By My Side

Chapter 16.

The second that the door slammed shut, Draco flopped down into a nearby chair and ran his hand angrily through his hair.

So, this was what it was like to have your heart broken.

He couldn't feel the pain in his injured hand anymore, and decided that it would heal itself anyway. He couldn't exactly think straight, but deep down he knew the real reason he wasn't going to see Madame Pomfrey was because that was where it started. It would be all too ironic for Draco to visit the Hospital Wing at the end too.

Tears. He was fighting back tears but they came anyway as he angrily got up and flung the chair he had been sitting on, away from him. He heard the wood splinter as it came into contact with the heavy stone wall and his chest heaved.

He'd go after her.

There was really nothing else to do!

He made it to the door and then stopped, panting hard, silent shimmers of moisture falling down his cheeks like shards of glass. He wiped them away angrily with the back of his hand then hissed with the pain.

It wasn't long before he made his decision - he'd go to the Slytherin private alcohol store in the depths of the dungeons - he needed something to blot out the pain in his mind as well as the pain in his heart and although he wasn't sure what was left over from the last Common Room party, he figured that anything was better than nothing.

Draco ploughed strongly through the corridors, not caring if Voldemort himself came his way. He felt like nothing could hurt this much - nothing could hurt more than this so it really didn't matter anyway. Detention with Filch here, a stern word from Dumbledore there, who cared? she was gone - that was the only thing in his head right now.

Right down into the bowels of the castle Draco went, through murky passageways, long since abandoned, tricky little keyholes you had to un-pick the Muggle way, and finally, several large crates to be moved that they'd used to block the door.

His wound soon became dirty and covered in black soot or slime. He didn't know what stung worse - her words or the twisting way the grit embedded itself into the raw, open flesh. Kicking the final crate away and 'Alohamora'ing the door open, Draco entered the store that was known only to himself, Goyle, Crabbe and Pansy. He had suspected for a time that the Weasley twins knew, but then Crabbe admitted he'd be coming here alone in the evenings and slowly whittling away the stash. Since then, they'd made a pact not to go down there alone - never to take anything without at least informing the others, but Draco couldn't care less if the whole of Slytherin house imploded in upon itself. In fact, that might just help the situation.

Riffling through the stacks of bottles and cans in the room which was lit only from his wandlight, Draco tried not to notice the smell of decay and rotting rat corpses. It was vile, dank and utterly un-nerving to be down there alone - Draco wasn't usually a jumpy person, but whenever he came down here he had one ear open for the door slamming shut behind him. They had all learnt the hard way once that this door isn't unlockable from the inside, some old magic used by the Founders. Crabbe, Pansy and himself had been in there for six hours, trapped, until Goyle rescued them - back in the days when rescuing each other was something they did, and when the sight of Goyle's face wasn't so unwelcome.

Finally finding what he suspected was here - a bottle of Muggle whiskey Crabbe had procured from one of his sea-fairing uncles - Draco cast a cursory eye around and decided mixing his drinks was definitely a must this evening. He had one Butterbooze, even though the alcohol content was extremely low, it was one of the few things in here that tasted nice, and he needed to steel himself for the whiskey. He then turned to leave, grateful the door was still open. He piled the crates back untidily and traced his way back through the labyrinth to the regular Hogwarts corridors.

Emerging onto the officially designated hallways with his stash under his cloak like a dying convict, Draco deliberated where to go for a moment, finally deciding on a place no one would find him - somewhere he could hopefully blend into the scenery so much that he would never have to move again.

******

Eve shook her head as though to clear her thoughts and wondered for a moment if she was doing the right thing - no going back now, she thought, although it might loose me the only few friends I've ever had.

"Can I - can I have some of that please?" Eve asked, indicating some Pumpkin Juice that was by Harry's chair.

"Sure," Harry lent forward and grabbed it for her. She took it from him then smiled. For some reason, he chose to sit away from her now, on the shiny wooden ledge in front of the fire grate. He was only arms length away, and his eyes watched her intently, yet patiently, as she drank from the glass and handed it empty, back to him, with a shaky hand. Harry took the tumbler from her and placed it behind him. Again, his startling green eyes were upon her, open, honest and.........pure, Eve noticed. It urged her on.

"There's something I've been hiding from you - from everyone," Eve said in a small voice. Harry lent in further to her to hear. "I'm ashamed of it........no, no I'm not, I'm - "

Her voice trailed off.

"Confused?" Harry frowned, and Eve looked up sharply, as though she had forgotten he was there. Slowly, she nodded.

"Harry, I - " she sniffed, fraying the edges of her tissue between her fingers. "It's a secret - you mustn't tell anyone."

"I won't, I promise," Harry crossed his heart, still a big frown on his face. He was bemused - what could the poor girl possibly be hiding that was so dreadful? what could cause so many tears?

"This mustn't go further than this room, because - " Eve started to panic, a kind of fire in her eyes. Harry put a reassuring hand on her knee.

"I promise, Eve, this is just between me and you."

Eve just nodded, trying to steel her resolve. She looked up to the high, vaulted ceiling and shut her eyes, blinking back tears. When she finally returned her eyes to Harry, his look shocked her - he looked frightened for her.

Suddenly Eve became scared - I shouldn't be here! her mind screamed. I want Draco! oh God, Draco......

Tears came again but she pushed them back. She had to say it, speak it, tell Harry. Maybe it would go away.

"I've - I've been seeing someone."

"Seeing someone?" Harry shook his head innocently, as if he didn't understand what that could possibly mean.

"Dating - I've been dating someone."

"You mean - who?"

There was the most deafening silence Eve had ever experienced, then she spoke his name calmly, quietly and with certainty.

"Draco Malfoy."

You could have heard a pin drop.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked incredulously. He didn't believe his ears - maybe he was still dreaming - this would definitely count as a nightmare.

"Draco," Eve nodded quietly, eyes downcast. She was fiddling with her tissue again, pieces of the flimsy white structure breaking apart in her hands, tiny fibres sticking to her clammy fingers. She dared not look up - she suspected the look on Harry's face would covey all the emotions she dreaded, like anger, hurt, confusion, and written in the centre, holding everything together - disgust.

When no one spoke for a few moments, Eve lifted her eyes hesitantly. The look on Harry's face spoke only of one thing - disbelief.

"Is this some kind of joke?" he asked with a half-laugh in his voice.

Eve could no nothing but shake her head with fear. She'd done the wrong thing, she was sure.

"Malfoy? and you? together?"

"Yes," Eve whispered.

"You........you kissed him?"

Eve nodded, just the idea sending involuntary thrills through her body.

"When?" Harry's voice was low and slightly edgy - sinister like the rumble from a volcano about to erupt with hot lava.

"It - it started when I was in the hospital wing and - "

"That was months ago!" Harry interrupted. Eve was so shocked by his voice, usually so quiet, but then so loud.

"I know, I - "

"I thought you meant......once, twice, a few kisses here and there. You? you kissed him and held him and......" Harry shook his head with utter puzzlement. He had a sinking feeling in his chest, the kind of empty wondering that led to sickness. "Over Christmas? when we spent those days together?"

The nod of her head made Harry think he was about to heave. All that time! I thought we were getting somewhere! I thought she liked me! I thought we might get together, like Ron and Hermione.....some day. Harry wrinkled up his nose like there was a bad smell. God, I'm such a fool.....

"Why? why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you'd hate me and - "

"God, Eve! what a poor excuse!" Harry cried, but not too loudly.

