By My Side

Eve was sure she was dreaming, she could see only a haze of lights, and could hear distant voices. She was frightened by the immense pain in her legs, and considered screaming with agony, until she hear fervent cries from just beside her, but she daresent move her head to see, she feared her neck may snap.

"Madam Pomfrey! come quick! Eve's awake!" It was Hermione Granger.

"Let me through, let me through." Came an unfamiliar, more mature voice. Eve began to cough and splutter, her throat suddenly as dry as the desert. "Here, have some water my dear." A cup was offered to her mouth, and it spilled a little on her, as her eyesight was blurred still beyond belief. She made a desperate noise and began to softly cry and she drank the cool liquid.

"Eve. It's okay, we're here." Someone had hold of her hand, but the voices were now fading and before she knew it, Eve re-joined the blissful rhelms of sleep.

******

When Eve woke again, it was night. Her eyes had cleared, although the pain in her legs was still achingly there. She propped herself up on her elbows and took a look around. The only light in the room came from a study at the end, and Eve couldn't help but think the hospital wing (because that's where she decided she must be) was very lonely. There was a slight snoring noise to her left though, and looking across she saw the familiar form of her father, sleeping in the chair next to her bed. For some reason, the sight made her giggle, even through the pain in her legs.

"Dad!" She whispered. "Dad!" A tentative hand reached out and poked her father in the leg.

"Ugh?" Remus shook his head, then realising where he was, he smiled brightly to see his daughter awake. "Good Morning."

"Hey. How did I end up here?"

"You fell off your broom." He explained quickly, eyes scanning the end of the wing towards the only light in Madam Pomfrey's office. "How's the pain?"

"Awful." Eve gritted her teeth, finally realising the true searing pain sweeping her body.

"Madam Pomfrey said to expect that."

"Are they broken?" Eve asked, indicating her legs.

"They were." Her father nodded gravely. "But the bones were mended. You tore all your ligaments and strained the muscles. That's what is causing the pain."

"Oh." Eve said sadly.

"Harry and Hermione and Ron have not long left you." Remus told her, smiling a little at the thought of the good friends his daughter had made.

"Have they?" Eve perked up.

"Yes. Harry seemed especially worried for you. He was staying over-night until Madam Pomfrey threatened to wait until he fell asleep then levitate him back to Gryffindor Tower anyway." Eve grinned at the thought. "He said he'd be back as soon as he could tomorrow, and that I was to inform him should your condition change. Looks like you've made quite an impression on him." Remus grinned.

"Oh quit it dad!" Eve laughed. "He's my friend, that's all." She was, however, blushing.

"Well, I guess I'd best tell Poppy you're awake." Remus got up and went down to the office with the light on, and minutes later and older looking matron bustled up the ward to Eve. At first Eve felt a little frightened, thinking the woman had sent her father away, but he appeared seconds later and sat back in his vigil seat.

"Lie down Eve!" Madam Pomfrey practically pressed her into the bed. "I can give you something for the pain in your legs, if you need it."

"Yes, please!" Eve said quickly, noting how desperate she sounded, and seeing her father's face darken with a frown.

"I must explain," The now kindly looking matron began, "What has happened here exactly. You fell from a great height," (she clicked her tongue and muttered, 'brooms') "And consequently broke your shoulder bone. Your arm, too, was snapped in half. You hit you head quite badly at the side, which will probably result in headaches within the next few days. Your legs however, are a more serious matter."

"Oh shi-"

"Eve!" Remus stopped her, and she managed a half-smile.

"It seems both legs were broken, which I fixed with a simple spell. Torn ligaments, especially as many as you had, I cannot work so easily with. Tendons were snapped and muscles were severely strained. I know of a potion, which Professor Snape is now in the process of brewing up, which can help the healing of these ailments. It will take at least two weeks though, and conventional pain relief spells will not surfice for that long. This is why I will administer a deadening spell as soon as you give your permission."

"Deadening?" Eve frowned. "Sounds scary."

"It's simple." Madam Pomfrey bristled, "You will loose all feeling in your legs for two weeks, to give the other potions time to work."

"So I won't be able to walk?" Eve asked, horrified.

"Certainly not!" The nurse said, shocked. "I estimate a month before we see you up and about again."

There was a sickly silence.

"What about classes?"

"Your friends can bring you notes, and homework assignments, but you will need to stay in the infirmary for at least the next three weeks."

Eve groaned. "I'm never getting on a broom again."

"Shall I bring the deadening solution?" The matron asked.

"Yes, please." Eve spoke in a whisper.

"It'll be gone before you know it." Remus told his daughter, resting his hand on hers. "Needn't worry eh? at least you get out of classes. You'll have plenty of visitors, I'll come and see you every day, and I'm sure Harry will join me in that job." Remus grinned and Eve managed a laugh. "Ron, and Hermione too. Sirius will be here in a few days, so he'll pop in no doubt. Oh, and Jenna is coming to see us in the next few weeks as well."

"Auntie Jenna?" Eve asked, grimacing, but not through pain.

"Yes. She said she wanted to see how you're settling in, and she hasn't been to Hogwarts in such a long time. She's making some kind of tour of the relatives before the baby's born."

Eve's auntie Jenna was small and fat, her father's sister, and already had six children, whom she carted round in a herd and reminded Eve of a farmer with cattle. She was expecting her seventh baby and month now, and while she was a kindly woman, she scared Eve a little. All the women on her fathers side of the family had families as large as six or seven, and she worried that one day too, people would fear her bringing her growing brood around to their house.

"Why's uncle Sirius coming?"

"Well," Remus looked around for Madam Pomfrey, then hushed his voice to a whisper and leaned in to his father. "There's been some Death Eater activity in London, Muggles killed, the Ministry still won't admit that Voldemort is back and so Albus is bringing everyone together for a meeting, we have to act quickly."

"Oh dad, do be careful!" Eve eyed her father suspiciously, she hated him being involved in such dangerous tasks, but she knew it was for the good of the wizarding world, so she let him be. She knew that her uncle Sirius would look after her father, she had made him promise so, but she still got worried and thanked each day that passed with no word of Voldemort. Those who did believe he was back however, all wondered why there had so far been little sighting of him. This, Eve sighed, was probably the beginning.

