The Golden Snitch Concept

"Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."

Sir Isaac Newton

She'd be damned if she would let him get away with this. Ginny thought as she shoved what few belongings of his that had appeared in her house into extra large black rubbish bins. She felt sweat trickle down her neck and paused to wipe her damp hair off of her forehead. It was too hot to be doing this. Far too hot. She sighed and sat back on her haunches.

She put her hands on her knees and took a deep breath. Then she stood. She walked with a calm she did not feel back to her tiny kitchen and poured herself a large butterbeer. She closed her eyes to savor that first sip and then nearly spit it out at the loud banging on her door. For a desperate second she thought it was him but then the high pitch of the voice bellowing her name registered.

"Finally." She muttered to herself as she stalked to the door. She flipped the lock, slid the bolt and opened it to reveal a red-faced Lavender. "Finally." She said again and waved her friend into the room.

"I cannot believe it!" was what she got by way of a reply. "I simply cannot believe it. The two of you seemed like… well we all thought it was going to be till death do us part and all that rubbish."

Lavender breezed through the front room and set herself down on one of the stools in the kitchen. She cocked her head at the glass of butterbeer and had taken a drink of it before Ginny had nodded her consent. But that was Lavender Brown. And that was why Ginny had owled her.

"Yeah well." Ginny couldn't think of anything to add. She too had thought that they would settle down in a small but comfortable house in the country and start in on those grandchildren her mother had been hinting about. So when he dropped by her office that morning to causally mention that she wouldn't need to pick up their costumes that afternoon after all because he wasn't taking her and she wasn't really his type and he was so sorry, she had been utterly blown away.

"Is that all?" Lavender breathed in disbelief. "Three years and that is all you can say?"

Ginny flushed at the disapproval evident in the other woman's tone. "I have a plan." She said before she had thought better of it and then frantically racked her brain to come up with one.

Lavender rolled her eyes and took another long pull on her drink. Then she wiped the moister off her hands daintily and said "A plan of attack, I hope." When Ginny nodded vigorously but did not elaborate she snorted and continued. "What about that party?" Ginny blinked. "Come now dear, you remember. The big Halloween costume ball that everyone who is anyone will be going to?"

Ginny glared at her. "I know what costume ball you are talking about. I just don't see how it matters to me." She slunk over to one of the other stools and plopped down on it. Then she sighed and said "I had our costumes all planned out and everything. We were going to be the Jack of Spades and the Queen of Hearts."

Lavender laughed. She couldn't help it. "Well that was certainly apt, now wasn't it?" she said with a wicked grin. Ginny scowled at her then smirked and joined in.

"I got a refund in full this morning." Ginny said with a slightly hysterical giggle. "I marched right in there and demanded my money back because a cad like Seamus doesn't need a costume." She licked her lower lip and smiled nastily. "You should have seen the look on the poor clerk's face." Ginny shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. "It's too bad though." She said wistfully. "I really was looking forward to it."

"What do you mean 'was'?" Lavender asked.

"I can't bloody well go now." She said with a huff. "I wasn't invited, he was."

"And so was I." Lavender whipped a pale white envelope out of her bag and brandished it as if it were a war trophy. Ginny shrugged and Lavender put the card down to rub her eyes. "Work with me here Weasley."

"Work with what?"

"Don't be daft. I have a spare invite, you need a date and Seamus needs to realize what a fool he is." Lavender said slowly as if talking to someone very young. A light flared in Ginny's eyes and Lavender knew she was thinking again. Then the light died and she frowned.

"But he won't be going." Ginny said dejectedly. "It's only three days till the party and there is no way he will be able to find a date, arrange for costumes and do all the hundreds of other things a night like this will require." Lavender opened her mouth and then shut it. Ginny's eyes narrowed and she looked as if she had just smelt something foul. "You know something." She said in an almost accusatory tone.

Lavender nodded. "He'll be there." Ginny's eyes widened slightly and she rushed to explain. "I used some connections. I maybe a junior member of the staff, but the words Witch Weekly still open doors that my name alone would not."

"But…"Ginny trailed off.

"Well, I knew he wouldn't be able to bow out of the ball since his company helped fund it and it seemed strange to me that an up and coming business man like Seamus would go empty handed to an event like this when everyone knows that arm candy is even more relevant to the proceedings then who you are. So I nosed around and found that he has two items on hold for him in Gladrags." Lavender walked over to where Ginny sat drooping and put an arm around her shoulder.

