Of Serpent Tongues and Lion Hearts

Chapter 7: "...If I were you, and Thank Salaazar I'm not,"

It was dinner at Hogwarts and after another Quidditch meeting for the Slytherins Draco headed to the great hall. As he entered the great hall he noticed that almost everyone was there already. "Blasted Hooch! Always wearing my patience thin" although that wasn't saying much because his patience was almost non-existent). As he walked to the staff table he walked between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables.

"Ron, Malfoy is coming," Harry told Ron.

"Yeah, so?"

"Ron! We can ask him about Hermione. We haven't seen her since her sphere came in at lunch and she left with him"

"Yes, I know. Hmmm, I wonder what that was about," added Ron pensively.

"You mean you don't know? Aren't you a Prefect?"

"Yes..." he prolonged his answer.

"Well... aren't you supposed to know everything that goes around here," asked Harry calmly, as if trying to make his point.

"Correction Mr. Potter, almost everything, and in case you fail to notice, her sphere was green, meaning the problem was with Slytherin," said Ron with certain authority not known to him until last year when he learned that he had been nominated for Gryffindor's Prefect position.

"Ok, nonetheless, we are sidetracking from the important here"

"Which is?"

"RON," now Harry seemed to be losing his patience and that was saying a lot.

"Oh, right, Hermione."

"Well..."

"Well...you... fine, but you do the talking," Ron said begrudgingly.

"Fine by me,

"Hey Malfoy...," Harry stood up as the platinum haired boy passed the table.

Draco stopped on his tracks. He knew that voice, after all, six years tormenting each other and insults flying left and right, it would be hard not to.

"Yes Potter," replied the Head Boy looking almost bored and completely disinterested.

Harry's eyes flashed with annoyance, but this was about Hermione, and he would do anything for her. He loved her as his best friend, as a sister. They had been through thick and thin together and she had never faulted him. She was his family and it wasn't that the Weasley's weren't his family too, but the Weasley's did have each other even if they had never met Harry and Hermione. All Hermione and Harry had in the wizard world was each other. He always made sure that she was all right, after all he wouldn't want anything dreadful happening to his family.

"I just wanted to know if you knew where Hermione is. We haven't seen her since she left with you at lunch and she was not in classes either. We are worried about her."

"Really, you worried about her? That's new Potter," Draco said lazily. He then looked down at Weasley who hadn't pronounced word and was very much interested in the contents of his plate

"What about you, Wealey? Don't you care enough about your friend to ask for her yourself," said Draco cocking his eyebrow.

Ron went various shades of red in three seconds, Harry though that was a record, and tried to come up with the right words that could imply that he cared and that Malfoy could shove it up his...

"Of course he does, but I'm the one asking Malfoy and politely at that, though I do not expect you to understand the concept of neither politeness nor friendship. So will you answer before we begin our usual insult fest," added Harry quite assertively.

Draco's lips turned carefully upwards drawing in his face that fantastic smirk that was so originally his. Then slowly Draco's expression deserted his face to be replaced with those of seriousness and almost..., but only almost, guilt or remorse.

"She's in the hospital wing..." he didn't finish what he wanted to say because finally Ronald Weasley was standing tall and proud in all his 6'3 majesty.

"WHAT," he grabbed Draco by the collar of his robes while he shook him furiously back and forth.

"What did you do to her Malfoy? You prat I knew you were going to hurt her you...you..."

"Let go of me Weasley, I didn't hurt her," he grabbed Ron's hands and pushed him off him with anger.

He draw a few deep breaths before deciding whether he would launch himself at the moronic redhead, which, for his life, he didn't understand why had he gotten the Prefect position, or if he should play the bigger person role. He decided to go with the latter, but with a Malfoyesque pinch to it.

"Weasley you seriously have a problem listening to people. I questioned the sanity of those who thought you would do a good Prefect!"

Ron was taken aback; he was expecting anything from the ferret, but certainly not this. Harry grabbed Ron by the shoulders to stop him from doing anything else and to give him much needed support.

"What do you mean she's in the hospital," Harry asked

"We had a problem earlier in the Slytherin common room and one of the Slytherin's attacked her," said Draco detached.

