I felt two things when I awoke the next morning.

One - a horrific burning on the back of my hand.

Two - a deep, content joy at being in the arms of the beautiful white-blond haired Slytherin lying next to me.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. His silver grey eyes gave a little twinkle as his lips tugged into a smile. "How's your hand?"

"Hurts," I mumbled, trying not to flinch as I pulled it out from under the covers to inspect.

The words Harry Potter is a liar glowed red raw and clear as day across my skin. The sight of it made me want to cry.

"Let me take you to Madam Pomfrey," Draco implored, taking my hand gently in his, and caressing his fingers soothingly on the underside, his soft touch easing the pain. "Perhaps she can do something about the scarring."

"No. I don't want that horrible woman to think that I've been running to tell on her. Besides, Madam Pomfrey'll probably just dip my hand in Dittany and shove a piece of chocolate in my mouth."

Draco sighed heavily. "At least promise me you won't get Umbridge's back up again? Stay well out of it."

"I promise," I breathed, closing my eyes in bliss as he tightened his arms around me. I pressed my head against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat as he slowly stroked my hair.

The noises of my fellow dormitory mates getting up for the day sounded around us. Draco and I decided to wait until we heard the last one leave before pulling my bed hangings open.

I walked Draco to the Tower's exit, ignoring the curious glances of my fellow Ravenclaw's as we passed through the common room.

"Meet with me tonight, after dinner," Draco murmured huskily in my ear after we kissed goodbye. "I've got a surprise for you that will cheer you up."

"Oh?" I asked, looking up into his glinting silver grey eyes. "And what might that be?"

"You'll see," he replied, a mischievous smile twitching at the corners of his lips. "Just make sure you bring your swimwear."

...

As soon as I stepped out into the Entrance Hall after dinner that evening, I felt a hand close around mine, fingers intertwining my own, as Draco stepped up beside me.

"Are you ready?" He growled, his mouth so close to my ear that I felt the tickle of his breath, sending pleasant shivers tingling down my spine.

"I guess," I smiled shyly up at him, nerves suddenly making me feel apprehensive. I was going to be in my bikini in front of him. This was terrifying. "Where are we going exactly?"

"The prefects bathroom," he grinned, as he started to lead us up the marble staircase. "It's actually a giant bubble bath. I thought you could do with the relaxation."

I felt my hands go slick with sweat as my pulse accelerated. Draco and I in a bath. Together. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this.

Yet. At the same time, the thought excited me.

We eventually arrived at a door on the fifth floor. Draco whispered a password to the statue of a funny looking man on the right of the door, making it swing open.

"Did you remember your swimwear?" He asked as we stepped inside a beautiful room containing a massive sunken pool with dozens of gold taps. Draco instantly flicked his wand towards the them, turning each tap on one by one as the bath started to fill.

Slowly, I nodded, gulping hard. "It's on underneath." I whispered nervously, looking down at my uniform which I was about to remove in front of him.

"We don't have to do this if you don't want to." He frowned, clocking my reluctance. "But I promise I have no ulterior motive. Just a swim."

I was being daft. It should be no different as if we were on the beach together, or visiting a public pool.

"I'm okay," I smiled reassuringly, slowly shrugging off my robes. I paused as my fingers went to the top button of my school shirt, noticing his eyes linger on me, not making any attempt to undress himself. "Um, aren't you going to...?"

A pink tinge rose on his normally pale cheeks. He nervously licked his upper lip. "Yeah," he murmured, averting his eyes as his hand flew up to loosen his tie.

I let my clothes drop to the floor, my heart thudding as I stood in my deep blue halter-neck bikini. I dared glanced up at Draco who was standing in a pair of dark green swim trunks.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from his taut, pale stomach. My fingers suddenly itched to reach out and brush their tips along his glistening, porcelain skin.

"Ready?" He asked, his eyes glinting as he looked me up and down.

And without waiting for an answer, he walked over to the pool's edge and smoothly dived in.

His head emerged up through the bubbles, wiping his hands over his face, slicking his damp blond hair back over his scalp.

"Come on," He cajoled, eyes twinkling up at me. "Join me."

Rather than do the same dramatic entrance, I decided to immerse myself gently; sitting on the side and lowering myself slowly into the bubbles.

"You're beautiful," he growled, taking me by surprise as he lunged over to me, gathering me in his arms and pulling me to him.

"Draco!" I gasped, losing my steadiness and finding myself flinging my arms around his neck.