"Harry, I didn't know what to say, and it's not something you can just drop in the conversation! I was confused and - "

"Oh, were you?" Harry frowned, his voice quiet again, looking down at the floor beneath his feet. It was the only thing that seemed rational now.

"He - we - we were going along fine, things were great but then....but....he finished it. Or, I did. He has to date Pansy, he has orders and - "

"Orders?" Harry frowned, raising his head slowly.

"From - from his dad," Eve's voice shook, "he......he didn't want to finish, but I wasn't going to sit back and play second fiddle to Pansy Parkinson......."

"He dumped you for Pansy Parkinson?" Harry sounded astonished. Suddenly, the shock and anger that had followed Eve's confession seemed to dissipate. Now the only thing that surged through his blood was his old, familiar hatred for Malfoy.

"He didn't want to - it was me."

"What? what? I mean.......do you love him?"

"Yes, yes I do," Eve voice was barely a whisper in the silent common room, yet it seemed so loud it practically echoed around the bare stone walls.

"And does he love you?"

"He claims to."

"Yet he left you? he took his father's orders over you? well, that's just about right for him, isn't it?"

"Harry - "

"He's always been an arsehole, Eve! why the hell did you touch him? why did you even go near him?"

"We got on, he made me laugh and - "

"He's always been scum. Slytherin scum. Why, Eve? wasn't I better than him?" Harry's admission came out in rage, ever though it was quite, stilled rage.

"You? Harry, what has this got to do with you?"

"It's just.......Eve, why?"

"I couldn't help it!" Eve almost whined. "Please, Harry, please don't hate me!"

Eve's brain was swimming with the declaration - did it mean what she thought it meant?

"You've been kissing - touching - God knows what else with......Malfoy? Eve! do you know the half of the hell he's put me, Ron and Hermione through in the past four years?"

"Yes but - he was different Harry, so kind...."

"Kind? this is Malfoy we're talking about! he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'kind'!"

"He's not who you think he is, he's - "

"Don't give me that.......that crap," Harry spat bitterly. "Why him, Eve? why him and not me?"

He didn't mean to say it - it just came out.

"Harry, please......." Eve said with a frightened quiver in her voice as Harry stood up and began pacing before the fire. Eve watched him as one would watch a mentally unstable person with a knife in their hand.

"Malfoy? I mean.......Malfoy?!"

"Harry, I'm - "

"Does Hermione know?"

"No," Eve breathed quietly, afraid he would shout.

"Ron - does Ron know?"

"No."

"You dad, Professor Lupin - does he know?"

Eve could only shake her head with shame - then the tears started again, with full force.

"How could you do this? how could you lie to everyone? I mean........Malfoy?"

"I'm - I'm sorry," Eve sniffled. Harry stopped pacing for a moment to watch her. She was clearly very upset, tears were streaming from her eyes, which were puffy and swollen from crying too much. Her hands were shaking and the poor excuse for a tissue that she was using was falling apart. Watching her made his anger melt. He leaned over and grabbed her another tissue, which he handed to her gently.

"What did he do to you?"

"His - his - his father, he's getting suspicious, he told Draco to start being a real boyfriend to Pansy. Something about arranged marriage, crossed bloodlines, I don't know."

There were more silent tears, silent suffering, and watching the way Eve's shoulders shook, Harry went to her and took up his old position on the arm of the chair. Somehow, now, it seemed easier to put his arm around her. She leaned her head against him and wept brokenly into his pyjamas.

"It's okay," Harry whispered, although it wasn't, and he knew it well. He began to stroke her head and she wept more, empty, bitter sobs that spoke of crying for far too long.

While she cried, Harry thought of all the hurt and suffering Draco Malfoy had caused his friends, Ron, picking on his family - Hermione, calling her a Mudblood - now Eve, dumping her for his pathetic, Death Eater family values.

"Why, Eve?" Harry asked with just a note of desperation. He placed his hands either side of her face and pulled her away so that her tear-stained face was looking at him.

She looked pathetic.

"He was so kind to me, he looked at me like he....."

She meant to say 'like he wanted me' but she couldn't - not to Harry. That was private, her whole relationship with Draco was private. She couldn't, wouldn't, air her dirty washing in public. She sniffed up vehemently and straightened herself.

"I did wrong, I know I did wrong but.....I couldn't help it. I got caught up in the moment and I felt so guilty yet whenever I was with him, I didn't want to be away."

She was being honest. Too honest..... Harry thought.

"When did you get time to see him?" Harry frowned. "You were always here, with us...."

"I used to sneak out in the night," Eve replied, but she knew she couldn't tell him that she lied and told them she was seeing her father all those nights.

"You never got caught?"

"No, never."

A blush ran through Eve when she realised that she had been caught - by Neville, but she hit him with a memory charm and confused the poor boy more than he was usually confused. Somehow, the girl in her memory, who struck out at a fellow housemate with a memory charm, seemed like someone else. Not her, not possibly her.

"I can't believe any of this," Harry shook his head then pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers.

"I tried not to think about it," Eve said, "it wasn't as though I went out with the intention to hurt everyone, to lie and cheat and deceive. We were good together, believe it or not. He made me feel........at home."

"And I didn't?" Harry's voice told of cutting hurt. "What about Hermione? and Ron? weren't we good enough friends?"

"Yes, you're wonderful friends, and I felt guilty, all the time, bad for lying to you, angry at myself for letting it go on and not even wanting to stop it."

"Hermione will be gutted......" Harry said weakly. At this, Eve sat up sharply and accidentally dislodged Harry's arm from about her shoulder.

"You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"

"And you said you felt guilty for lying!" Harry accused. His glasses were back on, catching the dying orange light from the fire and flickering like flames between them.

"I do! but it's over, it's gone," the words brought a fresh batch of tears to her eyes, "I won't lie anymore, no one need ever know!"

"But you'll be lying every second that you speak to anyone. You'll be lying simply by not telling anyone!"

"I can't!" Eve pleaded, her hand now gripping onto Harry's leg in desperation. Neither of the two noticed the contact. "Why ruin everything now? it's over!"

"You really want me to keep this to myself?" Harry sounded slightly angry and shocked. Eve sat up in her seat and turned herself towards him, one leg hanging slightly more off the chair, and she almost felt like she was kneeling, begging.

"Please Harry, this can just be between us, we won't need to tell anyone and things will go back to normal."

"Normal?" Harry gave a grim laugh, "what the hell is normal, anyway Eve? I thought these past few months had been normal but.....no! all along you were.......fraternizing with the enemy!"

"Harry, please don't put it like that!"

"Well how else do you want me to put it, Eve?" Instead of shouting and sounding threatening, Harry's voice was low, defeated and with the air of a tired man.

"He's not 'the enemy'........well, he's not my enemy," Eve ended on a whisper, looking desperately into the fire. But maybe he is now.....maybe he has to be.

There was what seemed like an endless silence. Eve sat waiting, waiting for some sign from Harry that he wasn't mad, that he wasn't going to give away this desperate secret she had passed onto him and no one else. This was precious, what she had given him - it could ruin both her and Draco. Eve just hoped Harry was as much of a gallant Gryffindor as people made him out to be. In fact, she realised, she didn't know the boy sitting beside her at all.

I spent almost every second since I got here, getting to know someone inside out, that I thought I was sure of, someone that I confessed love to, and whom confessed it to me in return. Yet.......now that's broken. All those months - were they lies? the sex? was that what it was all about? was this some grand masterplan by the evil Draco Lucius Malfoy? is it all some game? Maybe Harry's right......maybe Draco was evil all along.

