(Sorry this took so long to post. Editing took forever. In this chapter Mundus Preparo was made up by me, any similarity to anything actually in Harry Potter, is just that, a similarity. I also created the Decepio Curse, and a few other things. Being that this story isn't in line with the books anyway, please disregard any straying from book plot. Neville isn't quite back yet in this chapter, sorry! He will be owning the next chapter though. I do apologize if he seems like a tool. He is very important to the story! I hope you like the chapter.) (extra note: Thanks for the reviews, one comment mentioned the letter from Draco being unlike him. They were right it is, but there's a reason behind it. Sorry so much note space is being taken up, just wanted to jot this down so there isn't any confusion. Thank you Gwenny for bringing that to my attention.)

Chapter 5

I'm So Happy

I certainly didn't believe Draco cared for me - that would be naïve. He was playing mind games and I wasn't going to fall victim to his lies. There had to be some motive behind his actions, though I couldn't think of any reasoning behind it.

I was wretched. My life was falling apart and my heart was on a suicide mission. I didn't know where I was going, and to be perfectly honest, I didn't know who I was anymore.

After a long sob in the soft mass of my pillow I stood in front of my mirror. Where was Persy? Why was she becoming this vague character? A cocoon was opening and I was turning into something different, strange.

Life as a witch was overrated. Couldn't I just slip through the mirror and fall into Wonderland? What I wouldn't give to be Alice! No more Phony Persy, no more Draco, no more drama!

My weary body rested at the lunch table. I wasn't very hungry. In fact I wasn't hungry at all, but I took a nibble here and there.

I rested my cheek in the palm of my hand and picked at my food as the students around me chattered loudly. In that big room they call the Great Hall, filled with students, I felt all alone. Seclusion was what I wanted though, right? At least that was what I was telling myself.

I allowed my eyes to float over the Slytherin table. Why I did so, I wasn't sure. Maybe there was something masochistic in my soul that wanted to admire him – or something self destructive that wished he admired me.

My gaze picked him out of the plethora of Slytherins and wandered over his hair, his uniform, his eyes… His eyes? He was watching me!

There was a loud clank as I lost the grip of my fork and it fell to my plate, catching the attention of my fellow Ravenclaws. I raised my brows at them and they rolled their eyes, going back to their conversation.

My eyes flitted back in his direction. He was staring at me still and I felt a little exhilarated. Shouldn't I have felt uncomfortable?

"You're mine." he mouthed. My mouth hung open and I scoffed.

"You wish!" my lips retorted. He rolled his eyes at me then his attention was amongst his friends again. Ha! The audacity, the sheer ignorant arrogance!

I glanced down at my plate surveying the pile of untouched mashed potatoes. Oh, what a great idea! I picked up my spoon and obtained a large heap of potatoes, then focusing my eyes on him, I aimed. One hand held the spoon steady while the other pulled it back. This would be funny!

I let go.

He was still occupied with his friends so I was sure he wouldn't notice that there was a mushy glob coming at him. This would be classic. Oh, Persy you've outdone yourself this time.

The glob flew halfway there when a familiar person stepped into the line of fire – Neville. It just had to be Neville of all people.

By the time he reacted I'd laid the spoon on my plate and covered my face with my hands. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How humiliating that had to be for him!

My fingers separated and snuck a peak. He was looking around, confused and startled. The potatoes were everywhere. They were on his cloak, his face, even in his hair. I felt horrible!

Draco, not surprisingly, was enjoying himself. He was cracking up something fierce and I wanted to slap him, badly. Part of me felt that Neville deserved an apology and a hug, but part of me flashed back to the library when he'd dumped me. Didn't he deserve it?

I removed my hands as Neville left the hall. An apology would have been fitting, but the incident in the library kept me from doing so. I was still holding a slight grudge.

Draco was standing now, acting out the debacle. His friends were laughing and joining in. If only Neville hadn't gotten in the way, I'd be the one amused.

He caught my glare, raised his hands, and gave me two thumbs up with a wink and a nod. I wanted to give it another go, one more try, but he was aware now. There was no use.

"Mine." he mouthed. I squinted my eyes evilly at him then grabbed my sack, slid it over my shoulder, and got up. Boy, he knew how to get under my skin.

