The music was soft and quiet. The fire threw flickering light over his face, making it seem somehow softer. He held his hand out in a silent question. Our eyes met and I could see the hesitation in his. We shouldn't be doing this. We both knew it was forbidden. We were enemies. He hated my "kind." But still, here we were.

I bit my lip and then rested my hand in his. He drew me closer and wrapped his arm around my waist. I put my hand on his shoulder and soon we were dancing slowly around our shared common room.

We didn't speak. If we did it would ruin everything. We couldn't say anything without insulting each other, but when we were silent like this it was perfect. Nothing could go wrong. This felt so right. The way my hand fit in his and the way his arm curved around my waist. I wished we could be this way forever.

He drew me even closer until we were chest to chest. Our eyes were locked. His eyes were a gold from the flames and I knew I was caught. He was so vulnerable here and now. I was sure no one had ever seen him this way before. I didn't think he'd ever let anyone see him this way again.

These days, all he ever looked was scared. Even when he tried to hide it behind a cruel façade, I could tell inside he was screaming in terror. I'd known him for seven years now. Of course I knew what he was feeling inside. No one else saw it, but I knew what it felt like to be scared all the time, because that's how I felt.

I was terrified of failing. Harry, Ron, Dumbledore, everyone, but most of all, this boy in front of me. But I was doomed to fail him from the start. The road he traveled now, I could not tread on, and there was no saving him. He was too far gone. All I could offer him were glimpses of peace and kindness, something I knew he hadn't seen in a very long time. Something he could look back on when he needed it most.

He lowered his head a little until our mouths were almost touching. I knew why he was hesitating and I hated myself a little for desperately wanting him to kiss me still. Then all his willpower seemed to leave him and with a pitiful whimper his lips met mine. It was a gentle, tender kiss. His hand left my waist and cupped my head.

My hand on his shoulder slid behind his neck and then we were really kissing. I'd never been kissed like this. Draco practically crushed me to him. He was so needy and I was more than willing to give him all I had in me.

Then we separated violently. He stumbled a few steps away and looked at me like he'd never seen me before. My hand touched my lips and found them a little moist from his.

Draco quickly composed himself. The familiar mask was back over his face and it saddened me to see it. "God, what was I thinking? Kissing a mudblood like you." He said harshly. Two red spots were high on his cheeks. I tried to hide the hurt by biting my lip. I couldn't even bring myself to reply.

Seeing that he wasn't going to say anything else, I turned and left. Tears were streaming down my cheeks by the time I reached the stairs to my dormitory. I heard him curse followed by a large crash that sounded like he'd just thrown a chair or something equally heavy.

No matter what we felt, our fates had been determined and we had no choice but to follow them to their bitter end.