A/N: Here's a longer chapter for everyone. Trying to develop the story a bit more. Please enjoy and thank you so much for the great comments!

Upon entering the pub large wooden doors, the sound of jazz hit their ears. The space was filled with well-dressed people who were around their age and several were on the dance floor in front of a swanky four piece band. They ordered two glasses of elf wine from the bar and found an open table by the side, but Alice thought it might be interesting to pull Draco onto the dance floor. Not that she was much of a dancer but the vibe was intoxicating. Draco didn't hesitate and they began to sway together to the music but it didn't take long for Draco to take the lead, grasping Alice by the waist and taking her by the hand. He completely surprised Alice with his moves as he swung her about, she had no idea he actually knew how to dance. She did her best to keep up and smiled through most of it.

After dancing a few songs, the band took a break and Alice and Draco returned to their table where their wine was waiting for them.

"I had no idea you could dance," Alice said a bit short of breath but she felt elated from the experience.

"I'm full of surprises," he remarked in his usual jokingly smug manor. His family's status mandated his knowledge of such ballroom etiquette; he had learned the fox trot, the waltz and so forth so he could be a proper gentleman at the formal events he was dragged to by his parents.

Before Alice could respond a busty brunette had approached their table.

"Long time no see Draco," the girl said, leaning on the table in front of him.

"Pansy, it has been a long time. I'm assuming you've heard of my girlfriend, Alice," Draco was not pleased to see his ex, but tried to brush it off and not give her the attention she probably wanted.

Pansy cringed at the mention of Alice, but nodded towards her and with an upturned nose, she quickly introduced herself before turning her attention back to Draco. She began to speak fawningly at him, "I read the news about your discovery, what an incredible task you've achieved and I was just thinking this morning that I need to see you again and here you are! It must be fate that brought us here."

"Right. Alice," Draco peered around Pansy who cut off his view of her, "Pansy and I went to school together," again Draco tried to get Pansy's attention off of him.

"Let me guess, you were in Slytherin house too?" Alice questioned, looking at her suspiciously as she placed her hand all too possessively on Draco's shoulder.

"That's right. Draco and I were close," her eyebrows flicked up cockily at Alice, displaying a hint of superiority. Draco had a look of annoyance on his face which Alice noticed much to her amusement. "So Draco," Pansy turned back to him and batted her eyelashes, "You want to do some real dancing?" The band had just started playing again, this time the melody was slower and several couples had made their way to the dance floor.

"No thanks Pansy, I rather not," he immediately got up from his seat and walked around her to offer his hand to Alice, "I much rather dance with Alice."

Pansy's face turned red with anger at being rejected. "What a disgrace!" Her voice was elevated enough to caused a bit of a scene. "To call yourself a pure-blood with this…" she wasn't really sure what to term Alice and paused a bit, "This half-breed muggle!" Several people nearby were now staring in their direction.

Alice had taken Draco's hand and rose from the chair to stand beside him; she really didn't know what to make of this obviously jealous outcry but she knew she wanted avoid its escalation. Draco's eyes narrowed on Pansy, but before he could rebuke her, Alice whispered to Draco calmly, "Let's just go." She even grabbed his jacket from the chair and her handbag off the table to motion that she was serious in wanting to leave it at that.

"You've changed," Pansy remarked disdainfully, not letting them around her, "Who's the blood traitor now?"

While Draco wanted to remain silent, he couldn't and replied strongly,"People like you are." He placed his arm around Alice's shoulders to escort her by Pansy who continued to block their path.

Pansy's face scrunched in anger and as they pushed her aside, she quickly retrieved her wand aiming it at Alice's back.

Before she could cast a spell, a loud "Expelliarmus" was heard nearby and Pansy was quickly disarmed.

The caster was none other than Harry Potter, who was at a nearby table with his fiancé, Ginny. Quick to his feet, he walked over to Pansy and said, "I wouldn't try that again Miss Parkinson, or you'll be indicted." Pansy was aware of Harry's position as the Ministry's Head Auror and quickly nodded, knowing she was lucky to get away with just a warning. Embarrassed by the whole situation, she fumbled to retrieve her wand before hurrying out of the pub.

Draco had already retrieved his wand from his side pocket but Harry had completed the task before him. Draco immediately said to Harry, "Thanks Potter." Alice was not far behind in thanking him, though she remained shocked of the situation. To think she was moments away from having something happen to her, although she wasn't exactly sure what that something would have been.

"Don't mention it," Harry replied, "If there's problems with her again, I'll make sure she gets more than just a warning."

"I guess that's the wizarding world equivalent of getting a gun pulled on me," Alice said, her right hand nervously fidgeting with her earring.