"Of course." Remus smiled, than sat back up when Poppy Pomfrey walked to wards them, steaming beaker in her hand.

"Right, drink this." The matron ordered, and Eve took it from her.

"Do I just knock it back?" She asked, and saw her father smile warmly from the corner of her eye.

"Yes." The matron nodded. Eve stared at the purple steaming liquid with her nose wrinkled. She looked to her father and he nodded.

"Go ahead sweetheart." So Eve did.

"I can still feel the pain." She said immediately.

"It'll take a few hours. You had best get some more sleep while you can dear."

"Okay." Eve lay down. She couldn't turn on her side, as the pain in her legs was too great, and her right shoulder seemed to sting, so she just lay on her back with her eyes closed. She now had her favourite pyjamas on, and wondered when the change had occurred. Probably while I was asleep, she thought.

"I'll stay until you nod off." Her father whispered to her, then kissed her forehead.

"Mmm," Eve murmured, as she was already half asleep.

******

Eve's accident was all around the school by nightfall. A first year hufflepuff had been talking a walk down by the Quidditch pitch when the accident occurred, and he ran to tell everyone he knew, who in turn ran to tell everyone they knew.

The news inevitably reached Draco Malfoy after dinner.

"Tag Wilson said she nose-dived."

"She must have broken every bone in her body!"

"Huh! stupid Gryffindor, crap flyer like the rest of them!"

The Slytherin common room erupted in laughter.

Draco had noted the absence of Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Eve Lupin. This was because he had secretly taken to watching Eve during meals. He found himself mesmerised by the way she moved. Eve the slightest thing, like picking up her knife or leaning forward to take a drink of her pumpkin juice. You're becoming obsessed. His brain told him one afternoon, and against his will, he smiled to himself.

The news of the fall shocked Draco, and the first thing he thought was that he would no longer have anyone to stare at during meal times, but then again, he figured, Eve would probably be out in a few days time.

How wrong he was.

********

Hermione Granger was convinced Eve's broom had been hexed to throw her off. Ron however, wasn't so sure.

"Who would do that Herm?"

"The same person sending those nasty letters of course Ron!" Hermione said impatiently. They were in the Gryffindor common room the morning after the event, waiting for Harry so that they could go down to breakfast.

"How was he last night?" Hermione asked Ron quietly, before Harry turned up.

"How was who?" Ron frowned.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed. "Merlin, Ron! didn't you see him, after we left the hospital wing, he was really subdued. Did he say anything to you?"

"No." Ron said blankly. "He seems fine 'Mione, you worry too much."

"Huh!" Hermione placed her hands on her hips, and a row was about to break out between the two when Harry appeared.

"Morning." He smiled weakly. "Do you think we should go to the hospital wing or......?"

"I think we have breakfast first." Hermione smiled kindly at her friend, the anger draining out of her. "Come on." She linked her arm through his when she saw the downcast look on his face.

At breakfast, the whole of Gryffyndor house were a little more quiet than usual. Everyone had taken a liking to the happy, kind girl who had joined their house at the start of the school year. Hermione wasn't the only one who suspected the broom had been hexed either.

"From what that Hufflepuff lad described, sounds like it was Eve's lousy flying that caused the fall." Dean Thomas said to anyone who would listen.

"Who would be so evil as to hex Eve? she's lovely." Seamus commented.

"Oh yeah Seamus?" George grinned with a wink. Harry suddenly felt like hurting the small Irish boy he shared a dorm with.

"She's always been really kind to me." Neville Longbottom put in quietly, chewing on his toast.

"She's a good person Neville." Hermione smiled. "I'd put it down to a Slytherin."

"That's not like you Hermione!" Parvati Patil frowned, "Accusing someone without any evidence."

"Yeah Herm, we all really like Eve, but maybe the jinxed broom was meant for someone else." Lavender Brown suggested, "Afterall, Professor Trelawny never said anything about a fall to Eve, and surely she would have seen something this big coming."

"Her?" Hermione snorted. "She couldn't predict the future if someone played it for her on film!"

"Calm down Herm." Ron touched his friend's arm and she immediately fell silent.

"Anyway," Harry said quietly. "We should be worrying about Eve, not trying to pin blame. She's the victim, no matter who the broom was meant for."

"You're right Harry!" Katie Bell spoke up. "I'm sure Fred and George can come up with something to cheer the poor girl up."

"After all," Said Seamus, "Isn't she always makin' us laugh with that happy smile of hers?"

"Hmm," Fred considered. "I suggest a party, for when she is let out of the hospital wing. What do you say brother?"

"I say defiantly. You find out when she'll be back Harry and we'll make the plans."

"Honestly!" Angelina tutted, kissing George on the cheek, "Any excuse for a party."

"What will she do about flying, now Hermione?" Neville asked.

"I'm not sure Neville, but she'll have to learn sometime."

"She can have my broom in future." Harry said firmly.

"Hmm," Ron agreed through a mouthful of toast. "And we'll all keep an eye on her."

*******

Draco had hoped Eve would wander in for breakfast with Potty and his 'followers', but she didn't, and he found himself sighing, a strange feeling of concern building in his chest. All the little Gryffindors were sitting around chatting like nothing had happened! He had heard roumers the broom Eve was flying had been hexed, and he silently agreed, although he was clueless as to who could have done it. Generally if there was any Gryffindor teasing going on in Slytherin, he either administrated it, or was at least informed, but he'd heard nothing about these mysterious letters Potter had accused him of either. It seemed someone had a grudge against Eve, and the doubt about it being one of his fellow housemates was growing by the minute in Draco's mind. If that was the case, he wondered who could be doing these things to the object of his affections. He would have to do some detective work.

******

Just as Draco was sitting down to Transfiguration and half listening to what Crabbe was avidly saying beside him, Professor Lupin walked in and made his way over to Potter and Weasley and Granger. Draco strained to hear their conversation, pretending to be looking at the blackboard.

"Won't be out for at least three weeks." He heard the DADA teacher say.

"Damn." He muttered. I'll never get to see her. He thought. Poor Eve, something so beautiful doesn't deserve such pain. God, I'm getting sentimental, going soft even. Draco tried to put Eve out of his mind, and turned to listen to what his Neanderthal friends were talking about.

