Lo people. K, i haven't updated 4 a while, but trust me (jane, u'll agree with me on this) this chapter will make up for that.

Jane- thanx 4 bein such a good m8 and beta. ur advice is excellent n even tho i dont always like what u say, its generally rite! ta.

Leonora- (blush) u really think my story's the best fanfic u've read? well thank u very much but i'm sure that's not true. i kno u wanted 2 c more jealous draco, but he's not gonna b makin an appearance in this chapter, sorry. BUT he'll b back soon! keep readin and reviewing plz! ur reviews always make me smile

Undomiel- a fellow LOTR fan i see. Thanks for ur review! keep reading

K, evry1, i'm doin work experience rite now, so unless i get five plus reviews urging me to UPDATE ASAP, i prob wont post the next chapter 4 a while. sorry!! i'll try and write as much as i can tho! please b patient and in the meantime, enjoy this chapter and please review!!!

A few weeks had passed since their conversation by the lake, and in that time, Draco and Varina had become a lot closer. They spoke a lot more frequently and sat next to each other in more classes and at mealtimes. They had become quite good friends, sharing their thoughts, fears, hopes and secrets with each other. The same could be said for Varina and Harry. She still managed to find time to catch up with Harry, be it in lessons such as Divination, that Draco didn't study, or in the library of a lunchtime or evening. Varina felt it was best to limit her time with Harry to these few occasions, as now she had got closer to Draco, she didn't want to spoil that by giving him reason to be annoyed or jealous. Varina felt a lot more settled at Hogwarts now. She had managed to maintain good marks in those subjects she had had trouble with at the beginning of term and was talking with a lot more students than she had been. Varina thought this might have something to do with the fact that she was friends with the two most popular and influential boys in her year.
It was the Saturday morning preceding the first Quidditch match of the year; Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. The inter-house rivalries had become more and more prominent in the week leading up to the game, with a few students ending up in the Hospital Wing after hexing each other, when an argument over whose team was best got out of hand. Varina was looking forward to the match, as her old school didn't have Quidditch, so she had never watched a live match before. She, unlike the other Slytherins, was not shouting abuse at the Gryffindors every time she passed them in the corridors. Although she wanted Slytherin to win as they were her House team, she didn't mind if Gryffindor won, as Harry was on their team. She, of course, kept this information to herself.
When at last it was time for the match, Varina headed out with the rest of the school and made her way to the stands. She had her green and silver Slytherin scarf on, ready to be waved in support of her house team. When they reached the pitch, the houses split off from one another, Gryffindors at one end, Slytherins at the other. Varina followed the Slytherins, making sure she was not sat near Pansy. Pansy had not been as disdainful towards Varina during school time and in the common room, but her sneering had intensified when they were in the dormitories together. Varina got the feeling that Draco had asked Pansy to leave her alone, which would explain why, whenever Draco was around, Pansy would deliberately engage in banal and inane chatter with her, only to jeer and make snide remarks when they decided to go up to the dorms.
The teams walked out on to the pitch and the noise from the crowd rose to a tumultuous level. Varina, having not had the experience of a match before, found the atmosphere to be astounding. The Slytherin and Gryffindor teams were in their Quidditch robes of green and scarlet respectively, and Varina was easily able to pick out Draco and Harry from the teams; Draco's white blonde hair gleaming in the sun and Harry's glasses shimmering from under his mop of jet black hair.
The match started and Varina was amazed at the skill and speed with which the teams flew. Although keen to see what was happening with the Chasers, Varina kept an eye on Draco and Harry who were both circling the pitch looking for the snitch. Slytherin were in the lead, fifty points to thirty and the crowd had gone mad with excitement. Suddenly, everyone was watching the two seekers dive towards the grass; they had seen the snitch. Varina was on her feet, shouting on encouragement. Draco and Harry were neck in neck when a bludger flew towards Draco and he was forced to swerve, giving Harry the lead. Harry pulled up from his dive; he had caught the snitch. Gryffindor had won. The groans of disappointment from the Slytherins were almost as loud as the roars of jubilation from the Gryffindor end of the pitch. The spectators started to get up and head back to the castle and Varina went with them.

Draco was angry. He had been so close to catching the snitch. If it hadn't been for that bludger he'd have won the match for Slytherin and, perhaps more importantly, beaten Potter. He had desperately wanted to win, so that Varina could see what a good player he was; that he was better than Potter. But he had lost it. Feeling bitterly disappointed and pissed off, he decided he would stay behind and practise. He would not be beaten again.

Varina had been walking along back to the castle when she realised she didn't have her scarf with her. Shit, she thought, I must have left it in the stands. She was feeling somewhat reluctant to go all the way back to the pitch, much preferring the thought of settling into one of the armchairs by the fire in the common room. After much deliberating, Varina decided she would have to go back for it. Unenthusiastically, she turned and headed back to the pitch.

Draco had stayed in his Quidditch robes, figuring that there was no point getting a shower and changing when he was going to be practising and working up a sweat. He got the snitch out of the wooden chest, clasping it tight in his hand. When he got back on to the pitch, he mounted his broom and released the snitch from his grasp, giving it a few seconds' head start before kicking off from the ground. He felt the rush of the air in his face and felt relaxed, his annoyance at having lost was momentarily gone. He scanned the pitch and spotted the snitch by one of the goal hoops and shot off after it. He followed it closely, catching it in under a minute. Why can't I play like this when it's a match? he thought frustrated Maybe it's just the pressure of the match. I guess I can just play better when no-ones watching. He let the snitch go again and watched it fly off to the other end of the pitch. Once again he chased it and recaptured it in no time at all. As he turned, he noticed that, contrary to what he had earlier believed, someone was watching him.