"Perhaps not," Harry replied, "Most likely she'd just turn you into something unnatural."

"Lovely," Alice looked wearily up at Draco who again placed his arm around her, rubbing her arm for reassurance, "Makes me glad I wasn't alone. Thanks again."

"It was nothing, oh, you haven't met my fiancé," Ginny had just approached the group, "This is Ginny Weasley."

"Hi, nice to meet you," Alice immediately noticed her resemblance to Ron Weasley, who she met at the trial, "I think I met your brother."

"Oh, right, you met Ron," Harry remarked quickly.

"There's quite a few of us Weasleys," Ginny joked with her hand outstretched, "It's nice to meet you too."

"Do you work at the Ministry as well?" Alice asked curiously, it seemed to be a main career hub of many Hogwarts students.

"No, I actually play quidditch professionally." Ginny played for the Hollyhead Harpies.

"Really? I haven't yet seen a game of quidditch, though Draco's given me a rundown of how it works. Sounds unimaginable," Alice was bit surprised since Ginny didn't strike her as a professional athlete, she was petite and very pretty.

"You should come to a game. I'm actually playing tomorrow, I can get both of you in if you like," she felt glad to offer.

"That would be amazing," Alice then looked at Draco for approval, "What do you think?"

Draco saw the excitement in Alice's eyes and quickly replied, "We'll be there. I have been meaning to take her to a game, just things have been rather busy lately," Draco suddenly felt a bit disappointed that he hadn't taken her yet; his recent research had been overwhelming him lately though there were a list of things in the wizarding world that he wanted Alice to experience.

"Yeah I heard. Congratulations, your potion really has been a life saver," Harry said with eager politeness.

"Thanks," Draco felt odd getting congratulated by his old enemy.

"Well," Harry started after a moment of awkward silence, "We should probably get going."

"Thank you again. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow," Alice said cheerfully.

"See you there," Ginny said, while Harry remarked, "Have a safe night!"

Once they left, Alice whispered into Draco's ear, sounding concerned, "Hope that episode with Potter wasn't too awkward for you." She understood the history he had with his former enemy and knew meetings between them weren't the most comfortable.

Draco was surprised by her concern for him when it was her who was almost attacked and by his ex no less. Of course, he wasn't happy that it happened to be Potter who saved the day. "Al, I'm more worried about you. I didn't intend to put you in danger."

"It wasn't your fault, besides you can't really plan who you run into." She tried to hide any awkwardness she felt about the whole situation.

Draco placed his hand on her back and said, "Let's get out of here." He thought they probably had enough excitement for their night out. His touch gave Alice reassurance and she looked forward to going back to her flat and getting out of her heels.

They exited the club's bulky wooden door and began walking through Diagon Alley. The dark street and closed shop fronts were illuminated by candle lit lampposts. Few people were out at this time, but a drunken wizard staggered by them and turned down Knockturn Alley. Draco grasped Alice's waist, pulling her closer to him, feeling protective of her.

"What's down there?" Alice asked curiously as she stopped to look around the corner where the man had turned. She had not seen this street before and as usual, her curiosity got the best of her as she neared the dark pathway.

"It's not a place you want to go," Draco said cautiously, trying to get her to keep moving in their former direction. "Shops there specialize in the Dark Arts and you can expect to find appropriate characters."

Suddenly two dark figures emerged from the causeway crossing right in front of Alice who was momentarily blocking the exit. Her heart skipped a beat and Draco's hand closed on his wand.

"Where do you think you're going honey?" The tall man breathed these words into her face while passing by, he smelled heavily of alcohol. Alice staggered back towards Draco who was not far from her.

"Malfoy, long time no see." The slightly shorter of the two men recognized Draco immediately; he was Bourgin's shop assistant several years ago when Draco had initiated his work on the Vanishing Cabinet. It was likely that he would inherit the shop after Bourgin passed on.

"Asher," Draco nodded, acknowledging the man before him.

"No longer in need of our objects I hear, it's a shame for a dark wizard to lose his nerve," Asher goaded maliciously, thinking he never had retribution for his maltreatment by Draco in the past.

"Who says I've lost my nerve," Draco replied with his eyes dangerously fixed on the man before him.

Asher let out a short cackle and then his eyes wandered up and down Alice's body, "And this must be Dumbledore's long lost muggle. Pretty little thing, best you keep a hold on her." His hand lifted towards Alice's cheek.

"Watch it," Alice said angrily, swatting his hand away; she was not pleased at being objectified.

"She has bite!" he laughed.

"And it's best you don't test it. If you don't mind," Draco began moving past Asher escorting Alice's alongside him.

