Fire and Ice

Natural Reflexes

Where is she?!

It had been exactly 12 hours since Draco had sent that letter to the Owlery. He knew it was going to hurt her, but he had to. Getting...involved... with a Weasley is dangerous, and they both know it. He already knew she was going to cry when she'dread the letter. Hell, I nearly cried writing it.

Ths is were things all go wrong. When a Malfoy cries, everything is wrong. Because Malfoys never cry.

Until her.

After recieving her letter, Draco recalled the disgusted feeling he'd felt, knowing a Weasley dared write to him. However, slowly overcoming that feling was an unfamiliar giddy sensensation. Sh'ed written a letter to him. She'd written a letter to Draco.

Oh, not to mention they had fucking sex.

It was the fifth letter that did it. Or was it the sixth?

Rememering, Draco envisioned himself laughing aloud to something she'd written. That's what did it. That's what planted the seeds of doubt and want.

Doubt because he knew what he was doing was wrong. What they were doing.

Want because he wanted her to make him laugh again. He wanted to make her laugh.

But he shouldn't want her, he shouldn't want those things. Forbidden fruit, as his mother would out it. You always want what you can't have, Draco.

But Draco knew he couldn't have her, ever. So that's why he sent that letter.

But where the fuck is she?!

It was potions, the only lesson they shared. Her advanced potions skills allowed her to be taught in his class, a year above hers. During the lessons they'd had together since the beginning of their letter-sending, the most they'd managed was knowing looks and soft smiles when no-one was looking. He was dreading the moment when she walked through the door, but couldn't wait, either. He needed to see her.

"Aaaah, Miss Weasley."

Draco's head shot up, clicking painfully. He lowered his eyes immediately, so as to make sure nobody would notice his interest in Miss Weasley's arrival.

Her stammer echoed through the dungeon.

"I-I'm sorry Professor," she began. Her voice was molten syrup in his throat. He gulped.

"Save it." Snape interrupted shortly. "Detention, one minute to every second you have missed."

Ginny blanched.

"Let me see... 6 minutes late. So 6 hours. 1 hour a day, at 7 o clock, until Saturday. Clear?"

"Yes, Sir," she muttered miserably,  taking her seat at the front of the class.

"Today's potion will be on an interesting one. Mead, Unicorn tail-hair, Phoenix eyelash, Doxxy leaf and let's see... a spring of peppermint. Does anybody find these ingredients familiar?"

A murmur rippled through the room, before Zabini raised his hand. Snape nodded in his direction.

"The Potion of Love, Sir?" he asked, with the trace of haughtiness Draco also carried in his voice. Must be a Slytherin thing.

"Correct, Zabini, ten points to Slytherin. But.." Snape's voice faded out, replaced with a buzzing in Draco's ear.

They're gonna make a Love Potion?! Today of all days?! This day fucking crushes Knuts.

"...today. Today, my students, we are going to make The Potion of Lust."

Oohs  and aahs wove in and out of the room. Seemingly oblivious, Snape continued.

"Miss Weasley," he began, a trace of mischief in his tone. Or was it just Draco's imagination? "Describe lust for the class.

Draco didn't need to see her face to know she was blushing.

"Err... lust is when you physically want someone, where you're blinded by their being, and you don't necessarily want to be in a relationship, you just... want to be with them."

"'Blinded by their being'?" Snape repeats, appearing amused. "Interesting choice of words. And correct." Had Ginny been a Slytherin, 10 points would've been granted.

"Malfoy!" he suddenly commanded. Draco exhaled at the sight of Ginny twitching at the mention of his name.

"Sir," Draco replied coolly.

"What is the difference between the Love Potion and the Lust Potion?"

Draco was at a loss. However, keeping his demeanor indifferent and unruffled, nobody would be able to tell. Well, nearly everybody.

"Love is... where you're in love." Draco inwardly cringed at how stupid he sounded. However, Snape, and the rest of the class, seemed to be paying rapt attention to the words spewing out of his mouth. He continued. "So the Love Potion must include ingredients to induce that feeling, hence the enchanted rose chocolate. Lust is... raw. You don't care about the consequences. The raw feeling is the key to the feeling. Hence the raw snake heart."

Gasps interrupted Draco. Snape took ever.

"10 points to Slytherin. And why a snake, Malfoy?"

What was Snape doing?!

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Draco uttered, "Because snakes are the most decietful, untrustworthy of creatures. Lust is without love, therefore is seen as selfish and decietful, as, in essence, you are lying to your... partner. "

"Very good."

Snape turned, and with a flash of his wand sent a raw snake's heart towards Draco. Draco caught it in his hand without missing a beat.

"Impressive, Malfoy. Must be your natural reflexes."

Draco slammed down the snake heart, spilling blood on his desk.

"Must be."