Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Harry Potter people. Never will. sob

Title is a song performed by The Limestones. I don't know the original artist.

Severus Snape was in a foul temper. His 6th year Ravenclaw/ Hufflepuff class had been a disaster with 4 exploded cauldrons, 3 students in the infirmary with nasty burns, and a total loss of 150 points. The snarl on his face, caused students to leap out of his path as he strode down the hall to his rooms. And to top it all off, he had a unconscious Malfoy on his couch. His muscles twitched in sympathy as he inadvertently remembered his own torture sessions with the Dark Lord.

Severus pushed the memories away as he hissed out his password to the seemingly blank wall before him. The stone ground out of the way so Severus could enter. He opened his mouth to shout to his cousin, but stopped in his tracks, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

Reyana was seated in a chair, bent at the waist, her head resting on Malfoy's chest, her eyes closed, and Draco's arm around her shoulders. Severus closed his mouth with a snap, swallowed the acidic comment that sprung to mind, and walked silently to the couch. As he watched, Draco woke up, his gray blue eyes cloudy with pain.

"Professor?" he whispered hoarsely, trying to sit up.

Severus shook his head, and gently pressed the injured boy back down.

"You'll wake her." he replied.

Draco seemed to realize who was laying on him. His eyes widened and a shy smile touched his bruised face as he tightened his arm around Reyana.

Severus couldn't help the thunderstruck look that crossed his face. Draco smirked, but it was a tired pale version of the real thing.

"She saved my life." he said gently, a rather surprised look in his eyes.

Severus nodded.

"She is too kind and good for her own health."

"Bloody scary when she's mad though." Draco added.

Severus grinned, and felt amusement curl warmly in his belly as he observed the stunned look in his student's eyes. He knew the rumors, and knew that most of the Hogwarts students thought he was less than human. Obviously the boy had not expected such a human reaction from his Potions Professor and Head of House.

Reyana gave a long sigh, drawing the older man's attention. Draco gave her a stiff poke in the side, and laughed as she jumped a mile and let out a squeal, her eyes popping open.

Draco's mirth was cut off by a grimace of pain, and Severus was at the boy's side instantly.

He withdrew his wand, deciding to risk his mediocre healing skills on Draco's broken bones.

"Resarcio." he muttered, and a cool green light shot from his wand and spread over the young Malfoy's arm and chest.

The boy gave a relieved sigh as the light sank into his body, mending all the bones in its path.

"Thank You Professor."

Severus only nodded and turned to his glaring cousin.

"Reyana, get Mr. Malfoy a glass of water."

Reyana opened her mouth to protest, but Severus leveled the 'Death Glare' on his young cousin, and she shut her mouth and went in search of a glass.

"Couldn't I just have a shot or two of firewhiskey?" Draco pouted.

Severus turned the glare on the boy, and he gulped and fell silent.

Reyana returned with the glass and handed it to Draco.

"Thanks Reyana." Draco smiled, brushing her fingers as he took the glass.

Severus bit back his amused smile as she flushed a bright pink and fled. This could provide hours of entertainment. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the Malfoy brat. If the boy hurt his only remaining family, Severus would hex the boy into next year. He would be keeping a very close eye on the Death Eater.

The fire crackled pleasantly, lighting the room and casting shadows across the girl curled up on the navy blue couch. The warmth caressed the girl's face, trying to distract her from the book she was reading. The playful flames flickered and made the shadows chase each other around the room. One of the logs popped loudly, causing the girl to jump and swear at herself.

Reyana groaned and set the book down. It was no use. She couldn't stop thinking about Draco. Her fingers still tingled from his touch, and the memory of his genuine smile warmed her more than the fire did. He was so beautiful. And vulnerable. She brushed a strand of hair away from her face and sighed. The mask was gone. And Reyana was addicted to the real Draco that she'd only seen for a few minutes. She knew that as soon as he was healed, the cold mask would reappear and she'd only have the memory of his shy smile to hold to. If the mask went back up, she'd never see a smile from the blond boy again.

Reyana sniffed a little, then laughed at herself. Here she was mooning over a boy that only a day ago had hated her. The only reason he was being civil was because she'd saved his life. Not that she'd take it back. She did care about the arrogant brat, despite the Mark on his arm, and the way he looked down on her.

Absently she pulled her dragon pendant from beneath her tank top and rubbed her fingers over the finely crafted silver. As she brushed her fingers across the cool surface, an ache started right behind her eyes. She wrinkled her forehead against the pain, but it didn't go away. It seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat, and her eyes started to water. Letting go of the necklace, Reyana pressed her fingers to her temples and tried to relax her muscles. The pain dimmed to a more manageable level and Reyana sighed. She hated headaches. They were the devil.