I promptly left as Neville had, but with a little more dignity. Hastily I took my new route. My mind was set on Draco's idiocy. His? His?! I was his?! He was sorely mistaken! I clenched my fist as tight as it would go. I'd show him what was his.

My thoughts soared into a malicious daydream. I thought about what would have happened if Neville hadn't gotten in the way. Draco would have been splattered with potatoes to the amusement of everyone, especially yours truly.

I imagined him so embarrassed that he would dash out of the Great Hall. He'd be so upset that he would leave without even stopping to sneer at me. Oh, it would have been a sweet victory.

I could see it, Pansy standing by the hall entrance, having seen the entire thing. She'd ask him what was wrong in a sweet, innocent demeanor as he hurried past.

"Are you alright, Draco?"

"SHUT UP!" He'd storm out and her face would flush, then she'd speed over and blame me for their humiliation. Stupid, foul pig.

"You'll pay for this, Phony Persy!"

"Do you take Visa?" I'd reply and laugh at her. I'd have a nice long hard laugh at both of them.

If only Neville hadn't gotten in the way…

I stumbled and flew forward onto the hall carpet. My dream was just getting to the good part too! Damn it!

My books were scattered everywhere and my skirt had flown up. Thank gods there was no one around to see! I fought to fix my skirt into place and got to my knees.

A familiar voice rang out.

"Let me." He smiled down at me snobbishly and I groaned. Couldn't I get away from this jackass for one minute? Just one? Please!

"What do you want, Draco?" I began to hastily gather my books.

"You already know the answer to that, love." I glared at him but didn't pause in my task.

"Come to praise my bad timing?" It was true, I had had terrible timing. Just a minute longer or a minute sooner and I would have hit him straight in the face.

"Mundus Preparo!" he said. I reached for one of my books and it disappeared. Then my eyes darted around. I noticed that all of my books were gone. Everything but my sack had disappeared.

"Draco, where are my things?" I glared at him again as he leaned down, picked up the bag, and shook it.

"Look inside." I got to my feet and attempted to snatch it from him. He pulled it away and held it open. Everything was in its place.

"May I have it back now?" I asked.

"Hmm. I think not." He slid it over his arm and began to walk away. "I think I'll quite like having a satchel."

"It goes well with the ensemble. You always were feminine." I retorted with a tilt of my head.

"Actually, you know, this is a bit heavy." He continued walking. "I think I'll buy a better one." He tossed it and it sped toward the floor.

I quickly thought of a spell to prevent dealing with another clean-up, or at least humiliation.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" The sack floated mid-air. Ha! That would show him.

"Good reflexes, Persy." He grinned back at me. I swept past him and grabbed my floating belongings, but it I wasn't fast enough. He blocked my path and attempted to kiss me.

"Move." I demanded.

"Why ever should I?" he said.

"Move." I didn't bother to look at him, but pushed him out of the way and started swiftly down the hall. What did he think I was - his plaything? Was I next in line? Was I going to be another notch in his bedpost? Not if I had anything to do with it!

I was beyond angry. He was roguish, willful, and determined to make my life hell.

"You know what?!" Emotion triggered and I flipped around. He was standing still, staring at me with a Cheshire grin. "Why are you smiling?" I asked.

"I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave." He motioned the curves of my body with his hands. Ugh!

"Wanker!" I yelled. It was all I could think of as an insult at that moment, as lame as it was.

"With a body like that, how could I not be?" He winked. I hoped this was just a nightmare. I hoped if I closed my eyes he'd go away. I did, but when I opened them he was still there grinning at me.

"You're disgusting." I yelled. He came toward me, and before I could react he'd snatched my sack and thrown it over his shoulder.

"This time you have to go through me." He smirked and slid it behind his back.

"Give it to me."

"Oh, I will. Don't you worry." His wolfen glare mentally undressed me.

"I'm not joking. Hand it over!" My hand slipped inside of my cloak.

"Kiss me." His brows rose arrogantly.

"Absolutely not!"

"Dear Persy, don't you see that your attempts at avoiding me are nothing more than procrastination? If you want your satchel back you'll just have to kiss me for it." He shrugged.