"You mean you ambush her," spat Ron

"No Weasley, for your disappointment I wouldn't do anything that stupid -unlike you- to Granger even if she is a muggle born and a Gryffindor, I do not sink that low," Draco said dangerously low.

Now was Harry's turn to be confused

"What, why, how come?"

"That I didn't attack her," said Draco disbelievingly, "Well Potter I knew that common sense was something your side kick here lacked of, but not you. I know you don't hold me on your high standard list, but I would never do that," Draco was annoyed by the notion that the Pot and the Weasel would think he would be so careless, needless to say stupid.

"No, I mean about the Slytherin that attacked her," added Harry quickly.

"Oh," Draco arched one of his eyebrows, "Potter you ask too many questions in a ridiculously short amount of time. Breathe now. Now that we have that out of the way my recommendation is to shut up, grab your shocked twin here and go to the hospital wing to visit her... or bomb her with this stupid questionnaire. If I were you, and thank Salazaar I'm not, I would check on her instead of wasting my time as well as hers. Now if you'll excuse me, even though it was nice exchanging insults and misconceptions of each other with both of you, I'm starving and you are standing in my way," and with that Draco made his way importantly past the two severely shocked Gryffindors to the staff table.

"Thank you Malfoy," said Harry before the young Slytherin was too far and Draco waved his hand shortly and stiffly without stopping or turning around.

"What are you thanking him for?"

"I'm thanking him for the information about Hermione and for acting as polite as possible"

"Polite? Have you gone mad Harry?"

"Oh, shut it Ron," Harry said impatiently.

Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry.

"Harry, since we are going later to the infirmary, you might want to have a check up."

"Later? Ron, we are going now!"

"But I'm not finished with my food," Ron protested.

"Then grab your plate. You'll eat on our way there... and grab some food for Hermione too you know how those porridges that Madam Pomfrey does taste like."

"Good point," Ron nodded filling his plate to maximum capacity and then some.

Shortly after, they were making their way to the infirmary to see their Hermione.

*******************************

Hermione woke up in the infirmary looking around her.

"What am I doing here... ohh...OHH," she remembered everything from laughing with Draco on their way to the dungeons to being beaten up by that "bloody bastard" to being curled up in Draco's arms. She smiled. He had looked slightly worried on their way to the hospital wing, but this was Malfoy, for him, to look like he was worried even if it was barely noticeable, was a lot. She remember how he had grabbed her cold hand in the infirmary and despite the pain she was in her heart was pounding, she felt elated. When did she began to feel this way, whatever it was the she was feeling, "Hermione Rebeca Granger, what is going on with you?". She felt very confused and frightened. She had never experienced anything like it in her life, whatever it was. She got out of bed silently "Hmmm I feel good. Interesting, I feel better than before." She picked through the curtains, no one seemed to be there. She opened the curtains.

"Hullo," said the boy next to her.

Hermione jumped back startled.

"Sorry I scared you it wasn't my intention," the boy told Hermione quickly.

She recognized the kid. It was that first year Slytherin that tried to jump on Nemov, but was blocked by Draco. What's his name... oh yeah Jason Bell.

"Don't worry about it Jason."

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, I'm feeling a lot better. What about you.

"Oh just fine," Jason said dismissively, "he didn't beat me up as bad as he did you, but that's because you are a mud..." her eyes flashed with anger "sorry muggle born," he added apologetically.

"Humph you Slytherins always are thinking that you are superior in every way because you are pureblooded. Bunch of death eaters that's all you are," she spat with much bitterness.

"Hey! Not all of us are that way! I said I was sorry I didn't mean to call you that... it's just that I've heard it so many times, it kind of sticks, and no, I know that is not an excuse, but that's why I apologized," said Jason defensively.

"Right, whatever, you are all so prejudiced and stereotyped..."

"Stereotyped, prejudiced," he asked with half cup of sarcasm and half cup of anger, "what do you think we Slytherin's go through everyday? Everyone thinks that because we are pureblooded and we are sorted into Slytherin we all hate muggleborn's and that we'll turn out to be the next Voldemort or his right hand," said Jason just as angry as Hermione.

"Well you certainly don't do anything to prove us wrong," Hermione stroke again.

