Deny

Hermione stoked the fire for the third time in ten minutes. She rolled her eyes at her foolishness, and went into the kitchen to finish preparing dinner. It was a normal Christmas for her, as far as Christmases went. The morning had come and gone with very little snow, and her tree had had several gifts beneath it from all of the parcels delivered by owl.

Actually, it was the first Christmas since Ron's death that she'd actually bothered to send other people gifts in return. She turned the Christmas music on and opened the oven door to check on the ham. Satisfied that it was finished, she removed it and sat it on the stovetop to cool a bit. She went into the living room and lit several cinnamon scented candles that she'd purchased a few days ago, and then flopped down on the sofa.

She had just picked up her steaming mug of cocoa and begun blowing on it when there was a knock at her door. She sighed and closed her eyes. She'd already had two groups of carolers and a visit from Molly and Arthur, which had made her come to the conclusion that she'd had enough visitors until next Christmas, thank you very much. She rose and went to the door, groaning silently when she saw who it was.

She opened the door and gave him her most brilliant smile. "Happy Christmas, Charlie." He wrapped her in a loose embrace, and after she'd stepped aside, he entered her home. She sat back down on the sofa and picked her mug back up. "Can I get you some cocoa or egg nog?"

"Nothing, thanks," he said, shaking his head. "I just came by to wish you a Happy Christmas."

"Well, thanks for that. It's lovely to see you again. How have you been?"

"Good, I've been good." He reached inside his cloak and withdrew a small, ornately decorated box. Hermione's heart plummeted into her stomach. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, there was another knock at the door. She looked up in surprise - she hadn't expected anyone else to call at this late hour. She rose to her feet, grateful for the distraction. She opened the door without looking to see who it was, and was instantly frozen to the spot.

"Happy Christmas," he said, his voice low. She took in his red nose and expensive cloak before he peered past her. When he saw Charlie, he stiffened. "Are you going to invite me in, or am I just going to stand out here and freeze?"

"Of-of course not," she stammered, moving aside. "Please, come in." Draco moved past her and went straight into the living room, where he and Charlie stared each other down.

"Malfoy."

"Weasley."

"Draco, would you like some cocoa or egg nog?" Hermione asked, her voice calm and steady. He glanced at her, realizing that she'd used his first name. Charlie seemed to have noticed as well, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Cocoa would be fine."

"I'll have some too, Hermione," Charlie said quickly. Hermione said nothing, just nodded before she went into the kitchen. Draco lowered himself onto the sofa and watched as Charlie settled into the armchair. When Hermione returned with two steaming mugs, she struggled to hide her surprise at their choice of seating. She handed each of them their cocoa and chose to sit on the floor in front of the Christmas tree - a gesture that did not slip past Draco.

"Well," she began politely. "I never expected to have any visitors tonight, so two guests is a welcome reprieve. Are either of you staying for dinner?" Draco arched an eyebrow at her, but didn't speak.

"I'm afraid I can't," Charlie said, shaking his head. "Mum fixed her regular holiday meal, and she'd go round the twist if I didn't show."

"I'd love to stay," Draco said, smirking into his mug as he sipped at the hot liquid. Hermione bit down hard on her lower lip to keep herself from laughing at the gobstruck look on Charlie's face.

"But I suppose Mum wouldn't be too angry if I stayed just for a bit," he amended quickly.

"Wonderful," Hermione said, her jaw clenching slightly. Draco saw the movement and was amused by it as he realized that Hermione did not want Charlie there. He wondered if she felt the same way about his staying, as well. "Dinner is finished. Why don't we go and have a seat?"

"If you'll excuse me for a moment," Draco said politely, heading toward the bathroom. Hermione and Charlie went into the kitchen, where he gave her an odd look.

"What in Merlin's name is he doing here?"

"I invited him," Hermione said, slicing into the ham. "Although I must admit, I didn't think that he'd show up."

"You invited him?" Charlie echoed, his voice full of disbelief. "Why would you go and do a thing like that?"

"Charlie," she sighed, shaking her head. "Not that I have to explain myself to you, but if you must know, I rather enjoy his company."

"What? Since when?"

"Things change. People change. That's all there is to it." She clamped her lips shut, and Charlie got the hint that she was through discussing the subject. He sat down on one side of the table and thanked her as she sat a plate full of food in front of him. Draco entered the room seconds later and sat across from Charlie. Hermione placed a plate full of food in front of him as well, and then sat down at the head of the table with her own plate.