She went to the small sideboard and warmed up a pot of water for tea. Once the water was boiling, she added the chamomile leaves and inhaled the relaxing aroma. Allowing 30 seconds for the leaves to steep, she poured herself a mug of the fragrant liquid. She sprawled across the couch, cradling the steaming mug in her icy fingers.

A knock at her portrait brought her back to reality.

"Who is it?"

"Blaise. You alright?"

Reyana smiled and went to let him in.

He enfolded her in a hug, that left her gasping for breath.

"Enough Blaise!" she choked. "I'm fine!"

He grinned at her as he let go and arranged himself across her couch, effectively taking up all the space.

Reyana glared at him halfheartedly and took the armchair next to the couch.

"Prat."

He chuckled.

"Is that the best you can do?"

Reyana growled at him, and sipped at her tea.

"I have a headache."

At the mention of it, the pain became overwhelming again.

She winced, closing her eyes.

"Alright?"

She nodded.

"Yeah. I will be."

"That's a gorgeous necklace." Blaise remarked. "I can see why Draco was interested."

The pain increased, making black spots dance in front of her eyes. The pain lanced through her head and she went rigid, dropping the mug of tea on the rug, before passing out and straight into a vision.

"Reyana child, it's alright." the wispy voice was gentle and calming.

The child looked trustingly up into the pair of hazel eyes of the woman holding her.

"Where are we going Aunt Cissa?"

"To my special rooms." the woman smiled, a flicker of sadness in the depths of her eyes. The child bounced happily in the woman's arms her brown eyes alight with curiosity.

"With Luc?" she begged.

"Not this time child." The woman looked definitely sad this time. "Maybe next time you visit."

"Okay Aunt Cissa!"

The woman and child made their way down a long hallway, made longer in the perspective of the 8 year old girl. The walls were lined with portraits of silent and disapproving men, glaring at the girl. Reyana hated the pictures. They were so dark and unhappy. She much preferred playing outside in the gardens with her best friend Luc. She giggled. He hated that nickname, which why she'd started using it instead of his real name. She loved to make him mad, because he was so funny when he tried scowl at her.

"We're here dear."

Reyana looked up at the nondescript door set in the stone wall.

Aunt Cissa pushed the door open and Reyana smiled in delight. The walls in this room were light blue and pictures of the ocean and mountains decorated them. This was a happy room.

"Do you like it?"

Reyana looked up into her honorary Aunt's eyes and grinned.

"Good. Come lie down on the bed."

Reyana did so, enjoying the soft fluffy pillow and cheery blue blanket.

"Close your eyes for a minute." the woman's voice was obviously sad this time.

Reyana did, heard Aunt Cissa say something in a weird language, and felt something slip into her head. It felt nice and comforting, so Reyana let it lull her into sleep, as the gentle probe sought out all her memories of Luc.

"Let me up!" Draco shouted at his impassive Potions Professor. "I'm fine!"

"Calm yourself Mr. Malfoy." Snape sneered at him. "You are still too weak to be up and about."

Draco searched his mind for a reason that might get out off this damn couch.

"My classes!" he said hopefully. "I've missed most of them today and I..."

"Yesterday too, Mr. Malfoy. I don't think another day will make much of a difference."

Draco was stunned into silence.

Snape looked smugly down on him.

"Yes Mr. Malfoy I'm afraid that you were unconscious for the better part of 2 days."

Draco gaped.

"How...How bad was I hurt?"

Snape stood and paced the room.

"Broken ribs and arm, many internal injuries, and damaged nerve endings." he stopped and rounded on Draco so fast that Draco flinched back. "All classic signs of the Cruciatus curse."

Draco put up his mask of indifference and looked right past the head of his fuming Head of House.

"Mr. Malfoy." the voice was silky and dangerous. "I'm waiting for an explanation."

Draco waged a silent war in his head. He knew that Snape was a Death Eater, but he also knew that his father suspected the Potions Master of being a spy for the light. Either way Draco couldn't endanger his mission by revealing it to Reyana's guardian. It was obvious that the man adored his cousin, and Draco was not going to risk failing his assignment.

Draco came to a decision and pulled his sleeve up to reveal the Dark Mark.

Snape breath hissed out from between his teeth.

"I expected as much." the older man said mostly to himself.

Draco looked down at the quiet Mark as he spoke.

"I was Called."

"I can tell that Mr. Malfoy." Snape snapped, his fathomless eyes sparking. "Why were you tortured?"

"I failed to bring the Master the information he wanted." Draco said without an ounce of expression.

The mere thought of the incident made his body tingle in remembered agony.

"What information?"

Draco scowled and lied.

"I don't know. He didn't bother to tell me what I was expected to know."

