A/N: This started out as a one-shot and an explicit one at that and is starting to take on some plot. I don't know how long it will be or how long it will take me to finish it as I'm quite busy at the moment. Hope you all enjoy and don't forget to read and review! - Manda
Chapter 1 -- Object of Affection
She'd always wanted him. There was never any doubt about that. One look at him and she was hooked, she'd never had any choice in the matter. Life had been just fine until he showed up, but she was never the same afterward. Her eyes would search him out in a crowd, trail over every inch of his body, and search for any sign in those icy eyes that might prove he saw her too. If he stepped into the room, she only had eyes for him, regardless of who saw her gazing up at him under veiled lashes. But Ginny Weasley had no idea that he was watching her too. He stared out at her from the depths of the shadows; he always knew how to stand just out of sight. But no more, he intended to let her know just how bad he wanted her, and Draco Malfoy always got what he wanted.
She left the Great Hall slowly, lost in her own wandering thoughts. Draco excused himself silently and took a shortcut to head her off before she hit the stairs by the Dungeons. He waited for her in a dark alcove as her footsteps grew louder, she was shuffling her feet. She only drug her feet when she was unhappy, he wanted her to have a better day and he was determined to change her outlook. Without warning, Draco reached a pale hand out and wrapped his Quidditch-calloused fingers around her delicate wrist. Her wand clattered to the ground and she squeaked in surprise. She would have been worried about her wand, but she knew that hand, she knew who it belonged to. Ginny looked up into the face of her obsession.
Draco pinned her to the wall. He held his left hand gently against her mouth to keep her from screaming and his right held her left wrist against the stone wall at her side. Draco removed his hand from her soft lips and cupped her cheek before trailing his hand down her neck and into her hair. He leaned in, pressing himself against her, and she moaned. She was shorter than him, but she fit so perfectly against him. She was a head shorter than him, but she'd never been close enough to know it. Draco had always seemed so much taller than her, tall enough that she had thought she would have to stand on her toes to kiss him. But he was standing flush against her and she fit him perfectly. Ginny's eyes studied his face, memorizing every light freckle and scar until she looked into those dark grey-blue eyes. Ginny had always wanted to see those eyes up close, ever since she'd first laid eyes on him. She came close once, in Diagon Alley at Flourish and Blotts. She'd stood up for Harry so that she could get one step closer to Draco Malfoy, only to have him pushed further away at the arrival of his father. She thought about those eyes every time she saw him. Ginny wondered what color they were, wondered if his eyes could change colors like some people's do, and what they would look like if she was the one he was staring at. Now she knew.
Draco's eyes were a thing of beauty, just like every other part of him. She may have hated Lucius Malfoy, but for bringing the work of art that is Draco into the world, she would be forever grateful. Those eyes were grey in the dark hole in the wall. A dark grey with flecks of blue, they were intense and beautiful, and they were making her heart drop inch-by-inch into her stomach. It was an interesting feeling, being close to him. She'd kissed boys before, and it had been a nice, pleasant experience, but she had never felt this before. Her stomach was full of dancing faeries and she could feel her heart beating in the tips of her fingers. Ginny was taking deep, slow breaths in an attempt to stay calm, but it wasn't working.
"Hi." She whispered. She swallowed, trying to remove the lump in her throat that made it hard to talk. Draco smiled, a soft, gentle smile, which was rare for him.
"Hi." He replied, releasing his grip on her wrist and placing his hand on her hip. They watched each other for a minute that seemed to last forever, each of them content to stay in the dark niche forever. Ginny's breathing turned shallow and she dove for him, closing the small gap between them. Their lips crashed together in a frenzied kiss. For a moment for there was nothing but teeth and lips as they tore at each other. She pulled him tight against her and moaned at the feel of his bulge against her lower stomach. He groaned and something inside of them calmed, they were less frantic.
