Draco was waiting for me the very next morning outside the Ravenclaw Tower.

"I'm so sorry I was a dick." He said straight away, looking at me anxiously. "It's not my business who you want to hang around with."

A feeling of both relief and guilt washed over me and, as he hesitantly opened his arms, I didn't need to think twice about throwing myself into them, nearly knocking him over as I welcomed the hard comforting feel of his body.

"I love you," I murmured into his chest, nuzzling my face against his shirt.

"I'm glad you still do," he sighed contently, tightening his arms around me. "Because I was hoping - if you are free, of course - that you'll meet with me tonight?"

"Yes, of course I will," I said without hesitation. I just prayed he wouldn't ask me any further questions about my 'study session' last night. I couldn't bear the thought of lying further to him.

Draco's silver grey eyes lit up as he looked down at me, seemingly delighted by my enthusiasm.

We walked down to the Great Hall together, my fear from last night abating as our fingers intertwined lovingly together.

...

Draco felt full of nerves as he clasped the small flask of potion inside his trouser pocket.

He was in the Entrance Hall, pacing up and down as he waited for Aurora to finish her dinner.

Butterflies took flight inside his stomach when she eventually emerged.

"Hey, you." She smiled, causing her brown eyes to twinkle. Draco thought she had never looked more beautiful.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He could feel his own heart thudding maddeningly in his chest, and he prayed she wouldn't notice.

"Are you okay?" She asked, looking up at him in concern. "You seem a little..."

"I'm fine, Aurora," he reassured her, brushing his lips against hers.

He let his arms drop from around her, and taking her hand, he started to lead her towards the Entrance Hall's large oak doors.

"Where are we going?" She asked, confused. It wasn't exactly warm outside, but Draco wanted to take her somewhere where there was no risk of being overheard.

"I just thought we could get some fresh air." He shivered as they descended the stone steps.

The sun had already started to set now the days were getting shorter. Draco figured a walk by the lake would be fitting enough, as the reflection of the sunset rippled on the water's surface, creating a nice romantic effect.

He just hoped she was into all that romance malarkey.

"So, ummm, we've been together a little while now." Draco started, already hating the words coming out of his mouth, as they strolled hand in hand along the lake's pebbled beach.

"I suppose we have," she smiled up at him, "I seem to remember sharing our first kiss not much less than a year ago."

A warm feeling spread throughout his stomach as he remembered the night of the Yule ball. How could he be so nervous? She wanted this as much as he did, of course. He needed to just bite the bullet.

"The thing is," he swallowed. "I was talking to Blaise-"

"Oh? About what?" She looked up at him, startled.

"About umm, Cho. And about girls and stuff..."

She paused, frowning. "Draco, you didn't tell him about us, did you? About that night in the Prefects' Bathroom?"

"Uh-"

"Oh god - you did, didn't you?! Draco, that was between you and me!"

"Don't you talk to Cho about this stuff?"

"No!" She gasped, her hand lying to her chest. "What else did you talk about? Oh god, I don't want to know!"

"I needed advice!" He implored, suddenly feeling panicked.

"About what?!"

"About this." And he removed the potion from his pocket, holding it out in front of him.

"And what's that, exactly?"

"Cho takes it. It stops her from getting... you know... pregnant." He whispered this last word very, very quietly.

Aurora looked utterly horrified. He was suddenly desperate to hold her in his arms and take back everything he had just said.

"Say something, please." He implored. "Aurora, I love you, and of course I want to take the next step with you. I just don't want you to worry about anything."

"Just because Blaise and Cho are doing it, doesn't mean we have to! Isn't this enough? Draco, we're only fifteen! I'm not sure I'm ready for that. And I'm sorry if what happened in the Prefects' Bathroom made you think I was. But if anything, it made me realise I wasn't! And I thought you'd be okay with that because I thought you loved me and respected me enough to know that I can't go any faster than I am! But instead you go running straight to your mates telling them I'm ready to drop my knickers and ooops - better make sure we don't have any accidents now!"

Draco swallowed. This was all going horribly wrong.

"Aurora, please! Of course I love you. It was just Blaise, I promise. He won't judge, you know he won't. And I'm so sorry I got it all wrong. We don't talk about it. And I thought that was why you've been distant with me lately."

"It was nothing to do with sex! It's because I'm struggling with being here, knowing what I know and having people like Umbridge telling everyone that my brother's death was just a tragic accident when we all know what really happened don't we, Draco?!"

She was furious. There was no other word for it.

She turned around and stormed back up to the castle.

He was too ashamed to follow.