On the other side of the classroom, Harry listened sadly as his favourite teacher told them all the bad news.

"She won't be out for at least three weeks. She's had to have some serious deadening potion, so she won't be able to feel her legs."

"Oh!" Hermione cried, "That has horrible side effects!"

"Yes, I know, but Madam Pomfrey says the nausea and headaches she will feel will be a lot better than the pain she would otherwise suffer in her legs."

"Poor Eve." Ron moaned, feeling genuinely bad for the girl he had grown fond of.

"When can we go and see her?" Harry rushed out, then realising his open eagerness, blushed a little.

"Anytime you want." Remus held back a chuckle. Harry often reminded him of James when they had been at school. When Lily came on the scene, James would risk all sorts of trouble to see her, then blush profusely and claim no feelings for the girl to his friends. Sirius, of course, would tease him rotten about the whole thing.

"We'll go before dinner." Hermione put in, as she could see Harry wanted to rush away now.

"I'd best get to my class." Remus excused himself. "If you see her, tell her I'll be back there tonight." With that, he left and nodded to an approaching Professor McGonagall in the corridor.

Harry couldn't concentrate in Transfiguration. They were trying to change water into other drinks, such as wine and orange juice, but no matter how hard he tried, his mind was somewhere else.

That somewhere, of course, was the hospital wing. He had his own ideas on whether Eve's broom was hexed. He thought that it was, and was almost completely sure it was Malfoy, knowing how much he hated Professor Lupin from third year. It was also the general run of thought in the school that Dumbledore was immobilising some kind of army against Voldemort, and so it was partly suspected that Professor Lupin had been brought back to teach DADA because he was part of this army. Only Harry and probably Eve, he suspected, knew this was true. Harry had been told all this in his letter from Sirius, and had been explained to that the movement of those on the light side was growing. Those that had not or could not have been contacted over the summer were now joining up, and Sirius had seemed positive when he spoke in his letter about the Voldemort counter-force. More would be revealed though, he knew, when Sirius visited soon.

Harry felt he needed to protect Eve for two reasons. One was that he was now getting increasingly romantic ideas on the girl. In fact, last night in the hospital wing, the need to hold her became almost overwhelming for him. He had to go outside for fresh air because he thought if he didn't he might break down, seeming her prone form lying on the bed limply. The sight that had met his eyes when he rushed to her immediately after she fell of her broom, arms and legs sticking out at all angles, had horrified him. A piece of beauty he thought, broken and bashed on the floor. At first the imagine had reminded him of seeing Cedric's dead body lying next to him in the graveyard, and he had heard a whisper of 'Kill the spare' echo in his head. He knew vehemently he would never let that happen to Eve. He would die saving her if he must, but he would die all the same.

The second reason he wanted to protect Eve was because he suspected that whoever was doing this was trying to get Professor Lupin occupied in things other than putting his knowledge of defence against the dark arts to use. Malfoy came into Harry's mind once more when he considered this, and although he was almost certain if was his nemesis causing all the problems, he had no proof, as yet, and so decided to make it his business to catch Malfoy at it.

Anger welled up inside Harry when he thought of the girl he loved, (loved? he thought, do I love her? well, yes, I suppose, even if it is only as a friend, the same way I love Hermione and Ron.) being hurt by anyone, especially by Malfoy. Unfortunately, as Harry got this surge of hate, it was his turn on the beaker of water that he shared with his two friends for the transfiguration experiment. Within seconds of Harry pointing his wand at the beaker, it smashing into a thousand tiny pieces and water splashed all over Ron.

"Oi! Harry!" Ron frowned. "Watch it!"

"Sorry." Harry said, looking downcast once more. He flopped into his seat as Professor McGonagall came over.

"Angry Potter?" She asked, regarding the scene. "Go and get dried up please Mr Weasley. Miss Granger, you can replace the beaker." Ron and Hermione left. "I know you're worried about Miss Lupin," Professor McGonagall said in a rarely heard concerned tone to Harry, "But I assure you we'll find out who is doing these things and put a stop to it."

"Yes Professor." Harry said meekly, not taking his eyes from the desk.

From the other side of the classroom, Draco watched the events unfold. Huh, stupid Potter he thought can't even master a simple transfiguration spell. Draco had no time to hate Potter right now though, he was too busy worrying about Eve.

*******

Eve was sitting up in bed, propped against the pillows, nice and clean after a half-hour long soak in the bathtub and reading 'Witch Weekly' when Hermione, Ron and Harry came to visit at dinner.

"Eve!" they all shouted at once, and practically ran to her bed.

"Hiya!" Eve grinned, throwing down her magazine and hugging Hermione tightly.

"How you feeling?" Harry asked, boldly stepping forward and planting a firm kiss on Eve's cheek. When she looked into his eyes she could see the clear, deep concern there, and she grinned to wash it away.

"I'm okay, but it's kind of weird to not be able to feel anything from the waist down."

"It must be awful." Ron frowned, standing with his hands in his pockets at the end of the bed. He looked handsome, Eve realised, she saw him growing every day, not just in height, but his face seemed to be maturing into a rather pleasant young man. She had enough with her feelings for Harry though, and those nagging doubts over Draco didn't help either.

"Hmm, I have to be carried everywhere and it took ages to get me sitting up like this. I dearsent move!" Eve's infectious laugh rang out, and soon the others were laughing with her. Madam Pomfrey kept and eye on the four from the end of the ward, in case her patient got too worn out.

"'Witch Weekly'?" Harry laughed. "Where did you get that?"

"It's an old copy, Madam Pomfrey seems to be an avid reader."

"I was reading up on the potion you have been taking." Hermione said, pulling a book from her bag. "It says you will start to get some feeling back in about a week, but it will only be slight and there will be no pain."

"I won't be able to walk for ages." Eve grumbled.

"How do you get to and from the loo?" Ron asked, frowning.

"Madam Pomfrey carries me there, or levitates me, but I look kinda silly either way. I've lost all my dignity." Eve looked sad for a moment, then perked up, "But I'm sure you guys coming to see me will help."

"I'll come whenever I'm not in lesson." Harry assured her, wanting to touch her again, then feeling bad that seeing her in bed, even if it was through being ill, was turning him on.