Draco pulled away and set his forehead against Ginny's, breathing slow and deep. He leaned in, his tongue reaching her lips before sweeping her up in a kiss. Ginny opened her mouth to him and their tongues played over one another until Ginny laughed. Draco was slowly lifting her up, bracing her between his body and the stone wall behind her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and wound her arms around his neck, her hands lost in his platinum hair. They were content there in the dark niche in the wall, wrapped up in each other. But their tensions escalated as Draco's hand found its way up Ginny's blouse.
"What's the closest, safest room?" she asked, eyes locked with his. Draco looked at her, amazement in his eyes. "What?" Ginny raised an eyebrow in question.
"You just keep surprising me, that's all." Draco smirked at her. "Prefects' bathroom?"
"Works for me." Ginny released his waist and slid down the wall, Draco's hands on her hips, guiding her. He looked her up and down before turning and walking away, leaving her alone in the dark. She grinned after him and checked the hall for people before taking a different path.
Ginny walked the dark halls at her usual pace in an attempt to not be noticed. Unfortunately, Harry Potter was looking for an alibi and Ginny Weasley just happened to be in the right place at the right time, for him at least. Harry was running towards her hissing her name, "Ginny!"
"Oh, hiya Harry." She said. Ginny plastered on a fake smile and beamed up at him. Harry may have been shorter than Draco, but he was still taller than her. "What're you doing here?" Ginny asked but the only answer she received was Harry's lips on hers as he backed her against the wall. Ginny froze; she was paralyzed with fear, disgust, and worry. She tried to push him away but he just pressed himself against her. Her face was wet with his kisses and he tasted like chicken, not something she found appealing when kissing. As she was standing there, struggling to remove The Boy Wonder from her chest and face, a distinct set of footsteps met her ears. 'Thank heavens!' she thought, 'Oh the hell he's going to get for this.'
Ginny slammed her foot down on Harry's foot and shoved him as hard as she could as the footsteps drew near. "Get off, Harry!" she shouted and ran in the direction of her savior. She turned the corner and collided with the broad chest of Professor Snape.
"In a hurry, Miss Weasley?" Snape drawled. He raised one dark eyebrow at her as he tried to hold back a smirk. His mirth died when he registered the panicked frenzy she seemed to be in. "What's wrong, girl?" he asked seriously, looking around. Snape spotted Harry and his eyes dropped back to the small red head in front of him. Ginny was standing as close to him as possible without actually touching him. Snape placed his hands on her shoulders and stared into her face. "Are you alright, Miss Weasley?" he whispered. Ginny nodded silently and Snape turned to Harry.
Snape glowered at the child in front of him. Harry had caused Snape nothing but trouble for the last four years and year five was turning out even worse. Occlumency lessons had given the professor a glimpse into Harry's mind and Snape knew that Ginny Weasley had not been in any of the boy's thoughts. "Going somewhere, Potter?" he drawled. Harry's eyes flitted between the two people before him.
"No, Professor. We were just leaving." Harry said looking at Ginny.
"We, really? It seems to me that Miss Weasley was in a hurry to get a way from something, any ideas Potter?" Snape watched him carefully, his eyes small slits in his sallow face.
"Not a clue." Harry said stiffly. He kept his eyes on Snape.
"Fifteen points from Gryffindor!" Snape said aggravated.
"What? What for?" Harry shouted, taking a step forward. There was another hint of a smirk on Snape's face but it disappeared quickly.
"For being a nuisance, Potter."
"You can't do that!" The boy yelled. Professor Snape eyes opened from there slits and he openly glared at the boy.
"I can and I did. Now get out of sight before I start wondering what you're actually doing here." Snape said calmly, a look of annoyance on his face. He raised one eyebrow as Harry continued to stare. Harry snapped out of whatever daze he was in and ran off in the opposite direction.
Ginny stood still, still shocked at Harry's audacity. She closed her eyes and felt him against her and shuddered. There was a hand on her shoulder and she opened her eyes to find Professor Snape watching her. He looked worried behind those stone eyes, eyes that reminded her of Draco. Ginny found herself wondering how different they were. "Miss Weasley?" Snape said gently. She didn't know he could speak gently; there was so much she hadn't known. "Miss Weasley?"
