Okay. Chapter 2.
GULPPP.
Gahh I hope you people like it (:

Draco woke the next morning and slugged himself to classes throughout the day. He just wanted to get through with them so he could go see how Dawn was doing. He was worried. About her and what that nosey no good healer knew. He was just glad he hadn't seen her, Dumbledore or Snape all day.

Growling, he headed to the Great Hall to grab a quick lunch. As soon as he sat, an owl came swooping in, dropping off a letter in his father's hand writing. Draco glared to the envelope and opened it.

"Stop messing around and do what he asks. You're mother and I are counting on you."

Draco stared at the black ink for what seem like minutes before he tore it up into several pieces. He was right. His family, well mother, was at stake and he needed to make sure he did what the Dark Lord asked so that she was safe. Grumbling, he retreated to Defense Against the Dark Arts to deal with Snape. He'd have to head to the Room of Requirement after class. Dawn would have to wait.

And she did. She waited almost all day for Draco to show up to keep her company with no such luck. "Figures." She mumbled. Picking up a book, she began reading through it and heard footsteps entering. She looked hopefully to the door and was greeted by the red-haired Gryffindor once more.

"Uhm. Hello." Ron said a bit casually. Dawn raised her brow.

"Weasley." Dawn said sighing. "Why do you keep showing up here?" She asked throwing the book onto her night stand.

"Not sure." He responded simply. "I just-" He hesitated. "Every time I pass here, I feel drawn to come in and see how you are." Ron shrugged and sat in the chair next to her. Dawn looked a bit shocked. "I feel like I hate you, yet I don't." He couldn't even explain himself.

Dawn felt like someone slapped her across the face. "Could you use some company?" He asked. Dawn raised a brow. She wanted to say no. Everything in her was screaming to, but no one but Madame Pomfrey had seen her all day.

"Sure." Dawn said, not even believing the words that came out of her mouth. Ron smiled a big, cheesy grin and Dawn couldn't help but to smile with him.

The two played a few games of wizards' chest, talked about Quidditch, and about their mutual dislike of potions. They really had a lot more in common than they both had originally thought. She enjoyed his company and it seemed as if he enjoyed hers. It was the most fun she had in a while.

Madame Pomfrey entered the room and told Ron that it was time to leave. He nodded and watched as the witch left the room then looked to Dawn. "Night, Dawn." He smiled and began to leave.

"Night!" She hollered after him. Sighing as she left, she recalled the last two hours. The two had fun. No arguments, no name calling. Madame Pomfrey returned with a glass of potion for Dawn to take for the pain.

"You should be out of here tomorrow." The older witch said simply, walking away once again. Dawn rolled her eyes. The woman had treated her like garbage since she arrived here, and she finally understood why. She knew.

Dawn grumbled and took her potion. Dumbledore probably knew by now and if he knew she was sure to be thrown out of the school. She sighed heavily and threw the empty glass across the room, watching as it shattered into pieces. She was furious. Madame Pomfrey knew about her loyalties and on top of that Draco hadn't visited her and she had actually enjoyed Ron Weasley's company. Sighing, she threw herself back into her bed and rolled into the blankets. The sooner she got out of there, the better.

Draco had been working on the vanishing cabinet all night, but he couldn't get Dawn out of his mind. He grumbled and threw himself to the ground. She was probably livid with him. He needed to get this finished. His life and the lives of his family were at stake. He'd already tried to off Dumblredore but the Bell girl had opened the cursed locket and got sent to St. Mungos.

At six, Draco began making his way to the Slytherin common room, but found himself at the Hospital Wing, visiting a sleeping Dawn. He examined her. The color was drained from her face, she was shaking, and she was covered in cold sweat. Curiously, Draco lifted her left sleeve and stared at her mark. It was jet black and the skin around it was red. She was having a nightmare and he was somehow involved.

"Dawn." The witch rolled in her sleep and the familiar voice repeated her name once more. It was eerie, cold. "Dawn!" Her eyes shot open when the voice screamed. Her father stood before her with a look of disappointment on his face. "I should have known you would be stupid enough to land yourself here." He hissed.

Dawn wanted to roll her eyes, but she knew better than that. Nathaniel Caden would not hesitate to curse his daughter right there and then. She bit her lip hard and looked to the intimidating wizard.

"When you arrive home next week, I expect you to have found an acceptable wizard to accompany you to our ball." He continued. "You will also be receiving your task from the Dark Lord." He said rather hushed.

Dawn nodded. "You didn't have to make a special trip to remind me of-" She was cut off by her father's growl.

"I took this trip to remind you not to screw it up." His voice came off low and menacing. "Because I will be sure to handle any punishments myself." Dawn winced as her father left the room.

Dawn spent the remainder of the day in bed and at four, Madame Pomfrey sent her on her way. She slowly returned to the common room and say Draco sprawled out on a couch. He looked tired and worn.

"Hi." She said smiling, taking a seat next to him. Draco looked at her and glared.

"What do you want, Caden?" He snapped. Dawn raised a brow.

"I just thought that-" He cut her off as he jumped to his feet.

"Thought that what!? That I bloody cared? Please. I was doing it as a favor to our mothers. I didn't care, I don't care. You're okay? Good. Now we can go back to hating each other and throw this façade to the side." Draco stormed away, leaving Dawn sitting there with her mouth wide open. She cried and had absolutely no idea why she was.

The next week seemed to fly by. And nothing changed. Draco and Dawn fought every day. She'd managed to snag a date with Theodore Nott to her parents ruddy ball and oddly enough, she'd spent more time with Ron Weasley.

The night before the students would be sent home for the holidays, Dawn had decided to go ice skating on the black lake, and asked Ron to join her. The two skated for a while, talking of their Christmas plans. Ron slipped and almost fell, but Dawn caught his arms, steadying him in time.

"Thanks." He breathed out. Dawn smiled and nodded and the two stared at each other for what seemed hours before Ron lightly pressed his lips to hers. It took Dawn a second before she pulled away.

"Ron I-" She sighed. "I can't. It doesn't feel-"He stopped her.

"Right." He finished. She nodded. "Who is it?" Dawn smirked and skated off the ice.

'"You very well know who." Ron grimaced.

"That no good, git, Malfoy." He stated rather than asking a question. Dawn's heart fluttered and she brought her hand to the locket around her neck.

"I love him." Dawn sighed and began to remove her skates. She smirked and turned to Ron. "Just like you love Granger." Ron turned bright red. "She gets under your skin, but an unexplainable feeling overwhelms you when you hear her voice or see her." Ron remained silent. "I'll take that as a yes."

The two returned to the castle, taking turns talking about Hermione and Draco. As they reached the Slytherin common room, Dawn hugged him and smiled. "Thank you." Ron smiled and Dawn retreated to the common room where Draco and Pansy were tongue wrestling. Dawn grimaced and walked toward the girls dorm.