"I don't understand." Ginny said weakly.

"He was having an affair sweetie." Lavender said as gently as she could.

"Of course he was."

"But that doesn't matter. All that matters now is getting you something skin tight and see through before Friday night." Lavender forced a laugh, then realized her friend was taking this harder then she should have, so she softened her tone again. "Really Ginny, it's going to be all right. You'll see. He'll take that slag of his to the ball and then in you will walk, like something out of a dream. You will be the most beautifully enticing woman in the room and all eyes will be on you. Just picture the look on his face when his stuffed shirt friends flick their eyes from you to her and back again and then shake their heads in disbelief at his foolishness."

Ginny put a hand to her mouth to hide her smile. "Still telling tales just like when we were little girls." She dropped the hand. "All right, I'm in."

"What about this?" Ginny said and she pointed to a picture of a belly dancer draped in gossamer scarves that showed more than they hid.

"No, too trite. We want something that no one has seen before, something erotic but still innocent. Something that screams sin louder than a howler." Lavender groaned. "Something not in any of these books." She stood up from the table and wandered into Ginny's bedroom hoping for inspiration. What she found was a pile of male belongings half shoved into a rubbish bin. "What's all this then Ginny?" she called over her shoulder.

"Oh, I had forgotten about that mess." Ginny elbowed past her and bent to put what had fallen out back in. She gave a small sniff of disapproval as his favorite green jumper was pushed aside to reveal a tattered copy of Playboy. She picked it up gingerly and held it between two fingers as if it might contaminate her. She was about toss it in with all the rest when Lavender gave a happy sort of squeak.

"Oh Ginny, you are a genius!" she cooed as she snatched the magazine from her hands. "This is almost exactly what I was looking for. We'll have to modify it, bunnies are so over done, but there just might be something… That's it!" She all but flew to the front room and grabbed the pad of paper she had been doodling on. Then she hurried back, gave a few cryptic orders to her quill and turned to Ginny expectantly. "Isn't it brill!" she demanded.

"Isn't what brill?" Ginny said in a prickly voice. "I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about."

Lavender's face fell, then she bucked right back up. "Oh, sorry. I guess I just got carried away. But it's almost done so…" She gave a half shrug and then pointed at the pad. "What do you think?"

Ginny walked over and waited for the quill to stop before picking the picture up. It was brilliant, she had to admit that. The girl in the picture looked like sex on a stick, with her slinky blonde bob and endless legs, but Ginny didn't think her own body would fair so well. She quirked an eyebrow at Lavender. "Do you honestly think I could pull this off?"

Lavender came around and studied the drawing over Ginny's shoulder. "Hum" she said thoughtfully and then made a few adjustments that did nothing to sooth her friend. "Yes, I think that will do it."

"Come now, Lavender." Ginny said in the voice she learned from Hermione. "There is no way I could where this, I would look like a common trollop in that get up."

"Pish" Lavender said airily "You wear less then that at the beach and don't see the harm in it."

Ginny cocked her head to the side and studied the outfit. Lavender was right. Her bikini showed more skin, but somehow it seemed much less provocative then the satin and lace confection. She glanced at her friend and she smiled slyly. "I'm game if you are."

Lavender laughed. "I hoped you would say that!"


"How long is this going to last?" Ginny asked as she fingered her golden honey hair.

"Twelve hours, same as the last time you asked. And stop fiddling with it." Lavender said as she swatted her hand away. "Now all that is left is the charm that will cut and style it." Ginny eyed her nervously and opened her mouth but Lavender beat her to it. "No, it is not permanent. The spell will end, like all spells do, and you will have your long red curls back. Stop acting like you have never had a hair charm done before." With a flick of her wrist it was done. Lavender handed Ginny a mirror and smiled at the other woman's giddy reaction.

"It's perfect!" Ginny cooed as she studied her hair and make up. "It's almost a shame that it has to be covered up by this." She twirled her gold embossed half-mask on one finger as if it had not cost the equivalent of one month's salary to have made.

Lavender grit her teeth and smiled. "How much have you had to drink?" She asked sweetly.

Ginny glared at her. "Nothing, as you bloody well know."