More than anything, Eve hated this doubt that seemed to sweep over her. Draco was her constant. The feeling he had for her made her feel grounded - like she had explained to Harry - it made her feel at home, but suddenly someone else had put their side forward on the case and she was doubting Draco's sincerity.

I guess my feelings must be weak if they can be swayed then......

Confusion took over Eve. She didn't know what to think - who to believe. The thought that Draco might have been lying to her all that time made her mental walls come crashing down, and she hardly felt Harry's hand on her shoulder.

"You're crying again," he said with almost a hint of confusion in his voice.

"I'm not," Eve lied, "I'm okay." She didn't feel that she could share it with him - any of it, he might warp her judgements more than he had done.

"You need to go to bed," Harry informed her matter-of-factly. "It's really late."

Eve simply nodded, swallowing hard to dispel the lump in her throat.

"Are you mad at me?" she eventually asked, feeling weak.

"No, just.....shocked."

"What did you mean?" Eve asked after a moment, plucking up courage. "What did you mean when you asked me if he was better than you?"

Silence, and suddenly, in a flash, Eve saw how things would play out, almost like a fore-warning from Professor Trelawney.

She didn't particularly like what she saw.

"I - I just.....I thought that you liked me, that we got on well and.......well, it was all in my imagination. Forget it."

"Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. If I'd have known, I'd have......."

"You'd have done what?" Harry smiled faintly, meeting her eyes. He stood up solemnly, then offered her a hand to help her up. She looked at it for a moment, the thought flashing through her mind like lightening, how different Harry's hands were to Draco's.

Eventually, she took it, and he pulled her up. She stood shakily, her voice ragged in her throat, and she coughed a little. Her eyes pulsated with a headache from tears. The next few moments passed in a blurry haze.

"I'm sorry he hurt you," Harry said quietly, like a wounded solider, and Eve thought in a most Slytherin manner, God, he's bringing all this back round to him.....

"Yeah, well, play with fire and get burned. That's what you're thinking, isn't it?" Her tone wasn't accusatory, just sad.

"I wasn't actually," Harry shook his head, the couple down standing in front of the burnt out embers of the fire. The room was cold from the fire's final death, and the grate that was previously glowing orange was now an ominous black.

"It's okay, I wouldn't blame you," Eve sniffed, feeling nothing like her old, fighting self.

"He's poison, Eve, he just hurts everyone he meets. He's a snob, and worse than that, he believes more in his family than he does someone like you."

"He hasn't known me as long as them," Eve said, silently wondering why the hell she was still defending him.

"He'll never be any good," Harry shook his head. "Not good enough for you, anyway." He tucked an errant strand of hair away from her face with a shaking hand.

There was tension, Eve could feel it weighing down her shoulders and she wanted to scream. She felt that tight, hollow ache in her chest that she had just after her father came into her room and told her that her Gran had passed away in her sleep. It was like a darkness, rising up to engulf her, and there was nothing she could do.

A lone, single tear rolled from her right eye and she blinked rapidly, knowing Harry was studying her face, not wanting him to see.

"What can I do?" Harry asked in a low, rumbling voice.

"What do you mean?"

"What can I say to him? which hexes can I hit him with?"

"None. You can't do anything to him. He's suffering enough."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know he loves me."

There, she'd said it. She knew it and although everything that had happened seemed to the contrary, Eve still knew, deep down in her soul. For some stupid, silly, unfathomable reason, she trusted Draco with her life.

Again, little tears began to fall, and she shut her eyes completely, trying to evade Harry's stare that seemed to heavy, seemed to speak of so many things she wasn't sure if she had a hold over.

Then it happened.

He drew her into his arms and she returned his hug as though it was pre-planned. She was working on auto-pilot, nerves deadened, mind shut down.

Eventually, Harry pulled away, yet his arms were still holding her, and Eve's eyes flickered open to meet his - usually such a vibrant jade, now a dull green which reminded her of grass in winter that has been rained on all year.

"Please," Harry whispered, eyes tentatively watching her lips, "let me make it better."

She didn't want to, yet.......something did. A little voice in the back of her mind whispered, go on, kiss him, pretend that he's Draco......

Slowly, eyes flickering shut, Eve nodded, and the next thing she felt was his hot breath on her chin, then fumbling lips brushing lightly over her's. It was wrong - it's wasn't anything at all like Draco. She meant to move back, but his fingers were now teasingly caressing her lower back though her shirt and it made her feel weak. The smell of the burnt out fire was in her nose and making her feel sleepy, like the incense in the Divination tower.

Harry kissed her lightly, gently, as though she was porcelain and about to break. It was her who took it further.

She ran her tongue demandingly across his lips - she wasn't used to this kissing like children - she wanted more, whoever it was. Unsure of his next part to play, Harry seemed to surrender to her ministrations and Eve parted his lips easily with her tongue.

She was often in charge of her kisses with Draco - when she was feeling playful or dominant, and he had loved her like that. He would look up to her, lying on top of him, with his eyes hooded from arousal and would run his fingers gently down the front of her body, over the bump of her chest and trace circling patterns on her stomach. That was the tingling feeling she thought of as she deepened the kiss she was in at the moment. Harry played along willingly yet shyly. He was eager, and his tongue ran experimentally over her's a few times before learning its place, yet he was no Draco. He didn't take control, he didn't hold her with strong arms, safe arms, which was bitterly ironic because Eve knew she was safer here than she had ever been, skulking down in the dungeons with the son of a Death Eater.

The kiss ended sweetly, a few small pecks on her lips, something Eve wasn't used to - the sign of hesitancy. Draco would always break of kisses with a flourish or a nip of her neck.

"Please," Harry whispered again, breathing heavily, talking against her lips. "Let me make it better."

For a moment, Eve wondered - did he want more than kisses? But then she realised she was being naive. Harry hadn't thought that far ahead - he wasn't motivated in that way, as Draco was. She felt.....disappointment?

At this, he let one hand come slowly from around her waist and raise slightly to where her hand was around his neck. (How did that end up there? she wondered.)

She took his hand without thinking. He could do no worse to her than Draco had. He couldn't break her heart, its wasn't his to break.

And besides, it was in pieces somewhere in a classroom on the first floor.

Eve nodded, silently understand that he was asking for something, a bond of some kind. Girlfriend, boyfriend, silly titles that didn't matter much to her now. She had transcended that. She'd been a partner, a lover, a confident - any other crown or position seemed empty.

"I promise," Harry brought her hand to his lips and kissed, "I won't hurt you like he did."

The irony of the gallant knight, kissing her hand and saving her from the dragon - it made Eve want to vomit, yet she felt like she was nothing. She couldn't be happy now, her senses were deadened. The least she could do was make this boy happy, she could do something to repent those sins she had committed, the lies and the cheating. Yes, this was it, these actions were her Hail Mary's that would save her from purgatory.

Then he was kissing her again, with more confidence than before - now re-assured by her acceptance and her hand wrapped tightly with his. He felt light headed - nothing had ever felt as good as her fingers entwining with his did. He didn't think about the fact that his arch enemy had kissed these same lips just hours before - all he could think was that he was healing her, just like he wanted someone to do with him. The thought came to him that he was being selfish, taking advantage of her when she was clearly emotionally and mentally exhausted, but he justified things to himself by remembering her nod of submission, she wanted this too. Of course, he'd wanted it for months, thought about her lips and had been sent almost crazy that night of the Ball when she was so cold with him.

