fervere

Chapter Twenty Three  

Something in the way Goyle and Hermione interacted gave Draco a bit of faith. He hadn’t realized his own friend was on to something. Perhaps Snape had tricked them all into forming solid relationships as classmates depending on each other for a good mark.  

Ron and Blaise seem to have a decent light hearted banter. Seamus Finnigan and Crabbe were both constantly in misery together, bonding over how much they hated potions. Lavendar Brown and Millicent Bulstrode happen to be gossiping at every moment they could. Daphne floated around each pair every class being the odd one out, and the most peculiar partners had to be Potter and Parkinson, because even they looked like they were getting along.  

Harry had even cracked a smile when Parkinson loudly complained about Harry’s scores.  

“I refuse to be the worst pair in this class, you hear me Potter,” Parkinson muttered, snatching Harry’s parchment and marking errors on their current assignment for him to fix, “I’ll be damn if Goyle and Granger surpass us.” 

Harry rolled his eyes but smiled. Draco didn’t fail to notice that Harry seemed lighter and much more himself, despite his constant detentions with Umbridge.  

Draco glanced up at his professor, believing that he might have played a big role in Harry’s improvement.  

Neville sneezed next to him while Draco plunged himself into thought.  

If small changes like these helped with the comradery between the houses, Draco could only imagine the leaps they could take to turn this incoming war on its head. It might have silently started with him, but it was slowly spreading to his classmates and if he knew anything about his own friends, they’ll need protection soon.  

If Voldemort even had a hint that Goyle was close to Hermione, he wouldn’t hesitate to use him in any way possible. In fact, if his parents knew, they’d probably offer Goyle up to the Dark Lord. 

If any of their known Deatheater parents knew... 

They were in greater danger being too close to both Voldemort and the Trio.  

“Professor,” Draco called out once class was over. Snape had barely dismissed them when Draco made it a point to march up to him and slam his books down to show his professor he came with serious intentions. Snape didn’t move his head towards him but his eyes flickered to the corner to watch his student wait until the very last student leave.  

“Yes?” He drawled out, fairly annoyed for mistreating his desk.  

“Teach me legilimancy.” Draco announced and that earned a snort from Snape.  

“No,” He sighed out, waving him off. He no longer was interested in the rest of what he had to say. 

“Teach me,” Draco warned, “Or I will teach myself.” 

“What for?” Snape huffed, clearly annoyed, “Was occlumency not challenging enough?” 

Snape looked up at Draco and dove into his mind retreating back almost in an instant. Draco winced at the feeling but he was determined. 

There was not much that Snape had seen other than long drawn out school days. After all it was all that had been consuming his time at the moment. Snape didn’t want to show it but he had been certainly impressed by the improvement despite the lack of instruction from him.  

“I want to teach my friends occlumency.” Draco announced, “And in order to do so, I need to know how to perform legilimancy.” 

Snape looked beyond annoyed, rubbing his temples as he repeated Draco’s plan back to him.  

“You want to learn a rather rare, nearly unteachable skill,” Snape shook his head in disbelief, “So you can teach your bumbling friends a skill even Potter himself is struggling with.” 

“He’s doing better,” Draco pointed out, “I can tell. Doesn’t have that freaky weird dark look in his eyes, does he?” 

Snape paused and rubbed the stubble on his chin, weighing his options.  

“Don’t you have enough on your plate?” Snape raised a brow.  

Draco smiled, “Apparently I can pile on more.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

Draco had begun formulating his plans on top of another one. Typical of him during the worst year of his life.  

Well.  

He couldn’t exactly say it was the worst when he had an encouraging girlfriend.  

Draco looked at Millie like his answer to one of his problems. She had her arm linked into his as they strolled around in their thick wool winter cloaks, heading up to History from Herbology together. They chatted about the incoming Christmas Holiday and how chilling the cold now was.  

Christmas was still about three weeks away but Millie couldn’t help but to talk about it once the chilly air had its cold grip on Hogwarts.  

They both bundled up rushing into the warmth of the castle, vapor puffs floating above them and pink noses, cheeks, and ear tips buzzing with the bite of the forming frost.  

“I heard it might snow tonight,” Millie pointed out, unlinking her arms to rub her frozen nose making it a brighter red. Draco could feel the pain on the tip of his ears and rubbed them as Millie went on, “We could go ice staking if the lake freezes over this year.” 

“Maybe,” Draco nodded, “If I have time-” 

“Oh you never have time!” Millie huffed out jokingly exasperated but also with a hint of truth in her tone. Draco was quick to react taking Millie’s hands into his own, bringing them to his mouth to blow hot air, making sure she warmed up quickly. She softened up before she had the chance to scold him again.  

“How are Snape’s lessons?” She asked. Draco wouldn’t have shared such information even with his current girlfriend who seemed to idolize him. He had to lie to her and tell her that he was struggling with Potions recently to explain his absence at times.  

