Draco had turned into some kind of freaking ninja.

"Where are you off to at this time? It's a bit early for breakfast, isn't it?"

I froze. I hadn't heard anyone enter the common room and I thought I'd been ever so carefully quiet. Slowly, I turned around to face my best friend's inquisitive scowl.

"Just felt like an early morning walk," I shrugged coolly.

Wrong move - Draco always knew when I was lying.

"Fine, then I'm sure you won't mind if I come with you," he said haughtily, crossing the room to join me by the wall.

We walked in silence up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. I eyed the marble staircase, wondering how I was going to do this.

"So, where are you really going, then?" He asked accusingly, following my gaze.

"Look," I sighed in frustration, crossing my arms over my chest. "I need to see Madam Pomfrey. I have a personal issue that I'd rather keep private."

"Oh please!" he scoffed, "don't make out you're suddenly demure and shy with me - only last summer you got me to ask my mother to buy you tampons when you started your period!"

"And I appreciated that, but that doesn't mean you are entitled to be privy to every aspect of my life!"

"You've agreed to sleep with him, haven't you?"

"How the fuck do you do that?!"

"Because I'm your best friend!"

"Then don't fucking judge me!"

"I'm not judging you," Draco said, steadying his voice, "I'm trying to protect you. But seeing as you are evidently refusing to listen to reason, then all I can do is support you. So, please do lead the way."

And that was how I found myself in the hospital wing, Draco waiting with me as Madam Pomfrey injected me with not only a contraceptive but also a lecture on underage sex.

It said a lot about our friendship that he never mentioned it again over breakfast, lunch or dinner, but instead silently piled my plate up with food; food of which I couldn't stomach.

When I stood up at the end of dinner, having not touched a morsel on my plate, a hand grabbed mine; long white slender fingers desperately clinging on.

"You know, you don't have to do this." His voice was low; pleading.

But with a sad look, I said nothing, and slipped my fingers out of his.

******

My heart was in my throat as I looked down at the four poster bed.

Rose petals of red adorned the mustard coloured sheets; the sight making my stomach clench uneasily.

"Make yourself comfortable," Cedric purred in my ear, his hand pressing on the small of my back, guiding me towards the mattress.

Candlelight flickered ominously all around, casting an ethereal glow. I guessed it was supposed to be romantic, but for some reason, it made me feel even more unnerved.

"Let me help you relax," Cedric murmured, brushing his lips against mine as we sat down on the edge of his bed.

I caught a whiff of his scent; it smelt different and it was making me feel nauseous.

"You changed your cologne?" I said, breaking the kiss to look up into his already lust filled face.

"It's one I put on for love making," he said in a smooth silky voice, his grey eyes glinting into mine.

"Oh." I didn't know what to say to that. All I knew was that this different scent wasn't helping with my already unsettled state, and now I was just picturing Cedric doing this with other girls.

Not seeming to notice my discomfit, he pulled me in for another kiss, this time coaxing me to lie down onto the mattress with him. The second we were horizontal, I felt pure and utter panic.

"Cedric," I gasped as he started to pull my top up. "Wait, I don't think I can't do this."

He paused, lifting his head. "You are joking aren't you?"

"No," I shook my head, feeling hot shame at the look in his eyes, "I'm sorry Cedric, I'm just not ready to take it this far yet."

Disappointment flooded his face. "But I've gone to so much trouble to make it nice for you," he whined, gesturing to the candles and rose petals.

"I'm really sorry," I repeated, sitting up and quickly pulling my top back down. "I thought I was ready, but it turns out I'm not."

"You little bitch."

I froze at his words. Slowly, I turned my head over my shoulder to look at him, not quite believing the venom that had just issued from his mouth.

Fury pinched his features and, for the first time since I'd known him, he looked ugly.

"What did you just call me?" I asked, feeling a bubble of anger rise in my chest.

"You heard," he spat. "You're nothing but a prick tease, Blaire. People don't kiss the way you kiss and then claim they are not ready for sex. Girls like you get off on seeing guys like me beg for it, and then when it comes to actually taking things further, you go acting like some sort of childish damsel in distress. It's pathetic."

I shakily got to my feet, trying to control my furious, heated breaths. I wanted to pull my wand out and hex him, right in the fucking nuts.

But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of watching me react.

"You know," I said as calmly as I could, "Draco was right about you all along. All this time it's been about you trying to get me into bed. Was it even true what you said at the lakeside last night? About falling in love with me?"

He looked away driving his fingers through his hair. His face was tinged with anger, but he said nothing.

"I thought so," I said with a bark of laughter, although laughing was the last thing I felt like doing right then, "well thank you for finally showing me what a true fucktard you really are. And tell Cho she's fucking welcome to you... well, that's if even that little story wasn't another one of your sick twisted lies."

I wheeled on the spot and marched out, slamming the door loudly behind me.

Keeping my head held high, I strode through the Hufflepuff common room, daring anyone to question me.

I marched through the hallways and down staircases, not stopping until I arrived at the great oaken doors in the Entrance Hall. Looking around to make sure there were no teachers, I snuck out, striding across the grounds until I reached the lakeside.

It was only when I sat down in our 'usual' spot, did I allow myself to cry. I clung my arms around my stomach and sobbed until I had nothing left in me.

I went over everything in my head; every conversation, every look, every kiss and every touch.

It had all been lies.

And the worst part was, he had actually made me start to wonder if I was falling in love with him too.

When I felt for sure everyone would be in bed, I wiped my face and snuck back into the castle, creeping down to the dungeons and sighing with relief when I reached the sanctuary of the Slytherin common room.

I had been wrong. Everyone had not gone to bed.

"Draco?" I whispered, my eyes resting on the white-blond haired Slytherin, sat playing a lone game of cards on the sofa.

He looked up, his eyes searching mine at once. And I saw the brief fall of his face as he took in my tear stained state.

He said nothing, but instead scooted across the sofa and patted the empty space next to him.

I suddenly felt ridiculously grateful for him; grateful that he was here in my life being my friend and showing me no judgement.

"Best of five?" he asked, already dealing out the cards when I sank down beside him.

He didn't push me about Cedric, didn't say I told you so, or even degrade me with pitying looks.

He just played cards with me, being there by my side, like the best friend he was.

*****