The next day, you were heading to your first class when you heard someone snicker as you were walking past them. You briefly made eye contact with them and saw that it was Pansy Parkinson. She laughed to the girl beside her, "Look. It's the girl who hid. I bet you she won't make it through the school year before she runs away from all the drama she's started."

You took a deep breath and tried to just move on when you heard someone yelling something. You looked back and saw Draco fuming with a crowd parting around him. He snapped at Pansy, "Watch your mouth, Parkinson. You're getting on my last nerve."

Heat rose to your cheeks as you realized that most people in the hallway heard him, and everyone knew who he was talking about. The students around you eyed you curiously, but for the first time, no one made sneering comments at you as you made your way to class.

As you slipped towards the door of your classroom, you noticed Fred and George leaning against the wall of the corridor. Fred was cracking jokes with some of the other Gryffindors in their year, but George was scowling with his gaze locked on a place behind you. Was he looking at Draco?

Brushing off these observations, you hurried into your class and took your seat. You moved to pull out your notebook when sudden hands on your shoulders made you jump. You partially turned around in your seat, smiling at Draco who was hovering over you. He lowly told you, "If anyone bothers you today, I want their name... Will you come to the Slytherin common room after dinner?"

You smiled at him and agreed, "Okay, but you'll have to let me in. I don't know your password."

"I'll see you later," He murmured, giving your shoulders a squeeze before leaving the classroom to head to his own.

Susan passed him coming into the room and plopped into the seat next to you. She leaned over and cheekily questioned, "Did I just see who I thought I saw leaving this room?"

You chuckled at her and nodded. After you got back last night, you told her everything. She was excited for you but reminded you to just be careful of Draco. You wholeheartedly agreed that you would protect your heart, but you also trusted him with it after how gently he had cared for you the night before.

Susan giggled and shook her head at you before pulling out her textbook.

The class passed by in a blur while your mind kept drifting back to Draco. The day passed by fast but still not fast enough. You sat through dinner, giggling with Susan at the slightest provocation and repeatedly glancing over at the Slytherin table to find Draco already looking at you with an intense expression. You would smile at him each time before turning back to Susan.

After dinner, someone quickly tugged you off into an empty corridor by your sleeve. Despite being pulled rapidly, it was gentle. Draco pulled you behind a column in the hallway and stared down at you. You dreamily greeted, "Hi, Draco."

He simply chuckled in response. He ran the back of his cold hand over your cheek, and you beamed up at him. He wrapped his hand around your wrist and carefully led you to the Slytherin common room.

Once you got there, Draco told the first years who were lounging there to go someplace else. You tried to protest, but he didn't let you as he scared them off. He pulled you over to the couch and tugged you down with him by your wrist. He wrapped his arms around your torso and pulled you into his chest. He sighed into your hair, "Did you have a good day today?"

You chirped, "Yes. I was excited to come here all day."

You glanced back at him to see him smirk at that. He murmured, "Oh, really? Why is that?"

You blushed and chuckled, "Because I wanted to spend time with you, silly."

He brushed your hair over your shoulder gently and hummed, "Is that the only reason you were excited?"

You playfully smacked his arm and giggled, "Oh, stop being such a flirt."

Draco glanced around the room once before leaning in close and kissing you once again. He placed his cold fingers on your cheeks, and you shivered. You put your hands around his neck and kissed him back. The smell of mint invaded your head once more as you tried to hold onto him tightly, hoping he wouldn't slip away.

After a moment, you pulled away from him, gasping for a breath and chuckling at his pink cheeks. He began tracing patterns into the back of your hand for a moment until he mumbled, "Would you be my date to this Slytherin party this weekend?"

"Of course," You murmured, taking his hand in yours.

He nodded at you before wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you into his chest again. The two of you sat in silence like that for quite some time, enjoying one another's presence.

You slipped back to your common room after some time, and you happily sat down next to your friends playing board games in the common room, grinning widely at the girls. When Cedric frowned at you, you gave him a smile with your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but he didn't say a word to you the entire evening.