And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC

Chapter 24- Something right… for once.

Summary: Like some magnetic force, like some unbreakable bond she was drawn back to him again and again. And now, staying away was an inconceivable notion. "Always." she murmured, one hand finding his, the other tangling into his platinum hair, "Always."

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I know you guys want more A/D interaction but its getting there, bear with me! it's a slow burner they hated each other for years! Aha! Much love poppets!

Also another note- please remember I'm rewriting!

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"Alihotsy!" Professor Sprout cried, split seconds after Avery had taken her seat in the greenhouse, "Also known as the- Barker?"

"Hyena Tree." A Ravenclaw who excelled in the lesson answered, Avery pulled her text book from her bag and set it quietly on the table, eyes scanning the large pot sat on the table before herself and Malfoy, a tall spindly tree was planted deep in the soil, sharp purple leaves jutting out from the stem like trunk rather than individual branches. It looked dangerous, like most of the herbs and plants used in NEWT level Herbology.

"Yes, the Hyena Tree, a non sentient plant that no one here will have handled before. This grows in abundance in the Forbidden Forest, in which I'm sure none of you have been."

Avery couldn't remember noticing this plant before on one of her excursions to the forest.

"I want you to look through your books and find out the effect this tree has on you if your skin comes into contact with it's leaves. The first to find out with twenty points for their respective houses. Off you go."

Avery moved to open her book, elbow brushing against Malfoy's as she did so. She tensed, and glanced to the side, though the blonde resolutely ignored her.

Lexi and Amanda sat heads close together working as a team to win the points for Hufflepuff. A strong thigh pushed hard against her own "Malfoy." Avery hissed, "Malfoy."

The blonde resolutely ignored her, studying his book intently. "Malfoy!" She said loud enough for the Hufflepuffs in front to glance up from their work. She smiled, awkwardly. "Get off of me." She growled.

The leg remained where it was and Avery sighed, "Malf-"

"Yes Mr Rowan?"

"When touched the leaves induce hysteria."

"Correct Mr Rowan, Twenty points to Ravenclaw." Professor Sprout beamed.

Avery breathed deeply, ignoring the waft of vanilla as Mafoy shifted in his seat.

"The antidote for the hysteria comes from the treacle of a grumbumble." Professor Sprout explained, "However, there is a specific spell that takes the magic away from the Hyena tree and makes the leaves unable to affect you. I want you to find that."

"I want you to search for, use then test a spell until you find the correct one." Avery felt her eyebrows crawl higher over her face, How would they test them?

"Professor?" Lexi asked, "Are you asking us to touch the hysteria inducing leaves?"

"Of course I am, the leaves have been reduced in potency to their lowest level so the effects should wear off after a few seconds each time. It is important that you work hard to find this charm as a question built around this will more than likely appear in your NEWTS." The professor explained, Avery struggled to pay attention, the solid weight of Draco Malfoys leg against her own, distracting, she wasn't sure she had ever been this close to him, not before the last day of term anyway, where he had kissed her, "If you do not find it in this lesson I expect all of you to come back in your free time to find the answer and have it by next lesson. Am I clear?"

After the class had nodded the affirmative they were told to begin. Professor Sprout magicked each pot towards each pair of students. Malfoy made no move to touch either the tree or the book. Avery scooted her stool back, a loud scraping noise against the floor, her newly freed leg felt cold where the air touched it.

She glanced through the index of her text book frowning.

"Avery?" Amanda asked, "Do you have any idea what to do?"

Avery shook her head and glanced around the room at other pairs who were shouting whatever spells they could think of, touching a leaf and giggling for a few seconds before sobering and trying another spell.

"That I guess." she replied.

"Fianto Duri" Avery said, pointing her wand towards a purple leaf, she shrugged and touched a finger tip to the leaf, immediately breaking into giggles. "Its not that sheild charm then." She mumbled aloud.

She pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote the spell down so she would not use it over and over.

"Duro." She said, watching happily as a purple leaf slowly turned to stone, she touched it and immediately laughed again. Once she had shaken herself out of it she wondered aloud how with reduced potency the leaf could still work through solid stone. "Are you going to do anything?" She asked, her face itching at the feel of eye watching.

