Warning: This Chapter has suggested sexual themes.

Chapter nine:
She Wants to Go Home

The sun was setting by the time Draco and Serena returned home. During the walkway leading to his house, they paused. Draco looked back at Serena and wondered if she would go home, or come back to his place instead.

He would prefer her to come back with him, but he would not tell her this. He really had enjoyed spending the day with her. It surprised him though. He wasn't one to really enjoy much. Even before he had been on the run. All that he took pleasure on, was making others miserable.

But today, he had enjoyed making her happy. He really liked seeing her smile, probably because she hardly did so.

"Thank you Draco," she said to him, and she briefly set her bags down at their feet. "I really had a great time." And then she hugged him.

Draco stiffened at the touch, no used to it, at least until she came into his life. Since that night he had opened his door to find her soaking wet, he found himself doing stuff he never imagined. After only a moment of hesitation, he hugged her back, his arms encircling his waist.

For a moment, he closed his eyes, relishing on the feelings that seemed to course through him. He couldn't say he ever felt any thing like it.

They pulled apart and he watched her collect her bags and hurry over to her house.

Draco watched her go inside and reluctantly, he went to his own house, and let himself inside. He shut the door behind him and with great reluctance went through the routine of putting away what little he had spent on himself. A few new shirts, a pair of pants, one pair of shoes. Serena had told him he should try spending money on himself for once.

It had been a long time since he had. Most of the time, when he spent money on himself, it was out of necessity. Things he needed, not wanted.

Draco eyed the shirt, Serena had picked out for him. "It goes so well with your eyes," she had told him. And so he had bought it. Just because she had liked it.

Sighing, Draco hung the shirt up along with the others. He was just putting his pants away, when he heard a knock on his front door.

He felt his heart skip suddenly at the hopeful thought that it might be her. Hurrying from the room, Draco followed the hallway to his living room. He reached the front door in record time. Without much thought, he pulled the door open and just as he had hoped, found Serena standing there.

"I was wondering if that offer of yours still stood," she asked sheepishly. With a faint smile, Draco stepped aside. She smiled in return and slipped inside.

Draco shut the door and with a nod to the kitchen, asked, "Are you hungry?"

----

For the past week, Draco had found himself in the company of Serena often. It seemed over the past several days, she spent more time with him, than at her place.

But then her trips out to the city had become fewer too. Looking up from his book, Draco watched as his front door opened. Serena slipped inside, shrugging her bag off her shoulder and hung it up in the closet.

"Hey Draco," she greeted, her feet slipping out of her tennis shoes. Usually she knocked, but since yesterday, she had started just letting herself in. He had stopped locking his door long before now though, so he didn't mind it all that much.

He enjoyed her company immensely. After all those years of being alone, with only Hegwig for company, he hadn't realized just how lonely he had been. But now, just whenever she was gone, he felt that loneliness.

He wasn't sure if he should be mad at the young girl who had tripped into his life, or thank her for it. Because with the loneliness, she had given him something no one had ever tried to give him before.

Placing his bookmark in the page he was at, he snapped the book shut and set it aside. "How was your trip," he asked. She never really talked about where she went, when she left his house, but he knew, she never went home.

Even those excuses she gave him, of stopping by her house, he had looked to find her running off towards the city. Serena joined him at the couch, leaning back in the seat with a long grateful sigh.

"It was fine," she said, her eyes closing as she relaxed next to him. "I just hung out with some of my friends."

Draco nodded and left it at that. Looking out to his open window, the one window, where the blinds were not drawn, he inspected the setting sun. "What would you like for dinner?" he asked. The other day, they had gone grocery shopping and Serena had helped him stock his fridge so full, he suspected he would never go hungry again.

Serena's eyes opened and she stared up at the ceiling with a thoughtful gaze. "Draco," she suddenly asked. "Do you find me bothersome?"

He was startled by the question and for a moment, he sat there in a stunned silence. Why would she think that, now? He thought he'd proven how much he enjoyed her company over the past week.

Draco waited till her gaze moved to meet his, before he answered her, very carefully. "I told you before," he began. "If I found you bothersome, you would be the first to know."

She sighed, her eyes softening as she continued to stare at him. "Why do you ask," he inquired, wondering what would bring up this old conversation once more.

"A friend," she said. "He said that the only reason you'd hang out with me, would be either because, you felt like you had no choice, or-" suddenly a flush appeared in her cheeks.

Narrowing her eyes, Draco pressed, "Or what?" He wanted to know just who this friend of hers was. "Or you would want something in return," she finished quickly, her head ducking so that her chin fell against her collarbone.