But here they were, kissing, his first kiss. She knew how to do it, and that thrilled him at the same time it made him squirm. She knew everything. She probably knew how to....... but that was for another day, another time, a long way from now. Right now she was kissing him deeply, her tongue exploring his mouth like it was looking for something, and he'd never felt anything that was so personal. She was inside him, invading him and it felt so........perfect.

Harry thought his knees might buckle, and although he pulled her closer to feel the shape of her curvy body against his, he didn't want anymore. He wouldn't have asked for anymore, he was happy with just this, more than happy in fact. He didn't want it to end, but -

"I'm......tired," Eve coloured, resting her forehead a little against his. "I think it's time I went up."

"Of course," Harry smiled, squeezing her hand that nestled so nicely in his. "There's no lessons tomorrow, so you can lie in. I'll wait for you for breakfast - if you like." His voice was a whisper, yet still not like the deep Baritone of Draco's voice that made her feel funny inside. Harry's voice was less manly than Draco's, less self assured. He spoke properly, yet there were hints of the boy he used to be, before his voice broke.

Eve sniffed, then pulled away from him and smiled.

"I'll probably skip breakfast, don't worry about me."

Inside, she was really thinking, how can I ever, ever go to breakfast again? see him across the hall and not be able to share a stolen glance or a smile?

"Whatever you want," Harry smiled, and patted her arm in a manner that was meant to seen re-assuring, but which Eve took to be condescending.

"I'll see you in the morning then," Eve rushed after an oddly surreal moment. She hesitated for a second - should she kiss him goodnight? had they already just been doing that? was that what girlfriends did? She'd forgotten.....

"'Night," Harry grinned shyly.

"Yeah, 'night," Eve nodded, leaning forward quickly and planting a chaste kiss on his cheek. With that, she padded softly over to the stairs of the girls dorms and walked through the door without looking back.

Immediately as she reached the confines of her dorm room, she started to cry again, from loss, from anger, from confusion, and from none of those things at all. All the time in her head, going over and over like a mantra, was the name 'Draco, Draco, Draco, Draco......'

********

Blaise Zabini yawned tiredly and put down her book.

It was late, and although she couldn't think why, she was waiting up for Draco Malfoy. The common room had emptied long before, and nothing was stirring in front of the fire, except for her feet occasionally, and a second year girl's cat, who had been possesively spraying various chairs all night. Blaise couldn't think where the hell the errant boy had got to, although she suspected it was something to do with this new girlfriend of his.

Looking at her watch and discovering it was past two thirty in the morning, Blaise frowned to herself. He'd been gone since before six last evening, which meant something must be terribly wrong, he never stayed away this long, no matter what happened.

So, tutting to herself about stupid loyalties and headstrong boys, Blaise made her way to the exit and began prowling the corridors silently. She wished that she was slightly more advanced on her animagi transformation, then she could just turn herself into a cat and go freely about, without fear of capture by Filch or anyone else. She tried to think like Malfoy - where would I go if I'd had an argument with a girlfriend? where would I end up if I'd been caught in a passionate embrace with a forbidden Gryffindor?

It took the pretty Slytherin girl an hour of walking the passageways to stumble upon the sight of another student, and when she did, it took her several close inspections to identify the person as Draco Malfoy.

"Draco?" she frowned, bending slightly to get a look at the slumped figure. It seemed he had passed out, and the hood of his robes were up, making him look eerily like a Death Eater.

"Malfoy? Is that you?" Blaise shook the sleeping figure, and the hood fell down. It was, indeed, Draco.

"Look at the state of you!" Blaise whispered. The usually composed, haughty blond, now looked no better than a tramp from the streets. His hair was filthy, covered in some sort of soot and dishevelled, hanging sharply over his face, his eyes were rolled back in his head and in his hand was an empty bottle of whiskey.

Blaise exhaled sharply, shaking her head and yet kneeling in front of the boy, wondering why she just hadn't gone to bed like everyone else and let him be found by Filch, which he surely was to be if he kept lying about in corridors without a care in the world. Taking the near-empty bottle from this limp hand, Blaise discovered his wounded knuckles and tutted. He'd been fighting - but with whom?

"Draco, come on, wake up," she muttered, slapping his face lightly, but to no avail. "Malfoy, we need to get out of this corridor, or else Filch will find us."

The drunken boy paid no attention, and Blaise wasn't sure if he could even hear her. She needed something to shock him, rousing his conciousness. A small smile played on her lips as she surveyed the small quantity of liquid left in the bottle she now held.

A grin crossed her face, and she didn't think twice about give him a good hard slap before pouring the potent liquid over his upturned face.

"Urgh, wha'?" Draco struggled, eyes blinking fiercely at even the low light from the fire holders on the wall.

"You're pissed, Malfoy, drunk as a skunk, now we need to get to back to the common room and sober you up before Snape sees you like this and skewers your vital organs."

Draco groaned, tried to focus, then reached out to touch Blaise's hair. This softened the girl.

"I know what you're thinking," she half whispered, "but I'm sorry, I'm not Eve."

Draco just sighed wearily and looked back at the floor, his hand falling listlessly away. His bottom lip was pushed forward like a child about to cry, and Blaise felt a pang of guilt. She'd known that the Gryffindor girl in question was Eve ever since the Ball. It wasn't hard to work out, afterall, she'd had three quarters of the puzzle answered anyway, and seeing the way the danced together, watching out for the signs, she was made sure. Poor Draco, she thought, what can the girl have done that's reduced you to this.......?

"Urgh, I think I'm going to be sick...." Draco mumbled, looking around blindly, but before Blaise could get him stood up and to the near-by boys toilets, he'd been sick all over the floor, just outside Flitwick's Charms classroom.

"Bloody hell, Malfoy, how much did you drink?" Blaise wrinkled up her nose, trying in vain to hold Draco's robes away from the contents of his stomach that was now on the floor.

"Oh, God, I feel like shit," Draco moaned, rubbing his head.

"Come on, we need to get you back to the common room," Blaise hooked her arm through Draco's and dragged him up.

"Blaise?" he frowned, obviously trying to get her in focus.

"Yes, it's me," she said sardonically, "thanks for noticing." With a flick of her wand, she cleaned up the floor and dragged Draco to the nearest toilets. "Now, if you intend throwing up again, I suggest we stop here for a bit. You still feel sick?"

Draco just nodded ominously.

"Great," Blaise rolled her eyes sarcastically, before Draco almost collapsed on the floor. It was going to be a long night........

*******

When they eventually returned to Slytherin common room, Draco was feeling slightly better. Most of the whiskey was now out of his system (though Blaise didn't exactly enjoy watching it leave his body.....) and he'd washed his face with plenty of cold water so that he felt more awake. Blaise had tried to see to the cut on his hand, but he had gotten angry and threatened to do her some great damage, so they had returned, Blaise murmuring "unthankful bastard" all the way.

Draco dropped into his usual chair by the fire and groaned loudly from the pain in his head.

"I need a headache charm," he demanded.

"Well you'll have to see Madame Pomfrey - you have to go for that hand, anyway."

"Fuck Madame fucking Pomfrey, why can't you do it?"

"There's no point being angry and fierce with me, Malfoy, it won't work, and you won't feel any better."

"I might do," Draco grumbled stubbornly. He was still drunk, bordering on hung over, and Blaise couldn't imagine a time he would be more objectionable.

"So what's the story? why did you resort to a full bottle of whiskey?"

"None of your fucking business," Draco snarled. He could hardly hold his own head up.

