Seven years to the day I was almost date raped and murdered, I opened my eyes.

"Happy birthday, Weasley."

I yawned, and blearily sat up; kicking my legs out from under the duvet as I took in the sight before me.

Draco Malfoy, clad only in a pair of tight black boxers and looking like a fucking underwear model, was entering my bedroom carrying a tray, upon which sat a mug of steaming coffee, a stack of pancakes dripping in syrup, and what looked hopefully to be a present.

Why the fuck couldn't it be me that he was marrying?

"Draco Malfoy, were you just making breakfast naked in my kitchen?"

He grinned wickedly, his silver grey eyes issuing a little twinkle as he placed the tray on my lap and dropped down uninvited on my bed next to me; the scent of his cologne making my stomach give an unexpected twist of longing.

"Draco, as sweet as this is, I don't think it's very appropriate for you to be laying in bed with me, half naked." I couldn't help but glance down at the bulge in his boxers.

"Oh come on, Weasley, you've seen it all before." He smirked. "And more."

"Yes, but it's different now." I said, tearing my eyes away and trying desperately to ignore the sudden yearning coursing through my veins. "I don't want to be your mistress, Draco."

"Ronnie, stop saying that. I'm not asking you to be. I just want you to have a good birthday. Now open your present."

Not being able to resist a gift wrapped parcel, I greedily ripped the wrapping off.

"Is this supposed to be some kind of sick joke?" I spat, waving the box of chocolate cauldrons in his face. "Because it's not fucking funny!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he chuckled, not looking sorry at all, "I couldn't resist. I still can't believe you kissed Crabbe though."

"You better not have laced them with love potion," I glared. "Because that's just rape! Next you'll be bringing out a bottle of fucking mead and asking me to order my coffin out of the catalogue!"

His face dropped instantly. "Don't even joke about dying, Weasley."

"Well you're the one joking about date rape!"

"He would never have touched you, I wouldn't have let him. Besides it was Granger he wanted."

"Yeah, cheers for that, thanks for reminding me that I couldn't even pull Crabbe." I bit, angrily stabbing my fork into a pancake.

"You sound almost disappointed there, Weasley." He said, cocking an eyebrow.

I said nothing, instead moodily shovelling pancake in my gob, splattering syrup all down my chin.

Draco gave a small exasperated sigh and I could see him shaking his head out of the corner of my eye. He picked up the newspaper which had been hidden under the present and unfolded it out in front of him.

"What the-?" he started as his eyes scanned the front page.

"What's the mat-" I stopped short as I saw the picture that had rendered him speechless.

It was me; storming angrily away from the table where Harry sat looking furious and Hermione shaking in tears. The headline above it read: Veronica Weasley: Wicked Witch Of the West Country.

A horrifying wave of sickness tore through me as I read on.

The Golden Trio hit troubled waters last night as it seems that Devonshire born Veronica Weasley can no longer contain her jealousy at the success and glory of her accomplished counterparts.

The struggling single caterer was overheard complaining about having to attend the Chosen One's first born's christening; an occasion that most people would usually be nothing but proud of, and show happiness for a friend.

An eye-witness describes how Miss Weasley 'ridiculed Harry Potter for having no mother in front of the whole restaurant and wished ill tidings on his child and any future off spring he may have.'

Miss Weasley's public verbal assault left the country's sweetheart, Hermione Granger, in floods of frightened tears. It is under no doubt that Miss Granger's recent announcement of her upcoming nuptials to long term partner, Neville Longbottom may have tipped unlucky in love Weasley over the edge.

'It was her jealously that broke us up,' says ex boyfriend, Cormac McLaggen, who spoke exclusively to the Daily Prophet. 'I was subjected to a viscous attack when my eyes accidentally glanced in Granger's direction one time during our Hogwarts days. I was frightened for my life at one point. She was a difficult woman to date. No wonder she's still single.'

Draco quickly ripped the newspaper from my sight before I could read anymore.

"What the fuck is this bullshit?!" I cried, actual tears pricking at my eyes at the horror of what I was reading. "All I said was that it would serve Harry right if his kids ended up in Slytherin! And as for that fucking prick, McLaggen; we barely got through one date! And he had spent the entire time eye fucking every female in the vicinity!"

"What's wrong with Slytherin?" Draco asked as he looked at me in complete bafflement.

"Harry hates them. And I hate him!" I cried dramatically, pushing my half eaten pancakes aside, suddenly not feeling hungry.

"Weasley," Draco said, authoritatively removing the tray from my lap and pulling me into his side. I was too upset to point out how alarmingly intimate this was, given our states of near undress. "Whatever's happened between you and Potter, I'm sure you'll get through it. Ignore the damned paper, and ignore that prick, McLaggen. Although I'd be happy to kill him for you if you want."

"And let him accuse me of subjecting him to more vicious attacks?!" I said with a bark of incredulous laughter. "I don't fucking think so!"

And I didn't add that it hurt like crap to read all that stuff about me being unlucky in love and 'still' single. Because I knew, with a horrific realisation, that it was all true.

Draco tightened his arms around me, kissing the top of my head. "You're beautiful you know," he murmured huskily. "Don't listen to any of that, please. As far as I'm concerned, any man, or even woman, would be so fucking lucky to have you."

"Draco, don't-" I started, tilting my face up to look at him, but was cut off as his lips crashed down on mine.

And I suddenly couldn't think straight; couldn't think of any reason not to kiss him back when it felt so right.

A low guttural groan rumbled in the back of his throat almost immediately as I responded, and he deepened the kiss, pulling me to him so that I could feel the furious pounding of his heart in his chest and the rapidly growing hardness in his boxers. His hands started roaming my body, making every inch of me flame in desire as fingers stroked and caressed the exposed skin where my vest and shorts weren't covering.

"Ronnie," he growled hoarsely, as he breathlessly broke the kiss to look questioningly down at me. The hunger and passion swirling in his eyes caused my stomach to knot maddeningly in longing.

But the pause was enough to make me remember why this wasn't a good idea; why I had been refraining from taking things too far with the one person I desperately wanted to be with.

"I'm sorry," I panted, my chest rising and falling heavily from the onslaught of desire. "I can't do this. I'm sorry, Draco."

His face crumpled slightly, but he immediately recovered it, closing his eyes as he clearly tried not to show his crushing disappointment.

"I'm the one who's sorry," he murmured sadly, tenderly cupping my face.

It was just a fucking shame, I thought heart brokenly as I rolled away from him - that he just wasn't sorry enough to break off his fucking engagement.

*****