"I wasn't planning on it." Came the reply. Avery swallowed, "I'm having far too much fun watching you do it Red."

"I've not got red hair anymore Malfoy." She sighed, writing down the second failed spell.

"Protego." was the only response she received as the blonde shot another shield charm towards another purple leaf. He looked towards Avery expectantly who shrugged and murmured, "It was your spell."

The Sytherin sighed and touched a finger delicately to the leaf, suddenly to Avery's surprise his whole face transformed. Avery wasn't sure she had ever seen Draco Malfoy smile, and she stared open mouthed, perhaps she had seen a small smile in the tower but nothing like this. His laugh was, nice, something she wouldn't have associated with him. She had only heard his cackle before after all, the one he used when insulting someone or laughing at someone elses expense. Here and now he was almost likeable.

"Greenwood, you're staring." His voice broke through her thoughts.

"Sorry, zoned out." she said.

"Of course." He smirked, "Protego didn't work." She nodded and added the spell to the list.

"Immobulus." Avery tried as a shot in the dark, expecting the bout of laughter that shook her after, it was as if touching the leaf made all her troubles disappear, it felt light and fluffy and all things that life hadn't been for a while. She perhaps she could see the same thoughts on Draco's face when he was affected too. Maybe everyone's.

After half an hour Avery's cheeks felt wet with tears of laughter and her throat hoarse. Malfoy's face was tinted a flushed red and a small smile tugged at his lips every few seconds.

"This really isn't working." Malfoy giggled, giggled, under his hand.

Avery shook her head in agreement laughing, it seemed even Professor Sprout was enjoying herself and no body in class had yet found the answer. Her list was growing longer and Avery was beginning to wonder if this wasn't all some trick and there was actually no way to stop the leaves working their magics.

Avery snorted as Malfoy doused the tree in water which did nothing. She added the spell to the list with shaking hand and dried the tree off herself.

"You've made everything dirty." She grumbled, "There's dirt everywhere. Scourgify." The table cleaned itself, the pot and the tree potted inside it.

She poked at a leaf on the tree and grumbled, "This is never going to happen."

"Red," Malfoy said, "You're not laughing."

Avery raised her eyebrows, noticing that she had in fact come into contact with a leaf and was not laughing. "I did it? I did it!" She laughed and threw an untouched leaf at Malfoy's face which caused him to roll his eyes.

"Well done Greenwood, Malfoy. Please keep the spell to yourself and you may leave." Professor Sprout said proudly. Avery gawped, but moved quickly, taking advantage of the professors good mood.

The Slytherin followed closely behind as Avery stumbled through the greenhouse, noticing that only one other group seemed to have found the answer so far. "That was amazing!" Avery gasped as they burst through the door onto the and the frigid air, "I cant believe we did it! You made it dirty and I cleaned it!" She grabbed at the Slytherin's jacket lapels grinning, "A bloody Scourgify Malfoy! Who would have thought? I've never gotten anything right in Herbology!"

"Yes, we did it Red." Malfoy murmured, lithe hands rising to cover her own where they gripped his clothing. Avery blinked, and pulled her hands away roughly, she cleared her throat making distance between them.

"I have to go." She mumbled, hoisting her bag onto her shoulder, "Malfoy let go of me." A hand tightened around her wrist. No one spoke for a few seconds before Avery groaned frustratedly, "Let go. Stop being so weird, with your leg and the nickname and- you kissed me Malfoy!"

Malfoy raised an eyebrow, "Ginny saw Malfoy! Do you have any idea what she thought? Let go."

"You kissed me back, Red." He said letting go. Avery shook her head, no, "You were. You would've if not for the Weaslette turning up."

"Not again." Avery said.

She turned away and stormed towards the castle. "And stop touching me!" she called behind her, ignoring the responding snort.

All herbology info taken from Harry Potter WIKI except the description, that's mine cause I couldn't find one anywhere and the bit about the charm, as far as I know this isn't a canonical thing- but then again neither is Draco Malfoy taking Herbology with a Gryfindor he may or may not end up with in the end =]

All spells from Wiki too!

A/N- I have a new fic out! it's a walking dead Daryl/OC fic Check it out if you're a fan! Lots of love! X

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Thanks for reading! More up soon!