And if we dream - Draco Malfoy/ OC

Chapter 28- The hospital wing.

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."

-….-

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry guys! I have no excuse, I really don't. I hope you're all still with me!

-….-

The days continued in a similar way for Avery, class during the day and covert meetings with Draco at night. Mostly they talked, about their past, their hobbies, nothing too deep and not since that night in the library had they spoken about their futures. Draco was secretive, more than usual and it seemed every day that the circles around his eyes got darker and his skin paler. Avery didn't ask him though, she knew it wouldn't be welcome. She spent her evenings with him in the tower, a new normalcy for the two of them, time away from their lives, whatever was happening in them at the time.

"Avery?" Hermione said from her bed, "Are you ready?"

"No." Avery groaned, from where she sat on her own bed in her dress, "Do we have to go?"

"It's supposed to be an honor to be in the slug club." Hermione berated her though Avery could see that Hermione was secretly unhappy with their current engagement too.

"No. He chose famous people and smart people and is putting them all in a room together. I'm there because of my mother. That's not an honor Hermione. It's a bloody embarrassment."

"It'll be fun." Hermione said doubtfully.

"No. It wont be." Avery said, standing, wobbling a little in her heels and smoothing down the front of her dress, "Do I look alright? I can't remember the last time I wore this much make up."

"You look lovely, Ave."

"So do you Hermione, really stunning." Avery replied, taking in Hermione and her cream dress, "Lets go."

They slowly made their way toward Slughorn's rooms, ignoring the odd looks they received from those unaware or not invited to the Slug club, Avery could imagine they looked rather strange.

They could already hear the music and chatter from inside Slughorns rooms as they reached the corridor, and Avery had to hold back a grimace as she took in the rooms before her. Gold, everything was gold. Gold drapery hung from the ceiling, gold cloths adorned the tables. Avery wasn't certain but it seemed even the food and drink were gold themed. "This is tacky." She mumbled earning a nudge from Hermione.

"Ah, Miss Granger! Miss Greenwood." Professor Slughorn cried as they stepped closer into the room, "Do come with me!" The professor lead the girls towards the centre of the room where they posed awkwardly for a photo, Slughorns arm slung carelessly over their shoulders.

"Thank you girls, do have a look around, enjoy yourselves!"

"Thank you sir." The girls replied politely.

"Mione." Avery whispered as they moved into the room. "Don't look now but I think Cormack is here. I think he knows you're here too."

"What?" Hermione hissed, "He is?"

Avery nodded, noticing the slimy boy moving towards them. "You should go." she told her friend, Hermione scuttled the other way and Avery stepped to the side slightly, "McLagan! Hi." she smiled.

"Hi Avery." Cormack frowned, staring behind her, "I was just looking for-"

"Hermione? She's not here."

"I just saw her."

"Nope. No you didn't. Oh Neville!" Avery sidestepped the boy and moved towards her fellow house mate who wore an odd looking white jacket, "You're a waiter?"

"Yeah, It was the only way I could get in here."

"Really?" Avery frowned, "Well, I think you're more deserving than most of the people here. Me included."

"Thanks Ave, but I should get going. Got to hand out these drinks, do you want one by the way?"

Avery took a drink from the tray and smiled as her friend moved towards another group of people offering drinks. "Harry my boy!" She heard Slughorn speak, followed by the flash of a camera.

"It's crazy in here isn't it." Avery spoke, walking up beside Harry, "Very Gryffindor."

"Hi Ave," Harry smiled tugging at his robes, "Have you been here long?"

"No." Avery laughed, "We just got here, Hermione is avoiding Cormack. I told her she shouldn't have asked him."

"Hermione asked Cormack?" Harry gasped.

"She thought it might upset Ron, I guess." Avery laughed, "She's over there. Hiding."

Harry grinned as he and Avery moved behind the sheer curtain that Hermione had hidden behind, "Hello Mione" Harry greeted. Hermione stood leaning against the wall lamenting the fact that she had invited Cormack to the party.

"I can barely face him," she said, "He's so- ugh!"