"So, Malfoy," Charlie began pleasantly. "What have you been up to lately? Anything interesting?"

"I sincerely doubt that you'd find my comings and goings interesting, Weasley."

"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't interested."

"Bollocks," Draco said, arching an eyebrow.

"Fine," Charlie said, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "We don't have to talk about you. Hermione, have you done anything interesting lately?"

"Yes, Hermione," Draco said, stressing her name. "Have you done anyone interesting lately?"

Charlie glared at him. Hermione sighed. "I haven't done much of anything, Charlie, but thank you for asking. I think that the most interesting thing that I've done as of late was my recent trip to the local mall. I spent the entire day there - not really shopping, though."

"What on earth did you do all day, if you weren't shopping?" Charlie asked, taking a bite of his potatoes.

"Mostly I ate."

"You stayed at the mall all day just to eat?" Charlie asked. He gave a little laugh. "If you were hungry, why didn't you come to the Burrow to eat? Mum would gladly have fed you, you know that."

"Did it ever occur to you that she might like to be alone?" Draco asked, forcing a smile.

"But you're such a people person," Charlie protested to Hermione.

"I used to be, perhaps," Hermione conceded, nodding. She'd finished her food and was now sipping her wine. "But for a long time now, I've preferred solitude. A visitor every now and again is about all the human contact I can tolerate anymore - although I've had more visitors today than I have in the last four years combined."

"Oh?" Draco asked nonchalantly, lifting his wine glass to his lips.

"Yes. Molly and Arthur were out here earlier, and now you and Charlie are here."

"Mum and Dad came out here to visit?" Charlie asked, surprised. "They didn't tell me about it."

"I think you'd be surprised at the things your parents don't tell you," Draco commented. The rest of the meal passed in silence, and Hermione found that just sitting between the men's obvious animosity towards one another was exhausting. After dinner, they all rose and went into the living room, where Hermione settled into her armchair, forcing both of the men to sit on the sofa together.

"Shall we exchange gifts now?" Charlie suggested.

"That's a fine idea," Hermione said, nodding. "I'm afraid I haven't sorted through anything under the tree, but I think that you'll be able to find yours down there somewhere." Charlie nodded and went to the tree to begin sifting through the pile of gifts. Hermione glanced at Draco, who was staring straight ahead at the wall. "Aren't you going to look for yours, Draco, or don't you want it?"

He turned surprised eyes towards her. "Mine?"

"Surely you didn't think that I'd invite you over and not buy you something?"

"I found mine and his," Charlie said, resuming his spot on the sofa. He shoved a small box at Draco, then proceeded to open his own - larger- box. He pulled out a hand-knitted scarf and hat, and beamed a smile at Hermione. "It's wonderful. Thanks, Hermione."

"You're welcome," she said, tucking her legs beneath her. Charlie stood and moved in front of her chair, ignoring the glare he was getting from Draco. He dropped to his knees and held out the small gift box he'd been holding earlier.

"I know that you don't think of me as more than a friend right now," he began, his voice soft and earnest. "But I'm willing to give it time if you'll reconsider." He handed her the box, which she took with a feeling of dread pooling in the pit of her stomach. She lifted the lid to find a delicate gold ring with a single ruby in the middle of it. Her eyes flew up, and her gaze was returned by cool, silver eyes.

"This is a very extravagant gift for a sister, Charlie," she began. He frowned and shook his head.

"You're not my sister," he said. "And it's not that extravagant."

"It's lovely, but I'm afraid I can't accept it."

"What? Why not?"

"I just can't, and if you do care about me the way you say you do, you won't push the issue. It's been lovely having you both here, but I'm afraid that I'm very tired now. I hope you won't think less of me for asking if you both know your way out - I suppose the strain of so many visitors today is finally getting to me." She stood and embraced Charlie, who looked extremely dejected, and then she turned to Draco.

"Happy Christmas." She gave him a watery smile, then disappeared into the hallway. Draco watched as Charlie headed towards the door.

"I've forgotten my cloak," he murmured. "Must go fetch it from the kitchen."

Charlie ignored him as he walked out the front door. Draco sat back down on the sofa with his gift in his lap. He unwrapped it slowly, not wanting to make too much noise as he opened it. He lifted the lid off of the box and stared. Inside a black velvet casing was a man's silver necklace. He removed it from the casing and fastened it around his neck, enjoying at once the heavy feel of it against his skin.

