Draco knew he was in trouble, he was hot, too hot, and he knew his complexion was showing it, this was nothing compared to the other day when he sat beside Potter and felt like he was going to combust on the spot. This heat, was hotter, than anything he had ever felt before and desire sang throughout his entire body. He could do nothing but try and will himself to control it, but the close proximity he had with Potter, was beginning to take its toll.

This had been a bad idea. Why? Just why had he agreed to pretend to be a couple with Potter? Why had he agreed to put himself through such torture? But here he was, two weeks after receiving the package from the killer, in an over-packed wizarding nightclub, standing dangerously close to Potter.

'Draco?' she breathed into his ear. His breath hitched, he liked how his name sounded from her lips. He wondered how she would say it whilst lost with desire. He cursed his own thoughts, now was not the time to be thinking of - such things - not when they were this close - not when she was inches away from feeling his growing interest. It did not help matters that she looked absolutely stunning; Potter was wearing a simple black dress, that clung to her body in all the right places, her hair fell down in long curls and she had lost her glasses for the night. The simple changes had given her a complete transformation.

The back of her hand pressed itself against his forehead, and he forgot that he had the ability to breathe. 'Are you alright? You look a little pasty and feel a little hot.'

'I'm fine,' he said awkwardly, trying to compose himself, as her hand dropped to her side. 'It's just the enclosed space, and the number of people in it.'

Potter gave him a look of understanding as her eyes swept around the room. She did not say anything further, with the mixture of music and people's shouts and talking, the noise level was ridiculous to even try. They were not the only ones inside of the club, two female Aurors; sisters, had joined them, along with a few single males Aurors; led by Pearson were pretending to be on a lads night out. Weasley and another female Auror were surveying the main entrance and exit. So far they had themselves had not seen any signs of suspicious activity. And neither had the others since the only form of communication they had between themselves were their Auror watches.

The night had worn on; there had been no suspicious activity, a few fights had broken out, but nothing unusual when drink was involved. As the club emptied out, Potter exchanged an exasperated look with him. The killer had sent them on a wild goose chase. Weasley looked just as irritated, Draco noticed when they passed him at the exit.

'I'll see you back,' Draco said.

'You don't need to,' Potter muttered disregarding him, by waving it off.

'It's what one does, is it not, after a date,' Draco said, 'See's their date home safely.'

It was a feeble excuse, and from Potter's look of comprehension, she was fully aware of it.

'Fine,' she said, 'But I'm Apparating us.'

He had no choice in the matter, firstly he had no idea as into where she lived; secondly, Potter wasted no time in grabbing his arm and the next moment he was aware of the feeling of being tugged along, for she had Disapparated them both.

The Muggle town did not come as a surprise to him as he set his sights upon it in the short distance. The reason why was because if one wanted to stay off grid and away from the wizarding world, they chose to live in either a secluded area or somewhere with lots of Muggles around; the wizarding community, though understanding of Muggles, liked to mix with their own kind. The Statue of Secrecy was one reason, and besides magic was easier to talk about when people who actually understood you. Potter had secluded herself while in the wizarding community it was only reasonable conclusion that she had done the same with her home. And her home was very secluded, they walked for a good fifteen minutes, following a narrow path, that seemed to be swallowed by tall hedges on both sides. Until finally, a simple detached house could be seen ahead of them. For some reason, Potter's house was exactly the type of place he pictured her being in.

'I thought -' Potter sighed, as the house neared, 'Never mind.'

'I know how you're feeling - I'd hoped he'd be there too.'

Potter gave a forced smile, and looked at her surroundings, 'If you tell anyone that this place exists - I might just have to kill you.'

For a moment, he thought she was actually being serious, until he caught the small smirk on her face.

'So - you've seen me back to The Marauders' Hideout - you can go now.'

'You called this place The Marauders' Hideout?' Draco said amused. How had she come up with such a name?

'It was relevant.' she said, 'And worthy of being one.' she laughed at him, clearly entertained by something, 'It's actually called The Thicket.'

'Because of the Hedges,' Draco commented, it makes sense with all wild hedges that led up to the house.

'You'd think so - but no, a completely different reason is behind the name,' Potter said, and she turned to stop to face him, they were feet away from her green coloured front-door. The green door was the only thing he hadn't been expecting. 'Go home Draco, I think I can safely make my way into my own home from here.'

'I don't know,' Draco joked, looking around over his shoulders, and added in a serious tone, 'I'd hate to break it to you, but there is a killer on the loose.' Draco reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, he had been itching to do so; he had watched Potter repeatedly doing so all night. Potter's eyes seemed startled by his actions.

A ringing sound sounded from his watch - Draco dropped his gaze from the emerald eyes that had been holding his own. It seemed their time had not been wasted after all - but something was wrong, this was not an ordinary call - or an ordinary message -

'Isn't that an SOS, an Auror SOS,' Potter said.

Potter was right, one of the team members were in trouble and sounded an emergency call. Draco wasted no time, he gripped Potter's arm and Apparated them to the SOS. Unlike their usual messages where they had to put in coordinates an SOS automatically put the coordinates in.

They landed in a rather dense forest, darkness surrounding them on all sides, there were further familiar sounds of cracks, they had not been the only ones to answer the call. Potter lit her wand, and from it, he saw Weasley a short distance away.

A shout came from out of the darkness.

'OVER HERE!'

Draco turned, Potter's wandlight lit the area from where the shout sounded, first the ground, then higher until it hit a life-form; Ryan Pearson.

'They're over here,' he pointed behind him, his own wand now lit too, 'I got here first - and appeared nearest - they're over here.' His voice seemed out of place - something was not right.

They followed him, after a short walk of five minutes through the trees, they came to a ditch, that had been earth made. The two Aurors; the sister Aurors, that had assisted them that night, were in it. It soon became apparent why Pearson's voice seemed out of place. Both of the girls lay dead, bodies naked - there were no traces of blood. Draco stumbled down into the ditch, the wandlight hovering over him. Both of girls eyes seemed to be bulging out of their sockets and foam filled their mouths. Poison, they would have had minutes to live - Draco searched the bodies wrists with his eyes, not wanting to disturb the scene - until he saw it - a small flashing light from one of the watches - the watch that had made the SOS - the last act the younger sibling had made - at least coherently. But it had been too late, the poison had done it's work. And now they lay in the middle of a forest, both sexually displayed, like an offering just like in James Evans double killing scene. But this one came with a note - a note - or to be exact a message, that had been left in the dirt besides the bodies: IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE THAT EASY.