"Right, fine, I don't need to sit around here and be spoken to like that," Blaise got up from her chair. "Next time you need someone to save your sorry arse, Malfoy, I suggest you look elsewhere." She began walking to the stairs.

"Okay! okay, I'm fucking sorry, alright?"

"Stop swearing like it's going out of fashion then."

"Fine, no more naughty words," Draco said condescendingly, "please, come back." The final three words were barely audible, yet they were enough to make Blaise stay.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"We fell out," Draco slurred, still seeing two fireplaces, two chairs and two girls who looked deceptively like Eve....his Eve.

"You and Eve?"

"Huh?" Draco frowned, looking up, clearly bewildered. "How d..... how d'you know about that?"

"I guessed," Blaise waved her hand. "Now, what happened?"

"We.......we split up," Draco whispered, his face showing every emotion now that his guard was down.

"She finished it, I take it?" Blaise questioned softly. Draco nodded, then began shaking his head furiously.

"No, no, it was me, I was a fuc - sorry, I was a fool."

"And this is news since when, Malfoy?" Blaise felt wonderfully in control when he was in this state, she would never normally dare be this cheeky otherwise.

"I - urgh, oh hell, my head."

"You what?"

"I said some things I shouldn't have said. I put someone else before her because I'm a complete and utter..........am I allowed to say wanker?"

Blaise nodded with amusement. Drunken Malfoy was definitely much funnier than anything she'd seen recently.

"Wanker. I was a wanker."

"Did you apologise?"

"No, she left. It's more complicated than that. Sorry won't work."

"What could possibly be that bad?" Blaise frowned.

Draco eyed her warily for a moment, contemplating whether or not to tell her. Finally, his drunken brain decided that things couldn't get much worse anyway, and she had found him in the corridor and brought him back here..

"I chose Pansy over her."

"Pansy Parkinson?" Blaise laughed with surprise. Draco just nodded. "I don't understand, why did you have to choose?"

"Father wants me to marry Pansy. I agreed, Eve got angry and left."

"I'm not surprised," Blaise said after a quite moment. "You must be feeling like hell," she observed neutrally.

Draco nodded sadly. He looked pathetic.

"Go to bed, we'll talk about it the morning."

It took a few minutes to compute what Blaise had said, but then Draco was on his unsteady feet. He looked at her with confusion for a moment.

"Er......thanks," he slurred.

"That's alright," she rubbed her eyes.

"Do you want a hug?" Draco asked, a look on his face suggesting the deed might kill him.

"No, no, I'm fine, go to bed."

"Good," he muttered. "Night!"

"Night, Malfoy," Blaise tutted as the door slammed behind him. He'd wake up the entire dungeon if he carried on like that, but she sure as hell wasn't following him, so instead she got up and went to bed herself, sleeping as soon as she reached the pillow.

*********

Both Eve and Draco woke that next morning with pains in their heads and in their hearts. It took a moment, from that first second they woke, and then reality dawned, pulling them back into the woeful mood of the evening before. In fact, they both woke a roughly the same time, and lay in their respective beds, thinking about each other.

For Eve, it was Hermione who eventually disturbed her thoughts.

"Ah!" she smiled, "you're awake!"

"Morning," Eve tried to smile.

"Harry told us not to wake you - apparently you were up half of the night talking," Hermione began fussing, folding clothes, pulling back the hangings on the bed to let the light in and generally acting like a mother hen. Eve felt weary.

"What else did he say?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"Oh, not much else, he was pretty tired himself."

From this, Eve deduced that whatever they had 'shared' last night was mercifully not flying around the common room as the latest piece of gossip. The whole idea of what happened last night made Eve panic - she couldn't believe she'd done such a thing, but in truth, wasn't too sure how to undo it.

Hermione soon launched Eve out of bed, complaining that she'd miss dinner as well as breakfast if she stayed there much longer (which was Eve's secret plan). Before she knew it, Eve was being led down the Gryffindor girls stairs, freshly washed and scrubbed. Her eyes were still slightly puffy from last nights crying, and tears were always threatening to return, whenever she thought of Draco, which was always.

"Ah! here comes the lazybones!" Seamus grinned as Hermione and Eve approached. He was sitting with Harry and Ron by the fire. He and Ron were engaged in a fierce looking game of chess, there were pieces smashed all over the floor. Harry, Eve assumed, was observing.

"Morning!" Ron said brightly, just as his knight smashed Seamus's King.

"Hi," Eve replied weakly. She met Harry's eyes and saw - sympathy. He held out his arms to her and she went to him without thinking, burying her face in his neck while he held her tightly. She was sitting on his knee, so didn't see the shocked looks on her friends faces.

"Er....." Ron coughed, "something you want to tell us, you two?"

Harry played lightly with Eve's hair and looked at her softly, a question in his eyes. She nodded, surrendering her soul and feeling it slip miserably away.

"We're......going out. Eve's my girlfriend."

Although she tried to miss it, Eve caught the clear note of triumph in Harry's voice. The sentence sounded odd, not coming from Draco's lips. Oh, Draco.......

"Bloody hell! you kept that one quiet!" Seamus laughed. "Finally plucked up courage did you, Harry?"

"Shut up, Seamus," Hermione said gently, and from her tone, Eve could tell that her best friend was smiling. "I think that's lovely, don't you, Ron?"

"What? oh yeah, great. Hey, Harry, we can double date!"

Harry laughed nervously. "Yeah, great."

Eve realised they must all be waiting for her comment, so she sat up a little and faked a yawn. "Sorry, still asleep," she lied. Harry held her hand that little bit tighter.

"Oh yeah, wore you out last night did he?" Seamus giggled.

"Checkmate," Ron announced, and Seamus stopped laughing.

"You fancy going for a walk?" Harry asked Eve gently. She couldn't decide what was worse - staying here and having to play the happy couple, going off somewhere alone with Harry and having bestow him with kisses, or leaving the Tower at all and risking seeing Draco.

"Yeah," she finally decided, because Ron and Hermione were looking at them with silly grins.

"Be back in a bit," Harry smiled to their friend, taking Eve's hand delicately in his and walking her to the Portrait Hole. Needless to say that most of the Gryffindors noted their united exit, and Eve sighed to think what things would be like when they got back - people congratulating them and slapping them on the back, as though being in a couple with Harry was something she wanted.

They walked in silence for a little while, past random other students, but as lessons didn't commence again after the holidays for another three days, things were still pretty quiet. In fact, the couple made it down to the frozen over lake before either of them spoke a word.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Harry asked.

"Ummm, okay, I think," Eve answered, totally unsure of what to say. All morning one particular image had been flashing in her head - Draco, as she had seen him one morning at breakfast just before Christmas, with his hair still damp from his morning shower, parted on the side in a reflection of the way she had styled it herself that night, looking tousled, his eyes sparkling as he laughed with a seventh year boy about something. The image made her feel sad and happy at the same time - sad because she'd lost someone so precious, so good looking he could make her stomach flip with a single look, and yet happy, happy that at least he was still alive, and well, and that she could watch him from afar. Part of her felt like it had all been too good to be true anyway, someone like him liking someone like her. Yes, this morning she was feeling melancholy.

"What are you thinking?" Harry asked, "about Malfoy, I mean."

"I miss him," Eve said candidly, hand still entwined with Harry's, heart still with Draco. She wondered how else she could explain this pain she felt, but really, those three words said it all.

"Anything I can do?"

Eve turned to Harry and smiled a little, surprised smile. "No, but thanks for asking."

"That's okay," Harry blushed, "you're my girlfriend, I want to help."