"This is childish."

"Come on, it's just one kiss - a kiss for the return of your most prized possession."

"I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee."

"Too many muggle movies, my love. You weren't that resistant the other night."

"Believe me, if I could have gotten away sooner I would have. Nothing displeasures me more than kissing you."

"Hmm. The way I remember it, you didn't want to leave. You were enjoying it rather."

"I don't want to talk about it." I wanted to forget it ever happened. I wanted to forget his scent, his touch, his soft lips, everything.

"Fine. Then a kiss."

"I'm not going to kiss you." I reached for my sack.

"Ah-ah! No kiss - no bag. I'll give it a good rummage through. I'm sure there has to be a journal in there somewhere. How humiliating it would be if the entire school found out all of Persy's thoughts…frustrations…crushes!"

"It wouldn't matter because no-one cares."

"On the contrary, it'll be a bit of juicy gossip once the Slytherin girls have it in their grasp. Neville will surely be taken aback. Your best friend."

"I can't stand you…"

"Either way, you won't get it until I get my kiss."

"Why don't you take the one hand you have free and go fuck yourself?"

"So American of you! I would think after living among civilized people for a while that your language would be a bit more affluent."

"Civilized. That's something you know nothing of."

"I love you, Persy." I hated it when he said that. It made me feel emotional toward him – conflicted. I did want to kiss him, and I loathed myself for it. If I stuck around I would end up giving in - so I walked away yet again. Let him keep the godforsaken thing. "Wait." His hand met my shoulder and turned me around. "I'll make it easy on you; both hands behind my back. I won't touch you save for my lips." He locked both hands behind him.

I thought of all of the private things I was carrying in that satchel – my schoolwork, my notes, my spells, and yes a journal I wrote in every so often. Damn it! I couldn't let it get into the hands of any more Slytherins. His hands were bad enough.

"You won't enjoy it."

"I shall be the judge of that." He leaned down and closed his eyes. I moved toward him and gave him a quick peck on the lips then retracted.

"There. May I have it now?"

"You call that a snog, Persy? I've experienced a snog from you and that was nowhere near a match."

"You said a kiss, not a snog." I held out my hand. "Now hand it over."

"No."

"Why not?! I did what you asked!"

"This is what I asked for." He stepped forward, slipped his hand in my hair and kissed me. I was on fire again as his other arm slyly slipped the sack over my shoulder then embraced me.

"This isn't amusing. You're leading me on…" I said as I pulled my lips away from his.

"If anyone's leading it's you, and making you laugh wasn't my intention." he replied.

"Your intentions are cruel."

"I've been thinking of you constantly… Every… bloody… waking… minute…" He ground out through his teeth. "…and I'll be damned if you aren't at least going to kiss me." His arrogance astounded me. To think he was going to tell me what I was going to do…and already had me doing it.

Oh that angered me, and yet I couldn't pull myself away. The sweet smell of his cologned skin sent a chill through my entire body. His hands slid over my hips, my waist, and eventually my chest. I didn't fight when he moved me against the wall and pressed himself against me. He took control of my being.

Resisting wasn't an option. He had me pinned and I wasn't sure I wanted to get free. My right hand slid under his sweater and I heard a noise of satisfaction. The other arm flew about his neck to pull him closer. His abdomen was nicely sculpted and it was easy to tell he was athletic.

I could hear someone coming and he wasn't stopping. In fact, he was even more aggressive, biting and suckling my lips.

"Draco stop." I said, withdrawing from the kiss. He drew away and snarled.

"It's always stop with you. Draco stop, Neville stop, everyone stop. The world should pause on its axis for Persy." I pointed at the group of first years coming down the hall and raised my brows.

His arm swept around me and guided me past the students. Once they were out of sight he kissed me again and this time I didn't resist. He smiled wide as our mouths parted.

"Accepted it?"

"Accepted what?"

"That you're mine."

"Yours? Ha!" His lips brushed mine then lightly kissed them and in no time we were in another session. He'd pulled the clip from my hair again and let the strands fall down my back and over my shoulders. The long exchange of passion ended followed by his hand caressing my cheek. "I'll never be yours." I said.