"Hmm. Oh, sorry. Yes, Professor?" she said. Ginny was still in a bit of shock, she never thought Harry would treat anyone that way.
"Are you alright?" The professor asked her.
"I, I think so, more surprised than anything." She said softly. Snape furrowed his brow, realizing he may have had better timing than he initially thought.
"Did he do anything to you, Miss Weasley?" Snape said, his voice a new level of serious. "What happened?"
"I was going to meet… someone, when Harry called out to me. I asked him what was up, but he just kissed me. He backed me up against the wall and wouldn't let me go. I don't know what his problem was to be honest." There was silence for a moment as Snape watched her. She seemed alright, but he wasn't sure how she was underneath.
"Well, I'll deal with Potter tomorrow. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Snape nodded and took a step back. He pulled himself together and Ginny watched as his armor came down, sealing him off from the world in an icy façade. "Professor, would you mind walking me to the Prefect's bathroom? I know it isn't far, but I don't particularly care to be alone right now." Ginny said in a small but sure voice. She saw a crack form in his armor and he gave her a curt nod.
They walked in silence, their footsteps the only sound in the dark corridors. When they reached the bathroom, the door burst open and Draco ran through it. Draco ignored his Head of House and grabbed Ginny. "Are you alright? What took you so long?" he sounded frantic and worried. Ginny gave him a soft smile before wrapping her arms around him, holding him tight. Draco closed his eyes, glad the she was safe. She was there in his arms and nothing else mattered, he let himself smile. Snape watched the exchange with interest. He stood there, a silent statue watching over them.
Draco opened his eyes and finally noticed the professor. Snape raised an eyebrow at the young blond he had come to think of as a son and he, too, allowed a faint smile to grace his features. "Sir." He said with his arms still firmly around Ginny. Snape's smile turned into the classic Slytherin smirk and he let out a strangled laugh.
"I should have known only a girl like her would suit you." There was a sad look in his eyes as he looked between the two teenagers in front of him, "Don't waste your time; appreciate every moment." Snape hid the sorrow in his features with the trademark smirk and walked away. He vanished into the shadows, his cloak billowing out behind him as he went to find one Mr. Harry Potter.
"Hey, you ok? What happened?" Draco looked down at Ginny. Her eyes were closed and she was taking deep, steadying breaths. Ginny moved her head back and looked in to Draco's piercing eyes. He was worried. His eyes were a jumble of colors and emotions. Light grey, pale blue, slate, and a deep cerulean swirled together like a hurricane. Draco was worried, that was obvious, but he was scared and relieved as well. Ginny found it funny how well she could read him already.
"I'm alright, really." She paused, watching her words sink in. "Draco, I'm fine. I just got freaked out."
"By what? What happened? Talk to me…please." His voice was strained and his eyes never left hers.
"It was Harry 'I'm the effing shit' Potter. I ran into him on the way here, he was looking for an alibi- Gods only know what for- and he found me. Potter decided I was good enough to make out with, grope, and fuck- I mean of course I want Harry he's just so amazing and nice and oh, wait, he's a jackass." Ginny was rambling and she knew it, she looked back into those beautiful eyes to find them cold and hard. "Draco?" He stared blankly back at her. "Draco, you aren't breathing. Draco, I'm fine. I told you I'm alright."
Ginny put her hands firmly on the sides of his face and stared at him. "Draco, snap out of it. I am right here, with you, and nothing is ever going to happen to me." Draco blinked and focused on the brown eyes in front of him. He came back to reality and took a deep breath, his eyes no longer glazed over but still dark and slightly cold. "Hi, Lover." Ginny whispered, smiling up at him. She pulled him close to her again, wrapping her arms around him and setting her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder.
"Hi." Draco sighed and kissed her hair, automatically tightening his arms around her. "Come on, let's at least get out of the halls." He said. Ginny nodded against him and pulled away, taking his hand in hers and moving towards the still open door. She inhaled the aroma of the full bath Draco had prepared and smiled. The door closed behind them and Ginny faced Draco. She slid the robe off her shoulders and it fell to the floor. She crossed her arms and grabbed the hem of her shirt. As she was lifting it up, Draco stopped her with his hands.
