Chapter Twelve
"So what really happened that day with Blaise?" Taryn asked. She was on her knees, her head on her arms resting on the back of Draco's couch, watching as he cooked at the stove. Her eyes traveled down his lean form, which was only clothed in black boxer briefs. She shook herself – there was probably drool on her mouth! – getting back to the question at hand.
She had wanted to ask him that day, but they had gotten rather sidetracked. Also she hadn't wanted to upset the delicate balance they'd achieved. She had heard all of the rumors – no one had hesitated to give her their opinion – but she wanted to know his side of the story. After their somewhat tenuous ceasefire she felt that she could question him about the subject.
It had been three weeks since their "confrontation" in the dance studio, and while they still hadn't defined what they were, both knew that they were something. They now didn't pretend that they didn't want to spend time with each other. Taryn, when not studying or dancing, could often be found in Draco's room. It wasn't always sexual – though it often still was – now they just enjoyed each others company. They could even just sit in companionable silence, not needing to fill the air with empty words.
Whispers had followed them for days after Pansy's less than subtle freak out in the Great hall, but they had eventually died down when everyone began to realize that the couple wasn't going to let it bother them.
Taryn knew that Draco had feelings for her, she knew that he was confused, but he couldn't be any more confused than she was. She grimaced remembering how...unemotional...her decision to spy for Harry had been. She knew that it was partially because she was clinging to her former life and wanted to help her friend, but now she had to admit to herself that the reason that she wanted to stop was because she did care about Draco.
She wasn't sure of her exact feelings, but there was definitely something there. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when her feelings had started. They had crept up, sliding through her, and she wasn't absolutely sure about what she wanted to do about them.
One thing that she was sure about was that she couldn't continue her previous plan of action. She didn't have the heart for it, and she now realized that she probably had never had it to begin with. Now, though, feelings were putting her in an awkward position. She could no longer blithely throw Draco to the wolves, instead she wanted to help him and Harry and she had no bloody idea how to go about achieving that.
She knew that Draco was dealing with something. She knew he had secrets but she really couldn't fault him for them. She had secrets as well. She couldn't even bloody tell him who she actually was, and she really wasn't sure if she wanted to. He had had rather decided feelings about Hermione Granger, and if he found out that that was who she actually was, well she was afraid of what his reaction would be. He didn't realize it, but he was getting to know her, not Tracey Davis. Or at least the mash up of Hermione Granger and Tracey Davis that she had become. The thing was, she didn't act any differently apart from her new found love of dance. She was essentially the same girl. It was almost amusing that the things that he had disliked in Hermione Granger, he found cute in Taryn Davis.
On the other hand, it both amused and pissed her off that she was jealous of herself. She knew that he was attracted to this face, this body, and though she tried not to, she couldn't help but think that it wouldn't be the same if she was in her own skin.
Draco stiffened. "I didn't like what he said about you," he admitted reluctantly. He checked the bread in the oven, pulling it out to cool, before moving to a cabinet and grabbing two bowls for the soup he had prepared.
"What did he say?" Taryn asked, moving to the fridge to grab two bottles of spring water.
"He just said some things about you that I didn't like. Shit, like, when I was done I should pass you to him. I didn't really 'accost' him like Pansy said. He really got off easy," Draco said dishing up the soup into the bowls before placing the bowl on a plate and adding a roll next to it.
Back on the couch, Taryn was sitting a pillow on her lap, her plate balanced on top. She was slightly amazed. Draco had defended her after all. It was a direct contradiction to what he had said earlier. Noticing his slightly uncomfortable look, she turned her attention to the bowl.
"What is this called again?" she asked dubiously.
"Moqueca de Peixe. Its a fish stew. The bread is a cheese roll called Pao de Queijo. Some people eat it around breakfast time, but I like to serve it with dinner. Just try it, I promise I'm not trying to poison you," he grinned.
"This is pretty good," she said taking a spoonful of soup, "I'm still surprised that you can cook, and amazed that its something more than a sandwich and crisps. Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"I have a friend that likes to cook. He taught me how to prepare a few different dishes. I've said before that there are a lot of things that you don't know about me," Draco said, smiling lazily at her.
"Maybe I want to know more," Taryn said. She knew that it was true. She was insanely curious about him.
In the awkward beat behind her statement, she grabbed her roll, pulling apart the tender bread and taking a bite. She closed her eyes in pleasure at the taste of the bread.
Draco watched in amusement as she devoured the bread and most of her soup, all before he had even finished half of his. The girl ate like a bloke! It was refreshing, a far cry from watching girls like Pansy pick at a salad.
"What?" Taryn asked looking at him as he stared.