"Dragon Tartar?" A waiter asked, joining them behind the curtain.

"No thanks." Avery said, wrinkling her nose at the smell.

"I'm fine thanks" Hermione answered the same, whilst Harry shook his head no.

"Just as well, they give you horrible breath."

"On second thoughts," Hermione said, snatching the tray, "It might keep Cormack at bay!"

"Not likely." Avery laughed as Hermione shoveled a couple into her mouth, "He's keen."

"Oh God, here he comes." She said around her mouthful, "I've got to go." She ducked out of the curtain right as Cormack stepped in the other side, making Harry and Avery shuffle to the right. Avery nodded at him, smiling awkwardly.

"She just went that way." Harry said.

"I've been looking for the little minx all night," the other boy said, taking the tray from Harry. Avery watched in horror as he too shoveled some of the disgusting food into his mouth. "What am I eating?" he asked.

Avery hesitated and Harry replied, "Dragon balls."

Avery couldn't have timed it better herself. She stepped around Harry to his other side just as Snape yanked open the curtain and Cormack emptied the contents of his stomach over the professors shoes. Avery choked on a bark of laughter as the professor stared stoically at the student. "You have just earned yourself a month of detention, McLagan."

Avery yanked on Harrys' hand as she slipped from behind the curtain, just as her friend began to follow they were stopped by Snape's voice. "Not so fast, Potter."

"Professor?" Harry asked, Avery stopped behind him.

"Detention for you too, Potter, I have no doubt you had something to do with that back there."

"Nothing sir I-" Harry began to argue only to be interrupted by the door slamming open. Avery was dismayed to see it reveal Filch, dragging a clearly unhappy Malfoy behind him.

"Professor Slughorn," Filch growled, ignoring Malfoy's less than savory insults towards his squib status, "I caught this boy lurking around in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party."

Avery met Malfoy's eyes as he replied, "Okay, okay! I was gate crashing."

Avery didn't believe him for a moment, she knew him well enough now to know when he was lying and she herself had heard him talk of how pathetic he found Slughorn's little club.

"Happy now?" He spat, "Let go of me."

Avery saw Snape take a step forward, clearly intending to take the boy out of the room, however Professor Slughorn stepped forward and smiled, "Let the boy stay. I can understand why he would want to be here."

"Well I don't want to now!" Malfoy shouted, pulling his jacket from Filch's slackened grip. "I'm not a charity case!"

The blonde turned and stalked out of the room, leaving the murmuring students behind him, "Leave the boy be Professor" she heard Slughorn speak to Snape, "I invited you here because I wanted to show you something, something quite incredible."

Avery took the opportunity of distraction of both the professors and the students who had shrugged off the event and returned to the party at Professor Slughorn's urging, to slip out of the room. She knew her heels would echo in the hallway behind Malfoy who she could see just ahead so didn't bother to try and remain quiet.

"Malfoy!" she called to the figure ahead.

She hadn't expected any response and did not receive one. Avery began to jog forward her heels clicking loudly against the concrete floor, "Malfoy!" She shivered as the cool air in the hall hit her bare legs and arms, "Wait."

The Slytherin continued to keep walking as Avery moved closer.

"Bloody hell, Draco! Stop!" she cried as she moved closer to him and grabbed the back of his jacket. "Stop."

"Get of me, Greenwood."

"What is happening?" Avery asked, pushing him roughly against the wall, jacket scrunched in her hands, "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"I said-"

"I know what you said and I'm not listening!" she cried, "What is happening? Draco- Whatever it is you're doing, you almost got caught tonight. Do you know how much trouble you could have been in?" She paused, searching his face for any clue or sign.

"Draco, whatever you're doing. You need to be more careful."

Malfoy frowned, hesitted "You're not going to tell me to stop?"

"You won't." Avery smiled sadly.

"No. I won't." he replied, removing her hands from his lapels, "And you should leave me alone, Avery."

"I won't." she replied without hesitation. "I think you need me."

