Chapter Ten

She had her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as he slept, his arm cradling her. Pushing her hair away from her face, she slowly, reluctantly, slipped away from his warmth.

She didn't want to think about how good, how right it had felt to be held by him. In fact, she forcibly pushed all of those thoughts away, and decided to pull a Scarlett O'Hara. She'd think about it later.

Right now, she didn't have much time to snoop, and she couldn't trust that he would remain unaware of her activities. She didn't know how deep a sleeper he was.

All of her clothes were strewn across his living room floor, and she would be damned if she snooped in the nude. Walking over to his large chest of drawers, she pulled out the first, finding only socks. In the second drawer were neatly folded tee-shirts, most of them black. Shivering with chill, she pulled out the first one her hand touched, pulling the long sleeved black shirt over her head. Pulling the dark fabric to her nose, she breathed in his now familiar scent.

Steeling her resolve, she finally took the time to look around the room. The bedroom, as well as the rest of the rooms, were done in a calm blue tones, with gray accents.

It wasn't at all what she had expected his room to look like. She had been sure that it would be decorated in black, silver, and Slytherin green, but was surprised to note that the room was actually pleasant.

She noticed two doors in the room, and since all of the rooms in Serpent Hall had the same basic layout, she knew that it wasn't a bathroom. That room was located downstairs, just off to the left of the staircase.

She frowned. Draco had two closets? Maybe he was even more of a clothes horse than Tracey had been? A few weeks ago she would have thought so, but now after getting to know him a bit better, she wasn't as sure of her assumptions.

She quietly turned the knob the first door, where she found a selection of school clothes: the requisite black robes, ties, sweater vests, and dark trousers. Then came a selection of casual items like jeans, tee-shirts, and a couple jackets. Pushed to the back of the large closet, like and afterthought were more more expensive garments, the one's that she was used to him wearing in previous years. A dark blazer pushed to the very back was the last thing in the closet, and she pulled it out by the hanger. There was something in the inside pocket. Fishing inside the silk lined pocket she found a wallet – a Muggle wallet! Her brow crinkled in confusion. Wizards didn't carry wallets. Most carried coin pouches that held the coins that made up wizard money.

This was a standard black wallet, nothing special about it, other than the fact that it was a Muggle item and Draco obviously felt the need to hide it.

Opening it, the first thing she saw was a Muggle driver's license. Draco had a Muggle license? It was obviously his. The picture matched his handsome face, but the name said Ryu Kovalic. Ryu? Kovalic? It also stated that he was twenty-one years old. The code on his license said A. What did code A mean? Peeling the license from the clear sleeve, she flipped it over. A was for a motorcycle. Draco Malfoy drove a motorcycle? Slipping the license back into its sleeve, she next noted the stack of Muggle money – which wasn't unusual in and of itself. Many of the younger generations carried both types of money just in case of emergency, though it was usually not more than a twenty pound note. She quickly counted the money. One thousand pounds. She shoved the money back into the wallet, and quickly stepped back out of the closet.

A muffled sound made her freeze in place. Darting a quick glance at Draco, she saw that he was still asleep – he had merely turned over, the covers slipping down to his waist and revealing his muscular back –, and blew out a sigh of relief.

She paused, looking at the completely sensual picture he made for far too long before she snapped back to the business at hand. Merlin she hoped he wouldn't wake up. She didn't want to have to explain why she was nosing around in his closets. She had to hurry.

Taryn walked over to the other closet and tried the knob. She jiggled the knob, but found it locked. The mild interest she had had over the second closet turned into full blown curiosity.

She wanted to run downstairs and grab her wand to spell the door open, but she didn't think that she would be able to search the room further without waking him. She sighed in defeat, heading downstairs to find her clothes. She blushed at the sight of her knickers on the floor. Her bra was MIA. Thankfully she wasn't overly busty, so she'd be able to dart to her room sans bra. She snatched up her knickers, pulling on the scrap of lace quickly.

Finding her wand in her coat pocket, she wrapped her hair into a bun, using the wand to secure the heavy mass. Her hair clip was probably buried somewhere under snow beside the castle, and wasn't important enough to go searching for.