It wasn’t that hard of a stretch to invent. The Inquisitorial Squad would cut into his studies, it was the perfect scapegoat to explain away his busy schedule to Millie. He was glad she never questioned further. 

“Fine.” Draco nodded. 

Everything was fine.  

The sudden news of Draco and Millie coupling up took the gossip train into overdrive when the school found out about it. A week later he received a letter from his mother, the first of this year, asking about the young lady he was courting.  

He understood the interest.  

He was, after all, the second Slytherin dating outside of their circle.  

It still felt odd to have people whisper about him so openly. 

It was obvious to him that Ron and Daphne were much more of a match, a much more interesting one, too. Perhaps more shocking but eventually, it was plain to see if anyone observed them long enough, Ron and Daphne had this solid aura around their relationship. 

Daphne doted on Ron and he treasured every single moment he spent with her. It was in his eyes, the way they fixated on her and blocked out the rest of the world. Meanwhile, Daphne clung on to Ron appreciating the filled-out Keeper’s built he acquired over the year. 

Draco saw what everyone else saw: A love sick couple. But, he also knew the both of them and didn’t find it as strange as most did at the beginning.  

Draco and Millie brought a different sense of attention. She had fulfilled a long-time crush and despite different houses, they were often regarded as a good match. Until time went on, and still they received long looks as if something wasn’t right.  

As if there was something they couldn’t quite place their finger on.    

Draco place a gentle kiss on Millie’s forehead and she lunged forward trying to initiate a snog session in the middle of the corridor.  

Draco grimaced out a smile when he dodged her, “We’ll be late for History.” 

Millie deflated.  

She knew of Draco’s conditions.  

After a few attempts of PDAs, Draco had to assure Millie that it was not what he was typically comfortable with. Perhaps it was the rules that Draco had placed upon their relationship at the beginning that made them look so stiff and mismatched but Millie allowed it to be.  

Draco didn’t hold back once in the privacy of his dorm.  

It didn’t take long for them to become physical. In fact, it was a well known secret that Draco had snuck in Millie into Slytherin a handful of times now but most minded their own business. It was the same kind of grace they gave Ron who was now spending his evenings locked up in Daphne’s room. 

Still, as assured as Draco tried to make Millie feel behind closed doors it still didn’t mean she wished she could have more of him.  

Millie pouted all the way to History but it was quickly fixed by the simple gesture of having Draco sit next to her. 

Draco had just placed his bookbag down on his table when he heard her voice.  

“Thank you for the extension Professor Binns,” Hermione sighed out, “I really appreciated it. I’ll have your essay tomorrow morning.” 

Draco’s heart lodged to the pit of his stomach. His mouth parted slightly when Hermione wheeled around, about to rush out of class when she took notice of Draco staring at her. She paused, hesitating for a moment.  

If Draco had blinked at the wrong second, he would have missed the slight movement of her eyes. She had glanced at Millie who was scooting her chair in before she bolted out of there. Draco didn’t know what to say to her, and even if he did, he couldn’t possibly say it publicly. Could he? 

“Hey Hermione!” Goyle called out, waving at her. Millie stiffened next to Draco as he sank down to sit. Glancing at Hermione, he noticing the tenseness of her shoulders.  

Hermione took a soft sharp inhalation and smiled gently at Goyle.  

“Hi Gregory,” Hermione gulped. Most of Slytherin hadn’t taken pause at the two unlikely friends, but Ravenclaw did. Most of them stared Hermione out, even Millie took note.  

“Odd. She seems a bit too comfortable using first names, doesn’t she?” Millie pursed her lips in thought. Draco shrugged in response.  

“Like Neville is with me?” Draco shrugged nonchalantly, “It’s not a big deal.” 

Millie crossed her arms and kept them crossed throughout the class. Draco, on the other hand, focused hard to calm his racing heart down.  

It was now an annoying reoccurrence.  

Any time Draco would bump into Hermione or spot her, his heart skipped a beat or stopped, or thought it best to scare him into thinking he was having a heart attack on how fast he felt it beating. It had crossed his mind that although for the better part of the semester, the overload of work hadn’t helped him recover from his heartbreak, Millie somehow had been able to mask it.  

That is until Hermione would send his heart a reminder and it was like falling for her for the first time, all over again.  

He had hoped that Legilimency would somehow help him in the way that Occlumency hadn’t, Draco had now had five lengthy lessons with Snape.  

“So what you’re saying,” Draco began, one night after dinner, “Is that it can also be a gift?” 

Snape sat as his desk, the long forgotten Aster the mangy mutt sat at his feet. Draco had to beckon him out with a piece of meat pie so he could remind Aster who he was. Snape rubbed his face.  

“There have been known cases of witches and wizards, although rare, that seem to naturally be able to sense your mind, feel and manipulate your feelings, and even warp your own memories without a single lesson. Thankfully, it can be learned in theory although it is harder than learning how to fly or winning a quidditch match?” 

