Draco was a mess, and I had never been so frightened for a human being in my life.

I let him keep Trevor in the Room of Requirement with him, even though I missed him at night. But it made me feel better knowing that Draco had company when I couldn't be there.

Ron recovered well and thankfully we were no longer subjected to seeing him hoover up Lavender's face over breakfast.

Annoyingly though, Harry started hanging around on the seventh floor making it difficult for Draco and I to go in and out of the Room.

"What are you doing up here?" I asked, irritated to see him pacing right outside the Room of Requirement.

He looked up at me and immediately narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked you first," I pointed out.

"Malfoy's doing something in there and I'm determined to find out what!" Harry snarled jabbing his finger to where the hidden room lay.

"Has it occurred to you, Harry," I said, wearily crossing my arms, "that Draco just wants some space away from the likes of you?"

"So you know he's in there?" Harry's eyes widened with interest.

"Yes, of course I do! It's where we go for our 'quiet time' and if you don't mind Harry, I'd like to enjoy it without you listening in!"

"What do you mean by 'quiet time'?"

"I don't know Harry, maybe get a relationship of your own and come back and tell me what you think it means then."

"A relationship?" Harry spluttered. "Neve, I cannot stress enough how dangerous being involved with Mal-"

"Just stop it, Harry!" I hissed. "I'm sixteen years old - almost seventeen and I am old enough to decide who I choose to spend my time with!"

Pulling a disgruntled face, he shoved his wand back in his pocket and shuffled away, every now and then glancing over his shoulder at me. I refused to conjure the door until he was completely out of sight.

"Was that bloody Potter again?" Draco snarled as soon as I walked through the door.

He was crouched by the open cabinet with his sleeves rolled up, his face pinched in concentration as he inspected inside the back of it.

"I'm afraid so," I sighed, throwing my bag down on the mattress. "But don't worry, I basically suggested that all we do in here is have sex and he soon scarpered."

Draco stood up so fast that he banged the top of his head on the cabinet's shelf.

"You what?" He asked, frowning as he rubbed a hand over his head.

"I said this is where we come to spend some quiet time together and he reluctantly left after reminding me yet again that you're dangerous," I shrugged, "although I wouldn't be surprised if he's back out there listening to see if I was telling the truth."

"Well, then," he said, loosening his tie and kicking off his shoes as stepped over to me with a wicked glint in his eye, "we better stick to your word; I wouldn't want to be responsible for making you a liar."

He swiftly closed the gap, grabbing my waist and hungrily connected his lips to mine. The fire in my belly was immediately lit and I didn't object when he threw me down on the mattress.

Five minutes later our clothes were completely discarded and we were fully enjoying the benefits of having our own private room.

It certainly was the one area where his appetite wasn't lost.

"FUCK!" he groaned loudly; much more loudly than usual. "OH GOD, YES - FUCK!"

"Was that for Harry's benefit?" I asked afterwards, as we collapsed breathlessly back down onto the mattress.

Draco's satisfied smirk answered my question.

"Should I be worried that you literally just used me to get one over on Harry?" I asked raising an amused eyebrow.

"Never," he said, his voice full of vehement conviction as his eyes bored into mine. "I just want that prick to leave us the fuck alone. I'm sick of him warning you off of me. As if I'd ever hurt you. I'd do anything to protect you and look after you, you know that don't you? Anything."

As he said this, my eyes roamed over to the cabinet where it loomed accusingly over us. I felt Draco tense next to me as he followed my gaze. I knew he knew what I was thinking. Go to Dumbledore.

"I can't do that," Draco whispered, his voice trembling in sorrow. "Anything but that, Neve. Please."

I didn't argue it any further. There was no point.

I knew I had the option to go to Dumbledore myself, but I couldn't do that to Draco. I wanted it to be his decision to accept help. If he didn't want it, or refused it all together, then I could be placing him in more danger than ever.

Time was ticking and I just prayed that Draco would make the right decision before it was too late. In the meantime, I vowed to be his best support system and make sure he knew he wasn't alone.

Sadly for us, Harry's obsession with Draco grew to new heights, to the point that I avoided him even in the common room to get away from his incessant questioning.

"He's cheating on you, Neve," Harry announced quite smugly one evening at dinner.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, sighing heavily as I tucked into a potato.