"Then stop acting as if you have. For God's sake Ginny, you are acting like a pre-teen about to go on her first date!"

"Yeah, well, this is kind of important to me Lavender." Ginny said snidely.

"I don't see why." Lavender said without thinking. Ginny's face crumpled and Lavender realized what she had said too late to undo the damage. "What I mean is, er, you and um, well, Seamus isn't, that is to say…" she stammered hopelessly.

Ginny pulled herself up to her full height and said "this isn't about Seamus, Lavender. This is about me. This is about having a little fun and thumbing my nose at the conventions I have lived my life by."

Lavender wrinkled her brow and frowned. "Is it now?" she asked with an air of disbelief.

"It is, if you must know." Ginny said with her nose in the air. Then her façade cracked and she grinned. "Or at least it has been for the last five minuets." She fingered the top of her outfit nervously and said "I don't want it to be about him. Not any more. I still want to rub his nose in it, don't get me wrong, but I feel like I have wasted enough time on that git."

Lavender laughed. "Whatever you say, Ginny. If you think you are ready then put that" she pointed at the half-mask "on you pretty little face and be on your way." She gestured to her own outfit and said "I am no where near ready and won't be till you get out of here." She gave a friendly grin to show she was only half serious and then hugged her friend goodbye.


When Ginny walked into the crowded dance floor it seemed as if every head turned. In reality it was only about half of the heads but the vast majority of them were male and that was defiantly more attention then she was use to receiving. She preened under the weight of their eyes and reveled in the anonymity her costume gave her.

She heading in the direction of the bar but before she could reach there she was stopped by a dark, broodingly handsome man with a thick accent. He asked her if she cared to dance and when she smiled her consent he gathered her into his arms and expertly guided her around the floor.

I could get use to this. She thought as they swayed to the music. Then he began to speak and her enjoyment quickly vanished. After a few more minutes of veiled proposition she started to remember why it was that she did not dress like this and she was grateful that the song ended before she said anything she would regret. When the man asked if she would like to sit with him she politely declined and then pretended to wave to someone behind him. Unfortunately, a good looking blond in expensive robes mistook her wave as an invitation and quickly walked to her side.

"Do I know you?" he asked in a voice like roughened honey.

"I don't think so." She said playfully.

"Would you like me to?"

She smiled and took his proffered hand. "I haven't anything better to do."

He quirked an eyebrow and the movement seemed familiar to her. Suddenly it hit her who this man was. She blanched and he reached out an arm to steady her. His voice murmured in her ear and she heard herself saying that all she needed was a stiff drink. He called over a pretty looking girl with a tray covered in long glass bottles full of frothy pink liquid. One was placed in her hand and then she found herself being lead to a curtained alcove. It wasn't until she was seated and he was pulling the fabric closed that she regained her power of speech.

"You're Malfoy." It was an accusation.

He nodded. "Yes, I am. Draco Malfoy, actually."

He gave a heart stopping smile and Ginny tried to find the nasty boy she knew in the face of the suave man in front of her. She peered into his eyes but all she could see was an endless expanse of gray and a soft look she never would have believe would be directed at her. Realizing that she was staring, she quickly glanced away and downed her drink in an inelegant gulp. She winced as the sticky sweet stuff slid down her throat and gave the bottle a wry look.

"Tastes like sweetened dish soap, doesn't it?" Draco said with a smile.

Ginny glanced up at him and said "That's being kind."

He laughed. His whole face seemed to light up with it and she found herself once again studying his features. This time he joined her in her task. His eyes swept up and down her body with approval and he licked his lips. A little jolt of electricity shot up her spine at the sight of it.

"Do I know you?" He asked again.

Ginny thought about it for a long moment then replied truthfully "You know of me, but I don't think you ever knew me." Her eyes met with his and she smiled.

Unexpectedly, his hand shot out and caught her chin. With one hand he held her captive while the other gently removed her mask. She made as if to pull away but he soothed her with a soft "I just want a look" He lifted her face to examine it and lightly stroked her cheek in the process. Then his face slowly lowered and she found herself being held perfectly still as he traced the contours of her lips with his tongue. It felt good, much better than she thought it would, so she let him continue. He pulled back as quickly as he had come leaving her feeling strangely bereft.