"Boy and you are the smartest witch at Hogwarts? That is because people place us under those categories from the beginning, even before they even talk to us. So why should we bother trying to prove all of you wrong if you will never give us the benefit of the doubt? Most of us are simply too driven. We want to achieve our goals, and if that means by any means necessary then so be it. But it does not mean we don't know right from wrong or that we will always cheat and lie, or even if we'll cheat and lie. The majority of us are not Death Eaters or even muggleborn's haters. True there are some that think they are superior because they come from a pureblooded family of centuries, but that does not make them muggleborn's haters or Death Eaters or evil for that matter. Plus how many other students at Hogwarts think that they are superior for one thing or another? Like you for example," Hermione opened her eyes wide and her mouth was left hanging open, "you are best friends with none other than Harry Potter, you are not only first of your class, but the best student Hogwarts has seen in many years. You were a Prefect last year and now you are the Head Girl. You don't think you walk the hallways of this school with a certain air of superiority?"

"I certainly don't" she responded offended, but he had stroked a cord.

"Of course you do, don't lie to yourself. But you know what, it's all right, you do it, we do it, and everyone does it. Are we correct by feeling superior, we must certainly are not, but we are not hurting anyone, or so we tell ourselves. So you see you are not a bad person and feeling superior doesn't make you one either. It's just a matter of knowing when, where and with whom. Maybe now you'll understand that being a Slytherin does not equal being pure evil.

Hermione, now sitting on the edge of her bed, could not bring herself to believe what she had just heard. An 11 year old had given her a lecture on prejudice and morals that could have been easily given by her to Ron and Harry or any Gryffindor. But, through time, she just let herself get dragged into perpetual battle Gryffindor against Slytherin or the entire Hogwarts against Slytherins. All of a sudden she felt terribly guilty and looking at him she smiled warmly.

"You'll be someone someday," Hermione told Jason.

"Thanks, you already are," she smiled again at him.

"Hermione!"

She turned around and there they were Harry and Ron running towards her. Harry reached her first and quickly without even letting her say a word he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"I'm so glad to see you are fine," he pulled her out of his embrace putting both his hands on each her shoulder, looking her straight into her eyes, "You are ok, right," he asked doubtfully.

"Yes, I am," she smiled warmly.

"Oh thank Flammel, I was so afraid," he pulled her again into a tight hug; she returned the hug until...

"Harry. You are kind of cutting my air supply," she said in a raspy voice.

"Oh right. Sorry and he finally pulled away.

"Hey Hermione, we brought you some food before Madam Pomfrey gives you one of her "succulent" porridges," he handed her the plate and hugged her, though lighter than Harry.

"Thanks Ron you are a life saver," said Hermione gratefully looking at the full plate.

Harry made a spectacle of clearing his throat.

"Thanks to you too Harry, no need to get jealous."

He smiled at her as she lay back on her bed again. Ron and Harry both sat at each side of her bed, leaving her exactly in the middle.

"Ok Herm, you have to tell us what happened?"

"Well, you know how I got my sphere at lunch?"

"Yes," both said simultaneously.

"Well, Draco and I headed to the Slytherin dungeons only to find a very insane looking Nemov and ..." she told them all she knew strategically leaving some parts out.

"That bloody wanker, I swear if I see him, I'll kill him... with my own hands," Ron clenched his hands into fists and his eyes hooded with anger.

"That bastard, I can not believe he beat you. We'll beat him to a pulp. That little..."

"Boys enough, I'm sure Dumbledore will take care of him, besides the kid did look possessed."

"Possessed or not, that wanker leaves Hogwarts, either by expulsion or in a plastic bag, muggle style."

Ron wasn't sure what Harry meant by the plastic bag, but nonetheless he agreed passionately.

"I'm with you Harry."

Hermione slightly shook her head disbelievingly and smiled at her friends. Boys will always be boys"

"So.... Malfoy brought you here," Harry asked nonchalantly.

"Yes."

Harry and Ron exchanges strange looks, but, and not for the first time, they were on different pages... hell, they were on different chapters. Ron was wondering what plans did Malfoy had in mind that could involve the Death Eaters, Lucius, Voldemort and Hermione, while Harry was wondering if the changes in Draco and Hermione's behavior were leading to something else... Harry, don't be stupid mate!

"Oh, we also brought you a couple of your text books so you could catch up with the classes of today and here are the assignments," he handed her a pile of thick books and a parchment.