He pushed the box and wrappings aside and moved through the hallway, stopping in front of her closed bedroom door. He knocked softly, not wanting to disturb her if she had somehow managed to fall asleep in the short time since she'd left his presence.

"I'm really very tired, Draco," she called from the other side of the door. He smirked. She knew him well enough to know that he'd stayed after Charlie had gone, did she?

"It's very rude of you to invite me over and then spend the evening locked away in your room, kitten." The door flew open and she stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

"Don't call me that! And I believe that I asked you to leave along with Charlie."

"But you haven't opened my gift yet," he said smoothly. She blinked, and her arms fell to her sides.

"Your gift? You brought me a gift?"

"You cut me to the quick, woman," he said, frowning. He began walking into the living room, and was pleased when she followed. He sat down on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him.

"I think I'll sit in my chair," she said, shaking her head. He narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not going to bite you."

"I know you're not - oh, fine!" She threw up her hands in frustration as she lowered herself onto the sofa beside him. He reached into his pocket and handed her a small box, which she frowned at. She opened it and stared at its contents.

A thin silver ring was nestled inside the box. She looked up at him, her frown deepening. "What is this, some sort of joke?"

"Why would it be a joke?" he asked, his heart pounding wildly. It wasn't the reaction he'd hoped for, but at least she hadn't rejected his gift.

"Why would you be giving me a ring? Have you given me the wrong box by mistake?" she asked, holding it out to him.

"No, the ring is meant for you. I bought it for you."

"You bought it for me," she echoed flatly. He nodded.

"It's yours." She studied his face for a moment, as if searching for something, then pulled the box back toward her and stared down at it.

"Thank you." She replaced the lid and clutched the box lightly in her hand. "You didn't have to bring me a gift, but it was very kind of you."

"Thank you for my gift," he said quietly. At this, her cheeks turned scarlet, and she turned her eyes to the tree.

"You're welcome."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you have a gift waiting for me? We parted on less than positive terms. How did you know that I would show up tonight?"

"I didn't," she breathed, still not looking at him.

"And what if I hadn't shown up?"

"I would have sent it to you anonymously."

"Why anonymously?"

"I wouldn't have wanted you to know that it was from me, that's all."

"Why won't you look at me?" he asked curiously. She sighed and turned her eyes toward the ceiling.

"I don't want to fight, Draco," she said tiredly.

"Who's fighting?"

"We fight - we always do. It's what we do best, isn't it? I suppose that our last fight just took more out of me than I'd thought it would, and now I'm tired of fighting."

"Why did you even let me in, if you were just going to kick me out without talking to me?"

"I'd invited you, and I wasn't going to renege on that invitation. Besides, it was nice to see you again." His heart swelled at this admission.

"Aren't you going to ask why I came?"

"No," she said, finally turning her eyes to him. "I don't need to know why you came. It's enough to me that you did. Now if you'll excuse me-" She started to rise, but his hand on her arm stopped her.

"I want to see you wear it."

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"I want you to wear the ring. I don't want it to be something that you pretend you like, and then shove into the farthest recesses of your jewelry box in an attempt to forget about it."

"But I-"

"You refused his engagement ring. Don't refuse the one that I offer out of friendship."

"It wasn't an engagement ring," she denied, her cheeks flushing pink again as she turned her eyes back to the tree.

"It was, and you know it, otherwise you would have accepted it just like you accepted mine."

"I didn't accept yours just because it wasn't an engagement ring," she snapped.

"Then why did you accept it?"

"I liked it."

"And?"

"And what?"

"There's something else that you're not telling me, I can feel it." She shot up off of the sofa and turned to glare at him.

"Why must there always be something else?" she asked waspishly. "Isn't it enough that we made it through the evening without incident? Isn't it enough that we thought well enough of each other to have exchanged decent gifts? Why must there be more than that?" He stood and met her gaze unflinchingly.

"There doesn't have to be more than that, but there is, and we both know it."

"I don't know anything," she said, her eyes narrowing. "It's Christmas, Draco. Can't we just let it be?"

"Put it on," he said softly. She blinked, then rolled her eyes.

"Will you leave after I've put it on?" She opened the box and removed the ring. She started to slide it onto her thumb, but he stopped her.

