12

                                    

                                          
Okay...so maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I was able to spot Draco heading down towards the dungeons. He was on the fourth floor, should've been easy enough to find.
                          
Except the fact that I had to keep dodging Mrs. Norris, Mr. Filch, and even Snape once. It's like they were tracking me. 
                          
When I finally make it down to the fourth floor, Draco is going down the stairs to the second floor. Couldn't he just like lay down and take a nap or something? Okay, maybe not...I'm just tired. 
                          
I ran down the stairs to the their floor and almost ran into Mrs. Norris. I had to hid behind a column so she wouldn't see me. Once she was finally gone, I sensed victory, cleared the map and put it away, and ran towards the stairs. I could hear light footsteps walking slowly down the steps. 
                          
It made me think of a horse, I'm not sure why though. Perhaps it was the rhythmic beat of his steps. Or maybe I was just going crazy.
                          
I hurried silently down the stairs, my face breaking out into a smile when I saw his blonde head in front of me. He still didn't notice me, so I fell into step behind him.
                          
I ended up accidentally stepping on his ankle. He whirled around with his hand pointed at me until he realized it was me.
                          
"Aly!" he exclaimed, tucking his wand back into his robes. He pulled me into a tight hug. "You should have let me know you were behind me," he said. I felt him press his lips to my neck and give me a gentle kiss there. 
                          
I pulled away from the hug, but kept my hand in his. 
                          
"Where have you been lately?" I asked. "It feels like we haven't been able to be together in such a long time."
                          
"It's only been a few days," Draco said, giving my hand a squeeze. 
                          
"Where have you been?" I repeated. The smile he was giving me left his face.
                          
"You know there are things...I can't tell you," he said hesitantly. 
                          
"You're joking right?" I asked. "I know your deepest secret, you said your not afraid to let everyone know about us anymore, you said you loved me in front of the crowd. There have been plenty of rumors about us. That I'm just another one of your toys. That you wish you had never made it public. That we're not even in a real relationship, that all we..." I let my sentence trail off because I realized I was rambling. 
                          
"What are they saying?" he asked.
                          
"That our relationship is only...based...on sex," I whispered the last part. He pulled his hand out of mine and kicked the bottom step. I took a step back. 
                          
"Dammit!" he whisper-screamed.
                          
"It's not though, they're just rumors! You don't need to get mad!" I said quickly. 
                          
"I knew I should never of talked to you! You deserve so much better then me. I put you in danger that could kill you because of who I am, I make your brother hate you, and now you've got to deal with goddamned rumors, too. All because of me!"
                          
I hesitantly lifted my hand to touch his arm, but dropped it again as I listened to what he said. 
                          
"If...the rumors were...true...would you be ashamed?" I asked.
                          
"What?"
                          
"We love each other, but we haven't gone any farther then a make out session," I said.
                          
"We've gone a little father then-"
                          
"I know, but we've never gone the whole way," I said. I realized how he never answered my question about where he had been. I remembered what he had said only moments before.