Chapter 11

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

-- Robert Frost

Draco watched Willow thoughtfully from the castle door, leaning his shoulder leisurely against the large wooden door with his arms crossed over his chest and a wistful smile plastered on his face. Draco was doing a lot of that lately, watching Willow, but he couldn't help himself; she was captivating and he couldn't help but notice when she was in the room. She was a fascinating creature full of contradictions that boggled his mind. She was raised as a muggle but had befriended a vampire and a werewolf and knew all about the supernatural. She knew more about the Dark Arts than anyone he had ever known but she could have barely performed a decent charm spell three weeks ago. How could such a seamlessly innocent girl know so much about darkness?

She was a puzzle and Draco just couldn't figure her out. She was interesting, and not in the regular way. There was just something about her that drew him to her. She had some unexplained power over him that made him think she was part Veela and at any moment she would sprout large scaly wings. Oh there was no doubt that Willow was beautiful, but her features were more pixie-like than human. Her legs and arms were almost too long for her small body making her appear more fragile than she actually was, almost birdlike. Her long crimson hair glittered in the sunlight like spun gold-and now he was waxing poetic about her damn hair. He was turning into a complete ponce and over a muggle-born that could pass for a Weasley too. He was so screwed.

'Enough,' thought Draco as he physically shook himself from his silent appraisal and quietly made his way to where Willow was sitting in the tall green grass.

Strong arms encircled Willow from behind, pulling her body against a warm firm chest. Willow squeaked in surprise, whirled around and punched Draco squarely on the nose with her tiny balled fist.

"OW!" shouted Draco in pain as both his hands flew up to his face.

"Oh, Draco! I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" apologized Willow quickly as she inspected the damage she had inflicted on Draco's poor nose. It looked a bit swollen but luckily nothing was broken.

"Why the hell did you did that for!" shouted Draco angrily.

"I'm sorry, but you surprised me," shouted the redhead in justification.

"Well that bloody hurt," he whined.

Willow's green eyes gleamed with mischief and she stood on her tippy toes to place a tender kiss on the tip of his nose. "Poor baby, better now."

Draco smirked and wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pulled her body flushed against his own. "No," he breathed.

Willow giggled and kissed his cheek. "How about know?" she whispered.

"Getting there," whispered Draco huskily as his silver-grey eyes studied her face with burning intensity, memorizing every inch from her soft pink lips to the faint brown freckles on the bridge of her nose. He lifted his hand to place a loose strand of hair behind her ear, allowing his fingers to linger on her cheek. He wished that they could stay like this forever, but he knew it wouldn't last. Neither his father nor his housemates would allow this relationship to continue. Eventually he would have to let her go, but not just yet. He wanted to taste heaven for just a little while longer.

Draco's lips descended upon Willow's with a hunger that left her swooning with passion. Desire swept over them both and they devoured each others mouths with vigor. He kissed her hard and long until her legs nearly buckled from the lack of oxygen.

"Wow," whispered Willow breathlessly.

Draco smiled smugly at the dazed look on Willow's face. "Hmm," he agreed.

"So are you ready to go," asked Draco once they have both recovered from their spontaneous make-out session. Draco would have preferred to spend the next few hours kissing Willow, but unfortunately he had promised to take her to Hogsmeade for today.

"Yeah," exclaimed Willow excitedly as she hopped up from the ground and dusted bits of grass from her clothes and hair. She and Draco had been spending a lot of time together despite the Professors' disproval and this was going to be their first date. Sure, they had made out a couple times-okay, maybe more than a couple-but this was different. This meant that she and Draco was officially dating and Willow mentally squealed in delight.

"What are you wearing?" choked Draco in mirth. Instead of her regular school robes Willow had decided to wear her own clothes. She wore a fuzzy pink sweater with hello kitty printed on the front, a pair of jeans and bright red sneakers completed the ensemble. The whole outfit was so dreadfully muggle that Draco sneered with disgust. And no Slytherin would be caught dead in those shoes.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" asked Willow as she looked down at herself in confusion.

