Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter, but I do own this plot and the character Mary.

Authors note: I'd just like to thank my Beta, Tess. She's my little sister (1 &1/2 yrs younger) and an amazing writer! She knows everything there is to know about Harry Potter, but unfortunately she spends all her time writing Alias Fanfics (which she also knows everything about)! Thanks againTess!

P.S. I'm sorry if there still are a few mistakes, but everyone's human. We'll try our best to make all the corrections!

Chapter 3: A Late Night Stroll

For Mary and Draco, the rest of the school week went by agonizingly slow. They both knew that they wanted to be together, but they also knew that it wasn't "socially" possible. They shared three classes: potions, defense against the dark arts, and arithmancy.

Potions came naturally to Mary, and she did fine in DADA, but her arithmancy was lacking. It definitely wasn't a subject she favored and she really had to work hard to keep her grades at N.E.W.T. level. This year she was finding this task to be exceedingly difficult. She tried her hardest to concentrate on what Professor Vector was saying, but every time she found her eyes and mind stray to Draco.

She was a girl obsessed. This was only her sixth day at Hogwarts and she already had it bad. Yes, she had always been boy crazy and rightfully so. After all, coming from an all girl's school she hadn't gotten get to interact with the opposite sex as much as she would've liked.

She also learned to like Harry and was beginning to think that maybe he was the right choice. After all, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were an acceptable match. Besides, Harry was really nice. He was also good looking, not drop dead gorgeous, or even hot, but he was cute. Cute she liked. That's what I'll do, she decided. From now on I'm going to turn my attention to Harry.

That night at dinner all of Mary's focus was on Harry, and afterwards, she headed over to speak with him.

"Hey Harry!" Harry spun around recognizing the voice at once.

"Hey! How've you been? I haven't talked to you in a while."

"I'm good, but I've been really busy with homework and everything." This was partly true and partly not. She had been spending a lot of time on the loads of homework she was assigned, but she spent the rest of her time that wasn't occupied by school work circling the grounds thinking about a certain someone.

"I know what you mean. I find it hard to find time to even talk to Hermione nowadays!" He smiled at her in an almost awkward sort of way, and Mary couldn't help but think he was nervous. She couldn't imagine why. After all, they had already gotten to know each other rather well, and she was beginning to feel comfortable around him.

"Hey! I'm free tonight. I finished my homework early today, so do you wanna go do something? That is if you're not busy."

"NO!" he almost shouted. "I'm not busy, that is."

"Great! So what do you wanna do? We could go for a walk, you could give me a tour of the place, I'm sure you know all the secret passage ways, or we could just sit and talk."

"Ummm….let's go for a walk."

"Sounds good to me!" she stepped closer, placing her hand on his back urging him along.

"Wait! I have to tell Ron and Hermione that I'm going to be awhile."

"It's ok. I already told Hermione earlier today that I might be planning on doing something with you."

"Oh, you did?" Harry was looking more nervous by the second. She took this as a sign that maybe the feeling was mutual and was beginning to feel that Harry was indeed a good choice.

"'Shall we?" she asked holding out her arm.

"Let's shall." He hooked his arm with hers as they headed out of the Great Hall.

"So how do you like Hogwarts?"

"Let's just say it's a lot different from my old school."

"How so…?"

"Well for one, this school's co-ed. My old school was all girls. Secondly, you guys are sorted into houses. We were just roomed according to year. It's different, but I like it."

"Yeah, Hogarts is like my second home. Actually it's my only home."

"Why do you say that?" she moved closer still, clinging to his arm.

"Well, I don't really get along with the folks that I live with. I live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin and they aren't the best sort of muggles. So, like I said, Hogwarts is my home. After all, home is where the heart is."

"Yeah," she said halfheartedly. She felt terrible, she wanted to like Harry, and she sort of did, but every once in awhile she pretended that it was Draco whose arm was locked with hers.

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Draco was patrolling the halls on prefect duty. His shift didn't start for another thirty minutes, but he didn't feel like being in the Slytherin common room just yet. He was pacing back and forth in a deserted corridor, when he heard the sound of footsteps. Not knowing who was approaching he performed an invisibility charm over himself and backed against the wall. The charm was only temporary, lasting fifteen minutes tops, but he didn't think he'd it'd be there that long.

Just then, Potter turned the corner with someone hanging on his arm. Oh God, Draco thought, what girl would be stupid enough to fall for Potty. He leaned foreword to get a better glimpse of the girl who was now laughing at something Harry had said. He would normally have moved to get a good look, but he didn't want them to hear the sound of his feet on the stone floor. Draco cursed under his breath after realizing that Potter's lover girl was none other than Mary.

"Did you hear that?" Harry asked looking around the empty corridor suspiciously.

"Hear what?"

"I don't know. I thought I heard a voice, but maybe I was just imagining it."

"It is late. Maybe we should say our goodbyes and head to our dormitories."

"Yeah, maybe we should. Well I'll see you later. It's been great talking to you."

"Yeah, you too. I'm glad I've gotten to know you. You're a great guy."

A great guy! What was she thinking? She obviously wasn't. Draco was about to reveal himself, but thought better of it. He wanted to leave this pathetic scene, but he didn't know how to do so without being heard.

"Thanks, I guess." Harry's heart was pounding furiously. He had little experience with girls. Cho Chang was his first real relationship, but that didn't go all to well. Then there was Ginny, but their time together ended as soon as it had started and now they were just good friends. He was unsure of how to go about this situation, but he decided to be straightforward.

"You're really pretty you know that?" he blurted out the words, unable to control himself. "You really are." There was an awkward silence. "Will you kiss me?"

Mary couldn't help but laugh. It was so cute the way he got all flustered and just let loose.

"Sure." she replied smiling.