"Eve...." Hermione said tentatively, shutting the book she had on her knee. All eyes turned to Hermione and she looked down. "Did you get any.....mail, this morning."

"Oh, yeah." Eve replied grimly, "Another gruesome note, telling me that the broom incident was only the first step and - "

"So it was hexed!" Hermione said triumphantly. "I told you, didn't I?" She looked accusingly at Ron and Harry. "It must have been Malfoy."

"I'm not so sure." Eve said quietly.

"Why?" Harry asked, "He's just about mean enough to do such a thing you know."

"Oh, I know." Eve waved her hands about, "I'm not suggesting the lad is a saint, I just......I'm not sure if that's his style, is it? from what you three tell me about him, he seems a bit more direct, and if he wanted to say these horrid things, wouldn't he say them to my face?"

There was a kind of contemplative silence for a moment and Hermione finally spoke.

"Hmm, you've got a point." When she received glares from Ron and Harry she went on, "Well think about it, he came up and said that thing about Harry picking the loosing side at the end of last term, and he always insults us to our faces."

"Hermione! this is dirty, stinking, low-down, rotten Malfoy we're talking about here! remember? the one who dressed up as a dementor just to scare Harry and try to make him fall off his broom? the one who tried to get Hagrid thrown out of the school and gave Rita bloody Skeeter all that info on us last year? come on 'Mione! it has to be him! he's never made quiet that he hates Professor Lupin. Remember all those things he said about him at the beginning of the third year?"

"What did he say about my dad?" Eve frowned.

"He said - "

"Ron!" Hermione interjected, "Some things are better left unsaid." She turned her eyes to Eve and they shifted from death-glares to a kind smile, "You just concentrate on getting well, don't worry about Malfoy or those notes. Professor Dumbledore will sort the situation out and things will get back to normal." Hermione squeezed Eve's hand. "We'd best be off, otherwise we'll miss dinner altogether."

"You two go on without me." Harry said, and Ron was about to speak when Hermione pinched him.

"Come on Ron!"

"Ow!" He exclaimed, "What was that for?"

"Merlin!" Hermione sighed. "Bye Eve!"

"Bye!" Eve laughed at the pantomime that was her friends.

"Bye!" Ron called as Hermione dragged him out of the door. Harry was laughing too, and when they were alone, he turned back to Eve. Their eyes locked and they held each other's gaze for a moment. Before Harry fainted, he decided to look away. He smiled at himself, thinking what a love-sick fool he must seem.

"Did your dad tell you about the attacks in London?"

"Yeah." Eve said grimly, "That's why Sirius is visiting, isn't it?"

"I think so." Harry nodded. His face was grave when he went on. "Seems Voldemort is finally stirring."

"Are you worried about your Godfather?" Eve asked.

"Are you worried about your dad?" Harry asked, after nodding.

"As always." Eve nodded. "Although I'm sure they'll look after each other."

"I hope so."

There was another long silence in which Harry wished he could kiss Eve so badly he realised he should leave before he wrecked anything.

"Oh! George and Fred are planning a party for when you get out of this place." Harry grinned.

"Oh wow! a party just for me?" Eve was amazed. "Sounds great."

"Just concentrate on getting better then." Harry said softly. Eve was touched by his tone and was also desperate to touch him, so she reached out and grabbed his hand. They both looked down at the link, then looked up and met each other's gaze, both smiling.

"I'd best go for dinner." Harry said after a moment.

"Yeah." Eve nodded reluctant to let him go. This time he bent down to kiss her, but planted the kiss on her lips instead. Before Eve could realise what had happened, it was over. She smiled warmly at her old childhood friend and laughed at his blush. "You've gone the colour of Ron's hair."

"Thanks!" He said, putting his hand over his face. "This is difficult enough without you giving a running commentary on it!"

Eve could tell he was smiling so she poked him in the stomach and he brought his hands down defensively.

"That's better." She told him, "I like to see your smile."

"I'm going before I blush anymore.....or faint." Harry began to move away from the bed, then thought better and went back round to Eve. He kissed her once more, for longer this time, but she didn't have the guts to part her lips and make it a proper kiss. Neither did Harry, but they both enjoyed the kiss nevertheless.

"See you later." He whispered, touching her chin.

"Bye Harry Potter." Eve grinned and he turned and waved before vanishing through the double doors of the hospital wing. Eve felt light-headed and dizzy, but she suspected it had nothing to do with the side-effects of her potion.

******

Harry visited Eve every day for the next week. Her condition improved rapidly at times, but at others she would take several steps back in the process and Madam Pomfrey would blame it on the lack of rest she was getting.

Eve hated being stuck in bed, especially as the only highlights in her day were her friends and her father visiting. Sirius came to see her too, while he was in Hogwarts. Remus successfully averted Madam Pomfrey's attention so that Eve could spend some time with her adopted uncle. Sirius teased Eve about her and Harry's relationship, saying that when he had spoken with his Godson, Harry had seemed very........enthusiastic, about his best friends daughter.

Things with Harry were confusing Eve though, she couldn't work out what was going on. Since they had kissed that day, they had never been alone together and so there had been no kissing or touching. Eve wasn't sure if she should be wanting to kiss Harry. He hadn't made out he was interested after that one time, and so she wasn't sure where they stood. Maybe they didn't stand anywhere, maybe they were just friends and she was making some big deal out of it that wasn't true. Eve decided that at this party Harry said George and Fred had organised for her, she would talk to Harry, face to face, and find out where they stood. She liked him, sure, she liked him a lot, but she wasn't really very sure if Harry felt the same.

******

Harry did feel the same, infact, every day he looked forward to the time he would see Eve. Partly Harry was annoyed at Ron and Hermione for following him to the hospital wing every night as it meant he had absolutely no time to be alone with Eve and hopefully further that kiss they had surely started the first day Eve was awake. He did, however, understand that Ron and Hermione cared for Eve too, and that they wanted to see her just like he did. He thought about going early one day, or late at night, but never found an excuse to get away. He really wanted to go when he knew Madmae Pomfrey would be busy, so they had the ward to themselves, as there were no other patients in the hospital wing. This last factor however, changed just six days after Eve woke up, and scuppered all Harry's plans for time alone with Eve.

