A/N: So my computer quit on me and I had to get a new one and completely recover some documents. This story had been finished in the meantime on my tablet (that's an annoying adventure I will NEVER repeat!) so I will be steadily posting chapters to finish this story out. Sorry about everything yall! Oh and in case I didn't mention this before...

DISCLAIMER! I do not own any rights to Harry Potter or any of the characters from the books, movies, games, etc. Lara and her family though and Draco's daughter, well, I made them up and I like them!

Ch. 3

Draco and Lara continued to eat together breakfast, lunch and dinner. When she didn't have tutoring sessions, which were thankfully becoming less and less as the weeks wore on, they were out in the horse field. Sometimes, things were quiet and neither really spoke. They were comfortable with each other and words were not needed all the time. When they did speak, they asked questions about each other, shared their dreams of the future. Soon the schools mutterings died down, but the vicious looks just got worse watching the two of them walking back and forth to their classes. They commonly held hands now, both enjoying the feeling of comfort touching each other gave them, but besides the soft kisses on the cheek to say good night, neither had pushed it any further.

It was nearing Christmas and Hogwarts was abuzz with the holiday spirit. Students were packing and getting ready to go home, but those who were staying were invited to a Christmas Ball this year that Hogwarts was hosting. With such a big thing going on, that's all anybody could talk about, including Draco and Lara.

"So you are staying too then?" Draco kept his head down in his book as they did homework in the library. He was worried his excitement might show a little too much if he looked up at her. She had an uncanny ability to read his emotions.

"Yeah, my dad and mom are traveling so I decided to stay here. Besides, I'd like to spend Christmas with you." Her cheeks were a bit red in that slight blush she always wore when she said something she considered even a little forward. Her eyes were roaming her book as she worked to complete an essay they both had for charms.

"What are they doing?"
"They are studying migrations of a small family of phoenixes. They are very rare in the wild and almost impossible to locate. They are hoping that watching the juveniles grow will lead them to more adult phoenixes when it is time for them to find a mate. Why aren't you going home?"

"My family isn't very enjoyable to be around," Draco grumbled, clearly not wanting to talk about it. He brightened a little though as he thought of something. "That means you will get to see a Hogwarts Ball though. I never really enjoyed them in the past, but I think I might like this one."

"Why's that?" She was still slightly distracted by their essay.

"Well, I'm hoping you will agree to go with me?" The way he phrased the end of it made it into a question. "Of course, that's if you aren't going with someone else."

Lara jerked up from her essay with a dazzling smile that never failed to make Draco catch his breath. "I'd love to go with you, hun. I was kind of hoping you would ask."

"So no one else has asked you?" Draco was surprised that she said yes so quickly and more shocked that she hadn't been asked.

Lara's cheeks grew red again. "No, I've been asked," she started, "But I didn't want to go with anyone else."

Draco gave her a small smile and reached over to take her hand that wasn't holding her quill. Lara's blushed deepened and she leaned closer and laid her head on his shoulder. "I don't feel like doing any more of this tonight, Draco." She let out an exhausted sigh and looked up at him from his shoulder. "Walk me to the common room?"
Draco nodded, feeling a slight lump in his throat. Suddenly, the air felt more charged to him. He felt the change between them and was unsure what to do with it. Quietly, he gathered up his things as Lara packed her own. Before she could grab her bag, Draco picked it up and swung it over his shoulder. Lara looked as if she might protest, but all thoughts of it went away when Draco slipped his free arm around her waist and pulled her closer so his arm rested comfortably as they began the ascent to the distant tower.

As high up as it was, the two students were so used to making long climbs on the many stairs that it didn't take long to reach. The few students who saw them either glared or averted their eyes, but Draco and Lara were in their own little bubble as they processed this new development in their relationship. Soon enough they stood before a picture that held a snoozing, very fat woman.

"Well, I go in through here," Lara said a little hesitantly, looking up at Draco through her lashes. Draco just now realized that he was almost six inches taller than her petite form.

Draco glanced over at the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Our entrance is in the dungeons. It's a snake statue that slithers out of the way to let us in."

"I'd like to see that," Lara said brightly with wonder at the new. Her smile was gorgeous and reached her eyes, making them sparkle. Draco found himself almost hypnotized by the brilliance shining through them. Before he had time to think about his actions, he pulled Lara closer with his arm around her waist. He dimly registered that she eased up on her toes to reach him easier and watched her eyes flutter close moments before his closed and their lips met. Her lips were gentle and soft against his own and seemed to fit perfectly. The world sank away for them both as they gave their senses over to the feelings coursing through them both. Her arms wound loosely around his neck, pulling him closer as Draco deepened the kiss, running his tongue lightly across her bottom lip. Answering his unspoken question, Lara parted her lips and allowed their tongues to touch.

"Ehm!" Draco and Lara jumped apart, staring at the Fat Lady, who was looking exceptionally disgruntled. "This is a school corridor and it is almost curfew, Miss McConnell and Mr. Malfoy."

Lara gave an embarrassed giggle. "Good night, Draco," she murmured softly and swiftly kissed his cheek as she grabbed her bag, much to the portrait's displeasure. Draco watched her start to climb through the portal hole after a quickly whispered password that he didn't quite catch.

"Good night, Lara," he called softly after her as the picture swung close. Before the Fat Lady could start lecturing, he turned and left for his own common room.

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