Sorry this update took so long! I have been focusing on my stories Giving Him Hope and Chasing Freedom, trying to get them done ASAP. Hopefully I won't take several months to update this again now that I have things outlined and on track! Anyways, hope you enjoy! :D

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                About two weeks had passed before anything major had transpired. Vanessa was honestly in disbelief at how calm things had been around Hogwarts considering what had happened to Katie Bell on the last trip to Hogsmeade. She had been given a cursed necklace, and had suffered quite severely from it. No one knew who was responsible for giving it to her, and it made things around the school that much more difficult. Not that Vanessa had enough to worry about anyway.

Her friends had not taken the news of her dating Draco as nicely as she had hoped. Artemis hadn't said much about it; just that he respected her decision, and wanted her to be careful. His cousin, Emily, had been more than happy for her. Amber and Kendall were ecstatic, but that was to be expected since Draco was in their house. Alex, however, had the most obvious reaction, albeit more dramatic than anticipated. She hadn't spoken to Vanessa much since she announced it, and even had refused to help in the Potions' group. Honestly, the child-like behavior was starting to irk her nerves. The girl was happy to see that today's Potions assignment was individual. They were all competing for a prize.

A single vial of Felix Felicis was on the line. And all they had to do was brew a perfect batch of Draught of Living Death. It was easier said than done, but Vanessa didn't really care if she won or not. She didn't know what she would use a luck potion for anyways. Regardless, she had an hour to finish up the potion, and compare it to what it should be like.

"So she still isn't talking to you?" Draco inquired, handing Vanessa a knife so she could begin cutting her beans.

Vanessa laughed, but there was no joy in it. "What was your first clue? That she has been using Artemis to speak to me when she does need something, or the fact she has her back to the three of us and is doing her potion work on the other group's table?" she retorted.

"Err, all of it really," Draco muttered. "Real mature, don't you think?"

"No one ever said Alex was the most mature individual," Vanessa replied. "She'll come around; she's just being difficult. Not very fond of us being together or some nonsense. She's just mad the guy she likes doesn't know she exists."

From the corner of her eye she saw Draco raise an eyebrow. "Oh? And who would that be?"

Despite not speaking, Vanessa wasn't going to betray her friend's secret. Not that she knew who it was anyway; Alex hadn't told her anything regarding a crush of any variety. "All I know is that he's a Gryffindor," she muttered quietly. "And that's just my speculation."

"Terrible taste in men," Draco almost spat, moving his beans off to the side so he could move onto the next step. "How are the two of you even friends?"

Vanessa shrugged. Honestly she wasn't sure about how that had happened either. All she knew is that Alex had been present in her life as long as she could remember. They had grown up next door to each other, they had been sorted into the same house... they were friends. Sure, they had had their fair share of disagreements in the past, but this was surely the most ridiculous of them so far.

"You said it, not me," Vanessa sighed. "And honestly, I have no idea."

Before Draco could respond, Artemis leaned over, and decided to add his two cents to the conversation. "You know she can probably hear you," he said matter-of-factly.

Vanessa shrugged, and then scoffed, "Good! Maybe she'll see how unreasonable she's being."

The Irish boy sighed, knowing fully well he had lost this battle. "I doubt it. She's been really... crass, for a lack of better words."

Vanessa dropped her beans into the cauldron in front of her, stirring it quickly. "Well at least she is talking to you. You haven't offended her great ancestors or something," she spat.

She saw Artemis' eyes go wide. "You do know you're not supposed to stir it yet. You forgot to add the sloth brain," he corrected. "Not to mention it's just the juice from the beans you're supposed to add."

Vanessa threw her hands into the air out of frustration. "Ugh! You have got to be kidding me," she exclaimed. She pushed the cauldron away from her. Today was just not her day. "Didn't want the stupid luck potion anyway..."

"Of course you didn't," Artemis mused. "Not that it matters anyways. We all know who is going to win it anyway."

"Potter," Draco said without hesitation. "The favoritism around here is beyond annoying. At least you two are in his little elite club."

"Not by choice," Vanessa mumbled. "It's not like I wanted to have a spotlight on me."

Draco went to say something but it never came. The sound of a cauldron clanking, and its contents flowing out onto the ground echoed through the classroom, catching everyone's attention. The three turned to see Alex righting the cauldron, praying some of the potion had remained in the container. Unfortunately, there wasn't. Vanessa turned back around pretending to work on something for her potion as Professor Slughorn rushed over to assist her friend in cleaning up the mess.

When Draco and Artemis both turned back around, Vanessa spoke up again. "Karma is a beautiful thing sometimes."

Neither boy said anything to her, instead both resuming work on their respective potions. Time seemed to drag on as she waited for the final minutes of class where Slughorn would decide who got the vial of Felix Felicis. Slughorn had lined up the cauldrons of the students who hadn't spilled, or otherwise messed up, their potions, and began testing each of them. In the end, no one was truly surprised to see Harry Potter leaving the class with the small golden vial.

Honestly it was truly obnoxious how he always seemed to be ahead of everyone. Vanessa had nothing against him, but it would be nice for once if the oh-so-great Chosen One could fail at something for once.

As the class began gathering their things, Vanessa debated what the rest of the day was going to hold. Usually the time after Potions was spent with Artemis and Alex for an evening of studying and the like, but that didn't seem like it was going to happen today. The girl shoved her potions book in her bag, irritated at the state that everything seemed to be in. She sighed, and Artemis overheard.

"I guess the group will be studying individually until further notice?" he asked.

Vanessa shrugged. "I guess. Maybe just for the day. I dunno," she answered, feeling Draco's arm wrap around her waist, his fingers pressing against her side intently. "I'm going to spend time with Draco today."

Artemis said nothing for a few moments while he gathered his things. When he finally spoke, the tone of his voice was much more disappointed than it had been before. "I guess I'll see you at dinner then," he responded, picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

Vanessa merely nodded, watching her friend slowly walk out of the room. She took a deep breath before she looked to Draco. "So what is it you normally do after class?" she inquired.

"It varies," Draco stated. "Was thinking we could go sit by the lake and enjoy some of the last nice weather we'll have this year. Maybe study... maybe not."

"Sounds good to me," Vanessa agreed.

Without another word, the two of them walked out of the classroom and made their way outside, through the courtyard, and down to the Black Lake. Honestly, Vanessa was relieved to get away from her friends, and spend some time with Draco without someone breathing down their necks. They still had a lot to learn about each other, and it was about time that really got started. The two of them sat down by the edge of the lake, dropping their bags off to the side. It was obvious neither of them cared to pay attention to their studies for the remainder of the day.

"So what's the deal with you and Fowl?" Draco asked. "You used to date him, or something?"

Had Vanessa been drinking something she would've spit it out. "No. No, no, no, no," she quickly dismissed. "He's been a good friend of mine since first year. We've never dated or anything. I mean, he did go with me to the Yule Ball in fourth year, but it wasn't like, romantic, or anything."

"Ah, mmkay," Draco mumbled.

"Why?"

The blond boy shrugged. "I was just curious. You're always with him."

"Not always," Vanessa said quietly, looking up into his grey eyes.

"Well at any rate," Draco said before pulling Vanessa into a tight embrace and planting a kiss on her lips. It caught Vanessa off guard, but after a few seconds, she relaxed, and kissed him back. Honestly she almost found it hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago this was the boy who had been causing her so much grief and annoyance. Spending this time with him was exactly what she needed to get her mind to ignore the drama amongst her friends.

If only this feeling were to last.