Honeyed Poison

She balanced on the edge of the workbench, sprinkling chopped herbs into the centre of the simmering cauldron. The potion spat violently and she jumped; self-consciously she laughed. Her eyes sparkled with hidden lights that brightened her whole face. He chuckled softly in response as he reached over her for a vial. He deftly measured two drops of unicorn tears into the mixture. As he bent over the cauldron he could sense her watching him. The potion swirled and turned a vivid iridescent blue. You could paint the wings of dragonflies with it; he smiled, just like he had when he was little. "You see, Malfoy," she was saying with that all-too-familiar assurance, "Things arenÂ’t all that bad."

She was mistaken; he couldnÂ’t remember another time when his life had been quite this bad. Returning to Hogwarts for his final year he had been ushered into DumbledoreÂ’s office within minutes of his arrival. He had been told that for his own wellbeing the Ministry had advised the school that he was to remain within the grounds for the foreseeable future and his correspondences with home were to be monitored by his house master. His Father was immediately suspicious, but it was too late. Lucius Malfoy had been taken to Azkaban after a Ministry raid on Malfoy Manor. Draco was still unable to return home, as he was supposedly safer from "dark corruption" so long as he remained here. His marks had plummeted in the space of a few months and he found himself suffering the indignity of being tutored in Potions by Hermione Granger, who wasnÂ’t even a pureblood.

"Yes, it worked out rather well," he replied politely. Unseen, his hand gripped the edge of the desk as he looked back at her. "But do you really think everything will suddenly get better because I can make a Potion?" he asked softly.

She answered him calmly, "YouÂ’ll get through this, Malfoy, I promise."

She patted his hand reassuringly. Before either of them had time to breathe again he caught her hand, tipped the cauldron over and pulled her off the desk. The potion spilled out and ate through the surface, leaving the wood charred and smoldering. He saw her eyes widen briefly before her composure returned. He held his fury in check and spoke with his voice infused with concern, "That could have been you, Granger; burnt away to nothing in an instant."

"No, IÂ’m all right." She gently tried to pull her hand away but he tightened his grip. She looked at him in confusion. He held her gaze until she blinked and looked away uneasily.

"Curse your serenity, Granger," he hissed. He placed his other hand on the curve of her hip and pulled her to him with crushing strength. Hot victory soared through his veins as her body tensed and then melted against him. Her lips were soft and inviting but still unresponsive. His tongue flickered inside her mouth and he felt her heart pounding in her cheat like a caged butterfly. He pulled back slightly so he could plant feather kisses on the smooth plain of her cheek. She trembled as his fingers teasingly traced the length of her spine.

And then suddenly she seemed to come to her senses. She tried to step back, arching away from him. No, he thought determined, re-doubling his efforts to keep her close. He whispered to her, lips grazing against her ear and she began to relax. He kissed her again and this time she responded. Her hands moved faltering around his back to his waist.

He was consumed by the sweet promise of triumph. "Crucio," he murmured silkily as he tangled his fingers in her hair. She tensed slightly but did not move away. "Morsmordre," he traced the line of her jaw with his mouth. He felt her blink slowly, as if awakening. He smiled against her lips, "Imperio". She slipped one hand into his robes. "Now I have youÂ… Avada -"

"Expelliarmus!" He felt a spear of white heat hit him squarely in the chest. He shot backwards and slammed against the desk. Breathing harshly as his lungs felt raw, he glared at her through a curtain of white-blond hair.

She was still holding his wand, standing steady, eyes wary. "Damn you, Malfoy," she muttered. Silver sparks spluttered from the wand as she dropped it onto another desk with a resounding clatter. He pushed his hair back and lounged against the desk, still watching her. "You keep away from me," she said firmly.

He raised one eyebrow as his slate-grey eyes swept over her body. He smirked, "Fine by me, Mudblood."

She walked out without another word. He heard her run the length of the corridor and up to the courtyard. He righted the cauldron and began to pack his ingredients away.

He turned as Professor Snape entered, carrying several parchments. Draco gestured to the burnt desk, "A slight accident, IÂ’m afraid."

Snape narrowed his eyes, "A little over-zealous, was it? Yes, well trying adding a little more Gillywater next time." Draco nodded in response and picked up his bag. "No Miss Granger?" Snape called after him.

Draco smiled, "Oh, sheÂ’ll be back." He paused in the corridor and allowed himself to recall the feel of her skin against his and the taste of her in his mouth, "She wonÂ’t be able to stay away."