Snape raised a brow at him, sensing that he was indicating their final match before their holiday break.  

“Ravenclaw doesn’t stand a chance,” Draco frowned, recalling how down their seeker was, “Cho Chang’s been... distracted.” 

A painful memory of Diggory on the ground made Draco inwardly wince. Draco wasn’t proud that he knew they stood a fair shot at winning, but he didn’t like the reason for it.  

Snape nodded, “Think of Legilimency as breathing-” 

Draco groaned and collapsed in his chair, humbly showing his teenaged patience. Not another fucking breaking exercise.  

Snape lowered his gaze, “You’ve been good at Occlumency but if you think of Legilimency as something new entirely, you’ll never master it.” 

Draco shook his head, “I don’t want to master it, I just want to teach-” 

“Yes yes, I know,” Snape waved off, before letting out a thoughtful sigh, “Both skills are similar but not, they both heavily rely on breathing but it’s almost like two parts of the same mechanism.” 

“I don’t follow professor.” Draco shook his head.  

Snape gave him a certain look and it was almost like Draco’s body reacted before he realized what he was doing. Snape intended to claw into his mind but was quickly shut out, a technique that Snape warned him about.  

Completely shutting out an invader would only cause for more suspicion.  

Draco slumped over the moment Snape released his grip, bracing himself for the scolding. It’s not that Draco had much to hide, except for the fact that there was a lack of physical restraint when it came to having a girlfriend in his room. 

Draco expected that Snape would berate him for using a technique he warned him about, except it never came.  

“How were you breathing?” He asked as Draco sat there trying to catch his breath as if he had just completed a light jog.  

“I- I don’t know.” Draco sputtered out.  

“You’re doing it right now,” Snape pointed at him, as if that were any more helpful.  

Draco pulled his head up and narrowed his eyes, “What?” 

Draco surely didn’t know what he was going on about other than the fact that he was trying to settle his lungs.  

“You first held your breath and then exhaled.” Snape leaned over the desk, watching him closely, “You’re trying to expel with an outward force.” 

Draco felt the weakness of his inhalation verses his exhalation. Had he always done it that way?  

“Legilimency tries to sense a person, like your nose can sense and differentiate a plate of mash verses a warm slice of pie, by breathing it in you.” Snape explained, “The reason you’ve been unsuccessful at your attempts of legilimacy, isn’t because it’s me you’re trying to invade, it’s because spells often are casted with the intention of trying to force a spell out of your wand.” 

“Memory charms do not,” Draco shook his head, “They are a siphon.” 

Snape snapped his finger at Draco, nearly about to jump out of his chair in excitement.  

“Precisely,” He grinned, “Now think of your spell as a vacuum.” 

“What’s a vacuum?” Draco asked.  

Snape paused and shook his head, “Nevermind. When you cast your spell, think of it as a pull into someone's head. Like being sucked into their world. Stand up.” 

Draco finally feeling a bit of strength in his legs, did exactly that. His wand was in his hand, his grip pulsing in nerves.  

“Are you sure Professor?” Draco chewed on his lip. The past times he had attempted it felt like he had been headbutting into Snape’s forehead. He accused him of having his occlumency walls up but he assured him, he dialed them dawn as far as he could.  

“I’ll have a memory right at the front of my mind,” Snape offered, “Try to see if you can observe bits of it, tell me as much as you can.” 

Draco rubbed his eyes, trying to find a bit of confidence with in him. He inhaled and huffed out a couple of breaths, trying to find a good patten before he casted the spell. It came a lot less natural than other spells.  

He exhaled and within the next slow breath, he pointed his wand and calmly repeated the incantation he had failed plenty of times before.  

“ Legilimens! ” Draco sucked in, and suddenly it felt like his body had stayed put but his mind lurched forward, and then suddenly his eyes were cloudy and blobs of hazy muted colors were around him. He couldn’t see the details but he saw green below and blue above. Draco moved around in this memory, trying to see if he could somehow get out of the clouds. 

Then a woman's voice.  

“Sev!”   

Then Draco was shut out, completely. He found himself blinking back into his reality, still standing firm. It was certainly a different feeling than being prodded around but it wasn’t any better.  

Draco eye’s fluttered back to focus and his eyes connected with Snape. His head felt like he had spun around five times. 

“Outside?” Draco chewed on his lip, wincing at his feeble attempt to interpret what he had saw, “And a voice.” 

Snape was quiet for a second before he gave Draco a rare approving smile and it was better than any words of encouragement his father ever had given him.  

“Keep breathing, Draco,” Snape advised, “You’ll soon see improvement.” 

“Thank you Professor.” Draco bowed his head before collecting his things and heading for the door.  

“Oh and Draco?” Snape called out.  

“Yes?” 

