*** 19 – So Serious ***

The week following Liz's escape from Grimmauld was fairly uneventful. Upon her return from her rainy walk with Ron, Harry had practically fallen all over himself to beg her forgiveness. While she'd had to endure the 'you should have told someone where you were going' speech many times over (it seemed that everyone from Molly to Neville had something to say about it), everyone had been much more patient with her in the days that followed the incident. She was still having immense difficulty with the Patronus charm, but had actually managed to create a soft, silver mist on her last attempt with Harry. She'd still been working with Tonks and Luna on her small spells, and she'd also begun Transfiguration lessons with Minerva, as well as Apparating lessons with Remus. Once she mastered those, Ron would start her flying lessons, Neville would begin with Herbology basics, and Draco would start on her work with Potions.

Liz had also started spending more time with little Isabel since she returned to Grimmauld Place. Nearly a month after their first meeting, Liz finally found time in between her lessons to go explore the basement with her little friend as promised. Their trip proved to be very exciting, with lots of old clothes and artifacts found in the process. They had entertained each other for hours at a time, and Liz found her time with the precocious child to be quite enjoyable. It was difficult for her at times, knowing that Isabel was her daughter and not being able to connect with her in that way (Dumbledore, Draco and Liz had all decided that it would be best to wait on that until some of Liz's memories returned), but Liz often found herself revelling in the similarities Isabel shared with both her parents. Isabel had Hermione's kindness, Draco's confidence and their mutual intelligence, all of which would become valuable to the girl in the years to come.

Things seemed fairly normal at Grimmauld, all things considered. But there was one small thing that Liz had noticed over the course of the week, and it unnerved her. Draco, ever since her mini-escape, had taken to locking himself in the study for hours on end each day. He rarely came to meals anymore, and the only time he was guaranteed to leave the study was when he would put Isabel to bed. No one seemed to know what he was doing in there, but everyone was now starting to worry about his self-imposed solitary confinement. Even Blaise, who was only in the house for a couple hours at a time each day, had commented on his best friend's absence. Liz was starting to get fed up with his avoidance, and decided to put a stop to it.

And so one night, when Draco was tucking his daughter in for a good night's sleep, Liz grabbed her book (she was now onto grade 4 in the Standard Book of Spells series), and plopped down on the small loveseat in the study. She didn't look at his papers on the desk (she was sure he would explain them to her eventually), but merely sat, read and waited for his return.

He entered the room a few minutes later, and stopped short in the doorway when he realized she was there. She didn't look up from her book, not wanting to give him the chance to ask her to leave. As such, she missed the look of deep longing that crossed his face at the sight of her sprawled on the couch in her pyjamas. Though she couldn't see it, Liz could still feel his eyes on her, and only spoke when he made to move towards the desk.

"I thought you could use some company," she stated, turning her gaze to him. "I promise to stay out of the way," she offered, hoping that he wouldn't throw her out.

She could see the indecision in his face. He wanted to work on whatever it was he was doing, but she could see in his eyes that he wanted her there too. "It's fine," he eventually said as he sat down behind the desk and resumed his work. Cheering internally for her small victory, Liz decided to let him work for a while before starting her barrage of questions.

Smiling softly, she focused on the pages of her book, which were currently demonstrating a Summoning charm. She read for nearly an hour as he worked, occasionally shifting her position to make herself more comfortable. Draco's gaze went to her every time she moved, his eyes trailing along her slim figure, from her beautiful curly hair to her slender waist and down her shapely legs. She sometimes caught him looking at her, and the intensity of his stare brought a flush to her cheeks more than once. She snuck glances at him too not and then, studying everything that wasn't hidden behind the desk: the blonde hair that fell over his forehead, the silver eyes that were so intent on what they were reading, the strong jaw line and soft-looking lips that tensed with every swallow, and the broad shoulders and muscular arms that moved as he turned the pages in front of him.

She quite often had to shake herself from her Draco-induced thoughts in order to try and read, but he was too enchanting to watch for her to keep her focus. After about an hour of stolen glances and blushes, she was only three pages ahead of her starting point. Sighing softly, she closed her book and allowed her body to indulge in a deep stretch across the entire length of the loveseat. Her legs and arms dangled over either side of the small sofa, and she arched her back to work out the kinks, inadvertently exposing part of her toned stomach that had previously been hidden under her thin camisole. Draco couldn't help but stare at her form, and swallowed hard.

"You ok?" he inquired sweetly, though his voice was loaded with restrained passion.

She regarded him kindly before answering his query, completely oblivious to what she had just done to him. "What were we like?"

"Excuse me?" His eyes cleared, and he shot her a confused look.

"When I was still, you know," she trailed off, allowing him to make the connection to their past. "What were we like?"

He pushed back in his chair, and relaxed into a stretch similar to hers previously. "Inseperable." She smiled at his admission, and he continued. "We became friends when we were made Head Boy and Girl at school, and just kept getting closer after that."

"I heard we didn't really get along before that though," she said, almost reluctantly.

His eyes darkened a bit at that. "No," he agreed. "I was an idiot until my sixth year, when I realized how insane my father and Voldemort were. But when you all found me here with Dumbledore, things changed. I had changed, and I worked really hard to prove it, to you especially."

"Why me?"