"Tell your father I've acquired the object he seeks," Asher said discretely as Draco moved past.

Draco said nothing though he didn't know his father currently had dealings in Knockturn Alley. It slightly concerned him, especially since such actions could easily get him a sentence in Azkaban, especially considering his former record. Alice was also surprised, though she really didn't know enough about the Dark Arts or Knockturn Alley to understand what the man meant.

Once far enough away, Draco apparated Alice and himself back to her flat, but both were oddly quiet. It was a more eventful evening than either of them anticipated and it was full of strange revelations. Draco was worried how Alice would digest all of it. Right after they got back, Alice moved to the kitchen to put a kettle on the stove to brew some chamomile tea. She figured they could both use it during the inevitable discussion they would soon have. She quickly kicked off her heels and allowed her feet to relax on cold tile floor. Draco removed his vest and unbuttoned his top shirt buttons before he sat down at the small table.

After setting down the tea cups, Alice sat directly across from Draco and began removing both of her earrings.

"Listen, I…" Draco began unsure.

"You don't need to explain," Alice interrupted; she didn't want to hold him to any obligations.

"No, I do," he said adamantly, "A lot happened tonight. At the pub, well, Pansy was my girlfriend for a few years at Hogwarts, the relationship quietly ended before the war on my account. I'm not sure if she was happy about that." Pansy was a clingy girlfriend who gravitated to guys that were perceived as powerful and at that time Draco adored any attention he could get.

"Well, she did almost try to curse me," Alice sounded a little bitter but tried to steady her tone. "It's not so much that potentially jealous ex-girlfriends exist, it's dealing with them as witches that concerns me. I guess I now understand the need to know defense spells. I know I've avoided learning them, thinking it unnecessary, but there are dangers in your world that I have no chance against."

Alice preferred learning simple textbook charms that didn't test her true potential and Draco could sense that she was intentionally keeping her learning to a minimum. While her trial and associated commentary had garnered many supporters who respected her grandfather, it also ruffled the feathers of many pure-bloods who, since the end of the Second Wizarding War, continued to endure increasing scrutiny from the Ministry. Even Draco received minor discrimination from acquaintances that he crossed paths with and his father was still not keen of their relationship. He worried when she ventured into the wizarding world by herself, she would cross the wrong wizard's path.

One afternoon a few weeks ago, Alice's bus was delayed due to traffic causing her to be fifteen minutes late when meeting Draco for lunch at a café in Diagon Ally. When she didn't appear on time, Draco grew frantic thinking only the worse could have happened to her on her way. Of course, he hid such worries from Alice because he didn't want to seem over-protective, but such concern hadn't left his mind.

Relieved by what she said, Draco wanted to confirm her intentions, "So you will let me start teaching you defense against the Dark Arts?"

"Yes," Alice knew he had wanted to since the very beginning. "I've been naïve to think I don't need to know how to ward off unfriendly charms."

"I wish you didn't need it Alice," Draco said solemnly.

Alice grasped his hand from across the table and interlocked her fingers with his, "I know, and I don't want you to worry so much. When I was late meeting you for lunch a few weeks ago, I knew you were concerned. You didn't say it at the time, but I could sense it."

Draco was surprised she saw through his façade that day, "That obvious?"

"Not completely, but afterwards I even considered getting you a mobile phone so I could call you if something similar happened."

"I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea," Draco considered it, even though he found such muggle contraptions unnecessary burdens.

"Really? You'd carry around a piece of muggle technology?" She said surprised, never thinking he'd consent to it.

"Well, if it would let me know you're alright, then…" he stopped, noting the amused look on Alice's face, "What?"

"Nothing, just, you're really great," Alice's look was one of admiration. "Maybe I'll get you a prepaid one, nothing too fancy, just to use when necessary. You'll have to charge it when you're here though."

"Anything's fine," he said, not knowing anything about mobile phone options. "And about tomorrow, the quidditch match isn't until the evening, we can practice some defense spells prior to that."

"Sure, I'm game," it didn't surprise Alice that he wanted to get started on it right away.

"We'll have to practice at the manor though, we need more space than your flat can provide, plus, I don't want to ruin the place," Draco figured they could use the open spaces in the garden to practice since the weather should be mild tomorrow.

"What exactly will we be doing?" Alice asked curiously, the thought of ruining her flat seemed a bit ominous.

"Don't worry, I promise nothing too dangerous," Draco reassured. Hopefully their practice wouldn't entail any injuries.

"You'll have to teach me that, what was it…" Alice paused to think, "That expelliamos thing Potter did tonight."