"Thanks."

The three of them continued talking about the incident mainly and theorizing what could have really happened in the Slytherin's dungeon earlier. That was until Madam Pomfrey burst out of her office and threw them out.

"Off you go, come one the pair of you, she needs her rest."

"Ok, ok we are leaving."

"We'll see you tomorrow," they waved at her.

"Ok, night."

"Mr. Bell you are free to go now."

He picked up his things and waved at Hermione as he left.

"Good luck." Hermione told him.

"Thanks."

"Madam Pomfrey, how come that I have to stay, can't I go now? I feel so much better really."

"Dear, you need your rest. I'm not about to jeopardize your health just so you can go to the library and catch up with your work. The beating you took was severe and I would like to keep in observation even if it's just a night longer."

Hermione sighted. That was a lost battle even before it had started.

She propped a book open and began doing her homework, shortly after that, she was officially done with her homework... of the week. Before she could become bored she noticed that Harry mistakenly had left his Quidditch Through the Ages with her. She picked up the book and began reading. Beggars can't be choosers and all that. She was quite surprised. It seemed to be so much more to Quidditch than Harry and the Weasley's had ever told her. She was quite immersed in the book when...

"Hullo."

"Ah!" second time in the day she had been startled. She dropped the book." Honestly! What is wrong with you Slyhterins? Are you always this sneaky?"

Draco put the best pensive look he could while looking at a fixed point in the air that only he could see.

"Hmmm, yes we are. Any other questions Miss. Granger?"

She chuckled and he picked up the book from the floor.

"Well, well I must admit that I'm quite shocked, Qudditch Through the Ages," he held the book in front of him.

"Harry and Ron were here earlier to visit and bring me my homework, I think Harry mistook his book for one of mine and that's how I ended up with it. I've quite enjoyed it. I can understand the lot of you better."

Draco was sitting by her side with narrowed eyes.

"All of you? Who's all of "you"?"

"Well, the Weasley's, Harry, Ron, you."

"Me?"

"Yes you, believe it or not, all of you are Quidditchholics. And I truly believe it is not the only thing that you, Harry and Ron have in common."

"Of course it's not," said Draco pretending to be hurt. "We also have our mutual hatred in common," he smirked.

Hermione's eyes opened as wide as saucers. Draco had said exactly the same thing Ron had.

Draco mistook her expression.

"Ok, I won't talk about it anymore if it bothers you that much."

She shook her head lightly.

"No, it's not that...newt's eyes, you guys might not be as different as you think you are.

Draco seemed to be bothered by the comment but chose to ignore it. "The Weasel" was not one of his favorite subjects and being told, that somehow in this twisted and severely messed up universe, that he was not that different from him, made his insides turn upside down and not exactly with excitement.

"Anyway, how are you feeling," he changed the subject quickly.

"Oh, just fine, but Madam Pomfrey doesn't want me to leave until tomorrow morning."

"So you are not coming on rounds with me tonight? You found an easy way out huh," he teased her.

"I wish! I'm bored out of my mind here," he chuckled

"That's understandable."

"Will you be alright doing the rounds on your own? I don't reckon it would be very wise."

"Oh but I won't, I already owled Blaise and Weasley. They'll do the rounds tonight."

"How come?"

"Well I still have to file a report on the incident, just for technical reasons, and I have a couple more things that need to be taken care of, so I figured that for this once it won't kill them to do a little more than the usually do."

"I don't think Ron will appreciate you pairing him up with Zabini."

"He doesn't appreciate me anyway, why should I worry?"

"True, but you are just adding more logs to that fire," Draco smirked, "Draco!"

He tried to look as innocent as possible, and if she didn't know him it would have worked.

"WhatdidIdo" he said the words together.

She rolled her eyes, but let it slip by. Fighting with him was like fighting with Ron. It led to nothing... unless you counted a coronary.

She shifted a little bit on her bed, after hours on the same bed made her body slightly uncomfortable. Draco was alarmed and quickly grabbed her arms.

"Are you alright? Are you hurting? I'll call Madam Pomfrey."

"No," she grabbed his arm before he ran to get the nurse. "I'm just a little uncomfortable in this bed that's all."