“Please win on Sunday. I’ve got a bet going with Flitwick.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

Draco finally had the time and mental awareness to visit the Prefect’s bathroom the day before his quidditch match against Ravenclaw.  

Practice had been brutal that evening with the sharp glacier winds that felt like it was cutting their skin open. The torture of numb fingers and toes and stinging eyes from the dry air was almost nothing from the fiery pain of even inhaling such icy air.  

Draco pulled off his goggles after they had landed on the pitch with a bouncing thud at the end of their practice. His silver hair was now sticking up in odd angles, ice forming and hardening where the bit of sweat had accumulated. Draco made a fist and flexed his fingers tightly to get a bit of blood running through his fingers. He shook out his hair, feeling the bits of ice being flung off walking towards their changing rooms. 

It was the only time Draco feared that perhaps this incoming match might not be as easy to win as he initially thought.  

Worse yet, by the time the Slytherin team all huddled around in the changing rooms to talk about their schedule the next morning, snow had just begun to drift lightly from the dark clouds. 

Goyle blinked, “Do you think it’ll stick?”  

Crabbe peered out the door, letting in a whoosh of artic wind inside their toasty changing room. He earned an earful from Montague who had been nearly naked at this point.  

“Hard to say,” Crabbe turned red, “It is a bit heavy for a flurry, don’t it?” 

Warrington cursed under his breath, “Blimey, you think they might cancel the match?” 

Montague pulled his warm jumper over his head and rolled his eyes, “Not unless Umbridge says so. I think we’ve been annoying her so much she wouldn’t mind pushing all of us into the freezing cold so she can have a bit of peace and quiet in the castle.” 

Draco looked down at his raw red hands and shivered, “Well, I’ll be washing off in the Prefect’s bathroom. Might as well relax in the case I break my other arm in this match.” 

Draco smirked when all his other buddies laughed. They were fully under the assumption it was just an excuse to leave them and spruce up for a heavy night with Millie. She had been not so subtly casting long looks at Draco all day, even braved the cold to watch them during practice an hour ago.  

One thing about Millie was that she wasn’t as subtle as Draco wished she would be. More often than not when they were together in class, she would push her long hair off her shoulders to display a bit of cleavage that she hoped Draco noticed.  

He wasn’t blind, he of coursed noticed as well as the rest of the school who was heavily bundled up while Millie skipped around in her opened button down, and her skirt that looked a few inches too short.  

“Don’t waste too much time in there,” Goyle snorted, “Or else Millie will start looking for you.” 

Draco had waved them off, picturing Millie knocking on all the boy’s doors to see if Draco had been visiting his friends.  

It was a thought long lost the moment he had dipped himself in the warm waters of the Prefect bath. Purple bubbles and golden suds surrounded Draco as he tilted his head back to rest it on the edge of the bath.  

His achy muscles painfully resisted to loosen up but soon gave into the heat of a good bath. Draco almost groaned out in joy at the very last of his muscles releasing. The scents floating up had nearly assaulted Draco’s nose when he first began preparing his bath but soon enough, he was dizzy with the scent of lavender and honey.  

He exhaled softly, enjoying the way that the stress in his body began to seep away from him as if the entire bath was a huge potion and healing him within. It was no wonder why Millie was constantly here.  

On a bitter cold night, this was better than the warmth of a squishy bed. His eyes fluttered shut and then forced open to lavish in the beautifully ornate bathroom. Then his lids weighed down in exhaustion, succumbing to his light peaceful rest. 

“ Fuc- Sorry.” 

Light footsteps tore Draco out of his slumber and he snapped back up, water slushing at the edges as he reeled over towards the entrance. A figure was scurrying away, already about to reach the small foyer of the entrance.  

“Hermione?” Draco called out at the unmistakable form of her back side. 

Her body froze, shoulders tensing up from being caught and named. She took pause before she puffed her chest out to gather the courage to face him again. Even in the dimness of the Bathroom, Draco could tell her face flared in deep red.  

“Sorry, I- I didn’t know you were here still.” Hermione cleared her throat, “I thought your slot ended thirty minutes ago.” 

Draco, surprised, sat up straight and wiped the beads of water off his face.  

“Shit what time is it?” Draco asked.  

“Ten thirty,” She answered looking visibly uncomfortable, “I can leave-” 

“No,” Draco stopped her and then reached over to his things that he laid out near the bath, looking for his wand, “ Accio towel. ” 

One of the plush towels came zooming out of the complimentary cabinets by the bath. Draco used it to dry off his face before he began to stand up. Hermione gasped and she turned around to give Draco his privacy as he got out of the bath, wrapping his towel low on his waist.  

He bent over to retrieve his things and rounded around the small pool to the foyer where there was a mirror. 

Hermione nearly yelped when Draco came into her view and smirked when he took a look at how nervous she looked. He delighted in the idea that he was the one making her nervous. 

“It’s just skin, Granger,” He teased, “No need to get so excitable.” 

