Only Skin Deep

Draco was jolted awake by a vivid image of Emily being thrown to the ground. Why had he dreamed that? He decided to take a quick walk around the dungeons, just to clear his mind. Stepping out into the cold deserted hallway, he began to walk, absentmindedly, toward the Ravenclaw tower. He was nearing the end of the stone hallway, when he noticed a shadowed figure near the wall. Draco bent down, trying to wake them.

"Come on, back to your common room," he coaxed angrily. He rolled the person over a noticed their long brown hair falling away from their face. "Emily," he breathed silently. He gently shook her to try and rouse her. His heart began to beat hard against his chest. "Emily, wake up." Draco decided what he was going to do. He scooped up Emily in a quick motion as best he could, not caring that his arm had filled with immense pain. Running as fast as he could with her, he headed to the infirmary.

"Madame Pomfrey!" he yelled, laying Emily onto a nearby bed. "Madame Pomfrey!"

"Mister Malfoy, what are you doing, screaming at the top of your lungs at this time of night?" She scolded, pulling her nightcoat over her pale pink gown. He pointed to the bed. "Oh, good heaven's! What's happened to her?" Madame Pomfrey was at her side quickly.

"I found her outside the common room like this. I couldn't wake her," Draco said, not caring how much emotion he was showing. "Will she be alright?" Madame Pomfrey opened her eyes, peered into them, then shut them.

"I believe so," she mumbled quietly. "But due to the seriousness of this curse, she may never be right again."

"What curse was preformed Madame?" he asked, already aware of which had hit her.

"A Cruciatus Curse. Hopefully she will be alright." Draco slumped down to her side. He had never realized that his hate for her had slowly ebbed away and that love had replaced it. He stared down at her beautiful rounded face, and smiled. "Mister Malfoy, you can come back tomorrow. But for right now you need to go and get some rest."

"Alright, I will."

~

About a week later, Draco hurried out of his potions class and headed for the hospital wing. Professor Snape stopped him on his way down the hall.

"Malfoy, where do you keep running off to?" he said coolly. He looked at what Draco was carrying. His bag and school books, but also a single blue carnation. "Oh, yes. Miss. Miller is in the infirmary, is she not?"

"Please, I need to go," he muttered, walking up the stairs to the Grand Hall. He did not want to argue with Snape today.

He entered the wing and his heart started to pound. His stomach started twisting itself in knots as he started to shuffle down the beds. Emily's bed came into view, but there wasn't a person laying in it. No, she didn't take a turn for the worst did she?

"Madame Pomfrey, where is she?" He asked worriedly.

"Draco." The voice behind him made him spin around. Emily stood in front of him, her eyes looking heavy but a small smile still graced her face. "Why did you come?"

Because I love you. That thought had never crossed his mind before. "I wanted to check on you."

"But why?" Emily asked curiously. "You've never cared when I was hurt before." Draco wasn't about to say it in front of a teacher. He watched as Madame Pomfrey slowly walked away from the two of them.

"For you," he said, handing her the flower. "And, I, umm..."

"What?" she asked, sitting down on the edge of the white bed.

"I came because..." Draco could feel it on the tip of his tongue. Draco, what has father said about love? It's no good, you don't need it. He seemed to ignore these words. When he had found Emily, he felt as if a Dementor had sucked out his soul. Never had he realized how important she was to him. "I, I, Emily, I love you."

The words seemed to tumble out of his mouth. He couldn't believe he had just said that. With Emily, he didn't care. He had meant it and that was all that mattered. He looked into her eyes and found a soft twinkle in them.

"Draco, I love you too," she mumbled almost silently. Draco leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. She pulled back. "But," His heart sank to his feet. There was a but?

"What?" She looked like she was going to cry.

"I can't be with you."

"Why not?" he choked out, rather displeased. Had he just confessed something he was going to regret?

"I just, can't tell you. But, umm," she stuttered, looking for the right words. "Go back with Jade. She loves you too."

Had Draco heard her right? She wanted him with Jade. "What if I don't love her?"

"Well, I don't know." Emily stared down sadly at the floor. Draco tried to piece this all together. Then it hit him.

"She did this?" He asked. Emily didn't answer. "Ems, tell me." Emily's head looked up. Barely anyone called her Ems.

"I wish I could," she said, tears coming to her eyes. She was so mad at herself for letting Draco go like this. She decided to risk it. She loved him too much. She'd tell him. "Draco, Jade did do this. But only because she loves you."

"If she loved me, she'd know that's not the best why to snag me." He saw a tear trickle down Emily's cheek. He kissed it away and took her into his arms. He felt warm tears on his shirt.