Snape laughed, a harsh grating laugh, and stepped back, appeased.

"Yes. The Dark Lord tends to do that."

The tone of of Snape's voice, made Draco study the man carefully.

Perhaps his father was right. Perhaps Snape was a spy. Draco smirked at his professor's back. Maybe he could get on the Dark Lord's good side if he delivered Snape to him.

His smirk widened. This would be too easy.

"Reyana?"

The fuzzy sound of her own name brought Reyana out of her half unconscious state.

Blaise looked down at her in concern. His eyes were wide, and Reyana felt a smile stretch her lips at the look of utter panic on his face.

"Hi." she said, sitting up. She wrinkled her forehead experimentally. That was odd. The headache was completely gone. As if it had never been. Huh.

"What happened?" he asked, supporting her back with a hand as she pulled herself up.

Reyana paled as she remembered the weird vision she'd had. But it wasn't a vision. It had felt more like a memory. It had been of her as a child. She'd recognized her young self, but what Reyana wanted to know was why, if it was a real memory, why hadn't she remembered it until now? Until a minute ago Reyana hadn't known that she had a Aunt Cissa. And who the hell was Luc? Apparently she had a friend she didn't remember.

The whole thing was giving her another headache. Not wanting to pass out again, Reyana decided to stop thinking about it.

"I dunno Blaise." she responded, shading the truth. "I guess I had a fit or something. I feel fine now though, like nothing happened."

Blaise eyed her suspiciously but let it be.

"It's time for dinner." he changed the subject. "I bet you're hungry."

Reyana gave him a grateful smile and nodded.

"Let me change first."

He agreed, his eyes teasing her.

"Dressing up for a certain Malfoy?"

Reyana fought the blush that stained her cheeks.

"Sod off Zabini."

His laughter echoed in the room following her to her room.

She dressed as quickly as she could, trying not to put too much thought into it. She didn't care what Draco thought. Her fluttering heart betrayed her adamant reasonings. She wanted to see that shy smile again. And she wanted it just for her. Thoughts of Draco's smile and his perfect body entertained her while she changed into a pair of low rise jeans and an off the shoulder forest green sweater. There perfectly casual. No one would suspect. Well. No one but Blaise. She scowled at the thought. Perceptive bastard.

As an after thought she put the pendent on the outside, knowing that it made the perfect accent to the outfit. Too bad she didn't have the matching earrings.

"REYANA!"

Blaise's shout made her flinch. She slid her feet into a comfortable pair of sandals and rushed out to meet Blaise before he destroyed her rooms.

Upon seeing her, his shoulders started shaking in silent mirth.

Reyana glowered at him and tried not to blush.

"I'm not speaking to you anymore." she announced brushing past him head held high.

That did it. His laughter rang out as he ran after her down the hall.

"I'm sorry Rey." he chuckled. "It's just so obvious."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Is not."

He snorted.

"Alright. If you know what to look for it's obvious. I'm sure only 75 of the Slytherins will notice."

"As if that's reassuring." she snapped.

"Am I really that obvious?" she pleaded. "He can't know."

Blaise took pity on her.

"No sweetie. It's fine. I'm just giving you a hard time. Especially since that's Draco's favoritecolor you're wearing."

Reyana stopped dead in her tracks.

"What!" she shrieked. This was terrible. Now everyone was going to think she'd done it on purpose. "I didn't know."

Blaise grinned at her.

"I know. And I'm sure no one will notice."

Reyana sighed. This was turning into a disaster of huge proportions.

"C'mon." Blaise grabbed her arm. "Don't be a coward."

Reyana glared at him. He knew that she couldn't resist a challenge.

Without another word she stalked into the Great Hall and made her way to the Slytherin table. She ignored everyone, even Draco, although she'd caught sight of his distinctive blond head.

Blaise grabbed her arm and to her surprise his breath hissed out from between clenched teeth. Reyana turned to look at her friend in concern. His eyes were wide and staring and he had a slightly dazed look on his face.

"Holy hell." he breathed.

Reyana sighed and turned to see what he was staring at.

Draco Malfoy was dressed in a steel blue sweater that matched his eyes perfectly. The top was obviously tailored for his body because it clung to his shoulders and chest, emphasizing his slender waist and lithe swimmer's physique. His blond hair was artfully tangled, a look that she'd never seen before. Reyana felt a pool of warmth fill her lower body and she knew that she was staring. She couldn't help it. He was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up and into her eyes and gave the most heartbreakingly sweet smile she'd ever seen.

Draco was deep in conversation with Pansy when she giggled.

"What?" he asked in irritation.

"The muggle is staring. You do look particularly delectable tonight."

He ignored her comment and smirked inwardly. It seemed his plan was working.

