Soon the plates were cleared away and the dancing began and I'm pretty good at most forms of dancing so that managed to relax me and I actually started to have a good time.

"Hey Draco, Keira." Blaise said as we were having a break from dancing

"Hey" said Draco and they did informal guy handshake thingy (me and Addie tried that once but it didn't work for us so we decided to tackle each other in public).

"Zambini" I said coldly to show I was aware of his presence.

"Keira?" Blaise said warily.

"I think she's mad at you." Draco explained looking slightly amused.

"What did I do?" he asked defensively.

"You cant keep you mouth shut, that's what" I spat.

"Oh" he said smirking as the realisation hit him "Did you find any of it useful?" he asked Draco

"A bit" he replied smiling slightly. I glared evilly at both of them.

"Oh come on Keira" Blaise laughed "I didn't tell him everything, I thought I'd let him discover some thing's for himself."

"Gee, I'm overcome with gratitude" I said sarcastically "You make it sound like it was a sure thing and that I'm easy"

"Well, don't really want to offend you darlin' but-" Blaise started

"Finish that sentence and it will be the last thing you do" I growled and both of them laughed at me.

"Well anyway I just came over because a few of us are going to play cards in the den I wondered if either of you wanted to join, after all Keira's usually up for anything." Blaise said grinning at me. I tried to glare at him but I couldn't help but smile when I felt Draco's hand on my hip, probably a protective gesture.

"Who's playing?" he asked.

"So far Goyle, Flint and Travers" Blaise answered. I think my heart stopped at the mention of Flint. 'Of course he's here, this night just wouldn't be complete without him'. I felt Draco's grip on my hip tighten slightly and saw him look at me and he actually looked concerned.

"You go and play" I told him softly "I'm sure I'll find someone here that I could talk to"

"Your certain?" he asked quietly.

"Yep. Go and have fun" I chirped and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Keep him away from me" I whispered into his ear before I pulled back.

"Will do" he replied and kissed me before he left with Blaise.

Ok, so I may have lied when I said I could find someone to talk to. I didn't actually know many people and those that I did know were people I'd rather not talk to. I don't think I've ever been so uncomfortable ever ... which is really saying something since once I, actually never mind that story really isn't something I want to share. Some people would just stare at me, I really didn't understand why. Naturally I ended up at the bar. A Malibu or two later I was feeling as relaxed as I could in the possible situation.

"Your Keira right?" a pretty blonde in a dark blue dress asked.

"Umm... yeah" I replied cautiously wondering why she was talking or if I was actually supposed to know who she was. She just laughed lightly.

"I recognised you from school" she explained friendlily "I was two years below you I think and a Slytherin so don't worry if you don't remember."

"Oh ok" I laughed "Just for the record, you are?"

"Calista"

"Well it's nice to meet you Calista"

Callie and I chatted for a while, mainly about standard stuff like how she never expected me to be here and which teachers we liked at school. Nothing to fascinating but enough to keep me sane, she was a nice enough girl. A few more people came and joined in, they must have found out whatever was originally keeping them away wasn't contagious. I was in the middle of telling a story when I felt some one prod my arm and hiss my name. I held up a finger to indicate I would be a moment while carrying on with what I was saying. They prodded me again I quickly finished my story turned around and asked "What?" in a way that could have been perceived as both loud and rude.

"I just thought I'd remind you that Draco's mine so you should back off" Pansy said snidely.

"That's nice dear" I replied as if she was a small child and tried to resume my conversation with Callie and her friends.

"I mean it!" she hissed pulling me round to face her while I tried not to laugh. "I don't know what he's doing with a whore like you but I'd stay away from him if I were you or you'll be sorry."

"Merlin" I muttered in annoyance "Do you know about mine and Draco's pretend marriage?" she nodded "Then you know very well I can't 'stay away' from him as we live in the same house and share the same bed." A couple of people laughed.

"But he's supposed to be mine" she growled.

"But he's not" I stated simply "Were you even together before the whole marriage thing?" This time she just glared rather than answer me "No you weren't. He hasn't touched you since school and if I were you I'd just get over him, he's clearly not interested and from what I've heard stalking someone is a major turn off."

"Shut up or else" she yelled and shoved me.

"Wow, I'm so scared" I laughed. That apparently was Pansy's limit and she slapped me. So I smiled sweetly then swung for her and felt immensely satisfied when I felt my fist connect with her jaw and I heard her hit the flaw with an amazing thud. "Get out of my sight before I do permanent damage I said in a bored tone and then resumed my previous conversation.