Draco clutched his wand tight in his fist until his knuckled turned white. How dare she kiss him after what happened between them. Really nothing did happen, Draco told himself. They weren't connected in anyway, but he still felt resentment.

"Really?" Harry was amazed.

"Yes, really." she made the initiative and pulled his head down for a soft kiss on the lips. It only lasted a second, but it was just enough. Harry's heart leapt for joy, but for some reason or another Mary felt nothing at all. They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. She watched Harry's silhouette ebb into the darkness.

This is my chance, thought Draco. For once Potter isn't going to win. He waited for her to walk past the place where he was hiding before he revealed himself.

"What was that all about?" Mary stopped unable to move. That voice, I know that voice. Her mind was racing franticly. She had been thinking of an excuse all week to be alone with him again, and now was her chance.

"What was what all about?" She stood where she was, immobilized.

"Don't act stupid. What was all that lovey dovey stuff with Potter?"

"Why do you care?" Her back was still facing him.

"Why do I care? Let's see maybe because the other day it was me you were snogging, not him!" Draco began to advance towards her. She wanted more than anything to turn around and face him, but her body refused to move. He stopped at her side, placing his hand on her shoulder. She didn't even turn to face him when she spoke.

"Oh, I see. Just because we kissed once that automatically means you have control over what I do? I mean give me a break! I've barely even talked to you! The few times I have talked to you, you've acted like a jerk!"

"Look," he removed his hand. "I know I've acted like a complete git, but can we start over?"

God! Why was he saying this? Draco Malfoy never admitted his faults! Why was this girl so different? How come every time he saw her he felt like he was incomplete without her? Why did he need to know her so badly, to touch her, to talk to her? It just didn't make any sense!

He walked around so he could face her and held out his hand. "The name's Draco."

Against all her right judgment she accepted his handshake. "The name's Mary."

"Mary…hmmm"

"What?"

"Oh nothing, I was just thinking about your name."

"What about it?"

"It's just that," Malfoy began as they started to walk side by side down the hall. "Your name sounds very plain when you first hear it, but when you really think about it it has sort of elegance to it."

"I've never really given it much thought."

"Of course you haven't. Who likes to think about their own name? Everybody's always wishing they had someone else's."

"Oh really, and what do you wish your name was?" She stared at him intently surprised that they had managed to have a civilized conversation that lasted this long.

"Harry," he stated matter-of-factly.

"No, really,"

He exhaled sharply in a sort of a laugh. "I dunno something more meaningful."

"More meaningful? Draco means dragon, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, that's what I mean. Who wants a name that means dragon?"

She laughed. "You've got a point."

They continued on in silence. "Do you know what my name means?" she asked looking into his eyes.

"Beautiful?" his right eyebrow rose ever so slightly.

"Flattering, but no, it means bitter."

Draco chuckled, "I was close."

She gave him a small shove and ran ahead of him. He caught up to her grabbing her arm to slow her down.

"Where are you going?"

"I dunno I just felt the need to do that." She turned to face him. "Have you ever had that sensation? The one where you just have the biggest urge to do something and your mind tells you not to, but your body tells you something else?"

Draco knew exactly what she was talking about. He was experiencing it right now. He wanted more than anything to feel her lips on his, but his mind told him not to.

"Mary, I…" his voice trailed off.

As he leaned down to kiss her Mary snaked an arm over his shoulder and around his neck pulling him closer. She pressed her body against his, and his arm found a home around her waist as he continued to kiss her with care. Her free arm explored his body staring with his face. She placed her palm on his cheek pulling him closer still. She then began to run her finders through his hair as she took in his scent. He smelled clean. That was the only word she could use to describe it. He smelled as though he had just stepped out of the shower, but there was also a hint of cologne which gave him a very male aroma. He slowly moved his tongue across her lips asking for entrance. She pulled away.

"I better get going." She was way in over her head and she knew it. She really liked him and that wasn't good.

"Yeah, maybe you should, but before you go, could you do something for me?"

"Sure, I guess." she knew that she shouldn't be granting Malfoy favors, but she couldn't resist. The way he looked with his hair all awry from their encounter made her smile, and she even let out a small laugh.

"What's so funny?" Draco asked staring down at his robes to see if there was something on him.

"Nothing, it's just that your hair is all messed up."

"Oh," he said fixing the problem with a quick run of his fingers. "So about my proposition…"

"You never did tell me what that was." She was smiling almost shyly with her hands laced together in front of her as she rocked slowly back. She looked like an innocent school girl with a dirty little secret.

"Well I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime."

She stopped rocking, folded her arms across her chest, and switched all of her weight to her right leg which was slightly in back of her left.

"You mean like a date?" she had only been on a date once before, and it had been bad enough to keep her from future ones.

"Yeah, like a date. Unless of course you want to call it something else, but that's really what it'll be. You aren't dating Potter are you?" he asked incredulously.

"What if I am?" she asked with interest.

"Then I'd want to date you even more. I'm always looking for ways to anger Potter." He smiled slightly placing his hands in his front pants pockets.

"No, I'm not dating Po…Harry, and yes, I would like to go on a date with you."

Upon hearing the news, Draco relaxed considerably. He was usually so calm around girls. Why was he always so nervous around her?

"Great! You have a free period after arithmancy right?"

"Yeah."

"Than, meet me tomorrow around three at Honeyduke's, and we'll go from there."

"Sounds good, well, I'll see you tomorrow I guess. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Draco turned to leave; he was more than excited about tomorrow and hoped for the best. He could've sworn that his heart skipped a beat when she accepted his invitation.

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LiLjDpEgAsUsChIc160: well that's another chapter under my belt, but there's still a lot more to this story. It's going to be awhile before I fully finish, and I hope you enjoy every chapter till the very end!

CoMmEnT! 33