Draco grasped my hand and I followed him around the side of the castle. He was disheveled, sweating lightly, but still handsome in his wrinkled dress robes. His stride was determined and I struggled to keep pace with him as we wound through the trees, staying in the shadows as much as we could. Finally he drew us to a stop. My heart was galloping in my chest and my feet had become wet with dew despite walking on my toes. Draco hadn't said a word, and our silence was subsumed by the chirping of birds and insects. Fog was starting to rise from the woods and move towards the castle across the wet grass. He looked down at me with eyes the same dark gray as the fog and smirked ever so slightly before reaching out and placing his palm against an unremarkable stone on a plain wall of the castle. The wall began to melt away, revealing a dark corridor with a staircase leading up to the right. Torches flared to life in succession along the hidden wall. He put his finger to his lips and then pulled me inside, the door disappearing behind us.

Where were we? I followed him up the stairs which twisted skywards and then turned abruptly. A secret passageway! It looked ancient, covered in dust, and the stonework was rough and blackened with centuries of soot. It turned again and ended at a large doorway. At Draco's touch this one also melted away to reveal a bedroom, lit with candles, and decorated in Slytherin green and silver with it's own fire, two leather chairs, a desk and wardrobe. Quidditch clothes and practice shirts emblazoned with MALFOY were carelessly strewn across an ottoman.

He hoisted me into his arms and carried me in. "This is my room," he told me in a low voice, before depositing me on the bed. "Don't stand on the floor," he reminded me. "I'm not sure what will happen to you exactly, but nothing good."

"Because girls aren't allowed up here?"

"Because you're not Slytherin."

"Oh. So, how is there a secret passage to your room?" I asked in wonderment.

"My ancestors have attended since the school opened. Someone built it a long time ago, and it's been convenient," he said nonchalantly.

"And Malfoys always get this particular room?," I asked incredulously. "Of course they do." I sighed at his bemused look. He moved towards me and kissed me again while I kneeled on the bed. There was so much I wanted to ask, but I knew words might disrupt the magic that existed between us tonight.

I dropped my shoes and brought my hands to his chest. Tonight I would have to trust my instincts and him. He shucked his outer robes and toed off his shoes before joining me in the bed. He helped me remove my jewelry and ran his hands along my satin dress, clearly enjoying the smooth texture before helping me undress. His eyes looked into mine, his expression uncertain. I pushed him back hoping my embrace would provide the assurance he needed.

It turned out that neither of us knew exactly what we were doing, but everything came instinctually, as natural as breathing or sweeping your arms to move underwater. During any awkwardness, he answered my smiles with his own, which had previously been so rarely bestowed. I simply let the rest of the world fall away and there was only him and me in this room tonight. There was no one else, no castle surrounding us, no morning that might change everything. As close as I had felt to him before, our intimacy had amplified the connection a thousandfold. Being married couldn't have bound me closer to him than i felt now. Afterwards, we laid together, my head resting on his chest. He finally spoke, "Parvati..."

"Yes," I responded.

"I... that was...I'm glad you're here."

"I love you too."

"That's not what I meant," he said.

I sighed, "Can we just be tonight? Not talk about it?"

"Yeah."

"I believe we have at least half a night left."

He chuckled and the magic was back.

Sometime later he dozed off. I figured I had a couple of hours before the sun would start to rise. Sleep was out of the question. I gingerly sat up in bed and stepped over to the ottoman. I pulled on one of Draco's practice shirts and began plotting how best to get over to the rest of the furniture to snoop. I might never get another chance. I climbed back to the bed and pushed the ottoman towards the desk as far as a I could before jumping back onto it, making a small thump as I landed. Draco remained sleeping, so I began to look through his books and papers. There was nothing of interest so I headed towards the wardrobe where I began sifting through his clothes, which were all plain gray, black, or dark blue, no patterns or colors in sight. I reached above the wardrobe and was feeling around on top. I found some random quidditch memorabilia for the Chudley Cannons.

"I keep all the good stuff in my nightstand." I was teetering precariously and so startled by his voice behind me that I fell and almost landed on the floor before he caught me around the waist in the nick of time.

Draco woke up, disbelieving he had actually fallen asleep. She had made him way too comfortable. He stretched his arm to the side wondering where she was before turning to see her standing on his desk rummaging through his wardrobe. He wanted to laugh at first but then seeing his name across the back of her shirt left a lump in his throat. He stared at the letters, MALFOY, shifting around as she stretched upwards, her long perfect legs on display underneath. He knew he would never forget the image.

He startled her on purpose and she came tumbling down, right back to him. He returned her to the bed and pulled on some pants before sitting down on the ottoman and thinking. She was looking at him, waiting for him to speak. Last night had definitely been worth it. He was pretty sure he could definitely let her go now. There was nothing left unfinished between them, eating away at him. Who was he fucking kidding. He was even more soul crushingly in love with her now than he had been yesterday.

"Does that mean I can look through your nightstand then?" she asked teasingly.

