One Month Later (approx. October)

"Now all we have to do is stir the potion ingredients together," Draco tells me. Ahhh. Another month, another potions class. At least Draco and I are doing really well together on our potion project.

"It says here to stir the potion 15 times in a clockwise motion. Not one stir more, not one stir less." Draco reads from the textbook.

"Alright." I say as I start stirring. "Am I doing this correctly?" I ask.

"Sort of. Here let me help you." Draco says.

Oh my God. He just grasped his hand with mine. Wow! He has really soft skin. I wish he would touch me everyday. Oh wait, is he talking to me?

"Rachel…Rachel! How many times have you stirred the potion?"

"Ummm…I lost count," I respond sheepishly.

"What! Oh crap!" He exclaims as the potion starts to bubble over the cauldron. I don't think it's supposed to do that.

"Duck!" He yells before quickly grabbing me and pulling me under the desk, just in time. The potion explodes, covering the room in goo, including the people in it.

"Stupid Gryffindor! Can't you listen or do anything right?" Draco spits at me with a harsh look on his face. Ouch that hurt!

I guess it shows on my face that I feel hurt because Draco's facial features being to soften.

"Ms. Cohen! Mr. Malfoy! May I ask what happened here?" Professor Snape snarls as he stomps over to our desk, while trying to wipe the goo off his face.

I am speechless as I look around the room at everyone. They all have shocked looks on their goo-covered faces. I don't know how to respond and I am just as shocked as everyone else when Draco starts to speak.

"Actually, Professor, it was my fault." What?

"I wasn't paying attention to what I was reading in the book and accidentally told Ms. Cohen here to stir the potion 20 times instead of 15. I will try harder next time to be more focused and not to get distracted as easily. I promise you it will never happen again." He says coolly.

Professor Snape stands there for a couple seconds staring at Draco as if he's trying to read him to see if he's telling the truth, but Draco wasn't cracking.

"Be more careful next time, Mr. Malfoy. It pains me to say this, but, 10 points from Slytherin for your carelessness. Class dismissed so we can all clean ourselves from this mess." Snape declares almost painfully and gives Draco a questionable glance before leaving the classroom.

I quickly gather my things and rush out of the classroom in embarrassment, confusion, and hurtfulness. It isn't until I'm halfway down the hallway that I hear my name being called. I turn around to find Draco striding quickly towards me.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I spit at him like he did to me earlier.

"Please don't call me that, Rachel," Draco says softly in an almost pleading tone. He melts my anger immediately.

"Draco…" I say as the anger dissipates. "Why did you lie to Snape for me?"

"I felt so horrible about what I said to you earlier, you know, after the cauldron exploded. I figured that I should make it up to you," He explained.

"That's really sweet of you Draco, but I'm still hurt by what you said."

"I know, but I didn't mean it. You have to believe me. It's just something out of habit. I'm so used to yelling at Harry bloody Potter."

"Yes, well I just wish it would stop."

"About that…" he says guiltily as he remembers who he talking to. "Hey, if any of this gets out, I'm so dead," he says jokingly to get off the other subject.

"Don't worry. I'll keep my lips sealed," I say with a giggle.

"But seriously," Draco states, "I think you need some extra help with potions. Would it be ok with you if we spent some extra time out of class working on the project? I know an empty potions room we could use."

"Yeah, that would be great! When do you want to start?" I ask.

"How about next Tuesday after dinner? Is that ok with you? I could meet you outside the Great Hall."

"That would be alright with me. I guess I'll see you then."

Next Tuesday After Dinner

"So where exactly are we heading?" I ask Draco curiously.

"The empty potions room is on the 3rd floor in a secret hallway that no one knows about except for me and Professor Snape," he explains. "He used to take me there when I was younger to give me extra potions lessons."

A Little While Later:

"See, now that wasn't so hard. I don't understand why you couldn't do that last week," Draco tells me.

"I don't know. I guess I just got distracted," I say as I blush and bite my lip out of nervous habit.

"Has anyone ever told you how cute you are when you that?" Draco asks.

"Do what?"

"Bite your lip like that," he says as he lifts my chin with his fingers.

"No. How cute am I?" I ask as my heart begins to race. He looks deeply into my eyes before saying those two words that could almost change everything.

"You're beautiful."

It feels as if my heart is going to burst from my chest.

"You think I'm beautiful?" I ask as I feel myself drift unconsciously closer to him.

"Ummmhmmm," he responds as he starts drifting closer too.

This is it! We both close our eyes. I'm so excited and can feel his breath on my lips, as we become inches apart. He begins to lean in to finish the kiss… when all of a sudden Dumbledore's voice comes through the speaker system. We both jump apart and blush, not being able to look at one another. We listen to what was so important that Dumbledore had to interrupt us.

"Will all students and staff please come immediately to the Great Hall for an important announcement,"

Important announcement? Damn it! I then remember that it is October. That means it is time for the Triwizard Tournament to begin. That also means Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are probably here.

"Crap!" I say, referring to how now I have competition with getting Draco's attention. Stupid Beauxbaton sluts.

"I'm sure everything will be all right if we leave the potion here," Draco says, still not looking at me. I guess he thinks I'm worried that our potion will be ruined. There is an awkward pause before he finally says, "Well, I guess we should get going. Don't want to be late for that big announcement."

"Yeah. I wonder what it could be," I whisper sarcastically to myself.

"What was that?" He asks.

"Oh nothing. I was just agreeing with you that we should go. We better leave separately though or else someone might think something's up between us," I say.

"I guess you're right," he says hesitantly. "I guess I'll see you later," he says as he hurriedly leaves the room.

"Damn it!" I yell when I know he's down the hall. We were so close! Ugh! Now I'm going to have to work harder to get Draco. I guess I should go see the Beauxbaton sluts come in. Let's just hope Draco doesn't drool too much. Stupid veelas.