"You already are." His lips replaced his hand on my cheek and then moved to my neck.

"Draco! There you-" I heard a familiar whiny voice and my eyes flew open. To my dismay Pansy was standing just down the hall, horrified. I felt half pleased that she was finally on the receiving end, but at the same time felt it was a setup.

"What do you want, Pansy?" Draco lifted his face from my neck and stared at her. Her response was nothing more than turning around and walking away. Then he shrugged and kissed me again.

"Get off of me, you monster!" I pushed him back with a force I didn't know I had.

"Bloody fucking hell, woman! What is wrong with you?!"

"Using me to make your girlfriend jealous?! Nice job. It worked well."

"Now you know-"

"I wish I had known. I wish that you were humiliated instead of Neville. Slime!"

"Persy, come now."

"You're pathetic." He was a piece of work! Unbelievable. I stormed off and was quite surprised when he didn't follow. Wonderful, I was late for my next class. Oh well, at least it was Friday. A couple more hours of instruction and the weekend would be at my disposal.

The weekend passed rather quickly. Draco was nowhere to be seen and it made those days seem short. I was glad. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. For the first time that I could remember, I wasn't dreading Monday morning.

As I made my way to breakfast I glanced at the Slytherin table and noticed that Draco wasn't there. Strange, it wasn't like him to not socialize. I shrugged and seated myself comfortably next to fellow Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood.

"Hello Persy! Beautiful day today. Perfect for-" Her attention was caught by a fleet of owls entering the great hall. "Ah, mail is here. Hope father sent my leprechaun cube!" A package fell in her hands and she raised a brow. "Would you like to give it a go? Good fun."

"No thanks." I said. Nothing came for me, but I had expected it. Mother didn't tend to write very much unless it was very important. She didn't care for owl correspondence.

"Well, if you change your mind, I think you're quite neat. Anyone who stands up to that Draco fellow deserves kudos. Bad aura about him, I daresay. Not a decent one in his family, they say."

"Thanks. I'm grown a bit immune to him over the years." I smiled. I wasn't immune to him in the least bit, but no-one else needed to know that, especially him.

It was the end of the day and I was in D.A.D.A once again, staring off into space. Snape surprisingly hadn't called me up front today. He hadn't really been doing so lately at all. Maybe he'd gotten the point that I didn't like it and I wasn't improving from it.

I opened one of my notebooks and slid a pencil out of it. I'd decided not to bring my sack along with me for a while just in case Draco did try to pull another stunt. Quietly my hand began to doodle random images, fairies, monsters, demons, Draco. Draco?! Ick! I scratched his face out as soon as I realized what I was doing. Get out of my thoughts!

My hand sketched a little more and I found myself smiling at a tiny picture that looked like Neville. I missed having him around. I missed having someone to talk to.

"I have an announcement to make." said Snape. "There will be no Defense against the dark arts class tomorrow." A few of the students began cheering. "All end of the day classes have been cancelled due to a Ministry inspection." He lifted his head high. "Students are expected to keep in their houses during this time tomorrow until dinner."

"Are they searching for something?" asked Hermione.

"You are quite the busy body Miss Granger. That is of no importance to you." He walked between our desks. "ALL students will be in their houses. Anyone caught sneaking about will be given immediate suspension." He glared down at her. "That includes you Miss Gran-" He was interrupted by an owl flying through the classroom window.

It was Draco's owl even though he wasn't in class. I hadn't seen him at all that day. Odd. The owl swooped over me and dropped a rolled piece of parchment into my hands that was tied with red ribbon. I stared at it for a moment then glanced up to see all eyes on me.

"Persephone, I hope you brought enough for everybody."

"Sorry sir, I wasn't expecting anything." I looked back down at the paper. On either side of the ribbon letters began to appear. 'Read Me' it read, then under the word 'me' the initials D.M. I stuffed it into my robe and left it there until after dinner.

I wasn't sure if I should read it or throw it away so I sat on my bed staring at the rolled up parchment with that evil red ribbon screaming for me to open it.

"It's just going to be more ridicule." I said to myself. My thumb moved over the ribbon and I felt emotional suddenly. I wished it were some kind of sweet love letter, but I knew better than that. Draco wasn't the type. He wasn't a romantic.

