Aster's POV

I pace the empty dorm, the stifling heat from the nearby small fireplace making me itch and clench my fists.

The room is empty, only four single beds circle me, my roommate's belongings scattered in various nooks and crannies. The room is old and musky, but small enough that the fire sets the room ablaze.

The last hour races through my mind, disgust lies at the back of my dry throat. Disgust for what my Aunt and Uncle said to me. And on top of that, what I did with Draco. For that I was just angry at myself, infuriated. What was he going to tell everyone? That a measly half-blood attacked him in a dark alleyway, desperate and weak?

I hit my hands on the hard oak bed posts, the pain reverberating through my palms and into my wrists. I don't wince, I don't cry I just stare at my palms as if they were not a part of me. The sharp side of the bedpost has slit my hand open and I watched as red blood trickles down my wrist and onto my forearm. I don't even wipe it off, I just watch until it clots and bubbles.

I thought back to the conversation with my Uncle, the severity coating his face, the worried look in my Aunt's eyes.

What was going on?

I suddenly had the urge to write to my parents. Ensure they are safe. But before I pick up a quill and piece of parchment, I stop myself. What if they were unsafe? What if I wrote to them about my Uncle and Aunt and got them into trouble as well as my own parents? I was never going to see them again, but I wouldn't wish death upon anyone.

I knew it had something to do with the dark lord. He who must not be named. I had heard murmurs in the common room, murmurs about his reappearance, his horrific ways. I was a Slytherin, but I also knew that to be successful you were to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding your fate.

I nibbled at my nail, unsure. The taste of metallic coated my lips. I wiped my hand on my jeans, spreading the dark blood onto the rough material.

I hear someone outside my door and Harper appears, her face flushed from the cold and her scarf wrapped tightly around her. She throws her beanie onto her bed, the nearest to the fireplace.

She hovers over the roaring fire, basking her hands in the heat of the flames. Harper was as cold-blooded as they came, a pure Slytherin in that sense. She turns to face me, her face bright and optimistic. That is, before she sees my hands and my disheveled look on my face.

"What the fuck happened?!" She cries, her eyes crinkle in concern. She rushes over to me and pulls me onto my bed. We sit side by side as she runs her smooth fingers over the cut, the bubbles of blood pop as she inspects it.

"That was an accident. I hit my hand on the side of the bedpost" I explain, my voice monotone and low.

She looks up and assesses my face. Her eyes turn cool and calculated.

"What happened?" she asks again, this time quieter.

I leave my hand in hers as I tell her what happened between my Uncle and Aunt. I leave out what happened with Draco, not ready to disclose about my impending doom that was my reputation.

Her mouth gapes a little as I explain. I wasn't worried about telling Harper, I trusted her with my life. She was also just as cunning and resourceful as anyone in this damned house, if anyone was to try and harm her she could easily outsmart them in a heartbeat and have their feet knocked out from beneath them.

"What are you going to do?" She places me hand back into my own lap.

"Nothing" I say simply. I watch as she nods while her brain tinkers away.

"Ok. We do nothing" she pauses, "for now".

"What do you mean? I ask hesitantly.

"Let me see what's going on, if there's anything to worry about" She gives my leg a squeeze and grimaces at the dried blood stain.

"Don't go around asking people Harper! You will get yourself into trouble"

"I won't ask people. I don't know if you know me but I am a magnet for gossip" she replies smugly.

Before I knew it, I was up and off my bed. Harper jumping at my sudden movement.

"I need to go somewhere," I say cautiously.

Harper gives me a questioning look but doesn't quiz me. We were best friends but after living together for so many years, you know when to give your friends space. I leave her on my bed and make my way down to the boys dormitory.

Draco's POV

What the fuck what I thinking?

Why in merlin's beard did I kiss her?!

I pace my room, extremely grateful to have it all to myself. It's small but its mine, no roommates, just me. I had begged my father for it, it was only when I told him that students at Hogwarts were nosey fuckers that he relented and paid an exorbitant fee to Hogwarts to grant me this very room.

I drag my hands through my hair, pinching my neck in frustration.

What if she tells someone?! Oh fuck, my reputation would be utterly ruined. Or...I could spin the story? Tell everyone she came onto me, no one would believe her...

I would have to wait and see. See if she told anyone and if I needed to actually do any damage control. She didn't say anything to me when she left. I had no idea how she was feeling or what she thought.

It was driving me utterly crazy.

She was driving me utterly crazy.

But her lips. They were so soft and intoxicating.

I stopped before my thoughts wandered further. This had to stop, this couldn't happen.

I was still pacing my room when I heard a knock on my door. 

"What?" I groan, not in the mood to listen to Crabbe or Goyle's Hogsmeade antics.

"I need to talk to you" her voice calls from the hallway.

I pause. My blood goes cold and yet my face burns up. Her voice echoes and reaches parts of my body I didn't know was possible.

I walk over to the door and pull it back slightly. Her dark hair and her tanned skin seem to glow in the lights reflecting from the glass scones. Her emerald eyes are rimmed with redness. There's no emotion in her eyes and it slightly scares me.

Before I reply, I look up and down the hallway. It's Saturday afternoon, so the dorms are practically empty. When the coast seems clear, I pull her into my room, not bothering to be gentle on those soft hands.

"What do you want?" I gruffly spit out.

She stands tall, not cowering from my mood swing. Instead she looks empty, her eyes void of life and her cheeks show none of that cherry red bliss that usually emanates there.

"What we did...before" She starts, her voice wavering.

I can't look at her. I twist around, my back to hers.

"We did nothing" I simply state. I wait for my door to open and close again, but nothing happens.

Twisting back around I see her staring at her hand. A cut, quite deep and red raw slits down the middle of her palm. I grimace at the sight of it.

"I can fix that," I say, pulling my wand out of my pocket.

"No," she says sharply.

"I don't mind the pain" she whispers.

I can't help but smirk at her.

"How is that funny?!" She chides, her eyes back to life, full of green embers.

"You're so dramatic," I say, biting my lip.

The tension switches. The air around us crackles and fizzes. 

"I know you better than you think Malfoy," she says, her confidence gathering in little strands like their being whipped back into herself. She strides to me, her head slightly tilted, her eyes narrowing.

"Mmm" I reply, watching her with appreciation.

"You like pain just as much as me" she says, now just inches away from me. My blood roils at her presence, singing in pleasure as her eyes bore into mine.

Fuck.

I don't reply. I can't reply. I'm stuck. If I move, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop.

She lifts her face to mine. I don't waver. I drink her in. Her long thick eyelashes, her soft pouty lips, I spot a speck of blood on the corner of her lip and it takes every fiber of my being to not brush it away.

She halters when I don't back down. Her eyes search my face for a challenge, but she finds nothing.

"If we do this..." she whispers and my heart stops, "no one can know" she finishes.

I feel my dick tighten against my jeans in anticipation. The regretful thoughts no longer run through my head.

I lean towards her ear and whisper just one word.

"Ok".