"Oh," he grabbed some pillows from the closest bed to him and placed them behind her. She leaned forward so he could slide the pillows better. Both his arms were at either side of her as they both came to a halt. Suddenly they noticed the closeness between them. They were looking into each others eyes and the same storm that promised to devastate them each time they were too close. At first it slowly stirred inside of them, but quickly it took force.

They were too absorbed to part, but even if they could have none of them were sure they would have wanted to. She took a small breath in, not big enough because she was afraid of ruining the moment. She felt his scent. She couldn't put her finger on what it was that he smelled like, and maybe she'll never know, but she loved it. It was so peculiar, so manly, so intoxicating, so inciting. Her heart stopped, for what seemed like an eternity when he made the distance that separated them shorter. Her breathe caught up in her throat, and now, more than ever, she wanted to feel him somehow... anyhow! She didn't know what she was facing, what all this... all this could be, but despite her nervousness, her doubts she could not turn her face from it, from him.

He was having the same predicament she was. He was as lost as a muggle in a dessert, at least wizards can apparate. He felt his stomach tie in a very tight knot when he leaned closer to her. But he had stopped because he saw her pupils widening what does that mean? Beats me! What if it had meant that she was afraid of him? Or that she didn't know how to reject him? After all why would she want to be with him? No one did. He was the son of bona fide Death Eater, serial killer and psychopath, a.k.a. Lucius Malfoy.

He was beginning to lose the battle inside of him, his thunderstorm was dying and she knew. She just knew this was going on inside him despite the expression in his face and the way he carried his body had not betrayed him. He looked so in control, so calmed.

I'm backing out he thought.

I'm going to lose him, she thought, God, god, god, what do I do?

He could have sworn he saw something that resemble desperation in her eyes but that couldn't be right.

Her thoughts kept racing, what should I do? WhatshouldIdo?

The same step he had taken leaning forward, he now took, but backwards. He was retiring.

With the same doubt he did this, she automatically and valiantly leaned forward, giving him the so needed hint.

He gulped.

He leaned forward slowly without stopping until their noses almost touched. He took his eyes off her briefly only to glance at her full soft pink lips. She noticed. She felt his desire. She licked her lips instinctively and, that was it.

He tilted his head, not giving more warning. His lips touched on hers. First he kissed her softly, innocently, but he was just exploring the territory. As soon as their lips caressed for the first time, a small spark twinkled between both of them briefly. She returned his soft kiss. He withdrew just a little bit, to read her eyes. He knew that look; he was wearing the same one. He then kissed her again and gently added pressure to her lips with his. He licked her lips lazily, tasting her first. He felt her tense but then slowly and tentatively she opened her mouth to let him in. Their tongues danced only to the music of the beating of their hearts. It wasn't a savage kiss, it wasn't chaste either. It was a true kiss, an exploring and passionate one. Their mouths mated for a long time. She felt a prolonged jolt of electricity going up and down her spine. His stomach tightened even more.

Their kiss only intensified as he wrapped his arm around her waist and caressed her cheek as he pulled her even closer to him. With the same urgency to feel him closer she wrapped her hands in his soft silky hair. She took a deep breath, without breaking their kiss, and there it was again... that scent, so distinctive, so his.

He pressed his body with more authority into hers, making her lean backwards on the bed, putting them in a very compromising position. They broke apart only catch enough air, which hadn't been supplied properly, since their kiss had intensified with such a ferocity and force.

He looked into her warm brown eyes and only saw one thing. That was all there was in her eyes. All he saw was, well he saw himself. That's all he saw in those beautiful deep chocolate pools. He was scared of these feelings, of seeing himself reflected in her pure eyes.

Oh, Merlin! What had just happened, one of the million questions crossing his mind, Fuck Draco, get the bloody fuck out of here. What in the bloody hell have you gotten yourself into, you wanker! Bollocks, he continued.

She saw more confusion in those grey eyes than what she was feeling and that scared her.

He finally saw more than himself in her eyes. He saw her struggle, her confusion. He did not see himself in them anymore.

He got up.

"I...I have to go," he spun around and almost ran to the exit.

"Draco wait," Hermione tried to talk to him.

Too late, he was now gone, leaving her not only confused and lost, but with a dreading feeling of loneliness. He body felt cold, clear sign that her body was missing him already.

She stared at the floor with the saddest eyes and trembling swollen lips.