He replaced her mask, his hands lingering a tad bit too long at the side of her face. Then his hands dropped and he moved so that he sat dangerously close to her on the small cushioned bench. For a moment she felt an inexplicable urge to run as far away from him and the pleasure his eyes were promising as she possibly could, but the feeling quickly passed. Instead she leaned into him and nipped at the bronzed flesh of his neck. He gave a soft moan as she laved the spot as if to sooth the hurt her teeth had caused.

His eyes darkened and his voiced turned her bones into jelly when he said "Come home with me."

She hesitated. Ginny was not the sort of girl who did things like that. In her whole life the most outrageous sexual experience she had had was the time Seamus had convinced her to sneak off together during a quidditch match and make love under the stands while the crowds cheered. While she had thoroughly enjoyed it, she had no plans of ever doing something so scandalous again. And going home with a man who hadn't even asked her name was certainly far beyond the pall.

She opened her mouth to say just that, but he silenced her with a kiss that made her insides melt with satisfaction. After it had ended all she could do was nod her acceptance and rise on trembling legs to follow him wherever he might lead.

That mindset lasted until Ginny caught sight of Seamus lip to lip with a toga clad girl sporting hair the shade of red one could only get with a cheap potion. The fog that had hung over her brain cleared instantly. Before her partner had time to realize it, she had pulled him out into the middle of the crowded dance floor and was circling him with moves that would have made a stripper proud.

Once again Ginny felt as if all eyes where on her, but this time she relished in the sensation. She threw her head back giving a ringing laugh as she shimmied up to Draco. She wound her arms around his neck and stood so close to him that they seemed to meld. He gave her a strange look but she didn't care. She just raised her lips to his frowning ones while she swung her hips in a lazy figure eight to the music. They were much too close for proprieties sake and the withering glances of the older members of the party were already starting to weigh down on her, but all Ginny could think of was showing Seamus what it was he let slip through his fingers.

She broke from the kiss she had been drowning in and twirled away from Draco. She cast a smoldering glance over her shoulder at him before she dipped down low and flashed him a fleeting shot of her golden knickers. Then she wiggled back up and raised her hands to run through her hair. She felt a warmth that could only be another's body press into her back and she squirmed against it. She was rewarded with undeniable proof of his interest in her.

Then his breath teased her ear and he said "And who exactly is this show of yours meant for sweetheart?"

Ginny felt her nipples tighten at his tone and she sucked her gently on lower lip. Then she twisted in his arms, her front coming into contact with his and said "Does it matter? You're enjoying it, aren't you?" She rolled her hips with a challenging smile. "And you're the one I plan on going home with. So why don't you let me play a little before we get down to business?"

He laughed. "Whatever you say, Vixen."

"Vixen." Ginny said aloud, savoring the feel of the word in her mouth. "I like that." And she did. She had never done something as reckless as what she was doing now and being able to use a sexy nickname tonight would make it that much easier to leave this part of her past behind come morning.

After five minuets of dancing Ginny knew she had picked the right man. His sense of rhythm and timing made him an excellent partner and the way he moved his body was downright sinful. He kept eye contact with her as their bodies moved in tandem, his lips hovering inches from her own. Their hands were linked above their heads and their bodies had full frontal contact which left nothing to the imagination. Her world was shrinking fast to include only him.

Someone tapped on Draco's shoulder forcing the pair to acknowledge him. Draco gave the newcomer a sneering once over and then turned away from him but Ginny was startled to see Seamus' face glowering over Draco's shoulder at her. She gave a little gasp as her body tensed. She forced herself to relax, not wanting either man to know how she felt.

She focused on Draco's intense gray eyes and felt a shiver go down her back at the unbridled lust she found in them. Her mouth went dry and her stomach clenched with desire. She might have started this game with the hopes of drawing Seamus to her side, but she had long since lost herself in the lure of the man in front of her. Ginny had all but forgotten her ex when he cleared his throat and tapped Draco on the shoulder again. This time Draco swung around to face him keeping his arm tightly wrapped around Ginny's waist.

"Can I help you?" He said in an icy tone, his eyes flashing dangerously. Ginny smiled to herself as she nuzzled into his neck. His hand shifted downward and cupped her bottom fitting there in a way Seamus' never quite had.

Seamus' face turned a deeper shade of red as he blustered "I'd thank you to keep your stinking hands off my bloody fiancée." He reached out and grabbed Ginny's arm as if to take her away by force but she shrugged free.