It was in potions, and Snape was feeling decidedly nasty with Harry. He had also been screaming blue murder at Neville all lesson, and so when the time came to concoct the headache, dizziness and sickness reliever solution, Neville's hands were shaky.

Things started as normal. The class were to prepare a solution which cured three things; Headaches, general dizziness and disorientation, and feelings of nausea which often spread to bouts of sickness. In order to concoct this solution, the class had to boil together many ingredients. The main three ingredients were the ingredients which actually cause sickness, headaches and dizziness. This was because in order for the body to learn a cure for the illness, it had to receive it in small doses first, as with Muggle injections for diseases such as TB and measles.

When the three main ingredients were added, the solution had to be boiled for exactly three minutes, no more, then the final ingredient, which gave the body a helping hand in fighting off the three illnesses, was to be added.

Neville did everything right, and was pleased with himself. He got all the ingredients in his cauldron except for the last, and sat back to let the mixture boil for three minutes. He looked at the clock and gauged the time but then began talking to Seamus, and by the time he looked back, nearly four minutes had passed. In his rush to stop Snape from seeing, and to add the last ingredient, Neville knocked over his cauldron and the solution splashed all over the boy in front of him. Most people managed to jump out of the way, but the potion also went all over the floor and began to seep through people's shoes and socks, onto their skin, and penetrate the layer which protected them from disease. Most people moved out of the way, most people were unharmed. All except one : Draco Malfoy.

******

"Draco! Draco wake up!" Pansy tugged at his shoulder.

"Ugh?" He rubbed his eyes and turned over.

"We slept late!" The girl next to him screeched, getting up and searching frantically for her clothes which she had discarded noisily the previous night.

"Calm down Pansy." Draco muttered, sitting up. He watched her naked form run around his dorm room, noting the absence of the boys he shared with. Last night, he recalled groggily, had been terrible.

Pansy had crept in in the night, and when she began moaning loudly, had woken the other boys up. They had all laughed, but Pansy went on moaning. Silly bitch Draco thought, Can't even keep a shred of decency.

However, seeing the girl naked in the pale glow of the window coupled with his usual morning erection, Draco found himself feeling very horny once again.

"Come back to bed." He urged her, and she had simply giggled.

"Drakey! we're late!"

"Stop it, don't call me that, now get back here." She turned to him, as though shocked. She knew this tone well enough though, she knew that where usual people would ask nicely and even plead for what they wanted, Draco turned angry and would start demanding simply to avoid using the word 'please'.

"Why?" She asked playfully.

"Because I want to fuck you." Draco said simply, his face showing no emotion, "Now do as I say and get back here."

Pansy smiled, then flung what she had found of her clothes on the floor and ran to Draco's side, smothering him in wet, sloppy kisses. She never was a good kisser, Draco thought, I wonder how Eve would kiss?

They had sex quickly, hurriedly, then dressed in silence and walked down to their first lesson (having missed the whole of breakfast and the first five minutes of History Of Magic) without any physical contact. Draco found it considerably disturbing that he thought of Eve all the time now, during class, during Quidditch, at meal times, when doing his homework, while lying about in the common room, while fixing up gruesome but small schemes to play on Gryffindors, and mostly whenever he was with Pansy, or alone in the showers.

Draco thought of going to the hospital wing, wondering what would happen if he just turned up there and started chatting to her, wondered if she would chat back, whether it would be normal, or at least, half normal, between them. Draco wondered what she would do if he simply leant forward and kissed her, hotly, passionately, and clearly indicating what he wanted, which included her body, soul and mind. But, he reminded himself sadly, things would never be more than enemies between them, because they were on different sides of the universe, the world even, simply because they sat at opposite tables in the Great Hall.

Draco's day went badly, mainly because his thoughts were full of Eve again, and all his dreams were unfulfilled. At the beginning of his penultimate class, potions, Draco found himself silently devising ways to go see Eve. He thought he could pretend to be looking for a classroom, claim to be lost, but he figured then he would look ridiculous, having been at the school for four years and not know his way around. Then he thought of claiming to have a message from Dumbledore to the nurse, a perfect excuse for walking right into the hospital wing, but eventually Draco gave up on all those ideas and sat down glumly, waiting for his stupid potions to boil. He was so stuck in a daydream about Eve naked and a can of whipped cream that when there was a commotion behind him and he felt liquid soak through his robes and socks, he didn't have the sense to move out of the way quickly enough.

"Longbottom!" Severus Snape thundered. "Get out! now! what have you done?"

Snape uttered a cleaning spell while Neville rushed out, holding back tears.

"What happened?" Draco asked his favourite teacher, forgetting about his own potion as he touched his sodden robes.

"The potion penetrates skin, Malfoy." Snape said calmly, although his eyes were blazing with worry. "I assume Mr Longbottom didn't add the final ingredient?" He directed this comment at Seamus, who confirmed his suspicions with a shake of his head. Everyone stood around in shock, although some Gryffindors were silently hailing Neville.

"You must go to the hospital wing immediately." Severus Snape ordered Draco, and it wasn't until he reached the door on autopilot that he realised what the teacher had said. A grin began to sweep across his face, then he stopped, regained his air of dignity and turned back to the teacher.

"What will happen to me?"

"It's likely you will encounter all three illnesses we were trying to combat today in strong doses. Go quickly, explain to Madam Pomfrey what happened and I will be up in a few minutes. Now go!"

Draco had never heard Snape talk to him with such anger in his voice, so he rushed out, touching the skin, which was now dry where the potion has seeped through. Although he was alarmed for his own health, all he could think about was Eve, and seeing her again. He picked up speed and ran to the hospital wing.

"Nurse!" He thundered, bashing through the double doors and leaving them swinging in his wake.

Eve looked up from the homework she was doing and the first thing she thought was wow, he looks really good, like he's been running, he has a little flush of red in his cheeks. I wonder what's wrong?

"Mr Malfoy!" Madam Pomfrey bristled. "Calm down! you'll disturb my other patient!"

Draco finally allowed himself a look at Eve, who was looking his way a little curiously, and he felt himself glow inside. There before him was the face he saw every night in his sticky dreams and every time he had sex with Pansy. He allowed himself a brief smile, which he thought she returned, then looked back to the matron.