She pulled her skirt up her legs, gathered the rest of her clothes into her arms, and stuffed her feet into her boots. Opening the portrait door slowly, she looked both left and right before stepping out into the hall.

Thank Merlin Serpent Hall was set apart from the rest of the House, and was momentarily empty of people.

Walking to her the portrait door of her own room, she entered with a murmured "Pitt".

"Busted!"

Taryn almost jumped a foot into the air at Chase's amused voice.

He was lounging on the couch, a book in his hand, his mouth wearing a grin.

"I was just..." Taryn began.

"Just coming from Draco's room?" Chase finished slyly.

"Um...well..." Taryn tried to come up with a good excuse, but looking down at her ridiculous attire she gave up.

"Yeah...okay...but don't tell anyone," she pleaded. She wasn't ready for people to know, especially not before she had the time to think over what she felt about what had happened.

Chase frowned. "Of course I wouldn't tell anyone. I'm your friend Taryn. The friend that isn't even upset that you missed yoga today."

Taryn slapped a palm against her head. "Oh, yeah! I'm sorry about that, I really intended to come but..."

"But you got wrapped in in His Royal Hotness," Chase finished, chuckling.

She raised a brow at the term. "I don't think that Ollie would appreciate you ogling my...er..."

"Your lover?" Chase grinned. "And I can look as long as I don't touch. Ollie wouldn't mind. But really, stop trying to distract me. I wanna know. How was it?" He leaned forward, gazing at her in question.

Taryn raised his legs, scooting under them, and letting them rest on her lap, as she leaned back against the soft cushions with a sigh. "Let me just say that the rumors about him definitely have a basis in fact."

Even though he was dead sexy, Taryn had thought that the rumors about Draco were probably greatly exaggerated. Most of the girls that said they were with him had to be lying. No man had the stamina to shag that many witches.

Now, even though it probably had to do with the fact that it was her first time, she had to admit that he definitely knew what he was doing. Only one thing troubled her. The fact was that he hadn't just shagged her. He'd made potent love to her.

Twice they had come together. The first time had desperate, and hungry. They both hadn't been able to wait. All of their interactions: the arguments, the looks they'd shared, the ones that they'd avoided, had all let to the frenzied encounter.

It was the second time that lingered in her mind. He had slowly consumed her, unraveling then remaking her with pleasure. She hadn't thought that he was going to be such a considerate lover. She didn't think that most teen boys, not that she'd a lot of experience with them, were so meticulous –so caring – with the way they made love.

Honestly, she didn't think that she could have had a better first time, unless there had been love involved. She hadn't expected that emotion to be present, so all in all, it had been a good experience. While she had always wanted to be in love with the first man that she had sex with, she had to be honest with herself. She had wanted Draco as much as he had wanted her. The things that she had done with him brought a hot flush to her cheeks.

"Really?" Chase was saying, looking contemplative. "He just looks like he would be...whoo...you know, dynamite in bed."

Taryn blew out a breath. "He was...," she covered her face with her hands, "he was just...oh my God." She lowered her hands with a surprising giggle.

"So, what now? Are you two together? Or was it just a one off? What did he say? You know, like, after?"

"We didn't really do much talking. After the second time..."

"Second time?"

Taryn rolled her eyes. "After the second time," she continued, "We both fell asleep. I woke up before he did, and got dressed and left."

"Wearing his shirt," Chase said, noting the bagginess of the shirt she wore, before laughing out loud. "You snuck out?"

"I didn't really want the awkward morning after conversation," Taryn said sheepishly.

"It isn't actually morning," Chase said looking at his watch, "In fact, its almost time for dinner."

Taryn slapped his shoulder playfully. "You know what I mean. But you are right. I need to shower and then get something to eat. I'm starving!"

"Well...you were working up an appetite," Chase said added, laughing at the look she sent him.

"Shut up!" she said in mock anger.

"You set it up perfectly, I couldn't help it," he said between chuckles.

Taryn rolled her eyes again, mounting the stairs to grab some clothes before heading back downstairs to the shower. In the mirror she examined her face. She didn't look different. It was strange how differently you could feel inside, and look exactly the same outside. She stepped out of her skirt and knickers, before pulling the black shirt over her head. She was about to pull the wand out of her hair, when she noticed the small purplish bruise right above the swell of her breast. He'd given her a hickey! She had never expected that first hickey she received would be from Draco Malfoy. She pushed down a thread of excitement, and frowned. She didn't even know a spell to get rid of it. Thank Merlin, she thought, that it would be covered by her shirt.

