The next day I woke up and found that in place of the previous day's snow was pounding rain. I opened my window and let the droplets wash over my face for a few minutes. I then ran a hot bath and washed my hair and body. When I was dry, I opened my closet and picked a deep blue camisole and black knee-length cotton skirt. I was always the early riser of my dormitory, so only one other person was awake.

Her name is Willow. Willow Parker. She is a vampire, like me. She was younger, but not by much. I was only eighty years old. She was barely fifty. I was only a year old when I was turned. Vampires are not immortal, but we age at one fifth of the rate humans do.

"So how are things between you and Draco?" She asked, half teasing and half serious.

"He is sweet. Infatuated with me, though. We do not fight." I replied as I charmed my hair dry and brushed through it.

"Do you feel the same way?" She asked as she began getting dressed.

"I have grown attached to him. He knows what I am. I am thinking of turning him after we get through with this school." I twisted my hair into an elegant, complicated bun and secured it with a 12-hour sticking charm.

"Do you honestly think that's a good idea? Turning him?" We made our way out of the dormitory and met Draco and Jonathan in the common room. Jonathan threw his arm around Willow's shoulder and pulled her into a quick, heated kiss. Draco said he needed to speak with me in private.

Vampires have a telepathic means of communication. Willow began the mental conversation.

Uh-oh. I think I smell a breakup, Ebony.

Why do you say that?

Guys never want to speak with you in private unless it's bad news.

Oh.

"First off, you look amazing." Draco said once we were tucked away in a shadowy corner.

"Thank you."

"And second off..." He kissed me and I was engulfed. We could have stood there for 5 minutes or 12 hours and I wouldn't have known the difference. Willow attempted to get through to me telepathically, but I was tuning her out, so she cleared her throat loudly. Draco pulled away, put his hands remained where they were: One on my hip and one around my waist. "I don't get to do that unless we're in private." He said this quietly, and Willow was straining to hear.

"Take me on a date," I said. It wasn't a command; almost a question, and he smiled. He knew how spontaneous I could be sometimes.

"As you wish. Shall I choose the time and date?" He said it like he was from my time, and was 'courting' me.

"Yes."

"Tonight at 8:30, we can sneak off into Hogsmead and I'll treat you to a candlelit dinner at Raimoer's."

"Sounds perfect." And with that, we all walked out of the common room and made our way to the Great Hall to eat breakfast.