It was like someone switching on the light. Her fingers had found their way under his shirt and just as he was thinking how much he wanted her to rip it off him, he remembered the Mark.

He jumped back, causing Rosie to clumsily slide back to the floor. He looked away from her as, still panting, she tried to get her breath back.

"I'm sorry." He spoke softly after his breathing returned to normal. "I don't know what came over me." That was a lie. He knew exactly what had come over him. He wanted her. He wanted her in a way that he had never wanted anything in his whole life. And being that close to her, breathing in the scent of her as he guided her through the incantation caused his senses to go into overdrive. The feel of her small soft body pressed up against him and the touch of her hand underneath his had driven him wild.

But there was something he hadn't told her and even though she understood he never had a choice, he still couldn't bear the thought of seeing her face if she found out what he had become. A Death Eater.

And she was a Muggle-born.

He walked back towards the Cabinet. He heard her shrugging her robes back on before joining him.

"Do you think it worked?"

He blinked, it took him a moment to realise she was referring to the Cabinet. She was choosing to act like the kiss had not happened. His heart gave a slight twist. But it had to be this way.

He placed his hand nervously on the door and glanced over his shoulder, meeting her eyes. He noticed her cheeks were still flushed and her chest heaving just slightly, still recovering from their heated encounter. He thought how beautiful she looked as her blue eyes twinkled in anticipation. She gave him the gentlest of nods.

He opened the door very slowly. The apple was still there. He felt a tug of disappointment. It hadn't worked.

"Wait - look." Rosie reached across him and picked up the apple. As she turned it around, his heart thudded.

A large chunk was missing. A bite mark.

***

It was working. Draco and I were successfully mending the Cabinet. I wasn't sure how I felt about this. I was nervous not knowing what this meant for us, for Hogwarts, for Draco.

We didn't mention the kiss. I had felt hurt when he pulled away from me. But at the same time I was relieved. I hadn't wanted it to stop. I don't know how far I would have gone that afternoon in the Room of Requirement, but when I'm with Draco it's like being intoxicated and I lose all inhibitions. It felt like I couldn't get enough of him and it was as if there was something I desired that was just beyond my reach. I couldn't work out what it was but the crushing need to find it was staggeringly overwhelming.

Draco Malfoy had lit something inside of me and even after he pulled away from the kiss, I knew it was going to stay ignited. It was terrifying.

My thoughts were constantly in the Room of Requirement with Draco and it made it difficult for me to concentrate on anything else.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

I blinked, and gave Neville an apologetic look as I brought myself back to the present. We were in Transfiguration and trying unsuccessfully to turn a frog into a mouse. The frog kept hopping away.

"As I was saying," Neville seemed somewhat agitated and was tapping his wand nervously on the edge of the desk. "Slughorn is having this little Christmas party next week and said we could bring a guest, and I was wondering i-if you might - you might... you know..." he trailed off going a deep shade of crimson.

Oh no. Neville was trying to ask me out but I really didn't want to go to a party with anyone. And I really didn't want to upset him.

"Oh how adorable!" Neville jumped as Pansy screeched from the desk behind us. "Longbottom fancies the Mudblood!" She cackled evilly.

I turned around to glare at her and my eyes briefly met a pair silver-grey ones, belonging to the person perched next to her. Draco blinked, showing no emotion.

"Shut up, Pansy." I gritted through my teeth. "You're just jealous because no one would ever think of asking you to the party. And besides, I don't think dogs are allowed."

I heard a few titters as I turned back to my frog.

"You little bitch!" Pansy spat from behind me.

"Leave it." Draco. My heart leapt as I heard him quietly, yet firmly, warning Pansy off. My cheeks flushed as I could almost feel his eyes penetrating my back.

Neville said no more for the rest of the lesson about the party, hyper aware of the sneering Pansy behind us. I was relieved, I didn't want an awkward conversation.

***

"So Longbottom's asked you out then?"

I was in the Room of Requirement, relieving my bag of food supplies as Draco worked on the Cabinet.

I sighed. "He was hinting about asking me to Slughorn's Christmas party."

Draco gave a derisive snort. "Slughorn. What is he anyway? It's pathetic how everyone wants to be a part of his Slug Club." I knew this was a sore spot where Draco was concerned.

"Well I don't want to go anyway." I shrugged.

"Why not?" Draco's head shot up, eyes piercing into me. "Surely better than being stuck in here with me."

"I don't mind. I like helping you." How many times did I have to tell him this? Sometimes I felt like he was deliberately trying to push me away.

"You should go. Go with Longbottom. He wants you after all." He sounded angry. I couldn't understand. Was he testing me?

Draco had never brought up that afternoon when we kissed. I noticed he was careful to avoid any kind of physical contact since too - making sure to give me a wide berth if we ever had to pass one another. And he certainly didn't offer to help me with the incantation again.

"But I don't want to go. And especially not with Neville." I answered sharply, hurt.

Draco stood up, faced me and looked me directly in the eyes. His expression was fierce.

"What are you even doing here, Carter? Why are you helping me? You have no idea who I am, what world I come from."

"Draco, don't be like this." I said quietly, trying desperately to sooth him.

"But it's who I am!" He hissed. "This is me! And if you don't like it then, please, go! You have a choice, Carter, I don't. I never did."

He kicked a water bottle in front of him and I flinched as it hit the wall next to me.

"Draco! Calm down. Please!"

But he wasn't listening to me anymore.

"Get the fuck out of here, Carter. Go and have fun - date whoever you want. I couldn't care less. I should never have involved you in any of this, especially as you are just a- a-"

"A WHAT?" I yelled, shaking in anger at his cruel words. "A filthy little Mudblood?!"

He looked down, as if he was suddenly ashamed. "Just go. Leave."

I angrily grabbed my bag and turned around to give him one last parting shot before I left. "Despite everything you have done I have always seen the good in you Draco. I believed in you and I had your back. I'm just sorry you could never see it. Goodbye, Malfoy."

I stormed off, tears streaming down my cheeks as I left him standing there by the Vanishing Cabinet, alone and defeated.

***