"Oh nothing, it just that I've never seen you without your uniform. It…um… suits you," back-pedaled Malfoy smoothly. "Shall we go?" said Draco as he offered Willow his hand. She took it readily and they made their way to Hogsmeade hand in hand with the bright summer sun shining overhead.

They strolled down the street with their hands still clasped firmly together as Draco pointed out various shops to her. Hogsmeade was quieter than the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, but Willow found it to be no less fascinating. Hogwarts had always been a major source of income for Hogsmeade, therefore business tended to be slower during the summer months when the students were away. But the new school year promised to bring a fresh new crop of customers eager to spend their money on sweets and butterbeer; Draco and Willow could sense the anticipation in the air as the shopkeepers hurried about to get ready.

Their first stop was at Honeydukes Sweetshop and he had her sample all the Wizardry treats. Frankly, Willow thought that some of their idea of candy was down right creepy and she shuttered at the thought of chocolate frogs and cockroach clusters. But she had to admit they made the best chocolate and the sugar quills weren't half bad.

Draco stopped by Zonko's Joke Shop and bought several Dungbombs, Nose-Biting Teacups and other slimy, smelly things. When Willow asked him about it Draco smiled evilly and mumbled something about setting up a few surprises for some boy named Potter. Willow chose not to ask him anymore about that, but what ever Draco was planning didn't sound good.

They finally stopped at the three broomsticks for a late lunch and Willow fell heavily into the chair. They had visited nearly every shop in Hogsmeade and Willow's feet was killing her. Draco ordered a round of butterbeer and the cold drink felt wonderful going down her parch throat. They spent hours just talking, laughing and generally having a wonderful time while Madam Rosmerta smiled indulgent at them as she refilled their drinks.

Draco had regaled Willow with his stories about the antics of his two best friends, Vince and Greg. Willow had laughed until her sides hurt and she had told Draco that she couldn't wait to meet his friends. Willow was slightly confused by the sudden frown on his face but she chose not to say anything about it. In return Willow had told Draco a little bit about her life in Sunnydale ranging from the ordinary everyday things to the really weird. At some point Draco had placed his hand over hers and a warm feeling spread over her as she lost herself in his intense grey eyes that were now bright with curiosity. They were almost hypnotic and Willow couldn't seem to stop talking for fear that his gaze would stray if he lost interest. She told him about everything and anything as long his gazed stayed on her.

Draco listened with rap attention as Willow weaved one unbelievable tale after another. He couldn't believe such a place like the Hellmouth could exist where vampires, demons and things that nightmares were made of ran rabid at night. No wonder Willow knew so much about defense against the Dark Arts, bloody hell she practically lived with it on a daily bases. And the wistful way she described that horrible place it almost sounded as if she was homesick for Merlin's sake.

It was truly amazing that she had survived so long. The Hellmouth was a taboo in the Wizarding World and most Witches and Wizards avoided like the plague. His father had once told him that only Dark Wizards dared venture there and even then only for a short time. It was a source of great power and evil that even the Dark Lord wouldn't dare touch. The Dark Lord may have been insane in Draco's opinion but he wasn't stupid. Witches and Wizards just didn't last very long there and this was the place where Willow had grew up. There was definitely potential for darkness there and Draco was surprised that the Headmaster had allowed her within one hundred feet of Hogwarts. There was no doubt in his mind that his Willow was definitely something special alright.

"Draco Malfoy?"

Draco cringed mentally at the sound of the achingly familiar voice, as he slowly removed his hand from Willow's grasp. His heart filled with dread, as his little bubble of happiness that he and Willow created burst and the outside world came rushing in, forcing him to face reality. A mask of aristocratic indifference fell over his face. In a blink of an eye the transformations was completed and he was once again Draco Malfoy the Slytherin Prince.