He moved to the nightstand and pulled out a potion bottle. "Actually I have something for you to take, a potion, to you know, prevent any consequences from last night." He held it out to her, feeling like an arse for ruining the fantasy they had both been living in with this reality check.

"Oh," she said taking it carefully. "It's okay," she pushed it back to him, "I don't need it. It's not the right time of the month for me," she said blushing slightly. Strangely he found her embarassment endearing.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm very regular, and I'm due in two days, so you don't have to worry," she averted her gaze. After a few moments she looked up and seemed to be gathering her courage. She met his eyes again, "And besides if by some miracle we had made a baby tonight, half you and half me, I would want to meet him." She shrugged casually.

He could only stare back. His chest felt heavy with longing. Why did she always say things like that? Paint these impossible dreams. She misinterpreted his silence, "No need to look so worried. I promise there is zero chance of any consequences, okay?" He nodded and took back the bottle replacing it in the nightstand. "What now?"

"I'll," his voice trembled and he cleared his throat, "I'll get you back to your room." She had heard the tremble and her eyes lit up.

"Is it still over between us?"

"Yes."

"Why Draco?" she sat back on her heels. "How could you break up with me now, after what we shared last night?"

"I told you it was just one night. We made a deal."

"To hell with that, I need some answers and I need them now."

"You promised."

"And I kept my word, YOU approached ME last night. Now I deserve to know."

Draco's frustration built, "You aren't safe with me."

"Yes I am."

"No, you fucking aren't", Draco almost yelled back. "That Bettlesby guy is after you because of me. He knows about us. He's scared you'll be used by someone on my side, and he should be. There are already people suggesting I use you for your power."

She looked at me stunned. "Who?"

"It doesn't matter, when they learn what you're actually capable of, it'll be everyone. Former Death Eaters, curse it, even my father will be thrilled to use you. And I will not allow it to happen. This was a one time deal, this is over."

"And you think leaving me will stop it?" Parvati asked with tears glistening in her eyes.

"Yes."

"Don't you think Bettlesby and the others will come for me anyway?" she asked.

"You'll find protection. Potter, or someone else will be able to protect you."

"Harry doesn't love me, Draco. You do," she said forcefully. "And believe it or not I will find a way to protect myself. I'm the one with the power, and I will learn to wield it."

"What are you suggesting Parvati? We were only going to see each secretly until the end of the school year, break up now or in two months, what difference does it make?"

"First of all it is no secret anymore, at least half a dozen people now know." Draco had already been keenly aware of that. "And second of all it does matter, if I get to be with the person I love for one extra minute, it would matter. I know you understand that, please just admit it."

"I...," Draco started his chest seriously on fire at this point. She couldn't be more right, and was tearing his heart to shreds. What she was suggesting was unfathomable. If they kept seeing eachother, it would eventually blow up in their faces. How much longer could they push it? He stepped towards her and kissed her soundly, quieting her at least for a moment. "Gods help me." He said pulling back. "Will I ever be rid of you?"

"Not yet."

"Let's get you back."

Draco took me back out through the secret passage and slipped me back into the castle through a window. I kissed him goodnight one more time before sneaking back to Gryffindor tower. My shoes were tucked into my arms, my dress was wrinkled, my hair tied back messily, and my makeup had long worn off. Anyone could have guessed what I'd been up to last night. When I was only steps away from the Fat Lady's portrait I heard the light footsteps of someone behind me and whipped around expecting to get caught, only to see Cormac also stepping carefully carrying his robes in one hand and looking as disheveled as I was. We stared at each other wide-eyed for a moment before bursting into suppressed laughter which eventually bubbled over audibly.

"Who's there?" I heard Filch call out from down the hall, before we both scrambled to open and rush through the entrance.

We were still laughing when we got inside, until we realized we weren't alone in the common room. Half the eighth years and a few seventh years were still awake, the party having lasted late into the night apparently. Seamus looked us over and guffawed. "Well, well, well, look who the cat dragged in. I don't need to ask what you two have been up to." Everyone started laughing, everyone but Fay who was giving me a disbelieving look.

Cormac and I exchanged glances and I shrugged. Denying it would be far worse. What could I say? 'No no, you see I was off losing my virginity with someone else entirely'.

"Good night guys," I said to a barrage of cat calls and whistles as I high-tailed it upstairs, jumped into the shower and finally was alone with my thoughts.

When I emerged, refreshed but still too jittery feel my exhaustion, Fay was there waiting impatiently at my bed. I climbed in next to her and drew the curtains so no one could hear us.

"I know you didn't do anything with McLaggen, so spill the beans, where have you been all night?" She whispered quickly.

"With Draco," I murmured and she flopped backwards and screamed into my pillow.

"Oh my Gods, tell me everything," she whispered. "And if you leave out any details, I'll know!"

I laughed, and complied. Talking to a best friend can make literally any terrifyingly monumental thing in your life seem ordinary and somehow okay. We were laying next to each when we finally drifted to sleep.