Pulling the wand from her hair, she stepped into the shower, washing her hair, and soaping and rinsing her body quickly. Drying off quickly, she dressed in a denim skirt and a deep pink shirt. She dried her hair with a quick spell, still marveling on the fact that her hair didn't turn into a frizz ball, before braiding it and securing the end with an elastic.

"Are you going to dinner?" she asked Chase, while slipping on her shoes.

"Yeah, I'll go down with you. You will probably need the support," Chase said quietly.

"Support? Why?" Taryn asked frowning.

"You might be used to blending into the crowd, but Draco's long absence is going to be noted."

"I can deal with scrutiny," she said scowling as she remembered the microscope she had been under during her fourth year. If they weren't gossiping about her alleged relationship with Harry, they were whispering about what they thought that she was doing with Viktor Krum.

"I bet you get your fair amount as Nigel Davis's daughter," Chase said knowingly, "But I just want you to know that I have your back. Its going to be different dealing with a bunch of catty bitches. They are going to come for you. The girls that he was with, and the girls that wished he'd gotten with them."

Taryn considered this. "Well they better be ready then, because I won't be pulling my punches. They can get what Pansy got."

"Well, this is going to be interesting to say the least," Chase said as they left the room.

Draco's hand reached over for Taryn, his eyes opening when he found only an empty space.

"Taryn?" he called out, sitting up and stretching his arms with a yawn. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep with her there. That had never happened to him before. He knew it didn't say much about him, but after a shag he was usually ready to leave, or have the girl leave. It seemed that everything with Taryn wasn't going necessarily go by his usual rule book, and he wasn't sure what he thought about that.

When he didn't hear her call back, or any telltale sounds signaling that she was still in the rooms, he assumed that she had left. While he was glad that he could postpone the "no girlfriend" speech, it confused him that he was kind of pissed that she had already left.

Looking at the clock, he pushed back the covers and went downstairs to take a quick shower, before dressing quickly for dinner.

When he reached the main Common Room, he found Blaise Zabini was sitting alone on one of the low couches. He figured that everyone else had already made their way down to the Great Hall for dinner.

"You on your way to dinner?" the wizard asked Draco.

"Yeah," Draco said, his eyes scanning the room for Taryn. He inwardly frowned at himself. What did he expect? That she was hiding under one of the bloody couches?

"I'll walk down with you then mate," Blaise said standing. They made their way toward the Great Hall quietly for a moment before Blaise said slyly, "So, news travels fast."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, looking at the other boy.

"Well, I heard that you were seen snogging Taryn Davis against the castle wall," Blaise said smirking.

Shit, Draco thought. News did travel too bloody fast. "Why are people so fucking interested in what I'm doing," he asked angrily.

"Hey, man. I'm just telling you what I heard. Congrats, mate. I know that you've been working on that hot little piece for awhile now. How was she? I know she's a half-blood, but I might consider getting into those knickers when you're done with her," Blaise said.

Draco didn't think, he just snapped, grabbing Blaise by the neck and slamming him into the wall. "Don't fuckin' talk about her that way. If I ever hear..."

"Fuck..." Blaise wheezed, gasping out the word past the tight grip on his throat. "Sorry man. I won't try anything, I swear."

Draco slowly peeled his fingers from the other boy's neck, stepping back. Blaise slid down the wall in a heap.

He hadn't drawn his wand, he had instinctively used force. It was something that he never would have done before at school. What the fuck was wrong with him? He hadn't truly lost his temper like that in years. He had had to forcibly hold himself back from doing more damage to the other boy.

Blaise's hand rose up rubbing his throat, as he drew in air to his deprived lungs. "You're fucking crazy. What is your problem Malfoy?" he asked hoarsely, before turning on his heel and striding away from the other wizard.

Draco didn't know how to answer him. He should be in a better mood. He had just shagged a beautiful witch. Dumbledore was going to be dead soon if everything went correctly. His mother would be safe. Instead he felt like his world was more off kilter than ever.