I could barely concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. I felt like my smile was going to inhale my face, I tried my best to relax but I couldn't. I'd never felt so alive.

Even though we hadn't talked about what had just happened, I knew it was different. His body was relaxed whilst walking next to me, he didn't have any anger behind his eyes. He was just perfect. The version of Draco I had dreamt about. I couldn't help but swing my arms in time with my legs as we walked, in fact my journey from the lake to Umbridges office was poetic, I just felt like I had floated there. All the troubles and sorrow that had weighted me down in what felt like forever had disappeared, even if it wasn't a long term feeling for now it was all I needed.

"I've already explained to Umbridge so she'll probably just want to give you the badge." Before he waited for my response he began laughing straight at my face. "Haha is your face ok? I don't think I've seen a smile so big" he reached up and grazed his finger along my dimple and then to the corner of my smile before giving my chin a quick squeeze.

He was right, my smile was probably scary to look at but I couldn't wipe it from my face at least not as long as he was still around me.

"Will you be here when I come back out?" I looked up to him as I spoke.

"Of course" his voice was low and soft, he finished his words with a sharp wink which didn't help the ever growing smile.

I gave the door a quick knock and then I heard her little mousey voice.

"Come in, ah Miss Drayheart please take a seat" she ushered me into the office.

"Draco said you wanted to see me?" I closed the door behind me and headed for the leather chair in front of her desk.

"Yes..I assume Draco has filled you in with the details and your duties. However I do have a question for you. You and Mr Potter...you seemed close, am I wrong?" Even when I don't think she intended to be her voice reeked of patronisation.

"No you are correct. We were. However our circumstances have changed."

"Very well then. As long as that's the way it will remain, I'm very happy to welcome you in. Here is your badge." She slid across a silver emblem with a purple ribbon wrapped to the top.

"Thank you, is that everything" I rested my hands on the arms of the chair ready for her approval to leave.

"Yes, for now" once again she threw a patronising smile in my direction. She was definitely going to be a woman I never warmed to but that didn't matter because I wasn't doing it for her. I was doing it for me, to prove that I can't be walked all over.

Once I left the office I was greeted by Draco's perfect smirk at the bottom of the stairs.

"Ready to bust them?" He questioned

"Absolutely" I smirked back

-

The purpose of running around the castle escaped my mind frequently when all I could do is concentrate on Draco. He caught me staring multiple times but I never turned away and with every instance I would smile and he would chuckle back even if we were a distance away from each other. I know he wasn't perfect to everyone but god...right now to me he was.

"Look we've made no progress and I have work to do. Can we leave it for today?" Cassius' tone was defeated and dreary.

"Yes. Let's finish for today." Draco's tone was harsh but authoritative. I couldn't help but always find something to be in awe of him for. The boy truly had me wrapped around his finger. And with every smile he flashed me, he knew it.

I trickle of reality came creeping into my mind when I remembered all the work I had to do for tomorrow. This would be our last week before be broke up for Christmas and the teachers loved making us pull our hair out before it. The mountain of work I had begun eating at my concentration.

"I should go too. I have a ridiculous amount of work to do"

Draco took a couple steps towards me. He smiled and nodded at me. Before I could help myself I was already beginning to talk.

"Last night when you drank..for erm..if you fancied anyone in the room..er who..who was it for?" A part of me regretted asking the question just incase the answer wasn't what I wanted to here.

"You already know the answer to that." He flashed me a wink and was then on his way.

I refrained myself from jumping up and down with glee like a total idiot but god was I happy! It was me! He likes me! Draco Malfoy...likes me. I knew there was one person I needed to tell and one person only, Pansy. I think she had already made her way back to the room so I virtually skipped my way back there with a humongous grin on my face.

"Clearly you don't feel as rough as I do" I watched as Pansy threw a couple tablets into her mouth before washing it down with water.

"No I do not! I feel...AMAZING" I launched my arms up into the air.

"Ahhhh! No shouting please!" She grabbed hold of the sides of her head. "Why are you so happy? Please it's making me feel worse"

"Draco...likes...me!!!" I couldn't help myself but do a little jump on the spot.

"Well yeah durrr! How have you just figured that out?" She chuckled to herself. "I've known Draco since year 1 and I can tell you now he's never looked at anyone the way he looks at you"