"I am not you fiancée, as you very well know Seamus. So why don't you take yourself back to whoever it was you came here with and leave me the bloody hell alone!" Ginny hissed. She smiled sweetly up at Draco and snuggled deeper into his side.

He gave her a knowing look then said "You heard the lady" before turning to face her. Both of his hands were now firmly on her arse which he used to push her even closer into him as he ground his pelvis against her. She slid her arms under his and started playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, thoroughly enjoying herself.

"What are you letting him do to you!" came an angry shot. "Don't you know who that is? Don't you know you are letting a Malfoy paw all over you like a cheap whore?"

Ginny jerked out of Draco's arms and was ready to give Seamus a taste of the famous Weasley temper but she was beaten to it by Draco. He pulled himself to his full height and stood towering over the other man. His face was a smooth mask but his eyes were full of fury as he said "I think you owe the lady an apology" in the same mocking tone that use to drive her brother mad.

Seamus stammered something but Ginny didn't care. She had her fill of his unwanted possessiveness. She stood on her tiptoes to whisper in Draco's ear, then pulled back and gave him a come hither wink.

"I'll take you up on that." He said with a cheeky grin. Then he took hold of her hand and the two of them left a still sputtering Seamus alone on the dance floor.


If Ginny was asked to describe Draco's house at wandpoint she wouldn't be able to. All she could think of on the long walk from his fireplace to his bedroom was that she wasn't the sort of girl who did this sort of thing. This left no room for the lavish décor or the breathtaking views the windows provided. Then the door swung open to reveal an oversized four-poster with sin written all over it.

The reality of what she was about to do slammed into her. Ginny's pulse sped up a notch and it was all she could do not to voice her thoughts and bolt from his side like a skittish virgin. Then he undid the latching on his robes, letting the sumptuous fabric slide down his body and all thoughts of flight left her.

He stood before her in a sheer undershirt and dark green boxers. Ginny took in her fill of the graceful lines of his body. His eyes were half lidded. That coupled with a slight smattering of stubble on his chin made him down right lickable. She shifted nervously wondering why seeing Seamus naked had never cause the same surge of lust in her that a half naked Draco did.

His eyes locked with hers as he tugged playfully at the hem of his shirt. Her breath hitched as he sent a hand over it and rubbed the ribbed muscles of his belly. Then he gave a teasing laugh and in one swift movement pulled it over his head. Her eyes ran greedily over every inch of his chest taking in everything from the small scar over his left peck to the line golden hair that dipped below the band of his boxers. Ginny felt her nipples hardening and felt a slick heat pooling between her legs. Her mouth went dry in anticipation while her mind spun out of control. She had been a virgin not all that long ago and she was starting to suspect that the version of sex she had shared with Seamus was not the sort she should expect tonight.

As she watched him stride over to a side table something inside her snapped into place. She felt a knowing smile slide into place as she shrugged out of her jacket. She was aware that the light in the room would soften her faults and she knew she had nothing to be ashamed of as she walked over to where he was standing.

Ginny pressed her breasts into his back as she started nibbling his neck. She let her hands skim across the smooth skin of his back and around his body. She bit into his shoulder at the same time as her fingers found his nipples. Satisfaction swept over her as she heard his moan. She was pleased to see a neat circle of red on his skin as she pulled back to examine her work. Ginny felt her lips quirk as she gave in to the temptation to trace the marks with her tongue. He shivered then twisted. Draco's eyes slammed into hers. His movements seemed to blur as he scoped her up and carried her to his bed.

He lowered her gently on to it, positioning himself on top of her so that she was pinned between his legs. Then he pushed her hair out of her face. His eyes roved over it with a look of astonishment, as if he was surprised that she was there at all. Ginny wasn't sure she could face the naked want in his gaze without making an ass of herself, so she ended it was a hard kiss and a none to subtle thrust of her hips.

He responded with a throaty chuckled. "Eager?" he asked with a raised brow.

Ginny felt herself flush but she forced her voice to remain calm. "I know what I want and I am not afraid to say so." It was a lie. She hoped he wouldn't notice.

"Do you now?" he said. His eyes flashed with something she couldn't name, something that made her body burn in response.

She licked her lips and smiled at him. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. She thrust her tongue into his mouth boldly and forced him to sit back on his heels as she pushed off of the bed. She was panting for breath when she broke away, her body quivering with desire.