"Even if it is about Draco?"

"Yes," Harry nodded as though it was the most natural thing in the world, "even if it is about him."

Eve leaned in closer to him, and he threaded his arm around her waist. She rested her head on his chest and they kept walking.

Being with Harry was so much different to being with Draco. Everything was different, even down to the way they hugged, the things they spoke about. Being with Harry was nowhere near as wonderful as being with Draco, they didn't have the same chemistry, and Eve didn't feel alive in his arms, but she had to try not to think like that, because it made her cry and she wasn't sure she had any tears left.

*******

Draco woke up to insistent knocking on his dormitory door. It was Blaise.

"Urgh, can you keep the noise down? my head's killing me."

"Right Malfoy, I want to know the full story, and I want it now, otherwise I can't help you. Besides, as I rescued you last night, I think I deserve some answers, don't you?"

"God, you're pretty formidable in the mornings, aren't you?" Draco groaned, getting back under the covers of his bed. He felt like crying, but wouldn't.

"Malfoy, I'm being serious here. I want the full story - now."

So, Draco gave her the highlighted version, not going into too much detail about his father, only about the situation with Eve. Blaise said nothing for a long time after he'd finished.

"Right, well you need to get up and stop moping around. You're hand needs some attention, I suggest you see Madame Pomfrey before dinner."

"But - "

"No 'buts' Malfoy, get up."

With that, the dormitory door slammed, and Draco threw various insults around the empty room before dragging himself up to clean his teeth - he had a nasty taste in his mouth.

*******

Dinner time arrived, and as they were still alone, Eve tried to explain to Harry that she wasn't really hungry. She was, of course, but she was terrified inside that she would see Draco, and that he would, in turn, find out her and Harry were together. The whole situation felt like something Eve could not control, and the very idea that Draco would see her and Harry together made Eve feel sick. It was too soon, and she regretted it, and felt uncomfortable, and she wanted to scream to Harry that she didn't like him, but he was being so sweet, and she didn't want to break his heart.

However, she realised what the sight of her and someone else (especially Harry Potter) would do to Draco, and she didn't want to break his heart either, so she resolved to stay as far away as possible from Draco's eyes. There were still a few days left until lessons started again, so until then, she planned to just avoid crowded meal times in the Great Hall. Of course, she considered telling Harry that she didn't want Draco to know about them just yet, but she was unsure about how to explain this, so in the most foolish manner, she buried her head in the sand.

She figured that she couldn't get any more miserable than she was, and that Draco would probably be occupying his time with Pansy and his 'duties' now anyway, so she resolved to cut all ties of contact with the Slytherin. Watching him with someone else would be far too painful anyway.

However, Harry had other ideas......

"You've got to eat, Eve!"

"I'm not hungry!" she tried to sound amused, as they had returned to the common room and all eyes were on them.

"But you'll get ill! please? just one meal?"

"Harry, please, don't fuss over me."

"Harry's right, you know, Eve," Hermione nodded.

Argh! I feel so smothered! Eve thought. I wish they'd all just leave me alone! I want Draco!

"I tell you what," Eve faked a smile, trying to keep her temper even, "I'll grab something from the kitchens on the way to see my dad. How does that sound?"

There were tuts and shakes of heads. I know they mean well, but......I'm so confused!

Before anyone could say anything else, Eve patted Harry on the arm and exited the common room. Only when she was outside in the corridor, alone, did she feel like she could breath.

Oh how she wished she was escaping to meet Draco somewhere! The whole past 24 hours seemed like a hazy blur and confusion and events that spun out of her control. Maybe talking to her dad for a while would take her mind off things, so as she promised, she made her way down to the kitchens and spoke to a very nice house elf, who gave her a delicious looking sandwich and a piece of cake in some silver foil.

Taking her picnic for one, Eve hurried off to her father's office, half hoping to catch a glimpse of Draco, and half dreading it, in case he was with Pansy.

*******

"Love you too, dad, bye!" Eve called as she shut the door to her father's study. He'd been in a jolly mood, and they'd discussed old times, which had brightened her up considerably. She felt......somehow more normal, now that she didn't have any secrets.

Of course, she'd had to tell him about Harry, and developments there, because he was bound to hear sooner or later. Knowing her so well, he'd guessed that she didn't seem as pleased as she should, but she told him she was just confused, which was the truth, and that it was something pretty strange and new to be dating The Boy Who Lived. Remus had patted his daughter's arm and told her to come to him any time she needed, which she silently suspected would be frequently.

Then they'd gone on to discus Sirius, and his latest encounter in Muggle London. Apparently, they have dogs home there, and he'd been found as a stray. Remus told her a hilarious story about how Sirius had to transfigure himself back to a human, late one night when they'd shut the kennels, then try to escape without the guards seeing him. For a moment, Eve almost forgot everything - there was nothing like a meeting with her dad to remind her what was important to her. She had his love, and that was a comfort. He would always be there for her, no matter what, and although she felt sad, she tried not to dwell on what she didn't have. 'Count your blessings,' her Gran always used to say, 'no matter how few there are.'

Eve was just turning the corner on the second floor, making her way back up to the tower, when she walked straight into Blaise Zabini.

"Oh! sorry!" Eve smiled, moving out of the way, not really registering who it was.

"Erm, it's Eve, isn't it?"

Eve turned around and frowned, suddenly putting two and two together.

"Yeah, is it. You're Blaise?"

"That's right," the dark haired Slytherin girl smiled, and Eve noted that she was quite pretty. After an uncomfortable look between them, Eve smiled and began to move away.

Blaise plucked up some courage. "Excuse me, Eve?"

"Yeah?" Eve turned round, slightly confused.

"I erm.......I wanted to talk to you about Draco."

"Dra - Draco?"

"Yeah, look, its okay, I know about you and him."

"He told you?" Eve asked in total shock.

"No, well, not exactly, I worked it out and then.......well, last night, I found him, drunk. Look, Eve, I don't want to interfere in your relationship, but the poor boy is an utter mess!"

Eve's head spun. This was just out of nowhere! Suddenly, it was like heart broke - Draco was a mess? he'd been drinking? she wanted to find him and put her arms round him and make it better.

"Sorry, I don't....."

"He's broken apart, Eve. I really think you should speak to him."

"But.......what would I say, Blaise? did he tell you the whole story?"

"Yes, well, he told me bits of it last night, then I caught him this morning before he went to dinner."

"Is he okay?" Eve asked quickly, looking around in case anyone caught her talking to a Slytherin.

"No, not really. How are you?"

"It doesn't matter about me. Look, Blaise, you have to help him. Please, look after him for me?"

"Well, I will, as far as I can - "

"No, you have to. I can't get myself involved in it again, I've been lying to everyone and - "

"You won't speak to him?" Blaise asked, incredulous.

"I can't! you don't understand."

"Look, Eve, I don't know anything about you, but I know he can be difficult to handle. I'm not asking you to resolve your differences, because the situation seems un-solveable, but you have to talk to him - he's going mad without you!"

"Please, Blaise, I can't!" Eve said, tears forming in her eyes. "Tell him I'm sorry, tell him I love him but.......I can't, I'm sorry!"

With that, she hurried away down the corridor, praying that Blaise wouldn't call her back. When she was out of sight, she started crying again. The thoughts that Draco was so upset made her want to fall into tiny pieces on the floor - she felt useless and angry and broken and confused all at once.