Icy eyes found hers again as a pale hand raised to the side of her neck, under her dark hair, "You look beautiful." came Draco's unsubtle subject change, "Too bad you only dressed up like this for that stupid Slug club."

Avery laughed, "I knew you weren't gate crashing." Her hand found his, "I won't ask you Malfoy. I won't. Just be careful."

"For you, Greenwood." Draco grinned, pulling her closer. She hesitated only slightly, torn between her mind and her body, in her head she knew that he was up to something and she should probably be weary, she also knew that what she was doing was a betrayal to her friends, though she had never and would never divulge any information to Draco or anyone outside of their group she still secretly met with someone that her friends hated, that Harry called 'enemy'. She still kissed him. She still lied to Hermione when her friend asked her about her whereabouts on the nights that she noticed Avery's absence.

But, Avery also knew how much she wanted him. How different he was, how pleasant and witty and intelligent. How soft his lips were against hers, how the calluses on his hands scraped against her skin. She knew how he tasted, how his cheeks flushed slightly when they kissed, how his lips quirked into a smile when they pulled apart.

"Did you dance with anyone in there?" Draco asked quietly, stepping forward and twisting her around slowly, pressing her into his vacated space against the wall. Avery felt the mood lighten instantly.

"No." Avery grinned, "I hadn't been there long. Why? Are you jealous?"

"I'm not jealous, Greenwood." Malfoy growled, nose pressed against her hair, "Not at all."

Avery laughed as his breath washed against her cheekbone, "I don't believe you."

Draco hummed, lips pressing against her own, tongue immediately invading her mouth.

Avery had been surprised at first, at how confidently Draco kissed, like every other part

him he was straight forward and unhesitant and bold. And refined. Draco wasn't Avery's first kiss, but she had always expected this type of kissing, passionate and with tongue to be quite messy, but with Draco it was anything but, or if it was she was too distracted to notice.

His hands squeezed tightly where they were placed, neck and waist and he moved away for air periodically, breathing heavily. The wall pressed coldly against her exposed shoulders and through the thin fabric of her dress but Draco was scorching hot where he was pressed up against her front. Draco laughed, a light breezy sound that she didn't often hear. "Much more fun than your little Slug club."

Avery opened her mouth to retort but was interrupted by echoing foot steps, not trying to remain hidden. "That'll be Snape." Malfoy murmured, "You should probably go."

Avery nodded, heart leaping in her chest as the footsteps drew closer. She stepped back and smiled as she wiped a trace of lip stick from the side of Draco's mouth. "Be careful." she whispered.

Avery moved quickly into the alcove behind them and watched Malfoy, cleverly move further up the hall, so as to allow Snape to pass her. The Slytherin head swept past her hiding place with a swish of his cloak, a face like thunder. Avery shivered at the thought of his obvious wrath being aimed at her.

She couldn't hear anything from where she stood and without Harry's cloak she wouldn't be able to get any closer without being seen so she decided to move back towards the party before anybody noticed that she was gone.

As she moved to step forward however she noticed another figure in formal robes moving close to the wall the other side of the corridor. Harry. Harry being perpetually curious and paranoid had obviously followed Draco as soon as he was able to escape. Avery knew he hadn't seen her with him though because he would not have been quiet about that discovery. She didn't blame her friend of course. He hadn't survived this long without the help of the errant paranoia as it turned out that many people they trusted turned out to be the enemy. She kept herself pulled tightly against the wall until Harry had passed her and quickly made her way back to the party. She'd find Hermione and pretend that none of this had happened.

"Miss Greewood." The professor called from the front of the class, breaking Avery from her daze, "You are wanted in the hospital wing. Take your belongings with you."

Avery frowned, but wasted no time in unceremoniously shoving her belongings into her bag before rushing from the room. There was never a good reason to be called to the medical wing, especially not when you were friends with Harry Potter.

Avery ran down the hall, ignoring a scandalized rebuke from a passing professor.

She made it to the hospital wing in no time, bursting through the door in a flurry of limbs, "What's wrong?" she called as she stepped into room, empty except for her immediate friendship circle. "I was in class."