"Nothing," he said shaking his head a little, as he turned his attention back to his own food.
Looking at the clock, Taryn stood and walked her dishes to the sink. She quickly washed them and placed them on the drain to dry. "I should probably go now. Its getting pretty late."
"You can stay if you want," Draco said.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Taryn replied. She was tired, and she wasn't sure if she could keep her hands off of him if she stayed. They had been spending a great deal of time together but she hadn't slept over since that first night. It seemed far too – intimate – waking up in his arms, sleep mussed and content.
"We don't have to do anything. We can just sleep," Draco said. He couldn't believe that he was asking a girl to merely sleep over, but he was reluctant to let her leave. And it wasn't like they hadn't shagged on just about every available surface in his rooms. It seemed a bit silly to him that she didn't want to sleep over.
"I don't have any of my things over here," she hedged. It was a last ditch effort to resist him. She didn't even wear her own clothes usually while she was in his room. Most of the time her clothes ended up on the floor and she spent the rest of her time naked or lounging around in one of Draco's shirts. She had consciously made the choice not to move any of her clothes over, thinking that it would make her resolve to spend nights in her own room easier. She frowned. It wasn't working it seemed.
"You can borrow one of my tee-shirts like usual," Draco said, pouncing on her statement. At her sharp look he added, "And a pair of sweats." She didn't realize that she was weakening, and he was just Slytherin enough to take advantage. Besides the sweats would be huge on her and she'd take them off, he was sure.
"Okay," she said, "but I'm going across the hall to tell Chase that I'm staying over. I'll be back in about fifteen minutes."
…
It was more like thirty minutes before she returned, and Draco had begun to think that she wasn't coming back after all. He had filled the time by taking a shower and washing and putting away his dishes and the pots and pans that he had used to prepare the meal.
He was sitting on the couch reading a book when he heard the soft knock at his door.
Opening the door; he at first noted that her hair was damp, obviously she had taken the time to shower as well, before he noticed her pajamas.
"Bunnies?" He grinned at the fluffy white creatures printed on her pajama bottoms and matching top.
"These are comfortable," she said, her voice defensive as she walked up the stairs to the bedroom. She'd chosen the least sexy pair pajamas that she owned. She was determined to just sleep. Without waiting for him she climbed into the far left edge of bed, pulling the thick comforter up to her neck.
Shrugging, Draco followed her. Oh, no, that won't do at all, he thought eying her as she laid as far from his side of the bed as she could. She stiffened a bit, then relaxed as he pulled her against him.
With a sigh, she nuzzled her feet against his and he jumped. "Shit, your feet are cold!"
"Sorry, I my feet get chilled easily," she said.
"Once your feet warm up you're going to get hot in that pajama top," Draco said sagely.
"I'll be fine," she insisted.
Draco rolled his eyes. "What do you have on under it?"
"Draco!"
"It's not like I haven't seen it all before, baby. Come on. What's under it?"
"A sports bra," she admitted.
"Hmmm. Okay," he raised up on his forearms.
She sighed in resignation as he began to unbutton the pajama top. He was right. The flannel top would get hot. "You just like taking my clothes off," she accused, frowning a bit when he laughed.
"I thought that was pretty obvious. Really, though, I want you to be comfortable."
"Okay," she said grudgingly, before peering through the dim room at his second closet. His locked second closet.
Draco was contented, Taryn's warmth pressed firmly against him. His eyes closed, as sleep began to claim him.
"Draco?"
"Yeah?" he asked sleepily.
"Whats in your second closet?"
His eyes popped open, and he was quiet for a moment as he stared at the dark ceiling. "Did you really mean it?" he asked quietly.
Taryn turned in his arms, so she could look him in the face. "Mean what?"
"Did you mean it when you said that you wanted to know more about me?" he asked softly.
"I did. I do want to know you. You realize that we hardly know each other. We kind of started this backwards. We haven't even had a proper date."
"You want to go out on a date?" he asked.
"Well...It would be nice," she said softly.
Draco's brow crinkled. He hadn't gone out on a proper date in...well...ever. Most of the girls he dealt with barely even bothered with the semblance of a date, wanting instead to get right to the extracurricular activities. His mind began to spin thoughts of candlelight and roses. Was that too trite? He'd take her to a movie, but that didn't mesh with what she knew of him. He frowned. This was going to take some planning.
"I want you to know that I don't do this. I don't usually just jump in bed with boys I barely know," Taryn was saying.
She stiffened a bit when he laughed, mouth opening to ask him what was so funny.
"I know that, Taryn. We have gone to school together for the last six years, and blokes talk. If you were the type to shag on the first night I'd have heard about it."
