Chapter Four: Control

"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?" Draco pouted.

He was sitting on the couch later on that night with his arms folded across his chest, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He was agitated, itching for a drink, but Cho wouldn't let him out of the bloody house. And that was down right irritating.

She only smiled at him and shook her head. She knew she couldn't let Draco out of the house, but that meant she'd have to occupy his mind some other way.

"Instead of alcohol," Cho explained, "I was going to make some hot chocolate, so we could sit by the fire and talk."

Draco smirked. "I don't know, Cho. Sounds to me like you're planning quite the romantic setting. Low lights, blazing fire, blankets, hot cocoa - this isn't a place for talking, it's a place for shag-"

His words were suddenly cut short, however. Cho lunged at him, almost sitting on his lap to cover lips with her fingers, glaring hatefully at him. "Why do you torture yourself, Draco? You know it's never going to happen - so just don't even mention it.." She tried to keep her voice steady, but her heart began pounding for some reason. Perhaps because subconsciously, that's what she wanted...?

While her mind was working, Draco being the swift mover that he was, quickly and skillfully pulled her to the couch and leaned over her seductively. "Oh, just admit it, Cho. This is all just pent up sexual aggression. It's a set up to seduce me into making hot, sweet, passionate love to you." he said in a low provocative tone, teasing her bottom lip with his thumb.

Two can play at this game, Cho thought. She wrapped one of her free legs around his and put her arm around his neck so that he face was mere inches from hers. "Yes, Draco, please. I want you, I need to feel you on me, inside me..."

Draco grinned cheekily as he moved to kiss her. "Now that can be arranged..."

Cho then shoved him off the couch and onto the floor. Laughing she stood and walked to the kitchen door. "Keep dreaming, Malfoy. You may be an excellent kisser, but you'll never get that from me."

Cho cringed inwardly as she looked back at Draco, who's ego had not deflated from being shoved to the floor. "Oh, so I'm an excellent kisser." he said with a smirk.

Cho tried to hide her blush, but instead she ducked into the kitchen. "Just don't let it go to your head." she mumbled.

Once hidden behind the kitchen door, Cho felt like banging her head against it. How could she have let it slip? It was by no means a lie, he was a very good kisser. But he wasn't supposed to hear that, and especially not from her. As Cho reluctantly began making the hot cocoa, her own words passed through her mind like fire. Her only excuse was that Blaise's comments were still fresh in her mind and still a matter of confusion for her. What she once thought was compassion for Draco was quickly becoming attraction and with the teasing and flirting comments that were underway, it was growing steadily.

It was all so confusing for her. She was supposed to cheering him up, getting him back to normal so Harry could actually come talk to Draco civilly and ask him for his companionship, his allegiance in the Ministry and in the Order. But that couldn't happen until she dragged him out of his drunken stupor and got him sober. And though he seemed happy enough - he wanted to be her friend, or so he said- he was still craving liquor, and she couldn't let him go yet. It also seemed that he enjoyed her kisses, her companionship, no matter what he said or told her otherwise. Either way, she knew she enjoyed his kisses - perhaps a little to much.

It was true, it was all true. She did reveled in his kisses, and she wanted to taste them again. And maybe, just maybe, a small part of her did want to feel his hands on her body, to feel him inside her, to scream his name. But only a small part. Maybe she had accidentally let it slip so he would know how his kisses did affect her, and being the flirtatious tease that he is, would perhaps kiss her more often...?

Indeed. Cho had come to a conclusion by the time she was walking out of the kitchen with two steaming mugs of hot cocoa.

She was losing her mind.

&

"So she thinks I'm an excellent kisser?" Draco muttered proudly to himself.

As Cho re-entered the room, he felt his pulse quicken, and he welcomed it before he cursed it.

Well, I'll just have to make a habit of kissing you more often, he thought.

She handed him the mug and sat nervously on the couch, a good foot away from him. Draco would have laughed at the obviousness of her avoiding him, but he wouldn't let her off the hook that easily.