"Ah, expelliarmus, yes, I'll teach you that," Draco was amused that she mostly remembered the spell's chant and that she continued to call Harry, "Potter," like he did.

"Draco," Alice's tone grew more serious and she had that curious look in her eyes; Draco knew all too well that she had question to ask, "You can kill someone with magic, right?"

Unsure of where she was going with this subject Draco took some time to reply, "Yes, the killing curse."

Intrigued by this unknown information Alice asked, "What are the statistics of it being used? I mean, in most muggle societies we have problems with guns, now certainly not everyone owns a gun but where there's little gun control, murders with guns are rather high. What keeps members of the wizarding world from using this curse more often? I mean, I don't read of murder in the Daily Prophet too often, if I have at all."

"Well, it's one of three of what are termed Unforgiveable Curses. Unforgiveable in the sense that if a wizard casts any of them they get a mandatory life term in Azkaban. That sentence is enough to keep most from tempting it. And some wizards are simply incapable of casting them as well."

"Interesting," Alice pondered this information while taking another sip of tea, "And Aurors, they're sort of like police I suspect. I guess dealing with the likes of Potter and company doesn't allow criminals to get away with much."

"Well, in the past some have, but you're right, the dark is usually tamed by the light. The Dark Arts actually twists a wizard's soul, damaging it. It's not something you engage in lightly."

"I guess not. Was it like that for you?" Alice asked casually since Draco's past didn't really upset her.

Draco thought back to those two years where he engaged heavily in dark magic and when he used the Cruciatus Curse under Voldemort's orders to torture several victims. "I suppose it was damaging to a certain extent. I had an interest in dark items and dark potions since childhood, thanks to my father, but it wasn't until much later that I put any of my knowledge to use."

"Have you ever cast an Unforgiveable Curse?" After this question escaped Alice's mouth she thought perhaps she was prying too much.

Shifting in his seat, he replied slowly, "Yes, I have. Under orders I've used the Cruciatus Curse, it tortures the victim, but I swear I've never killed anyone." He sounded slightly defensive, and felt suddenly worried what Alice's reaction would be even though he knew it would be worse to lie to her.

"It doesn't upset me to know," Alice reassured, "Your history is what makes you the person you are today, and I don't want to be with anyone else."

Draco's face warmed up as Alice smiled sweetly at him, and then he said believing fully, "You're too good for me."

"You never give yourself enough credit. You know, I feel the opposite. I always think what do you want with a girl like me who can't even cast a proper spell."

"Do you really think that?" Draco responded surprised, "You know there's something I haven't told you. Even if your memory was obliviated after the trial, I wouldn't have given up on us. I would have found a way to be with you."

A little confused, Alice reiterated, "You're saying, even if I was a complete muggle you'd…"

"Yes, I'd still want to be with you. I'm in love with you, not your abilities or your heritage, I don't care if you can't cast spells, just you Alice."

The word love stood out amongst everything else to Alice, had he just said it? Alice's mind was in a whirlwind and she didn't know exactly what to say in return. "That might be the best thing anyone's ever said to me."

"Then I'm glad I said it," Draco replied, his eyes on Alice who was gazing at the table's surface in a daze. "I don't have a healthy past and as much as I try to move beyond it, I can't. Tonight at the entrance in Knockturn Alley, you witnessed that. My family has a long history with the Dark Arts, even I dally in it from time to time for my research." Then Draco lifted up his sleeve to reveal his left forearm that had a faint scar, the remnants of his Dark Mark, "And I'm always going to have this as a constant reminder of being a Death Eater."

Alice had not taken much notice to it before, she did not fully realize the significance of the mark and she suddenly felt bad about asking about his past, "If my questions were too bold, I…"

"No," Draco interrupted, "You have a right to ask and I'm glad you're not afraid to."

Alice stood up from her chair and walked over to Draco who remained seated on the other side of the table. She ran her fingers over his faint tattoo before taking his hand in her own, "No matter your past Draco, it doesn't change my feelings for you." She lightly pulled his hand towards her, prompting him to stand. He embraced her at the waist and her hands clasped behind his neck. They began swaying to inaudible music, their foreheads touching softly, their eyes closed.

"I wanted to get one more dance from you tonight," Alice teased.

Their bodies continued to sway and despite it being late, they showed no signs of stopping. That is until their lips met in a fiery kiss that burned with a deeper passion than ever before. Alice found her hands unbuttoning Draco's shirt as Draco began pulling up her dress. In the middle of this furry, they stopped to look each other in the eyes for confirmation before continuing.

Draco asked respectfully, "I can go, if…"

"No, stay," Alice wanted this more than anything.