But as fate would have it that wasn't the end of the drama for tonight. Not by far. I was talking to a different bunch of people I think, not that I really care. I was still having a laugh. I had more to drink. I could pass for a happy person. But then a rather pissed fake husband dragged me from the ballroom into an empty room. "Hi honey, how was your game?" I asked hoping my tone conveyed the right amount of annoyance due to the scene he just caused.

"Did you fuck Flint?" he asked angrily. Suddenly I felt as if I had been hit by a tone of bricks and I was unable to breath

"Wh-what?" I spluttered out

"DID YOU-" he roared

"I heard you!" I screamed trying to hold back tears "bu- ... it's just. Where is this coming from?"

"Because he said you did" he yelled "over our friendly game of cards"

"Of course the bastard said that" I laughed which was sort of difficult while sobbing, this seemed to confuse Draco a little. "Do you really want to know the truth?" I asked him quietly looking strait into his eyes. He just nodded stiffly. "Yes we had sex" I muttered and tried not to flinch when I saw his fists clench. "But I didn't have a choice" I added quietly. That seemed to stun him.

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"Please don't make me say it again" I pleaded. "I think I put up a hell of a fight though" I said shakily "Can't see it right now but I've scars to prove it."

"You mean he ...?" Draco asked not bringing himself to say the words I didn't want to hear anyway. I nodded grimly. "Right" Draco said unbelievably calmly and walked out the door. For a couple of seconds I stood their dazed and confused before rushing to the door which I found to be locked. I struggled trying to open it before I realised I was a witch and wasting time by being stupid when I needed to know what Draco was doing. I quickly pulled out my wand and rushed back to the ballroom. Instead of another scene it was calm and people were going about their usual business, chatting dancing and laughing. I spotted Draco talking to Marcus Flint and some other guys at the far side of the room and cautiously began to make my way over.

"So she admitted it then?" I heard Flint ask when I was in range. I froze.

"Sort of" Draco replied monotonously "I didn't believe it myself. I mean you and her? Just doesn't seem likely"

"I know" Flint said sounding a little proud. "She played really hard to get, but I know she wanted it" then he laughed "Even though she denied it afterwards, she wanted it." I still remained frozen, feeling so many feelings I'm amazed I didn't scream.

"Did you hurt her?" Draco asked in his same empty tone.

"Yeah, but that was part of the game" he said showing no remorse. I closed my eyes wishing I could just disappear into nothing. When I opened them again Flint was on the floor being punched repeatedly in the face. Draco was quickly pulled off by a group of guests and once he was back on his feet he quickly shrugged them off. Then he spotted me and I flinched when he started to make his way towards me but he just gently wrapped an arm around me and led me out of the room.

Once we got home neither of us said anything. I don't think we knew what to say. Now that I'd snapped out of my daze I noticed Draco hands were bloody so I quickly fetched a bowl of water and a cloth and sat him down and began to clean them for him. "Sorry about ... well... tonight in general" Draco muttered quietly.

"Sorry I didn't tell you about ... it" I replied. Then there was silence again, only I was getting sick of silence. "Thank you for punching him" this made Draco chuckle a bit, which made me smile slightly.

"It's not even a fraction of what the bastard deserved." He said bitterly

"I know. I punched Pansy" I said changing the subject.

"Why?" he asked slowly, smiling at me

"Because she slapped me after I told her she should stop stalking you when she told me to back off because you were hers" I said trying to summarise the story.

"Looks like we're both going to be in trouble tomorrow then" he sighed after he stopped laughing. I nodded gloomily. "Come here" he said tiredly after I'd dried his hands, being careful around where he'd grazed his knuckles. I sat next to him and he pulled me into a gentle hug. "I never thought I'd ever say this to you, but I care about you, quite a bit. That's why I probably reacted the way I did earlier." I kissed him softly.

"I care about you too" I admitted seriously "And I trust you and strangely enough you make me feel safe... when your not scarily angry" He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

"So about this dating thing" he started sounding awkward. "I think it's time we moved passed that"

"I second that motion" I said trying not to sound stupid "So we're now officially a couple?"

"Yup" Draco yawned.

"That's odd" I stated

"Not as odd as being in a pretend marriage" he chuckled.

"Good point" I muttered snuggling into him. Not too long after we were both sound asleep together on our sofa.