Something in return, he echoed, trying to think what that would be.

"I didn't understand what he meant," she mumbled miserably. "I figured you would like my friendship, or maybe my company. But Darien said it was more likely you would want-"

Draco watched as her blushed darkened till her whole face seemed to turn tomato red. He heard her mumble something beneath her breath, but couldn't decipher it. "What was that," he asked. He reached out, his fingers grazing her skin so that he lifted chin.

Her worried gaze met his confused one. "Tell me," he prodded.

"That- that you would want sex in return," she said quickly and wrenched her face away so that she could huddle on the other side of the couch, her face hidden in the crook of her arm.

Sex, he thought hollowly. And he was mortified to feel himself blushing in embarrassment. Just what kind of friends did she have?

"I- I," Draco spluttered, his mind drawing a blank. What could he say to that. It had never crossed his mind. Nothing sexual at least. He did enjoy her company, but she was still a kid. Sex, oh bugger, he moaned and he shut his eyes. Now his mind was plagued with thoughts that he suddenly couldn't shut off.

Washing his face with his hand, he tried to think of something else, anything but that. Opening his eyes, he caught Serena peeking up at him through her bangs.

Alarmed, he jumped from the couch, hoping she couldn't read his mind. "Draco," she whispered, but he refused to turn around and look at her.

God he had been better off not knowing. Why he had to be such a nosy bastard was beyond him. It only got him into trouble, like now.

"Was that what you wanted," she asked.

He spun on his heels, his head shaking violently back and forth as he held up his hands in surrender. "No," he exploded. "God no."

Draco watched as hurt crossed her features and he wondered what he had done to make her so upset. "Oh, I see," she said. He watched her as she closed a door down over her emotions, her face void of all expression. She had gotten up from the couch and was now backing up towards the door.

"I think I'll get some fresh air," she murmured. He caught sight of her, as her eyes filled up with tears. "Serena," he tried calling her back, but she was out the door before he could say anything more.

Going to his window, Draco watched as she jumped from his porch, and raced across his lawn to her own yard. Numbly, he stared after her, even after she had disappeared inside her house.

----

Later that night, Draco went outside to sit on his porch. Serena had yet to return, and he wondered if she would. Taking a seat in his chair, he told himself not to look at her house. That he should not care so much about someone he hardly knew.

He had too much on his plate already. With all the magic he was using, and with the money he had been spending, he feared that he may have caused irreparable damages. He was supposed to be in hiding. Keeping low on the radar.

But instead he was out in the city spending his money, and using magic to accommodate for his company. Draco tried counting all the times he had used his wand. The dinning room set, stocking the fridge that once, making more potions.

Dropping his face in his hands, he groaned. He was going to get caught. Every time he used magic, it only led the Aurors closer to him.

A sharp cry, had Draco lifting his troubled gaze to the sky overhead. Hedwig swooped down from the darkened sky and came to a landing on his out stretched arm.

"Hello," he greeted, and allowed the bird to nuzzle his cheek, and nip his finger, before he took the letter attached to her leg.

He fed her a treat and let her loose to enjoy the night, before he would call for her to send his return letter.

Breaking the seal, Draco pulled the parchment free. Turning the letter around, he unfolded it. He quickly recognized Harry's untidy scrawl. A sense of unease fell over him, as he started reading the letter.

Ferret,

I must advise you to tread very carefully in your cage. The Hawks are growing closer to your whereabouts. What ever you have been doing must stop. The use of your wheel is too dangerous to use at this time.

I will send more nuggets with the next letter to hopefully last you till I can come and set you free.

Please take care to use those nuggets sparingly.

Your friend,

Potty

Draco reread the letter twice, to make sure he hadn't miss anything in the coded letter. He really hated being called Ferret, but until this mess was all cleared up, he would only have to deal with it for a short time longer.

Sighing, Draco refolded the letter and set it aside. So Harry was going to be sending him more money. He was growing short, even though he had only been spending the money that he had accumulated over the years, and never used.

Until now.

Against his better judgment, Draco looked over at his neighbor's house. The first thing he noted, was that all the lights were still turned off. And that a familiar car was in the driveway.

A feeling of dread washed over him at that sight of that car. "Serena," he whispered and jumped to his feet.

Something just wasn't quite right.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope this chapter to your liking. Sorry about the cliffhanger but the next chapter has to be all by itself. I hope to have the next chapter up by friday before Christmas. Happy Holidays

LP