Ginny rose to her knees as she lifted her hands to the delicate straps of her outfit. She saw his jaw tick at the movement. She played this the clasp for a moment, then with a flick of the wrist it was open and the filmy materially was pooling on the bed. She watched as his eyes widened and knew that he appreciated the mock bra and knicker set that she had worn under her outfit.

"Wings?" He asked as his fingers traced the pattern embroider on the cups.

"Of course, they are what make the costume work."

"Wings." He said again with a knowing smile. "No wonder I was drawn to you. A seeker never can resist the lure of the snitch." He cocked his head to the side to study them, his fingers continuing to glide across her breasts. She gave a sigh filled with longing as they slipped inside.

His hands were unrepentantly rough. She didn't know what she thought they would feel like, satiny maybe, but whatever it was this was not it. The feel of his callused palms on her skin made her shudder.

"Stop toying with me." She moaned in his ear. An answering shudder was all she got in reply.

Ginny wasn't sure how she ended up naked. It just happened. One moment she was nibbling on Draco's ear and the next she was sky-clad in his arms. She gave a little start of surprise, her mouth forming a perfect circle. She felt her eyes go wide as she instinctively brought an arm up to cover her breasts.

Draco caught it with a harsh "No." and then soothed the sting of the words with a quick kiss. She was blushing when he pulled away to say "I want to see all of you, Vixen."

Slowly she lowered her arms to her sides. Then a wicked glint flashed in her eyes and he was naked too. He gave an indignant snort. "Turn about is fair play Malfoy." She said with a smirk.

He growled low in his throat and Ginny found herself once more drowning in his kisses. His hands were on her waist, his tongue was in her mouth, and all she could think was that this must be what people meant when they said they were falling. Something unwanted slipped into her thoughts and burrowed into her brain, but she was too distracted by the feel of his hands creeping downward to realize what it was.


His body was on fire. The heat seared her skin as she pressed into it, her hips swaying dangerously against his. She felt the fire spread to her loins and smiled. If she wasn't careful she would lose herself in his flames. His fingers slid deftly into her causing her heart to pound loudly in her ears. She was melting, racing toward oblivion. She felt a shudder pass through her and heard is satisfied chuckle. She closed her eyes and savored her climax.

Her hands sought out his erection and lovingly stroked it, wanting to give as much as she had received. Her name came out as a whimper, urging her on with blatant need. She cracked one eye and peered at him. Then she removed her hand and stretched. This time her name was a warning. She opened the other eye and grinned.

"Where you wanting something then Malfoy?"

"For you to stop calling me Malfoy, makes me think of my father." He said with a grimace.

Ginny laughed. "Alright then. Draco it is." Her eyes went molten. "Is there anything else you want?" His head dipped down and his lips closed around her nipple. Ginny sucked in a breath. "Quite right." She said distractedly. Her back arched as his talented fingers worried the other one. For a moment she thought she might come again without him and said so. He jerked his head up and bared his teeth.

"Not without me, Vixen."

Her body reacted to the heat in his words. She reached down and touched the proof of it with one finger. The feel of her hands seemed strange after his rough ones. Ginny thought it odd how fast her body had become accustomed to his touch. Without thinking she brought her hand up to her lips and wet them.

"Kiss me." She whispered. His body twitched in response but he didn't say a thing as he did as she requested.

"We're taking this slow." He said in a voice like midnight. "I want to make it last."

Ginny snorted in dismay. "We can do it slow next time." She said with more than a hint of desperation.

"There is only one first time for us, Vixen. I want you to remember it." His fingers were drawing lazy circles around her areolas and his eyes were silver with lust. Ginny nodded mutely. He groaned, his mouth opening as if to say her name.

In that instant Ginny knew that hearing Vixen drop like a caress from his lips wouldn't do at all. She pressed a finger to them and pretended to ignore the way his tongue wrapped around it. "I want..." "You want what Vixen?"

"Not Vixen. Ginny." She hissed. "My name is Ginny."

She felt something slither down her neck and gasped. She looked at Draco for some clue as to what it might be but saw only shock in his eyes. Slowly she lifted her hands and felt the familiar weight of her hair. A smiled crept across her face.

"It's red." She said cursing herself silently for her inability to think up something pithy and to the point.

