'I'm getting tired of arguing Draco.'

'I don't want to argue. What did he want?'

'He was being a friend and listening to my problems.'

'What problems?'

'Oh, let's see, how I like you and that I want to forgive you but I don't know whether you'll ever run back to her. How yes, Oliver was my first love but I moved on and became quite fond of you as it happens. Oh and how you're really not that bad underneath it all and that's why I like you. Happy? Now if you'll excuse me!' I pushed passed him and felt him grab my arm. I spun round and was greeted by the feeling of his lips on mine. I responded without thinking before pulling away and looking at him.

'Hoping you'd get by me like that?'

'Listen, we both like each other so give me another chance. I know Wood will always be your darling but I can deal with that because I'll be the one with you, he won't be!'

'Oh no, you don't win that easily! You're going to have to prove yourself this time and I mean prove it well! And don't EVER talk about Oliver like that again!'

'Fine!' Draco turned on his heel and walked up the steps. I followed and found a number of people standing around the notice board. I saw Hermione and walked over to her.

'What's going on?'

'There's going to be a Halloween and Yule Ball. Apparently the last one was so successful, they're going to make them a regular tradition now.'

'Oh fun. You never know, Ron might wake up and ask you first this time.'

'I doubt that very much.'

'Looks like we'll both need a date.' I turned and looked at Draco.

'Like I said, you'll have to make it worth my while and she has to stay well away from me!' I looked at Pansy Parkinson and wanted to smack her in the face.

'Come on, let's get some lunch.' Hermione pulled me away before I leapt at Pansy and I followed her into the great hall. I sat with Harry, Ron and Hermione and watched Pansy flirt outrageously with Draco.

'So, are you going to the Halloween ball?' I jumped when I heard Ron.

'Maybe, it depends who asks me.'

'I bet Oliver wishes he could.'

'Yeah well, he can't. Who are you going to ask?'

'I don't know, there's not really…ouch.' I glared at Ron and darted my eyes towards Hermione.

'Of course, there is one person.'

'Oh yeah?' I asked innocently.

'Hermione?'

'Hmm.' Hermione glanced up from her ancient runes book.

'Will you go to the Halloween dance with me?'

'Yes!' I saw Hermione and Ron blush at the same time and smiled. I saw Harry glance towards the Ravenclaw table.

'You know, I bet Cho's waiting for someone to ask her.'

'She's turned me down before, I'm not asking her again.'

'Cedric got there first that time, go on.'

'Ok, if I ask Cho, you've got to sort things out with Malfoy! And if that means walking up to him now and giving him a huge smacker, you have to do it! I would say if you go and ask Oliver but I think Dumbledore would have something to say about that.'

'Fine!' Harry got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw table. He and Cho spoke for a while and he headed back, his face the happiest I had seen it in days. I smiled and took a deep breath before standing up and walking to the Slytherin table. I knew most people were watching me and I could hear Pansy just about to ask Draco to the dance. I sat down, grabbed him by his cloak and pulled him in for a kiss. I heard lads cheering behind us and smiled as I pulled away. Pansy was sitting there giving me a look that quite frankly would have had me dead and buried. I looked up to the staff table and saw Oliver leaving by the back door, my heart sinking as I watched him go.

'So, are you coming to the ball with me? Draco asked, his voice shaking slightly.

'Looks like it.'

'Does that mean we're back together?' Draco asked this more quietly.

'Looks like it.' I held his hand as I said this and smiled softly. He put his arm around my waist and I was still aware of Pansy watching us.

'Will you go somewhere else!' Draco shouted at Pansy so loudly that she jumped and tears filled her eyes. I tried not to laugh and looked at him.

'That was cruel.'

'Well, she's like a dog! At least I have a battle on my hands with you.'

'Yeah well, I've got to keep it interesting haven't I?'

'I am sorry.'

'Shh! Don't mention anything about it, ok? We're back together now!'

'So, what are you doing this afternoon?'

'Spending the day with you it would seem.'

'What made you change your mind?'

'Harry! I got Ron to ask Hermione to the dance and then encouraged Harry to ask Cho. He made me make a deal, if he asked Cho; I had to get back with you. So, here I am.'

'Potter said that?'

'He knew that I missed you, so he made me promise.'

'He's finally done something good for once. It doesn't mean that I like him.'

'I know! I'm not that stupid as to think you'd be friends with him now. Just as long as you know he's my friend.'

'I've always known he's your friend and whilst that is your only flaw, I still like you. I'm sorry I accused you of sleeping with my father as well.'