She just had to keep out of Draco's way from now on, she couldn't bare to see him hurt, but she couldn't go back on the decision she had made about their future either, so although she suspected he didn't actually know it, it was up to him now, he either decided to change his mind and go against his father, or they'd stay separate forever.

*********

Four days passed. Eve hardly left the Tower once, and when she did, it was only to see her father. Harry had taken to bringing her food from meal times, and he suspected it was because she didn't want to see Draco. He tried explaining to her that Draco was never at dinner or breakfast anyway, but Eve just shook her head and was more stubborn about not leaving Gryffindor Towers until lessons resumed.

Draco was taking the same kind of approach, and stayed mostly in the dungeons, although he did go to the Great Hall for food, often with Blaise, but they usually left before the crowds came. He didn't quite know why he was avoiding Eve, but he put it down to pride. He couldn't let her see what she had quite obviously done to him - of course, he was still dressing impeccably as always, looking perfect and performing his role as 'Malfoy heir', yet inside he felt like someone had ripped out his will to live and thrown it in the bin.

Blaise was trying her best to help, he could tell, but he figured she was probably shocked at his change in attitude. He'd gone from cutting, ice-man to half dead moron who sat around thinking and sighing deeply. He realised he was probably an utter nightmare to handle, but the way he looked at it - she didn't have to play wet nurse if she didn't want to, did she?

As for Pansy, well, he figured that she was the one who caused this mess, and could cause much worse for him, if he didn't get on with what he was supposed to do, so he twisted up his resolve and started being nice with her. She was loving the new 'sharing, caring' Malfoy, but the act wore him out, and at nights he'd lie awake cursing everyone he knew until he fell asleep from exhaustion.

However, time seemed to hurry around to their first lesson of the new year, and on the first Monday of the new term, all of the fifth years Gryffindors and Slytherins trooped to the Potions dungeons with heavy hearts.

Eve was terrified. Harry was holding her hand and chatting to Ron about something - everyone seemed to be laughing and getting on with things, except her. She knew that she'd have to face Draco any moment now, and although Harry had been supportive about the whole thing, she knew it would be beyond the barriers to rip her hand away from his as soon as Draco came into view.

She'd just have to grin and bear it.

Thankfully, the Slytherins weren't there when they arrived, so they lined up against the dank, dungeon wall waiting for Snape. Eve could feel the tension right from her toes, and she felt deathly sick, like she was about to meet Voldemort himself or something. While part of her couldn't wait to see Draco's face again, she dreaded how he would react when he saw her with Harry. Would he say something cutting? would he give her a look of death - or worse, a look that told her how hurt he was?

She almost upped and left, just at the thought.

There was no more time for thoughts though, as footsteps from the end of the dank passageway announced the arrival of the Slytherins and Eve bowed her head, hoping she might not get noticed.

*******

Blaise had not told Draco about her meeting with Eve that day - she didn't think Draco would appreciate the words 'she said she loves you' right now. Blaise didn't understand the situation in the slightest, but she felt some kind of odd debt to Malfoy, like she had to look after him now that Eve had asked her to.

On the first day back of term, Blaise was the first one of the Slytherins who arrived outside the Potions dungeon, and she kept her eyes open for Eve. Draco was lost at the back of the crowd with Pansy and Vincent, but when Blaise caught sight of Eve holding hands with none other than Harry Potter, she was visibly shocked.

She shot Eve a kind of questioning glare, which the Gryffindor ignored, even though she had the common curtsey to blush. What the hell does she think she's doing? Blaise wondered, leaning on the doorjamb to watch the fireworks that were bound to ensue when Draco turned up.

*******

Pansy was hanging on his arm again. She'd taken to doing it, he noticed, ever since he'd said, "We've messed about for a while - I think it's time we made it official, don't you?" The words had stuck in his throat, of course, and hadn't come out sounding the way he'd planned, but she didn't notice, she'd flung her arms around him and gave him the most sloppy, unpleasant kiss of his life.

So here he was, walking down to Potions, and seeing Eve for the first time in what seemed like ages. I wonder if she's changed? he wondered. I wonder if she'll look at me? what her eyes will say to me? will she pass me a note, telling me to meet her? will she cry like I think I might? does she have these unbelievable knots in her stomach? does she feel as sick as me?

He wanted to throw Pansy off him like the disease she was, but as he rounded the corner and the students in front of him filtered out, his heart dropped to his feet.

I think I'm going to faint.......

******

Eve's heart pounded furiously in her chest as more and more of the fifth year Slytherins arrived, yet Draco was nowhere to be seen. For a moment, she thought she'd gotten away with it, but he was one of the last, with Pansy in tow.

The look on his face was worse than anything she could have imagined. It wasn't anger, it wasn't shock and it wasn't that condescending sneer that she had half expected. Instead it was.....

......pure grief.

He looked like the bottom had just fallen out of his world at the sight of her, candidly holding hands with the boy next to her. He looked like he might cry and his hurt was plain for everyone to see, written across his face just as obvious as if she'd have ripped open his chest and pulled out his heart for all to see.

"You okay?" Harry whispered into her ear amidst the noisy chatter.

Eve could only nod, throat tight and mouth dry. She was trying to get Draco to make eye contact with her so that she could plead a silent 'sorry', but he was looking at the floor, Pansy giggling by his ear, Eve left just to wonder what the piggy girl could be saying.

Blaise gave Eve a disappointed look and shook her head slightly after catching a glimpse of the clearly devastated boy. The look in Blaise's eyes said 'I'll have to pick up the pieces later - thanks for nothing.'

Suddenly, from nowhere, Snape swept in with this formidable presence and Eve broke her hand link with Harry regardless.

However, the damage was already done.

******

The rest of the day passed in a kind of daze for Eve. Several times Harry tried to talk to her about the incident outside Potions, but she just shrugged him off. She couldn't care less anymore. Seeing that look on Draco's face and knowing that she caused it made her want to disappear into thin air and carry away somewhere on the breeze.

She had never hated herself so much.

Things came to a head at tea-time in the Great Hall. Watching from across the room, Eve could see that Blaise was talking to Draco about something. He had his head bowed so Eve couldn't see the look on his face, yet the two were sitting apart from the rest of the Slytherins, so it was clear something was up.

It's me, I did it, I need to put it right. Eve thought.

Harry tried to engage her in conversation throughout the meal, but Eve wasn't listening, and finally, when Draco stood up, alone, to leave the Great Hall, Eve did too, from instinct, her spoon clattering noisily to the floor with her swift movement from the table. She muttered 'sorry', eyes trained on Draco as he disappeared through the doors. She didn't look behind her, just went after him.

Out in the lonely corridor, she spotted his retreating figure a few feat away and ran after him.

"Draco! wait!"

He didn't turn around.

"Draco, please, we need to talk!" she begged, coming level with him and putting her hand on his arm.

He tugged away from her like she had burnt him and shot her a filthy look.

"Just leave me alone," he growled, continuing his walk.

"Draco, please?" Eve's voice shook and she felt sick to her stomach.

"I said, leave me alone. I think you've done enough."

"No, please, I need to talk to you!"

"Just get back to Potter," Draco spat. His eyes were blazing with fury but she could tell him his stance that he was about to crumble.

"Please? five minutes? I need to explain!"

"What is there to explain?" his voice cracked, but he stopped walking and looked at her. She noted he looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"Everything. Please? five minutes?"

There was a second when he seemed to be debating it, but he eventually nodded tiredly. She led him into a near-by empty classroom, but just as she was about to close the door behind him, Harry skidded to a halt in front of them. He was panting, obviously having run after her from the Hall.