"It doesn't go there."

"But it's too big for any of my other fingers!"

"It's charmed to fit whatever finger you put it on."

"Then why can't I wear it on my thumb?"

"Because it's not meant to go there. It's meant to go on one of your fingers."

"Fine!" She slid the ring onto her left middle finger and held it up for him to see. "Good enough for you?"

"Feeling a bit snarky tonight, are we, kitten?" he asked, barely containing his laughter.

"I told you to quit calling me that."

"And if I don't? What then?"

"Then nothing," she said, turning away from him. "Please leave, Draco."

"No."

"Why not?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice. "Why can't we just let things end on this positive note?"

"Let things end?" he echoed.

"Yes!" He grabbed her elbow and whirled her around to face him.

"Let's get one thing straight right now, kitten," he said, his voice husky. "Not a damned thing is ending."

"What?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly. "But- but I thought-"

"The only reason I left was because it was what I thought you wanted. But do you know what I realized while I was sleeping alone in my bed at night?"

She shook her head hesitantly.

"I don't give a damn what you want." Suddenly his mouth had covered hers in a hungry kiss. She was so surprised at first that she didn't respond, but it didn't take long for him to coax a response from her. Her mouth opened to him, granting him access. The action elicited a moan from him.

He plunged his hands into her hair, holding her in place so he could kiss her as long as he wanted to. She had just touched her palms to his chest when the sound of the front door opening made Hermione pull away from him and turn towards the door.

Charlie was standing there, his mouth hanging open.

"I just realized that I'd forgotten my gift, and no one answered the door," he said, his betrayed expression focused on Hermione. She felt her neck and face flushing, and turned her eyes towards the floor. Charlie's glare focused on Draco. "So this is your game."

"What in the world are you nattering on about now, Weasley?" Draco asked calmly, his hand resuming its grip on Hermione's elbow.

"You moved in on my sister, and now you're trying to put the moves on Hermione? You must have a thing for Weasleys."

"No, I just have a thing for exceptional women." Hermione's heart fluttered wildly in her chest, but she didn't make a move. Charlie glanced down and saw the new ring on Hermione's finger, and his jaw clenched.

"So what is that, a promise ring, or something?" Hermione's head shot up at this and she opened her mouth to correct Charlie.

"What if it is? What are you going to do about it, Weasley?" Hermione glared at Draco and yanked her arm free of his grasp.

"It's not, Charlie. It's just a trinket he gave me in friendship, that's all."

"The hell it is," Draco interjected, his brow furrowed in anger. Hermione's head whipped around.

"That's what you said it was."

"That's what I told you initially, to get you to put the bloody thing on! If I'd told you it carried any other meaning, you would have chucked it aside just like you did his ring." Charlie's face colored.

"Well, you can stop this little charade to make Charlie jealous, because it doesn't have any other meaning."

"That ring was only meant to effect one Weasley, and I assure you, it wasn't him."

"What?"

"You just seemed so hell bent on putting me in my place that you didn't want to even entertain the thought that I might have come to repair the rift I created two weeks ago."

"What?" Charlie asked, his face showing his surprise.

"You're not making any sense," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"I'm making perfect sense, kitten, and you know it."

"Kitten?" Charlie asked in surprise.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, the hurt manifesting itself in her eyes.

"What kind of sick, twisted game is this, Malfoy?" Charlie demanded.

"It's not a game at all," Draco said, his eyes locked on Hermione's. "I've just come back to claim what's mine, is all." Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

"To claim what's yours?" Charlie asked, snorting. "Hermione is not now, has never been, and will never be yours."

"Oh? I think that if you ask the lady, you might find otherwise." Hermione's lower lip trembled.

"Not a game," Hermione whispered, staring at Draco, taking in the seriousness of his face. He shook his head once, his jaw set, showing his determination. "Not... not a game," she repeated, her knees starting to wobble.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Charlie's voice was full of concern. He took a step forward, but Draco's glare shot daggers at him.

"By all means, keep moving towards her," Draco dared him through clenched teeth. "Give me an excuse."

"An excuse for what?" Charlie asked defiantly. "To prove what you really are?"

"Charlie," Hermione said warningly. "Don't." Draco's entire body filled with emotion at that one word. Charlie ignored her.

"Is that ring charmed to sap Hermione's energy and ultimately kill her? Then you'd have two under your belt, wouldn't you, Malfoy?"

