~*~ Chapter Five ~*~

Draco walked out onto the grounds, shoving his hands in his pockets and taking a huge breath of fresh air. He walked across the moist grass, past the gardens. He heard a soft whimpering noise coming from behind a tall rose bush, and decided to investigate. It sounded like someone crying. He walked cautiously around the roses, craning his neck. He saw the back of a girl's head, long brown hair falling around her shoulders, her pale green spaghetti-strap tank top, short jean shorts and platform white flip-flop sandals showing off her tan skin. He immediately recognized her. He hurried to her side, kneeling in front of her. "Dar? Dar what's wrong?!" He said, pulling her hands away from her face, revealing her tear-stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes. "Dame..." She said softly. "What about him?" Draco said, growing nervous. "He... knows." She said, sniffling. Draco swallowed hard. "He knows about... us?" Darana nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "He... he called me a filthy lying whore..." She said, before bursting into tears again. Draco's nervosity turned into anger at her words. His wretched cousin had called someone as sweet and pure as Darana a whore? It sounded just like him. Draco never understood why Darana ever liked him to begin with. But, now that he had her, he could care less. All he cared about now was knowing that she was his, and someone had called her something that she was not. And seeing her in pain only made his anger grow.

**

Livvy found Damien, his head in his hands, sitting alone in a darkened corner of the common room. She quietly walked over to him, taking a seat on the sofa beside him. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot and his eyelids heavy. Livvy made an effort to smile, but just took a deep breath. "I know this probably isn't a good time, right now but, I have to tell you something." "Livvy, it can wait." Damien said miserably, looking back down at the floor and shaking his head. "I want you back." Livvy sputtered, shocked as the words spilled unwillingly from her mouth. Damien looked slowly up, his expression blank. "Darana." Damien said blankly.

"...is a dirty skank... and you know it." Livvy said hastily. Damien shook his head. "No. No, she isn't. She's... absolutely...."

"Horrible?"

"Absolutely perfect."

Livvy's heart was in her throat. "Damien, she bloody slept with your best friend! Not to mention the fact he's your cousin!"

Damien stood up, not wanting to take this mental abuse anymore. "Livvy just shut the hell up! Just because you'll never be like her doesn't mean you should be such a bitch to her!" He gave her a disgusted look. She stood up, standing close to him.

"Damien Killingsworth you cannot honestly say you do not find me attractive right now." He could feel her breath on his face. He didn't say anything, and, before he knew it, her lips were pressed against his. He shoved her away, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I think we all know who the real whore is in this situation, Livvy." He growled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an apology to make." He stormed out of the common room, searching for Darana.

**

Darana hurried through the corridor, trying not to be late for her next class. Just as the bell rang, she turned a corner, running smack into someone, her books falling to the floor. "Oh, sorry." She said, kneeling down, picking up her books. The person she'd run into kneeled down beside her. "Here, let me help you." He said. He handed her her books, and their eyes met as they stood in unision.

"Well, I can't seem to stop running into you. I think it's fate." He said. It was the same tall, blonde haired boy she'd run into in the common room. She flashed him a smile.

"I'm Dante." He said, holding out a hand. "Dante Rockliffe." Darana gingerly shook his strong hand. "I'm Darana...Darana Allen."

"Oh, so you're the famous Darana Allen?" He said, raising an eyebrow. "Famous?" Darana said, confused. "Oh, yeah. Everywhere I turn I hear your name. Funny I always run into you." She smiled. "I guess you're right. Maybe it is fate." He returned the smile, looking at the books in her hand. "Ah, hell, honors geometry? That muggle math bullshit?" He said, looking at her geometry book. She nodded miserably. "But I get by. It's easy stuff." Dante shook his head. "My grades are dropping like flies. Especially that one." She looked down at her book, and then back up at him. "Well, I have an idea. I'll help you with your geometry, if you help me with my flying skills." "Flying skills? What for?" "I'm trying out for the quidditch team in two weeks, and I really could use some pointers. You're the best chaser Hogwarts has seen in years. I've seen you play. You're amazing." Dante shrugged. "Just doing my job." Darana smiled. "So it's a deal, then?" She said, a hopeful tone in her voice. Dante nodded. "Sure. I'll meet you in the library around... eight-ish tonight." Darana shook her head. "No 'eight-ish'. Eight o'clock sharp." Dante gave her a stunned look. "What?" She said, a sly grin on her face. "Oh, nothing, my dear. I love a woman whose in control." He winked at her, and she blushed. "I'll see you at... eight o'clock sharp then, love." He said, before flashing her another breath-taking smile and walking away. Darana watched him walk away and fell against the wall, letting out a dreamy sigh.

**

That night, Darana sat in the library, books and papers scattered across the table in front of her. At exactly 8 o'clock, the library doors swung open and Dante walked in, spotting her and walking over to where she was sitting, pulling out a chair beside her. He sat down and she looked up from her book, giving him a small smile. "Now that we're all here, shall we begin?" She said, picking up a quill and dipping it in the ink bottle sitting by her book. Dante nodded approvingly, scooting a little closer to her, leaning down to look at her book. "Alright, let's start with the basics...um... how do you find the area of a circle?" Darana said, looking over at him. He looked deep in thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes. She raised her eyebrows, waiting for a response. "Absolutely no clue." He said after a minute of silence. Darana sighed, pointing at the page the book in front of her was open to. "Pie times r, the radius, squared. Pie 'r' squared." She took a piece of parchemnt and drew a circle in the middle of it, putting a dot right in the middle. She drew a line from the dot to the edge of the circle, and labeled the line with a 6. "Now," She began, "Find the area of this circle." She wrote the formula out on another piece of parchment, handing it to him. He set to work, calculating. After a few moments, he set down his quill. "113 point zero four?" He said, showing her his work. She checked it, and smiled. "Yep." He smiled, looking eager to continue.

*

It went on for another two hours- her showing ihm how to do it and making him try it on his own. They were deep into their work when Dante suddenly began staring at her, watching her lips move as she explained everything to him. Her hair was up in a messy bun on top of her head, loose strands falling in her face. She looked so perfect, so... beautiful. When she finished explaining and looked up, her eyes meeting his, he swallowed hard, feeling the urge to lean in and....

Darana's breath caught in her throat. He had a look in his eye.... like he was about to....

He leaned in and their lips met, and, to her own surprise, Darana kissed him back. When they withdrew, Darana slowly opened her eyes, hardly able to believe what had happened. Dante just gazed into her eyes, his expression blank. Darana could have sworn she'd seen his eyes flash a deep purple color.... just as he leaned in, kissing her once more, this time putting a hand behind her neck, kissing her more passionately....

**

Damien hadn't been able to find Darana the night before, and now, he walked to the library, hoping to find her there. He got to the worn oak doors and pushed one open, looking inside. His heart was in his throat. He saw her.... kissing Dante Rockliffe.

Damien turned and walked out of the library and back down the corridor, anger burning through his veins. Just when he'd stood up for her, just when he'd thought what he said wasn't true... she goes and proves him right. What the hell is her deal? he thought, fuming as he hurried to the entry hall and out the front doors. He walked to the quidditch pitch, grabbing a broom from the locker room and mounting it. Maybe a few laps around the pitch would help him clear his head of visions of that night he'd spent with Darana....

~*~

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