"A potion penetrated my skin, it was the solution to cure headaches, sickness and dizziness, except without the final ingredient."

"Hapsflower?" Madam Pomfrey asked him, he simply nodded. "How much went on you?"

"A lot I think," He said, "The boy behind me knocked over his cauldron."

"How do you feel?" Poppy touched the blonde boy's forehead.

"Fine." He answered, then immediately regretted it, what if she sent him away, and he never got to speak to Eve?

"Sit down." Poppy led him to the bed next to Eve's. "I'll see what I can find."

Draco hopped up on the bed, facing Eve, who was sitting up. Her short, Audrey Hepburn style hair was framing her face perfectly, the light from the nearby window illuminating her radiantly. Draco noted her fleecy pyjamas, covered in Penguins, and smiled to himself, thinking how adorable she looked.

Madam Pomfrey rushed away, tutting to herself, and Draco watched her go for a moment. He was almost nervous, unsure of what to say, or whether to say anything at all. He looked down at his hands, feeling Eve's eyes on him. He saw her put down her quill and lean back against her pillows, looking at him.

"Neville?" Was all she had to say, and Draco got that boost of confidence he needed.

"Yeah." He looked up at her, a small smile on his lips. "Half-wit."

"He can be so dopey at times." Eve observed, watching the smile creep up and infect Draco's eyes. It was the first time she ever saw him smile genuinely. The other times had been sneers, or false smiles for teachers.

"Aren't you meant to stick up for him? Like Potty always does?" Draco leaned back on his hands, his robes falling open and revealing a thin white cotton shirt which left Eve to imagine his chest.

"I don't always do what Harry and the other Gryffindors do." Eve laughed. "So don't pigeon-hole me."

"Seems I underestimated you, Lupin." Draco raised his eyebrows.

In the next bed, Eve tried to calm her breathing. She was nervous at speaking to Draco, especially when his body language suggested a lot more than Slytherin enemy. He was exposing the front of his torso, leaving himself defenceless infront of her, and she found every move he made was trembling through her body. Harry never makes me so aware of my......sexuality. She thought. But this boy is...oh, he's so....different, so very, very delicious.

"You shouldn't have come here." Eve grimaced, "She'll have you stuck in bed for weeks."

"Who? the nurse?"

"Hmm, I've had one week of hell already."

"I've noticed you've been missing." Draco admitted, making direct and intense eye-contact.

"Good to know someone noticed." Eve said playfully, grinning and casting her eyes back to her work for a second.

"So what happened? you fell off your broom?"

"Yeah," Eve nodded, "Someone hexed it."

"Bloody hell." Draco commented, "And here was me thinking Potter had got you pregnant or something, you'd gone into hiding." He laughed, feeling extremely nervous still. What's wrong with me? I'm never nervous around girls, I always become so....egotistical and wittily arrogant. She though....well, she makes me feel aware of everything I think, everything I feel. Oh Merlin, I think this is a little more than a crush......

"Oh, it's that as well of course....." Eve grinned, then broke out into a laugh. "I gave birth last night, that's why I look a little rough." Eve began touching her hair as though conscious she was a mess.

"You don't look rough to me." Draco said, it was out of his mouth before could stop it, and when Eve caught the genuine, low tone of the statement, she looked a little shocked at his obvious 'thoughts-out-loud' slip-up. Draco too looked a little shocked at himself, them looked away, out of the window. Eve went hurriedly back to her homework, trying desperately to see more than just a stupid jumble of words in front of her.

Hell, that laugh! Draco thought, It's like nothing I've ever heard before, it's like when I hear it I become lost in some sort of moment, like I see whats so funny and want to laugh too. It's not like Pansy, or any of the other girls. This laugh is mature, makes me think Eve is more than just some fifth-year sniffling girl, she's........well, she's a woman. She certainly has a woman's body....no! mind mustn't go there! don't imagine her naked! don't imagine what she smells like when she's fresh out of the shower. Clean thoughts, clean thoughts, father in a dress, Snape fancying McGonagall, Dumbledore's wrinkly arse.......

"Mr Malfoy!" The pounding voice of Madam Pomfrey brought Draco out of his ravine.

"Yes?"

"How are you feeling now?" The nurse held a cup of steaming liquid which wafted a dreadful, sweet but sickly smell under his nose.

"Sick." Draco responded, realising how sick he really did smell after that dreadful potion.

"Yes, well you will, it will be the start of the nausea."

"No." Draco shook his head, clutching the bed underneath him, "I'm going to be sick, move!" He exited quickly to the boys bathroom and Madam Pomfrey laid the cup down on the top, from where Eve could catch the fumes.

Poor Draco, she thought, it would make me feel sick too, the thought of having to drink that stuff.

"Hadn't you better go and see if he's alright?" Eve asked when Poppy started to get the bed next to her ready.

"He'll be alright, the symptoms of that potion can be quite evil, but won't do any permanent damage. There's not much I can do I'm afraid." The woman Eve had come to know quite well now smiled at her a little. "I'll put him next to you, for simplicity's sake, but if he gives you any trouble, just give me the nod and I'll move him. I know how much of a handful he can be." She said that last statement more to herself, but Eve suspected Madam Pomfrey also blamed Draco for the hatemail she was still getting every morning without fail.

"I think I need to sit down." Came a small voice from the other side of the room. Draco had emerged from the bathroom looking frail and white. His hand, Eve noticed, was gripping the end of a bed next to him.

"Hold on to me." Madam Pomfrey instructed him, leaning him to the bed next to Eve's. She pulled the curtains around the bed, and when she pulled them back, Eve looked and saw Draco lying with his back to her tucked up in bed. His clothes were laid neatly in two piles at the end of his bed.

"My head......" Eve heard him mutter.

"Here, drink this." Madam Pomfrey offered him the still-steaming potion but he pushed it away, heaving.

"Don't. want. it." He stuttered out.

"I'll get you something to ease the pain." Poppy Pomfrey said, bustling away. There was silence when Draco finally calmed down, then he gingerly rolled over in bed and buried himself deeper underneath the covers.

"Bastard Longbottom, I'll kill him." Draco muttered through clenched teeth, eyes shut tightly.