"Oh," she said, her ruffled feathers visibly smoothing.
"And in answer to your question, well, you'd have to see it. I don't think you would understand if I just told you."
She shivered at the slight chill in the air when he sat up, pushing the covers away from them both. Reaching into his bedside table he pulled out a small gold key suspended from a matching chain. She recognized the necklace. She'd seen him pull it over his head, dropping it into the bedside drawer on numerous occasions. She had wanted to try the key in the door, but after the first time she had snooped through his room felt bad about the prospect. She'd made the decision to ask him, and it was going surprisingly well.
Taryn stood by the door as he unlocked it. As much as she wanted to know what was behind the door, she found herself suddenly hesitant to follow through.
Draco, obviously noticing her hesitation, chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not Bluebeard."
Taryn looked at him sharply. Draco Malfoy read fairy tales?
He slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open. The light immediately clicked on.
He watched her slowly walk around the room, taking in the heavy bags, mats and weight lifting equipment. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, waiting for her reaction. He felt like he had just bared his soul. She was seeing a piece of him that he had never shown to anyone within the wizarding world, and while he didn't know exactly how he felt about revealing himself to her, it had felt imperative that he do so.
"So...do you box or something?" she finally asked.
He blew out a breath, relaxing a bit at her casual tone. "Yes, among other things. I practice mixed martial arts."
"Really?" she asked, her head tilted to the side as she examined him. She hadn't expected this at all. She had known that it was something important, and after spending more time with him she didn't think Draco was vain enough to need another closet full of clothes, but this...this was a surprise. At least now she knew where he had gotten his physique.
"Yeah. I've been doing it for about three years."
"Wow, three years? I have to ask...why do you keep the room locked?"
"Because you are the only person that knows."
"Not even Crabble and Goyle? Or Pansy?" she asked biting her lip as she waited for his answer.
"No. Nobody else knows. Crabble and Goyle, well, they're too stupid to keep their mouths shut. As for Pansy, I'd never trust her with this. I train with Muggles," he said quietly, watching her for her reaction.
Taryn watched him silently for a moment. She knew that he was involved with Muggles. Why else would he have a driver's license? She had thought that he used the license to get in pubs to drink at the least, now...well it seemed like he used it for far more.
She just wished that she didn't have to pretend to be more shocked than she actually was. She didn't really want him to know that she had snooped, but she felt guilty. Whatever it was that they had was already so fragile, just beginning, and she didn't want to ruin it. Merlin, it rubbed her against the grain that she couldn't be straight with him, but at the same time she was scared to death of what he would do and think if she had the opportunity to do so.
"Muggles? I wouldn't have guessed that at all," she lied. "Why do you do it?" she asked. She really did want to know what was behind his decision to fight.
"I just feel like its the only thing that I can control. Most of my life is based on pretense. I'm probably the best fucking actor in this entire school, and sometimes I just want to throw it all away, but I can't. My parents expect a lot from me, and for once I just wanted something for myself. The reason why I train with Muggles is because my name doesn't follow me there. I'm not Lucius Malfoy's son when I step into the cage. I'm just me, and I determine what happens."
"Not that I'm an expert or anything, but you don't really look like a fighter," she said, one brow raised. His face didn't show any sign of being battered.
He laughed. "Well, it wouldn't be a secret if I walked around with cauliflower ears and a busted face. Magic does come in handy at times."
Draco had gotten his share of injuries. Broken bones, bruises, concussions, the whole lot. He knew that the fact that he always returned to Stygian without injury, with nothing to show that he had ever been in a ring, had only added to his mystique. He had challenges coming at all times, but after his first year of fighting, he no longer felt the need to prove himself time and again. He only fought when he wanted. When he had something to prove to himself.
Taryn walked forward, taking his hand in hers, and tip toeing to softly brush her lips against his. "I'm glad that you showed me this. Come, lets go get some sleep."
"Do you know why Malfoy is dropping quidditch? The match against Gryffindor is today!" Brice Urquhart, the Slytherin Captain, asked angrily.
Taryn and Chase were sitting in the library studying when the big burly Slytherin stormed up to them.
Taryn looked up at Urquhart, startled. "No. I don't know."
Brice looked at her in disbelief. "You're his girlfriend right?"
"How is that any of your business?" Taryn said sharply.
"Why do you care anyway?" Chase asked. "Malfoy wasn't that great of a seeker anyway."
At Taryn's look he added. "Well, he wasn't." He turned his attention back to Urquhart, "You're probably just missing his father's money. Need some new brooms for the team?" he asked, amused.