"What is happening," she whispered to herself.

******************************

Draco ran all the way to their dorm more lost than ever. He got into his room and slumped in his bed. Hands in his head, he though about the big mistake he just made.

"But why did it feel so good then," he whispered to himself, why it felt so righ. Argh."

Then he began to ponder about everything. How he felt when Nemov attacked her and almost murder her, how she cuddled in his arms while he carried her to the infirmary, how he grabbed her hand and she gently squeezed it, and last, but certainly not least, how he was about to back out of their first kiss, when she leaned forward giving him permission to kiss her, and finally when that moment had arrived.

The moment their lips touched for the first time he felt a rush he had never felt before. It was something that he could not explain. Not even when he played Quidditch, his favorite thing in the world, had he felt that electrifying, gratifying, addictive sensation. He could have sworn sparks flew between them, but he most have imagined it.

Her soft lips were like clouds, so soft, so smooth and perfect. Her body pressed against his was like being in heaven and it was quickly becoming vital. It was the best feeling he had experienced. Her scent was intoxicating and her softness was beyond any earthly thing.

"Forget her, Draco. She probably didn't mean any of it, she didn't feel anything. It was all a big mistake. Your future is written already and she won't ever... Fuck! She's not interested in you Draco. Why would she, after all you've done to her and her friends," he was facing the mirror while he said those words.

"What's wrong luv," asked a perplexed and mirror.

"Oh, no one I deserve that's all," said Draco sarcastically.

"I would not be so sure about that darling, you are worth quite a lot," said the mirror as a matter of fact.

Draco bitterly chuckled.

"Yeah, in the dark world."

The mirror stood quiet for a minute.

"Can I help you with something?"

"Can you change me entirely? Can you change who I am, what I'll become?"

The mirror stood quiet for a minute. "No, I can't."

"Then my answer is no. You can't help me," he walked to his bed.

"Only you can do that dear. And maybe, if you let her, she could help you too. Of course that is if she really knows what you are worth, not what your name is worth or it might imply, but what you are worth, as a person, as a young man. If she doesn't then she is not worth you not even standing near you. Nighty, night."

Draco turned around to face the mirror. Those words struck him hard. They left him thinking.

"Night," he managed to mumble.

And he went to sleep pondering the words of the mirror, who, so far seemed to be the smartest mirror in the wizard world.

***************************

"In all honesty I don't understand why are we doing this?"

"Weasley, isn't that obvious? One is in the hospital wing and the other is trying to do his Head duties concerning the incident. It is better if we do it. Besides, it's only one night. We don't have to do rounds until next month and we only have seven nights out of the entire month. It is only fair, they do it almost every night, child" Blaise Zabini told Ron impatiently.

"Don't call me child! I'm not a child," said Ron indignantly.

"Well you certainly act like one, so don't expect me to treat you or call you differently until you prove me wrong," answered Blaise with one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows arched and a bored look to accompany it.

They had both stopped on their tracks, facing each other. He was much taller than her being 6'3 and she 5'8. He looked into her eyes for the first time, after all she was Blaise Zabini and no one, not even him dared to stand up to her. Well ok, maybe few people did, but he certainly didn't, especially since a rumor about her said that if you looked into the youngest Zabini's eyes you would turn into stone. Of course that was only a rumor, but in the wizard world you don't want to take that risk.

Ron was staring into her eyes, he really didn't like being called boy, or dumb. The funny thing was that when he saw her eyes he didn't feel scared, or turned into stone, like he had expected. He was simply amused. She didn't have an evil grin or a malicious look; she simply looked bored and expectant. Probably expecting his comeback.

He noticed her amber eyes and the little flecks of gold in them. They were so many and they each seemed to shine at their own time. It was like watching her eyes create a perfect piece of music without a sound. He had never noticed this. Yes, he knew she was beautiful, but so did half the male population at Hogwarts, but not like this, never like this. He felt dumbfounded by her presence, by the existence of such a rare specimen.

She felt his rigorous look on her and she felt very uncomfortable. Silence was already uncomfortable enough to add his stupid silly eyes on her. His intense blue eyes were piercing her, blushing ever so slightly, something that had not been present in her dangerously beautiful face since she was eight years old. But he, being Ron, didn't notice, not that the majority of people would since her blush was almost not present.

