Chapter 4.

How could he have heard us? Malfoy thought as he wandered aimlessly around the dungeons it's not like it was anything important. But still. If he'd stayed just a little longer, he'd have heard everything. An iota of panic spread through his limbs. Snarling, he shook it off and turned left towards the common room. He pushed his way through the wall after mumbling the password and stopped stock still, face to face with Isabelle. Her face contorted in anguish and she snarled at him.

"Stay away from me" she said through gritted teeth

Confused, he replied "I never wanted to be near you. Don't you worry" forcing himself past her and sitting in the chair by the window, he dragged out a potions book Professor Slughorn had leant him at his Christmas party a few weeks before. She turned swiftly and sidled over. Her gaze made him agitated but he proceeded to ignore her and read.

"I know about your conversation last night. I'm glad your dad is going to be in Azkaban for another three years. Let's hope a dementor sucks out his soul." She sneered, radiating waves of aggression.

"Who was this eavesdropper that appears to have invisibility powers?" Draco cooed softly, not looking up from a page about love potions. "They seem to know quite a lot about my business"

"I am! And it's not just your business Malfoy, it affects me as well" and with what sounded much like a sob, she ran towards the girls dorm rooms.

It didn't prove a problem that she knew. It just made things awkward. And in all honesty he wasn't bothered about her feelings anyway. Throwing the book into his bag, he turned as Blaise walked into the common room, looking about searchingly.

"Looking for Isabelle?" He sneered. Blaise's adoration of her is getting tedious to say the least he thought, it makes me irritable. With Crabbe and Goyle spending most of their time with Snape and retaking their OWLS, he was thoroughly bored most of the time.

"Yes. I am. I don't care. I'm going to her dorm I'm fed up of this" Draco sneered appreciatively at this. Clearly he has never tried getting into the girls dorms before. As Blaise took the steps two at a time, the stairs smoothed to form a giant slide, forcing him to slide down a few feet. Cursing, he put a sticky charm on his feet and plodded up regardless. That was disappointing Draco thought I would have liked the satisfaction of seeing him sprawled at my feet.

*

I looked up as Blaise entered the room. I knew that a boy tried to walk up the staircase by the excited squeals that came from the younger students. I returned to pouring over the book I was supposed to have read before tomorrow, the start of the new term. My eyes flickered up involuntarily and caught Blaise standing awkwardly by the door.

"Hey" he took advantage of my natural instinct to focus on movement.

"hi." I responded blankly, scolding myself for being foolish enough to make eye contact. The last thing I want, I thought, is Malfoy's mate jeering at me.

"I didn't know either, you know. I would have told you last year when we… when we were going out." He finished, shoulders sagging slightly as he realised how pathetic he sounded.

"I'm fine. You can leave me alone. I've had a year to get over my mothers death. It was merely a shock to find that I shared classes with the son of her 'unknown' killer" I was impressed with how even my voice had remained, how dry my eyes were, how the corner of my mouth curled up as I jeered at the ministry for their stupidity. Charlie would have known straight away that I am not as calm as I seem, her mind wandered as her eyes returned to her book, I need to find out about that. It cannot just be that he's become more in tune with his feminine side. Another flicker of movement. This time, I did not raise my eyes, in the hope that it meant he had left the room. Great, I thought as I felt the bed dip. I did not glance up then, but scowled. I poured all my hurt into the look I gave to this intruder on my personal space, ensuring that all I showed was anger.

"I'm sorry" his face contorted in unease as he looked into my eyes, "for not being able to meet you last night. And for Malfoy. And… and for last year"

I eyed him curiously. Is he trying to tell me something? My eyes scanned his face. He certainly looked uncomfortable. I knew that look from the year before when he had first asked me to go out with him. Except then, there had been an air of haughty arrogance that was not there now.

"Its fine" I smiled softly, the friendly gesture stopping short of my eyes, which were still deep and searching. "Don't worry about it. And thank you for coming to check I was okay. How did you get up the stairwell?"

Blaise laughed, clearly appreciating the change of subject and the lift in the atmosphere.

"I used a sticking charm on my feet and just plodded up. Nearly got knocked off my feet by a couple of first years though."

I smiled. I had forgotten how comfortable I felt around Blaise. His eyes don't send tingle down my spine anymore,I thought, pleased. That mean's I've learnt some self control. The atmosphere remained cheerful as we chatted, and we ended up lying on the bed, he stretched at the bottom with a pillow behind his head and I sat cross-legged opposite.

"It's getting dark" Blaise nodded toward the window. "If you need to talk, you can come to my dorm. They seem to trust girls more than boys here, our staircase doesn't turn into a giant slide" he smiled, and got up to leave. I sat up and instinctively grabbed his wrist. I did not want to be left alone. I could feel the nagging, sluggish sadness beginning to wash over me again. He turned around and looked at me with dark, chocolate eyes. I look like a right plum, I thought, realising I was gawping, trying to find words.

"Erm. I wanted to say thank you. I think. I'm not… yeah" I felt my cheeks flush and immediately looked down to hide myself behind my loose hair. Blaise removed his arm from my grip. Nice one Isabelle, now he thinks you're an idiot. I heard the swish of a cloak and moaned inwardly. A hand cupped my chin and I looked up to find Blaise staring into my eyes.

"I'm always here." His lips brushed against my forehead, making my spine tingle, before he left.