"You know what? I don't even care. First the bloke skips five practices, now he is flaking on the game. You tell him that its bad form to quit like this," Urquhart said huffily.
"I'm not Draco's personal assistant. If you want him to know something, then you can go tell him yourself," Taryn said.
Urquhart's sneered at her, before stalking away.
"Ugh, why is this happening to me?" Taryn moaned, resting her head on her crossed arms on the table.
"Maybe because you are dating one of the most well known blokes in the school," Chase said dryly.
Taryn's head snapped up. "We aren't dating."
"Well you're doing something. You spend more time in his room than you spend in ours. Just be honest with yourself. You like him. Everyone can see it. You may as well admit it."
"I know. I do like him, but now everyone expects me to be an expert on all things Draco. I'm still getting to know him."
"Well, Draco isn't the most personable guy. Maybe people find it easier to talk to you instead of him."
"I guess...Its just...Draco and I aren't traditional. Its not just a friends with benefits thing, but he isn't my boyfriend either," Taryn said.
"Actually, love, he kind of is. Remember when he was with Pansy? Even I can see that he cares about you more than he ever cared about her. So, different topic. Are you asking him to go with you to Slughorn's Christmas party?"
Taryn snorted. "Draco can't stand Slughorn, and when I mentioned it he said that it isn't his "scene"," Taryn said holding her fingers up in a parentheses as she stressed that last word.
"He does realize that it is a party where dates are expected right? I can't see him wanting you to go with someone else," Chase said, one eyebrow raised.
Draco's possessiveness in regards Taryn was now well known.
Blaise, after a few weeks of timid silence, had finally spilled about why Draco had attacked him, and now only the most ballsy of wizards tried to make a pass at Taryn, and then only when Draco wasn't around.
Wizards like Felix Serrano, a tall, handsome, dark eyed Ravenclaw, who had made it known that he was more than interested in her. Draco practically growled whenever the wizard so much as glanced at her, and while she found the posturing annoying, she was also slightly flattered.
"I'm not his property, and anyway that's why I'm taking you with me," Taryn ended on a grin.
"No can do, love. I have a fire call date with Ollie that night," he grinned.
Taryn sighed. "I'll guess I could go stag," she said standing and gathering her books. "I'm going back to the room. I'll see you later." She stopped by the lavatory on her way back to the Slytherin dungeons.
The lavatory was crowded, and she had to wait a moment before a toilet was open. She was washing her hands when a group of Gryffindor girls entered.
"I'm going to get him to ask me," one of the girls was saying. She had big dark eyes, and matching curly dark hair that reached her shoulders. Taryn quickly identified her as Romilda Vane.
"Harry Potter is a sixth year, with loads of other girls to choose from. Why would he choose you and not one of us?" another girl with stick straight blonde hair asked.
"Because unlike you, I have a plan," Romilda said archly.
"Really? And what is that?" The blonde asked.
"I'm going to give him a love potion, and he won't be able to resist asking me to Slughorn's party."
"Where did you get a love potion? I know you didn't brew it yourself," The blonde scoffed.
"Never mind where I got it, the fact is that I have one, and you don't, so it will be me that he asks. I can just imagine how this year will go. First it will be the party, then I'll be his girlfriend. Who knows? Later we might even marry. I could end up being the wife of the Chosen One."
Taryn was shocked. How stupid could the girl be? She was openly talking about how she planned to give Harry Potter a love potion. Taryn shook her head as she dried her hands. She had to tell Harry on the off chance that the girl actually had a working love potion.
It was by sheer stoke of luck that she saw him walking toward the library.
"Harry! Wait," she said walking faster to catch up with his long legged stride.
He stopped, looking at her in puzzlement. They hadn't spoken since the night she had helped him on the train. Not that she hadn't wanted to, but she just hadn't been able to find a moment to talk with him. They shared only a few classes, and between all the studying, and spending time with Draco she hadn't had time.
"Can I talk to you Harry?" she asked, noticing the looks that were being sent their way. It wasn't often that you saw a Slytherin girl chatting with a Gryffindor boy, especially not when the girl was involved with Draco Malfoy.
"I guess," Harry said hesitantly. He couldn't imagine why she wanted to talk with him, even he had heard about her and Draco. Who hadn't after that display in the Great Hall?
"Privately," she added, watching his brow raise at the word.
She walked with him into the library and further into the East Wing stacks.
Taryn didn't realize the significance of the location, or what it was used for. This far back in the library wasn't usually used for studying. Being a bookworm, she didn't know that this section of the library was used for for mature couples.
She also hadn't noticed the very interested looks being thrown their way as they made their way to the farthest of the stacks.
Harry crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to speak.