Hermione squeezed her eyes in annoyance, “Oh please, don’t humor yourself. It’s the fact that I intruded into your privacy and you still seem to make it a point to tease me for feeling guilty.” 

“Oh guilty?” Draco snorted, “Is that what you’re feeling?” 

Hermione’s eyes had been drifting down and they suddenly snapped up. Her cheeks puffed slightly in embarrassment. Draco's cockiness began to crack when he thought of how dangerous it would be to have a flood of lust expose him right at this moment. He was a taken man, Millie made sure he was well satisfied.

“You are so annoying, you know that?” Hermione huffed.  

Draco inhaled, his heart feeling tender for her. He winked jokingly at her, happy to have this run in despite the awkward circumstances. He hadn’t been able to share any time with her lately and although it had been healing, in a sense, it didn’t mean he never craved for her attention.  

“How’ve you been Hermione?” Draco smiled genuinely. He grabbed another smaller towel to run through his thick wet hair. It had been almost stuck to his scalp. Now, it was sticking out in different directions.  

Hermione was holding on to her things for dear life: her cloak and a small bag Draco could only assume were toiletries and a change of clothes. 

Her chest was noticeably rising up and down. Draco gulped when he noticed she was filling out her blouse a lot more.  

“Fine.” She quietly said.  

It was enough for a slight pause in Draco’s mind. She didn’t seem all that fine seeing how she was distracting him with her breathing. Draco took his wand to wave it again dictating the bathwater to begin draining. He was still in awe that he spent over an hour in the bath. It would explain his wrinkly fingertips.  

“Are you sure,” Draco asked, trying to keep a steady look on her face.

“Are you naked?” She suddenly asked, catching Draco off guard. He almost didn’t want to answer because he didn’t want to stutter, his heart fluttered alive in the mere thought that he was what Hermione was thinking about.  

“It’s a bath,” Draco rolled his eyes, trying his best to collect himself.

“So? I brought my bathing suit,” She held up her bag.  

Draco snorted which didn’t please Hermione at all.  

“Well I wouldn’t be wrong to be careful, I nearly walked in on you and-” 

Draco laughed, “Oh please, as if you didn’t know I was here with your map and all.” 

Hermione’s mouth hung open, about to shout at him but didn’t have quite the words formulated to contradict him. She gave him a hateful glare before she attempted once more. 

“I don’t always have that map! And I don’t always see where you go!” Hermione’s cheeks flamed up, “Awfully arrogant of you to think that I care where you are.” 

Draco was feeling in a cheeky mood as he smirked, “Oh, don’t always , do we?” 

He felt a flame of mischief ignite in him before Hermione was able to react.  

“Let’s see this bathing suit, shall we?” Draco suggested, “ Accio bag !” 

Hermione lost grip of her bag. It went hurling into Draco’s hands and Hermione immediately launched herself at him.  

“No!” She cried out, running to him.  

Draco was just about to look within the contents of her bag when Hermione nearly attacked him. He lifted her bag out of reach and Hermione scrambled to try to get it, her body lightly bumping up against him.  

She placed her warm hands on his bare chest, and then his shoulder, leveraging herself up each time she jumped for her bag. Draco hadn’t been this close to her in a while and the scent of her was more intoxicating that the bath scents he just drowned himself in and she was soft. 

Soft as she continuously pressed against him, failing to reach for her belongings over and over again.

It dismantled him. 

Draco’s arms dropped and he hid her bag behind him. Hermione immediately reached both arms around him, pressing herself hard against him. Draco stopped breathing.  

Her body again, on him.  

Hermione’s hands happily found her bag and she easily snatched it from his grip, but not before she also noticed how there was no space between them up. Her doe eyes grew wide just as Draco felt himself weaken. She looked up in shock. Draco restrained himself when he caught the look of surprised in her eyes, he didn’t want his body to react but he could feel the flood of desire begin to rush south.  

“Sorry,” Hermione apologized, peeling herself away. Draco could only hope she didn’t feel anything. The simple thought of that was now bringing a heat to his face that was shameful. Panicked him. He thought of writing to his father and beg him to transfer him to Drumstrang for a mortifying situation that was beginning to painfully be true. Draco’s hands flew to the loose tuck of his towel, tightening it just in case, glancing down in hopes that nothing was obviously awake.

The knot of his towel helped him out a bit.

They stayed silent for a moment before Draco cleared his throat, wanting to rush out of there now.  

“Turn around Granger,” He nervously teased, “I need to change if you want me gone and I don’t need you ogling me.” 

Hermione scoffed but seemed relieved that Draco broke the tension.  

He did what he promised the second Hermione turned around, walking further into the Prefect’s bathroom. It took him only a minute for him to jump into his pajamas and throw his warm cloak over himself. He could hear Hermione had busied herself with tending to her own bath now.  

