-- guilt ridden features. I was currently on my way to meet up with Draco Malfoy. Yes, /that/ Draco Malfoy. The guilt wasn't because --

-- of Draco Malfoy. I'm not ashamed of our relationship. The guilt is that I haven't told my best mates yet. It's their reaction I'm --

-- curious about. It's not hard to see that Draco Malfoy, Ron, and Harry are as different as night and day. But different isn't bad. --

-- Through these careully crafted meet-ups with Draco Malfoy, I was learning that he actually wasn't that different to begin with. My --

-- racing thoughts come to a halt whenever I find myself in front of the doors to the Room of Requirement. After making -- Draco Malfoy

-- sure the coast is clear, I squeeze in through a crack. a loud whisper breaks the silence of the room.}] Draco? It's me. Draco Malfoy

[{As Draco Malfoy turns to face me, his face veiled by the darkness, butterflies beat so loudly against my rib cage that I'm sure --

-- Draco Malfoy can hear them, too. My nerves are on edge. The fear of being caught trumps all else. But the fear of the future also --

-- hangs over head. I don't want to lose what Draco Malfoy and I have just started to build. But I also don't want to face the --

-- warrantless judgement of others. Swallowing my unease and focusing on Draco Malfoy, I put on a brave face.}] You expected me to --

-- stand you up, did you? [{My serious demeanor is betrayed by the slightest curve of a smile on my lips as I soak in Draco Malfoy.}]

[{My brows knit together with concern as Draco Malfoy lays everything out on the table. Before he can even finish talking, I'm shaking --

-- my head in disagreement. Draco Malfoy may not be the usual type of person that I'm drawn to, but that doesn't dismiss every good ~

-- thing about Draco Malfoy.}] You're wrong. It would be rather simple minded of me to think our differences make one of us lesser. --

-- I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to. [{My own rush of words fill up the silence of this looming room. A dusty table -- Draco Malfoy

-- sits nearby. Dropping the book I've been holding on it, I look at Draco Malfoy straight on.}] You have to know that, Draco.

[{The sight of the Dark Mark on Draco Malfoy's arm draws my breath in sharply. It adds a more real element to this moment. But I won't --

-- be deterred. My arm reaches out and the tips of my fingers brush across the black design on Draco Malfoy's pallid skin.}] A brand --

-- doesn't scare me. [{Stepping closer to Draco Malfoy, I lower my hand away from his arm.}] It's not just you who doesn't feel --

-- worthy. Your family is /not/ going to accept a goody two shoes Muggle born as their only son's choice. Draco Malfoy