'That's ok, I know you were angry and I didn't expect him to send you a howler.'

'Oh please! He's been on my case ever since we started dating. He seems to think I'm not good enough for you.'

'Well here's your chance to prove him wrong.'

'I will this time, I promise. Come on, lets go somewhere else.' Draco took my hand and led me out of the hall whilst Harry, Ron and Hermione followed close behind. Pansy Parkinson was being comforted by some of her fellow Slytherin girls. When she saw me she walked over to me, wand at the ready. I saw Draco pull his wand out and gave him a warning look.

'It's ok, I can handle her.'

'I'm going to teach you a lesson! You walk around thinking you're the greatest thing to bless our world but you're not, you're just ugly and selfish.'

'Oh yeah, well I may not think I'm the prettiest girl ever but at least I know I've got the one thing you can't have.'

'What's that?'

'Draco!'

'I'll show you!' She raised her wand and I just looked at her.

'Another thing, I don't need a wand to beat you because I've got a fist.'

'SMACK!' my fist collided with her face, knocking her backwards on to the floor. She dropped her wand and I kicked it away before looking down on her.

'Try and hex me now Pansy!' I watched her get up, blood splattering down on to her top.

'You're nothing but a filthy mudblood and you disgrace this school.' Draco walked up to her and grabbed her robes, holding her close.

'Don't you dare call her a mudblood! She comes from the largest and oldest pureblood family that lives and even if she was muggle born, she'd be more decent than you are!'

'Well she hangs around with that mudblood there!' I saw her point at Hermione and prepared my fist.

'And even she looks better than you do! At least she doesn't follow guys around like a puppy dog, hoping to get laid! You're pathetic and I have never fancied you! I've always used you to get at Destiny and thanks, it's worked wonders!' I stood shocked, looking at Draco for he had just stood up for Hermione Granger, possibly the only person he hates more than Harry. Draco let go of Pansy and turned and took hold of my hand.

'This doesn't mean I like you Granger!'

'I don't like you either Malfoy.'

'What is going on here?' I turned to see Professor Snape looking down at Pansy and then at me, Harry, Ron and Hermione. He completely overlooked Draco.

'Nothing sir, we were just…'

'She hit me sir! Look!'

'She was going to curse me!'

'Enough! Parkinson, get to the hospital wing before you make any more mess! Black, Malfoy come with me.'

'See you later.'

'See you!' I watched the others head upstairs and then followed Snape and Draco to the dungeons. Once inside his office, Snape shut the door.

'Mr Malfoy, would you kindly tell me what took place upstairs.'

'Pansy Parkinson threatened to hex Destiny so she punched her sir. Pansy wanted revenge for the fact that Destiny and I are back together.'

'How interesting? I have told you before that dating a Gryffindor is a bad idea Malfoy.'

'But Destiny isn't any ordinary Gryffindor, she's a Black! A pureblood!'

'Even so, you do know who her only living relative is.'

'Apart from my mother and Bellatrix Lestrange you mean? Yes, Sirius Black.'

'And he turned traitor and sided with those of muggle parentage. She is the same and does not hold the same values.'

'Sirius was no traitor and he's a better man than you are!' I looked at Snape with the greatest loathing.

'Silence! I shall not be spoken to like that!'

'Then do not talk about Sirius in that way!'

'I think you need to be taught a lesson. Draco, please go upstairs and tend to your duties as Prefect! Miss Black will be along in a moment.'

'I don't think I…'

'Go!' Draco hesitated before leaving. I heard the door click shut and looked at Snape.

'What lesson could you possibly teach me? Apart from how to be a slimy git!'

'I said silence! It seems Miss Black that you need to be taught a lesson! To respect your elders.'

'I do, if my elders happen to be Sirius, Dumbledore, McGonagall or Lucius Malfoy.'

'Well, at least one of them deserves respect! But it also seems you need to be taught to stop teasing the boys.'

'What?'

'I knew girls like you at school! They'd tease and taunt boys like me and would make it known that I had no chance, laugh in my face! You are exactly the same.'

'No I'm not! I don't tease anyone.'

'Draco Malfoy? Oliver Wood? Harry Potter? The list goes on.'

'Draco is my boyfriend and Harry is one of my best friends, I do not tease them. As for Oliver, you know nothing about our relationship and you never will do. You could never, ever understand the love that we share for one another because no one is prepared to love you back, even slightly! Have you ever heard those words Snape? Have you ever heard anyone say 'I love you' to your face and actually mean it? You always hated it when Oliver and I showed affection around school and now I know why, you've never known what that feels like, have you?'

