Last time:
"I like you, and I'm willing to try, but just because I like you," the strange beauty established, "Does not, I repeat, does not, mean I'm going to sleep with you tonight, or any time in the near future."
Disappointment flooded all of Draco's features.
"But what about the bond? I have to-"
"I know all about the bond, and you won't die if you don't complete it soon, Ace," Roanoke interrupted, "Just unhappy." Draco pouted a bit about the statement, and knew it was true, but no bond was better than nothing, and if it made her content, he was satisfied... for now at least. He could make seduction plans later, now he felt the need to revel in his mate's presence. Looking upon the near deity was all he ever needed, as long as he could see her face or touch her hand, there was no need for possessions or food, or water. Just her attendance was all he desired. His staring had unnerved her and without words she turned toward him.
"Why have I never noticed you before now?" The Slytherin asked.
"How often is it that you look at a man's shoes?" She replied with no explanation.
"Excuse me?" He inquired, politely stating his puzzlement.
Roanoke simply stood, brushed off her bottom, looked to the horizon and said, "Figure it out," before walking back to the school.
Draco glared at the same horizon, seeing nothing that would give him an answer, and then scrambled to his feet in hot pursuit of his mate.
Draco finally caught up with the remarkably fast girl in the corridor next to the one containing Dumbledore's office, and that seemed to be the direction in which they were heading.
"You really aren't going to make me speak to that old fool about this mess are you?" The Veela asked his mate, exasperated. Roanoke's eyes flashed with some unknown emotion and she slapped Draco, hard, across the right cheek. Seeming surprised with her own actions, Roanoke looked from her left hand to where that hand had hit the boy.
"I'm sorry," she apologized softly, "I didn't mean to do that. But you shouldn't talk about him like that."
With due regret, Roanoke reached up the same appendage that had hit the Slytherin with such force and violence a mere moment ago, and stroked the angry red mark she had left. Caressing the hurt cheek, and the other also, Roanoke reached behind the tall boy's neck and pulled his face down to her level, so that she could plant a soft kiss on the injury.
Not, once again, trusting his own voice, Draco took the kiss with a smile and a nod, all while his insides were burning with passion and his mind dizzying out of control from such an unadorned gesture of love, motherly and sweet. They reached the door to Albus Dumbledore's office a meager few seconds later, and Draco's consciousness still to befuddled to notice that the Gargoyle guarding the door to the Headmaster's office jumped to one side, admitting the two, without either of them repeating the password.