"Are you.....alright?" Eve asked, now having given up all pretences of homework.

"No, the room spins if I open my eyes." Draco said softly. "And I just threw up my dinner."

"Poor Draco." Eve soothed in a soft voice. She wished she could get up and kiss his forehead and brush the stray strands of white-blonde hair away from his eyes. Those eyes that are so wonderfully grey when they are directed only at you. She thought.

Professor Snape, true to his word, arrived in that next second. He went straight to Draco's bed without a glance at Eve and looked worriedly down at his favourite student.

"How are you feeling, Draco?"

"Awful, Professor." Came the strangled answer.

It was then that Eve realised Draco was always polite with Snape, never condescending, but always polite in the way you have to be with people you genuinely respect. Snape, Eve knew, was a spy for Voldemort. Although her father and Snape did not get on personally, they were united by hatred for Voldemort, and it was only this factor which allowed Severus to concoct the wolfsbane potion for her father all month round. Severus Snape was extremely good at the job he did, and Remus was always stressing to his daughter that the man was essentially good, in every way. 'What about the Dark Mark on his arm then papa? is that good too?' Eve had once asked her father when he said this, and he had simply laughed. 'It's coming in useful.' He had answered. Eve, because of her father's position, was often privy to information no other student could know. She knew many things about Severus Snape, from her father's time at school with him as well as their anti-Voldemort allegiance, that she was assured no one else knew of. In this way, she had a grain of respect for the man, but it was overshadowed every time he treated her, Ron, Hermione or Harry, like shit in lessons. Because, as she had once told her dad, pupils are supposed to hate their teachers, aren't they?

"Ah! Professor! the full story if you please." Poppy Pomfrey said, looking annoyed.

Snape began explaining exactly what had happened, and explained a lot of confusing things about various ingredients and their side-effects to the nurse. Eve went back to her work, taking side-glances at Draco every now and again, who lay silently still, his eyes screwed shut. She thought he looked adorable, but didn't wish to think any more than that when he was clearly ill and she knew she should be thinking about Harry, to whom she hadn't given a second thought in at least the last fifteen minutes.

Things passed peacefully after that, Draco fell asleep after a potion and Eve took a nap after finishing her homework.

******

"Sssshhh! You'll wake her up!" Was the first thing she heard when she did indeed wake up. It was Harry, telling Ron to shush the things he was saying about Malfoy, who was in the next bed.

"I'm awake." Eve mumbled, rubbing her eyes and physically dragging her body into a sitting position. Dead legs were giving her arms muscle-strain, pulling her body everywhere, and she flopped back against the headboard. "Hey all." She gave a cute little wave and all three of her friends smiled.

"How you feeling today?" Hermione asked.

"Okay." Eve said in a low voice. "We'd best keep it down, or we'll wake him up." She pointed towards Draco.

Draco, however, was awake. An abstract thought that had floated through his brain in sleep had woken him up a long time ago, and was now keeping him awake. This thought was how much he had changed. He had changed because Eve changed him. Her very presence in his life these days changed him, she softened him, relaxed some tensed muscle he had somewhere, and when he heard her laugh he knew the effect she had on him, she made him forget, and he so badly needed to forget. He needed to forget his father and what the future had in store for him. As time rolled on, it simply drew nearer to what Draco knew was his destiny - the Dark Arts. It seemed somehow bitterly ironic to Draco that not only was Eve's father his Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but Eve was Draco's own Defence Against the Dark Arts. He suspected that had he a patronus, it would turn into her lovely, full, curvy form, and charge at what he feared.

Maybe it was because he had changed that when he heard the door to the hospital wing open he didn't feel so bad when he realised it was Granger and Weasley who had come in. He had been watching Eve sleep, watching her chest rise and fall silently, and the way he could tell her hair was only short to hide a wave of curl Eve obviously didn't like. He reminded himself to ask her one day, ask her why she kept her hair short to avoid curly hair. Not that he didn't like it short, it was beautiful, she was beautiful, and especially while sleeping, she looked the imagine of perfection.

Granger and Weasley had robbed him of watching her anymore, but he wasn't too bitter, he was more than aware he would have to share Eve. One person he didn't plan to share her with though, was Potter, and when he heard his voice, he almost sat up, giving away his lie of sleep.

When he heard Eve say 'or we'll wake him up', he felt a stab of rejection flood him. She didn't want him awake, maybe didn't want the trouble he would cause, but whatever, it was all too remenisant of the first year on the train when he had asked for Harry Potter's hand in friendship and he had said no. She had not said his name. And oh, how he loved it when she said his name.

She would purr out 'Draco' in a way he had not heard before, ever. Pansy would try to let his name drip from her tongue like honey while they were having sex (he could hardly call it making love, because he did not associate the word love in even the vaguest way with Pansy Parkinson) but instead he heard it fall without meaning into the air, and it simply disgusted him. He had heard his name said in many different ways, his father screaming it in a blue rage before hitting him senseless, or his mother saying it in a warning tone when he was young, about to put something in his mouth he shouldn't, or pinch a house-elf for bringing the wrong food. He had also heard his friends say it, often without affection, just the same as the way his teachers would gain his attention. Eve, however, gave his name meaning, simply because she said it in a way that held so many meanings, tenderness, caring, soothing and genuine interest. There were also, of course, times when simply her speaking his name in a low, sultry tone could bring on an aching erection which he had to deal with when finally alone.

He was grateful she had never called him by his surname, in fact he much preferred his given name to his surname. Potter would spit it out with such fury, but then, he supposed, he threw Potter's own surname back at him with just as much force and arrogance. The fact that Eve had never used his surname almost let him dream that she didn't know he was a Malfoy, didn't know that they were on opposing family sides.

He had called her by her surname, in fact, he suspected it was his only one defence left against her charms. He had somehow come to tell himself that if he kept up at least a little pretence, then she would not seep through his skin entirely like that potion had done only a few hours ago. He was grateful she did not get offended by his use of her surname, and felt in some way that she didn't because she knew the real reason he didn't call her 'Eve'. It was as though saying her name and looking into her eyes at the same time would make him fall completely, and he wasn't sure he was ready.

******

"Why would you care about waking him up?" Ron asked in disgust at Eve's last comment.

