When Alya awoke she felt incredibly warm and comfortable. She didn't want to open her eyes, knowing that once she did, this pleasurable feeling would vanish and she would have to face the day. And what an exhausting day it would be!

No, she was perfectly content to stay exactly where she was. Though, it was quite strange that her pillow kept moving up and down. It was also harder than she remembered. Were her pillows at Zabini Manor really that much more comfortable than the ones she remembered here?

Something squeezing her waist drew her attention to the fact that her pillow had grown arms overnight and was now holding her. Not that she minded, quite the contrary. But pillows weren't supposed to move or have arms. So what the hell was going on there?!

Should she open her eyes and check out what the problem was or simply roll with it?

A soft groan made her freeze.

Everything that happened the night before went back to her and she blushed crimson. That was not a pillow at all.

She was wrapped like a koala around her boyfriend.

Swallowing an embarrassed whimper, she opened her eyes a tiny slit trying to gauge the situation. Her head was resting on the boy's chest, she was only now registering the calm thudding of his heart underneath her ear. Her arm was wrapped across his stomach -'his very toned stomach' her mind pointed out suggestively- while the other was curled up between her chest and his side. Their legs were entwined under the sheets. Looking at herself, wondering why she hadn't suffocated in her sleep with her corset, she noticed that she was wearing a loose t-shirt and shorts while he was wearing sweatpants and a wife beater. Blaise must have transfigured their clothes before falling asleep.

She took a deep shuddering breath. That was not planned to happen so soon. She must have been so tired the night before and in need of comfort that she just pulled him into bed with her. At last it was a purely innocent thing, just sleeping, completely clothed; she told herself trying to calm her racing heart. It was a miracle he hadn't woken yet, she was sure it was going to jump right out of her chest.

The question was: what to do now? Could she just go back to sleep and act like nothing happened? Quietly sneak out of bed? No, that was out, Blaise had both his arms wrapped around her waist and was holding her pretty tightly. If she tried to remove them he would probably wake up. Should she wake him? She mentally snorted, good way to be embarrassed earlier than necessary. And what would she tell him then? 'Hey sorry to wake you but I'm having a mental panic attack?

No, just.. no.

"Shut up" Blaise groaned nuzzling his nose into her hair "You're thinking too loud"

She squeaked at the sound of his voice, her traitorous mind registering how deep and husky it was in the morning when still heavy with sleep and ready to turn into a puddle of goo.

"'m sorry" she squeaked, unconsciously burrowing her face into his chest and immediately turning all shades of red when she noticed.

"SSh" he whispered "Just sleep, amore" 'love' he said rubbing one of his hands up and down her back, soothing her. It relaxed her so much that she involuntary fell back to sleep.


Alya huffed trying to blow the lock of hair away from her face. it was getting pretty irritating. Unfortunately she couldn't use her hands to do it, since the potion needed her complete attention and a single second of delay at any point of his brewing would ruin it completely.

She had been holed up in the lab for hours already, maybe the whole morning, she had lost count of the time after a while.

This was the most difficult potion she had ever brewed in her life. She didn't even know if her Potion Master had ever attempted it either, after all the last time someone made horcruxes had been centuries ago. The vile things had been banned after the they realized the true consequences of making horcruxes.

A soft knock on the door broke her out of her musings, calling for whomever it was to enter.

"How's it coming along, cara?" the smooth voice of her boyfriend asked from somewhere behind her.

"It's still only halfway, but everything looks good for now" she said.

When they woke again that morning, she had been embarrassed still but the comfortable and easy way he acted made her relax. After she was done freaking out, she realized that if she came to wake up like that every day, with her handsome boyfriend laying butterfly kisses all over her face and neck and greeting her with a 'Good morning, bellissima' 'beautiful', then she would be happy.

A tanned hand came into her line of vision and gently removed the hair from her face, going as far as to undo her loose ponytail and plait her long locks into a tight braid.

"Where did you learn to braid hair?" she asked amused, thankful that he was being careful not to jostle her while doing a good job.

"My mother got into an accident once and couldn't use one of her hands for a week. She made me learn how to braid her hair because she couldn't do it herself and she said that spells never got it right" he said shrugging.

"How old were you?"

"Thirteen. I know, not exactly a thing that a boy that age wants to lean" he replied to her giggle "There, I'm done."

"Thank you" she smiled

"You're welcome" he said "Can you stop for a moment?"

"Uh, not really. Why?" she asked confused.

"It's past lunch time and you need to eat"

She sighed, her body giving signs of tiredness and hunger but she ignored them "I'll eat once I'm done"

"And that would be?" He pressed leaning against a free part of the counter.

"Mh, around dinner time?" she said unsure

"Not a chance" he shook his head.