"Why, thank you, Cho." he smiled. Then he placed the cup on the table before him and scooted closer to her. He watched her eyes grow big and immediately she looked away. Draco smirked as he put one arm around her shoulder.

"Now, where were we?" he said quietly, leaning in closer to her. "Oh yes, you were telling me how much you enjoy my... kisses." he whispered the last word as his lips took her own. The kiss began gentle and slow, but when she didn't resist, he deepened the kiss and pulled her body closer.

It was then that she tried to get away. Her hands were on his chest, trying to push him away, but it eventually became caresses and gently tugging on his shirt. His mouth moved down her neck, working magic all the way down. Without meaning to her breath caught at the feel of his lips on her skin, and Draco smiled.

Cho knew he was only teasing, and she knew it was wrong, but she couldn't stop it. She put her hands on his shoulders in another attempt to push him away, but he moved her hands to the back of his neck, and they eventually became lost in his hair, pulling him closer to her still. She reveled in his attentions, the passionate kisses that left her breathless. His hands moving up and down the side of her body, his lips working magic on her skin, leaving a trail of fire...

"Draco..." it was meant to discourage him, but it came out as a moan as he gently kissed her collarbone.

"Oh no, but you wanted to scream my name, remember?" he whispered to her, looking into her icy hot blue eyes before kissing her mouth agian.

She pulled away this time, but her breathing was heavy. "No, Draco, I... I was serious."

"When you said I was an excellent kisser, I know it, Angel. I'm just proving it to you." he said kissing down her neck once more.

She pulled away for the last time and narrowed her eyes. She had to get control, she had to gain the upper hand of the situation, or she would lose everything. Her entire reason for being there would be over.

"No, I mean when I said I just wanted to talk."

"We are talking, sweetheart." Draco smiled.

"Draco," she glared.

"All right, all right." he chuckled and sat up. His arm, however, remained over her shoulder. "So what are we going to talk about?"

Cho let out a sigh, and he could tell that she was still flustered by his kisses because her face was still flushed and her chest was still rising and falling quickly. He chuckled inwardly, Oh yeah. I've got her good.

"I could tell you about what's happening in the Ministry lately. With all the drinking you were doing, I doubt you picked up a Daily Prophet." Cho said slowly, being careful not to look at him.

Draco smirked yet again. "Because you know I"m dying to know what's going on in the Ministry."

"Well, what would you like to talk about, Mr. High and Mighty Malfoy?" Cho smirked back.

"Hey don't start with the name calling, Angel. This whole talking-instead-of-drinking was your idea. You driving me towards another bottle as it is."

A nice alcoholic beverage sounds good right about now, Cho thought.

"But if you're curious as to what I'd like to talk about..." he paused before movin gon hesitantly. "Tell me about your brother."

Cho froze. "My brother?"

"Yes, the one that died."

Oh yeah. I'm pretending I'm here mourning the death of my brother. She hadn't actually thought of a reasonable story yet. Just play it cool.

"He... he was older than me, about five years older." Cho said slowly, trying to look solemn, but Draco's hand moving affectionately on her shoulder made that difficult. "He was a dragon tamer... in Romania. But a few weeks ago, one of the dragons got out of control and..." Cho closed her eyes and allowed emotions to course through her veins. "I always told him it was a dangerous job, but he never listened to me. Then he went and got himself killed..." her voice cracked then and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"That must have been difficult." Draco muttered, though hardly audible.

"He worked with Charlie Weasley," she continued,"Ron's older brother. That family helped me and my parents through the first few days after we found out. Such a wonderful caring family."

"Oh, yeah. I know the Weasleys. The whole damn lot. Blood traitors and-"

"Can't you go one minute without thinking of yourself?" Cho huffed, wiping at her non-existent tears. "Belittling one of the most caring and affectionatefamilies I've ever met, one of the men who-"

"Who did what, Cho?" Draco yelled. "Saved my life? Do you think that Ron Weasley and Harry Potter, the bloody Boy Who Lived, did anything to help me? Hell no! They were only witnesses to the end of the Malfoys, the end of my fathers rule over me. All they did was watch my parents die. They didn't save my life, Cho. They've condemned me. Damned me to an eternal hell with no way out."