I slid off of my bed and went to toss the note in a nearby trash bin. 'Don't throw me away.' it read. That's where it belonged, exactly where he belonged; miserable degenerate. I threw it in, wishing that he'd disappear from my life.

My body climbed back on top of my sheets and I curled into a fetal position. I needed sleep but my mind wouldn't settle. It kept creeping back to the piece of parchment lying in the trash.

"Forget about it, Persy. You'll be more upset if you read it." I told myself.

I rolled over and stared at the bin. It was haunting me. I wanted to know what it said. Before I knew it I was sitting up again staring intently in the direction of the trashed letter.

"It's stupid, Persy. Leave it. He's just taunting you." The bin began to wiggle then fell over and the letter fell out, rolled across the floor, and stopped at my feet. 'Please read me' appeared on it. The ribbon untied and the parchment unrolled. Now the letter was sitting in front of me waiting to be read.

"Just read it and get it over with." I scolded as I picked it up and slid back comfortably against my pillows.

It read:

Dearest Persy,

If you haven't noticed by now, this is Sincerus Paper. Everything in this letter is honest and true, and most important, from my heart. This was the only way that I could get you to believe me.

First, please don't throw this away without at least reading it. It's not easy to bare my soul, but you're worth it. Persy, every time I think about you the world stops. Everything about you is perfect. Your hair (even that stray strand that always falls down), your eyes, your lips, lips that shout that the world belongs to only you and I.

When you're not around me I wonder what you're thinking and doing. I wonder if you think of me, and if you do, what you think of me. Persy, I love you with all my heart. I've never felt this way about anyone. I know that's cliché but it's the truth.

When the wind cries Persy, Persy I'll be there for you. I'll be everything you wanted & nothing you didn't. You are my soul-mate Persy, my one, my only, my everything. Life without you would be meaningless.

The fates placed us together for a reason, I know it and you know it. You probably noticed that I haven't been around lately. It's because this letter had to come first. I only ask of you one thing. If you truly don't want me then return this letter to me tonight at the lake at 9PM. I promise I'll be there.

I don't want you to deny your feelings toward me anymore. It's time to show Hogwarts and all of the world that we belong together.

Love always and forever,

DM

I sniffed, dried my eyes and looked at the clock – 8:50. Shit! I found myself biting my lip while I stared back down at the paper. It was Sincerus Paper, truth paper. How could he forge something like that? There was no way Draco could have written this. No way in hell. Maybe D.M. really meant dungeon master. Yeah that had to be it, someone was inviting me to join their AD&D group. Nice one, Persy. Real creative.

He had to have forged it somehow, and I was going to go find out. I slipped on some clothes, placed the letter in my pocket, and snuck out of Ravenclaw house. I was going to find out once and for all what was really going on. I was going to make him tell me the truth.

I sped to the lake, showing up only a minute before 9. He was standing there facing it and his silhouette was gorgeous. He looked vampiric in the moonlight with his hair and light skin shining brilliantly. He turned toward me.

"Nothing like waiting till the last minute, Persy," he said.

I stepped forward, plucked the letter from my pocket, then dropped it at his feet. I did everything in my power to keep from betraying my feelings - no weakness, Persy.

"You…expect me…to believe this?"

"I don't expect you to believe anything."

"You've got that right." I left the comfort of my room just to give him back a letter? I knew that wasn't why. I knew the reason. I really did want him to love me.

Not one bit of it was true. What I wanted to believe didn't matter even if that goddamned letter made me want to fall into his arms.

"I knew you were great at being a jackass, but I thought you'd at least have the courtesy to spare me this." I shouted, slightly betraying my emotions. Draco picked up the letter and held it in front of my face then rubbed it back and forth.

"Do you know what kind of paper this is, love? Allow me to educate you again. This is Sincerus Paper; meaning anything that is written on it is one hundred percent truth! Truth I thought you could handle."

"You… forced someone to write that letter. You don't feel that way about me."

"Who else could write such a letter? Longbottom? He knows better than to defy me, and of course no Slytherin would dare attempt to touch my property."

"Neville? Defy you? Property? You've surely gone mad!"