"I'm too tired for trouble." She said honestly.

"Okay." Harry smiled, "We'll keep it down."

"I take it you know all about the fiasco in potions." Hermione said, sitting on Eve's bed.

"Hmm, I overheard Snape telling Madam Pomfrey."

"Your letters might stop now he's in here." Ron spat.

"Well," Eve said cheerily, "If they don't, then you'll all be sure its not him."

"He'd probably get one of his hench-men to do it for him, so he didn't get his hands dirty."

"Ron, sshhh!" Harry half-laughed, "You'll get high blood-pressure, stressing about Malfoy."

"Yeah Ron, we're here to see Eve, remember?" Hermione said testily.

"I remember!" Ron hissed.

"So what did I miss from today's lessons?" Eve asked, trying to steer the conversation onto more neutral terms.

Hermione began explaining in detail the complicated eco-system of Tigramevs, the creature of topic in todays Care Of Magical Creatures. The conversation then moved on to how Seamus had suggested Harry was 'the most shaggable boy at Hogwarts' at dinner. Everyone laughed.

"I thought Seamus was straight." Eve frowned.

"So did I...." Harry moaned as though worried. Again, everyone laughed.

Eve proceeded to tell them about the hate-mail she had received this morning, and how her father had promised to bring some sweets with him on tonight's visit, which she was eagerly anticipating. Just as Harry began to tell of all the homework he still had left outstanding, as well as Quidditch practise to attend and Prefect meetings, Madam Pomfrey came over to the tight group of four and explained that not only was dinner now being served in the Great Hall, it was about to be served to the hospital wing patients.

Harry looked gutted, Eve noted, she could tell he didn't want to go, and part of her would prefer him to stick around. However, she was quite hungry, and she knew things would only flare up if Draco woke up and saw his nemesis. There was always a guaranteed argument when the two of them got together.

Goodbyes were said, then Madam Pomfrey said, "I'll go and get the food, you wake Mr Malfoy up." She smiled a little, then left. Eve felt daunted a moment, then reminded herself it was only Draco, who she saw as a tiger, but hoped he was only a kitten inside. Laughing a little at her own silly analogy, she turned to the sleeping form in the bed beside her and what she saw took her breath away momentarily. Draco's hair was falling loosely around his face, and the evening October sun streamed onto his face, lighting the white-blonde strands to look almost silvery gold and angelic. He had surprisingly long eyelashes, she noted, like a girl, which gave his face a certain flair and grace. His neckline was exposed and to Eve, looked strangely delicious, as though she could bite him and taste him candy-flavoured. She wondered if this part of her was the little were-wolf that surely had to be passed down from the father. She had always had a strange affinity with the moon, even before she knew her father to be the man he was. Her gran always said that leaving the curtains open and the moon available in sight would send a baby Eve straight off to sleep, and Eve really did wonder how deep the relationship between her and the moon ran, but she pushed it out of her mind and called softly,

"Draco! Draco wake up!"

Draco, who was, of course, awake, heard her call, and realised it was the exact same words Pansy had spoke to him earlier in the day. Somehow, when he said it, he was more eager to open his eyes. He played along though, with the whole 'still asleep' thing, and didn't stir.

"Draco! Come on! Draco!" Still, he lay motionless, teasing her a little.

"Draco!" Eve said again, sensing his game, "Draco I'm naked and about to do a rain-dance, open those pretty eyes if you wanna catch it!"

Draco grinned, unable to hold it back any longer, and Eve laughed. Draco's eyes flew open and he looked around.

"Liar." He smiled.

"How long have you been awake?" She asked curiously, wondering how much he had heard.

"Long enough." He replied mysteriously, then began to sit up very slowly, as not to break this wonderful feeling of balance he had gained from sleep. The nausea, however, remained as a small dot in the back of his mind, along with the headache from earlier.

"How's the head?" Eve asked, straightening her bed-clothes around her.

"Oh, groggy." He said, inspecting what he was wearing. "What are these?"

"P.J's."

"Pardon?"

"Pyjamas."

"Yes, I know they're pyjamas, but they're not my pyjamas." Draco sounded disgusted.

"Oh!" Eve laughed, "They're not pure silk!"

"Ha ha." Draco sniggered. "I'm not wearing these." He began to unbutton his shirt.

"No!" Eve called urgently.

"What's wrong? scared you'll want me sexually?" Draco looked intensely with a smile at the girl beside him and saw her eyes flicker with a hint of open desire.

"Yes, that's it Draco." She said monotone, "I won't be able to control my burning loins and will possibly ravish you."

"I suspected as much." Draco toned in an 'I told you so' sort of voice, but went on unbuttoning his shirt.

"No, stop, honest, I want to try out some transfiguration I learnt."

"No way!" Draco shook his head, then stopped when he realised it wasn't helping his balance. "What if you turn me into.....I don't know, some fruit or something, by accident."

"Well, for one, I'm not that bad at it, and secondly, if you do, I'll just eat you." She said the latter with a mischievous (and very sexy, thought Draco) grin on her face. "Now face me."

"What?"

"Turn to face me!" Eve instructed, and Draco did so, sighing, unsure of why he was following her orders. "Right, what colour do you want?" Eve asked, grabbing her wand from the bedside table and shifting herself as best she could to face Draco.

"Dark green." She looked confused for a minute then realised it was the colour of Slytherin and rolled her eyes.

"Right." She pointed her wand at Draco then shut her eyes tight and imagined the boy sitting before her in a pair of silk, dark green pyjamas instead of his current blue cotton ones. She muttered an incantation under her breath like a mantra then suddenly,

"Fucking hell......"

Eve opened her eyes and saw what she had just pictured, but Draco was looking amazed.

"Wow." He said, impressed, "Well done, I mean, you're really coming on."

"Yeah." Eve nodded, "At home, when Gran asked me to turn a teapot into a mouse, it always used to have a spout instead of a nose." Draco found himself laughing beside himself.

"Is your Gran a witch?"

"She was, yeah, she died last year." Eve explained sadly.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm sorr-"

"It's okay Draco." Eve smiled, "Not your fault. Oh look, tea-time!" She pointed and Draco looked, coming towards them was Madam Pomfrey with two trays full of food.