It was one of those moments when every mistake you've ever made, every decision you've ever chosen and the things you never said but meant to, come rushing back.

Ginny heard them all pounding at her, echoing in her ears like an ocean wave. The lies she'd lived with for the past four years and the lengths to which she had gone to protect her secret suddenly fell away like they'd never existed at all.

She stared at Draco.

His face was expressionless but she'd learned long ago to read what was behind his mask. He was waiting for her to make the first move. But how dare he, how dare he, make this decision without consulting her first. This was neither the time nor the place. Not now. Not with everyone stopping to stare at the odd triangle she, Draco and Ron made in the hallway outside the Great Hall. If they did this now, there was no going back. Ever. She would not make this declaration and take this leap without the assurance that he would be leaping with her.

She glanced nervously at Ron and then at Harry and Hermione who were hovering just behind him. Harry looked livid; the expression on Hermione's face was one of curious horror. Ginny knew that when the truth was revealed, Hermione would be angrier that her skills at observations had failed than at Ginny for lying to her. She fought back a hysterical giggle at the thought.

"Ginny," Ron said in a furious voice. "Tell me this poncy git is lying so I can punch him in the face."

She sighed and let the strap of her satchel slide off her shoulder and drop to the floor in defeat. How had it come to this? Why had Draco taken the teasing so far?

Her eyes met Draco's. They were a familiar dark grey and she knew with a certainty that she could not deny him this moment. No one had ever stood up for him like she was about to do. His parents had never loved him enough and it was so sad that Ginny had no choice but to turn to her brother and say, "It's true. Everything Draco said is true."

Silence rang briefly in the corridor followed quickly by gasps of shock and outrage. Hermione's mouth opened and closed like a fish and all the blood drained from Harry's face. Ron's entire body was rigid. His hands curled into white fists and he stared at his sister; rage, disgust and disappointment warring with each other on his features.

Ginny only had eyes for Draco. Relief was swirling in his eyes now and she could see his chest puff up with pride or love, she didn't know which. He slowly lifted his arm and extended his hand to her. She knew that if she took it, they would suddenly be a united front.

There was a moment of hesitation and everyone held their breath while Ginny slid her hand into his outstretched one. She was angry with Draco for doing this here and now but she could yell at him later. Draco's fingers closed over her smaller ones and he tugged her closer to his side. Holding his hand and being pressed against his side while his arm slid around her waist was nothing new for her, but considering that they'd just outed their four-year relationship and it was the first time they'd touched in public, it felt brand new. Her body tingled where it was nestled against his and her heart began an all-too familiar fluttering.

She chanced a look at Ron and thought he might be going into some sort of fit. His face was purple and he appeared to be having trouble breathing.

"Ron."

Ginny was not afraid to beg. She turned pleading eyes to Hermione. Her friend nodded sharply at her but her expression promised that they would be discussing this later.

Without witnesses.

Hermione reached out and placed a soothing hand on Ron's shoulder. "C'mon, Ron," she whispered. "We'll talk about this later. This isn't the time. We're going to be late for class." She nudged Harry who had been staring at Ginny and Draco with aplomb and he jumped.

"Ron," she repeated. "Let's go. We'll talk to Ginny later."

Through sheer determination and with a final, pointed glare in Ginny's direction, Hermione led Ron and Harry away. Ginny knew it was only because the two of them were in such shock that there hadn't been more of an explosion, but she was grateful for whatever reprieve she'd been granted.

Draco turned suddenly icy grey eyes on the gathered crowd. "What are you all looking at?" His grip tightened on her hand. "Get the hell out of here before I start taking points."

Those gathered knew better than to think that this year's Head Boy would joke about such a thing and soon the corridor was bustling. Ginny heard the whispers and gossip start almost as soon as people started moving again. She closed her eyes, knowing what the day would bring: strange looks, glares from her fellow Gryffindors, gossips and rumors.

Her forehead dropped onto Draco's shoulder.

"What have you done?" she moaned.