A/N: Oh my, it seems to have been ages since I last worked on this story. I am so sorry; things have just been really hectic. But, I have some time on my hands, so I thought I might as well write!

This chapter is a bit saucy, let me know if it is too much and you don't want it to be that way ever again. (I'm serious, let me know.) I do hope, however, that you'll enjoy it, and please, please, please review!

Chapter 7: Spellbound

Draco suppressed a sigh as he diligently walked up the steps to the Astronomy Tower. It had been a long, annoying day and the last thing he felt like doing was his homework.

His trip to Hogsmeade had been far from satisfactory, and that for one reason and one reason only: Ginny Weasley.

Not that she really had the power to spoil his whole day, but seeing her tramp around Hogsmeade with Potter did. Draco really did not know why the Weasel had such a big influence on him, or why she made him crane his neck to catch sight of her day in or day out. Yet, somehow, he found himself increasingly drawn to the red-haired girl – despite her mudblood-loving ways and poor family. His father would kill him if he ever found out about Draco's little infatuation (as Draco had been prone to think of it) but with a wry smile Draco reflected that his father had no way of knowing, being stuck in the middle of nowhere as he undoubtedly was.

Seeing Potter and Ginny happily tromping around Hogsmeade made Draco's stomach clench in fierce jealousy. He knew that Ginny had had a crush on Potter a few years back, but he had been so certain that she was over it. She had even dated a couple of other guys in the mean time. Not that Draco cared, or should care. By right, he should not even be remotely interested in whether Ginny was in love with Potter again – but somehow, he did care. He tried to push thoughts of the Weasley girl away, rather thinking of the Astronomy homework he had to complete.

There was a light burning up in the tower, but Draco was confident that he could easily get rid of whoever was up there. Very few people at Hogwarts would stand in his way if he demanded that they left. He plastered his accustomed look of superiority on his face and confidently pushed open the door – only to stop dead a few feet later.

The head that was carefully bent over a telescope in the far corner was covered in a mass of red hair. Draco wanted to cry out in frustration.

"Had a nice date with Potter this morning?" Draco decided that insulting her might be the best way of getting the Weasel out. "Not waiting for him to meet you here, are you?"

Ginny spun around to face him, anger written on her delicate features. "It wasn't a date, Malfoy." She hissed, hands on her hips. "Not that it is any of your business."

Draco laughed mockingly. "Very quick to defend yourself Weasel, aren't you?"

"Very quick to stick your long pointy nose in other people's business, aren't you, Ferret?" Her voice carried more than a touch of scorn, although the expression on her face was mocking.

Draco decided to change tactics. "So, what are you doing up here anyway?" He adapted his tone to one of civility, and was rewarded as she gaped at him open-mouthed. He strolled closer to her, looking for all the world as if a conversation between him and Ginny was an everyday occurrence.

She blinked at him for a split second before she managed to regain her poise. "What do you think I'm doing, Malfoy?" She gestured to a roll of parchment and a quill lying next to her.

"Writing a love spell?" Draco carefully kept his tone inquisitive and without a hint of mockery.

Ginny flashed him a dour look. "No nitwit, I'm doing Astronomy homework – or I was, until you barged in here."

"You're free to leave anytime you want Weasel, don't let me keep you back." He flashed her a mocking smile, enjoying the way her cheeks reddened with anger.

"Not a chance Malfoy." Ginny appeared livid.

Not that Draco could understand why, he had not even started to insult her yet. For a moment, he mused on how beautiful her eyes looked when they sparkled fiercely. This in turn drew his gaze to her lips, which were pressed together in anger. She had luscious lips, and Draco suddenly wondered what it would feel like to kiss them. He pushed those thoughts away.

"Well, we can't both work here at the same time. It would be beneath my dignity to be seen in the Astronomy tower with a Weasel." His smile took on a sardonic twist, and he moved closer to her once more, waiting for her to back off.

"Why don't you leave then, Ferret?" Ginny surprised him by taking a step towards him, her hands on her hips and an outraged expression on her features. "Sweet Merlin, do you never get off your bloody high-horse? You think you rule this school, but I have news for you mister I'm-so-much-better-than-everyone-else-because-my-father-is-a-deatheater." Her breathing was fast and shallow as she kept on advancing on Draco, but he kept his ground, unwilling to let her push him back.

"You're not as great as you think you are, Malfoy. You're just a poor excuse for a human being that was vomited up when no-one was looking. Everyone hates you, Draco. I hate you!" Ginny's last words were delivered with such venom that they would have stung most other people. Yet Draco barely heard them.

Ginny stood nearly nose to nose with him; she had to tilt her head up slightly to look Draco in the eyes, and this lent beauty to a merely pretty face. Draco could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin, and the smell and heat of her surrounded him.

He was not quite sure how it happened, but suddenly they were kissing each other with a passion beyond anything Draco had experienced before. His mouth devoured hers, demanding everything from her while his hands moved almost roughly over her body. Ginny's hands were tangled in his hair and she responded to his kiss with equal ferocity, gladly offering her body to his touch.      

Their kiss lasted a long time, and when they finally broke apart, their breathing was shallow and fast. Draco gave Ginny's disheveled appearance and dilated pupils one look and felt his desire mount. Her lips were bruised, but the way her chest rose and fell with every haggard breath made him reach for her again. She went to his embrace gladly, pressing her body hungrily against his. It was only when he started fumbling with the buttons of her shirt that she pulled away from him.

"We can't." Her voice was shaky and somewhat hoarse. "Merlin, what have we done?" Ginny pulled the back of her hand across her mouth, as if she could wipe away the memory of Draco's kiss.

He wanted to say something to her, to comfort her, but instead Draco stood looking at her for a moment before he turned around, picked up his dropped homework and left the Astronomy tower – and Ginny – behind.

Hermione could not sleep. Quietly creeping down the stairs from her room, she was glad to notice that Draco had not yet returned from doing his homework in the Astronomy tower. It was beyond torture living with the man; he went out of his way to make her life miserable – not that it was a surprise – and took great pleasure in seeing Hermione lose her temper at him during prefect meetings. At least he seemed to pull his share of the weight. Hermione was a bit puzzled about that, but she presumed that Dumbledore had something to do with it.  

She slipped quietly down to the kitchen, where she asked for a mug of warm milk and some cookies. Hermione had come to spend much  time in the kitchen, although, if anyone ever found out why, there would be big trouble. She sometimes wondered if Dumbledore knew what she was doing, for the house-elves must surely report it to the Headmaster, but he had never said anything before.

She glanced at the watch against the one wall, just to check that she was not late. Barely toying with the cookies, and not really paying any attention to the milk, Hermione waited breathlessly for the clock to strike one.

At exactly four minutes to one, Hermione felt familiar arms encircle her waist and leant back against a strong chest. "You're early." She teased, sighing in contentment.

"I couldn't wait to see you." Victor kissed the side of her neck before stepping back so she could turn around to face him. His kiss was warm and comforting as usual, and Hermione gave herself up to the sensations he woke in her.

"Shall we go?" She whispered when he finally broke the kiss.

Victor nodded and led her up to his room.