Malfoy stumbled onto the bear-skin rug in the living room of Malfoy Manor, making his way over to the overstuffed couch in front of the fireplace. He set Granger down and shrugged off his robe.

Merlin, that lovely creature lying there. Is she really going to be mine?

Shocked at his thought. Malfoy started towards the stairs, intending to leave Granger on the couch to spend the night.

That way, I'll have the whole bed to myself.

He sniggered to himself. But one second later, a guilty feeling snuck up on him.

This isn't right. What if she catches a cold? Or the couch catches fire!

For god's sake. Who gives a bloody damn.

But still-

Oh for crying out loud So what if she catches a cold? So what if she catches fire! No one gives a bloody damn.

I GIVE A BLOODY DAMN, DAMMIT.

And the little voice in the back of his head disappeared. With that, he walked back to the couch and lifted Granger up bridal style, back to their room.

Malfoy set her down on the bed and prepared to head to the toilet to wash up. However, Granger had subconsciously grabbed a hand full of his shirt extremely tightly. So much so that even when Malfoy tried to tug her hand away, she wouldn't budge.

Woah, this girl has some serious strength.

So Malfoy had no choice but to climb into bed with her. Curled up like a prawn, Granger snuggled into his warmth and Malfoy instinctively wrapped his arms around her.

The next few days passed in a quick blur. With Malfoy and Granger spending each day in each other's company. Be it basking under the baking sun while swimming in the manor's backyard, picking wild berries amongst the bushes surrounding the perimeter of the Manor, taking Cissy and Josh out for walks and picnics in the park or just quarrelling with each other in the house. At least they were having their fun.

With each increasing moment spent in each other's company, they subconsciously started falling for each other. Although they had their bad days, the feelings were still there.

Although they still didn't want to admit it, they were indeed falling for each other. With each passing hour, with each passing minute, with each waking second, the feelings were getting stronger and they grew surer of it each day.

But still, neither would admit it. Neither would come to face it. For both, felt that loving the other was wrong.

What do I do if loving you was wrong?

If bearing the way I feel for you, is committing a crime.

Am I breaking the law, devoting myself to you?

You're worth the price of every sentence.

For what a treasure in you I've found.

I'm holding on, but you don't know.

I'm not letting you go, for the love of you in me.

And bit by bit, the date till the Christmas Ball in Hogwarts drew nearer and nearer.