His lips connected with mine in an instant. I felt his hungry desire as his hands roamed up and down my back, making my whole body shiver in pleasure.

I was hyper aware of our intertwined bodies, so much skin against skin. Without breaking our kiss, Draco manoeuvred himself so that he was seated against the side and that I was now straddling his lap.

"Draco," I gasped breathlessly, having torn my lips away from his.

I heard him emit a longing growl from the back of his throat as he continued to nip and kiss at my neck, his hands urgently pulling me down hard against his lap, as his hips bucked up to grind against me.

I felt his fingers slip underneath the strap of my bikini top, flattening his palms against my back, and I felt them creep along my skin, making their way nearer and nearer towards my front.

"Draco, no!" I cried, sloshing the water all around us as I tried desperately to grab his arms and stop his hands from going anywhere closer to my chest.

He suddenly paused, lifting his head up from my neck to look at me, his startled eyes still dilated with hunger. Our chests moved heavily up and down against each other as we both tried to steady our ragged breaths.

"Is this too much?" He asked, his expression looking pained.

"I- no. Yes. I don't know..." I admitted pathetically. "I mean I want to do more with you, I really do. But I'm- I don't know... scared."

He sighed softly, his eyes looking lovingly up into mine as he tenderly cupped either side of my face. "I love you. I'd never do anything you're not ready for, but I promise you you don't have to be scared with me. You know that, don't you?"

Slowly I nodded, feeling my heart flutter as he looked deeply into my eyes. My stomach knotted again at the idea of being intimate with him, of exploring one another's bodies and desires.

"Let's lay down," I whispered hoarsely, my veins suddenly coursing with longing.

"Are you sure?" He asked, studying my face intently, as if searching for any doubt.

I nodded, and in an instant he pulled himself out of the bath, reaching down to help me out behind him. Locating a large fluffy white towel from the shelving at the side, he lay it upon the white marbled floor and motioned for me to join him.

My heart thudded nervously as I lay down beside him. Beads of water still on my skin making me shiver. Draco pulled me to him, catching my lips gently in his. He rolled himself over me, flattening my back against the soft warm towel. I shuddered as his hand caressed up and down the length of my body, causing my skin to erupt in goosebumps.

Our kissing intensified, his tongue dancing fiercely against mine as his hand found its way to the back of my neck. There, his fingers fumbled with the tie of my bikini top.

I felt the cool air hit my skin as my chest was exposed. Draco tossed the top to one side and lifted his head back slightly to look down at me. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as his eyes hungrily took me in.

"You're so beautiful, you know," he murmured and I shivered as his hand caressed me, touching me where no one else had ever been before.

"Draco," I breathed, closing my eyes in bliss, and I felt his lips brush my own as he pressed his weight down on me, skin against skin, heart against heart.

We lay there kissing and stroking in our almost naked state, my heart racing furiously at the new blissful sensations I was experiencing.

But when Draco's fingers trailed southwards further, past my belly button and idly plucking at the hem of my bikini bottoms, I knew there were some things that I still wasn't ready for.

"I'm sorry," I said, as I wrapped my fingers firmly around his wrist, preventing him from going any further. "I'm not ready."

There was no disguising the disappointment in his eyes. And I felt bad - as though I had been leading him on.

"I'm sorry," I repeated hurriedly, touching my fingertips to his cheeks. "I want to, with you, I do. Just not now, not tonight."

"That's okay," he whispered, pressing his lips firmly against my forehead, "whenever you're ready."

After awkwardly putting my bikini top back on, we silently got dressed, throwing our uniforms back over our swim things.

Just before we stepped out back into the corridor, Draco pulled me to him, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and placed a lingering kiss upon my lips.

"I love you, you know," he murmured vehemently, his silver grey eyes piercing mine. "I love you so fucking much. Tonight was so special, believe me. And I mean it when I say we only go so far as you are ready for. I would never pressure you. You know that, don't you?"

"I know, and that's why I love you," I smiled. "It was special to me too, Draco. And I know it will be even more so when I'm ready."

His eyes twinkled down at mine before he planted a quick hungry kiss upon my lips.

"Come on," he drawled, taking my hand and leading us out of the bathroom, "let's get you back to your dorm."

When I crawled into bed that night, I kept replaying the scene on the towel over and over again in my head.

And I knew it wouldn't be long until I would give myself fully to the Slytherin Prince.