"Blaise, this is extremely volatile and I.. what are you doing?" she asked seeing a fork in front of her face.

"If you can't eat on your own I'll feed you" he stated, daring her not to comply.

She bit her lip, blushing lightly at the intimacy of the action, but then nodded carefully eating the pasta speared on the fork.

"Thank you" she whispered

"You're welcome, cara" he smiled, continuing to feed her until she had eaten all her plate of pasta, some salad and a slice of cake.

"Are you trying to fatten me up" she asked mock angry

"If I was, there would just be more of you to enjoy" he stated "But no, I just know that you skipped breakfast"


Just as she said, Alya had been holed up in the laboratory all day. Blaise, who had been seen running in the grounds in the morning, had disappeared right after lunch.

So, Draco was irritated. He wanted to interrogate his friend or his cousin about what the hell was going on with them but he just couldn't get a hold of them.

Now, it was dinner time and if they weren't there yet, he would personally drag them to the table. No matter if Alya cursed him to hell and back.

Luckily for Draco, Alya and Blaise decided to grace their hosts with their presence and join everyone else for the evening meal.

The Malfoys, the Lestranges, Dolohov, Greyback and Voldemort were already seated at the table. Alya noted with amusement that Lucius had to give up his precious seat at the head of the table to his Lord.

"Good evening" she greeted, smiling at Blaise who held out her chair, and sitting.

She smiled even wider when she saw Bellatrix glaring at her, one sleeve of her dress hanging loosely at her side, empty. The woman flinched getting a flashback of the previous evening.

"If you're quite done scaring your Aunt" Lucius drawled

"Aww, I was having fun" she pouted

"There, there. You can play with Bella later" Blaise said patting her hand over the table "First you need to eat"

"Fine" she sighed

"Is she always like this" Dolohov asked, having missed last night conversation being ordered to see to Bellatrix

"No" Draco said "Only when she wants to creep out someone. Or when she's high because she's dueling"

"Draaay" she whined "Don't ruin my fun! You're such a spoilsport"

"Am I?" he asked "Why don't we talk about you instead?"

"Me?"

"Yes. What's up with you two?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

"um.." Alya looked at Blaise, unsure of what to answer. She didn't want her cousin to throw a tantrum now that she had to deal with her father. What if her father decided to take interest in her life just now? She hated these mood swings, going from the scary and a little crazy Dark Princess to the shy and insecure Alya.

Oh, Blaise was talking

"It's quite simple, Draco" Blaise said, holding her hand in his larger one "I'm courting Alya and we're currently dating"

Silence greeted the statement and, even though she kept a calm and strong front, she was growing quite worried.

"Ah! Good for you, lad. She's a catch!" Fenrir laughed, congratulating the Italian wizard

"Thank you" Blaise grinned, he quite liked the boisterous wolf

"D-dating?" Draco sputtered "When? How? WHY?!"

"Well, you see Draco when two people like each other very much they.. Oh, sorry, that was the wrong talk" Blaise said seriously.

The intimidating Lestrange brothers fought hard but couldn't help to crack a grin at his cheekiness.

"Wha-? How dare you lay your filthy hands on my sister?"

Blaise arched an eyebrow at the blond who went as far as jumping up and slamming his hands on the table

"Tut-tut Draco. I know your mother taught you better manners than that" And indeed the woman was frowning at him.

"Answer my damn question Zabini!"

"Are you serious?" he asked

"Enough you two!" Alya ordered "Blaise stop riling him up. And you Draco, what's your problem?"

"My problem is that you are… dating.. him" he said sneering the word and pointing at the other teen.

"And? What's wrong with dating Blaise?" she asked getting angry "He was there for me when you all threw me out of my home, with barely and explanation and no time to assimilate what was happening. He was the one who held and comforted me when I cried myself to sleep because my father didn't even want to meet me and the rest of my family choose him over me!" she yelled

The Malfoys cringed in guilt at their actions, Fenrir scowled heavily while Voldemort stopped for a moment of clarity of mind to think about his actions in regards to this girl. He couldn't feel remorse, or even guilt, he could admit that in her place he wouldn't be acting differently. No, he would be acting a lot worse, swearing vengeance and death on whomever dared to hurt him. This girl, she was going to help him instead, she wanted to heal him. Unless it was all a plot to kill him…

"Who I date is my choice alone! You don't get to act all angry and displeased about it" she said "Either you're happy for me, that I found I man who loves me for me, or you can keep your thoughts to yourself"

That said she sat back down, glaring at everyone who even thought about speaking, and angrily stabbing her food.

Blaise sighed. That could have gone better, but it could have been worse too. He would have to calm down and comfort his little kitten before going to sleep. Maybe he would get to hold her all night long again.