Evelyn's POV

I watched him as he strode across the room, sleep in his every moment. Not even the finest of insults could stop some part of me wanting him.

"Evelyn?"

I turned to smile at Muse, who had insisted on being my Potions partner. Unfortunately, Daphne had been stuck with Ebony. However they were civilised so she didn't complain.

"Yeah?" I replied quietly, cutting up the ingredients that needed to be put in the potion soon.

"Who do you keep looking at?" He whispered, "The blonde boy."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, getting a few glares. I lowered my tone and told him, "That's Draco, he's, well..."

"Your crush!" Muse giggled noisily. I gawked at him and left to pretend that we'd forgotten an ingredient in the cupboard.

"You didn't replace me that easily, did you, Evelyn?"

A voice laced with hurt and betrayal rang in my ears. As if I wouldn't know who it was.

"No," I snapped, "You're a little too different to replace, don't you think? Saying stuff like that behind your girlfriend's back."

"I wasn't-" Draco calmed himself.

He shimmied us into a corner so that we were less likely to be seen or heard.

"I was protecting you. I was protecting myself - bloody hell, I was doing it for us! What will it take for you to understand me, Eve?" He finally said.

I felt my heart race as he said my nickname. He had not often called me that.

"I... I don't know if I can forgive you, Draco-"

"Alright, class, times up!" And with that, the equipment cupboard was locked!

"That bloody slug!" Draco whisper-yelled as we heard the class begin to leave. There was no evidence that Professor Slughorn was still in the room, either.

"We'll just have to stay until his next class," I said worriedly. I certainly didn't like the thought of Slughorn keeping any... live ingredients in here.

"It's okay," Draco told me soothingly. But I wasn't taking it.

"I don't need your comfort," I snapped.

"You did once."

Draco's voice was broken. Had I done this to him? He was the one who poked fun at my blood status.

"I did it for you," he said. I thought he was crying, but I couldn't be sure - it was almost pitch black, "Everything I do, it's for you."

"You lied to me! You said you wanted to be with me. Me, not a 'measly, worthless squib' who means nothing to you!" I exclaimed.

"If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best," Draco retorted, "I want to be with you, Evelyn. Think on it."

"Sure," I replied sarcastically.

"Look, I know what I said was hurtful, but I didn't mean it! Do you think I would've stood and listened to you at the tower that day if I didn't have feelings for you? I would've run straight down to try and 'alohamora' that door!" Draco cried out.

I stayed quiet. A few minutes later, I heard him reach into his pocket and a jingle filled the room. Then he turned to face me, although I could only make out the brightest of his features.

"Here," he said, his voice quiet and broken; eyes full of anguish and determination.

"What's that?" I asked, my tone replicating his.

Draco seemed hesitant, but told me, "T-... The money for that pumpkin pasty you bought for me in third year."

He placed the coins in my hand, and after I pocketed it, he grabbed my hand again.

"I'm so sorry, Evelyn. I... I thought that you being a squib would make me seem like a failure," Draco began, "But now I realise, in desperation we fault ourselves. I feel like I'm a professional at being unhappy, and it's come to be that you are the counter curse to my condition."