No one dared to look at her like that, and she wasn't about to let a simpleton redhead, like that Weasley kid to be the first to do so. She was so close to telling him off and showing him his first Don't Dare to Mess with a Zabini handbook lesson, when she was cut off by the sound of steps. Ron, instinctively grabbed her arm and tried to pull her to a corner where they could hide, but she was faster and freed herself from his grasp too quickly.

"What are you doing," she was terribly annoyed, not only he had stared at her making her uncomfortable, which no one did, but he had dared to touch her, who does he thinks he is.

"Hiding," he tried to whisper, but apparently he hadn't master the concept of whispering either.

"Come on they'll catch us."

Blaise was now more than exasperated, she was about to hex the "boy" into the middle of the Qudditch pitch.

"Weasley," she tried to say in a low, calmed voice, "we are Prefects on rounds," she couldn't contain raising her voice, "we ARE allowed to be out here at this time."

"Oh, right," he turned a very unflattering shade of red.

She couldn't help but smirk when she saw him like that. He truly amused her. But he never saw her smile, because the foot steps grew closer and then a hooded figure came from the stairs totally oblivious of Ron's and Blaise's presence since it was walking in the opposite direction of them.

"Stop right there lad," said Blaise with superior authority.

The person stopped in its tracks and slowly turned around, looking at the floor still hiding their face. Once again Blaise, in her authoritative voice said: "Reveal yourself."

Ron felt his blood running cold. Not because of the person in front of him, but at Blaise's command, that reminded him why he was intimidated by her, and why no one, well almost no one, dared to stand up to her.

The person in front of them lifted its head and slipped the hood down to reveal very long, straight mane of blonde hair.

Ron gasped.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't other than the prodigious child, Ravenclaw prefect."

Blaise's smirk was triumphant, had Voldemort been there he would have been proud. Blaise's eyes rejoiced and flashed dangerously. She really didn't like Mandy, not at all, and she got a kick, every time she picked on her. The girl was so easy to torment. She was not as smart as everyone thought she was. Mandy was only books smarts, after that layer, there was absolutely nothing, she was as empty as Emily Wood's head, and that was saying a lot

Mandy's face was sour. She hated Blaise to the last bit that composed that sardonic face of hers. Who in the bloody hell did she thought she was?! Did Blaise think she could fool everyone? Everyone knew and if they didn't they suspected that Blaise was a Death Eater. Why did she have to pick on her? Why did Blaise hated her so much?

"Oh Zabini, aren't you the happy one now that you've caught me? You little bi..."

"Language Brocklehurst, language. You don't want to blow your cover in front of your gullible boyfriend. You are not supposed to show your true colors, not this early in the game anyways. You don't want him thinking that you are actually dumb and useless, do you," Blaise taunted Mandy.

Mandy's mouth was hanging wide open. She finally noticed Ron's presence.

"Ronnie darling, are you going to let her talk to me like that," she added in a syrupy voice batting her eyelashes, careful not to over do it.

Ron had been shocked to see Mandy for the first time that day; he didn't even care or noticed the banter that the two females seemed to have every time they were within thirty feet from each other.

"Where the bloody hells have you been? I've been sick worried about you," he close the distance between them and stood between Blaise and Mandy.

"Wh... What? Ron! This bitch insults me and all you do is ask me where have I been?"

Mandy was losing her temper, Blaise could tell, making this an even more enjoyable moment, but so was Ron and for this he didn't noticed Mandy's rising temper.

"What? Amanda I've been worried about you all day long. You disappear after breakfast and then don't even tell any of us where you are and you decide to appear now and all you do is vent at me for not defending you? What for? It's not like you can't defend yourself!"

Blaise blinked once. She was a tad surprised at his response. Maybe the child had some character after all.

"But darling, you are my boyfriend," now she was definitely over doing it.

"Oh boy, here we go," murmured Blaise.

Mandy gave her a death glare.

"You haven't answered my question Amanda," said Ron with more authority Blaise thought he had.

Mandy shifted uncomfortably form left to right and her eyes danced from Blaise to Ron.

Ron grabbed her by her elbow

"If you'll excuse us for a second Zabini?"

"Please, be my guest," Blaise smirked.

Ron pulled her out of Blaise hearing reach.