"Eve? is everything okay?" he looked concerned but he really was the last person she wanted to see right at that moment.

"I'm fine, Harry, go back to dinner."

"Come to protect her, have you Potter?" Draco said bitterly from behind Eve. In the second that she took to turn round and look at him, Harry had pushed his way past her into the room and shut the door so that she was standing directly between them as they glared hatred at each other.

"I suppose she told you everything?" Draco laughed angrily.

"She sure did, Malfoy," that note of triumph that Eve had heard a few days ago in Harry's voice was back, and it made her feel sick, like she was being used in some game she didn't quite understand.

"Please, don't fight," she said weakly.

"And you just loved the opportunity to get your heroic little hands on her, didn't you? what did you tell her, Potter? that I was the big bad wolf? come to eat her?"

"You've always been a sore loser, haven't you Malfoy? just like Quidditch - you can't stand me having something you want."

Eve felt as though she might as well have not been there. They were obviously having their own little conversation and she felt like she was a pawn, sitting in the middle. The tension was giving her a headache, and their low, angry voices seemed to pulse hatred around the room that was tangible.

"You talk about her like she's some kind of object, Potter? I think you need to go back to Golden Boy charm school - right now you're talking like the Weasel taught you how to deal with women."

"Please......" Eve whispered, shaking her head.

"At least I've got friends, Malfoy, I can form my own relationships without 'daddy' engineering them for me."

"At least I've got a 'daddy'," Draco sniggered.

"Stop it!" Eve shouted, but her pleas went un-noticed.

"Things just keep getting better and better for you, don't they Malfoy? first Eve, then Pansy Parkinson!" Harry laughed, "well, that's a step up if I ever saw one!"

"Well at least I've had more than one girlfriend in my life, Potter, and even then you get one that's hurting and on the rebound from someone she actually loved."

"I said, 'stop it'!" Eve shouted again.

"And she never has to worry about me hurting her like you did!," Harry glared, the words leaking from his mouth like acid.

"I wouldn't be so confident about things if I were you Scarface, she needs a real man, and that's certainly not a description you fit. In fact, I give the relationship...ooh, two weeks? then you'll have to run back to the Weasel with your tail between your legs!"

"Stop it for God's sake!" Eve near-screamed. Suddenly, the two boys seemed to notice she was standing between them and stopped glaring at each other for a moment. "Thank you," she said calmly, before turning to Harry. "I'm fine Harry, please just go back to your dinner."

"But - "

"But nothing. I can handle Draco on my own. I just need to talk to him. I'll be back in a minute, I promise."

Harry looked at her with eyes full of concern, then regarded Draco with suspicion, like he might hit out at Eve any moment.

"Okay, but if you're longer than 15 minutes, I'll come back," Harry told her, reaching down for a soft kiss on the cheek, before raising his eyes at Draco as though to say 'Mine, hands off.'

With that, he disappeared through the door.

Eve turned back around to Draco, who was looking weary. Neither of them spoke for a moment, then Eve edged closer to him.

"How is you hand?" she half-whispered.

"Healed," Draco said simply, holding up his once again perfect hand for Eve to see.

Eve nodded, and silence fell again. Draco's stare burned her, and they finally locked eyes.

"What did you want to say? I've got homework to do."

Draco wanted to sound curt and cutting, but instead his words were gentle, as though he could never be anything else with her.

"I - I wanted to explain," Eve stuttered. "About me and Harry, I mean."

"After Potter's little scene, I think I get the picture, thanks."

"It's not how he makes out. Draco, you have to believe me," Eve reached out her hand to him and he studied it for a moment, before curling his fingers around hers.

God, that feels so right.... he thought sadly.

"I was sad......and he was there," Eve said quickly, eyes fixated on their joined hands. Draco's thumb was ghosting lightly over her knuckles and she almost cried from the perfect-ness of it. "He's not you. He never will be."

"About Pansy," Draco said with a hint of desperation. "I did what I had to. Do you see that? do you understand? please tell me you understand."

"I do," Eve whispered, "but it still hurts."

"I want you more than anything, Eve, I - "

A noise in the corridor outside made them drop hands and stand apart.

They were both still for a moment, but there was just silence, and when Eve looked back up, she caught Draco smiling at her.

"A mess, isn't it?" he asked sadly. Eve just nodded. "Can't we.....sort it out?"

That question hung in the air for a very long time.

"No," Eve finally said, breaking their air of reconciliation. "Nothing's changed, Draco."

This seemed to break the nice demeanour that Draco had been under regarding Eve's new relationship with Harry.

"So you're just swapping Potter for me? was it that easy?" his tone wasn't angry, but the words were certainly accusatory.

"No! Draco, I told you. Harry's just being a good friend and helping me out - "

"Have you kissed him?" Draco asked shortly, a kind of fire blazing in his eyes.

"Pardon?"

"I said 'have you kissed him?'"

"Well......yeah."

"Oh, and was he better than me?"

"Draco, what the hell kind of question is that?"

"I'm just wondering," Draco shrugged. He was clearly hurting, but he was putting up this angry wall.

"Well.....I.....bloody hell! I can't believe you asked me that!" Eve was astounded in an amused kind of way.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then, shall I?"

"No! no, Draco! he's not as good as you, but I shouldn't even have to say that!"

"I can't.......I just can't believe you're with him! I mean, Potter, of all people. It would have been easier to accept if you started dating bloody McGonagall or someone!"

"Draco, you have to understand, this is......" should I say it? "this is all your fault."

"Yeah, I accept that Eve, I know I've got no one to blame but myself. However, you taking up with the nearest Gryffindor that comes along isn't - "

"You make me sound like a slag!" Eve's temper began to boil.

"That's not what I'm saying - "

"Yes you are, you're making it sound like I jumped on the nearest person that was passing by!"

"You know how I feel about that boy!" Draco said angrily, pointing his finger menacingly at her.

"Oh, so I'm supposed to say, 'No Harry, you can't console me because the guy who just dropped me for someone else doesn't actually like you very much!'"

By now, the couple's voices were raised quite loudly.

"Dropped you? I didn't drop you! You dropped me!"

"You chose your father over me, Draco Malfoy, and if I remember rightly, I lied to mine for four months, four months! just to be with you!"

Gradually, during the argument, the couple had gotten closer to each other and were now standing only inches apart. They were glaring at each other and it struck Eve how sad the whole thing was. They never used to argue when they were together - why do it now, when they were both in more than enough pain?

"Look, lets just forget it - I don't want to argue with you," Eve began to walk away. "I'm sorry that I ever tried to talk to you. It's best if we just get on with things, alone."

"Eve, wait!"

Eve stopped, exhaled deeply then turned around. The light was catching Draco in such a way that she found him more beautiful than she had ever done. She felt sick at what she'd lost.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"Me too."

"I just feel.......betrayed."

"Yeah well, me too."

"I still love you, more than I could ever love Pansy. I want you to know that."

"I don't need to tell you that I feel the same," Eve said grudgingly.

"I'll.....miss you," Draco added, as she went for the door.

"Me too," Eve replied, before pulling open the door and leaving him alone for the second time in two days.

*******

In the next few weeks, time passed slowly for Eve and Draco. Being apart was harder than either of them thought, especially with their new relationships to deal with.

Harry was more and more supportive of Eve, but she couldn't feel the same way for him that he did for her, no matter how hard she tried. Draco was the same, except that his relationship with Pansy was a lot more intimate than Eve and Harry's.

In fact, Eve didn't things could get much worse...........

..................she was wrong.