"There's only one thing I'm mad about, and that's you." I rolled my eyes. Oh good gods.

"Why do you continue torturing me - other than the fact that you plain hate my guts? Are you getting some kind of sick kick out of it?!"

"You know I don't hate you. How many times must we go over it?"

"You're a terrible li-"

"I am NOT a liar!" He shouted. I was taken aback and my tongue caught in my throat. The demon expression was back, the loathing, scornful expression that made me feel small. "I just bore my soul to you in that letter, you heartless wench!"

"I am not heartless…" I let out in a guarded whisper.

"Yes, in fact you are. To think I spent three days writing that. Three fucking days for you to cover it in shite!" He balled up the letter and threw into the lake.

"Well, you have your answer. I returned it." I replied apathetically. The wind was chill so I pulled my cloak tightly around me and decided to go back inside. My body carried me heavily away; I'd had enough.

"When attempting to cast a Decepio curse," he shouted. "…first you must clear all thoughts of intended target. Then, take stance, and shout 'Decio Decio Decepio' and they will only see what you want them to see..." I stopped in my tracks.

"Gustav Gutweg's most famous curse, you know it." I said.

"Yes." he replied.

"That doesn't change anything." I looked back at him.

"I own his most rare edition, the one even you don't have." He stepped toward me.

"You have no clue what books I own."

"I know you don't have this one. You should though, considering the fact that he's your father." He knew. Well, of course he knew. His father knew didn't he?

"So you know… Great." I swallowed and he extracted a small book from his pocket.

"Keep it." He placed it in my hands, letting his fingers hover over mine.

"I won't."

"Think of it as a gift, or bribery if you wish - the book for one chance."

"This is really just silly."

"I've been following you to this spot for 6 years. I don't find that silly. I follow you just to watch you read, to hear you giggle, to watch you practice." He smiled then leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Should I be flattered? You sound like a stalker, not an admirer."

"Oh but I am an admirer, Persy! My father owns every book your father has ever written. Even our fathers are kindred spirits. We were meant to be."

"My father is no friend of yours!" I backed away from him. "He would have nothing to do with scum like you and yours."

"Your favorite ice cream isn't ice cream at all. It's sherbet."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I know a lot about you. I know that you love me, for instance. I'll eventually help you to realize that."

"Did you not just hear me call you scum, or are you ignoring everything I say? Drop it!"

"I know that your favorite color is red, blood velvet red, your favorite piece of music is Beethoven's Symphony No.9, and your favorite movie is My Fair Lady."

"Symphony No.9, 4th Movement."

"Give me a go, Persy - one opportunity. I won't disappoint."

"Oh I'm sure you won't. I'd expect embarrassment in front of the entire school. I'd expect you to set me up. I'd expect you to try and make me feel like Carrie White in Stephen King's most triumphant moment."

"Reading too many muggle novels." He kissed me then added. "You're a witch, Persy. Act like one."

"Maybe I shall join the muggle community just to be rid of you!"

"I'd follow you even there. As much as I loathe the magic-less pigs I would follow. I wouldn't give up until you were willingly in my arms, then I would bring you back to our world."

"I'd use magic to keep you from finding me."

"Come now, Persy. I'll prove to you that I'm not lying. Give me that gamble now. I know you're sick of running, and I'm sick of chasing."

"Then give up."

"Give in."

"What?"

"You give in. I'm not giving up." He kissed me again and pulled me into his arms. I was like a ragdoll. My emotions were at their peak and I was close to saying yes. "You won't regret it." His lips fell away from mine as his hand rested on my waist. "I'll make you forget Longbottom ever existed."

"One. Just one." Was I going crazy? This was ridiculous! How could I possibly give him an opportunity to hurt me? I was completely out of my mind! "If you hurt me you will wish you were born a muggle." I added.

"I will not." He smiled and it was almost genuine. His arms enveloped me and lifted me in the air, then lowered me into a kiss as mine encircled his neck.

"We'll see." His hand slipped under my shirt and rubbed my back. It was soft and gentle - he was soft and gentle.

"I'm..." He kissed my forehead, "…so…" my cheek, "…happy…" my neck. I pushed my fingers into his hair and cradled him there, knowing that I was making a terrible mistake.