Draco studied it for a long while and then the corners of his mouth twitched up and he said "Better" before wrapping an arm around her and driving all thought from her mind.


Ginny woke to the sound of loud pounding. Her head seemed to contract to the beat of it and she swore violently.

"Of all the…" she muttered angrily under her breath as she shrugged into her wrap. "I'm coming!" she bellowed, moving as fast as her stomach would let her. She reached the door, swung it open and snarled "It's five in the bloody morning and this is a Sunday! What the hell are you thinking?"

"A better question is what were you thinking?"

Ginny's head shot up. Her eyes narrowed as the face of the man in her doorway slowly came into focus. "Malfoy?" she gasped. "What in the name of God are you doing here?"

He scowled. "I was about to ask you the same thing Vixen."

He sounded peevish and Ginny sighed. "I don't have time for this Malfoy." She felt the edge of her wrap slip off her shoulder and reached over to tug it back into place. "I'm running a bit late for this date I have with my pillow."

She hoped to make him laugh but wasn't surprised when her joke fell flat. She leaned against the doorjamb and crossed her arms, waiting for him to give her some hint as to why he was there. He frowned as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. She took note of it, realizing that his bloodshot eyes and mussed robes made him ten times as sexy as his lacquered look did.

Her eyes were greedily eating him up when he broke through her thoughts with a curt "You shouldn't have left Vixen." She blinked and his jaw ticked. "You could have at least stayed until a reasonable hour. There was no call for you to just Disapparate in the wee hours of the morning."

Ginny pinched the brow of her nose. "Let me get this right. You showed up on my doorstop at the-sun-isn't-even-up-yet a.m. to tell me that I should have told you before I went home?" He glared at her which she interpreted as a yes. "Merlin Malfoy!" she said in an exasperated hiss.

"Malfoy is it?" he said in a similar tone. "You were near so hostile last night. I sure don't remember you moaning 'Malfoy' as you came." His eyes glittered dangerously in the candlelight.

Ginny blushed scarlet then snapped "Come off it! Last night was a classic one night stand. I left because, while I very much enjoyed the night's activities, I sure didn't want to wake up in the morning with your hands wrapped in my hair and your bad breath on my cheek."

"A one night stand?" Draco looked bewildered. "I didn't think your sort did that kind of thing."

Ginny laughed, comprehension dawning. "Oh ho! So that is the case. You were expecting to be woken with kisses and promises of love undying weren't you? And when that didn't happen you came right over to see what could have possibly gone wrong." She pinned him with her best imitation of her mother's death stare and all but spit out "Sorry honey, I don't think so."

Draco's face smoothed into a calm mask, his eyes glinting. "Are you saying you used me Vixen?"

Ginny paled. She knew that was exactly what she had done but nothing short of a Cruciatus would have forced her to admit it. "I didn't hear you demanding to have the bans read last night," she temporized.

Draco arched a brow at her. "Expecting the person you just shagged to be there in the morning is a long way from marriage." He said wryly.

Ginny nodded feebly, not sure what to do next. Then something clicked. "How did you know I lived here?" she said, her voice dripping with suspicion.

Draco cocked his head to one side and a sheepish smile spread across his face. "It was fairly easy to find you. You did leave your unnaturally red hair all over my sheets and it doesn't take more than a few basic ingredients to brew a locator potion."

Ginny scoffed. "Tell that to someone who didn't get a N.E.W.T. in Advanced Potions." To her surprise a faint flush sped its way over his face.

"I just wanted to know why you left." He said as if admitting it were something distasteful.

"Because I didn't want to sleep with you." He gave her a strange look and she rushed to explain. "It's just that sleeping with something is so dreadfully personal and, well I don't think I am ready to be that…" she trailed off as her brain finally caught up with her mouth. "That is to say, I didn't want anything to come of last night other than a good memory."

Draco's laugh had a bitter tinge to it. He ran his hand through his hair again and pulled back from her. "I guess there is no hope of you asking me in then, is there?"

Ginny shook her head without thinking. She moaned and put her hands over her eyes in hopes that it would help with the pain shooting through her temples. "Go away Draco," she said in a half whisper. "I don't want to have to think right now."

"You cannot hide from this Vixen." He leaned in so that his breath fanned against her neck. "Don't bother trying. I won't let you." His mouth brushed over hers and then he was gone.