It was about midnight when i dared to fish the box out of my robes, and tip toe down to the common room, where i could open it in private. I slumped down into one of the surprisingly comfortable, green, leather sofa's and looked at it for a while. What if it was a trap, and he'd meant for me to find it? what if there was a rather unfriendly surprise in it? i shook it a little. Something small rattled around inside. It didn't seem dangourous. A thin green ribbon was tied around it, fastening with a bow at the top, so i pulled it undone and cautiously lifted the lid. Inside, was a ring. It was beautiful, quite thick, with ornate patterns around the edges in the shapes of flowers and stars. In the centre, at the top, sparkled a fairly large blue jewel, that matched the colour of my eyes almost perfectly. I stared at it for a while, then i just couldn't resist it any longer. I whipped it out of the box and tried it on my middle finger. It fitted perfectly. For some reason that pleased me. I held it up to the light of the fire, and it twinkled in the green light, so it was almost glowing.I frowned and shook my head, renching it off my finger. I was putting it back in the box, trying to carefully do the ribbon back up in a neat bow, and i hadn't realised that i wasn't alone anymore.
'I see you found my little gift, then,' said a voice from the staircase. I lept up and spun around, hiding the box behind my back. I scanned the shadows, in an effort to see who was lurking there
'Who's there?' i called, quietly. Draco stepped out of the shadows, wearing his boxers, a plain white shirt and a green, silk dressing gown. I myself was only in a skimpy top and shorts. I felt a little bare now, and a blush rose to my cheeks, which i hoped was hidden in the green fire light. 'What do you mean?' i said, confused now.
'The thing you're attempting to hide behind your back. I was going to give it to you anyway.' he said, in a voice that seemed so much more relaxed than i was used to.
'I'm not hiding anything' i said. I know it was a dumb thing to say, but my brain was being slow, and didn't give me anything else. Draco sighed, then started walking towards me. I took a step back and ended up banging into a table i didn't realise was there. I looked down and rubbed the small of my back, which had knocked the table. When i looked back up again, he was right in front of me. Although i'd grown, he was still a year above me, and so i ended up looking at his neck, before i then tilted my head to look at his eyes. He had one eyebrow raised, as he reached his arm behind me to take the box. I froze where i was, suddenly over-come with the scent of vanilla and peppermint, as his body leaned into mine. My heart started pounding again, and it felt like the only noise in the dark room. I snapped my eyes shut until he'd leaned away from me again, wanting to resist all temptation of winding my arms around him. When i opened my eyes again, he was still standing in front of me, but a little further away so he could look me in the eye. He was holding the box out towards me.
'Take it. I told you, its a gift' he said, stepping a little closer once more. I frowned, pushing his hand away gently, but firmly.
'I don't want it. I simply saw you'd left it in the Great Hall, so i was going to give it to you at breakfast.' I replied. He looked at me, and raised his eyebrow again. 'Alright, i just wanted to see what it was. Its beautiful, i couldn't help it.' i continued, 'but, seeing as you've got it back now, i'll say goodnight.' I started to walk towards the staircase leading to the girls dormitory, but he stood up and caught me by the wrist.
'Look, just take it. I want you to have it' he said, smiling at me. He pressed the little box into the hand he'd grabbed, closing my fingers around it for me. I sighed. He wasn't going to take it back, i thought, so i might as well...I nodded, and tried to continue up the staircase, but he kept hold of my wrist and spun me round gently. 'I never introduced myself properly. Draco. Draco Malfoy, although you probably already knew that,' he said, releasing my hand and holding out his other one. After a second or two, my hand slowly followed suit, and grasped his, despite my best efforts at keeping it pinned to my side.
'Sian Pendragon.' i mumbled, wanted to get away from this temptation, this sign of weakness. But somehow i couldn't let go, and nor, it seemed, could he. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, before i suddenly snapped back to reality and tried to pull my hand away, but he still wouldn't let go! It was getting slightly annoying, yet i did nothing in protest. Then he ducked his head a little, looking almost like he was bowing, which was a bit odd. But then he pulled my hand up to his face, and kissed it. That familier shudder went down my spine, and i was sure he must have felt it, as a little smirk played across his lips. When i saw this, anger flowed through me. It was all going exactly as he wanted it too, but not anymore. Not with me, i wouldn't let him. I pulled at my arm again, and he finally let me go. I turned and hurried back up the staircase, not looking back or stopping to say goodnight.
As i lay in my bed, staring at the box i'd placed on my bedside table, i thought about what had happened. Then something occured to me. He was strong. Stronger than i'd hoped. He'd been able to hold me where i was without a hope of me going anywhere. That wasn't something i'd counted on. My plan of not becoming a loyal Malfoy follower hinged on me being able to get away from him. It was clear now, that was going to be a problem.