“It’s all yours,” Draco announced. Hermione looked over her shoulder, her eyes trailing down and Draco was grateful he brought his cloak with him to himself in. He had a terrible ache he needed to tend to and Hermione wasn't helping the situation. 

“See you around?” Draco called out, his body half out of the bathroom and Hermione chewed on her lip.  

“Sure,” She nodded before he bolted out of there.  

Draco could have sworn he made it to the dungeons in record time. He needed a release a way to take away the sudden desire he had nearly exposed.  

He thought of that Wand Whisperers he discarded weeks ago and nearly punched himself for throwing it away.  

He angrily stormed into the common room, ignoring a few students out late gathered around the fire place and flew up to his room. His cloak rippled down at his feet and he lifted his wand to cast a silencing charm. He didn’t want anyone to hear him much less in the case Hermione’s name slipped out of his mouth.  

“Well aren’t you ready for me?”  

There was a loud pause when Draco froze, his wand out just finishing his silencing charm.  

Draco’s flushed face turned to a witch that was sitting coyly on his bed, her legs crossed and her arms stretched out behind her, pushing her chest out playfully. 

Millie’s eyes trailed down at the obvious bulge barely being restrained by his grey sweatpants. Her eyes lit up and Draco knew this was his own torture.

His punishment for his terrible lack of ability to be honest to himself and to the people that mattered. 

Millie made sure that he was taken care of that night and Draco was a coward to stop her from straddling him into a steamy snog. 

She had become the only way to release the growing lust that stemmed from someone else that night. Millie had pushed him, his back landing softly into his bed. Her button-down shirt was flung off and wandering hands tugged at the waist band of his sweatpants.  

Draco’s mind kept flashing back to another warm body pressed against him and he had to shamelessly monitor the entire time Millie settled herself on him to make sure Hermione’s name was never uttered as hips began to rock.

It was torment.

The moment she would cross Draco’s mind he was aching for her again, as if his own body was well aware that Millie wasn’t enough to have a replacement.  

And he hated himself for thinking that way.  

But as soon as they would finish, Draco’s body would relax for a mere moment before his urge would come rushing back to him. Soon enough he was ready for another release. He needed the release.

It was a long night, one that Millie had trouble keeping up every time the thought of Hermione’s body pressed up against him flooded Draco's mind. Thankfully, Millie was always willing. Draco had lost all sense of reality, as the weight of his own exhaustion slowly overpowered his own passionate peaks. Millie certainly was happy to lose the battle against sleep after the third time, snuggling up against him, burying her face into his chest. 

When Millie was fast asleep next to him, Draco glanced up at the clock by the green luminous window, nearly four in the morning. Draco closed his eyes gingerly, gulping as he remained lucid from the high of a release. 

“What are you doing to me,” Draco mumbled to himself quietly, “Granger.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

“Five rounds?” Ron asked incredulously, “Who has time for five rounds of wizard’s chest?” 

Daphne lightly slapped Ron’s chest, forcing him to focus on their free day that Sunday. All students were stuck inside from the snow storm that had come across the school, and most of them were either gathered in the Great Hall way past breakfast hours or mindlessly walking around the castle, looking for something to do.  

Most professors were outside trying to clear a path towards the Quidditch pitch for their game in the afternoon. Umbridge was having trouble reigning in a flock of cabin fevered students. 

Fifth Year Potions were all grouped together at a corner at Hufflepuff’s table, all looking like a mismatch group of friends as peculiar as that sounded. Although Zabini was Ron’s partner, Daphne had filled in the spot next to him, rubbing his back lovingly as usual. Zabini was over at the end of the table speaking to Goyle and Hermione about something in his book.  

There was something oddly comforting seeing them all get along. 

Despite that, it didn’t hold Draco back from flashing a death glare at his own distant cousin. Draco glanced up suspiciously at Ron, holding his quill still. Longbottom also looked at Ron curiously.  

“Who wants to play?” Neville asked looking down the table to see if anyone had brought out wizard’s chest to past the time. Daphne waved Ron off, digging him out of a hole that Draco was certainly about to push him into.  

“I- I suggested to Ron,” Daphne cleared her throat, “He said he’ll teach me how to play.” 

She casted a sharp look at her boyfriend. Ron hesitated before he slowly agreed.  

“Oh. Y-yeah,” Ron nodded avoiding Draco’s glare, “I mean if you want , I thought between all the school work to catch up on and today’s game, we wouldn’t have time. For wizard’s chest, that is.” 

Daphne lifted one perfectly manicured brow, “You wouldn’t want to make time for wizard’s chest?” 

Ron sputtered.  

“N-no, I- I always have time for a round,” His freckled cheeks going red, “Or two.” 

“ Two ?” Daphne scoffed.  

Neville frowned looking at Draco for assistance, “Why do I feel that this isn’t about Wizard’s Chest.” 

