Draco had had a niggling feeling from the start that something wasn't quite right about Neve's invite to that stupid party.

For a start, he knew Blaise had received his almost two months prior to the actual party. And not only that, the whole tone of Neve's invitation was somewhat cold; business like.

So, not being able to concentrate on the cabinet any longer as his concern grew for his girl, Draco threw in the towel and decided just to go and investigate. He would quietly make sure Neve was okay and then he could get back to his task with a clear head.

However, not only had that filthy squib, Filch, caught him lingering, thus exposing him to all and sundry; but he was utterly horrified to see that Neve was being used as some sort of servant.

He felt completely furious, knowing that Slughorn was taking advantage of her timid nature and exploiting her for his own gain.

It took everything not to deck that pretentious, pompous walrus-like face of his. It was a shame his mission didn't entail plotting the murder of Slughorn, because that was one teacher he wouldn't mind topping.

And now, to his surprise - his pleasant surprise - she seemed keen to go back with him to the Room of Requirement.

He hoped he hadn't misconstrued her eagerness. He'd been desperate to make love to her from the moment they had gotten 'back' together, but he knew after the way he had treated her the last time, that she was always going to be apprehensive about going there with him again.

He pulled her to him the second they stepped into the Room of Requirement, kissing her hungrily, already feeling his hardness straining against the fabric of his clothes.

"Are you still on the injection?" He asked breathlessly, praying that she was, seeing as he was not prepared in the slightest.

Relief flooded him as she nodded. "Madam Pomfrey insisted the second I returned to school."

"Come on," he growled, taking her hand and leading her into the depths of the room.

He wanted to make this special for her. She deserved more than being fucked against a dusty old floor again.

Locating a mattress, he dragged it onto the floor and started scattering blankets and cushions over it.

When he turned around to see what Neve thought of his handiwork, he almost choked on his own spit.

For she was stood in nothing but her underwear, having already disposed of that ghastly uniform.

"Sorry," she shrugged, looking completely unabashed about being so exposed to him, "I just couldn't bear to have it on a second longer."

"Come here," he growled, opening his arms out to her, already feeling so over dressed in his shirt and trousers.

Grinning coyly, she practically skipped across the room, slamming into his chest as he gathered her to him, kissing her hard.

They fell back onto the mattress where he rolled her onto her back, moving his lips along her jawline and beginning to attack her neck with fervent kisses that made her sigh and tremble beneath him.

Fingers fumbled at his shirt buttons and she helped him shrug it off making him shudder as her warm hands delicately trailed down his chest and reaching his abdomen; his whole body going taut with pleasure.

"You're so beautiful Neve," he murmured, pausing to look down at her after he'd finally kicked his trousers free so that there was now nothing except their underwear between them.

"Don't stop," she pleaded, pulling his neck back down to resume their kissing.

She arched her back up so his hands could unclasp her bra, and when he removed it completely she cried out as his lips moved their attention to her chest, making her buck and squirm beneath him.

"Please, Draco," she begged, tugging at the hem of his boxers.

He loved her eagerness, despite his fear that it would make him finish too soon. It drove him crazy knowing that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

"Not yet," he murmured huskily in her ear, before moving his lips down her body, trailing kisses down her neck, across her breasts, down to her belly button where his hands started to tug at her knickers as she writhed and moaned longingly beneath him.

When his lips found her heavenly spot, she cried out his name over and over again as his tongue worked a magic of its own.

And, just as she was about to hit her peak, he moved himself back up her body, hastily kicking off his boxers and dived right in, nearly coming in an instant as he brought her to her climax, her whole body becoming a whimpering trembling mess.

He managed to keep going, however, with great effort; prolonging the enjoyment until he could finally take no more.

"Oh Neve," he shuddered breathlessly, feeling the familiar soaring sensation rip through his abdomen, "fuck." His entire body tautened as he released himself inside of her.

He collapsed on top of her, exhausted and spent; his heart racing a million beats per second as he panted heavily for air.

