Every once in a while, there seems to be a moment where time stands still. The wind ceases to blow, voices quiet to a lull, and even the stars fade the darkness. Kissing Astoria Greengrass felt like one of those moments, like he was unlocking a whole new world, and in there was just him and her and their shared caresses. His mind was bursting with colors that he could hardly comprehend, his entire being devoted to memorizing exactly what it felt like to be with her.

Draco kissed Astoria before, down on the Quidditch pitch. But something about this was different. As their lips moved together in a tender rhythm—almost as if both of them knew exactly what the other wanted—Draco sensed a shift. Perhaps it was the new emotion that sparked inside of his soul every time he was near her. Perhaps it was something to do with the renewed look she gave him ever since he revealed exactly how much he paid attention to her. Or perhaps it was just the beauty of kissing his dream girl hitting him all over again.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her even closer. The other was used to tilt her head up, his thumb stroking her delicate neck. Astoria sank into his embrace, though whether it was from passion or firewhisky, he wasn't sure. She tasted a little bit like the liquor but mostly like her lipgloss; he would have to remember what it was so he could always taste it whenever he kissed her.

Pressing his body into hers, he lifted her legs and placed them around his waist. He pushed her back into the wall and enjoyed the slight gasp that left her body as his hardened member lined up with her core. Later, he thought. She was too drunk for him to do anything more than kiss. Draco was nothing if not respectful. Besides, he knew her well enough to know that she would be mortified to know she made any sort of decision like that whilst intoxicated. Now, if she wanted to while she was sober, he was more than happy to make that happen...

"Draco," Astoria whispered, her voice half-dazed.

He broke away from their kiss just to move his lips down her jawline. "Yes, my love?" he answered gruffly through open-mouthed kisses.

"Draco, I-" she stuttered but she never finished her thought. It wasn't like Astoria to be at a loss for words, though his tongue darting out to caress her neck probably had something to do with the change.

"Cat got your tongue, darling?" he said with a smirk.

"I don't think it's my tongue that's the issue."

He chuckled deeply. "Well, by all means, tell me where you'd prefer it."

Astoria blushed pink—the only color she was currently wearing with her white and silver outfit, a thought that made him laugh again. "That isn't an answer for civilized conversation," she said indignantly.

Okay, now I know she's drunk. Astoria would never imply that she wanted his tongue anywhere, but her answer pretty much told him all that he needed to know. She's drunk and she wants me. The latter part of that statement practically made him swoon, the former just made him snap out of it.

"Since I am nothing if not civilized, I will just have to settle for your pretty lips," he whispered, bringing his mouth back to hers and connecting them once more. This time, his tongue pressed against her lips, asking for silent permission. She opened for him instantly. In fact, she even grabbed his hair and leaned into his embrace, though he just pushed her back against the wall. The last thing he needed was for the two of them to topple over and for Astoria to hurt herself.

Their kisses were slow and filled with passion that could hardly be contained. While their kiss in the grass was fiery and passionate, built mostly on adrenaline, this kiss had a sort of tenderness. A tenderness that Draco had only ever felt for Astoria.

As he kissed her, Draco finally realized what the Icarus bloke was always going on about. Astoria Greengrass was like the sun, radiant, warm, and dangerous to be near. But despite his better judgment—and his morals, really—he couldn't help but fly closer just so he could be near her for even a second. At that moment, he was sure Icarus never cared about his wings melting. All he cared about was the fact that he flew, even for the briefest of moments, to the bright ball of light he had always adored.

"Merlin, you taste incredible," he groaned into her mouth, wishing desperately he could take her to his dorm room and do everything that he definitely wasn't supposed to do with her. She giggled, a sound that made him feel as if he was flying. I caused that. I brought her that bit of happiness. He would do anything to hear it again and again.

But before he could go back to her lips, a voice sounded from behind his back. "Malfoy? Greengrass?"

He turned with a little bit of rage, a little bit of fear, and a lot of annoyance to find a peculiar sight, one that brought a rising smirk to his face.

Theodore Nott was standing in front of him, reeking of cigarette smoke and whatever other smells lingered from the common room party. Though that wasn't odd in itself; Theo went to any party he could. No, what was odd was the sleeping girl in his arms, curled up against his chest as if she were a porcelain doll.

It was Aria Berkshire.

Draco's smirk grew wider. Oh, Enzo wouldn't like this. He wouldn't like this at all. This moment was an opportunity. A blackmail for a blackmail. "I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Theo scoffed. "Berkshire told me to watch his sister. That's what I'm doing. You, however... well I don't think Daph asked you to do this."

Draco turned to where Astoria was pinned against the wall with dazed eyes. Then, he looked back to where Theo stood with the girl and laughed."Uh-huh. Right. I'm sure Berkshire asked you to stroke her hair and grab her ass and bring her to bed."

Theo's hand instantly moved to a less... compromising position. But it didn't matter. Draco had seen enough. "What I'm doing—which is just tucking a drunk girl into bed as a favor to her brother—is far worse than whatever is going on here." Draco opened his mouth to call Theo out on the awful lie but Theo just glared. "But I will keep your secret if you keep mine."