"Gin, we don't have to do this. I can just walk you back, or you can stay in Slytherin tonight." He said.
"Draco, that prat touched me, he kissed me and tried to force himself on me." Ginny let the first bit of her fear show. "I feel dirty, Draco, and not in a good way. I feel tainted and small and weak. And I don't want to be feeling this way, I want to be clean. I want to feel like myself again. So I'm going to get in that tub, and I'm going to scrub until I can't feel him against me anymore." Ginny pulled her shirt over her head and through it in the corner. There were tears in her eyes as she struggled to undo her pants, the spilled over onto her cheeks, blurring her vision and Ginny gave a strangled sob. Draco closed the distance between them and reached out to her. His long fingers slid the button through the whole in her jeans with ease and he sank to his knees. Draco slid the waistband of her pants down and held them so she could step out of them. Ginny rested her hands on his shoulders for support and stepped out of her jeans. Draco threw them in the corner with the shirt and stood.
Ginny wiped her tears on her arm and ran to the edge of the pool-sized tub. She flung herself into the air and into the water. Draco waited for her to surface but when she didn't he kicked off his shoes and dove in after her. Ginny was kicking at the water, trying to stay under. Her eyes were clenched shut and she was screaming. She was running out of bubbles and the sound of her scream was getting softer. Draco swam to her but she ran out of air before he got there. Her eyes met his as she instinctively tried to gasp. She lurched, her lungs filling with water instead of air. Draco had to fight against her flailing limbs as she struggled to reach the surface. He grabbed her and hauled her to the edge of the pool and out of the water. Ginny coughed up the water as soon as they were on the floor. She was holding herself up and coughing uncontrollably. Draco set a hand on her back and started rubbing it in circles.
"Breath, Gin. Breath." He said in a calm voice. Ginny tried to breath between coughs. She stopped coughing and focused on taking deep breaths. "That's it, breath." Draco said again. Ginny collapsed on to the wet surface, and rolled over. She stared at the blank ceiling and moved her hand, searching for Draco's. He positioned himself next to her and took her hand in his. He twined their fingers together and he looked at her.
"Oops." She said softly. "I didn't mean to scream for that long."
"Hey, it's all good. You're fine, better than fine actually. Snape's probably skinning Potter alive at this very moment so it's all good. Nothing to worry about." He met her eyes, "Nothing will ever happen to you, I swear it." Ginny gave him a soft smile and sat up. She scooted closer to him and then lied back down across his chest.
"What took you so long?" Ginny asked him. She trailed her finger in circles over his wet shirt.
"What took me so long? What took you so long?" He chuckled. "We were brought up to hate each other, you were groomed to worship Potter and I'm his rival. I never thought I had a chance with you. I never thought you'd have me."
"Well," she said, tilting her head to look at him, "you were wrong. I don't love Harry, it's always been you. I never had a choice in the matter, not really. I was just floating through life until the day I saw you, and then everything changed." Ginny snuggled closer to him and then pulled away. "Would you please get out of those wet clothes, you'll get sick." She stood and grabbed them a fluffy white robe and a towel each and proceeded to dry herself off while Draco stripped down to his underwear. Ginny threw him a towel and slid the robe over her shoulders.
"Oh don't do that." Draco said. He smirked at her and she shook her head in response. Wrapping the belt around her waist, she tied it into a knot and returned his classic smirk.
"You should have been a Slytherin." Draco grinned at her. She walked up to him slowly and kissed him, his tongue trailed across her bottom lip seeking entrance to her mouth and she pulled away. "Oh, you definitely should have been in Slytherin." He laughed and took the other towel from her, draping it over his broad shoulders and slipping his thin arms through the holes. Ginny never took her eyes off of him. When the belt was tied around his waist, Draco gathered his clothes up and started to grab Ginny's as well.
"Leave them, I don't want 'em." She said in a crisp voice. Ginny walked up to him, grabbed his hand, and walked out of the bathroom without a backwards glance.