"Charlie," Hermione said again, lifting angry eyes to him. "I mean it. Don't."

"You're going to be in a world of hurt if you don't listen to the lady," Draco said smoothly. "I may have called her kitten, but she's nothing short of a wildcat."

"You're disgusting," Charlie seethed. "To have corrupted my sweet little sister, and now to move on to Hermione like this... she's a widow, for Merlin's sake! Couldn't you go and prey on one of the whores that frequent Knockturn Alley?" Draco's eyebrows went up in amusement.

"And how would you know that that's where the whores spend their time?" Charlie blushed, and Draco's mouth curved into a smirk. "And correct me if I'm wrong here, even though we both know that I'm not - but aren't you chasing after a widow, as well?"

"I'm not like you," Charlie spat. "I'm a good person. There's nothing good about you."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong," Draco said coolly. "There's something profoundly good about me, and she's sitting right here." Hermione looked up at him in surprise, and Charlie glanced at her as she did. When he saw the look on her face, he took a step backward.

"You-" he gasped, pointing at her. "You have feelings for him!"

"What?" she asked, turning to look at him. He too another step backward.

"You have feelings for that monster!"

"He's not a monster," she snarled, her temper finally getting the better of her. "And I'm tired of you saying that!" Draco turned as he heard glass shattering in the kitchen. The flames on the candles shot high into the air.

"You've been blinded," Charlie breathed. "You can't see past him to see what he really is. You know what he is; what he's capable of! Don't you remember how he's treated you?"

"I remember," Hermione said, nodding. Draco's head whipped around as the lights began flickering on and off. "And I know that he remembers. It's enough to keep us from repeating our mistakes."

"You went from my brother to this?" Charlie looked at Draco in utter disgust. Hermione had had enough.

"Get out, Charlie, before I make you leave." Charlie frowned, and then without another word, turned and stormed out the door. It slammed behind him, and the deadbolts fastened, even though they remained untouched.

"You're a bit intimidating, pet," Draco said softly, touching his fingertips to her cheek. She closed her eyes at his touch, and he noted that the lights steadied, followed by the flames in the candles returning to normal size. "I think that if he'd seen much more of your power, he might have wet himself."

Hermione laughed softly, and then turned her face away from Draco. "I don't think that even you have ever gotten me that mad before."

"Don't take my glory away, kitten," he said, smirking at her. "No one can get under your skin quite like I can."

"I suppose you're right," she conceded, still not looking at him.

"And you know that no one can get under my skin quite like you, either." At this, she turned slightly. The look on his face made her scalp tingle and heat flood through her.

"Can't they?"

"You know that they can't," he whispered, stepping closer. He moved so that they were standing face to face, their noses almost touching. "You are under my skin, Hermione."

Her eyes shot up to meet his at the sound of her name, and he reached for her hand. When he was holding it in his, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and began to sway with her to the soft Christmas music that was still playing in the background. "You've been calling me Draco all night, do you realize that?"

She shook her head, too entranced by their dancing to find her voice. "I came here with one thing in mind, and it wasn't to eat dinner with you, or fight with you, or exchange gifts."

"What did you come here for?" she asked breathlessly.

"I came here to tell you how I felt."

"I thought that you made that pretty clear the night you left."

"Don't be stupid, woman. I've been working up to this all night, and now you're going to talk and ruin it all." She gave him a soft laugh and shook her head.

"I'll be quiet, if you promise me that what you have to say is interesting."

"It is - and if you keep talking, I'll be forced to silence you by whatever means I deem necessary."

"Fine."

"When I got home that night, Dumbledore was waiting at my flat for me. He wasn't the only one, though. Molly and Arthur were both there." Hermione's eyes reflected her surprise.

"What? What did they want? They didn't come to start a -" her voice died as he covered her mouth with his, kissing her thoroughly. When she was breathless, he pulled away slightly.

"I told you I'd shut you up," he whispered, his voice throaty. She gazed up at him wordlessly. "Quite pleasant, actually, to see you in this state. Maybe you should keep talking, after all."

"Go on," she said, when she'd regained her voice.

"Dumbledore was there to tell me that my name had been cleared. He also told me that my fortune had been restored to me, and-"

"Oh, Draco! That's so-" Another kiss, and Hermione began to tremble. Draco's arm tightened around her waist, holding her up.