"Because I knew that you'd be logical about the situation. Harry and Ron wouldn't be able to get past the previous six years of my being a prat. But I knew that despite everything that I'd done or said to you in the past, you'd be the one to give me the chance I needed to prove myself, especially since Dumbledore was already on my side. And you did. I went back to Hogwarts with a true friend that year," he said, smiling. "And I thank Merlin even to this day that you took a chance on me."

She graced him with a brilliant smile which he whole-heartedly returned, and she felt her stomach flip. "You should smile more often," she said to him. "You're so serious."

"I've always been serious," he retorted, smiling back. "You just liked to try and loosen me up."

"I did?"

"Every day."

"Well, good for me then. You could use a little fun now and then," she stated in a somewhat bossy tone that melted his heart. An idea leapt into her head, and she jumped up from her seat. "And I think now would be a good time for it."

"I don't know," he started.

"I do," she countered, hurrying to the shelf of records that stood behind an old gramophone. "You've been cooped up in here, almost non-stop, for the last five days. It's time for a break from the books." She didn't recognize any of the names on the records, but grabbed one that seemed to be calling out to her. She quickly started the record on the gramophone, and then ran to Draco to pull him from his seat and into the middle of the room.

"What are you doing?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice, as he stood stock-still.

Liz started to move as the music began. "WE are dancing," she replied, grabbing his hands and forcing him to move with her.

"I never liked dancing," he whined, but didn't release her hands.

"Well I do," she informed him as she spun on the spot. "I find it helps relax me."

"You really haven't changed all that much."

She grinned at him. "Ok, so this is not your idea of fun. Then what is?"

"Flying," he said without hesitation as he placed a hand on her waist to get their movements synchronized. "You always hated it."

"Bad experience, I'm guessing," she offered. She was really getting into the fast-paced music, and she could tell that he was too. She hadn't even noticed her arm drape over his shoulder as they danced close.

"Well, I never got to give you a good experience on a broom," he told her. "You wouldn't let me."

"That was then," she grinned. "This is now."

"Are you saying that you'll give it a try?"

"Well, I think it's only fair after you did this," she stated, pointing to the two of them.

He leaned in close to her, and she felt his warm breath on her ear. "You do know that I'm going to hold you to that, don't you?"

She pulled away a bit, feeling shivers course down her spine, and gave him an unintentionally sultry look. "I'm counting on it." He laughed as they continued to dance, both of them so into what they were doing that they failed to see Harry, Ginny and Ron watching them, happily, from the doorway. They watched the couple for only a moment, then retreated down the hall.

"I haven't heard this kind of music in years," Draco told her.

"Who is it?"

"The Weird Sisters. They played at a ball we had in Fourth Year."

"They're good."

"They are," he agreed as the fast music died out and was replaced with a slow melody.

Liz felt a snap of realization hit her. "I know this song."

Draco looked at her hopefully. "This was the first song that we ever danced to." His hand on her waist tightened, and he drew her closer.

"At that ball?"

"No, in our Heads Common Room three years after the ball," he replied. She nodded and let the music wash over her as they danced quietly.

And dance your final dance,

This is your final chance

To hold the one you love

You know you've waited long enough

Draco's arms tightened around her, and the shivers she'd felt earlier returned full-force. She was too short to dance cheek-to-cheek with him, so she settled for nestling her forehead in the crook of his neck, resting her ear on his shoulder.

So believe that magic works

Don't be afraid of being hurt

Don't let this magic die

The answer's there, just look in her eyes

They had been dancing waltz-style, but he now drew their arms in, and clutched her hand against his chest. At the same time, the hand he had behind her back began gently rubbing a short path up and down the bottom of her spine.

And make your final move

Don't be scared, she wants you to

Yeah it's hard, you must be brave

Don't let this moment slip away

Liz sighed contentedly and raised her hand from his shoulder to the back of his neck, letting her fingers gently brush the short strands of hair that fell there. Her movement was simple and small, and she by no means expected to see a massive outbreak of goosebumps occur on neck and arms from it. She smiled softly into his strong chest and closed her eyes to revel in the feeling of being in his arms.

Oh, believe that magic works

Don't be afraid, afraid of being hurt

No, don't let this magic die

The answer's there, just look in her eyes

Draco shifted his head, and Liz raised her face to see if he was ok. When her gaze met his, she was startled to find that his light gray eyes had turned as dark as stormclouds. She felt her heart skip a beat, and the butterflies in her stomach started to flap their wings as she stared at him intently.

And don't believe that magic can die,

No, no, no, this magic can't die

Draco's eyes fell to her lips, and the butterflies took off. Instinctively, Liz raised her chin, bringing them closer still so that they were mere inches apart. Her eyes fluttered shut as Draco dropped his face closer to hers.

So dance your final dance

Cuz this is your final chance.

The lyrics faded into a final chord as Draco closed his eyes and bridged the gap between them.

-BANG!-

The needle on the gramophone skipped off the record as the door to the study was thrown open. Draco and Liz were so startled that they leapt away from each other, their eyes flying to the room's entrance.

There, they found Blaise staring that them. His face was brutally serious, even though he was over the moon at the position he'd found them in. As they watched him expectantly, he finally found his voice.

"Sorry to interrupt the magic moment," he started, smirking sarcastically so he received a fierce blush from Liz and an annoyed glare from Draco. The smirk vanished thought when he remembered himself. "But we've got a problem." The blood drained from their faces at his serious tone.

"They know that you're alive," he said looking right at Liz.