potion. 

Liliana and Draco had both finished their tasks at least a half hour ago. The classroom was empty and they were waiting for Snape to return. Liliana lay on her back on one of the benches. Her knees were bent and her arms folded beneath her head. Draco slouched in a single armchair by the door; he seemed ready to leap out of it at a moments notice. Liliana focused on the ceiling, her mind wandering. She thought about everything. From the simple fact that she was at Hogwarts, to the fact that she had no idea where her parents were, or how her little sister was at the moment; to the fact that she had actually felt happy today. She thought about Ron, and how kind he was, and Dean, and how kind he was, and Draco. He was such a prat. A wally, her sister would call him. She opened her eyes and nearly jumped out of her skin. Draco was hovering above her. She sat up immediately and ran a hand through her hair. "What do you want now?"

"This too is your fault."

"I don't feel like listening to this," she said, swinging her feet off the bench.

"Oh, but you must. I have no one else to talk to, so you will have to listen." He took the removal of her feet as an invitation to sit down and did so. "This is your fault," she rolled her eyes, "if you hadn't been hanging out with that Mudblood Granger, I wouldn't have had to bother you and this never would have happened. So there."

Liliana eyed him in sickened amazement. "You're kidding right?" He shook his head.

"Have fun cleaning the shit in the jars?" he asked a few minutes later.

"Oh yes. I had a jolly good time," she said sarcastically. "What did those girls have you doing?"

"I had to test out their lust potion. Honestly, that's such a waste. They're in Advanced Potions and they're doing lust brews for their independent study."

"What would you do then?"

"I don't know. Something better than that for sure, the damn thing has yet to work." 

"Look. Do they really have us do this sort of work every time we get detention?"

"Yes, and I believe that we've discussed this already."

"Wait until my parent's hear about this," she mused.

"Won't do you any good. I've tried, Dumbledore always finds a way around it," he almost laughed at her, "the whole point of detention is to make you want to stay out of trouble."

"Doesn't seem to work on you, now does it?"

"No. And I've done worse."

Just then Snape barged in. His face was deathly pale and drenched in sweat. His eyes were blood shot and pained. His hand clutched his upper arm as though it would fall off and when he noticed Draco and Liliana, his first reaction was almost shame. That changed to annoyance immediately, and he raised one pale finger and pointed to the door. "Go," he ordered hoarsely, and they left.

Liliana let out a loud breath that she had been holding since the moment the door had opened. She leant against one of the dungeon walls and allowed herself to slide down into a sitting position. Her face was nearly as pale as Snape's when she exclaimed, "oh my God."

"That was the Dark Mark he was holding you know," jeered Draco, seeing the fear on Liliana's face.

"I know that."

"Want to know why he was holding it?" he teased, getting pleasure out of the fact that she was scared for once.

"Would you just shut up?" she asked, standing up. She began walking again, quite quickly considering that she didn't know where she was going.

"Stop," called Draco. Liliana looked back at him. The smirk was gone from Draco's face, and had been replaced by a lopsided grin and a twinkle in his eye. He walked slowly up to her.

"What are you doing?" she asked. He had put his hands on her shoulders was steering her back to the dungeon wall. He mumbled something incoherent and proceeded to pick up a lock of her hair. "What are you doing?" she asked again, a little confused yet amused at the same time. He wrapped his fingers around the strand before pressing his lips roughly to hers.

Liliana's mind started racing. "What should I do?" she thought.

"There's a handsome bloke hanging onto your lips, and you're asking me to tell you what to do?" responded her conscience, the once dormant voice in her head.

"Well, yes."

"Kiss him back! Honestly, you'll drink a few pints of Vodka without once talking to me about it, but now of all times you don't know what to do?"  

So she returned the kiss. Almost immediately she felt his hand on the small of her back and couldn't help but return the gesture. There was a sort of punch drunkenness to the kiss. It was as though they had both gone temporarily insane, but it was welcome. Even the smooth kisses that Draco planted on her neck were welcome, but a noise from down the hallway snapped her out of the reverie.

"Draco," she whispered. "Stop it, we shouldn't…"

He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?" he asked, kissing her again.

Liliana's mind was back in action, trying to remember what she had read about lust brews. "Draco," she whispered, closing her eyes, "I love you." He leant his forehead against hers and furrowed his brow. He shut his eyes and his face relaxed. When he opened them again, there was a realization present, and the unusual sparkle had faded. "Words of commitment always work to reverse the effects of a lust brew," she said heavily. She was beginning to feel dizzy from looking directly into his eyes, and looked down. "We shouldn't have…" she repeated.

Draco lowered his lips to hers again, this time consciously, almost curiously, and kissed her. This time it was gentle, as though he had forgotten something on her lips the first time and to go back and retrieve it. When they broke apart, Liliana smiled, their noses tingled from the proximity.

There was an odd expression in Draco's eyes. It was almost a child like amazement. He was apparently puzzled about something. He kept moving his lips, like he wanted to say something, but when he finally opened his mouth to speak, Liliana gasped. A light illuminated the hallway, metres away from where they stood. His hands had been pressed against the wall on either side of Liliana's head, but now he clasped her hand with his as they ran silently to where Liliana suspected was the Slytherin Commons room. When they reached the portrait hole, Draco turned and looked at her again.

He bit his lip almost nervously before lowering his head to hers again.

"Don't," she said, turning her head to the side so that his kiss fell on her cheek.

Draco looked around and dropped her hand quickly. "If you say a word to anyone," he began in his usual tone.

Liliana ran her hand through her hair and sighed. "Bite me," she retorted, giving Draco the finger.

"Where?" he jeered.

"Just open the door…"     

*End of Chapter Eight*

A/N: Ok… so this has turned out to be my FAVOURITE chapter thus far. Maybe it's coz I like Liliana and Draco together. I doubt it'll last too long though *hint hint* Anyways, hope you enjoyed it, as usual. I REALLY did. Review if you can, it'd be appreciated…