Varina reached the top off the stands, and found her scarf almost immediately. She remembered now, that she had thrown it down in anger when the bludger had thrown Draco off course. She stooped to pick it up, and as she stood back up, she saw Draco kick off from the pitch. Why's he still here? she wondered, moving forwards to get a better view. She saw him fly off to the goals and realised he must have stayed behind to practise. He flies really well she thought, as she watched him chase the elusive snitch. He looks so focused and skilful. And sexy. She watched again as he caught the snitch, impressed by his handling of the broom. She suddenly realised he was getting a lot closer. He flew right over to where she was standing. Varina could feel herself going red. He came to a halt beside her.

"Spying on me?" he asked grinning cheekily.

"No," she said, returning his smile, "I forgot my scarf."

He nodded and paused before saying, "Come down to the pitch."

"Why?"

"Just come down," he said making his way back to the pitch. Varina wrapped her scarf around her neck, feeling slightly cold and made her way down. Draco was waiting when she got there. "What did you think of the match, then?" he asked.

"It was really good. I was so sure we were going to win and then that bludger came at you. So unfair."

"Tell me about it. I was so close to getting the snitch as well."

"I was watching you just now. You fly really well."

"Thanks. Not well enough, though."

"Are you kidding? You were amazing." Draco gave her a half-smile but didn't say anything in reply.

"So," he asked, changing the subject, "are you any good on a broom?"

"I'd have to say no, seeing as I've never flown one in my life." Draco looked at her in disbelief. "You've never been on a broom? Ever?"

"No. Never."

"Ok, that's it. Come here," he said.

"Why, what?"

"You're going to have your first go on a broom."

"What? Are you serious? I'll fall and break my neck!"

"Don't be stupid, I'm going to be flying. You just have to sit there. I just think everyone should get to have a go on a broomstick."

"Oh. Ok." She moved over to Draco, who re-mounted his broom.

"Get on behind me, and hold on," he said. Varina did as he told her, her heart pounding from anxiety and excitement at the prospect of flying.
Draco kicked off and Varina gasped and grabbed on tightly to Draco's waist. Once she had got over the initial shock of being so high up, Varina found flying to be really enjoyable. Draco flew twice around the pitch, Varina holding on to him, when they felt rain. Draco landed, the rain getting heavier. He put his broom in the lockers and they started to run back to the castle. The rain was torrential by now, and they were still a good way from the castle. Varina spotted the Forbidden Forest a bit to their left, and shouted for Draco to follow her. They ran into the shelter of the trees, breathing heavily and soaking wet. They looked out at the downpour in silence, the only sounds were the rain and their breathing. Their robes were sodden and clinging to their bodies. Draco couldn't help noticing the way Varina's wringing wet robes accentuated her shapely figure.
They remained in silence for a few minutes. Varina noticed that Draco kept glancing nervously into the forest. She eventually spoke up.

"So, why aren't we allowed in here? Is it really true there are werewolves?"

"I don't know," he said, surveying the forest, "There are definitely some things in there that we'd be better off not knowing about though. I've been in there twice. Once in first year for a detention and then for a Care of Magical Creatures lesson last year. I think we'll be alright here, on the outskirts. And if something does come out, I'll protect you."

"Yeah," she said, "you say that, but the way you keep looking over your shoulder, I can tell you're just as worried as I am."

He stopped looking in the forest and turned to look at her.

"It's not the forest I'm worried about," he said.

"Then what are you worried about?" she asked, confused. He hesitated.

"You."

"Me?"

"Not you exactly. Being with you. I'm worried that being here, alone with you, might make me lose all my inhibitions."

"What inhibitions?" He was avoiding her gaze, looking at the floor.

"The inhibitions that have so far stopped me doing what I've wanted do since I first saw you."

"And what would that be?" she asked breathlessly.

He looked at her for a minute before replying, "This."

And as he said it, he lowered his mouth onto hers and kissed her. Varina parted her lips and Draco slid his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. Varina's hands that slid up around his neck and she ran her fingers through his hair. Draco pulled her into him, his hands on her back, holding her tightly. Varina moaned as he kissed her with such passion that her legs felt weak and her head swam. Time stopped and it seemed as though there was no-one in the world but Draco and herself. Eventually, Draco finished kissing her and gazed into her sapphire blue eyes that sparkled with a new passion. They said nothing and once again all that they could hear was each others' breathing and the rain dripping from the trees. As he stood listening, Draco noticed that the rain was not as heavy any more.

"The, uh, the rain's gone off a bit," he said.

"Yeah," she agreed, "We should probably head back then." She paused before adding, "If anyone catches us in here, we'll be in serious trouble." She bit her bottom lip anxiously. God, that's sexy thought Draco. He looked at her again and brushed back a piece of wet hair that fell across her face. He caressed her cheek and traced the outline of her lips with his thumb before kissing her briefly and gently. Varina closed her eyes and sighed, and although it was not as intense or passionate as his previous kiss, she found it every bit as pleasurable.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand, "Let's go."
Varina was walking on air, feeling like she was in a wonderful dream, only to be brought back to reality with a bump when they arrived at the common room.

"Maybe we shouldn't go in together," said Draco.

"Oh, yeah, ok. You go first," she said.

Varina waited for a few minutes and performed a drying charm on herself, before following him into the common room. The first thing Varina saw, was Pansy fussing over Draco.

"Oh, you're soaked!" she was saying, "Here, we should get you out of those robes, before you catch a cold!"

Varina walked passed and heard Draco say, "For heaven's sake, Pansy! I'm not a baby, I can take care of myself."

Varina couldn't help smiling as she made her way up to the dormitories for an early night's sleep.