Draco yelped again and I could see tiny tears starting to form in his eyes from the pain as he ripped back his sleeve to reveal a squirming dark mark, poison in his skin. My stomach lurched and I took a step back. He noticed this.

"Mione, don't be afraid of me. Please," he begged.

"I'm not. I'm afraid of that thing on your arm."

"I thought you would be," he half chuckled, casting his gaze down towards it. "Its time. They're coming," he said.

"Who?" I walked closer again.

"My aunt, Bellatrix and other death eaters," he whispered weakly as he fell back onto the sofa, still clutching his arm. I sat down beside him again and turned to face him.

"They can't get in though, this is Hogwarts!" I protested.

"They can get in Mione because I've helped them to all year!" he shouted back at me. I got a fright and jumped back. His expression suddenly softened and he took hold of my hands. "I'm so sorry Mione, I didn't mean to shout. Its just, this whole year has been building up to this moment and I'm so scared," he started sobbing again. I shuffled forward, took my right hand out of his and held it on his cheek. His beautiful grey eyes met mine and a comforting shiver swam down my back.

"Draco, you don't have to be scared. You don't have to do anything," I whispered softly.

"I do Mione, I have to do it. Tonight. Tonight, Dumbledore has to die," he replied. His expression suddenly turned hard again and he stood up. He started towards the door before I spoke up. He stopped.

"How are they getting in?" I spoke strongly before turning to face him. He just cocked his head slightly to the left, but his gaze did not meet mine.

"Vanishing cabinet," he spoke, barely audible. "One in Borgin & Burkes, other in here," he continued, slightly louder.

"Here?" I squeaked. I looked around the vast, empty room looking for said vanishing cabinet, but found nothing. Whilst looking around I didn't notice Draco hastily moving across the room towards me. I was yanked out of my daydream when he grabbed onto my arm and dragged me onto my feet and pulled me towards the door.

"OW! Draco! Stop it! You're HURTING ME!" I cried. He quickly loosened his grip on me and swung me around. My back collided painfully with the enormous door. I let out a tiny sob. He came even closer to me and I swear my heart stopped beating for a second or two. His toned stomach pressed against mine and his eyes bore into me. Yeah, in theory, I should be dead right about now.

"You have to go," he whispered. "Go back to your common room and stay there. Don't tell anyone about what is happening, don't tell anyone about coming to meet me here. Stay silent," he continued.

"Dra-,"

"Shh," he pressed his finger to my lips. My glassy eyes looked up, pleading for him not to go. In one swift movement he moved his finger and replaced it with his lips. Fireworks erupted in my mind as I responded and returned the kiss. My hands found their way up to his hair and dug in. His arms wrapped protectively around my waist and pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. I never wanted it to end but we needed to breathe. I broke off first, my lungs gasping for oxygen.

"Wow," I gasped, giggling and slightly blushing.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that," Draco giggled aswell.

"Ditto,"

He brushed a bit of fly-away hair from my eyes and sighed.

"You have to go now," he reminded me.

"Be safe," I told him. I gave him a light kiss on the cheek and a warm hug before leaving. I started to run up towards the common room. The corridors were completely deserted, apart from a few rogue ghosts who paid no attention to me. I reached the portrait, gave the password and was allowed entrance. I wiped some stray tears from my eyes on my sleeve and composed myself. I started for my dormitory when something caught the corner of my eye by the fireplace. A silhouette. I turned properly to be met by roaring red hair and a dangerous expression. Ginny.

"Where the HELL have you been?" she begun, her voice shaking in anger.

"None of your business," I replied simply, not batting an eyelid.

"Excuse me? None of my business? None of MY BUSINESS? Of course its my bloody business! I've been worried sick, SICK! As has Ron and Harry! We've been up and down this castle all bloody night looking for you!" she screamed at me. I was surprised she didn't wake up the whole castle. I just looked at her simply again.

"Well you looked hard didn't you? And you say you've been looking all night? I left at 10, and its now, hm, 11? I've only been away for an hour. So calm it down a notch, aye? I'm going to bed, night," I said bluntly and made my way for the stairs. I was stopped abruptly by Ginny again.

"Where have you been Hermione?" she begged.

"I told you, its none of your business,"

yay! another chapter!
hope you're enjoying the story so far. Again, as usual, reviews are so greatly appreciated. They let me know how you're enjoying the story, how you're not, where I should take it, etc etc.
so yes, that's all just now!
happy reading :)
~brokenteapots