"I just wanted to give you a warning. I overheard Romilda Vane talking about how she wanted to slip you a love potion. She wants you to take her to Slughorn's party, though that seemed to be the lesser of her goals. Since she is a fourth year, and not a smart one at that, I bet she bought it from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"Why didn't you report her? And why are you warning me anyway? I wouldn't think that Malfoy's girlfriend would care about some girl dosing me," Harry said lowly. His eyes fairly glinted with suspicion behind his round glasses.
"They didn't have the potions with them. They were just discussing tactics, and you can't get in trouble for just talking. My relationship with Draco is irrelevant, I'm merely warning you of what I heard. If you choose not to heed it, then by all means let Romilda dose you. I'm sure The Prophet would love to report that you are getting married soon. You should take this seriously. Just invite someone to go with you, and that will stop these girls thinking that they have a chance. The party is tomorrow night, and they're getting desperate," Taryn replied. She hated that she no longer had Harry's trust.
"There isn't anyone that I want to invite, but thank you for the warning," Harry said grudgingly.
"Just be careful of what you drink, because Romilda Vane looked like she meant business," Taryn said grimly before turning to walk away.
"Hang on a moment," Harry said stopping her, "I thought Filch had banned anything bought at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?"
"When has anyone ever paid attention to what Filch has banned?"
"I thought all the owls were being searched. So how is she getting love potions into school?"
Taryn rolled her eyes. "Fred and George send them disguised as perfumes and cough potions. Its part of their Owl Order Service."
"You seem to know a lot about it," Harry said his eyes narrowed, "And you're on first name basis with Fred and George? I didn't think they had Slytherin friends."
Taryn realized her misstep, she was just so used to talking with Harry that she had slipped into her old patterns. "I have shopped there before. Besides it is on the brochures in their store, there for anyone to read."
"Fine. Forget it. The point is, that if Filch is being fooled, and girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as something else then anyone else can do the same. What is your boyfriend up to? What nasty little things is he slipping in? A necklace perhaps?"
Taryn had heard about the Katie Bell incident, that the girl had been cursed by a necklace, but she didn't want to believe that Draco had had anything to do with it. "What are you insinuating?" she asked quietly.
"Okay, I'll lay all my cards on the table," Harry said. "I think that Malfoy gave Katie the necklace after he smuggled it into the school somehow."
"Why would Draco give Katie a cursed necklace? What would be the reasoning behind that? Do you have any proof?" Taryn asked.
"No," said Harry, "But just before school started I saw Malfoy in Borgin and Burkes. Mr. Borgin gave him a box that could have had the necklace inside. I wasn't close enough to hear the conversation, but if it was what I thought it was he could have done it."
"That's a big if, Harry. Did you see him leave with it in hand?"
"No, but it could have been wrapped up. In fact, it would have had to be. Malfoy wouldn't want anyone seeing him leaving with it."
"Harry, you're grasping at straws," Taryn began, "You can't blame Draco because you saw him with a random box, one that you couldn't be sure actually held a necklace. Just because he was in the shop, doesn't mean that he bought that necklace. It could have been anything, and besides there are Secrecy Sensors that detect jinxes, curses and concealment charms for every package that comes through here. They would pick up a powerful cursed object. Something that is put in a wrong bottle, like love potions, wouldn't register, and they aren't Dark or dangerous – "
"That's easy for you to say. You don't have witches trying to love trap you!"
"Look, Filch is a Squib, he probably wouldn't catch the love potions, so watch your back. As far as Draco, until you have proof this is all pure conjecture –" she stopped dead. They both heard the sounds. Somebody had moved close behind them among the dim light that barely brought bookshelves out of shadow. They waited for a tense moment, and Madame Pince appeared around the corner, her thin, hawkish face illuminated by the lamp she carried.
"The library is now closed," she looked at them in disapproval, "Mind you return anything you have borrowed to their correct places."
Taryn sighed. The conversation had not gone the way she had planned. Now Harry was even more suspicious of her, and she doubted that he would trust anything she said in the future.
Furthermore, he had put some thoughts in her head that she wasn't yet ready to confront.
She was back in her room, pulling a night shirt over her head when she heard the knock on her door.
"Chase! I'm in the bathroom, can you get the door?" she called.
The person at the door knocked louder, she sighed. Chase was probably asleep already, which was exactly what she wanted to be doing. Ordinarily she would be in Draco's room, but after Harry's pointed remarks, she had felt the need to sleep in her own bed.
The door was practically rattling on its hinges with the force of the knocks against it. Her hand paused for a minute before she firmly grasped the handle, opening the door slowly.
Draco stood before her, and she didn't like the look of anger on his face.
.