"Hello, Millicent," greeted Draco coolly as he turned to face a blacked-haired girl with square shoulders and heavy jaw.

"And who is this," questioned Millicent as she waved her hand towards Willow.

"Millicent Bulstrode this is Willow Rosenberg she will be going to Hogwarts this year. Willow, Millicent is one of my housemates and she is in the same year as us."

"Rosenberg? That doesn't sound like any Wizard name I ever heard of," commented Millicent in dismay.

"No, it's Jewish," replied Willow.

"Jewish?" asked Millicent in confusion.

Obviously the girl was a little thick in the head so Willow didn't bother to explain what Jewish meant and choose a simpler explanation. One she knew the girl would understand. "It's muggle."

"Oh, I see," sniffed Millicent in disdain. Willow knew right away that she didn't like this girl.

"Well Draco I must go. My mother is waiting for me. I be sure to tell 'Pansy' that I saw you. I'm 'sure' she's looking forward to seeing you again," implied Millicent suggestively and she left without saying goodbye to Willow, eager to rush home to owl Pansy the shameful although juicy news about how she saw Draco Malfoy holding hands with a mudblood, in public too.

"Who is Pansy?" asked Willow curiously.

"Nobody. Come on it's getting late. We better head back before it gets dark," said Draco gruffly as he paid for the drinks and stood up stiffly from the chair.

'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid,' thought Draco bitterly. He should of known better than to take Willow to Hogsmeade where they could be seen, but for a second he had forgotten that he was a pureblood and she was muggle-born. His kind didn't associate with the likes of her.

Draco nearly stomped out of the restaurant with an angry scowl on his face, not even bothering to check if Willow was following him. He was angry at Millicent, at himself and most of all at Willow for being muggle-born. He was having a perfectly splendid time until Millicent showed up. Oh why did it have to be her? Millicent was if anything a busy body and no doubt by the end of the day half of Slytherin will know about Willow.

"Stop Draco! Why are you so mad at me?" panted Willow as she struggled to keep up with Draco's long angry strides.

Malfoy stopped abruptly and whirled around to face her. Willow nearly tripped over herself when she saw the expression on his face. Draco's eyes have never been so cold and empty. "Look Rosenberg this isn't working. I think we should stop seeing each other."

"What!" cried Willow is disbelief. Where did that came from?

Draco dragged his hand through is white-blonde hair in agitation as he tried to explain. "I'm pureblood and you're muggle-born. We're from two different worlds."

"I…I don't understand? Why should that make a difference?" asked Willow shakily. She couldn't believe this was happening.

The last thing Draco wanted to do was hurt Willow, but it had to be done for both their sakes. "Don't be so naïve. It just does," yelled Draco in frustration.

Willow frowned. It just didn't make any sense. They were fine until that stupid ugly face girl showed up. "Why now? It didn't bother you before. Why all of sudden you care?"

Suddenly Draco couldn't meet her eyes and he glared down at the ground. "Millicent reminded me who I am," he finally admitted.

Willow felt like she have been slapped. Now she understood all too clearly. "You…you're ashamed of me." It wasn't a question.

Malfoy shrugged. "Rosenberg, don't make a big deal of it. We both had our fun."

"No you don't mean that," yelled Willow stubbornly as she grabbed his face and kissed him with every bit of passion she had in her, desperately trying to wipe the cold cruel look off his face.

Her eyes were bright from unshed tears as she continued to kiss his unyielding lips. "Shh… Draco. Don't," murmured Willow sadly as she lean her forehead against his. "Don't ruin it by saying that it didn't matter. You felt something to. I know you did."

Draco grabbed Willow's wrists and pried her hands away from his face, holding her back with a vice like grip. His face was expressionless and the gleam had left his eyes leaving them cold and dark.

"I felt nothing," sneered Draco and he stormed off leaving Willow alone and sobbing brokenly on the side of the road as the sun dipped low into the horizon, darkening the sky and putting an end to the last day of summer.

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