Draco groaned and shook his head. He wasn’t stupid at what was going on. There was yet another thing he needed to speak to Millie about. He absolutely hated that his private life was being spoken about. The school didn’t need to know what occurred between them, much less how many times.  

It was certainly an exaggeration.  

Sensing that no one was going to say another word, Neville stood up and left, perhaps to search for the source of the whispers. There had been discrete glances at Draco he didn’t fail to notice since breakfast this morning.  

All from wide eyed girls. 

Desperate to change the subject, Draco glanced at Ron.  

“I have a proposition.” He whispered over to them, “About your club.”  

Ron and Daphne exchanged glances. Harry who had been sitting next to Neville, scooted closer.  

“What about it,” Harry said in full command of his precious secret. Draco was sure that Hermione faced a lot trying to convince Harry that it was a good idea to allow him to know about Dumbledore’s Army.  

Draco continued to write on his parchment, hoping to look busy with his assignment rather than scheme with his secret allies.  

“You need my help,” Draco began, “I think you need to teach Occlumency to your friends, Potter, and I’m the person that can do it.” 

Harry scoffed, “Snape’s been teaching me.” 

“And how do you plan on teaching your friends?” Draco challenged the parchment in front of him, “With theory?” 

Daphne licked her lips nervously.  

“You’ve prided yourself in teaching the real applications of how to use magic against dark arts and how do you suppose you’ll do that when you need a Legilimens to help you teach Occlumency?” Draco challenged. 

Ron blinked fast, “Snape?”  

Harry already answered what Draco was implying, “He won’t be able to, not unless he wants to risk Umbridge sacking him.” 

“Me,” Draco said with finality, “I’m not the best at it but it will help everyone else to learn how it feels when you teach them.” 

Daphne’s lips parted in surprise, “ You? You know how ?” 

Draco shook his head, “Barely, but give me until after break to really practice and I promise, I’ll attend one of your dumb meetings.” 

Harry rolled his eyes. 

“Why?” Daphne asked.  

This was enough for Draco to finally tear his focus off his writing.  

“Look around Daphne,” He suggested, “Don’t you sense something is changing.” 

They were surrounded by a frenzy of teenagers all getting along for once.  

“You know Goyle signed up,” Draco muttered, “You know how deep in the trenches his family is in with the Deatheaters. Soon enough they’ll need a shield to help them navigate this war at their own pace. It’s how I came around. It gave me time and perspective, something others can’t do unless we help them.” 

Daphne glanced at Harry, “Montague also was asking to sign up.” 

“How did he hear about us?” Ron asked.  

“Goyle,” Draco said without thinking it. It was obvious.  

“Those who are turning,” Draco began, “They’ll need help being so closely associated to Voldemort and in turn, you can fully teach everyone occlumency.” 

Harry took a moment to decide and without warning he shook his head, “I can’t.” 

That stunned Draco.  

“I can’t fully teach Occlumency myself.” Harry clarified, “If you know more, you know better. You teach.” 

Draco gulped, “I- I can help with Legil-” 

Harry’s stare intensified, “No. If your friends truly mean something to you, then you should be the one to help them. It would mean so much more from someone they sincerely respect than someone like me who think they should look up to.” 

Ron pouted out a shrug, “He’s right, you know.” 

“How much time would you need?” Harry asked.  

Draco gulped, “After winter holiday, I’ll give you a better timeline when we return.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

The whip of the wind felt like knives on Draco’s skin, perhaps even more painful than the day before.  

The snow had thankfully stopped for a moment but the cold remained in the high afternoon as the Slytherin team shouted out formations to each other, whizzing around in the pitch. Montague leading a revolving triangle of chasers towards the Ravenclaw posts. Crabbe and Goyle were busy keeping the bludgers aimed at Ravenclaw. 

Draco had his own task of dodging the every player that was desperate to have this game concluded as fast as possible. Unfortunately, Draco had realized that for the past twenty minutes, Cho Chang had been trailing him, carefully watching him. That could only mean she was heavily depending on him to find the snitch, which only meant that the conclusion of the game depended on Draco. 

He had a tight grip on his broom handle, the cold slowly creeping into the light cover of his wrist. Even his neck was finally giving into the tightening feeling of the chill.  

His body wanted to be anywhere but at this match, but considering he or Cho were the determining factors of the end of this game only made it more agitating that he couldn’t find the damn snitch. 

“AND RAVENCLAW SCORES!” Lee Jordan voice boomed, “MAKING THE SCORE THIRTY SLYTHERIN EIGHTY RAVENCLAW!” 

Draco bit on his lip. He could imagine that Montague was sweating trying to rally up his offense to complete his plays. It was Ravenclaw’s keeper that was a golden gem. Even the best of Montague’s tactics were no match for Ravenclaw’s keeper. Nevertheless, they continued on and Draco scanned around, hoping to put an end to this. He flew around the crowds of cheering students.  