"Draco, I-"

"No. All they did was watch me become a murderer."

Draco then turned away, trying his hardest to swallow the tears that were developing in his eyes. It always seemed that Cho found him at his worst. Whether it be drunk out of his mind, or giving into painful memories of the past, he knew he would never be anything in her eyes other than the hateful Draco Malfoy.

He then closed his eyes as he felt her hand on his shoulder, almost making him flinch. Her soft womans hand was warm to the touch and it sent emotions coursing through his body, a surge of tears flooding his eyes when he felt how much she must care - about him.

"Draco," she said gently, turning his face to look into her blue eyes, pooling with tears of her own. "It's okay."

"No, it's not, Cho." he said harshly, pulling away from her blessed touch. "I'm a murderer."

"You also watched your mother die." Cho said firmly, moving in front of him. "After what you've been through all your life, and what you had just witnessed, I'm really not surprised." She once again put a soft hand on his arm and almost whispered, "It's okay."

"Cho," he said in a wavering voice, looking at her in disbelief. "I'm a murderer. I killed my own father, using an Unforgiveable Curse. Unforgiveable!"

"And it's okay."

"No, it's not okay!" he said loudly. "How can you stand there and tell me it's okay!"

"Both Dumbledore and the Minister have justified your actions. The way you were raised, your situation, you had every reason to-"

"You think I give damn about what those two old crackpots have to say about it?" he spat.

"Then what are you waiting for, Draco? It seems like everyone else in the world has forgiven you. Why can't you let it go?" she argued, looking steadily into his eyes.

He stumbled over his words as he tried to find out what he was trying to say. "Cho... I-"

"It's not your fault, Draco."

This caught him off guard and he looked at her in shock. Of course it was his fault. He did the act, spoke the words, killed his father.

"Just leave me alone."

"Sorry, I can't do that. You said it yourself, we were friends. Let me be your friend, Draco." she said firmly.

"You... you wouldn't understand." he stammered.

"Then help me understand, Draco. Talk to me." she gently begged.

Draco closed his eyes and looked down, and Cho watched as a single tears lid down his cheek. His face contorted in pain and his shoulders shook a moment before he opened his eyes and looked at her, full of shame and guilt.

"It's okay," Cho said once again, pulling him close with her arms around his neck. His arms slid around her waist and he nuzzles his nose into the fragrance of her neck. She held him close as sobs racked his body, and the tears soaked her shirt, she repeatedly whispered, "It's okay," trying to give any relief at all.

How odd it was that he always felt such peace and reassurance when he was with Cho. In her presence, in her arms, he was home. Why was it that his mind would whirl at the sight of her smile? Why did he crave her attention? Why did her words make him feel forgiven and... almost loved?

After many long painful, tearful minutes, Draco finally gained composure, but he didn't want to let her go. The warmth, the companionship she offered him was so endless and sincere, he never wanted to let go. He held onto her, cherishing the feelings she was awakening in him, and accepting the fact that somehow, even after all he did, everything really would be okay.

He pulled back, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, Cho." Then pulling her close again, he whispered in her ear, "Thank you for being here."

He lingered there, letting out a breath on the skin of her neck, and he felt the goose bumps on her skin underneath his touch. Surely he didn't affect her so...

He pulled back to see fear mixed with desire in her eyes, but her gaze met his unwaveringly. It thrilled him to see the struggle within her, the confusion in her eyes made the corners of Draco's lips tug playfully. But then he felt her uneasy breath on his own lips, and as moisture gathered there, all teasing was suddenly gone.

As he felt his own skin beginning to tingle, he said, "Could it be Angel, that we have the same effect on each other?"

Without waiting for her answer, his lips took hers softly, then pulled back. He felt no resistance, no hesitance... so he kissed her again.

