Defend

Chapter Thirteen I Still Don't Know Whose Scarf I Own

 "Dumbledore announced that we get an extra Hogsmeade weekend." Ginny tells me during potions.

 "Weasley, no talking, ten points from Gryffindor," Snape sneers.

 "Not fair. Can you deduct ten from Slytherin too?" I snap.

 "I can do twenty."

 I give him a huge fake smile. "Thank you!"

 Ginny shoves me with her side. "You didn't have to do that."

 "Hey, I needed a laugh. If Draco kills me later, invite Daphne Greengrass to my funeral."

 "Okay." She laughs and we kick each other under the table everytime Snape glares at us.

~~~~

 I  can't even take five steps into the Slytherin common room without getting attacked.

 "Why did you get twenty points from Slytherin?" Draco snarls, pinning me against the wall.

 "Uh, because I can," I shove him away and walk up to my dorm.

 He looks at me with a defeated look. "Alright then."

 "You are so weird," I turn around on the stairs and give him a look as well.

 "Not as much as you," he sticks his tongue out at me. I roll my eyes.

 He yanks my hood and catches me before I fall down the stairs.

 "You're going to Hogsmeade with me next weekend."

 "Um, alright."

 He stands me up on the step above him and kisses my nose. "Bye, love."

 I blush and push down the butterflies. "Bye."

 "Ginny?"

 "Yes?"

 We're in the library studying and I need to tell her that I'm doing the next Hogsmeade with Draco.

 "You know the next Hogsmeade weekend?"

 She dips her quill in ink. "Yeah, what about it?"

 "Draco wants to spend some time with me... and that means I won't be able to be with you... I feel terrible about it."

 "Eliza, give it a rest! I can hang with Hermione! You must stop apologising when something good happens to you." she hugs me so tight I can't breathe.

 I love Ginny.

~~~~

 "Put your scarf on."

 "Draco, chill out, I am!" I laugh.

 I look at the scarf. "Or is it yours... I mean, there both Slytherin, I don't really know,"

 He takes my scarf, ties it around his own neck, takes the one he originally took off, and puts on me. "Happy now?"

 I giggle. "Sure."

 We walk out into the snowing Hogsmeade. He slips his hand into mine and I'm happy. We stroll around window shopping until I'm practically shaking from the cold.

 "Okay, take my coat. I'm not taking no for an answer. Your lips are turning blue."

 "F-fine." I take the coat and immediately feel like collapsing. It's so warm, and the smell of his cologne puts me in a trance-like state.

 He takes my hand. "Let's go here for lunch."

 "Alright, as long as you're paying."

 He smiles up at the snow. "I think I can make that work."

 We walk into the Three Broomsticks and sit at a table in the back. I give Draco back his coat, which he drapes along the back of the chair.

 "What would you dears like today?" Madam Rosmerta asks.

 "Two butterbeers and your best sandwich." Draco says.

 "Alright."

 We discussed the tournament and how beautiful the Yule ball was until our food came.

 "Here you go."

 "Thank you," I say.

 We don't say much while eating, as I'm more focused on the food than the boy next to me.

 Draco pays, leaves a nice tip, and we leave the pub.

 "Thank you!"

 "It was nothing. The whole thing was only six sickles."

 "Well, still, thank you for treating me."

 We walk down the street and a little Christmas shop still has its lights flashing. Draco looks at it and turns to me. "I'm still feeling in the Christmas spirit, let's go in."

 "Alright, besides, everything will be discounted. And you, you, Mr. Malfoy, being in the Christmas spirit?!"

 He laughs. "Must be something about you." He taps my nose and my already frozen pink cheeks seem to glow.

 He pulls me inside but stops in the doorway. I pull his hand. "C'mon, aren't you going in?"

 In answer, he looks up, where a sprig of mistletoe is hanging.

 I blush. "Oh."

 I wrap my arms around him, and he brushes my hair back, like he did the night of the Yule Ball. But this time, he leans in, and kisses me softly.

 "Eliza?"

 I pull away from Draco and my eyes widen to at least the size of my forehead.

 "Cedric?!"

 He's standing inside the little Christmas shop looking at me like I just declared I want to be a muggle.

 "I can explain..." Draco begins.

 "No Malfoy, shut up, this is between me and my sister." He grips my arm and pulls me aside. "Really? Malfoy? You could have been with ANYONE and you chose him?"

 "I know how it looks, but Ced, just listen to me. I had all intention of grinding him into dust and then spitting on it. But he just got to me. He's not manipulative, like I imagined, or makes me feel inferior in any way. I was very cautious, and when he told me to go with him to the Yule Ball—"

 "You went to the Yule Ball with him?! I thought those were just rumours." He interrupts, conflicted. "My friends kept telling me 'Your little sister is with Malfoy,' but I thought they were messing with me! But now you're dating him?"

 "Listen, it sounds bad, but I fancy him. And I trust with some things. You know I can defend myself, even kill him if I really needed to."

 "Yeah, I know you would." Ced sighs and glances back at Draco, who's staring pitfully at his shoes. "As long as he treats you right, I'll allow it."

 I hug Cedric. "Thank you."

 "Don't mention it. But I'll be watching, and if he does anything to you, I'm not afraid to go to Azkaban."

 I giggle. "Okay, but I'm going with you." Ced goes out into the snow, and I return to Draco.

 He stares at me. "Did you just plot to kill me?"

 "No, but just know I know how to kill you, make it look like an accident, cry at your funeral, and have people feel bad for me. But don't worry because I wouldn't use the killing curse. Too basic, and the messy risk of law enforcement. I would do something interesting, like — poison. No point in getting into shambles." I smile and tilt my head innocently.

 He backs away.

 "Hey, I'm just saying, but I still fancy you."

 "Prove it."

 I tug the front of his jacket to bring him to my height and kiss him again.