Once again all of Hogwarts had turned out for the game, despite the weather. Each house was stuffed to the brim in the stands, all cheering on with warm butterbeer or hot chocolate they’d snuck in.  

Truthfully, Draco was jealous they looked warmer than he was all crowded together. 

Even flying close to the crowd, Draco could feel the aura of warmth from them.  

Cho was not so far behind him, watching him carefully. Not in the best moods, Draco was about to taunt Cho Chang for the lazy approach to her seeker abilities. About to hurl an insult at her, Draco glanced over his shoulder his mouth parted to unleash his annoyance at her but that’s when the spotted something glimmering around the Gryffindors that loomed below Chang.  

He hesitated, thinking it was the gold of someone’s banner or the reflection of something shiny, like Harry’s glasses. But then Draco spotted Harry and his fixed gaze.  

Harry was looking at something not far from him where Draco had first seen that golden glimmer and sure enough, there it was.  

The snitch.  

It was flitting around the Gryffindor section and in no time, Draco jetted off zooming past Cho Chang and charging straight towards the Gryffindors.  

“ROGER DAVIS IN CONTROL OF THE QUAFFLE ONCE MORE- WHAT IS THIS?" Lee Jordan narrated, “IT LOOKS AS THOUGH DRACO MALFOY THE SLYTHERIN SEEKER AS CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE SNIIIIIIIIITCH!” 

That was all that Cho Chang was given before she failed to react on time.  

Draco had swirled around the stands for a moment before getting fed up at the sneaky snitch, using the students to dodge around. He was aware he was flying dangerously low to the crowd but he didn’t care. Once he was within reach, Draco launched himself off his broom and landed within the pile of cheering Gyrffindors.  

Most of them got out of the way so that Draco didn’t tackle a body by accident, which Draco was thankful for.  

He had landed in a roll before sprawling out on his back when he rolled to a stop on the smallest clearing. Sure, he had an ungraceful landing but Draco instantly felt the flame of victory spread through his veins. He held the snitch up high and turned to show his peers.  

Slytherin, on the opposite side of the pitch all came alive. 

“AND HE’S GOT IT! OH MY GOD DRACO MALFOY’S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!” Lee Jordan let out a laugh of disbelief, “MALFOY THREW HIMSELF INTO GRYFFINDOR IN A FREEFALL AND I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! HE’S CAUGHT IT! GAME IS OVER! SLYTHERIN WINS! EIGTHY TO ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY!” 

It was odd at first but the was enveloped by a throng of students and before Draco knew it, he was being carried up in celebration. The cheers around Draco roared, as he was hoisted up into the air in celebration. He was lightly pelted with pats of congratulations from Gryffindor who had the pleasure of witnessing his hunt of the snitch so close.  

Slytherin was in the finals for the Quidditch Cup.  

His team had joined Draco in the stands and they all joined in the commotion. They had been the first team to have two wins to qualify for the finals.  

It was the first time since Draco had joined the team that they were close to winning the cup. All the other years it was either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff who had won the honor.  

Slytherin had narrowly missed the finals in their last game Draco’s second year. Unfortunately, his third year they had made it to the finals but had been defeated by Hufflepuff. 

This was redemption. 

They needed to win.  

“Insane catch!” Neville shouted, and Draco flung his arms around his partner, “Good job mate!” 

Ron had pushed himself to the front of the crowd only to grinned at Draco and nudged Harry playfully, “Looks like you got work to do Harry.” 

Harry rolled his eyes but had seemed pretty entertained with the way Draco had managed to catch the snitch.  

Dean and Seamus along with the twins were busy giving Draco a playful rough around when Hermione’s face came into view. 

That beautiful pure face that have him trouble the night before.

Draco took a few light blows from Fred as he stared at Hermione who was openly staring back. There was a sudden pull in Draco that he felt compelled to have led him towards Hermione. He didn’t care. There was something tugging him towards her and the only thing he wanted to do was to run to her and pick her up in a hug.  

And he took those few steps, peeling himself off the boys, his heart freely thudding for her. 

He had his sights set on her, her brows knitted up in an emotion Draco couldn't quite read, and just before he reached her she took a step towards him.  

Yes.

It was safe.  

He didn’t need to worry what it would look like. There was nothing but them and they were okay. This was perhaps the first step to have her. Have any part of her publicly. 

A pair of arms flung around his neck and Draco stumbled back, shocked that he was tackled when he hadn’t completely reached Hermione.  

“Oh, my goodness,” Millie breathed out before leaning away from him, taking his face into her gloved hands, “Are you alright? Are you hurt? You literally threw yourself into the stands, Draco! You could have hurt yourself!” 

Draco was thrusted back into reality when Millie’s face had focused into his line of sight.  

Millie leaned back in, closing the gap just about to kiss him when his team all landed around him and tore him away, all throwing arms arounds each other, enjoying their victory.  

His hard earned win suddenly felt a lot less dull.