"I've just seen Malfoy walking up to the seventh floor with two blonde bimbos. It seems you're not the only one he goes there to have some 'quiet time' with."

I almost choked on my potato. "What?"

I felt rather confused and a little frightened. I'd never thought that Draco would do such a thing to me, but then what was he doing with these girls?

"They were very giggly and looked liked they were ready to show Malfoy a good time, if you know what I mean." Harry garbled on, giving me a knowing wink. "Although he looked fairly grouchy for someone who was about to have the night of his life."

I tried not to let it bother me; tried to stop the images of seeing Draco on our mattress with two naked blondes; kissing them, touching them... wanting them.

"Where are you going?" Harry called after me as I flung my chair back and started racing across the hall. "You're going to miss out on the jam roly-poly pudding! It's with custard!"

My heart was racing as I flew up to the seventh floor, not stopping to apologise as I knocked a loitering girl's scales out of her hand.

Conjuring the door, I held my breath and stepped inside, dreading what I was about to see.

"Neve?"

Draco turned around from where he was working on the cabinet, looking at me in mild surprise as I stood red faced and breathless. "I thought you were going to study after dinner tonight?"

"Harry- said-" I stopped, suddenly feeling foolish, and a little ashamed that I could even think Draco would do that to me.

Draco's face instantly fell at the mention of his name.

"What the fuck has Potter been saying now? I swear to god, I'm going to murder that prick."

"I- I'm sorry," I choked, and to my horror I realised I was crying. Draco threw down his wand, instantly crossing the room to gather me in his arms.

"Neve, what is it?" he asked, his voice full of worry and concern. "Tell me, please. What did he say to you?"

"He- he said that you came up here with two girls," I sobbed feeling horrible that I'd even doubted Draco's loyalty.

I felt Draco stiffen as he pulled away from me. "I did. Well, sort of."

"What?" I asked my head full of confusion, looking around almost as if I expected to see them step out from the shadows.

"I polyjuiced Crabbe and Goyle into a couple of girls. They're outside keeping watch," he sighed heavily, his eyes searching mine, looking hurt, "Neve, you must know I'd never... you really think I'd do that to you?"

"No!" I said quickly, still breathless from a mixture of exertion and panic. "The way Harry was talking, god I'm so sorry, Draco, I should have ignored him."

I sat down on the mattress, wrapping my arms around myself. I suddenly felt exhausted - both emotionally and physically.

"Christ, Neve," Draco said exasperatedly, driving a hand through his hair. "I wish you wouldn't listen to that prick, haven't I proven how serious I am about you?"

He sat down heavily next to me, exhaling a long, drawn out breath. The musky scent of his cologne hit me. I was suddenly desperate to be engulfed in his arms, to draw comfort from his body. But I felt too ashamed, too horrified by my own doubt of his faithfulness to make the first move.

His hand crept to mine, fingers gently caressing the small mounds of my knuckles, causing a shiver to tingle the length of my spine.

"I only want you, Neve," Draco murmured, his voice low and husky as his grey eyes pierced mine so intently that my breath momentarily hitched in my throat.

He looked ill, so ill that it frightened me. It suddenly occurred to me that other girls or no girls, I was still going to lose him.

"Please, go to Dumbledore," I begged, my heart pounding in my chest. "I can't lose you, Draco."

His hand swiftly left mine as his eyes glazed over. He looked away, his barriers going back up around him.

"No, Neve," he said, his voice coming out a lot more sharply than he'd ever used on me. "Look, I think it's best you leave now."

"But-"

"Go back and study," he spoke firmly; definitively.

"Draco-"

"NOW!" He bellowed, jumping to his feet, his face set in an angry scowl.

I was confused at his sudden turn in demeanour. One second he was telling me I was all that he wanted, the next he was pushing me away.

Not wanting to upset him any further and trying not to panic at his sudden, unexpected coldness, I picked up my bag and headed towards the door.

"Wait - Neve,"

I span around eagerly at his voice, my heart fluttering in relief that he wasn't going to make me leave after all.

But the coldness in his hardened face told me otherwise.

"I think you should probably take Trevor with you," he spoke.

His meaning was clear. I was not to come back.

*****