He felt his lips turn upward. Draco glanced back at Astoria. She's so drunk she won't remember this deal at all. And it was safe to say that Aria definitely wouldn't remember it either. He turned back to his friend, chuckling, "Carry on then, mate," before bringing his lips back to Astoria's neck.

He kissed her for a few more moments, listening as the sounds of Theo's footsteps echoed in the stairwell. When he had been gone enough, Draco ceased his pursuit of Astoria's neck. She made a noise that sounded like a mixture between a whine and a moan—and fuck did it make him hard—but Draco just kissed her cheek. "Come on, love. It's time for bed."

"But I don't want to go to bed," she groaned. Her body immediately went slack in his arms but she was so light that it didn't matter.

"Well, what would you like to do my darling?"

Astoria stuck out her bottom lip. "I want to keep kissing you."

He chuckled. "You are the most adorable pain in the ass there is," he murmured, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead. But his lips did nothing to stop her pout. If anything, it made it bigger because she realized she could manipulate him with those fucking endearing puppy dog eyes.

"Drayyyyy," she whined.

"Tell you what, my love. We can go back to my dorm where we won't be interrupted. We can kiss all night if you want, as long as you're awake." Though from the way her body continued to droop, that probably would be very soon.

"Promise?" she asked, pouting again. Every time she stuck her bottom lip out like that, he wanted to kiss her senselessly.

Draco grinned and gave her a peck, more to appease himself than her if he was being honest. Still, it brought back the radiant smile to her face so he was satisfied it worked.

"Let's go to bed," he whispered, putting his arms under her ass and slowly carrying her up the stairs. Her head slumped against his shoulder. "My poor angel."

"I'm not an angel," she muttered sleepily. A yawn soon overtook her features.

Draco kissed the top of her head, enjoying the smell of strawberries and linen that lingered in the tresses. "You're my angel."

Astoria shook her head. "Nuh-uh."

I like drunk Astoria. "You're cute." They were approaching his dormitory.

She leaned back and smiled. Her smile is so pretty. It was amazing how his every thought was about her. Draco was dedicated to this girl, the one who stole his soul with just a sweet little smile. He was beginning to love her, he realized. And while love was once something that seemed far away—something he had to earn from his parents by being a perfect son, perfect student, perfect Quidditch player, perfect everything—now, it didn't seem so unrealistic. Love with Astoria Greengrass was easy, like sitting on a broom and feeling it fly so naturally. It was easy and good and so amazing. Because even though everything told him that their love was wrong, he knew that something this incredible couldn't be anything but right.

"I think you're cute, Draco Malfoyyyy," she drawled, poking his nose with her index finger. He just laughed and kissed it.

They reached his dormitory. Draco kicked down the door and laid her down on his bed. She curled up against the covers, nuzzling into his pillow. He felt his lips turn upward as he watched her make herself at home. This is her home, he thought. She's my home and I am hers.

Draco walked over to his dresser and pulled out the only pajamas he owned. They were a dark green silk pair, ones he only wore in the winter. He made a note to order some nightgowns and other things for her to keep at his dormitory. Hopefully, this wasn't the last time Astoria stayed the night.

"Are you going to sleep with me?" she muttered as she began to dress in the pajamas. He had to force himself to turn away. Looking was tempting but he would never risk her trust over a little peak.

"Yes," he murmured. Stare at the wall, Draco. Stare at the wall. He told himself that it was the most interesting wall to exist, though anyone with a brain (or a dick) would know that wasn't true.

"Why?"

Because I can't bear to be apart from you, not when I'm not sure you won't change your mind again. "Because I want to keep an eye on you. You're still drunk, my love, and I don't want anything to happen to you." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the full truth. She mumbled something under her breath about being dressed. He turned to find her sitting sweetly on his bed. Something about her in his dorm, dressed in his clothes, both endeared and turned him on. He adjusted himself, stripping down to his underwear and clearing his throat. "Is that alright?"

Astoria bit her lip and held back a smile. "Yes," she said, blushing fiercely. He chuckled and walked over to the bed. After tucking her in the silk sheets, he laid down on the bed, keeping a respectable distance away from her. She looked at him and frowned, her furrowed eyebrows creating a little notch on her forehead that he was dying to kiss. "Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Can... can you hold me?"

He couldn't move across the bed fast enough. Draco was quickly wrapping her in his arms, pulling her to his chest with a happy sigh. She nuzzled into his body and sighed right back.

As Astoria's breathing began to slow, Draco finally relaxed, the smell of strawberries lingering in the air. She began to softly snore, a very quiet, adorable sound that he prayed he could hear for the rest of his life. He smiled, kissed her forehead once more, and closed his eyes. "Get some rest, my love. I'll be here when you wake up." I'll be here forever.

I just love reading Draco's thoughts about Astoria. He truly loves her, it makes my heart ache. What do you all think? Please review and follow. Thanks! xx