"It happened last night." Hermione said bitterly from one side of the bed, "We just weren't informed until this morning.

Avery drew a deep breath pausing to take in the scene before her, Ginny and Hermione sat one each side of the hospital bed, both grasping one of Ron's hands. The boy looked pale but otherwise uninjured on a quick inspection.

Harry stood at the bottom of the bed. "What happened?" she asked again.

"We think he was poisoned last night." Harry said. "It looked that way. He was acting all strange saying that he was in love with Romelda Vane of all people. I took him to Professor Slughorn. There was some chocolates left for me and Ron ate them, it was a love potion, Slughorn removed it and gave him a drink and he just collapsed."

Avery moved to reply but was interrupted by the arrival of Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonnagal, Professor Snape and Professor Slughorn.

"Quick thinking Harry." Professor Dumbldore spoke, eyes twinkling, "You probably saved him."

"I agree that Potter's actions were heroic." Professor McGonnagal replied, "But the question is, why were they necessary?"

"This appears to be a gift Horace," Dumbledore said, removing a wrapped wine bottle from Slughorn's hands, "Do you remember who gave it to you? It's smells remarkably like liquorice and cherry, polluted with poison."

"I had intended to give it as a gift myself." Slughorn replied, looking more uncomfortable than Avery had ever seen him.

"To whom?"

"To you headmaster."

Avery swallowed, what?

The introspective silence was replaced by the shrill noise of Lavender bursting through the door in much the same fashion that Avery had moments before. "Where is he?" she cried, "Won Won! Has he been asking for me?" Lavender attempted to catch her breath when suddenly her entire demeanor changed, Avery took a step closer to Harry away from the now tense blonde. "What is she doing here?"

Avery sighed as Hermione immediately rose to the bait, "I might ask you the same question!"

"I happen to be his girlfriend!" Lavender cried, Avery thought she looked a little feral.

"Well I happen to be his friend!" Hermione shot back.

"Please!" Lavender scoffed, "You haven't spoken to him in weeks! I suppose you want to make up now that he's all interesting!"

"He was poisoned! You daft, dimbo!" Avery scrunched her nose, she could have given Hermione some much better choice words to describe the girl before her, "And for the record I have always found him interesting!"

A soft groan from the bed broke everyones attention from the feuding girls.

"See. He senses my presence." Lavender said.

"We can't help but hear your presence." Avery muttered, evidently not quietly enough by the glare sent her way.

"Don't worry Won Won. I'm here." Lavender spoke, leaning over Ginny to get closer to his mumbling form.

It was almost impossible to work out what he was saying but Avery felt a huge grin cross her face when it finally became clear. Hermione. He was asking for Hermione.

Avery couldn't bring herself to feel any sympathy for the girl who had effectively pulled her friendship group apart as she left the room crying.

"Oh to be young and to feel loves keen sting." Dumbledore quipped, "Come everybody, Mr Weasley is well tended."

"About time huh." Ginny grinned, following the professors from the room, trailed by a devastated Slughorn.

Avery grinned, sending a wink towards Hermione who glanced at Harry and herself with a soft, "Shut up."

"Well that seems to be working out well." She whispered to Harry as they made their way towards the door.

Harry wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders as they moved from the room. "Sorry we couldn't let you know earlier, it was a bit hectic."

Avery nodded, "s'alright." she paused outside the door. "There's no way that Slughorn was trying to poison anyone, right? If the wine was meant for Dumbledore?"

"He said the wine was left for him, last night when he opened it." Harry replied.

"Someone was trying to poison Slughorn? Unless they knew he would try to suck up to Dumbledore?"

"I don't know." Harry replied uneasily, "I really don't."

...

That night Avery lounged against the observation towers railing, staring solemnly out across the grounds.

"Why were you called out of class today?" Malfoy asked in lieu of a greeting the moment she sensed his arrival.

She waited until he had folded his arms across the railings before replying. "Not that you'll care but Ron was poisoned."