"I was so scared," she whispered. Draco kissed the top of her head.

"It's okay, I'll protect you," he murmured. Emily pulled back a little as if to kiss him. "I won't bite you know," he whispered. "Only if you were into that sort of thing." She smiled slightly. Draco kissed her quickly as Madame Pomfrey approached.

"Malfoy, would you please leave Miss. Miller alone. She needs her rest." Draco turned to leave, but Emily called him back.

"I love you," she mouthed. Draco smiled.

"I love you too," he mouthed back. With a little more spring to his step, he left the wing, and headed for the common room.

~

Draco went passed the potions room, and heard a familiar icy voice call his name.

"Mister Malfoy," Snape said, drawing him into his classroom. "I need a word." Draco looked around. Dumbledore sat in a red armchair in the middle of the room. Jade was sitting cross-legged next to him.

"Can I help you Professors?" Draco asked, as Snape pulled a stool out for him.

"Yes, it seems that Miss. Tiago here knows who was Emily's attacker," Snape replied. "Since you showed such concern for Miss. Miller this past week, I thought that you might like to know who it was." Draco was confused. Emily had told him that Jade had done it. Hadn't she told Dumbledore too?

"And?" Draco said, wanting to hear the story she had told them.

"I told them," Jade began, "that I was about to go for a quick library run, when I saw you standing over Emily and muttering that fateful curse." Draco's jaw dropped.

"Why would I do that?" he spat.

"Because you wanted to get me blamed so that I would be away from you forever," she explained, pretending to get choked up. Draco couldn't believe his ears. Dumbledore, who had been quiet this whole time, cleared his throat.

"In circumstances such as these, I can hardly take students pointing their fingers at one another. Although," he said, pulling out a blue bottle from his pocket, "we can use this." He stood and motioned them to follow.

Dumbledore led them back to the infirmary.

"Poppy, is Emily Miller still awake?" Without Madame Pomfrey answering, Emily popped her head around the white curtain. "Yes, Miss. Miller, please allow me to place three drops on your tongue." She inched forward.

"Wait, Albus. What is that?' Madame questioned.

"Just Veritaserum. These three are all going to be placed under it." Dumbledore placed three drops on each of the students' tongues. "Now, I will ask a question, and, one at a time, you will each answer." All three nodded. "State your names."

"Draco William Malfoy."

"Emily Karin Miller."

"Jade Fiona Tiago."

"Good, we know it works," Dumbledore said, starting his next question. "Did you both see Emily that night?"

"Yes," came from both of them.

"Emily, did you see your attacker?"

"Yes."

"Did you tell anyone?"

"Yes, Draco."

"And what do both of you know?" Dumbledore asked, watching Jade tense up.

"Jade did it," they answered in unison.

"Jade, did you?" Dumbledore asked for his final question, knowing she couldn't lie now.

"Yes," came quietly out of her. Snape moved forward, binding her. Tears ran down her cheeks, as he went to lead her out. "You stupid bi--" She was shut off as Draco aimed a Silencio charm at her.

Dumbledore stood at the foot of Emily's bed. "You need rest," he said, looking at Emily. Draco seemed saddened as she carefully got into the bed. "Malfoy, shouldn't you be leaving?"

"Yes Headmaster." Draco turned without argument. Madame Pomfrey sighed and nodded to Dumbledore.

"Draco, come back," he said quietly. "Seeing as though that was completely out of your character to just turn and leave, you can stay if you wish. I can see you two are meant to be."

"Thank you sir," he mumbled, going over to Emily. Madame Pomfrey went to protest but Dumbledore raised his hand.

"But Albus, you can't let them share that bed!" she fretted noisily.

"Poppy, they are seventh years. They will be fine," he said, bidding them good night. Madame huffed off too as Draco sat down in the chair next to Emily's bed.

"It's late. You need sleep too," she said, scooting over. Draco hesitated.

"Are you sure I can sleep in there with you?" She giggled.

"Yeah, come on." He took off his robes and shoes and got comfy. "You're going to sleep like that?"

"How else would I sleep?"

"I don't know, I tad more comfortable?" He sighed. She was right.

"Hmm, I have an idea." He went over to Madame Pomfrey and grabbed a nightgown. Slipping off his outer clothes, his put on the pale gray gown. "It may look bad but at least you're not alone in having to where them." She snuggled up to his chest as he laid back down. This feels more right than it did with anyone else. Especially Jade.

"Night," she mumbled, deeply content. "I love you."

Draco watched her until her breaths became even and slow. "I love you too."