"Dumbledore also told me that the magic detectors had started going off shortly after I got here." Hermione's mouth opened, but when he arched an eyebrow at her, she clamped it shut again. He smirked. "You learn quickly, but it's not as much fun when you play by the rules."

Hermione just smirked back at him.

"I asked him why there hadn't been any attacks after the detectors had gone off, and he said that there had been - we'd just managed to thwart them without knowing it. It turns out that we're quite a force to be reckoned with, pet. Our combined desire not to be bothered by anyone did more than push us together; it kept intruders out."

"Oh," she breathed softly, digesting this new bit of information.

"And then I found out something else just as interesting. It turns out that Molly knew before she visited you that I was here." Hermione's jaw dropped. "She had actually come to get me, but when she saw how you were defending me by still hiding me, she decided not to mention why she'd really come for a visit. She did mention something to me about it at my flat, though."

Hermione waited impatiently for him to continue. He grinned wickedly at her. "I can't decide whether or not I like you as the silent, obedient type, or whether I like you better when you're-" His words were cut off as her lips descended on his. She kissed him slowly, taking her time in exploring his mouth. The hand that was resting on his shoulder moved up to play with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck. He moaned before she broke the kiss, and she smirked up at him.

"That's not fair," he whispered. "You're not allowed to turn my own rules against me like that."

"I can do anything I want," she corrected him. "If you can break rules, then so can I." He grinned at her. "Now make with the rest of the story."

"She told me that she hadn't said anything because you looked better than you had since your husband died." Hermione's cheeks turned pink, and she looked down.

"Is that right."

"That's not all," he said, turning her as they continued to dance. "She told Arthur that you were clearly a woman in love." Hermione's eyes shot up.

"What?" she breathed.

"She told me that she knew that you were in love, and with me, wonder of wonders. Then she proceeded to question me about my feelings for you."

"And what did you say to her?"

"I told her that you didn't love me - it wasn't possible," he said, watching her expression very carefully. When she averted her eyes and her cheeks turned crimson, his heart threatened to burst free from his chest. "And I refused to tell her how I felt about you."

"Oh."

"Then she told me what an idiot I was, to walk away from someone who loved me. And she's right."

"What?" Hermione asked, slowly raising her eyes to meet his.

"If you love me, that is," he murmured, his eyes roaming over her face. "If you don't love me, then it was a smart move for me to walk away. But if you do love me, then it was the biggest mistake I've ever made, and I came back today to find out one way or the other - is it true?"

"Do I love you, you mean?"

"That's what I mean."

"I don't know what to say," she said honestly. He frowned.

"Just say that you love me, or you don't."

"But I don't want - I mean, if we're going to try and be friends, I don't want to-" He pressed himself against her, causing her to gasp.

"Does this feel like I just want to be friends?"

"I don't want to get hurt," she protested softly. "But I don't want to be someone you just used out of convenience, either." His parting words came back to slap him in the face, and he stopped dancing with her as he pulled away slightly.

"I didn't mean a word of it, and you know it. I wouldn't be here if I'd meant it."

"I know," she said, nodding. She licked her lips and looked down at the floor as she considered her next words carefully. "It means a lot to me that you came tonight. It didn't turn out like I'd hoped, but it's been an interesting Christmas, to say the least."

"It isn't over yet," he said, feeling confused. She hadn't answered his question yet, and it was making him nervous.

"I know. I wonder how it will end," she commented, her eyes locked on his.

"I'm waiting with bated breath to find out," he said honestly.

"Shall I end the suspense, then?"

"Please."

"Molly interferes in everything. If she hadn't said that to you, would you even be here?"

"In all actuality... definitely."

"Really?"

"I could never stay away." There was a pregnant pause, then: "Was she wrong?"

"I can't honestly say that she was," she said softly, biting her lower lip. He stared openly at her. "So, don't let her know that she was right, because she delights in saying 'I told you so.'"

"You-"

"When you stare at me like that, you make me feel like I'm a sideshow attraction in the carnival," she said, shifting her weight nervously from one foot to the other. His mouth closed and he stared at her for so long that she began to feel dizzy from the sheer weight of her emotions.

"Please, say something," she whispered.

"Say it," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "Say the words. I want to hear you say them."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I love you."

"Open your eyes and look at me when you say them." She obeyed and opened her eyes.

"I love you, Draco."

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DENY