Innocent sparks instantly turned into a blazing fire, the passion between the two knowing no bounds. She held onto his shirt like the couldn't be close enough to him, and Draco held her face gently, but kissing her like it couldn't be deep enough. His hands traveled to her neck, shoulders, arms and eventually around her waist, pulling her body flush with his own.

Beyond what she had offered him before, the feelings of peace and forgiveness, now she offered love. He felt loved. And that was something Draco hadn't felt for a very long time. So he gave in, he treasured it. They way her lips moved on his, the way her hands were raking through his hair... when his hands moved over the skin on her lower back, she rolled her hips against him and a soft moan escaped her throat...

It was then that Cho ripped herself away from him. She stood still for a moment, trying to catch her breath, but she didn't look at him as she moved towards the hallway.

"It's late, we should probably get to bed." she mumbled. Placing a hand on her throat, almost in shame of the noise she made.

Draco also tried to steady his own breathing, now annoyed and unsure, but he nodded at her request and followed her down the hall. He watched her pause at her bedroom, and gently hitting her head on the door, she turned.

"Draco?"

He looked at her and watched her make her way to once again stand before him. She stumbled over her words, "I... you... we..." but Draco placed a finger over her lips to silence her. He stared deep into her eyes, hoping to see a shred of emotion that would tell him how she really felt about him, or is she was simply toying with his emotions, but all he saw was the confusion like in his own soul.

She gave a small smile and a swift kiss on the cheek. "G'nite, Draco." She turned to walk away, but he caught her hand gently.

"Please, Cho," he pleaded lightly, "Stay with me?"

She looked at him for what seemed like forever, but finally nodded. He led her into the room and closed the door. Blindly making the way to the bed, they undressed and lay down. With her back to his chest and his arms around her waist, so sweetly and innocently, they fell asleep in each others arms.

&

For the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy woke up happy.

He felt Cho's warm body still within his grasp, her own hands resting on his chest, her steady breath on his face, and then he opened his eyes to see a contented smile on her lips. He didn't want to wake her, for such a beautiful sight was his sleeping angel, but she then stretched and yawned, opening her eyes to see Draco staring at her.

"Well, good morning." she said in surprise.

"You'll never know how good." he smiled, kissing her affectionetly on the forehead. "This is the first morning I've waken up without a head-splitting hangover, and I've got a beautiful half naked girl its place. I say Bravo."

Cho smirked. "Haha, very funny."

"You know, you keep doing this, you'll get me right out of this depression." he said jokingly.

"Doing what?" she asked warily.

"Sleeping with men will get you places, Cho." he teased. "It will also get you some very happy men."

"Draco!" said an astonished Cho, though she was feigning a smile. "I'm not some whore running around, making men happy!"

"So you're here just to make me happy." Draco grinned.

She nodded. "That's my goal... in a strictly platonic way, of course."

"Great, the half naked girl in my bed wants a platonic relationship." Draco said sarcastically.

Cho blushed and tried to move from the bed, but he still held her.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"How about one more kiss before you leave Draco all by his lonesome?" he begged, protruding his bottom lip in a pout.

"What?"

"Well, if you refuse to sleep with me, then I must insist on at least one kiss a day. You're kisses, Angel, really are the best medicine."

Cho eyed him for a moment, then leaned in to place a quick kiss on his lips. But he held her there, prolonging the kiss as long as he could. When she finally pulled back slowly, a smile appeared on her face and her eyes fluttered open, leaving Draco mesmerized. She bit her lower lip as she made her way out of the room, leaving Draco to smile to himself.

It was as different as night and day, the feeling of waking up depressed and hating the day, waking withheadaches and hangovers. Instead, this morning he woke with a smile on his face and a beautiful girl in his arms. He had awaken happy and... in love?

No. It was impossible. Not him. Not her. Not after just a matter of a few days. Never.

And yet, there was a smile that wouldn't leave Draco's face.

&

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update, I feel horrible. I hope this makes up for it, and I hope you all review!