thanks to two super quick comments, i was inspired to update right away.

Chapter 7:The Truth…after a make-out session, of course!

This time it was my turn to stare at him in amazement. Did he really just say what I thought he said? Did he really just tell me he loved me? Did he just…say it offhand after staring at me for god knows how long when I said it? Did he actually tell me he loved me too?

As if he read my mind, he answered all my questions. "Yes. I said it. And I'll say it again. I love you. I don't care if you've got to go home, I still love you with all my heart." And then he kissed me. Oh, that was a really nice kiss…like, floating in the clouds nice, or, never having to leave him nice. When he pulled away I leaned forward, ready for more.

"More?" he asked, reminding me of an old story I had written. I quickly trashed the thought.

"Yes please," I said before realizing how desperate I sounded. But Draco didn't care. He just grinned and kissed me again with another one of those amazing floating in the clouds kisses.

What followed was the best make-out session I have had in my entire life. Granted, I wouldn't call myself an expert at make-out sessions, but I've had my fair share. This one though…Draco had never kissed me that passionately before and I was planning on making it last as long as I could before going home.

It wasn't until after dinner, when Slytherins were pouring into the common room once more, that Draco and I ended our kissing fest. Of course, most of the Slytherins wouldn't have minded even if we had kept making out, but there are those few who would watch us (creepy!) and I don't particularly like making out in front of others anyway. As I was laying next to Draco on the couch (yes, next to. well, more underneath, but sh!) I felt something poking me from underneath. My first thought was "pudding," because for some reason my sick mind hadn't left me yet, but I quickly dismissed that on account of Draco being on top of me, not under me. And then I remembered that blasted vile of liquid I was supposed to be taking care of.

"SH-T! I mean, SNAP!" I said, pushing Draco off of me.

"What? What is it!" Draco said, spazzing because he thought that he had done something wrong.

I pulled the little bugger out from under me and examined it. It was fine. No cracks, no potion leaking everywhere. Phew.

"What's that?" Draco asked suspiciously. Crap. I didn't know exactly why, but for some reason I felt that this potion should've been kept a secret. At least for a while. But I think he knew what it was. So I told him.

"Draco, Dumbledore gave me this potion this morning. He says that if I take it, I'll go home. But, the problem is, I have to drink it before the end of the week." I looked at Draco uncertainly. You have no idea how hard I was praying that he didn't get all pissy again. He seemed to study the vile for a while, then he took it from me gently. He sat up and turned the liquid around, watching it, making me realize how silly I must've looked when he caught me doing the same thing. Finally, he looked at me. Another one of those deep, penetrating looks, but not the kind that makes you melt. It was one of those looks that make you wonder what they're thinking; one of those looks that made you wonder about a lot of stuff.

"Draco?" I asked tentatively. I could see tears welling up in his eyes. This amazed me. Draco never cries, not for anything. He's one of those guys that you think don't even have tear glands or something, because seeing them cry would be like seeing God and still not believing in him. I scooted closer to him, scared. "Draco?" I asked a bit more urgently.

He looked down and grabbed my hand. Before saying anything, he pulled me away, all the way out to the grounds, past Hagrid's and even past Hogsmeade. Finally he pulled me down under a tree next to the lake. There was a blanket laid out already, along with some juice and fruits from the kitchens.

"Were you planning this all along?" I asked, my worry momentarily vanished in my awe. From where I stood, the entire view of the lake was absolutely gorgeous. The giant squid wasn't waving its tentacles aimlessly, so the surface was as smooth as glass. The crescent moon was reflected perfectly, along with the surrounding mountains and stars. I was in shock it was so beautiful.

"Draco…my god…this is…it's…" Yes, I was having problems talking. What can I say? Words don't describe how striking this place was; they don't even come close. "It's absolutely marvelous," I finally said.

He didn't say anything. I turned my eyes to him and I was struck by an even more inspiring image than the lake could ever be. Draco, standing in the moonlight, his hair and face so pale it looked like he glowed, his shoulders gently shaking, and tears silently falling down his face. I swear that in that moment, he looked like a fallen angel. And he was my fallen angel. My job was to get him flying again, hopefully soaring.

I stepped forward until I could touch him. As I reached out to him, he turned away, hiding his face from me. He didn't want me to know. But it was too late, I knew, and I wasn't going to do nothing, that's for sure. I tried again, stepping around him so I could face him, but this time he didn't turn away. This time he collapsed against the tree trunk, sobbing. I dropped next to him and hugged him fiercely, as hard as I could. We sat that way for a long time…

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered suddenly into my robes.

"Sorry? For what? You didn't do anything wrong. You-"

"Shayna, I…I…I really don't want you to go home, but I know you need to, and I thought I was okay with that, but…" We were both sitting on the ground, with him leaning on me. He pulled away. "I don't know if I can let you go," he said simply.

"Draco." He was watching the ground, so I lifted his chin and made him look at me. "Draco, stop."

His face was sopped with his tears, so I used my sleeve to wipe them all away. Now he was watching me. When his lip started trembling again, I knew he wasn't done.

"I don't want to lose you."

With that he got up and walked to the very edge of the shoreline.

I got an idea. Maybe it wasn't a very bright one, and there was a chance that it would make things worse, but I thought it had a better probability of helping than hurting. So I took off my robes (Don't worry; I had normal clothes on underneath.) and walked up beside him.

a/n: aha...CLIFFHANGER!