He looked up and over at Reyana. It was a fight not to let his jaw drop. She was in a curve hugging sweater in his favorite color, and her low rise jeans left a thin strip of her pale stomach bare between the top of her pants and the bottom of her sweater. Her brown hair was sleek and his fingers wanted to see if it was as soft as it looked. He looked into her eyes and without meaning to, smiled. A real smile. The kind of smile that only his mother saw. His heart did a little flip and he knew that he wasn't going to have a problem with his assignment. And if he felt a tiny bit guilty, he passed it off to his wildly fluctuating hormones. Her gaze never left his face as she and Blaise came and sat down across from him in their usual spots.

"Draco." she greeted him, inclining her head.

He put his mask back on and sneered at her.

"Taylor."

"Are you feeling better?" she asked, and Draco saw the genuine concern clouding her mocha brown eyes.

He raised an eyebrow and replied in typical Malfoy style.

"I'm here."

She rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention to the food on the table. He watched as she piled grilled chicken and mashed potatoes on her plate, and only after a nudge from Blaise, a spoonful of green peas.

He smiled to himself and tucked that little tidbit away and started in on his own meal.

The talk turned to Quidditch and theSlytherin-Hufflepuff match. Draco tuned it all out. He was a good enough Seeker and had enough confidence in himself to allay any nervousness he might've felt. Now the Slytherin-Gryffindor match was a different story. This year would be different he vowed. This year HE would catch the snitch before Potter.

His eyes drifted up to Reyana. She was beautiful and alive. That was her greatest charm. Her vibrancy. She lived her life despite the loss of her family. She had changed a lot since she had arrived. He remembered the listless look in her eyes and the ratty clothes. But now her eyes sparkled and her clothes revealed her nearly perfect body. He pushed away the images of her slowly removing that sweater and reminded himself of the torture he'd suffered because of these same thoughts. He would seduce her and turn her over the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters. There was no need for his heart to get involved. He spent the next several minutes building up the walls around his heart that the death of his mother had torn down.

He put a forkful of potatoes in his mouth and idly studied his mother's dragon pendent. He definitely wanted it back, but he didn't know how to get it back. He reached out his hand on an impulse and ran his finger over the silver dragon. Reyana jerked in surprise and Draco felt another genuine smile tug at his mouth. Why did she make him smile? He hadn't smiled like this in years and today he'd smiled 3 times.

"It's lovely." he said. "My mother had one like that."

Her eyes darkened in sympathy and she touched his hand.

"I'm sorry Draco." she tucked the necklace under her shirt and smiled. "Better?"

Draco's breath caught in his throat. Now his gaze was pulled to the distinct outline to the pendent beneath her shirt and he could imagine the soft warmth of her skin.

"Yeah." he managed.

A sudden tightness behind his eyes took his attention away from the path his brain was taking. He closed his eyes and set his fork down.

"Drakey?" Pansy's shrill voice did nothing to alleviate the ache.

"Shut up Panse." he growled as the pain increased and began pulsing in time with his heart.

The pain seemed to back off for a moment and he relaxed. As soon as he relaxed, the pain returned and seemed to shatter something in his mind. He vaguely heard himself scream and arch forward before darkness took him.

The sunlight reflected off the mirror in his mother's sitting room sending slivers of light across the chamber. A young Draco Malfoy sat in a plush chair swinging his short legs. He was watching his mother as usual. She was carefully doing up the buttons on her formal dress robes. It was one of his favorite past times to watch his beautiful mother getting ready for dinner parties.

"Draco." she called gently. "Come here."

He hopped off the chair and went to her side the very image of a proper 8 year old Malfoy.

"Mother?"

She smiled at the serious look on her son's face.

"I have a gift for you."

The serious look faded to be replaced by excitement.

"Really? What is it?" he was practically jumping up and down.

There was nothing Draco loved more than presents. He loved unwrapping the pretty paper and discovering the prize underneath.

His mother laughed softly and handed him a box.

He opened it eagerly. Seeing the contents his face fell.

"A necklace? That's girl stuff!"

She laughed again and took her young son's hands in hers.

"It's for you to give to the woman you marry. It's a special tradition. It shows how much you love your wife."

Draco looked thoughtful. Even at this tender age, he knew that his most important duty was to marry and have a son to carry on the Malfoy name.

"Did Father give this to you?"

His mother looked sad for a moment.

"No." she shook her head. "My mother gave it to me."

Draco looked at the necklace and at his mother.

"I thank you for the gift." he said formally. "I will make you proud."

"I know you will Dragon. I know you will."

There we have it. The next one. This may be the last for a while. I'm going up to college on Wed, and I won't have much time for this story.

Please review and I promise I won't abandon this story. It's just getting good!