"What?" he seemed to growl in response, Avery looked at him confusedly and nodded.

"He was given a love potion and cured of that and then he was poisoned. Slughorn had been left some poisoned wine and Ron had some." Avery deliberately left our the information about Dumbledore. That didn't seem like the sort of thing that anyone else needed to know at this moment.

"Who would have done that to the weasel?" Draco asked.

Avery felt a chuckle rise from her chest, "Don't pretend you care, Malfoy."

"I thought we were past the second name thing?"

"Habit." she laughed.

"Is he dead?" Draco asked abruptly, "The weasel?"

"No! Don't you think I'd be much more upset?"

"I don't know how you Gryffindors deal with things do I?" he laughed. Though Avery noticed his smile seemed forced.

"Shut up." she groaned, glancing once again out at the school grounds.

"You could make me."

Avery grinned up at him and moved forward to do just that.

...

Avery sighed as she once again felt snow melting against the top of her head. "Stop it Ron! You're making it snow!" Hermione hissed

"Tell me again how I broke up with Lavender?" Ron asked. Avery scoffed a laugh from where she sat next to Harry. "Sssh." Harry chuckled.

"Well she came to the hospital." Hermione explained awkwardly. "You were talking. It wasn't a particularly long conversation."

Avery choked on a laugh again.

"Don't get me wrong." Ron said, "I'm glad to be shot of her but she seems a little... put out."

The group glanced to where the blonde sat in unison and Hermione whispered, "She does doesn't she... So you don't remember anything? From that night?"

"There is something." Ron said hesitently, "But... It can't be. Can it?"

Avery raised an eyebrow in anticipation.

"No." Ron laughed. "I was completely boggled wasn't I."

Avery returned to her book with a sigh as Hermione echoed him, disappointment obvious to everybody except Ron.

"I think it was Malfoy." Harry said, changing the subject right out of the blue.

"What?" Avery hissed, a little too angrily if the startled look Hermione sent her way was anything to go by. "I mean- Why would he do that?"

"I don't know." Harry replied. "But he's suspicious isn't he. I've been following him on the Marauders map. He's out every single night, doing Merlin knows what."

Avery felt a slither of ice run down her spine, knowing that many of those times he had been with her. Was it possible to see two people at once on that map? She didn't know. She wasn't even sure if Harry knew that she snuck out at night in the first place. He had no reason to look for her on the map anyways.

"You can't just keep accusing people Harry." Avery said, "It makes it less believable when it's the truth."

"Harry!" Hermione hissed, interrupting whatever he had been about to say "That's Katie... Katie Bell!"

Avery looked to where Hermione gestured, recognizing the girl from the cursed necklace incident. Harry moved to go after the girl, taking his beloved potions book with him.

Avery sighed and moved back to her own book, knowing that Harry would pass on any information he gleamed from the recovered girl. She would not go over there herself, it wouldn't do well to overwhelm her.

Hermione and Ron obviously shared the same idea as they returned, albeit reluctantly in Ron's case to their own work.

The doors opened to admit more students to the hall Draco, blazerless, dragging in behind them, expression solemn however, he moved past Avery quickly dragging a hand against the back of her neck and surreptitiously dropping a folded piece of parchment into her lap as he did so. Avery chuckled as he moved past her only to frown when she noticed him stop suddenly in his tracks eyes fixed widely ahead. On Harry and Katie.

Avery slowly stood from her seat as Harry turned and made eye contact with the Slytherin. "Malfoy." she whispered as he turned a fled quickly from the hall.

"Harry!" she said, louder as her friend followed.

"Ave, leave it." Hermione said. "They'll probably just argue and get caught by a professor. It's not worth it."

Avery nodded and reluctantly sat back down, hoping that nothing bad would happen.

Abrupt ending but I had to cut it there in order for the next chapter to work.

Draco whumpage next, followed by some recovery =]

Once again, my timeline is different so please don't point out the changes to me... they were deliberate. Hope you enjoyed =]

Potions, ingredients, spells etc from Harry Potter WIKI.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading! More up soon!