'You have a nasty, poisonous mouth and you shall pay.' Snape stepped towards me. I was suddenly aware of how close he was and how uncomfortable he made me feel. I stepped away but my back hit the wall.

'I'll tell someone!'

'Who are they more likely to believe? You or me?'

'Lucius Malfoy will believe me!'

'I don't believe he would. If he thought that someone had cheated on Draco, I wouldn't like to see his reaction.'

'You won't get away with this! I'll tell Oliver and he'll tell Dumbledore.'

'Precious little Wood! Your knight in shining armour. I will get away with this.' His face was parallel to mine, his lips less than an inch away. I tried to pull back but my head was firmly against the wall. I closed my eyes.

'Now, now Severus, I really do think that you don't want to be doing that. I mean, it would get you into terrible trouble plus, no one else would really want to give you a job, would they? And it really isn't fair on Miss Black, I mean who on earth would possibly want your lips touching theirs?' The cold, dark voice sent shivers of happiness through me. Snape jumped backwards and Lucius Malfoy was standing in the doorway.

'Lucius? What are you doing here?' I asked with the greatest relief.

'I had to come and talk to Dumbledore. I saw Draco and he told me that you two had reconciled. He also told me that Snape had you down here, on your own. Did he touch you?'

'No, he was about to kiss me but you came in.'

'Surely you don't believe her? She's a good little prick tease. She can get any man into any awkward position if she thinks it is to her benefit.'

'That is no way to talk about the head girl. I know her better than you do and I know that she would never cheat on Draco, especially not with someone like you Severus. There would be more chance of her seducing me than her touching you. Come now Destiny.' I ran out of the Dungeon and up the first set of stairs. There I waited for Lucius.

'I'm so glad you came!'

'I knew immediately that he would try something. When Draco told me where you were, I came at once.' Lucius cupped my face and kissed my cheek.

'I'm incredibly grateful.'

'The next Hogsmeade weekend, when is it?'

'The weekend before Halloween.'

'Right, pretend your sick. I'll see you in your room.'

'What about Draco?'

'He'll go to Hogsmeade if I give him enough money to spend, so don't worry about it. Oh and I'll be at the ball as well.'

'Why?'

'It was my idea and the ministry wants someone to keep an eye on Dumbledore so I volunteered. It seems I may be around quite a lot.'

'I look forward to it.'

'Now, I must leave you to see Dumbledore. I take it you can find Draco easily enough?'

'Of course I can! See you soon.'

'That you will my dear.' I followed him up to the entrance hall and found Draco waiting for me. I watched Lucius leave and walked over to him.

'It is a good thing your father was around.'

'What did Snape do?'

'Nothing, it doesn't matter. Come on, let's go somewhere a bit more private shall we.' I took Draco's hand and led him to my bedroom.

'Wow, it'd be worth being Head Boy just to get my own room. Maybe not in these colours.'

'I like these colours thank you! Better than green and silver.'

'What would you know, you're a Gryffindor?'

'What would you know, you're just a smelly Slytherin!'

'Smelly am I?'

'That's right.' In one quick movement Draco had wrestled me to the floor, tickling me and making me squirm wildly. Eventually he stopped tickling me and looked into my eyes. I lent upwards and kissed him softly, breaking his gaze in the process. He kissed me and pushed himself against me, letting me know just how excited he was.

'Well, I'm glad to see I still have such an effect on you.'

'Of course you do! No other girl comes close.'

'So you didn't sleep with that cow?'

'No! Don't be stupid! I don't fancy her in the slightest, I was just using her.' I kissed him to shut him up and pushed him on to his back. It would be the next morning before we left my room.

For the next six weeks Draco and I really reconciled our differences and were soon to be seen holding hands whenever we had the chance. He was also a regular fixture in my bedroom now and I enjoyed having someone to share the otherwise overly large and unfriendly room with. He sometimes despaired as it was so close to the Gryffindor common room but I knew he was just teasing me, trying to wind me up. I was happy once again and everything was going smoothly. Oliver and I were still extremely close but it still hurt being so close but not being together and Lucius made a few visits at weekends, including the Hogsmeade visit. So I had three of the four most important men in my life at this time and knew that Sirius couldn't be in it more than the few letters a week we sent one another. I missed him but wouldn't ask him to leave the safety of his house.