"Where in the bollocky bloody world have you been all day?"

"Well... I..."

"Amanda..." Ron was growing really impatient. Was she hiding something?

"Well after breakfast I went to class."

Ron gave her the Do you think I'm stupid look.

"Why weren't you at lunch?"

"Well... you see... after class I stayed with Professor Snape discussing my assignment. After that I went to the library to do some research," she smiled seductively at Ron.

But he wasn't ready to accept that answer yet.

"And dinner?"

"Library again, to pick up some books I left there."

"Weren't you hungry," asked Ron suspiciously

"I stopped in the kitchen earlier and grabbed some food," she answered calmly.

"So let me get this straight. After classes you went straight to the library to pick up some books. I didn't know picking up books could last so long," Ron knew something was off.

"Well honey, I picked up some books but stayed to do more research too and help a first year with his homework," she smiled again, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"I see," Ron's eyes were hard. "Why didn't you let us know then?"

"Oh darling! You know how I can be when I get absorbed in a school project," she pouted a little more and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Ron smiled. He knew she became absent minded once she was immersed in anything related to classes.

"Yeah I know."

She gave him a little peck.

"Ok, I'm going to take a shower now and go to bed."

"Ok babe."

"I'll see you in the morning my Ronnie baby."

She turned around and walked away but not before giving Blaise a triumphant smirk.

Ron blushed. Blaise slightly chuckled at his reaction, but couldn't help thinking how oblivious he could be about reality sometimes.

He walked over to her and they continued their rounds in silence. Then she decided to break the silence.

"Did you believe her?"

"What? Were you listening?"

"That's hardly the point, Ronnie baby," she pouted and batted her eyelashes furiously.

Instead of making him embarrassed her reaction had only lighten him up a bit. He had never seen her acting so freely and he had to admit that he liked her much better this way, but no matter what, he had to keep repeating himself she belonged to the dark side. Right?

"Ok, so what's your point," finally Ron asked.

"My previous question, do you believe her?"

"Why wouldn't I? And how did you manage to hear us? We were far away."

"Oh my dear boy, you were not that far, plus it's hereditary. The good hearing, that is. You kind of have to in our family," she tilted her head slightly looking thoughtful and amused.

"Really, how come?"

"Weasley, I believe you are changing the subject again."

"Not intentionally, besides it was you who got side tracked."

She raised her eyebrows.

"True... but anyway, you think she was in the library picking up books and doing research for that potion assignment?"

"As I said before, and I repeat again since apparently your hearing has deteriorated from the moment you heard the conversation between my girlfriend and I until now, why wouldn't I? Believe her that is."

"Right you are, Weasley. Why wouldn't you? Just curious, that's all."

"Checking what," Ron asked puzzled.

"The trust level in your relationship."

"Why? It's not like it is any of your business," Ron was agitated at her many questions. She was nothing but a busybody. She needed to get a boyfriend. Or not. Where had that thought come from?

Her eyes were unreadable, but she was looking forward so Ron could only see her profile.

"Right you are again, Weasley, it is not of my bloody business."

"I don't get it. Why do you hate her so much?"

"Weasley, now that's none of your business."

They were standing in front of the Slytherin entrance. They had finished their rounds.

"But I am her boyfriend, it has to do with me too," he said indignantly.

"That's where you got it very, very wrong. Yeah, unfortunately you are her boyfriend, but it has nothing to do with you. It is between her and me.

He looked at her between confusion and suspicion.

"Unfortunately for who?"

"You, of course, silly boy," she smiled at him, a real smile, not a smirk, not a malicious smile, but a true one, and good Merlin, did that take his breath away or what?

"Ok, well, I'm off to bed now," she added almost hurriedly

"Oh, right. I'm tired too. Night."

"Night," she turned to face the stone wall, ""bloody death"," she muttered the password, "Oh Ron,"

"Yeah," he turned around sharply.

"No book bag," at his bemused expression she added, "you need to learn to be more observant."

"What? What do you mean? No book bag?"

"How did you ever got to be a Prefect will always remain a mystery to me," she added truly puzzled.

"Hey!"

She lifted her arms in surrender and got in the Slytherin common room. He stood there for a few more seconds after the hidden stone wall closed. He would ever understand that woman, not even if his life depended on it.