"That was fucking amazing," Draco murmured once he could speak again, rolling onto his back to allow their sweaty, heaving bodies to recover.

"It really was," Neve looked up at him, blushing slightly as he tenderly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear so that he could see her beautiful face.

"I love you so much," he whispered, not being able to tear his eyes away from her. "Don't let anyone treat you like less than you deserve ever again."

"I sometimes don't know how I deserve you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as a sadness flickered in her eyes.

"Hey," he said, pulling her to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her so that her body pressed firmly against his. "You, Neve Longbottom, deserve the world. You most definitely deserve better than me at any rate."

He firmly pressed his lips against her forehead, closing his eyes as he inhaled her sweet heavenly scent.

He was going to miss her so much over the next two weeks. The idea of working on the cabinet alone without her company left him with an aching, hollow feeling inside.

"Come with me," she whispered almost as if sensing his despondency. "Spend Christmas with Trevor and me at Gran's."

His heart fluttered at the idea. The thought of spending Christmas with Neve and Trevor away from this place filling him with such a glowing warmth.

But then he quickly dismissed it.

"I somehow don't think your Gran would be best pleased if the nephew of her son's attacker turned up on her doorstep for the holidays," he sighed heavily.

"She wouldn't mind if I explained you're nothing like Bellatrix."

"My aunt as good as made you an orphan, Neve," Draco said sadly. "And besides, the part about me not being anything like her?" he added, glancing wearily down at his left arm. "Well, we both know that's not true anymore."

"I just wish I was able to share my life with you properly," Neve said resignedly, "that we could be a 'normal' couple."

They looked sadly at one another, both knowing that it was a nice dream, but a dream was all it was.

*****

He insisted on walking her back to the Gryffindor Tower, after deciding it was too risky for them to both stay the night together.

She had put the green dress back on, looking down at it sadly. "I'm sorry I didn't get to wear it properly," she said wistfully, letting the skirt swish elegantly around her.

"They'll be other times," he murmured in her ear, snaking his arms around her waist and kissing her tenderly.

He waited until she had gone safely through the portrait hole before turning round and heading down towards the dungeons. He was too tired to do any more work on the cabinet and he was keen to go to sleep in his own bed.

However, before he managed to get there, he was intercepted by Snape who stepped out of the shadows in front of him.

"A word, if you please, Draco,"

"I've got nothing to say to you," Draco snarled, feeling a spark of anger in the pit of his stomach. He could not forgive him for the way he treated Neve.

"It will do you good to remember I am still your head of house, boy, and not above punishing you!"

"You wouldn't dare," Draco spat, all respect that he used to have for this professor long gone.

Snape gave a quick furtive look around before reaching out a hand, clasping the front of Draco's shirt and shoving him through the nearest door of an empty classroom.

"Do you think it's wise to be involving yourself in extra curricular activities during these times?" Snape hissed vehemently in his face. "And with Longbottom of all people?!"

"It's none of your business!" Draco hollered, feeling furious at this unwarranted intervention.

"It is when I have promised your mother I would help you!"

"I don't need your help!"

"Tough shit, because I have made the Unbreakable Vow."

"Well, you'll just have to break it then!" Draco shrugged, really not giving a flying fuck.

"You are speaking like a child Draco! These are not silly games; you have a mission to complete for our master and I would advise you to accept my help before it's too late!"

"I will not take help from a bitter and twisted bully like you!" Draco seethed, thinking about all the nasty things he'd said and done to Neve.

"You care about that idiot witch?!" Snape muttered disdainfully. "This is most unwise Draco after the events at the Ministry. Her family are well known supporters of Harry Potter. You don't need me to tell you how dangerous this could be for you."

"As I said, Professor, it is none of your business," Draco bit angrily, turning to move back towards the door, "and quit trying to read my mind! It won't work!"

He stormed out, anger making his blood boil.

If Draco hadn't had been so blinded by his fury, he may have noticed a mysterious elbow seemingly hovering in midair.

But as it was, Harry had been saved from getting his face smashed in this time.

*****